Synthesis and Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Reactions in a La @I -C -Phenoxazine Conjugate.

A newly designed electron donor-acceptor conjugate consisting of an endohedral dimetallofullerene (La @I -C ) and phenoxazine (POZ) was successfully synthesized under Prato conditions. Our results document that the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition took place across the [5,6] junction to afford exclusively the corresponding [5,6] cycloadduct. The structure of the conjugate was characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical studies.

Esophageal Cancer Patients Have a High Incidence of Severe Periodontitis and Preoperative Dental Care Reduces the Likelihood of Severe Pneumonia after Esophagectomy.

Background: Poor oral health is a risk factor for causing upper aerodigestive tract tumors, including esophageal cancer. Our aim was to determine the periodontitis rate in our cohort of esophageal cancer patients. We also analyzed whether preoperative dental examination and care reduces the likelihood of severe pneumonia after esophagectomy.

[Evaluation of combination chemotherapy with S-1 and docetaxel for patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and adverse events of combination chemotherapy with S-1 and docetaxel (DOC) as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas. Fifteen patients were enrolled in this study (11 men and 4 women, with a mean age of 65.9 years).

Differentiation of an ameloblast-lineage cell line (ALC) is induced by Sonic hedgehog signaling.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh), one of the essential molecules for embryogenesis and organogenesis, is strongly expressed in the enamel knot, which represents the signaling center for odontogenesis due to the presence of essential secretory molecules. Here, we investigated the effects of Shh on ameloblast differentiation using a mouse ameloblast-lineage cell line (ALC). In the presence of Shh, the expression of amelogenin and ameloblastin was up-regulated, and their promoter activities were also elevated.

Phenotype properties of a novel spontaneously immortalized odontoblast-lineage cell line.

Here we report on the spontaneous immortalization upon serial passages of mouse fetal dental papilla cells, which present odontoblast phenotype features. The cells named odontoblast-lineage cell (OLC) produced dentin extracellular matrix proteins, such as DSP and DMP1, and maintained transcripts of various matrix components as osteopontin, BMP-4, procollagen-1, and MEPE. The addition of osteogenic differentiation medium with beta-glycerophosphate and ascorbic acid was effective for inducing calcification and mineralization in vitro in cell cultures for up to 28 days.

Establishment and characterization of a spontaneously immortalized mouse ameloblast-lineage cell line.

Tooth development was cooperatively regulated by the epithelial ameloblasts and mesenchymal odontoblasts. Ameloblasts secrete enamel matrix, critical for enamel formation. While there are several reports about establishment of immortalized ameloblast-like cells by introducing viral oncogene, we tried to establish a spontaneously immortalized ameloblast-lineage cell line, maintaining the cell type specific character, including the ability to induce in vitro bio-mineralization.

Analysis of the cellular heterogeneity in the basal layer of mouse ear epidermis: an approach from partial decomposition in vitro and retroviral cell marking in vivo.

In the thin epidermis, the existence of epidermal proliferation units was hypothesized. Each unit is supposed to be partitioned into each column of polygonal-shaped cornified plates, estimated to contain a central stem cell in its basal layer. We attempted to verify this hypothesis in vitro by analyzing the partially decomposed fragment of mouse ear epidermis and in vivo using retroviral cell marking.