Cercaria caribbea LVIII Cable, 1963 (Digenea: Cyathocotylidae) was detected from a brackish water gastropod species (Cerithideopsilla cingulata) in a coatal area of Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Province), the Republic of Korea, and its surface ultrastructure was studied using a scanning electron microscope. The cercariae were found freely swimming or enveloped within daughter sporocysts when the snail host was mechanically broken. They were morphologically characterized by a linguiform and ventrally concave body, a long and bifurcated tail, and the presence of a holdfast (=tribocytic) organ posterior to the ventral sucker. On the whole ventral and dorsal surfaces, peg-like tegumental spines were densely distributed. Around the oral sucker, several sensory papillae, each with a short cilium, were distributed, and on the tail, sensory papillae, each with an extensively long cilium, were observed. This is the first record describing a cyathocotylid cercaria from a brackish water gastropod in the Republic of Korea.
Animal Structures/ultrastructure ; Animals ; Cercaria/*isolation & purification/*ultrastructure ; Gastropoda/*parasitology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Republic of Korea ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Ti-TiO2 nanotubes with different diameters on the adhesion of fibroblast and osteoblast, and to find which diameter was more favorable for cells' respective adhesion.

METHODSPure titanium sheets were polished and then anodized at different potentials for 1 h with Ti as anode and Pt as cathode. TiO2 nanotubes formed at 1, 5, 10 and 20 V potentials served as experimental groups and polished pure titanium served as control group. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (Fe-SEM) was used to analyze the surface topography. Stained nucleus with Hoechst33342 were used to measure the cell adhesion. The cell shape on the sample surface were analyzed with Fe-SEM.

RESULTSTiO2 nanotube array of different inner diameters from 15 nm to 100 nm were grown on titanium sheets by anodization at potentials from 1 to 20 V. At 30, 60 and 120 min, fibroblast adhesion at nanotubes anodized at 5 V was (141 ± 9), (388 ± 14) and (489 ± 15) respectively, significantly less than any other nanotube surface at the same time (P < 0.01). Nanotubes anodized at 20 V had the least inhibitory effect for fibroblast adhesion with a number of (579 ± 14) at 120 min, and the cell shape was also inhibited. At 30, 60 and 120 min, osteoblast had a significant better adhesion on nanotubes formed at 5 V than it did on any other surface at the same time (P < 0.01), except the control group at 30 min, with the adhesion number of (198 ± 10), (431 ± 10) and (501 ± 10) respectively, and osteoblast had a abundant spread on nanotubes formed at 5 V; while osteoblast adhesion on nanotubes anodized at 20 V was (152 ± 11), (403 ± 9) and (465 ± 12) respectively, less than on any other nanotube surface within the same time (P < 0.05), and the cell shape on the surface changed to be more elongate.

CONCLUSIONSFibroblast adhesion is inhabited more or less on Ti-TiO2 nanotubes of different diameters. Nanotubes formed at 5 V have the most osteoblast adhesion, and inhibit fibroblast adhesion.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanotubes ; chemistry ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish the femtosecond laser experimental platform in vitro for numerical controlled cavity preparation, and to evaluate the roughness quantitatively and observe the microscopic morphology of the cutting surface.

METHODSEnamel and dentin planes were prepared on human third molars. A universal motion controller was used to control the samples to do rectangle wave motion perpendicular to the incident direction of the laser at focus. The surface roughness was observed with confocal laser scanning microscope.

RESULTSPrecise ablation of the dental hard tissues can be achieved with the established femtosecond laser numerical control platform. For enamel, the surface roughness of the cavity inside laser scanning line was 7.173 µm at the bottom and 2.675 µm on the wall of the cavity. The surface roughness of the cavity between laser scanning lines was 13.667 µm at the bottom and 33.927 µm on the wall. For dentin, the surface roughness of the cavity bottom was 51.182 µm and 25.629 µm for the wall. Scanning electron microscope images showed no micro-cracks or carbonization on enamel, while carbonization, cracks and a small amount of crystalline particles were observed on dentin.

CONCLUSIONSPrecise tooth preparation can be achieved with femtosecond laser numerical control flatform. The surface roughness of cavity wall was less than that of the bottom and can meet the clinical needs. Suitable femtosecond laser output power should be set for different cutting objects, otherwise it may result in tissue damages.

