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Biomedical subjects

P Spencer

Publications and source records attributed to P Spencer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Investigations into the production and interconversion of phomoidrides A-D.

[structure: see text] Fermentation of ATCC 74256 led to the isolation and identification of C7 epimers of phomoidride A (CP-225,917) and phomoidride B (CP-263,114). We suggest the names phomoidrides C and D for these new fermentation products. Studies on the effect of pH on the distribution of phomoidrides A-D suggest phomoidride B (CP-263,114) is the first-formed secondary metabolite and the source of the remaining three phomoidrides.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Micromechanics of the dentin/adhesive interface.

Scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) was used in the burst mode at 400 MHz, nominal lateral resolution 2.5 microm, to study the micromechanical properties of the dentin/adhesive interface. Corresponding specimens from the same tooth were investigated using mu Raman spectroscopy, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.12 The elastic moduli of the components of the dentin/adhesive interface were determined by comparing the recorded acoustic impedance values to a calibration curve generated on standard materials. The standard materials, which include polypropylene, Teflon, PMMA, pyrex glass, aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel, provide the appropriate range of acoustic impedance values. The elastic moduli of the components of the dentin/adhesive interface are: partially demineralized dentin, 13 Gpa; mineralized dentin, 28 GPa; adhesive, 5.0 GPa; and unprotected protein at the interface < 2.0 GPa.

Dental Materials↗

Anisotropic elasticity of cortical and cancellous bone in the posterior mandible increases peri-implant stress and strain under oblique loading.

The aim of this study was to compare implant-bone interface stresses and peri-implant principal strains in anisotropic versus isotropic three-dimensional finite element models of an osseointegrated implant in the posterior mandible. We obtained anisotropic (transversely isotropic) elastic constants for mandibular bone and derived equivalent isotropic constants by averaging over all possible spatial orientations. A finite element model was constructed using ten-node tetrahedral p-elements, providing curved edges where necessary and increasing the accuracy of the results in regions of high stress gradients. Perfect bonding was assumed at the implant-bone interface. An oblique load was applied at the coronal aspect of the crown with 100 N vertical and 20 N bucco-to-lingual components. Implant-bone interface stresses exceeded reported bond strengths and principal strains reached yield strain levels in the cortical crest. Anisotropy increased what were already high levels of stress and strain in the isotropic case by 20 to 30% in the cortical crest. In cancellous bone, anisotropy increased what were relatively low levels of interface stress in the isotropic case by three- to four-fold to exceed bond strength levels. Anisotropy has subtle, yet significant effects on interface stresses and peri-implant strains and careful consideration should be given to its use in finite element studies of dental implants.

Alveolar Process↗

A comparison of 3 alloy surface treatments for resin-bonded prostheses.

PURPOSE: The most frequent cause of clinical failure of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures is a debonding at the metal-cement interface. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the tensile bond strengths of 3 different alloy-surface treatments when cemented to human enamel with a resin cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cylinders of a nickel-chromium-beryllium (Ni-Cr-Be) and a gold-palladium (Au-Pd) alloy were fabricated and assigned to different surface treatment groups as follows: Group 1: Ni-Cr-Be, chemically etched; Group 2: Au-Pd, airborne particle-abraded and tin-plated; and Group 3: Au-Pd, airborne particle-abraded and treated with the Alloy Primer (Kuraray Co, LTD, Osaka, Japan). The cylinders were bonded to the enamel surfaces of extracted, human third molars and stored in normal saline at 37 degrees C for 48 hours. The tensile bond strength of 21 specimens from each group was measured on a Universal Testing Machine (Instron, Canton, MA). Three failed specimens of each group were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (p <.05) were found between all 3 treatment groups. The mean tensile bond strengths (+/- the standard error of mean) recorded as follows: Group 1: 10.6 MPa (+/-1.3), Group 2: 0.9 MPa (+/-0.2), and Group 3: 13.4 MPa (+/-1.0). Specimens from groups 1 and 3 revealed a trend towards mixture of cohesive, within the resin cement, and adhesive failures at the metal-cement interface. Group 2 specimens exhibited primarily adhesive failures at the metal-cement interface. CONCLUSIONS: The tensile bond strength of Au-Pd alloy specimens was significantly increased with the Alloy Primer.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Mineral content of calcified tissues in cystic fibrosis mice.

