Impact of botulinum toxin type A on tooth movement and bone remodeling in male Wistar rats.

Objective: We evaluated whether the use of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BTX-A) in masticatory muscles influences tooth movement and bone remodeling.

Design: Seventy-seven male Wistar rats were allocated to the groups: S - Saline (n=20); SM - Saline with movement (n=20); BT - Botulinum toxin (n=18); BTM - Botulinum toxin with movement (n=19). On day 1, 0.

Predicting the Risk of Maxillary Canine Impaction Based on Maxillary Measurements Using Supervised Machine Learning.

Objectives: To predict palatally impacted maxillary canines based on maxilla measurements through supervised machine learning techniques.

Materials And Methods: The maxilla images from 138 patients were analysed to investigate intermolar width, interpremolar width, interpterygoid width, maxillary length, maxillary width, nasal cavity width and nostril width, obtained through cone beam computed tomography scans. The predictive models were built using the following machine learning algorithms: Adaboost Classifier, Decision Tree, Gradient Boosting Classifier, K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), Logistic Regression, Multilayer Perceptron Classifier (MLP), Random Forest Classifier and Support Vector Machine (SVM).

Efficiency of mixed and rigid occlusal stabilization splints: Randomized clinical trial.

Occlusal stabilization splints are the most common treatment for controlling the deleterious effects of sleep bruxism. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost, mixed occlusal splint (MOS) compared to that of a rigid splint. A randomized clinical trial was performed on 43 adults of both sexes with possible sleep bruxism and satisfactory dental conditions.

Multidisciplinary Treatment: Follow-Up of Dental Autotransplantation for 10 Years.

The objective is to present a clinical case of dental autotransplantation managed with surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and aesthetic rehabilitation. A 10-year-old boy sought treatment after avulsion of the maxillary left central incisor, which was not reimplanted. Based on anamnesis, clinical examination, and complementary examinations, agenesis of the maxillary and mandibular second premolars except the mandibular right second premolar was observed.

[The issue of medico-legal assessment of noise induced hearing loss: comparison of methods].

Audiogram classification is crucial for hearing protection of workers occupationally exposed to noise. The methods that have been proposed are based on two principles: the morphological evaluation of the audiometric curve (eg. Merluzzi-Pira-Bosio--MPB) or the average hearing loss on different frequencies (eg.

Evidence for a paracrine role of endogenous adrenomedullary galanin in the regulation of glucocorticoid secretion in the rat adrenal gland.

Previous investigations have shown that rat adrenocortical cells are provided with galanin receptors, and galanin stimulates glucocorticoid secretion from dispersed cells. The present study aimed to clarify the possible role of galanin in the physiological regulation of rat adrenal secretory activity. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detected galanin mRNA expression in the adrenal medulla, but not in the cortex.

Galanin enhances corticosterone secretion from dispersed rat adrenocortical cells through the activation of GAL-R1 and GAL-R2 receptors coupled to the adenylate cyclase-dependent signaling cascade.

Galanin is a regulatory peptide, which acts via three subtypes of receptors, named GAL-R1, GAL-R2 and GAL-R3. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the expression of GAL-R1 and GAL-R2, but not GAL-R3 mRNAs in dispersed rat adrenal zona fasciculata-reticularis (inner) cells. The immuno-blockade of GAL-R1 and GAL-R2, but not GAL-R3, decreased the binding of [3H]galanin to dispersed cells, a complete inhibition being obtained only by the simultaneous blockade of both receptor subtypes.

In vitro culture on Matrigel favors the long-term maintenance of rat zona glomerulosa-cell differentiated phenotype.

Zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells cultured on plastic within few days dedifferentiate losing their capacity to secrete aldosterone (ALDO) in appreciable amounts. Evidence indicates that extracellular matrix modulates the secretory behavior of adrenocortical cells cultured in vitro. Hence, we compared the morphology and function of rat ZG cells grown on plastic and Matrigel basement membrane matrix (hereinafter Matrigel) for up to 12 days.

An image analysis of the spatial distribution of perivascular mast cells in human melanoma.

A mutual spatial and functional relationship occurs between mast cells (MCs) and endothelial cells and the density of MCs is highly correlated with the extent of tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of MCs around the blood vessels in melanoma samples by means of an approach derived from spatial statistics, based on the analysis of the distribution of the distances of MCs from vessels to objectively establish if the two structures (MCs and vessels) are distributed independently over the studied area or if they displayed any kind of spatial association. Results showed that a higher number of vessels and MCs can be observed in melanoma as compared with samples from common acquired nevi (control group).

