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Biomedical subjects

Koichi Ito

Publications and source records attributed to Koichi Ito.

99 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Hepatocyte growth factor in saliva: a possible marker for periodontal disease status.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) acts as a mitogen, motogen, morphogen and anti-apoptotic factor for various kinds of epithelial cells. We previously showed that periodontal fibroblasts secreted an HGF-like chemoattractant for a gingival epithelial cell line and found that HGF content in gingival crevicular fluid was well correlated with probing depth, gingival index, and interleukin-1beta concentration. To examine whether HGF in whole (mixed) saliva would be a useful marker for periodontal disease status, we investigated the relationship between salivary HGF levels and clinical parameters of 65 adults (50 men and 15 women). Unstimulated whole (mixed) saliva was collected from each subject and the HGF level was determined with an ELISA kit. After sample collection, probing depths and bleeding on probing were monitored. Significant correlations were found between salivary HGF levels and the number of probing depths exceeding 4 mm (r = 0.541), the number of probing depths exceeding 6 mm (r = 0.683), the deepest probing depth of each subject (r = 0.558) and the percentage of sites positive for bleeding on probing (r = 0.511). These results suggest that salivary HGF may be a novel marker for periodontal diagnosis in screening tests.

Adult↗

Effects of ipriflavone on bone augmentation within a titanium cap in rabbit calvaria.

Ipriflavone (7-isopropoxyisoflavone, IP), a drug used in the treatment of osteoporosis, may promote bone formation during bone remodeling. IP has been shown to accelerate both the activity of, and formation of mineralized nodules by a human osteosarcoma cell line at an early stage. However, the direct effects of IP on bone augmentation have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether IP induces bone augmentation within a titanium cap in rabbit calvaria at an early stage. Five adult male Japanese white rabbits were used. One cap (test site) was packed with IP in a collagen gel, and the other (control site) was packed with the collagen gel alone. After the one- and three-month healing periods, we measured the newly generated tissue and bone within the titanium caps. The amount of newly generated tissue within the titanium caps of the control sites was higher than the tests sites after one month and three months. However, the percentage of newly generated bone/bone marrow in the newly generated tissue at the test sites was higher than for the control sites after one month and three months. These results suggest that IP affects the quality of bone augmentation at an early stage.

Animals↗

Connective tissue-bone onlay graft with enamel matrix derivative for treatment of gingival recession: a case report.

We describe a case of gingival recession in which root coverage and coronal bone regrowth were achieved after treatment with a connective tissue-bone graft and enamel matrix derivative. The connective tissue-bone graft was harvested from a maxillary edentulous area and then curved to fit the root surfaces of the maxillary left central and lateral incisors. Enamel matrix derivative was applied to the root surfaces, and the connective tissue-bone graft was fixed to the interdental bone by a titanium screw. Six months later, the exposed roots were covered with thick gingiva, and coronal regrowth of thick bone was evident at reentry surgery. This technique is useful for esthetic restoration placement with an intracrevicular margin on teeth with a thin, receding gingiva.

Bone Regeneration↗

Gene expression and immunohistochemical localization of osteonectin in association with early bone formation in the developing mandible.

We have compared the expression of osteonectin with that of osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein during bone formation in the rat mandible, using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Expression of osteonectin, osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein mRNAs were first observed in newly differentiated osteoblasts of the developing mandible at embryonic day 15 (E15) and subsequently increased with the number of osteoblasts through E20. Definitive osteonectin immunostaining was observed in newly differentiated osteoblasts, but not in the intercellular unmineralized matrix. Immunostaining for osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein was visible in osteoblasts and unmineralized matrix. Concomitant with the initiation of matrix mineralization at E16, mineralized bone matrix showed osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein immunostaining, but lacked osteonectin immunostaining. The same staining profile was observed during subsequent phases of bone formation at E17-20. However, sequential demineralization with ethanolic trimethylammonium EDTA and protease digestion of tissue sections demonstrated prominent osteonectin immunostaining of the mineralized bone matrix. Western blot analysis of osteonectin in extracts of fresh specimens at E18 and 20 revealed that an EDTA extract contains osteonectin having M, approximately 50 kDa. These results indicate that newly differentiated osteoblasts synthesize and secrete osteonectin, which is mainly incorporated into the mineralized bone matrix and becomes a specific component of developing manibula of foetal rats.

Animals↗

Cribriform-morular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: ultrastructural study and somatic/germline mutation analysis of the APC gene.

Cribriform-morular variant of papillary carcinoma is a distinctive histological variant of thyroid cancer, characterized by intermingled cribriform, follicular, papillary, trabecular, and morular architecture. These tumors are known to be associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), but are also encountered in non-FAP patients. The authors report on ultrastructural and genetic studies of 3 patients with this type of carcinoma-associated FAP. There were numerous microfilaments approximately 100 nm long at the nuclear clearing area of the morular regions. Two of the 3 patients showed germline APC mutations, and 1 had so somatic APC mutation. Both mutations were in previously unreported regions. The study provides new information for understanding the development of this rare tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Isolation and expression of two genes encoding eukaryotic release factor 1 from Paramecium tetraurelia.

Paramecium tetraurelia, like some other ciliate species, uses an alternative nuclear genetic code where UAA and UAG are translated as glutamine and UGA is the only stop codon. It has been postulated that the use of stop codons as sense codons is dependent on the presence of specific tRNAs and on modification of eukaryotic release factor one (eRF1), a factor involved in stop codon recognition during translation termination. We describe here the isolation and characterisation of two genes, eRF1-a and eRF1 b, coding for eRF1 in P. tetraurelia. The two genes are very similar, both in genomic organization and in sequence, and might result from a recent duplication event. The two coding sequences are 1,314 nucleotides long, and encode two putative proteins of 437 amino acids with 98.5% identity. Interestingly, when compared with the eRF1 sequences either of ciliates having the same variant genetic code, or of other eukaryotes, the eRF1 of P. tetraurelia exhibits significant differences in the N-terminal region, which is thought to interact with stop codons. We discuss here the consequences of these changes in the light of recent models proposed to explain the mechanism of stop codon recognition in eukaryotes. Besides, analysis of the expression of the two genes by Northern blotting and primer extension reveals that these genes exhibit a differential expression during vegetative growth and autogamy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Clinical application of a new cone-beam computerized tomography system to assess multiple two-dimensional images for the preoperative treatment planning of maxillary implants: case reports.

Accurate assessment of the location of the maxillary sinuses, incisive canal, and nasal cavity, as well as the height, width, and angulation of bone is essential for implant treatment planning. The purpose of this study was to introduce the clinical application of a cone-beam computerized tomography system (Ortho-CT) to assess multiple two-dimensional (2D) images for the preoperative treatment planning of maxillary implants. To evaluate the multiple 2D images scanned using the Ortho-CT system the maxillary region placed with radiopaque template in the maxilla. Ortho-CT images provided useful information for evaluating the morphology of the maxilla, for locating the incisive canal, maxillary sinuses, nasal cavity, and for showing the relationship of the template to the bone. It is concluded that the Ortho-CT system is a useful aid for diagnosis and treatment planning for maxillary implant treatment.

Adult↗

Liquid chromatographic analysis of cinchona alkaloids in beverages.

A method for the determination of Cinchona extract (whose main components are the alkaloids cinchonine, cinchonidine, quinidine, and quinine) in beverages by liquid chromatography was developed. A beverage with an alcohol content of more than 10% was loaded onto an OASIS HLB solid-phase extraction cartridge, after it was adjusted to pH 10 with 28% ammonium hydroxide. Other beverages were centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 min, and the supernatant was loaded onto the cartridge. The cartridge was washed with water followed by 15% methanol, and the Cinchona alkaloids were eluted with methanol. The Cinchona alkaloids in the eluate were chromatographed on an L-column ODS (4.6 mm id x 150 mm) with methanol and 20 mmol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate (3 + 7) as the mobile phase. Cinchona alkaloids were monitored with an ultraviolet (UV) detector at 230 nm, and with a fluorescence detector at 405 nm for cinchonine and cinchonidine and 450 nm for quinidine and quinine (excitation at 235 nm). The calibration curves for Cinchona alkaloids with the UV detector showed good linearity in the range of 2-400 microg/mL. The detection limit of each Cinchona alkaloid, taken to be the concentration at which the absorption spectrum could be identified, was 2 microg/mL. The recovery of Cinchona alkaloids added at a level of 100 microg/g to various kinds of beverages was 87.6-96.5%, and the coefficients of variation were less than 3.3%. A number of beverage samples, some labeled to contain bitter substances, were analyzed by the proposed method. Quinine was detected in 2 samples of carbonated beverage.

Beverages↗