Although abnormal hard tissue mineralization is a recognized complication of cystic fibrosis (CF), the pathogenesis leading from the defective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein is poorly understood. We hypothesized that CFTR plays a direct role in the mineralization of bone and teeth and tested the hypothesis using CF mouse models [CFTR(-) mice]. In vivo measurements by dual-emission X-ray absorpitometry (DEXA) indicated that bone mineral density (BMD) was reduced in CF mice as compared to gender-matched littermates. However, no change was evident after correction of BMD for the covariant of body weight. The latter finding was confirmed in isolated femurs and nasal bones by standard dry-ashing and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). INAA of the continuously growing hypsodont incisor teeth from CFTR(-) mice revealed reduced Ca and normal P in the enamel layer--a finding consistent with changes in the deciduous teeth of CF children. Interestingly, enamel fluoride was increased in the CFTR(-) incisors and may associate with abnormal enamel crystallite formation. The iron content of the incisor enamel was reduced, explaining the loss of yellow pigmentation in CFTR(-) incisors. In contrast to the incisors, the mineral content of the slow-growing brachydont molar teeth was not different between CFTR(-) and CFTR(+) mice. It was concluded that CFTR does not play a direct role in the mineralization of bones or brachydont teeth in mice. Functional CFTR is apparently required for normal mineralization of the hypsodont incisors. However, multiple changes in the mineral composition of the CF incisors suggest an indirect role for CFTR, perhaps by maintaining a normal salivary environment for continuous tooth eruption.

Animals↗

Laser irradiation of bone: III. Long-term healing following treatment by CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers.

BACKGROUND: Relative few reports exist concerning healing of laser created osteotomies over an extended period of time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term healing, from 21 to 63 days, of osteotomy defects in the rat tibia created with the Nd:YAG and CO2 in the presence of a surface cooling spray of air/water. METHODS: The experimental model consisted of 15 large Sprague-Dawley rats. Six treatment modalities were randomly distributed among 6 tibial recipient sites: 1) a negative control (no treatment); 2) a positive control (bur osteotomy); 3) CO2 laser at 5 W (860 J/cm2); 4) CO2 laser at 6 W (1,032 J/cm2); 5) Nd:YAG laser at 5 W (714 J/cm2); and 6) Nd:YAG laser at 7 W (1,000 J/cm2). All laser irradiation was delivered in the presence of a surface coolant consisting of air (15 psi) and sterile water. Five animals were sacrificed at each of 3 time intervals: 21, 35, and 63 days post-treatment. Multiple histologic sections from each treatment site were examined by light microscopy using hematoxylin and eosin Goldner's trichrome stains, and polarized light and evaluated for presence of a char layer, heat induced cracking, heat related alterations in cells or tissue matrix, and osseous regeneration. RESULTS: Healing was severely delayed in all laser treated sites compared to positive control sites. Of the laser treated sites, those irradiated by CO2 laser at 5 W (780 J/cm2) exhibited the greater amount of bone regeneration. At best, however, only a small percentage of sections from any of the laser treated specimens showed evidence of bone regeneration within the ablation defect regardless of the post-treatment time interval. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, the osseous healing response was severely delayed by CO2 and Nd:YAG laser irradiation of bone, even in the presence of a surface cooling spray of air/water.

Air↗

Anisotropic elastic properties of cancellous bone from a human edentulous mandible.

