Prevotella intermedia has been implicated as a potent pathogen in many kinds of periodontal, pulpal and periapical diseases. However, it has been isolated from periodontally healthy adults and from edentulous children as well. The intraspecies heterogeneity of Prevotella intermedia has been demonstrated in early studies and finally Shah & Gharbia confirmed the existence of 2 DNA homology groups and proposed dividing Prevotella intermedia into 2 species, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens. This study was designed to examine the frequency of Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens in diseased periodontal pockets and healthy gingival sulcus of Korean people by PCR based on 16s ribosomal DNA sequence. One hundred adults who had adult periodontitis but not taken any periodontal treatment or antibiotics during previous 6 months and 50 adults who had healthy periodontal tissue were selected for this study. The sulcular fluid was collected into VMGA by sterilized paper point and diluted to 1,000 times in anaerobic chamber. 100ml of sample was cultured in 37degrees C for 10 days. Among the bacterial colonies, BPB were selected and cultured in BHI broth and then Prevotella intermedia was identified through Gram staining and biochemical test. Identified Prevotella intermedia was cultured again and centrifuged. DNA was extracted from the pellet using several reagents. PCR was performed by previously designed primer. The results were followed. 1.BPB were isolated from 39 of 100 samples of diseased periodontal pockets(39%). 2.Prevotella intermedia was identified from 24 of 39 BPB samples. 3.Among 24 Prevotella intermedia, 21 were confirmed as Prevotella intermedia(87.5) and 2 were confirmed as Prevotella nigrescens(8.33%). 4.BPB were isolated from 9 of 50 samples of periodontally healthy patients. Among them only two were identified as Prevotella intermedia, that is, one was confirmed as Prevotella intermedia and the other was Prevotella nigrescens.
Adult* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Chronic Periodontitis* ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Periapical Diseases ; Periodontal Pocket ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Population Characteristics ; Prevotella intermedia* ; Prevotella nigrescens* ; Prevotella*

PURPOSE We designed this study for the purpose of determining the relationship between periodontal disease activity and PLBW, using the evaluation of probing pocket depth, loss of attachment, gingival index, gingival crevicular fluid amount and subgingival microflora. METHODS A total of 100 volunteer mothers(mean age 30.44) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Seoul National University Hospital were selected for this study.Pregnancy outcomes were categorized into cases and controls in two ways. our definition was based on the following; Group 1 : Any PLBW cases Vs. All NBW controls Group 2 : PLBW cases Vs. NBW controls A periodontal exam was performed on the Ramfjord(#16, 21, 24, 36, 41, 44) teeth and Clinical evaluation consisted of probing pocket depth, loss of attachment, gingival index and gingival crevicular fluid amount. Subgingival plaque samples were collected by three sterile #35 paper points. The total number of anaerobic colonies and aerobic bacteria were enumerated after incubation. Antisera to P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, A. actinomycetemcomitans were produced in white rabbits with live whole cells suspensions. The specific fluorescent bacteria obtained by immunofluorescence and total cell counts obtained by dark-field microscopy were counted on four fields. The percent of each specific microorganism in the total cell count was determined. RESULTS Any PLBW and PLBW cases showed significantly greater probing depth and attachment loss than all NBW and NBW controls. Cases group had significantly increased anaerobic bacterial counts compared with control group and no differences in the other microbes. This study confirmed that periodontal disease is a statistically significant risk factor for PLBW by investigating clinical parameters and subgingival plaque analysis.
Bacteria ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; Bacteria, Anaerobic ; Bacterial Load ; Cell Count ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gingival Crevicular Fluid ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Microscopy ; Obstetrics ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Periodontal Index ; Pregnancy* ; Rabbits ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Suspensions ; Tooth ; Volunteers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Crassirhzimae rhizoma and its possible use as an oral antiseptics for prevention of periodontitis. Its antibacterial activity against periodontopathic microorganisms including Actinobacillus actiomycetemcomitans, Capnocytophaga ochracea, Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Actinomyces viscosus, Fusobacterium nucleatumwas evaluated via modified stab culture method. The cytotoxicity against gingival fibroblasts and rat osteoblasts was investigated via [3H]thymidine incorporation and cellular activity was investigated via MTT assay. Chlorhexidine was used as control group. Crassirhizomae rhizoma was prepared at concentrations of 0.2, 0.15, 0.1, 0.05%. Chlorhexidine was also prepared at the same concentration. Crassirhizomae rhizoma showed lower antimicrobial antivity against these microorganism than chlorhexidine, but this difference was not significant. And, Crassirhzomae rhizoma showed more cellular activity and less cytotoxicity than chlorhexidine on human gingival fibrablast and rat osteoblast. This study suggests that Crassirhzomae rhizoma might be a candidate for a safe oral antiseptic for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.
Actinobacillus ; Actinomyces viscosus ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Capnocytophaga ; Chlorhexidine ; Fibroblasts ; Fusobacterium ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontitis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevotella intermedia ; Rats ; Streptococcus mutans

