Effect of strontium in combination with fluoride on enamel remineralization in vitro.

Previous studies showed that strontium (Sr) as well as fluoride (F) can enhance enamel remineralization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Sr in combination with F on enamel remineralization in vitro. Sixty enamel specimens obtained from caries free human premolars were demineralised to produce caries-like lesions.

Long-term results of dose-intensive chemotherapy with G-CSF support (TCC-NHL-91) for advanced intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a review of 59 consecutive cases treated at a single institute.

We evaluated the long-term outcome of very dose-intensive chemotherapy (TCC-NHL-91) for advanced intermediate-grade lymphoma, in which an eight-cycle regimen with 11 drugs was given with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support (total 18 weeks). Fifty-nine patients were treated during February 1, 1991 and March 31, 2001 (median age: 48 years). Forty-three patients (73%) were in a high-intermediate risk or high-risk group (HI/H) according to the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aa-IPI).

Effects of mosapride citrate on patients after vagal nerve, lower esophageal sphincter, and pyloric sphincter-preserving nearly total gastrectomy reconstructed by jejunal J pouch interposition, and postoperative quality of life.

Background/aims: Vagal nerve and pylorus-preserving nearly total gastrectomy reconstructed by interposition of a jejunal J pouch (hereinafter called NTGP) is a function-preserving operation for early gastric cancer. However, some patients after NTGP have suffered from postprandial food stasis in the substitute stomach, and postprandial stasis leads to abdominal symptoms. To clarify the clinical effect of mosapride citrate (hereinafter called MS) for prevention of food stasis in the substitute stomach for patients after NTGP, we studied the clinical effects of MS before and after administration of MS.

Synchronous colitic cancers and microcarcinoids in a patient with long-standing and extensive ulcerative colitis: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of colitic cancer detected by target biopsies at surveillance colonoscopy in a patient with long-standing and extensive ulcerative colitis. At first, the detected colitic cancer was removed by endoscopic mucosal resection as the patient refused surgical resection. However, total proctocolectomy with an ileal-J-pouch anal anastomosis was performed additionally after informed consent had been obtained from the patient, as the resected specimen included invasive cancer histologically.

Discovery of potent CCR4 antagonists: Synthesis and structure-activity relationship study of 2,4-diaminoquinazolines.

A new series of quinazolines that function as CCR4 antagonists were discovered during the screening of our corporate compound libraries. Subsequent compound optimization elucidated the structure-activity relationships and led the identification of 2-(1,4'-bipiperidine-1'-yl)-N-cycloheptyl-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4-amine 14a, which showed potent inhibition in the [(35)S]GTPgammaS-binding assay (IC(50)=18nM). This compound also inhibited the chemotaxis of human and mouse CCR4-expressing cells (IC(50)=140nM, 39nM).

Sp1 is required for glucose-induced transcriptional regulation of mouse vesicular glutamate transporter 2 gene.

Background & Aims: Vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) has been reported to be involved in glucose-induced insulin secretion. It has been shown that glucose stimulates the expression of VGLUT isoform 2 (VGLUT2) in beta cells via transcriptional mechanism. In this study, we identified the mouse VGLUT2 (mVGLUT2) promoter and characterized the transcriptional mechanism of glucose-stimulated mVGLUT2 expression in beta-cells.

[Estimation of collimator scatter factor, S(c), of small field sizes using long-SCD method and two saturation models].

To estimate the collimator scatter factor, S(c) of small field sizes in which a mini-phantom cannot be fully included at the nominal treatment distance (NTD=100 cm), we measured the in-air output of 4 MV and 10 MV X-rays of a Varian's Clinac 2100 C/D using a mini-phantom at NTD and at a long source-to-chamber distance (SCD=200 cm) with field-size defined at the isocenter down to 4.6 x 4.6 cm(2) and 2.

Atypical Parkinsonism in distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles.

A patient with distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV) exhibited Parkinsonism with a severe writing tremor that responded poorly to levodopa. Molecular genetic analysis revealed that the patient had the D176V/V572L compound heterozygous mutation in the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) gene. Histopathological examination of a biopsied muscle specimen yielded findings compatible with those of DMRV, which is characterized by the presence of rimmed vacuoles without inflammatory cell infiltration in muscle fibers.

Characteristic redox potential-time curve in the iron(II)/nitric acid autocatalytic reaction and its application to a time measurement-determination of folic acid.

A characteristic redox potential-time curve of the iron(II)/nitric acid autocatalytic reaction was applied to a time measurement-determination for sub-microM levels of folic acid. The determination range was 7.5 x 10(-7) - 1.

Surface stress, thickness, and mass of the first few layers of polyelectrolyte.

The effects of surface stress and mass loading upon the adsorption of polyelectrolytes onto flexible silicon micromechanical cantilever sensors (MCSs) were studied in situ. A self-assembled monolayer of 2-mercaptoethylamine chloride (2-MEA) on gold was used to achieve single-side adsorption on the MCS. Such a preparation gave a positive surface potential, whereas a bare SiOx surface gave a negative surface potential.

Profiling of differentially expressed genes in porcine epithelial cells derived from periodontal ligament and gingiva by DNA microarray.

