Biomedical subjects

T Kokubo

Publications and source records attributed to T Kokubo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Bone-bonding ability of a hydroxyapatite coated zirconia-alumina nanocomposite with a microporous surface.

Using a combination of hydroxyapatite (HA) coating and microporous surface treatment, bone-bonding ability was given to composites of ceria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia and alumina (CZA), which possesses excellent mechanical and wear properties and phase stability. Four types of CZA plates (2 x 10 x 15 mm3) were prepared for this study, which were CZA with a polished surface (group 1), a microporous surface prepared by hydrofluoric acid and heat treatment (group 2), a microporous surface with a submicron HA coating prepared by alternately soaking the plate from group 2 in aqueous CaCl2/HCl and Na2HPO4 solutions (group 3), and a microporous surface with a 4-microm HA coating prepared by the biomimetic method, where the plates from group 3 were soaked in simulated body fluid (group 4). Plates were implanted into rabbit tibia, and after 4, 8, and 16 weeks, tensile testing and histological examination of the bone-implant interface were conducted. At 4 weeks, group 4 had superior bone-bonding ability compared with other implants, which was maintained at the later postimplantation times. This HA-coated CZA with a microporous surface has the possibility of clinical use as a bearing material in cementless joint prostheses or as a load-bearing bone substitute.

Aluminum Oxide↗

PubMed2006

[Evaluation of imaging before lung volume reduction surgery for pulmonary emphysema; fused image of multi-detector row computed tomography and scintigram].

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is performed as surgical therapy for severe pulmonary emphysema. In assessing diagnostic imaging indications, emphysematous change is the strongest in the thoracic computed tomography (CT), while the accumulation decrease is most remarkable in ventilation scintigram and lung perfusion scintigram. Preoperative evaluation of imaging using multidetector-row CT (MDCT) and scintigram were performed, and the multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) image of the MD CT and the single photon emission CT (SPECT) image of the scintigram were fused by the workstation. It was possible to evaluate the excision and the range of LVRS easily by looking at the fused image, and it was useful in deciding on the surgical approach. It is believed that accurate, comprehensible imaging information contributed to an improvement in the surgical outcome of LVRS.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

PubMed2005

Bioactive bone cements containing nano-sized titania particles for use as bone substitutes.

Three types of bioactive polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based bone cement containing nano-sized titania (TiO2) particles were prepared, and their mechanical properties and osteoconductivity are evaluated. The three types of bioactive bone cement were T50c, ST50c, and ST60c, which contained 50 wt% TiO2, and 50 and 60 wt% silanized TiO2, respectively. Commercially available PMMA cement (PMMAc) was used as a control. The cements were inserted into rat tibiae and allowed to solidify in situ. After 6 and 12 weeks, tibiae were removed for evaluation of osteoconductivity using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact microradiography (CMR), and Giemsa surface staining. SEM revealed that ST60c and ST50c were directly apposed to bone while T50c and PMMAc were not. The osteoconduction of ST60c was significantly better than that of the other cements at each time interval, and the osteoconduction of T50c was no better than that of PMMAc. The compressive strength of ST60c was equivalent to that of PMMAc. These results show that ST60c is a promising material for use as a bone substitute.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Localization of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L1 in cynomolgus monkey placentas.

Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) is a restrictedly expressed enzyme in neural and reproductive tissues, and it is considered to have a significant role in reproduction. In the present study, we investigated the localization of UCH-L1 in placenta of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). UCH-L1 protein was detected in cytotrophoblasts of chorionic plate and villi, and decidual cells of decidua basalis in cynomolgus monkey placenta, and the amount of UCH-L1 protein in whole placenta increased as pregnancy progressed. These results supported that UCH-L1 is necessary for placental and fetal development in primate placenta. This is the first report to demonstrate the presence of UCH-L1 in primate placenta, and the cynomolgus monkey may be a useful model for the study of the functions of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in human pregnancy.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Predicting the development of gastric cancer from combining Helicobacter pylori antibodies and serum pepsinogen status: a prospective endoscopic cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric atrophy are both risk factors for gastric cancer. We aimed to elucidate the natural history of gastric cancer development according to H pylori infection and gastric atrophy status. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 9293 participants in a mass health appraisal programme were candidates for inclusion in the present prospective cohort study: 6983 subjects revisited the follow up programme. Subjects were classified into four groups according to serological status at initial endoscopy. Group A (n = 3324) had "normal" pepsinogen and were negative for H pylori antibody; group B (n = 2134) had "normal" pepsinogen and were positive for H pylori antibody; group C (n = 1082) had "atrophic" pepsinogen and were positive for H pylori antibody; and group D (n = 443) had "atrophic" pepsinogen and were negative for H pylori antibody. Incidence of gastric cancer was determined by annual endoscopic examination. RESULTS: Mean duration of follow up was 4.7 years and the average number of endoscopic examinations was 5.1. The annual incidence of gastric cancer was 0.04% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02-0.09), 0.06% (0.03-0.13), 0.35% (0.23-0.57), and 0.60% (0.34-1.05) in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Hazard ratios compared with group A were 1.1 (95% CI 0.4-3.4), 6.0 (2.4-14.5), and 8.2 (3.2-21.5) in groups B, C, and D, respectively. Age, sex, and "group" significantly served as independent valuables by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of serum pepsinogen and anti-H pylori antibody provides a good predictive marker for the development of gastric cancer.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed2005

[Selection of the bronchial tube for one-lung anesthesia by multidetector-row computed tomography (MD CT) evaluation].

One-lung anesthesia is a method of anesthesia performed by inserting the tip of a bronchial tube into either the right main bronchus or the left main bronchus. The right bronchial tube is a special structure. Since the distance of the carina to the right upper lobe bronchus is short, a side hole is made to prevent blockading of the right upper lobe bronchus, and the cuff is attached aslant to it. When inserting a bronchial tube into the right main bronchus, care is required to prevent the occurrence of atelectasis though a gap in the bronchial tube. We evaluated the structure of a trachea and a bronchus using the multidetector-row computed tomography (MD CT), and tried to select the right bronchial tube most suitable for each structure. There are individual differences in the structure of a trachea and a bronchus. By creating a 3-dimensional image of a trachea and a bronchus, the structure could be easily grasped, and therefore selection of the most appropriate bronchial tube according to the structure was possible.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

[Imaging aid for thoracoscopic thymectomy; thymic vein visualization].

The spread and progress of thoracoscopic surgery has been remarkable. There are many important organs and blood vessels in the mediastinal space, thus, as inadvertent injury invites serious consequences, it is necessary to understand the anatomical position of existing structures. When enucleating the thymoma under a thoracoscope, one of the blood vessels to be careful about is the thymic vein. Therefore, we examined whether the thymic vein could be confirmed using a multidetector-row computed tomography (MD CT). We believed we could understand the anatomical position of the thymic vein by analyzing the high resolution slice data provided in MD CT using a work station. The diameter of the thymic is from a little less than 1 mm to 3 mm, and there were individual variations in position and the number of the vein. The thymic vein flowed into the left brachiocephalic vein in many cases. In some cases, the thymic vein flowed into the right internal thoracic vein or superior vena cava. It appears that visualization of the thymic vein could provide useful data when performing thoracoscopic thymectomy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The mechanism of biomineralization of bone-like apatite on synthetic hydroxyapatite: an in vitro assessment.