Orexins in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Orexin-A and orexin-B are hypothalamic peptides that act via two G protein-coupled receptors, named orexin type 1 and type 2 receptors (OX1-Rs and OX2-Rs). The most studied biological functions of orexins are the central control of feeding and sleep, but in the past few years findings that orexin system modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, acting on both its central and peripheral branches, have accumulated. Orexins and their receptors are expressed in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and median eminence and orexin receptors in pituitary corticotropes, adrenal cortex, and medulla.

Neuropeptides B and W enhance the growth of human adrenocortical carcinoma-derived NCI-H295 cells by exerting MAPK p42/p44-mediated proliferogenic and antiapoptotic effects.

Neuropeptides B and W (NPB and NPW) are endogenous ligands of two G protein-coupled receptors, named GPR7 and GPR8. GPR7 and GPR8 are expressed in the adrenal cortex, and there is evidence that NPB and NPW stimulate glucocorticoid secretion from human adrenocortical cells by activating protein kinase (PK) A and PKC signaling. To gain insight into the role of NPB and NPW in human adrenal functional regulation, we have investigated their effects on the secretion and growth of the human adrenocortical carcinoma-derived NCI-H295 cell line.

Adrenomedullin and vascular endothelium growth factor genes are overexpressed in the regenerating rat adrenal cortex, and AM and VEGF reciprocally enhance their mRNA expression in cultured rat adrenocortical cells.

Adrenomedullin (AM) is an endogenous regulatory peptide, which exerts growth promoting and neoangiogenic actions in several normal and neoplastic tissues. Evidence has been provided that AM and the pro-angiogenic peptide vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) are expressed in the adrenal gland, and we investigated whether their gene transcription is modified in a model of rapid rat adrenal growth, namely regeneration after enucleation and contralateral adrenalectomy. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that AM and VEGF mRNAs were significantly increased in regenerating adrenals with respect to the intact adrenocortical tissue of sham-operated control rats.

Differential expression and function of beacon in the rat adrenal cortex and medulla.

Beacon gene is overexpressed in obese rats, and beacon was found to stimulate food intake. Evidence has been recently provided that beacon is also expressed in the endocrine glands of normal rats, including adrenal cortex, of which it appears to regulate secretory activity. To further characterize the role of beacon in the rat adrenals, we investigated the level of beacon expression in the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG), zona fasciculata-reticularis (ZF/R) and medulla (AM), and the in vitro secretory responses to beacon[47-73] (hereinafter, beacon) of adrenocortical and adrenomedullary tissues.

Orexins modulate the growth of cultured rat adrenocortical cells, acting through type 1 and type 2 receptors coupled to the MAPK p42/p44- and p38-dependent cascades.

Orexin A and B are hypothalamic peptides that act through two subtypes of receptors named OX1-R and OX2-R. The OX1-R almost exclusively binds orexin-A, whereas OX2-R is non-selective for both orexins. We previously found that rat adrenocortical cells express both orexin-receptor subtypes, and orexin-A stimulates corticosterone secretion from dispersed adrenocortical cells acting via the OX1-R.

Neuropeptide-Y and Y-receptors in the autocrine-paracrine regulation of adrenal gland under physiological and pathophysiological conditions (Review).

Neuropeptide-Y (NPY) is a 36-amino acid peptide, which belongs, along with peptide YY (PYY), to the pancreatic polypeptide (PP) family. The members of this family of peptides act via G protein-coupled receptors (Rs), six subtypes of which (from Y1- to Y6-R) have been identified. NPY and PYY preferentially bind the Y1-R, Y2-R and Y5-R, while PP mainly acts via the Y4-R.

Up-regulation of the adrenomedullin system mediates hypotension and hypoaldosteronism induced by simulated microgravity.

We recently demonstrated that prolonged simulated microgravity (SMG) induced hypotension and hypoaldosteronism in rats, and gathered preliminary evidence for an involvement of circulating adrenomedullin (AM). Thus, we aimed to investigate whether short-term SMG elicits the same effects, and whether up-regulation of adrenal AM system plays a relevant role. Rats were exposed for 8 days to SMG in the form of hindlimb unweighting, and then, along with control animals, were given an intraperitoneal injection of AM22-52 and/or angiotensin-II (Ang-II) (100 nmoles/kg) or the saline vehicle.

Norbormide enhances late steps of steroid-hormone synthesis in rat and mouse adrenal cortex.

Norbormide (N) is a vasoconstrictor agent, which acts selectively on the peripheral arteries of the rat, through the activation of the phospholipase C (PLC) cascade and the stimulation of Ca(2+) entrance in the vascular myocytes. Several endogenous vasoconstrictor agent (e.g.

Ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogue receptor are expressed in the rat adrenal cortex: Evidence that ghrelin stimulates the growth, but not the secretory activity of adrenal cells.

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), which has been originally isolated from rat stomach. Evidence has been previously provided that adrenal gland possesses abundant ghrelin-displaceable GHS-Rs, but nothing is known about the possible role of ghrelin in the regulation of adrenocortical function. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the expression of ghrelin and GHS-R in the rat adrenal cortex, and high adrenal concentrations of immunoreactive ghrelin were detected by radioimmune assay (RIA).

Evidence for an autocrine-paracrine role of adrenomedullin in the cultured rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells.

Rat adrenomedullin (ADM) is a 50-amino acid hypotensive and vasodilating peptide, which derives from the posttranslational proteolytic cleavage of pro(p)ADM. ADM acts via at least two subtypes of receptors, named L1-receptor (L1-R) and calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR). CRLR functions as a calcitonin gene-related peptide or a selective ADM receptor depending on the expression of the subtype 1 or the subtypes 2 and 3 of a family of receptor-activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs).

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and PACAP receptor expression and function in the rat adrenal gland.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a basic 38-amino acid peptide, which acts through three main G protein-coupled VIP/PACAP receptor subtypes, called PAC1, VPAC1 and VPAC2. We have investigated the expression and function of PACAP and its receptors in the rat adrenal gland. Reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and radioimmune assay (RIA) allowed the detection of PACAP expression as mRNA and protein exclusively in adrenal medulla (AM).

Mechanisms transducing the aldosterone secretagogue signal of endothelins in the human adrenal cortex.

Evidence has been provided that the 21-amino acid hypertensive peptide endothelin (ET)-1 exerts a potent secretagogue effect on human adrenocortical zona glomerulosa (ZG), acting through two receptor subtypes, called ET(A) and ET(B), the signaling mechanism(s) of which has (have) not yet been investigated. Collagenase dispersed human ZG cells were obtained from normal adrenals of patients undergoing nephrectomy/adrenalectomy for renal cancer. The selective ET(A)- and ET(B)-receptor activation was obtained by exposing dispersed cells to ET-1 plus the ET(B)-receptor antagonist BQ-788 and to the ET(B)-receptor agonist BQ-3020, respectively.

Endothelin-1[1-31]: a novel autocrine-paracrine regulator of human adrenal cortex secretion and growth.

Endothelin (ET)-1[1-21] stimulates steroid secretion and zona glomerulosa growth and is expressed in the human and rat adrenal cortex together with its receptor subtypes A and B (ETA and ETB). Although ET-1[1-21] is generated from bigET-1 by an ET-converting enzyme (ECE-1), there is evidence of an alternative chymase-mediated biosynthetic pathway leading to the production of an ET-1[1-31] peptide, the role of which in adrenal pathophysiology is largely unknown. Gene expression and immunohistochemical studies allowed localization of chymase in the normal human adrenal cortex.

Adrenomedullin stimulates DNA synthesis of rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells through activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent cascade.

Background: Adrenal zona glomerulosa cells are provided with adrenomedullin receptors. Adrenomedullin has recently been found to enhance proliferation of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells and zona glomerulosa cells.

Objective: To investigate whether adrenomedullin affects rat zona glomerulosa proliferative activity through the tyrosine kinase and extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs) pathways.

Endothelins stimulate aldosterone secretion from dispersed rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells, acting through ETB receptors coupled with the phospholipase C-dependent signaling pathway.

Compelling evidence indicates that endothelins (ETs) stimulates aldosterone secretion from rat zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells, acting through the ETB receptor subtype. We have investigated the mechanisms transducing the aldosterone secretagogue signal elicited by the pure activation of ETB receptors. Aldosterone response of dispersed rat ZG cells to the selective ETB-receptor agonist BQ-3020 was not affected by inhibitors of adenylate cyclase/protein kinase (PK)A, tyrosine kinase-, mitogen-activated PK-, cyclooxygenase- and lipoxygenase-dependent pathways.

Tyrphostin-23 enhances steroid-hormone secretion from dispersed human and rat adrenocrotical cells.

Tyrphostin-23 is commonly used as inhibitor of tyrosine kinase (TK). We found that tyrphostin-23 concentration-dependently increased basal steroid-hormone secretion from dispersed human and rat adrenocortical cells, the maximal effective concentration being 10(-5) M. Tyrphostin-23 (10(-5) M) enhanced 10(-9) M angiotensin-II- and endothelin-1-stimulated secretion of human and rat adrenocortical cells, but not the secretory response to 10(-9) M ACTH However, it increased the response to lower concentrations (10(-12) or 10(-11) M) of ACTH.