Isolation of opportunistic pathogens in dental plaque, saliva and tonsil samples from elderly.
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
N Hanada
Publications and source records attributed to N Hanada.
Controlling opportunistic pathogens in the oral cavity of preschool children by the use of 3DS.
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Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
NE-dlg, a mammalian homolog of Drosophila dlg tumor suppressor, induces growth suppression and impairment of cell adhesion: possible involvement of down-regulation of beta-catenin by NE-dlg expression.
Membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) are known to function as scaffolds for forming multiprotein complexes at the synaptic junctions of neuronal cells and at sites of epithelial cell-cell contact. In Drosophila, mutations of the lethal (1)-discs large (dlg) gene, which encodes a MAGUK protein, leads to post-synaptic structure defects in neuronal cells and neoplastic overgrowth of epithelial cells. We previously showed that NE-dlg (neuronal and endocrine dlg), a human homolog of the dlg, plays a crucial role in formation of synaptic structure in human neuronal cells. Here we demonstrate that NE-dlg, similar to Drosophila dlg, is involved in regulation of cell cycle progression and adhesive ability of non-neuronal cells. Overexpression of NE-dlg in proliferating cells including various cancer cell lines induced growth suppression and impairment of cell adhesive ability. Furthermore, NE-dlg overexpression caused the down-regulation of beta-catenin in cancer cells regardless of mutations in the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene. The PDZ domains of NE-dlg were found to be essential for the growth suppression, loss of adhesive property and down-regulation of beta-catenin. We propose that NE-dlg regulates the cell growth and adhesive ability by controlling the level of beta-catenin through an APC-independent pathway. Inactivation of NE-dlg may therefore contribute to development and/or progression of human neoplasms.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
Role of F1F0-ATPase in the growth of streptococcus mutans GS5.
The role of F1F0-ATPase in Streptococcus mutans GS5 was investigated by isolating a mutant (NTS1) defective in enzyme activity by homologous recombination with a plasmid encoding the 5' terminal fragment of the F1F0-ATPase beta-subunit gene. The ATPase activity of NTS1 membranes was 49% that of GS5 membranes. The lag phase of the growth curve of NTS1 was longer than that for GS5, and the lag phase of GS5 and NTS1 were prolonged by the addition of ionophore gramicidin D; at stationary phase, the turbidity of the NTS1 culture was less than that of the GS5 culture. These results suggest that S. mutans F1F0-ATPase contributes to the generation of a stoichiometric electrogenic gradient effectively in the lag phase.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
[Nocturnal oxygen desaturation during home oxygen therapy in patients with chronic respiratory disease].
We investigated nocturnal oxygen desaturation (NOD) in 36 patients with stable chronic respiratory disease who were receiving home oxygen, therapy (HOT). Study data included medical history, chest roentgenograms, measurement of daytime arterial blood gases while awake, and spirometry. Each subject underwent full overnight oximetry monitoring. Three patients were excluded from further investigation because of periodic desaturation suggestive of sleep apnea. The remaining 33 subjects were divided into two groups: 21 patients with sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB-sequela) and 12 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The COPD group was divided into two subgroups according to the Burrows classification (Am Rev Resp Dis. 90: 14-27, 1964): 5 patients with type A (Type A) and 7 patients with type B (Type B) COPD. The percentages of total sleep time with SaO2 < or = 85% (DST 85) and SaO2 < or = 90% (DST 90) were calculated for each subject. NOD was defined as DST 85 > or = 1%. Arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) while awake was > or = 60 Torr in all subjects. No difference was observed in mean awake PaO2 values between the TB-sequela and COPD groups. NOD was detected in 8 TB-sequela patients but in none of the COPD patients. Mean DST 85 and DST 90 values were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for the TB-sequela group than for the COPD group. Of 15 TB-sequela patients who were able to complete spirometry tests, 6 had NOD. All 6 of these patients had hypercapnia while awake (PaCO2 > or = 50 Torr) and reduced vital capacity (< or = 50% predicted). No difference was observed in mean DST 90 or DST 85 values between the TypeA and TypeB COPD subgroups. We conclude that NOD is common in patients with chronic stable respiratory disease treated with HOT despite daytime euoxia. TB-sequela patients with hypercapnia and restrictive ventilatory impairment are at high risk for NOD.
Aged↗
Current understanding of the cause of dental caries.
