Biocompatibility of solid poly (ortho ester).

In previous studies poly (ortho ester) (POE) has shown promise as a resorbable device, a hemostatic sealant and as a carrier for drugs in bone surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tissue reactions of solid poly (ortho ester) implanted into both tibiae of 17 rabbits. One half of the rods were sterilized by gamma radiation and the other half by ethylene oxide.

Five-year follow-up of saliva in patients treated for lymphomas.

Objective: Patients treated for Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin lymphomas were followed for 5 years after start of therapy. The patients received combinations of anticancer drugs for curative intent for 6 months (Hodgkin's disease) or 7 months (non-Hodgkin lymphomas).

Study Design: Cumulated data of 22 surviving patients (mean age, 49 years) were compared with that of 17 patients (mean age, 52 years) who had died or were terminally ill at the 5-year examination.

Phage-displayed Fab fragments against anti-human interleukin-2 receptor alpha. Detection of antigen-bound phages with anti-cpIII monoclonal antibodies.

The genes encoding the VHCH1 and VLCL parts of the mouse anti-human IL-2R alpha antibody 7G7B6 were amplified by PCR and the corresponding antibody fragments displayed on the surface of filamentous phages. The expression of Fab fragments was analysed by immunoblotting using HRP-labelled goat anti-mouse Ig antisera. By traditional hybridoma technology, splenocytes from Balb/c mice, immunized with native phage particles, were fused with P3X63-Ag8.

Expression of the mouse interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain in insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector--comparison with the human common gamma chain.

The gene encoding the gamma-chain of the mouse Interleukin-2 receptor was expressed in lepidopteran insect cells using the baculovirus expression vector system. The corresponding gene was inserted under the polyhedrin promoter of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus and expressed in the Spodoptera frugiperda insect cell line Sf9 during viral infection. The recombinant receptor protein was identified by immunoblotting in cell lysates prepared from insect cells infected with the produced recombinant virus VL1392-mIL-2R gamma.

Fixation with reconstruction plates under critical conditions: the role of screw characteristics.

Mandibular angular ostectomy defects in 12 sheep were bridged with a titanium plate system (THORP), designed according to the screw-plate-locking principle. Two screw designs (hollow and solid) and two rough (plasma-coated, sand-blasted)-surface and one smooth (anodized)-surface structure were tested in a critical two-screw anchorage model. Fixation with two screws only per fragment was successful in only one-third of the cases.

Lag-screw fixation of mandibular parasymphyseal and angle fractures.

Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate clinical and radiologic results after lag-screw fixation (LSF) of mandibular parasymphyseal and angular fractures was performed.

Study Design: Seven angle and 17 parasymphyseal fractures in 23 adult patients with mandibular fractures were treated by transoral reduction and LSF. Clinical and radiologic examinations were undertaken during a 3-month follow-up period

Results: All parasymphyseal fractures and four angular fractures went to good bone union after surgery.

Mast cell-derived tryptase in odontogenic cysts.

Inflammatory and developmental cysts of the jaws are relatively common bone destructive lesions in the human maxillofacial skeleton but their pathogenesis is still poorly understood. In this study the role of mast cells (MC), and mast cell tryptase in particular, was evaluated in the pathophysiology of bone resorption and jaw cyst formation in different types of cysts. The distribution of MC and the amount of tryptase in histological tissue sections were determined by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antihuman tryptase antibodies and the results were quantitated by using an image analyzing system.

Time-resolved fluorometric assay for natural killer activity using target cells labelled with a fluorescence enhancing ligand.

A time-resolved fluorometric assay for the measurement of natural killer cell activity against target cells labelled with the acetoxymethyl ester of the fluorescence enhancing ligand 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine-6,6"-dicarboxylic acid (TDA) is described. The hydrophobic esterified form of TDA (bis(acetoxymethyl) 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine-6,6"-dicarboxylate, BATDA) diffuses readily through the cell membrane of viable cells. BATDA is hydrolysed by intracellular esterases resulting in accumulation of membrane impermeable TDA inside the target cells.

Green fluorescent protein as a tool for screening recombinant baculoviruses.

The gene encoding the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, ligated to the honeybee melittin signal peptide-encoding sequence, was inserted under transcriptional control of the polyhedrin promoter of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus and expressed in the Spodoptera frugiperda insect cell line Sf9 during viral infection. The recombinant green fluorescent protein was identified by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis followed by Coomassie blue staining of lysates from the recombinant baculovirus infected insect cells. Emission and excitation scanning of the recombinant baculovirus infected insect cells gave an emission maximum of 509 nm and excitation maximum of 398 nm.

Detection of rubella virus-specific immunoglobulin M antibodies with a baculovirus-expressed E1 protein.

The structural proteins of rubella virus (RV) were expressed in insect cells by using the baculovirus expression vector system. The recombinant E1 envelope glycoprotein was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography and used to detect RV-specific immunoglobulin M antibodies in a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Correlation analysis between the reactivities of antibodies against this recombinant E1 and the reactivities against authentic RV antigen shows that purified E1 can detect RV antibodies of the immunoglobulin M type.

Identification of biotinylated molecules using a baculovirus-expressed luciferase-streptavidin fusion protein.