No abstract available.
Calcium*

In clinical therapy, the current goal of dental implants is to enhance quantity and quality of osseointegration. Surface roughness and oxide structure are considered to influence the behavior of adherent cells. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of different surface treatment on cellular response. The attachment and proliferation of osteoblast-like cell on sandblasted, sandblasted and etched, thermal oxidated surfaces have been compared. Sandblasting was done with Al2O3 particles(grain size of 50micrometer), etching was processed with NH4OH : H2O2 : H2O(1:1:5) at 90degrees C for 1 minute. Thermal oxidation was followed sandblasting and etching at 400degrees C, 600degrees C, 800degrees C for 2 hours. Measurement of surface roughness after the different treatment did not show any differences of Ra value between terated surfaces. Cell attachment and proliferation were increased during experiment period, but no difference was observed. SEM evaluation revealed a similar pattern of osteoblastlike cells, well attached with dendritic extension and producing numerous matrix vesicles on cell surface. The results of this study showed that oxide layer alteration by thermal oxidation did not affect the attachment and proliferation of osteoblast-like cells. This suggests the possibility that the cellular responses are further influenced by surface roughness than titaniun oxide structure. This study was supported by a grant(HMP-98-G-2-035-B) of the HAN(highly advanced National) Projected, Ministry of Health & Welfare, R.O.K
Dental Implants ; Osseointegration ; Osteoblasts

BACKGROUND: Prompt correction of hemostatic and thrombotic derangements during liver transplantation can play a key role in preventing excessive blood transfusion or thrombotic complications. It is well known that reactive oxygen species can affect coagulant and anticoagulant systems. Therefore, we investigated whether ascorbic acid (AA), one of potent antioxidant agents, can improve the coagulation during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Thirty three adult patients undergoing LDLT were enrolled in this study. The blood samples of these patients were collected at 90 minutes after the beginning of operation and at 150 and 300 minutes after reperfusion. At each time period, blood samples were categorized into hypocoagulation, normal, and hypercoagulation. Within each category, the samples were further divided into three groups: whole blood (WB) (0.36 ml of native WB), AA (0.33 ml of native WB mixed with 0.03 ml of AA solution), and normal saline (NS) groups (0.33 ml of native WB mixed with 0.03 ml of NS), and these samples were analyzed using thromboelastogram (TEG). We compared the parameters of TEG (gamma time, K time, alpha angle, maximum amplitude (MA), and LY60) in each coagulation status. RESULTS: AA did not significantly affect TEG parameters in hypocoagulation or normal coagulation during LDLT. However, AA significantly decreased gamma time, alpha angle and MA at 150 minutes, and, K time and alpha angle at 300 minutes after reperfusion in the blood samples of hypercoagulation category. CONCLUSIONS: We may conclude that ascorbic acid inhibits hypercoagulation after reperfusion period during living donor liver transplantation.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Transfusion ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reperfusion

