Anti-Inflammatory Effects of β-Cryptoxanthin on 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cytokine Expression in Human Oral Mucosal Keratinocytes.

Oral mucositis is a typical adverse effect of chemotherapy, causing oral pain that significantly reduces the patient's quality of life. β-cryptoxanthin (β-cry) is a carotenoid abundant in citrus fruits with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the β-cry effect on oral mucositis remains unclear.

Effects of mechanical stress on human oral mucosa-derived cells.

Objectives: Placement of a denture results in the application of mechanical stress (MS), such as occlusal force, onto the oral mucosa beneath the denture. To better understand the molecular mechanism underlying MS-induced inflammation in the oral mucosa, we examined the impact of MS on human oral epithelial cells (HO-1-N-1) and human fibroblasts (HGFs) in this study.

Materials And Methods: MS was applied on HO-1-N-1 and HGFs using a hydrostatic pressure apparatus.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and dental pulp reservoirs in Japanese adults.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonize the stomach and are considered an etiological agent of gastric cancer. The oral cavity is a transmission route to the stomach, but the exact site of colonization has not yet been explicated.

Transplantation of dental pulp-derived cell sheets cultured on human amniotic membrane induced to differentiate into bone.

Objective: The usefulness of the amniotic membrane as a cell culture substrate has led to its use in the development of dental pulp-derived cell sheets. We induced osteoblastic differentiation of dental pulp-derived cell sheets and conducted histological and immunological examinations in addition to imaging assessments for regeneration of bone defects.

Methods: Dental pulp cells were obtained by primary culture of the dental pulp tissue harvested from extracted wisdom teeth.

Nanogel tectonic porous 3D scaffold for direct reprogramming fibroblasts into osteoblasts and bone regeneration.

Transplantation of engineered three-dimensional (3D) bone tissue may provide therapeutic benefits to patients with various bone diseases. To achieve this goal, appropriate 3D scaffolds and cells are required. In the present study, we devised a novel nanogel tectonic material for artificial 3D scaffold, namely the nanogel-cross-linked porous (NanoCliP)-freeze-dried (FD) gel, and estimated its potential as a 3D scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

Generation of Directly Converted Human Osteoblasts That Are Free of Exogenous Gene and Xenogenic Protein.

Generation of osteoblasts from human somatic cells may be applicable in an effective transplantation therapy against bone diseases. Recently we established a procedure to directly convert human fibroblasts into osteoblasts by transducing some transcription factor genes via retroviral vectors. However, retroviral vector-mediated transduction may potentially cause tumor formation from the infected cells, thus a non-viral gene transfection method may be more preferable for preparation of osteoblasts to be used for transplantation therapy.

Electrical stimulation with periodic alternating intervals stimulates neuronal cells to produce neurotrophins and cytokines through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

Peripheral neuropathy is a representative complication of dental surgery. Electrical therapy, based on electrical stimulation with periodic alternating intervals (ES-PAI), may promote nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve injury in a non-invasive manner, potentially providing an effective therapy for neuropathy. This study aimed to analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying the nerve recovery stimulated by ES-PAI.

Biomechanical force induces the growth factor production in human periodontal ligament-derived cells.

Although many reports have been published on the functional roles of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, the mechanisms involved in the maintenance and homeostasis of PDL have not been determined. We investigated the effects of biomechanical force on growth factor production, phosphorylation of MAPKs, and intracellular transduction pathways for growth factor production in human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells using MAPK inhibitors. hPDL cells were exposed to mechanical force (6 MPa) using a hydrostatic pressure apparatus.

Effect of glycemic control on periodontitis in type 2 diabetic patients with periodontal disease.

Aims/introduction: Diabetes mellitus and periodontitis are closely related. A huge number of reports has addressed the effect of periodontal intervention therapy on glycemic control, but no reports have addressed the effect of glycemic intervention therapy on periodontal disease in type 2 diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of improved glycemic control by glycemic intervention therapy on periodontitis in type 2 diabetic patients.

β-cryptoxanthin regulates bone resorption related-cytokine production in human periodontal ligament cells.

Objective: β-cryptoxanthin (β-cry) is a type of carotenoid found in certain fruits and vegetables. Although it has been shown that β-cry inhibits alveolar bone resorption, the molecular mechanisms for this have not yet been clarified. In the present study, we investigated the effects of β-cry on bone resorption related-cytokine production in human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells.

Reduced masticatory function in non-elderly obese Japanese adults.

Objectives: Abnormal eating behaviors such as compulsive overeating, eating fast, chewing less, palatable soft food preferences and avoiding hard food are often observed in obese individuals, and these behaviors may affect their masticatory function, but little information of masticatory function in obese subjects are available at present. The present study investigated masticatory function in non-elderly obese Japanese adults and explored the relationships between obesity and masticatory function.

Methods: Seventy-five obese subjects (BMI ≥ 25; male: 34, female: 41) and 98 subjects with normal weight (BMI 18.

Porphyromonas gingivalis induces myocarditis and/or myocardial infarction in mice and IL-17A is involved in pathogenesis of these diseases.

Objectives: Although an association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases has been suggested, the role of Porphyromonas gingivalis in cardiovascular diseases is not clear. In this study, we examined whether experimental bacteremia of P. gingivalis causes cardiovascular diseases and investigated the mechanism of pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases induced by P.

Mechanical stress enhances production of cytokines in human periodontal ligament cells induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Objective: We have previously reported that human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells produced many kinds of cytokines as a result of bacterial stimulation, including stimulation with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). However, the effects of mechanical stress on cytokine production in hPDL cells stimulated by periodontopathogenic bacteria are not clearly understood.

IL-17 is involved in bone resorption in mouse periapical lesions.

Periapical lesions are induced by bacterial infection of the dental pulp and result in destruction of the surrounding alveolar bone. Although various immunological studies concerning periapical bone resorption have been reported, the role of cytokines in the formation of periapical lesions remains unclear. In this study, the role of IL-17A in periapical lesions in mice was investigated.