The elastic moduli have not been reported for cancellous bone from the edentulous mandible. Accurate values are needed for finite element modeling of the mandible. The aim of this study was to determine elastic modulus values in three orthogonal directions for cancellous bone taken from an edentulous jaw and to relate these values to apparent density and volume fraction. Seven samples were obtained from the edentulous mandible of a 74-year-old female. Young's modulus was determined by compression testing of cubes cut with the faces aligned with the anatomic axes. Bone volume fraction averaged 0.33 (SD 0.14) and apparent density averaged 0.55 g/cc (SD 0.29). Young's modulus was greatest in the mesio-distal direction (mean 907 MPa, SD 849 MPa), followed by the bucco-lingual (mean 511 MPa, SD 565 MPa) and infero-superior direction (mean 114 MPa, SD 78 MPa). The infero-superior direction was less than the bucco-lingual (P = 0.03) and mesio-distal (P = 0.002). The mesio-distal and bucco-lingual directions could not be shown to be different (P = 0.32). This suggests a model of transverse isotropy for cancellous bone in the jaw, where the symmetry axis is along the infero-superior (weakest) direction.

Aged↗

Stress distribution in the single-unit osseointegrated dental implant: finite element analyses of axial and off-axial loading.

Occlusal overload may contribute to the extensive crestal bone loss often noted around late-failure dental implants. A particularly high risk of traumatic overload occurs with the posterior single-unit implant restoration because the restoration itself is usually wider than the implant, creating the potential for a cantilever effect with high bending moments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the simulated effects of axial and off-axial vertical loads on stress gradients at the implant/bone interface of a single-unit osseointegrated root-form endosseous dental implant. A two-dimensional finite element model was generated. A 490-N load was applied at 0, 2, 4, and 6 mm from the vertical axis of the implant. Off-axis loading resulted in greatly increased compressive stresses within the crestal cortical bone on the side to which the load was applied and similarly increased tensile stresses on the side opposite the load. These stresses increased considerably with each mm increase off axis of the applied load. These data suggest that off-axis loading of single-unit implant restorations provides a significant contribution to increased stresses at the implant/cortical bone interface. The distance off axis at which the load is applied is also significant.

Bite Force↗

Influence of additional acid etch treatment on resin cement dentin infiltration.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the penetration of a resin cement into dentin surfaces pretreated with self-etching primer with or without conventional acid etch. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dentin surfaces of 8 unerupted human third molars were treated with self-etch primer (Panavia 21; Kuraray Co, Ltd, Osaka, Japan) with or without conventional acid etch treatment. A resin cement (Panavia 21) was applied according to manufacturer's instructions. Dentin/resin cement interface sections from each tooth were examined with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In the light microscopy sections, exposed protein at the dentin/cement interface was stained a distinct red with Goldner's trichrome. RESULTS: The resin cement did not penetrate the depth of the zone of demineralized dentin when the self-etch primer was used in combination with conventional acid etch treatment. Inadequate resin cement penetration leaves a substantial area of exposed protein at the dentin/cement interface. In contrast, there was complete resin cement diffusion throughout the demineralized dentin when the self-etch primer was used without acid etching. CONCLUSIONS: Combining conventional acid etch treatment with a self-etching primer/resin cement system resulted in incomplete resin cement penetration and exposed protein at the dentin/cement interface.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Interfacial chemistry of the dentin/adhesive bond.

To date, the dentin/adhesive (d/a) bond has primarily been studied by morphologic analysis in conjunction with bond strength measurement. Although these analyses have enhanced our understanding, numerous questions about the chemistry have not been answered. The purpose of this study was to determine, at the molecular level, quantitative differences in the composition of the d/a interface formed under "wet" bonding conditions. The occlusal one-third of the crown was removed from 10 extracted, unerupted human third molars. The prepared dentin surfaces were treated, per manufacturers' instructions, with either Single Bond (3M) or One-Step adhesive (Bisco). Three-micron-thick sections of the d/a interface were cut and stained with Goldner trichrome for light microscopy. Companion slabs were analyzed with micro-Raman spectroscopy; the sample was placed at the focus of a 100x microscope objective, and spectra were acquired at 1-microm intervals across the d/a interface. Reference spectra were collected on model compounds of type I collagen and adhesive; the relative ratios of the integrated intensities of spectral features from adhesive and collagen were determined and plotted as a function of wt% adhesive. The same ratios were determined for the interface samples; by comparing these ratios with the calibration curve generated from the model compounds, we determined the percent of adhesive as a function of spatial position across the d/a interface. The relative percent of Single Bond adhesive was < 50% throughout more than half of the hybrid layer; One Step adhesive was > or = 50% throughout most of the hybrid. The results from this study provide the first direct chemical evidence of phase separation in a dentin adhesive and its detrimental effect on the dentin/adhesive bond.

Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate↗

Effect of 3 medicaments on the dimensional accuracy and surface detail reproduction of polyvinyl siloxane impressions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of retraction cord medicaments (aluminum chloride, ferric sulfate, and ferric subsulfate/ferric sulfate) on the dimensional accuracy and surface detail reproduction of polyvinyl siloxane impressions. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Polyvinyl siloxane impressions were made of standardized metal dies (American Dental Association [ADA] specification No. 19) treated with 1 of the 3 retraction cord medicaments. Dimensional accuracy was evaluated by comparing the average length of a line in the impressions to the standard die. Surface detail reproduction was evaluated by viewing the impressions under low-angle illumination at x10 magnification. Reproduction was considered satisfactory if 2 of 3 horizontal lines were reproduced continuously. The dies were also evaluated under the microscope before the impression was made. RESULTS: The medicaments did not significantly effect the dimensional accuracy; mean shrinkage was within ADA guidelines in the treatment groups. All of the medicaments had an adverse effect on surface detail reproduction. These effects were statistically significant compared to the untreated control. CONCLUSION: Although the changes in dimensional accuracy were within ADA guidelines, the surface detail reproduction was modified such that the impression would be considered clinically unacceptable. For optimal results, care must taken to remove all traces of these retraction cord medicaments prior to recording of a polyvinyl siloxane impression.

Aluminum Chloride↗

X-ray structure of 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase from Escherichia coli complexed with the inhibitor levulinic acid at 2.0 A resolution.

5-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), an early enzyme of the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis pathway, catalyzes the dimerization of 5-aminolevulinic acid to form the pyrrole, porphobilinogen. ALAD from Escherichia coli is shown to form a homo-octameric structure with 422 symmetry in which each subunit adopts the TIM barrel fold with a 30-residue N-terminal arm. Pairs of monomers associate with their arms wrapped around each other. Four of these dimers interact, principally via their arm regions, to form octamers in which each active site is located on the surface. The active site contains two lysine residues (195 and 247), one of which (Lys 247) forms a Schiff base link with the bound substrate analogue, levulinic acid. Of the two substrate binding sites (referred to as A and P), our analysis defines the residues forming the P-site, which is where the first ALA molecule to associate with the enzyme binds. The carboxyl group of the levulinic acid moiety forms hydrogen bonds with the side chains of Ser 273 and Tyr 312. In proximity to the levulinic acid is a zinc binding site formed by three cysteines (Cys 120, 122, and 130) and a solvent molecule. We infer that the second substrate binding site (or A-site) is located between the triple-cysteine zinc site and the bound levulinic acid moiety. Two invariant arginine residues in a loop covering the active site (Arg 205 and Arg 216) appear to be appropriately placed to bind the carboxylate of the A-site substrate. Another metal binding site, close to the active site flap, in which a putative zinc ion is coordinated by a carboxyl and five solvent molecules may account for the activating properties of magnesium ions.

Binding Sites↗

The Guam cycad toxin methylazoxymethanol damages neuronal DNA and modulates tau mRNA expression and excitotoxicity.

As in Alzheimer's disease, brains of Guam Chamorros with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinsonism-dementia complex (PDC) contain intraneuronal-paired helical filaments composed of accumulated phosphorylated tau protein. Tau mRNA expression in rat neuronal cultures-normally modulated by glutamate-increases after treatment with the aglycone of cycasin, a cycad-derived toxin whose concentration in Chamorro food varies with disease incidence. Elevated Tau gene expression in vitro is coincident with increased cycasin-related DNA adducts and reduced DNA repair. Cycasin and endogenous glutamate may together promote the accumulation of tau protein and neuronal degeneration in Western Pacific ALS/PDC.

Animals↗