A genetic fusion between streptavidin of Streptomyces avidinii and luciferase of Pyrophorus plagiophthalamus was constructed. The fusion protein was produced in the Sf9 insect cell line using the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the proteins from cells infected with the recombinant virus, VL1393-LucGR-StreptAv, revealed that the fusion protein migrated with an apparent molecular weight of 75 kDa.

Opportunistic osteomyelitis in the jaws of children on immunosuppressive chemotherapy.

Purpose: Four children with an osteomyelitic process in the jaw bones while on cytotoxic chemotherapy were treated by radical surgery and antimicrobial chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Symptoms (local swelling and pain in the jaw, necrotic gingivitis, and spontaneous loss of teeth) appeared 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 months after diagnosis of leukemia, and 8 days posttransplant in a patient with severe aplastic anemia. Three had the process in the mandible and one in the maxilla.

Lag-screw osteosynthesis of mandibular condyle fractures: a clinical and radiological study.

Purpose: This study evaluates the clinical and radiologic results after open reduction and lag-screw osteosynthesis of fractured mandibular condyles.

Materials And Methods: Eleven adult patients underwent surgery for displaced or dislocated mandibular condyle fractures via a submandibular approach. The repositioned fragments were fixed using lag screws designed by Krenkel or Eckelt.

Midfacial fractures in pediatric patients. Frequency, characteristics, and causes.

Objective: To determine the frequency, characteristics, and causes of midfacial fractures in children.

Design: A retrospective review of the patients' medical charts and radiographs.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Rapid Ca2+ mobilization in single LGL cells upon interaction with K562 target cells--role of the CD18 and CD16 molecules.

Changes in the intracellular Ca2+ levels of human large granular lymphocytes (LGL), loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2, have been studied upon addition of human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. The measurements, analyzed at the single-cell level using image analysis, indicate a rapid Ca2+ mobilization in the effector cell upon interaction with its target cell. This mobilization appeared to be localized to an area within the effector cell that was in physical contact with target cells.

Expression of the human interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain in insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector.

The gene encoding the gamma-chain of the human Interleukin-2 receptor was expressed in lepidopteran insect cells using the baculovirus expression vector system. The corresponding gene was inserted under the polyhedrin promoter of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus and expressed in the Spodoptera frugiperda insect cell line Sf9 during viral infection. The recombinant receptor protein was identified by immunoblotting in cell lysates, prepared from insect cells infected with the recombinant virus.

Synthesis and processing of the rubella virus p110 polyprotein precursor in baculovirus-infected Spodoptera frugiperda cells.

In order to study the processing of rubella virus (RV) structural proteins (capsid protein, of 33 kDa; E2 of 42-47 kDa; and E1 of 58 kDa) in Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) cells, a 24S cDNA encoding the polyprotein precursor, p110, was inserted under the transcriptional regulation of the polyhedrin gene promoter of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) and expressed during viral infection. By immunoblot analysis using antibodies directed against whole RV and the individual structural proteins, evidence is presented that polypeptides similar to those synthesized in RV-infected B-Vero cells are expressed in this lepidopteran insect cell line infected with the recombinant baculovirus, VL1392-RV24S. The identity of the recombinant proteins was further confirmed using human convalescent sera.

Neuromuscular dysfunction after surgical treatment of oral cancer.

Surgical treatment of oral cancer usually includes radical dissection of the neck, in which the sternocleidomastoid muscle is sacrificed. In modified neck dissection the accessory nerve is spared, but may be severed by e.g.

Immunoaffinity purification of baculovirus-expressed rubella virus E1 for diagnostic purposes.

Three monoclonal antibodies, termed 4E10, 1E11:10, and 2D9:1, were generated against rubella virus. Immunoblot analysis with purified authentic rubella virus or recombinant baculovirus-expressed rubella virus structural proteins E1, E2, and C demonstrated that they were directed against the E1 envelope glycoprotein of the rubella virus particle. By using the yeast Ty virus-like particle system, it was possible to map the binding site of 1E11:10 within amino acids 236 to 286 of the E1 protein and the binding sites of 2D9:1 and 4E10 outside this region.

Analysis of possible factors leading to problems after nonsurgical treatment of condylar fractures.

Purpose: An attempt was made to identify types of condylar fractures that, despite active nonsurgical treatment, lead to unsatisfactory clinical results.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-two dentate adult patients with unilateral condylar fractures were studied clinically and radiologically. On the basis of the information collected, problematic cases were identified.

Blindness after maxillofacial blunt trauma. Evaluation of candidates for optic nerve decompression surgery.

Clinical and computerized tomography (CT) findings in 10 patients with post-traumatic blindness after maxillofacial blunt trauma were evaluated as potential candidates for optic nerve decompression surgery. The total number of blind eyes was 14. All patients suffered from midfacial fractures (isolated zygomatic fracture in 4 and Le Fort fracture in 6 cases) predominantly caused by road traffic accidents.

Sagittal ramus osteotomies fixed with biodegradable screws: a preliminary report.

Nine patients underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomies of the mandible. The osteotomies were fixed using two self-reinforced poly-L-lactide screws. No maxillomandibular fixation was used postoperatively.