Dental Cavity Preparation ; methods ; Dental Enamel ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Dentin ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Hardness ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molar, Third ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Surface Properties

Surface ultrastructure of Parvatrema timondavidi developmental stages was studied using a scanning electron microscope. The metacercariae were collected from the marine clam, Tapes philippinarum, and juvenile and worms adult were recovered at 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after experimental infection of mice. The metacercariae had a large oral sucker and characteristic lateral projections. Around the lip of the oral sucker many type I and type II sensory papillae were observed, and type III papillae were located symmetrically on the medial side of the lateral projection. Numerous type I papillae were grouped around the genital pore. The tegumental spines were distributed over the worm surface except the lip of the sucker and genital pore. The 1-day old worm had a well-developed ventral sucker, with 6 type II sensory papillae on its outer surface and another 6 type I papillae on the inner side, Two small type I papillae were seen on the anterior side of the ventral sucker. The genital pore was and 15 type I papillae were grouped around it. The 2-, 3-, and 7-day worms revealed that as they grew to be adults, the spine tips became multipointed, the genital pore formed a genital atrium, and the cytoplasmic process became well differentiated. In 2- and 3-day worms 10 type II papillae encircling the lip of the oral sucker, and additional 4 papilled at the dorsal side of 4 dorsal type II papillae were a characteristic feature. The distribution pattern of sensory papillae around the oral sucker and genital pore, and 2 type I papillae on the anterior side of the ventra sucker, was so peculiar in P. timondavidi, that they seem to be useful keys for taxonomic differentiation from other gymnophallids.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Parvatrema timondavidi ; surface ultrastructure ; scanning EM, sensory papilla ; spine ; cytoplasmic process

The present study was designed in order to investigate the lectin induced cytoagglutination properties of normal and transformed cells and surface alterations in the early stage of the transformed cells by characterizing the structural changes on the hepatoma surface membrane. Rat and rabbit erythrocytes and Sarcoma 180 ascites tumor cells were used for the lectin-induced cytoagglutination. Plotting % agglutination versus concanavalin A(Con A) concentration, sigmoid curves appeared in all cases. alpha-methyl-D-mannopyranoside(alphaMM) inhibited Con A induced cytoagglutination and the degrees of inhibition depended on the cell types and species. When rats were fed a diet containing 0.06% 3'-methyl-4dimethylaminoazobenzene(3'-Me DAB) for 12 weeks, almost all of the rats had solid liver tumors. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of surface membrane proteins of these rat livers and of transplanted tumor cells showed three distinct protein bands, of which two were absent in normal rat livers. The molecular weights of these proteins were 73,000, 66,000, and 57,000 daltons. Antiserum against primary hepatocarcinoma surface proteins precipitated with three membrane proteins obtained from primary hepatocarcinoma cells as well as transplanted hepatocarcinoma cells, suggesting the presence of specific tumor antigens in these cells.
Animal ; Cell Membrane/pathology* ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/ultrastructure* ; Concanavalin A/diagnostic use ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/chemically induced ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/ultrastructure* ; Methyldimethylaminoazobenzene ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Surface Properties

In order to observe the effects of serum albumin and fibrinogen on biophysical surface properties and the morphology of pulmonary surfactant in vitro, we measured the surface adsorption rate, dynamic minimum and maximum surface tension (min-, max-ST) by Pulsating Bubble Surfactometer, and demonstrated ultrastructures on a series of mixtures with varying concentrations of albumin or fibrinogen and Surfactant-TA. The albumin and fibrinogen significantly inhibited the adsorption rate and ST-lowering properties of surfactant through increasing STs of adsorption rate, min-ST, and max-ST. The characteristic morphology of the Surfactant-TA changed from lamellar rod-like structure with open ends into spherical structures with loss of their open ends by mixing with albumin or fibrinogen. These inhibitory effects of albumin and fibrinogen on surface properties of surfactant were dependent upon the increasing concentration of albumin or fibrinogen. We concluded that albumin and fibrinogen significantly altered surfactant function and its ultrastructural morphology in vitro. These findings support the concept that albumin and fibrinogen-induced surfactant dysfunction may play an important role in the pathophysiology of adult respiratory distress syndrome, and this adverse effect of albumin and fibrinogen on surfactant might be overcome by administration of large doses of exogenous surfactant.
Adsorption ; Animal ; Cattle ; Fibrinogen/pharmacology* ; Human ; Pulmonary Surfactants/ultrastructure* ; Pulmonary Surfactants/drug effects ; Serum Albumin, Bovine/pharmacology* ; Surface Properties

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of different surface microtopograph of Ti-Nb-Zr-Sn alloy on the biological behavior and soft tissue integration of rabbits' lacertus fibroblast. The lacertus fibroblasts of Achilles tendon of rabbits were cultured and inoculated on the surface of smooth Ti-flake (control group), and on the surface of sand blast, microgrooves, thread Ti-flakes respectively (3 treatment groups). The cell's growth ratio and attaching status were examined by MTT test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The rabbits' lacertus fibroblasts proliferated regularly on the surface of Ti-flakes, and most results of their inter-group comparison showed statistically significant difference (P<0.05), thus indicating the different effects of different surface microtopographs on cell's proliferation; By SEM, the cells were noted to have no obvious directivity on smooth surface; they attached irregularly on the sand blast surface. But in the other two groups, they were oriented regularly along the texture. The cells were almost shuttle-like on the four kinds of surface except for a part of irregular cells on the sand blast surface, and there were plentiful cell-cell junctions. Under high power lens, we found cells with limpid microvilli in the experiment samples. Owing to the cell's fast proliferation and regular attachment in the experiment, we concluded that the regular microgrooved surface was more suitable for meeting the requirement of the soft tissues' physiological function.
Achilles Tendon ; cytology ; Alloys ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Rabbits ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry

