No abstract available.
Publications*

No abstract available.
Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Dentures* ; Detergents*

No abstract available.
Candida albicans* ; Candida*

This study was done to evaluate the effect of fixed orthodontic patients on the level of oral streptococci, Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli, yeasts in saliva. 35 patients wearing bands were compared with age-matched 35 non-banded control group by colony counting method on the specially designed culture medium. The following results were obtained; 1. The colony forming unit(CFU) of total streptocci per militer of saliva in subjects with or without orthodontic treatment showed no significant statistical difference between them(p>0.05). 2. The colony forming unit(CFU) of total Streptococcus mutans per mililiter of saliva in subjects with orthodontics treatment showed significantly higher than those without orthodontic treatment(p<0.05). 3. The colony forming unit(CFU) of total lactobacilli per mililiter of saliva in subjects with or without orthodontic treatment showed no significant statistical difference between them but higher tendency in those with orthodontic treatment(p=0.052). 4. The colony forming unit(CFU) of total yeasts per mililiter of saliva in subjects with or without orthodontic treatment showed no significant statistical difference between them(p>0.05).
Humans ; Orthodontics ; Saliva ; Streptococcus mutans ; Yeasts

No abstract available.
Metabolism

The study of pain has recently received much attention, especially in understanding its neurophysiology by using new brain imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), both of which allow us to visualize brain function in vivo. Also the new brain imaging devices allow us to evaluate the patients pain status and plan to treat patients objectively. Functional activation of brain regions are thought to be reflected by increases in the regional cerebral blood flow in the brain imaging studies. Regional cerebral blood flow increases to noxious stimuli are observed in second somatic (SII) and insular regions and in the anterior cingulate cortex and with slightly less consistency in the first somatic area (S1), motor area, supplementary motor area, prefrontal area, amygdala and contralateral thalamus. These data suggest that pain has multidimensions such as sensory-discrimitive, motivational-affective and cognitive-evaluative.
Amygdala ; Brain ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Neurophysiology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Thalamus

The study of pain has recently received much attention, especially in understanding its neurophysiology by using new brain imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), both of which allow us to visualize brain function in vivo. Also the new brain imaging devices allow us to evaluate the patients pain status and plan to treat patients objectively. Functional activation of brain regions are thought to be reflected by increases in the regional cerebral blood flow in the brain imaging studies. Regional cerebral blood flow increases to noxious stimuli are observed in second somatic (SII) and insular regions and in the anterior cingulate cortex and with slightly less consistency in the first somatic area (S1), motor area, supplementary motor area, prefrontal area, amygdala and contralateral thalamus. These data suggest that pain has multidimensions such as sensory-discrimitive, motivational-affective and cognitive-evaluative.
Amygdala ; Brain ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Neurophysiology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Thalamus

Adseverin is a Ca2+-dependent actin filament-severing protein that has been reported to regulate exocytosis via rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton in secretory cells. However, the role of adseverin in bone cells has not yet been well characterized. Here, we investigated the role of adseverin in osteoclastogenesis using primary osteoclast precursor cells. Adseverin expression was upregulated during RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Moreover, genetic silencing of adseverin decreased the number of osteoclasts generated by RANKL. Adseverin knockdown also suppressed the RANKL-mediated induction of nuclear factor of activated T-cell c1 (NFATc1), which is a key transcription factor in osteoclastogenesis. In addition, adseverin knockdown impaired bone resorption and the secretion of bone-degrading enzymes from osteoclasts. These effects were accompanied by decreased NFATc1 expression and the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB. Collectively, our results indicate that adseverin has a crucial role in osteoclastogenesis by regulating NFATc1.
Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Animals ; Bone Resorption/genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Gelsolin/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; NFATC Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Osteoclasts/*cytology/metabolism/pathology ; RANK Ligand/*metabolism

Rafts, cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich membrane microdomains, have been shown to play an important role in immune cell activation. More recently rafts were implicated in the signal transduction by members of the TNF receptor (TNFR) family. In this study, we provide evidences that the raft microdomain has a crucial role in RANK (receptor activator of NF-kappaB) signaling. We found that the majority of the ectopically expressed RANK and substantial portion of endogenous TRAF2 and TRAF6 were detected in the low-density raft fractions. In addition, TRAF6 association with rafts was increased by RANKL stimulation. The disruption of rafts blocked the TRAF6 translocation by RANK ligand and impeded the interaction between RANK and TRAF6. Our observations demonstrate that proper RANK signaling requires the function of raft membrane microdomains.
Carrier Proteins/metabolism ; Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Human ; Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism ; Membrane Microdomains/*metabolism ; Protein Transport/physiology ; Proteins/*metabolism ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/*metabolism

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women and has a high incidence of bone metastasis, causing osteolytic lesions. The elevated expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) in cancer activates osteoclasts, leading to bone destruction. We previously reported that α-tocopheryl succinate (αTP-suc) inhibited interleukin-1-induced RANKL expression in osteoblasts. Here, we examined the effect of αTP-suc on osteolytic bone metastasis in breast cancer. METHODS: To examine the effect of αTP-suc on the metastatic capacity of breast cancer, MDA-MB-231-FL cells were injected into the left cardiac ventricle of BALB/c nude mice along with intraperitoneal injection of αTP-suc. The mice were then analyzed by bioluminescence imaging. To investigate the effect of αTP-suc on osteolysis, 4T1 cells were directly injected into the femur of BALB/c mice along with intraperitoneal injection of αTP-suc. Microcomputed tomography analysis and histomorphometric analysis of the femora were performed. RESULTS: αTP-suc inhibited cell migration and cell growth of 4T1 cells. In line with these results, bone metastasis of MDA-MB-231-FL cells was reduced in mice injected with αTP-suc. In addition, αTP-suc decreased osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting 4T1-induced RANKL expression in osteoblasts. Consistent with these results, 4T1-induced bone destruction was ameliorated by αTP-suc, with in vivo analysis showing reduced tumor burden and osteoclast numbers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that αTP-suc may be efficiently utilized to prevent and treat osteolytic bone metastasis of breast cancer with dual effects.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cell Movement ; Female ; Femur ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteolysis ; Succinic Acid ; Tumor Burden ; X-Ray Microtomography