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxidative stress is one of the important underlying mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis. DA-9601, the ethanol extracts of Artemisia asiatica, has been reported to possess strong antioxidative and cytoprotective actions. We tried to evaluate whether antioxidant can ameliorate dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal administrations of 10 mg DMN six times. Additionally, rats of one group were started daily with DA-9601 30 mg/kg containing diets and another group was fed a pellet diet containing DA-9601 100 mg/kg. The immunohistochemical studies for collagen, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and fibronectin, the measurements of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and collagens, and the changes of liver function profiles were performed. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were isolated and in vitro effects of DA-9601 on HSC activations were measured. RESULTS: DA-9601 significantly attenuated the loss of body weights (p<0.05), the reduction of liver wet weights (p<0.05), and the elevation of liver enzymes provoked by DMN administrations. DMN injections caused the severe fibrosis of portal tract, hepatic inflammation, and significant oxidative damages, but DA-9601 treatment significantly reduced the mean scores of hepatic fibrosis, the amounts of hepatic collagens, and hepatic MDA levels. The prominent decreases in the expressions of collagens type I and III, alpha-SMA, and fibronectin or hepatic inflammations were observed in DA-9601-treated groups dose-dependently and similar efficacy was also proven in in vitro HSC experiment. CONCLUSIONS: DA-9601 effectively protected rat liver tissues against the DMN-induced hepatic fibrosis. Antioxidant could be considered as a supplementary therapeutic for alleviating the hepatic fibrosis.
Animals ; Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Artemisia ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; English Abstract ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/chemically induced/metabolism/*pathology ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND/AIMS: An ideal noninvasive diagnostic test for hepatic fibrosis should be simple, inexpensive, and accurate. We aimed to find the simple marker for predicting hepatic fibrosis and to compare the accuracy of AST, platelet, AST/ALT ratio and AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) in chronic hepatitis B patients without clinical evidence of cirrhosis. METHODS: A total of one hundred and twenty-six chronic hepatitis B patients who underwent liver biopsy at the Ajou University Hospital from August 1998 to December 2003 were enrolled. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed using the Ludwig classification. Significant fibrosis was defined as fibrosis score of 3 or more. The AST/ALT ratio and APRI were calculated and correlations with hepatic fibrosis were analyzed. RESULTS: APRI showed a significant correlation (r=0.501, p=0.000) with hepatic fibrosis, and was superior to AST, AST/ALT ratio and platelet in predicting fibrosis. Patients with significant fibrosis (fibrosis stage 3, 4) can be identified to have APRI=1 with sensitivity 71.2% and specificity 70.3%. The sensitivity and specificity of an APRI = 1.5 for cirrhosis (stage 4) were 83.3% and 75.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Simple index using AST and platelet value can predict the presence of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients without clinical evidence of cirrhosis.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/*blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/blood/enzymology/*pathology ; Humans ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis/*pathology/virology ; Male ; *Platelet Count ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Many studies on infliximab have confirmed its efficacy in the remission induction and even maintenance in refractory and fistulizing Crohn's disease. We report the treatment efficacy of infliximab in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis refractory to steroid treatment and the complications of infliximab treatment. METHODS: We performed infliximab administration in 5 cases (3 Crohn's disease, 2 ulcerative colitis) refractory to systemic steroid treatment and 5 cases of Crohn's disease with fistula. Patients received an intravenous infusion of infliximab at 3-5 mg/kg body weight. RESULTS: In 3 cases of refractory Crohn's patients, clinical response and remission induction were obtained in 2 (67%) and 1 cases (33%). After infusion of infliximab, the occlusion of internal fistula could be found in all 2 cases. Two out of 3 cases of anal fistula were completely healed. In two cases of refractory ulcerative colitis, one case who showed clinical manifestation of toxic megacolon had improved and avoided the colectomy, but the other case did not respond to the infusion of infliximab and underwent colon resection. CONCLUSIONS: We found that administration of infliximab is an effective alternative for refractory and fistulizing Crohn's disease but further studies are necessary for refractory ulcerative colitis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*therapeutic use ; Colitis, Ulcerative/complications/*drug therapy ; Crohn Disease/complications/*drug therapy ; English Abstract ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Agents/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha