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Biomedical subjects

K Helgeland

Publications and source records attributed to K Helgeland.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Fc-binding components: a virulence factor in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans?

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (ATCC 33384) can produce and release components that bind to the Fc part of IgG. Fc-binding components were observed in whole bacteria, capsular material and medium from broth cultures. The components were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotted with biotinylated Fc-fragments and myeloma proteins. In a phagocytosis assay with human granulocytes and sheep erythrocytes, preincubation of opsonized erythrocytes with protein A reduced phagocytosis by 90%. In contrast, preincubation of the opsonizing antibody with medium components from a culture of A. actinomycetemcomitans enhanced the opsonizing effect of the antibody. The enhanced binding of erythrocytes may be caused by formation of aggregates between opsonizing antibody and bacterial Fc-binding components. Aggregated IgG can bind to low-affinity Fc gamma II and gamma III receptors that cannot bind monomeric IgG. Release of Fc-binding components from bacteria may contribute to the periodontal lesion through interference with the phagocytic activity of granulocytes and with the complement system. Fc-binding components may also interfere with downregulation of the B-cell response.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗

Ion transport and cadmium-induced inhibition of ciliary activity and induction of swelling of epithelial cells in mouse trachea organ culture.

Swelling of epithelial cells and reduction of ciliary activity in mouse trachea organ culture occurred after incubation for 4 h with a rather low concentration of cadmium acetate (10 microM). Specific inhibitors of ion transport (Na+, K+, Cl-) such as furosemide, amiloride and ouabain did not mimic, abolish or increase the toxic effects induced by cadmium acetate. Exposure to cadmium acetate had no significant effect on electrolyte uptake (22Na+ and 86Rb+). These results suggest that the swelling of epithelial cells induced by cadmium acetate is not due to an osmotic swelling from an accumulation of electrolytes. Ba2+, known to have several biological properties in common with Ca2+, and to influence basolateral K+ flux, counteracted the toxic effects of cadmium acetate, whereas a more rapid and extensive swelling occurred with cadmium acetate in a medium without Ca2+. No effect on the uptake of 109Cd2+ was found with barium chloride, whereas in a medium without Ca2+ the Cd2+ uptake increased by 47%. Trifluoperazine (100 microM), a drug which in vitro binds tightly to calmodulin, imitated the toxic effects of 10 microM cadmium acetate. The combination of 10 microM cadmium acetate and 100 microM trifluoperazine resulted in an additive toxic effect. A possible mechanism for the cadmium acetate-induced swelling and inhibition of ciliary activity could, thus, be a disturbance of the regulatory activity of calmodulin.

Acetates↗

Antibodies against lipopolysaccharide from Bacteroides gingivalis before and after periodontal treatment.

Specific serum antibody activities of the IgG, IgA and IgM isotypes against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prepared from Bacteroides gingivalis were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a group of 12 periodontally healthy subjects and a group of 26 patients with periodontitis. The latter group received periodontal therapy, completed within about 1 yr. A serum sample was obtained from each participant at the first periodontal examination; a second sample was taken about 2 yr later. The mean antibody levels calculated for the healthy group did not change significantly between the first and second examination. The correlation coefficients computed between the two sets of measurements were 0.93, 0.90 and 0.96 for IgG, IgM and IgA respectively (P less than 0.05). Periodontal treatment significantly improved the clinical status of the patients and was followed by a statistically significant mean reduction in specific antibody levels to the LPS preparation (IgG: 15%, IgA: 30% and IgM: 15%).

Adult↗

Attachment of human gingival fibroblasts to planed root surfaces exposed to human plasma in vitro.

We studied the effect of exposing planed dentin surfaces (DS) to human plasma on the attachment of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) in vitro as compared with their attachment to citric-acid-demineralized DS. Sixty-six DS were prepared from root-planed roots of surgically extracted human third molars. In a pilot experiment 30 DS were demineralized in citric acid (pH 1.0 for 3 min), and each of 3 DS were placed in a culture dish and incubated with fresh plasma for 0, 10, or 30 sec, 1, 10, or 30 min, or 1, 1.5, 2, or 4h. In a second experiment, three culture dishes containing three DS each were assigned to each of four groups. These were untreated (control), incubated with plasma for 2h, acid-demineralized only, or acid-demineralized and then incubated with plasma for 2h. To each dish was added 0.2 X 10(6) HGF, and these were incubated for 2, 6, or 24 h. The unattached cells were then removed, and the DS fixed and processed for SEM. The results showed that exposing demineralized dentin surfaces to plasma causes the absorption of a coating layer, presumably of organic nature, as early as 30 sec after exposure. Acid-demineralized DS alone or together with plasma treatment enhanced both the attachment and the growth of HGF. However, treatment with plasma alone seemed to enhance the HGF attachment less than did acid demineralization alone.

Cell Adhesion↗

Effects of cadmium acetate and sodium selenite on mucociliary functions and adenosine triphosphate content in mouse trachea organ cultures.

The effects of cadmium acetate and sodium selenite in mouse trachea organ culture have been studied separately and in combination. Ciliary activity, morphology, rate of total protein and glycoconjugate (i.e. glycoprotein and proteoglycan) synthesis/secretion and ATP content were investigated. Exposure to 10 microM cadmium acetate or 2000 microM sodium selenite resulted in a complete cessation of ciliary activity within 5 h. With cadmium acetate also a swelling of epithelial cells was observed. Sodium selenite (250-2000 microM) delayed by 2-3 h the inhibitory effect of cadmium acetate (5-20 microM) on ciliary activity. The rate of protein synthesis, as determined by incorporation of [3H]proline, was reduced by 13% and 44% at exposure for 4 h at 37 degrees C to 250 microM and 500 microM sodium selenite respectively, the effect being partly abolished by cadmium acetate. With 5 microM and 10 microM cadmium acetate the rate of glycoconjugate synthesis, as measured by incorporation of [3H]glucosamine, increased by 50% and 69%, respectively, after incubation for 4 h. This increase was partly reduced by sodium selenite. Neither cadmium acetate nor sodium selenite had any effect on the rate of total protein or glycoconjugate secretion. The ATP content in trachea rings was reduced by 48% and 54% after incubation for 4 h with 250 microM and 500 microM sodium selenite, respectively. No significant effect of cadmium acetate was found on ATP content. An antagonistic effect of sodium selenite and cadmium acetate in mouse trachea organ culture is suggested from the present experiments.

Acetates↗

Factors affecting retention of Cu in the human oral cavity after mouth rinses.

Retention of Cu in the mouth after rinses with aqueous solutions of CuSO4 was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The retained amount of Cu exhibited a linear relationship against the concentration of the rinsing solution in the range tested. Approximately one third of the Cu retained after a 60 s rinse was retained within the first 15 s, and about 75% within 30 s. Retention of Cu was only little affected by the pH of the rinsing solution in the range from 2.0 to 5.7, being reduced by about 50% at pH 9.0. However, variations in cupric ion activity rather than pH per se could explain these effects. A mutual reduction in retention of either metals was seen when Cu and Zn were applied simultaneously.

Copper↗

pH and the effect of NH4Cl on human gingival fibroblasts.

pH variations in the range from 6.9 to 7.9 modified the growth rate of human gingival fibroblasts in culture, a pH optimum being found at 7.6-7.8. A pH dependent growth inhibition by ammonia was evident, being particularly prominent in the presence of 2 mM NH4Cl. At this concentration an effect ranging from a complete cessation of growth at pH 8.0 to an indication of a slight stimulatory effect at pH 7.2 was found. Concomitant with this amplification of the growth inhibitory effect, a state of unbalanced growth in the sense of an increased cellular protein content was induced by ammonia upon increasing the pH of the medium. The incorporation of 14C-proline into the total protein fraction decreased rapidly, particularly in the control cultures, with pH; an inhibition by ammonia being found at pH 7.0 and 7.5 with no effect at pH 7.1. Except for part of the inhibition by ammonia, changes in specific activity of 14C-proline in the cellular amino acid pool could ac count for these pH effects. Ammonia reduced the proportion of radiolabeled protein recovered as collagen both from the cells and medium at the lower pHs, whereas the only significant effect on noncollagen protein was an increased fraction being secreted at pH 7.1 in the presence of 10 mM NH4Cl.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Fluoride retention in clean and plaque-covered demineralized enamel in vivo after application of monofluorophosphate.

The retention of fluoride in clean and plaque-covered demineralized enamel in vivo was measured 1 wk after a single application of a MFP solution with low or high content of free fluoride. Demineralization of the enamel was induced in vivo during a 4-wk period prior to application of fluoride by applying orthodontic bands on a pair of premolars scheduled for extraction of orthodontic reasons. The band from one tooth of each pair was then removed and the tooth cleaned (clean enamel lesion). The band on the contralateral tooth (plaque-covered enamel lesion) was left in place. The MFP solutions were applied and the teeth extracted after one more week. The chemical form of fluorine in the lesions was analyzed by conventional acid etching of the enamel combined with KOH dissolution and by a nondestructive surface analysis using ESCA to detect intact monofluorophosphate ions. The ESCA measurements showed that MFP was only present in the clean enamel lesions, indicating complete hydrolysis by dental plaque. Alkali soluble fluoride could be extracted from both plaque-covered and clean enamel lesions. Conflicting results regarding the amount of fluoride uptake in the lesions were obtained with the acid etching and the ESCA technique. It was thus not clearly established whether plaque enhanced fluoride uptake in carious lesions after MFP application.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Concentrations of trace elements in human blood serum from different places in Norway determined by neutron activation analysis.