Objective: It is unknown which genes are differentially expressed in cultured epithelial cells derived from the epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM) in periodontal ligament and oral gingival epithelium (OGE). This study analysed the different gene expression of OGE and ERM cells using a DNA microarray technique.

Design: Epithelial cells from ERM and OGE were isolated from porcine periodontal ligament and oral gingival epithelium.

Therapeutic keratoplasty for corneal perforation: clinical results and complications.

Purpose: To report the clinical results, postoperative progress, and complications after therapeutic keratoplasty for corneal perforation.

Methods: Twenty consecutive eyes (20 patients) that underwent therapeutic keratoplasty between December 2003 and May 2006 were included. The eyes were evaluated retrospectively for the cause of the corneal perforation, the type of surgical technique and intraoperative complications, anatomic cure rates, graft clarity, visual prognosis, and postoperative complications.

[A case of panuveitis with optic disc neovascularization associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis which progressed during a clinical trial of etanercept].

Purpose: To report a case of uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis that progressed from iritis to panuveitis with disc neovascularization during a clinical trial of etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-alpha) blocker.

Case: A 12-year-old girl with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which had begun at the age of 1 year 7 months. The patient was enrolled in a clinical trial of etanercept at 11 years of age.

Pathologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer with high levels of preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen: clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis.

Objective: Surgery alone remains the standard therapy for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Although the preoperative serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor, it has not yet been included in the staging system and does not alter the treatment strategy, especially in the selection of patients for adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: From 1986 to 2003, preoperative and postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels were measured in 455 patients with completely resected pathologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

The effects of neurotensin in the colon of patients with slow transit constipation.

Background/aims: The cause of dysmotility in the colon of patients with slow transit constipation (STC) is still unknown. Neurotensin (NT) has recently been shown to be a neurotransmitter in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) excitatory nerves of the human alimentary tract. To clarify the physiological significance of NT in the colon of patients with STC, we examined the enteric nerve responses in lesional and normal bowel segments derived from patients with STC and patients who underwent colon resection for colonic cancers.

Increased expression of beta-defensin-2 and -3 during the development of autoimmune sialoadenitis in MRL/lpr mice.

beta-Defensins (BD) are small cationic antimicrobial peptides that produced principally in the epithelial cells of a number of organs. The present study analyzed the expression patterns of BD-1, -2, and -3 during the development of sialoadenitis in MRL/lpr mice. Submandibular glands were dissected from MRL/lpr mice at 4, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks of age.

Regulation of enteric nervous system in the proximal and distal parts of the normal human pyloric sphincter--in vitro study.

Background/aims: The structure of the pyloric sphincter (PS) muscle has recently been shown to divide into two parts (proximal and distal parts). To clarify the functional differences in the human PS between proximal and distal parts, we investigated the enteric nerve responses in normal proximal and distal PS specimens.

Methodology: Normal PS specimens derived from 20 patients with early gastric cancer (13 men and 7 women aged from 50 to 64 years, average 58.

Host Resistance to Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi in Flowers and Fruits of Highbush Blueberry.

Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi, the causal agent of mummy berry disease, infects blueberry flowers via the gynoecial pathway. To describe the expression of host resistance in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), fungal growth in the styles and colonization of the locules were compared among five blueberry cultivars in a series of controlled greenhouse experiments. Styles were harvested 1 and 4 days postinoculation, and the length colonized by hyphae was determined using fluorescence microscopy.

Cationic liposome (DC-Chol/DOPE=1:2) and a modified ethanol injection method to prepare liposomes, increased gene expression.

Cationic liposomes composed of 3beta-[N-(N',N'-dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol (DC-Chol) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) (DC-Chol/DOPE liposome, molar ratio, 1:1 or 3:2) prepared by the dry-film method have been often used as non-viral gene delivery vectors. The formulation and preparation of DC-Chol/DOPE liposomes, as well as the formation of their lipoplexes were investigated in an attempt to improve transfection efficiency in vitro. A more efficient transfection in medium with serum was achieved using DC-Chol/DOPE liposomes (molar ratio, 1:2) than those (3:2), and preparation method by a modified ethanol injection than the dry-film.

Analysis of nucleotides by pressure-assisted capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry using silanol mask technique.

A method for the determination of nucleotides based on pressure-assisted capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PACE-MS) is described. To prevent multi-phosphorylated species from adsorbing onto the fused-silica capillary, silanol groups were masked with phosphate ions by preconditioning the capillary with the background electrolyte containing phosphate. During preconditioning, nebulizer gas was turned off to avoid contamination of MS detector with phosphate ions.

Aprataxin, causative gene product for EAOH/AOA1, repairs DNA single-strand breaks with damaged 3'-phosphate and 3'-phosphoglycolate ends.

Aprataxin is the causative gene product for early-onset ataxia with ocular motor apraxia and hypoalbuminemia/ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 1 (EAOH/AOA1), the clinical symptoms of which are predominantly neurological. Although aprataxin has been suggested to be related to DNA single-strand break repair (SSBR), the physiological function of aprataxin remains to be elucidated. DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) continually produced by endogenous reactive oxygen species or exogenous genotoxic agents, typically possess damaged 3'-ends including 3'-phosphate, 3'-phosphoglycolate, or 3'-alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehyde ends.