Dental caries-associated oral streptococci are called the mutans streptococci, with Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus being the most prevalent caries-associated organisms in humans. Strains of the mutans streptococci are highly conserved within not only mothers and their children but also racial groups, suggesting vertical transmission of this organism within human populations. It has been found that the mother-child infection route of the mutans streptococci can be prevented by simply reducing the amount of the mutans streptococci contained in the mothers' saliva. Moreover, a chlorhexidine varnish reduces the salivary mutans streptococci by an average of 3 logs (99.9%), and moved them below detectable levels. We should attempt to eliminate the infection with the mutans streptococci among Japanese people by attempting to break the infectious chain from mothers to children.
Bacterial Vaccines↗
New dental drug delivery system for removing mutans streptococci from the oral cavity: effect on oral microbial flora.
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Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
Inhibitory effect of a self-derived peptide on glucosyltransferase of Streptococcus mutans. Possible novel anticaries measures.
Glucosyltransferase (GTF) plays an important role in the development of dental caries. We examined the possible presence of self-inhibitory segments within the enzyme molecule for the purpose of developing anticaries measures through GTF inhibition. Twenty-two synthetic peptides derived from various regions presumably responsible for insoluble-glucan synthesis were studied with respect to their effects on catalytic activity. One of them, which is identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1176-1194, significantly and specifically inhibited both sucrose hydrolysis and glucosyl transfer to glucan by GTF-I. Double-reciprocal analysis revealed that the inhibition is noncompetitive. Scramble peptides, composed of the identical amino acids in randomized sequence, had no effect on GTF-I activity. Furthermore, the peptide is tightly bound to the enzyme once complexed, even in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Kinetic analysis using an optical evanescent resonant mirror cuvette system demonstrated that the enzyme-peptide interaction was biphasic. These results indicate that the peptide directly interacts with the enzyme with high affinity and inhibits its activity in a sequence-specific manner. This peptide itself could possibly be an effective agent for prevention of dental caries, although its effectiveness may be improved by further modification.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
The immunogenicity of various peptide antigens inducing cross-reacting antibodies to a cell surface protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans.
A cell surface protein antigen (PAc) of Streptococcus mutans may be involved in the binding of bacteria to the tooth surface, and has long been focused upon as a candidate for a preventive vaccine of dental caries. Previously the peptide PAc (365-377) was shown to raise an antibody in B10.D2 mice which inhibited the binding of salivary components to the PAc molecule. Using this peptide as a unit peptide, two constructs based on multiple antigenic peptides, and several types of tandem repeats of two or three copies were synthesized to estimate the immunogenicity of these peptides. Increase in the immunogenicity was observed for all constructs with the use of an adjuvant compared to the unit peptide alone. However, the tandem repeat constructs generally induced antibody production in the absence of adjuvant, while the multiple antigenic peptide constructs did not induce antibody production under the same condition. Although such a phenomenon may be restricted to this particular peptide sequence, these results may influence the strategy for the design of peptide vaccines.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Caries risk factors among three-year old children in Chiba, Japan.
In order to predict the factors which affect the occurrence of dental caries in children after the age 18-months, we analyzed the relationship between the increment of the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) in children from 18-months to three-years of age and caries risk factors. Subjects were 392 infants who received both an 18-month-old check-up and a three-year-old check-up in Chiba city. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the results with the increment of the dmft by various combinations of independent variables (sex, order of birth, sweets intake, beverage intake, tooth brushing and feeding). The most predictive factors for the increment of the dmft in upper anterior and molar were "breast feeding" and "bottle feeding" respectively. From these results, we concluded that bottle feeding and breast feeding were the risk factors for the increment of the dmft from the age of 18-months to three years.
Child, Preschool↗
Overexpression of Bcl-2 in bladder cancer cells inhibits apoptosis induced by cisplatin and adenoviral-mediated p53 gene transfer.
To investigate the effects of the expression of Bcl-2 protein in bladder cancer on the apoptosis induced by cisplatin or adenoviral-mediated p53 gene (Ad5CMV-p53) transfer, we transfected the bcl-2 gene into KoTCC-1, a human bladder cancer cell line that does not express the Bcl-2 protein. The Bcl-2-transfected KoTCC-1 (KoTCC-1/B) exhibited significantly higher resistance to both cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 transfer than did either the parental KoTCC-1 (KoTCC-1/P) or the vector-only transfected cell line (KoTCC-1/C). The flow cytometric analysis of the propidium iodide-stained nuclei and DNA fragmentation analysis after cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53 treatment revealed DNA degradation in both KoTCC-1/P and KoTCC-1/C, whereas KoTCC1/B showed a marked inhibition of DNA degradation. Following the treatment with cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53, the accumulation of p53 protein was highly detectable for a long period in KoTCC-1/B compared to that in KoTTC-1/P and KoTCC-1/C. Furthermore, the cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 treatments each reduced the volume of the subcutaneous tumors established in nude mice formed by KoTCC-1/P or KoTCC-1/C; in contrast, their reductive effects on the tumors formed by KoTCC-1/B were significantly suppressed. The intraperitoneal tumor cell implantation model revealed that the prognoses of mice injected with KoTCC-1/B were significantly inferior to those of the mice injected with either KoTCC-1/P or KoTCC-1/C after treatment with cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53. These findings suggest that the expression of Bcl-2 in bladder cancer cells interferes with the therapeutic effects of cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 through the inhibition of the apoptotic pathway.
