A novel function for lysyl oxidase in pluripotent mesenchymal cell proliferation and relevance to inflammation-associated osteopenia.

Lysyl oxidase is a multifunctional enzyme required for collagen biosynthesis. Various growth factors regulate lysyl oxidase during osteoblast differentiation, subject to modulation by cytokines such as TNF-α in inflammatory osteopenic disorders including diabetic bone disease. Canonical Wnt signaling promotes osteoblast development.

Inhibition of lysophosphatidic acid receptor-2 expression by RNA interference decreases lysophosphatidic acid-induced urokinase plasminogen activator activation, cell invasion, and migration in ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells.

Aim: To explore the role of lysophosphatidic acid receptor-2 (LPA2) in regulating lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) activation, cell invasion, and migration in human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3.

Methods: SKOV-3 cells were stimulated with LPA. Cell supernatant uPA level and activity were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Accurately shaped tooth bud cell-derived mineralized tissue formation on silk scaffolds.

Based on the successful use of silk scaffolds in bone tissue engineering, we examined their utility for mineralized dental tissue engineering. Four types of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) silk scaffolds-(250 and 550 microm diameter pores, with or without arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide) were seeded with cultured 4-day postnatal rat tooth bud cells and grown in the rat omentum for 20 weeks. Analyses of harvested implants revealed the formation of bioengineered mineralized tissue that was most robust in 550 microm pore RGD-containing scaffolds and least robust in 250 microm pore sized scaffolds without RGD.

Effect of neurotrophins on differentiation, calcification and proliferation in cultures of human pulp cells.

Neurotrophins (NTs) are expressed during tooth development. However, little is known about a role of NTs in differentiation of pulp cells into mineralizing cells. In this study, mRNA expressions of hard tissue-related proteins, calcification and proliferation are examined in cultures of human pulp (HP) cells.

[Intra-operative fluoroscopy for detecting pedicle screw violation in lumbar vertebrae by guided pin axial position].

Objectives: To develop an applicable and accurate intra-operative fluoroscopical angle to observe the placement of pedicle screw and pedicle violation.

Methods: Lateral radiographs were taken on eighty lumbar pedicles in eight cadaveric vertebral specimens to measure the sagittal pedicle angles. The pedicles of the vertebral arch were scanned by computed tomography (CT) to measure the transverse pedicle angles.

Promotion of functioning of human periodontal ligament cells and human endothelial cells by nerve growth factor.

Background: We have previously shown that cultured human periodontal ligament (HPL) cells produce nerve growth factor (NGF) and express mRNA of tyrosine kinase receptor (trkA), a high-affinity receptor of NGF. These findings suggest that NGF modulates the differentiation and proliferation of the periodontal ligament cells by paracrine and autocrine functions in vivo. Endothelial cells also express NGF and trkA.

Effect of bone morphogenetic proteins-4, -5 and -6 on DNA synthesis and expression of bone-related proteins in cultured human periodontal ligament cells.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have multiple functions in the development and growth of skeletal and extraskeletal tissues. Therefore, BMPs may regulate the regeneration of periodontal tissue. To investigate this issue, we examined the effects of BMP-4, -5 and -6 on DNA synthesis and the expression of bone-related proteins in cultures of human periodontal ligament (HPL) cells.

[The surgical management of sacral tumors].

Objective: To investigate the way of sacral tumors surgical treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study included 119 cases of sacral tumors surgically treated from July, 1996 to December, 2001. The age of patients ranged from 18 to 80 years (mean 57 years), including of 72 male and 47 female.