The relationship of free amino groups on the surface and the characteristics of chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) prepared by ionic gelation method was investigated. Free amino groups on the surface of CS-NPs were determined by colloidal titration, and the effects of the amount of free amino groups and its ionizable level on the particle size, zeta potential, appearance, drug entrapment efficiency and drug release profile in vitro of CS-NPs were investigated. The result showed that the surface free amino groups reduced, the average size, zeta potential, stability of nanoparticles, and the drug release rate and degree all decreased while the drug entrapment efficiency was not affected with the increase of tripolyphosphate (TPP) concentration. With the increase of pH, the free amino groups could be deprotonated and the ionizable level was stepped down, correspondingly the particle size and zeta potential of CS-NPs decreased. Additionally, the drug release rate and degree were elevated in acid medium while descended in neutral or base medium. The amount and ionizable level of free amino groups on the surface are affected by the gelation degree and pH, which further affected the volume phase transitions (swelling/shrinking processes) of CS-NPs. The properties of CS-NPs have correlation with the surface free amino groups.
Amines ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Particle Size ; Polyphosphates ; chemistry ; Surface Properties

The milk fat globule-EGF-factor 8 protein (MFG-E8) has been identified in various tissues, where it has an important role in intercellular interactions, cellular migration, and neovascularization. Previous studies showed that MFG-E8 is expressed in different cell types under normal and pathophysiological conditions, but its expression in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during hematopoiesis has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated MFG-E8 expression in multiple hematopoietic tissues at different stages of mouse embryogenesis. Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that MFG-E8 was specifically expressed in CD34+ HSCs at all hematopoietic sites, including the yolk sac, aorta-gonad-mesonephros region, placenta and fetal liver, during embryogenesis. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting and polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that CD34+ cells, purified from the fetal liver, expressed additional HSC markers, c-Kit and Sca-1, and that these CD34+ cells, but not CD34- cells, highly expressed MFG-E8. We also found that MFG-E8 was not expressed in HSCs in adult mouse bone marrow, and that its expression was confined to F4/80+ macrophages. Together, this study demonstrates, for the first time, that MFG-8 is expressed in fetal HSC populations, and that MFG-E8 may have a role in embryonic hematopoiesis.
Animals ; Antigens, CD34/analysis ; Antigens, Surface/*analysis ; Bone Marrow/ultrastructure ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/*cytology ; Liver/embryology ; Mice/*embryology ; Milk Proteins/*analysis ; Placentation ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo compare the three dimensional morphology and surface roughness changes of enamel eroded for different etching time.

METHODSFifteen freshly extracted sound human pre-molars for orthodontic purpose were collected. The buccal surface of teeth were prepared into smooth enamel slices, and then were randomly divided into 5 groups based on their etching time 0 s (control group), 5 s, 10 s, 20 s, 30 s, respectively by 37% phosphoric acid. The three dimensional morphology was observed under atomic force microscope (AFM). The profile was analyzed, and the value of Ra, Rq, Rz and the surface area and volume were measured.

RESULTSThe AFM photograph showed that with the etching time from 0 s to 20 s the enamel surface demineralised gradually, the top structure of enamel rod and the fish scaled structure became obvious. But the morphology only changed a bit after 20 s. The surrounding inter-rod enamel eroded first, the depth increased to 2.8 µm at 20 s but decreased to 1.8 µm at 30 s. The value of Ra increased from (19.69 ± 3.42) nm to (359.51 ± 75.79) nm, and Rq from (22.02 ± 5.57) nm to (431.02 ± 83.09) nm, Rz from (0.24 ± 0.08) µm to (2.38 ± 0.26) µm. Except for groups 20 s and 30 s, the difference among other groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The surface area expanded from (406.77 ± 3.88) µm(2) to (546.69 ± 84.02) µm(2), and surface volume from (65.73 ± 14.46) µm(3) to (474.63 ± 52.50) µm(3).

CONCLUSIONSThe depth, surface roughness, surface area and volume caused by erosion increased with etching time. The three dimensional morphology greatly changed by acid-etching process.

Acid Etching, Dental ; methods ; Analysis of Variance ; Dental Enamel ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Phosphoric Acids ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Surface Properties ; drug effects ; Time Factors