Comparison of orthodontic and orthopedic effects of a modified maxillary protractor between deciduous and early mixed dentitions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the maxillary protractor bow appliance (MPBA) on dentoalveolar structure and skeletal morphology in patients with Class III malocclusions in different dental stages. The sample consisted of 63 treated and 57 untreated Japanese patients who all had anterior crossbites. The former group was treated with MPBA and included 34 subjects with deciduous dentition (DT group) and 29 subjects with early mixed dentition (MT group).

Pressure-pain threshold determination in the oral mucosa: validity and reliability.

Fundamental knowledge of pain in the oral mucosa is lacking. We determined the validity and reliability of the pressure-pain threshold (PPT) measurement in the oral mucosa using a newly developed hand-held pressure algometer. Ten dentulous subjects were recruited, and the PPT was measured at the bilateral buccal (on the attached gingiva apical to the midline of the upper first premolars, 3 mm from the mucogingival junction) and the palatal sites (mid-point between the bilateral upper first molars).

Wear of resin-modified glass ionomers: an in vitro study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wear resistance and clinical applicability of resin-modified glass ionomer cements as restorative or fissure-sealing materials. The in vitro wear of resin-modified glass ionomers was compared to conventional glass ionomers, a resin-based sealant, and a composite resin. A three-body wear test (enamel block--polymethylmethacrylate powder--experimental dental material) was performed by 20,000 cycles with a load of 4 kgf/cm2.

A maxillary protracting bow appliance for Class III treatment in the primary dentition.

The design of a simple facial mask type appliance for the treatment of Class III with anterior crossbite in the primary dentition, is described. Its clinical effect is illustrated in two cases. The appliance is easy to make, cheap, well tolerated and efficient.

Enhanced production of vascular endothelial growth factor by human monocytic cells stimulated with endotoxin through transcription factor SP-1.

The effect of endotoxin on the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression in human monocytic (THP-1) cells was examined. Endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli and synthetic E. coli-type lipid A (LA-15-PP) enhanced VEGF mRNA expression.

Simple and rapid detection of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in human saliva by polymerase chain reaction.

Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are major pathogens causing dental caries in humans. A simple and rapid method to detect these species in human saliva simultaneously was developed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Chromosomal DNA was extracted by boiling bacterial cells in lysis solution containing 1% Triton X-100.

Psychological condition of patients complaining of halitosis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the actual degree of malodor and the psychological condition of patients complaining of halitosis.

Methods: The subjects consisted of 155 patients aged 46+/-17 years (mean+/-SD) who visited the Halitosis Clinic at Kyushu University Dental Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. The Cornell Medical Index (CMI) Health Questionnaire was used to evaluate the psychological condition of patients.

A gene cluster for the synthesis of serotype d-specific polysaccharide antigen in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

The serotype d antigen of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans consists of D-glucose, D-mannose, and L-rhamnose in a molar ratio of 1:2:1. A gene cluster involved in the synthesis of serotype-specific polysaccharide antigen was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of A. actinomycetemcomitans IDH 781 (serotype d).

Esthetic management of an unerupted maxillary central incisor with a closed eruption technique.

In cases of orthodontic traction of unerupted teeth, gingival recession and long clinical crowns are often seen. Satisfactory esthetic demands are not always met. A case of an unerupted maxillary central incisor is presented, in which traction was used, with emphasis on the surgical technique and the direction of the pull.

Porphyromonas gingivalis proteinases as virulence determinants in progression of periodontal diseases.

Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the major causative agents of periodontal diseases, produces large amounts of arginine- and lysine-specific cysteine proteinases in cell-associated and secretory forms, which are now referred to as Arg-gingipain (Rgp) and Lys-gingipain (Kgp), respectively. A number of studies have revealed that these proteinases are closely associated with the periodontopathogenesis of this bacterium: destruction of periodontal connective tissues, disruption of host defense mechanisms, and development and maintenance of inflammation in periodontal pockets. With respect to the physiology of the bacterium, Rgp and Kgp are indispensable for it to obtain nutrients from the environment, since it cannot utilize saccharides as carbon/energy sources for growth and totally depends on peptides and amino acids that are provided from environmental proteins by Rgp and Kgp.

