PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Howard C Tenenbaum

Publications and source records attributed to Howard C Tenenbaum.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Emdogain regulation of cellular differentiation in wounded rat periodontium.

Emdogain is an enamel matrix derivative that may promote periodontal regeneration by recapitulating critical events in tooth morphogenesis. We hypothesized that Emdogain enhances periodontal regeneration by promoting the differentiation of cells required for the synthesis of periodontal ligament, bone and cementum. Cell differentiation was examined in rat periodontal window wounds in which there is no microbial biofilm or epithelial downgrowth, thereby simplifying the model system. Defects were filled with vehicle control or Emdogain (3 mg/ml or 30 mg/ml). Rats were sacrificed at 7, 14 and 21 d after wounding. Specimens of periodontium were immunostained for osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin as markers of osteogenic differentiation and for alpha-smooth muscle actin, a myofibroblastic marker. Morphometry and 3H-proline radioautography were used for assessment of tissue homeostasis and matrix production. Rats treated with Emdogain (only at 30 mg/ml) showed widening of the periodontal ligament at 7 d; by 14 and 21 d, periodontal ligament width was restored to normal values for all groups. Emdogain exerted no effect on cementum thickness, bone volume, osteoid deposition rates, or extracellular staining for osteopontin, bone sialoprotein or osteocalcin. Further, the percentage of cells with intracellular staining for osteopontin, osteocalcin or bone sialoprotein was unaffected by Emdogain. Staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin was abundant in the repopulating wound but was also unaffected by Emdogain. In conclusion, Emdogain does not apparently affect the expression of differentiation markers or bone matrix protein synthesis in the repopulation response of wounded rat molar periodontium. Therefore the effect of Emdogain on wound healing in the periodontium may be independent of differentiation in the cell populations examined in this model.

Actins↗

Lethal photosensitization of periodontal pathogens by a red-filtered Xenon lamp in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The ability of Helium-Neon (He-Ne) laser irradiation of a photosensitizer to induce localized phototoxic effects that kill periodontal pathogens is well documented and is termed photodynamic therapy (PDT). OBJECTIVES: We investigated the potential of a conventional light source (red-filtered Xenon lamp) to activate toluidine blue O (TBO) in vitro and determined in vitro model parameters that may be used in future in vivo trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 was used as the primary test bacterium. RESULTS: Treatment with a 2.2 J/cm2 light dose and 50 micro g/ml TBO concentration resulted in a bacterial kill of 2.43 +/- 0.39 logs with the He-Ne laser control and 3.34 +/- 0.24 logs with the lamp, a near 10-fold increase (p = 0.028). Increases in light intensity produced significantly higher killing (p = 0.012) that plateaued at 25 mW/cm2. There was a linear relationship between light dose and bacterial killing (r2 = 0.916); as light dose was increased bacterial survival decreased. No such relationship was found for the drug concentrations tested. Addition of serum or blood at 50% v/v to the P. gingivalis suspension prior to irradiation diminished killing from approximately 5 logs to 3 logs at 10 J/cm2. When serum was washed off, killing returned to 5 logs for all species tested except Bacteroides forsythus (3.92 +/- 0.68 logs kill). CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that PDT utilizing a conventional light source is at least as effective as laser-induced treatment in vitro. Furthermore, PDT achieves significant bactericidal activity in the presence of serum and blood when used with the set parameters of 10 J/cm2, 100 mW/cm2 and 12.5 micro g/ml TBO.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗

Interdisciplinary, web-based, self-study, interactive programs in the dental undergraduate program: a pilot.

The goal of this project was to encourage interdisciplinary, integrative health teaching and research in dental education through the development of web-accessible programs, collectively called the "StudyWeb." The specific objective of the project was the construction and integration of a series of prototypes of self-study modules. Four pilot modules were developed using existing teaching materials in histology, pharmacology, prosthodontics, and oral radiology and utilizing a variety of widely available software programs, including FrontPage and Photoshop. Low-end technological choices were made in order to facilitate compatibility with a wide range of hardware, software, and types of Internet access. Modules were tested for functionality, usability, and ease of navigation. The scope of the initial project was limited to development and functionality testing of the original modules. The next phase of this project will involve testing of the effectiveness of these web-based self-instruction tools.

Computer Systems↗

alpha 2-HS glycoprotein/fetuin, a transforming growth factor-beta/bone morphogenetic protein antagonist, regulates postnatal bone growth and remodeling.

Soluble transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-binding proteins are widely distributed in mammalian tissues and control cytokine access to membrane signaling receptors. The serum and bone-resident glycoprotein alpha2-HS-glycoprotein/fetuin (ASHG) binds to TGF-beta/BMP cytokines and blocks TGF-beta1 binding to cell surface receptors. Therefore, we examined bone growth and remodeling phenotypes in ASHG-deficient mice. The skeletal structure of Ahsg(-/-) mice appeared normal at birth, but abnormalities were observed in adult Ahsg(-/-) mice. Maturation of growth plate chondrocytes was impaired, and femurs lengthened more slowly between 3 and 18 months of age in Ahsg(-/-) mice. However, bone formation was increased in Ahsg(-/-) mice as indicated by greater cortical thickness, accelerated trabecular bone remodeling, and increased osteoblast numbers on bone surfaces. The normal age-related increase in cortical thickness and bone mineral density was accelerated in Ahsg(-/-) mice and was associated with increased energy required to fracture. Bone formation in response to implanted BMP cytokine extended further from the implant in Ahsg(-/-) compared with Ahsg(+/+) mice, confirming the interaction between ASHG and TGF-beta/BMP cytokines in vivo. Our results demonstrate that ASHG blocks TGF-beta-dependent signaling in osteoblastic cells, and mice lacking ASHG display growth plate defects, increased bone formation with age, and enhanced cytokine-dependent osteogenesis.

Adipocytes↗

Bisphosphonates and periodontics: potential applications for regulation of bone mass in the periodontium and other therapeutic/diagnostic uses.

Bisphosphonates are widely utilized in the management of systemic metabolic bone disease due to their ability to inhibit bone resorption. Recently, new uses of this unique class of pharmacological agents have been suggested. Given their known affinity to bone and their ability to increase osteoblastic differentiation and inhibit osteoclast recruitment and activity, there exists a possible use for bisphosphonates in the diagnosis and management of periodontal diseases. These bone-specific properties could also provide an interesting management strategy to stimulate osteogenesis in conjunction with regenerative materials around osseous defects and may also result in the promotion of bone formation around endosseous implants. The objective of this article is to review the scientific evidence regarding the potential applications of bisphosphonate drugs in the therapeutic management of periodontal diseases. Moreover, the mechanism of action and the pharmacology of these drugs will be reviewed. Finally, the potential role of bisphosphonates regarding their potential to accelerate bone formation, in addition to their usual uses for inhibition of bone resorption, is discussed.

Alendronate↗