The concentrations of As, Fe, Hg, Sb, Se and Zn in 281 serum samples from people living in nine municipalities in Norway were determined by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. The concentrations of Br, Cl, Cs, Na, Rb, Se and Zn were determined in another set of 157 serum samples from four of the municipalities by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Higher arsenic concentrations were found in the coastal districts than in inland municipalities; otherwise no significant difference in mean values was observed between the districts. Except for Na-Cl and Rb-Cs, none of the elements was significantly correlated with any other element studied.

Humans↗

Fluoride retention in sound and demineralized enamel in vivo after treatment with a fluoride varnish (Duraphat).

The retention of alkali soluble (CaF2) and alkali insoluble (fluorapatite) fluoride in sound enamel and demineralized enamel 2 wk after application of Duraphat was investigated in a group of orthodontic patients from whom pairs of homolog premolars were to be extracted. Demineralization of the enamel was induced during a 4-wk period prior to application of fluoride by applying orthodontic bands to the premolars. The bands also remained attached to the teeth during and after application of fluoride (2 wk) to maintain a cariogenic environment. Three consecutive enamel layers (approximately 5 microns) were subsequently etched off. A significant uptake of fluoride in the first and second layer of sound enamel and in all the three enamel layers of demineralized enamel was found. More fluoride was found in demineralized enamel and a higher proportion of this fluoride was found to be in an alkali insoluble form compared with the fluoride in sound enamel. The SEM study showed a rough enamel surface after three consecutive acid etchings. The etching pattern differed within the etched area. It was suggested that the variation in etching pattern might be due to differences in orientation of the crystallites and the original surface morphology.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Inhibitory effect of NH4Cl on secretion of collagen in human gingival fibroblasts.

The general protein synthesis in human gingival fibroblasts as measured by 14C-proline incorporation was only moderately inhibited by 10 mM NH4C1 during incubation for 36 h. The proportion secreted as noncollagen protein and recovered from the cellular fraction as collagen was not significantly affected, whereas a pronounced inhibitory effect on the secretion of collagen was evident after 24 h. This effect was dose dependent, with a significant inhibition of collagen secretion even at 2 mM ammonia. The applied concentrations of NH4C1 had no significant effect on the hydroxylation of prolyl residues in collagen. Ammonia had no inhibitory effect on the secretion of fibronectin, another major secretory protein from fibroblasts. When comparing different lysosomotropic agents; NH4C1, chloroquine and methylamine, the most prominent effect was consistently found to be an inhibition of the secretion of collagen.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Retention of Cu and Zn in the oral cavity following rinsing with aqueous solutions of copper and zinc salts.

Retention of Cu and Zn in the mouth after rinses with known volumes of aqueous solutions of the metal salts was measured by atomic absorption. The mean amounts retained in 10 subjects were 0.02 mg Cu and 0.22 mg Zn. These values represent approximately 31% of the Cu and 15% of the Zn originally in the rinse. The intraindividual variation (s.d.), estimated by three mouthrinses at weekly intervals in three subjects averaged 2.1% for Cu and 2.3% for Zn. Following a rinse the salivary concentration of Cu and Zn decreased rapidly during the first 4 h, approaching prerinse levels.

Adult↗

Alkali soluble and alkali insoluble fluoride retention in demineralized enamel in vivo.

Demineralization of enamel was induced by applying orthodontic bands in 15 patients having two of their premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons. After a 4-wk caries induction period, eight patients were instructed to rinse their teeth once daily with a neutral 0.05% NaF solution, whereas seven patients received a single treatment with a neutral 2% NaF solution. The bands were reattached to the teeth during the fluoride treatment period and the teeth were extracted after two more weeks. Three consecutive enamel layers were etched off, and a significant uptake of fluoride in all three layers were found in both treatment groups. A larger part of the deposited fluoride was retained in an alkali insoluble form (i.e. fluorapatite) compared with previous studies of sound enamel. It is suggested that the chemical conditions in the cariogenic milieu were favorable for transformation of the fluoride into a stable apatite structure.

Alkalies↗