Isolation and characterization of the rml gene homologs from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

We cloned four genes from the Porphyromonas gingivalis chromosome, the gene products of which catalyze the anabolism of dTDP-L-rhamnose from D-glucose-1-phosphate when they were expressed in Escherichia coli. The amino acid sequences deduced from these genes showed significant homology to proteins encoded by the rml genes involved in dTDP-L-rhamnose biosynthesis in other gram-negative bacteria. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that these four genes are expressed as a single transcript in P.

Genetic analysis of the gene cluster responsible for synthesis of serotype e-specific polysaccharide antigen in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

A gene cluster associated with the biosynthesis of the serotype e-specific polysaccharide antigen (SPA) of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans IDH1705 belonging to serotype e was cloned and sequenced. This cluster consisted of 18 open reading frames. Escherichia coli produced the polysaccharide that reacts with the serotype e-specific antiserum when transformed with a plasmid containing the cluster.

Role of serotype-specific polysaccharide in the resistance of Streptococcus mutans to phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

To clarify the role of cell surface components of Streptococcus mutans in resistance to phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), several isogenic mutants of S. mutans defective in cell surface components were studied with a luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) assay, a killing assay, and a transmission electron microscope. The CL responses of human PMNs to mutant Xc11 defective in a major cell surface antigen, PAc, and mutant Xc16 defective in two surface glucosyltransferases (GTF-I and GTF-SI) were the same as the response to the wild-type strain, Xc.

Role of N-glycosylation in cathepsin E. A comparative study of cathepsin E with distinct N-linked oligosaccharides and its nonglycosylated mutant.

Cathepsin E (CE), a nonlysosomal, intracellular aspartic proteinase, exists in several molecular forms that are N-glycosylated with high-mannose and/or complex-type oligosaccharides. To investigate the role of N-glycosylation on the catalytic properties and molecular stability of CE, both natural and recombinant enzymes with distinct oligosaccharides were purified from different sources. An N-glycosylation minus mutant, that was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis (by changing asparagine residues to glutamine and aspartic acid residues at positions 73 and 305 in potential N-glycosylation sites of rat CE) and expressed in normal rat kidney cells, was also purified to homogeneity from the cell extracts.

A novel gene required for rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide synthesis in Streptococcus mutans.

Gene rgpG is required for biosynthesis of rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide (RGP) in Streptococcus mutans. Its deduced amino acid sequence had similarity to WecA, which initiates syntheses of enterobacterial common antigen and some O antigens in Escherichia coli. Gene rgpG complemented a wecA mutation of E.

Bovine milk antibodies against cell surface protein antigen PAc-glucosyltransferase fusion protein suppress cell adhesion and alter glucan synthesis of Streptococcus mutans.

Cell surface protein antigen (PAc) and glucosyltransferases (GTF) produced by Streptococcus mutans are considered major colonization factors of the organism, and the inhibition of these factors is thought to prevent dental caries. In this study, 8-mo-old pregnant Holstein cows were immunized with fusion protein PAcA-GB, a fusion of the saliva-binding alanine-rich region (PAcA) of PAc with the glucan binding (GB) domain of GTF-I, an enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of water-insoluble glucan from sucrose. High titers of immunoglobulin antibodies specific for the fusion protein were found in normal milk after reimmunization, and they persisted for approximately 3 mo.

Recombination between gtfB and gtfC is required for survival of a dTDP-rhamnose synthesis-deficient mutant of Streptococcus mutans in the presence of sucrose.

The rml genes are involved in dTDP-rhamnose synthesis in Streptococcus mutans. A gene fusion between gtfB and gtfC, which both encode extracellular water-insoluble glucan-synthesizing enzymes, accompanied by inactivation of the rml genes was observed for cells grown in the presence of sucrose. The survival rates of rml mutants isolated in the absence of sucrose were drastically reduced in the presence of sucrose.

