Effects of follicle-stimulating hormone on energy balance and tissue metabolic health after loss of ovarian function.

Loss of ovarian function imparts increased susceptibility to obesity and metabolic disease. These effects are largely attributed to decreased estradiol (E), but the role of increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in modulating energy balance has not been fully investigated. Previous work that blocked FSH binding to its receptor in mice suggested this hormone may play a part in modulating body weight and energy expenditure after ovariectomy (OVX).

Exploring Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Secretomes in Human Obesity: Implications for Metabolic Disease.

Adipose tissue secretions are depot-specific and vary based on anatomical location. Considerable attention has been focused on visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue with regard to metabolic disease, yet our knowledge of the secretome from these depots is incomplete. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of VAT and SAT secretomes in the context of metabolic function.

High-fat diet induced central adiposity (visceral fat) is associated with increased fibrosis and decreased immune cellularity of the mesenteric lymph node in mice.

Purpose: Accumulation of visceral, but not subcutaneous, adipose tissue is highly associated with metabolic disease. Inflammation inciting from adipose tissue is commonly associated with metabolic disease risk and comorbidities. However, constituents of the immune system, lymph nodes, embedded within these adipose depots remain under-investigated.

Obesity-induced immune dysfunction and immunosuppression: TEM observation of visceral and subcutaneous lymph node microarchitecture and immune cell interactions.

Background Inflammation, induced by excessive adiposity, links obesity to disease risk yet little attention has been devoted to the lymphoid tissues embedded within adipose tissue depots. Lymph nodes are the primary site for the development of protective immunity, hence any disease process that affects these tissues will also directly impact immunity. Here we examined how obesity alters secondary lymphatic tissue structure and encapsulated immune cells.

Obesity associated disease risk: the role of inherent differences and location of adipose depots.

Obesity and associated metabolic co-morbidities are a worldwide public health problem. Negative health outcomes associated with obesity, however, do not arise from excessive adiposity alone. Rather, deleterious outcomes of adipose tissue accumulation are a result of how adipocytes are distributed to individual regions in the body.

Enhancement of toxin- and virus-neutralizing capacity of single-domain antibody fragments by N-glycosylation.

Single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs) have several beneficial properties as compared to conventional antibody fragments. However, their small size complicates their toxin- and virus-neutralizing capacity. We isolated 27 VHHs binding Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin and expressed these in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Passive immunization of guinea pigs with llama single-domain antibody fragments against foot-and-mouth disease.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease that occasionally causes outbreaks in Europe. There is a need for therapies that provide rapid protection against FMD in outbreak situations. We aim to provide such rapid protection by passive immunization with llama single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs).

Selection and optimization of proteolytically stable llama single-domain antibody fragments for oral immunotherapy.

We previously demonstrated that oral application of the recombinant single-domain antibody fragment (VHH) clone K609, directed against Escherichia coli F4 fimbriae, reduced E. coli-induced diarrhoea in piglets, but only at high VHH doses. We have now shown that a large portion of the orally applied K609 VHH is proteolytically degraded in the stomach.

Escherichia coli F4 fimbriae specific llama single-domain antibody fragments effectively inhibit bacterial adhesion in vitro but poorly protect against diarrhoea.

Oral administration of polyclonal antibodies directed against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 fimbriae is used to protect against piglet post-weaning diarrhoea. For cost reasons, we aim to replace these polyclonal antibodies by recombinant llama single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs) that can be produced efficiently in microorganisms. Six F4 fimbriae specific VHHs were isolated.

Prolonged in vivo residence times of llama single-domain antibody fragments in pigs by binding to porcine immunoglobulins.

The therapeutic parenteral application of llama single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs) is hampered by their small size, resulting in a fast elimination from the body. Here we describe a method to increase the serum half-life of VHHs in pigs by fusion to another VHH binding to porcine immunoglobulin G (pIgG). We isolated 19 pIgG-binding VHHs from an immunized llama using phage display.

Clinical comparison of bioabsorbable barriers with non-resorbable barriers in guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of human intrabony defects.

The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) non-resorbable barriers and polylactic acid bioabsorbable barriers in humans with intrabony defects due to periodontitis. Ten patients presented with 2 intrabony defects each. Mucoperiosteal flaps were performed.

Surgical techniques for covering exposed roots.

Each grafting technique described here produced successful root coverage. Predictable root coverage by use of current techniques has increased options for managing gingival recession and associated problems.

Histologic evaluation of periodontal attachment apparatus following the insertion of a biodegradable copolymer barrier in humans.

The purpose of this study was to histologically evaluate the effectiveness of polylactide:polyglycolide 50:50 (DL-PLGA) as a barrier to prevent epithelial migration and to promote new connective tissue attachment. Mucoperiosteal flaps were performed on 17 human teeth. DL-PLGA membrane was placed over the roots and alveolar bone.

Association of cellular thiol redox status with mitogen-induced calcium mobilization and cell cycle progression in human fibroblasts.

Human gingival fibroblast cultures were used to investigate the role of cellular thiol redox status in the mitogenic response. Increases in intracellular Ca2+ and cell cycle progression beyond G1 were followed as parameters of cellular mitogen-induced responses. Ethionine provided a G1 stage synchronization and altered the cellular redox poise as measured by the ratio NAD(P)H/NAD(P)+.

The histologic evaluation of new attachment in periodontally diseased human roots treated with tetracycline-hydrochloride and fibronectin.

The purpose of this study was to determine how the treatment of human tooth roots with tetracycline-HCl and fibronectin during periodontal surgery influences the attachment of the gingiva to the root surface. Mucoperiosteal flap surgery was performed on 22 teeth with periodontal disease. Teeth were assigned to three groups.

An evaluation of new attachment formation using a microfibrillar collagen barrier.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of microfibrillar collagen as a barrier to prevent epithelial migration and allow for guided tissue regeneration. Fourteen study teeth were selected. Mucoperiosteal flaps were elevated and roots were debrided and planed.

Testing reliability of plaque and gingival indices. Two methods.

This investigation was undertaken to compare two methods of interexaminer and intraexaminer reliability in the evaluation of Plaque and Gingival Indices prior to a study of toothbrushing. Inter-/intraexaminer reliabilities were compared using a projected slide series consisting of 40 slides of clinical examples of gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation. Time between assessments was three weeks.

The effects of various levels of ascorbic acid intake upon growth and organ weights of guinea pigs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the systemic effects of varying levels of orally administered ascorbic acid during wound healing in guinea pig oral mucosa. Forty five Murphy/Hartley guinea pigs were randomly placed into four groups and fed an ascorbic acid deficient diet for 2 weeks. Each group of animals then received a daily oral supplement of the following doses of ascorbic acid: 0.

A surgical procedure for the treatment of localized gingival recession in conjunction with root surface citric acid conditioning.

A total of 9 teeth were treated with a free gingival graft followed by a coronally positioned flap in conjunction with conditioning of the root surface with citric acid. The grafting procedure was done 2 weeks after the subjects could perform adequate plaque control. Thirty days after grafting, a mucoperiosteal flap was raised.

Elastic response of the temporo-mandibular joint to very small forces.

The mechanical mobility of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) was measured by applying small sinusoidal forces at different frequencies to the teeth and measuring the resultant motion of the teeth. Velocity/force ratios were recorded versus frequency at maxillary and mandibular teeth and the results were interpreted in terms of linear spring-mass-dashpot models. Differences in results obtained at maxillary and mandibular teeth indicate that the TMJ has an effective spring constant of 9 X 10(7) dynes/cm when excited by forces of approximately 2 X 10(3) dynes.