Adenoviruses, Human↗
Increase in Bcl-2 level promoted by CD40 ligation correlates with inhibition of B cell apoptosis induced by vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase inhibitor.
We have previously demonstrated that cell death of WEHI-231 cells induced by specific inhibitors of vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) occurs through apoptosis. CD40 is involved in regulating activation, differentiation, and apoptosis of B cells. Here we show that the CD40 ligation rescues WEHI-231 cells from apoptotic cell death induced by a specific V-ATPase inhibitor, concanamycin A. CD40 signaling with anti-CD40 antibody resulted in the induction of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL proteins in WEHI-231 cells. Constitutive expression of Bcl-2 but not Bcl-XL inhibited concanamycin A-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that the expression of Bcl-2 mediated through CD40 signaling rescues the apoptotic cell death induced by blockade of V-ATPase. Interestingly, the acidification of intracellular acidic compartments was completely inhibited when WEHI-231 cells were cultured with concanamycin A, even in the presence of anti-CD40 antibody. In addition, apoptosis in WEHI-231 cells induced by concanamycin A was strongly suppressed when cultured with imidazole, a cell-permeable base, suggesting that apoptosis induced by concanamycin A is preceded by intraacidification.
Animals↗
A survey of potential risk factors for HIV transmission through dental practice in Japan.
A survey was conducted to find potential risk factors for HIV transmission through dental practice. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the members of the dental associations of various prefectures and small cities in Japan. A total of 747 questionnaires was returned by dentists. The findings revealed several problems. Gloves, masks, and other protective garments were generally worn, but most dentists did not always use them during the full course of treatment limiting usage to surgical treatment, and when treating patients in "high-risk groups" and in dental practice the exact percentage of the dentists who reused a used anesthetic liquid cartridge is 12.7%. The effectiveness of the education for dentists regarding AIDS was statistically clarified. It is obviously necessary to provide important information regarding AIDS and HIV transmission to the dentists. Potential risk for HIV transmission through dental practice will be prevented by AIDS education for the dentists.
Adult↗
[Successful chemotherapy based on in vitro chemosensitivity testing in a case of recurrent thymic carcinoma].
A 71-year-old woman underwent radical resection in May 1994 for a mediastinal mass invading the anterior chest wall. Histopathological examination revealed adenosquamous cell carcinoma. She was treated with postoperative chemotherapy including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 4'-D-tetrahydropyrayl-doxorubicin (THP), based on in vitro chemosensitivity testing (CST), by MTT assay, using a surgical specimen. In December 1994, a recurrent tumor was detected on the left anterior chest wall and the patient received two courses of 5-FU, THP and methotrexate (MTX). The size of the chest-wall tumor decreased 25%. In July 1995, the patient had involvement of the left axillary lymph node and brain metastases in addition to the mass on the chest wall. Therefore, cisplatin, 5-FU and MTX were selected as treatment agents, based on CST using a metastatic axillary lymph node. After two courses of these agents, chest computed tomography showed a 91% reduction in the size of the chest wall tumor. Radiation was administered for the brain metastasis. In March 1997, the patient died of thymic carcinoma.
Aged↗
Interaction of lysozyme with a surface protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans.
The interaction of salivary lysozyme with the surface protein antigen (PAc) of Streptococcus mutans and the interaction of lysozyme with the pathogen were examined by ELISA using S. mutans MT8148 (PAc+) and the PAc-defective mutant EM-2 (PAc-). The lysozyme clearly bound to the S. mutans wild type but not to the S. mutans mutant. Furthermore, lysozyme bound directly in the fluid phase to the rPAc, of which the binding kinetics were determined (Kon = 3.63 +/- 0.04 x 10(3) M-1 s-1, K(off) = 1.72 +/- 0.04 x 10-5 s-1 and Kon/K(off) = 2.11 x 10(8) M-1) using surface plasmon resonance. The kinetics of both association and dissociation were relatively slow. In addition, anti-lysozyme antibody significantly inhibited the binding of salivary components to the rPAc. The present findings indicate that lysozyme is one of the major salivary components interacting with S. mutans PAc.