A novel NDP-6-deoxyhexosyl-4-ulose reductase in the pathway for the synthesis of thymidine diphosphate-D-fucose.

The serotype-specific polysaccharide antigen of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 (serotype b) consists of D-fucose and L-rhamnose. Thymidine diphosphate (dTDP)-D-fucose is the activated nucleotide sugar form of D-fucose, which has been identified as a constituent of structural polysaccharides in only a few bacteria. In this paper, we show that three dTDP-D-fucose synthetic enzymes are encoded by genes in the gene cluster responsible for the synthesis of serotype b-specific polysaccharide in A.

Limited and selective localization of the lysosomal membrane glycoproteins LGP85 and LGP96 in rat osteoclasts.

Monospecific antibodies against two major glycoproteins of rat lysosomal membranes with apparent molecular masses of 96 and 85 kDa, termed LGP96 and LGP85, respectively, were used as probes to determine the expression and distribution of lysosomal membranes in rat osteoclasts. At the light microscopic level, the preferential immunoreactivity for both proteins was found at high levels at the side facing bone of actively bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Osteoclasts detached from bone surface were devoid of immunoreactivity for each protein.

Binding of the capsule-like serotype-specific polysaccharide antigen and the lipopolysaccharide from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans to human complement-derived opsonins.

We investigated the molecular mechanism of resistance of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans to complement-dependent chemiluminescence response by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Whole cells of serotype b-specific polysaccharide antigen-defective mutants ST2 and ST5 were constructed by inserting transposon Tn916 into A. actinomycetemcomitans strain Y4.

Excitotoxin-induced neuronal death is associated with response of a unique intracellular aspartic proteinase, cathepsin E.

Excitotoxicity produced by excessive stimulation of glutamate receptors is known to lead to neuronal lesion and death. Here, we demonstrate that quantitative and qualitative changes in cathepsin E (CE) gene products are associated with execution of the excitotoxic neuronal death. Intracerebroventricular injection of kainate (KA) resulted in marked elevation of both mRNA and protein levels of CE in the rat hippocampal CA3 region, where the enzyme was mainly found in vulnerable neurons and activated microglia.

A gene cluster for 6-deoxy-L-talan synthesis in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

The serotype c antigen of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans consists of 6-deoxy-l-talose. A gene cluster involved in the synthesis of serotype-specific polysaccharide antigen was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of A. actinomycetemcomitans NCTC 9710 (serotype c).

Genes involved in cell wall localization and side chain formation of rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide in Streptococcus mutans.

We identified in Streptococcus mutans six new genes (rgpA through rgpF), whose disruption results in a loss of serotype-specific antigenicity, specified by the glucose side chains of rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide from the cell wall. Rhamnose and glucose content of the cell wall decreased drastically in all these disruption mutants, except that in the rgpE mutant only the glucose content decreased. RgpC and RgpD are homologous to ATP-binding cassette transporter components and may be involved in polysaccharide export, whereas RgpE may be a transferase of side chain glucose.

Arg-gingipain acts as a major processing enzyme for various cell surface proteins in Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Arg-gingipain (RGP) is an Arg-X-specific cysteine proteinase produced by the Gram-negative anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis and has been shown to be a potent virulence factor in progressive periodontal disease (Nakayama, K., Kadowaki, T., Okamoto, K.

CMDME (curved mesh diagram of mandibular excursion) method for visualization and diagnosis of mandibular movement.

The CMDME (curved mesh diagram of mandibular excursion) method was developed for easy visualization and diagnosis of mandibular movement. This method uses measured mandibular movement to produce a diagram of the range, shape, and inclination of mandibular excursion in three dimensions using any arbitrary landmark of the mandible. First, the mandibular movement of a subject was measured by an opto-electronic movement analysis system capable of measuring mandibular movement with six degrees-of-freedom at a sampling frequency of 100 Hz.