Adult↗
Immunogenicity of peptides coupled with multiple T-cell epitopes of a surface protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans.
A surface protein antigen (PAc) of Streptococcus mutans, in particular the A-region of the molecule, has been noted as a possible target of effective dental caries vaccine. We have previously shown that two peptides of 19 amino acids (residues 361-379, NAKATYEAALKQYEADLAA, and residues 301-319, ANAANEADYQAKLTAYQTE), which correspond to parts of the A-region, contain both T- and B-cell epitopes for the induction of cross-reacting antibodies to the PAc. In this study, for development of an appropriate antigen as a peptide vaccine for use in prophylactic dentistry, we analysed in detail the localization of the T- and B-cell epitopes of PAc(361-379) peptide and the T-cell epitope of PAc(301-319) peptide in B10 congenic mice. In four murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes (H-2f,d,a and k), PAc(361-377) peptide showed T- and B-cell epitopes forming a cluster. It was found that the antibody which was induced by the immunization with the peptide was strongly cross-reactive with recombinant (r)PAc. Meanwhile, PAc(305-318) peptide, recognised by five strains of mice of different MHC haplotypes (H-2f,d,a,k and s), also bore multiple T-cell epitopes. PAc(361-377) peptide coupled to PAc(305-318) significantly elevated cross-reacting antibody levels compared to immunization with PAc(361-377) only in four H-2 haplotypes. Moreover, a peptide with PAc(305-318) coupled to the N-terminal region of PAc(361-377) produced significant cross-reacting antibody against rPAc, even in B10.S mice which had not responded to immunization with PAc(361-379) peptide. Therefore, it was suggested that coupling among the peptides forming a cluster might be effective in increasing immunogenicity. These results may provide us with a useful strategy for the design of peptide-based vaccines for S. mutans in the future.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Identification of a repeated epitope recognized by human serum antibodies in a surface protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans.
This study determined the antigen determinants of a 190-kDa protein antigen of Streptococcus mutans that is involved in the initial attachment to the tooth surface. In 5 subjects, the reactivities of serum antibodies to 7 overlapping surface protein antigen fragments covering the entire antigen molecule and 19 sequential overlapping synthetic 19-mer peptides covering the entire A-region of the surface protein antigen were examined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study showed that the A-region of the antigen is strongly immunogenic in humans and contains several widely distributed epitopes. In addition, an amino acid sequence of the one of dominant epitopes in a certain subject was identified as LTAENTAI with ELISA inhibition assays using the relevant truncated peptides. This epitope was located both at the positions from L-346 to I-364 and L-430 to E-437 of the antigen molecule, and serum antibodies against the epitope were found in 3 of the 5 subjects.
Adult↗
[A survey on infection control practices, knowledge and attitudes toward AIDS/HIV among dental practitioners].
A survey was conducted in December 1993 by sending questionnaires to all 566 dentists of the Iwate Dental Association. The questionnaires consisted of 68 items including infection control practices, knowledge, and attitudes towards AIDS/HIV. The response rate was 51.1 percent (N = 289). The average age of dentists in the sample was 43.7 +/- 9.5 (S.D.) (range: 28 to 85). Data was evaluated statistically by Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney's U test and Chi-square test, and significant differences were observed. Gloves, masks, and other protective garments were generally worn, but most dentists did not always use them during the full course of treatment limiting usage to surgical treatment, and when treating patients in "high-risk groups". Other infection control procedures, such as instrument sterilization, did not comply with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Two dentists responded that they had treated AIDS patients and three dentists treated possible AIDS/HIV patients in their dental offices. Despite 71.3% expressing a belief that they have a moral responsibility as a dentist to treat AIDS/HIV patients only 15.6% were willing to treat AIDS/HIV patients. Over 40% of the respondents were not certain as to whether they had treated AIDS/HIV patients or not, and over 60% believed AIDS/HIV patients would come to their dental offices in the near future. Therefore, to practice dentistry on AIDS/HIV patients safely, dentists must provide effective infection control in their dental offices on the assumption that all patients are AIDS/HIV positive, and additional information about AIDS/HIV and adequate training on procedures in the care of AIDS/HIV patients are needed.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