The mechanism of biomineralization of bone-like apatite on synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) has been investigated in vitro, in which the HA surface was surveyed as a function of soaking time in simulated body fluid (SBF). In terms of surface structure by transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, the HA whose Ca/P atomic ratio was 1.67 revealed three different characteristic soaking periods in SBF, i.e. the first soaking period, in which the HA surface increased the Ca/P ratio up to 1.83 to form an amorphous phase of Ca-rich calcium phosphate; the second soaking period, in which the HA surface decreased the Ca/P ratio up to 1.47 to form an amorphous phase of Ca-poor calcium phosphate; and the third soaking period, in which the HA surface gradually increased the Ca/P ratio up to 1.65 to eventually produce the bone-like nano-cerystallites of apatite, which grew forming complex crystal assemblies with a further increase in immersion time. Analysis using electrophoresis spectroscopy indicated that, immediately after immersion in SBF, the HA revealed a highly negative surface potential, which increased to reach a maximum positive value in the first soaking period. The surface potential then decreased to again reach a negative value in the second soaking period and thereafter converge to a constant negative value in the third soaking period. This implies that the HA induces biomineralization of apatite by smartly varying its surface potential to trigger an electrostatic interaction, first with positive calcium ions and second with negative phosphate ions in the SBF.

Apatites↗

PubMed2004

Mechanical properties of glass-ceramic A-W-polyethylene composites: effect of filler content and particle size.

Composites which comprise a bioactive filler and ductile polymer matrix are desirable as implant materials since both their biological and mechanical properties can be tailored for a given application. In the present study three-point bending was used to characterise biomedical materials composed of glass-ceramic apatite-wollastonite (A-W) particulate reinforced polyethylene (PE) (denoted as AWPEX). The effects of filler volume fraction, varied from 10 to 50 vol%, and average particle size, 4.4 and 6.7 microm, on the bending strength, yield strength, mode of fracture, Young's modulus and strain to failure were investigated. HAPEX, a commercially used composite of hydroxyapatite and polyethylene, with a 40 vol% filler content, was used for comparison. Increasing the filler content caused an increase in Young's modulus, yield strength and bending strength, and a decreased strain to failure. When filler particle size was increased, the Young's modulus, yield and bending strengths were found to be slightly reduced. A transition in fracture behaviour from ductile to brittle behaviour was observed in samples containing between 30 and 40 vol% filler.

Apatites↗

PubMed2004

Proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast-like cells on apatite-wollastonite/polyethylene composites.

Glass-ceramic apatite-wollastonite (A-W)/high-density polyethylene composite (AWPEX) materials have been designed to match the mechanical strength of human cortical bone and to provide favourable bioactivity, with potential use in many orthopaedic applications. To better understand AWPEX properties, the effects of surface finish and ceramic filler size and content on osteoblast-like cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation were examined. Glass-ceramic content was tested at 30 and 50 vol% and median particle size at 4.5 and 7.7 microm. Samples were prepared as 1 x 10 x 10 mm(3) tiles with polished or rough surfaces, sterilized by gamma irradiation (2.5 Mrad), and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface profilometry. Saos-2 human osteoblast-like cells were cultured on each surface at an initial concentration of 4500 cells/cm(2) for 1, 3, or 7 days. At each time point, adenosine triphosphate and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured to assess cell number and osteoblast differentiation. SEM imaging of cells on the composite surfaces showed preferential cell attachment to filler particles within the polymer matrix. Significant biochemical assay differences were found at 7 days, confirmed by ANOVA post-hoc testing using Bonferroni's correction. Overall, increased exposure of the glass-ceramic A-W phase in AWPEX through surface polishing, higher volume fraction and/or larger particle size was found to lead to an improved cell response.

Apatites↗

PubMed2004

Bioactive metals: preparation and properties.

Some ceramics, such as Bioglass, sintered hydroxyapatite, and glass-ceramic A-W, spontaneously form a bone-like apatite layer on their surface in the living body, and bond to bone through the apatite layer. These materials are called bioactive ceramics, and are clinically important for use as bone-repairing materials. However, they cannot be used at high-load sites, such as is found in femoral and tibial bones, because their fracture toughness values are not as high as that of human cortical bone. Titanium metal and its alloys have high fracture toughness, and form a sodium titanate layer on its surface when soaked in a 5 M-NaOH solution at 60 degrees C for 24 h, followed by a heat treatment at 600 degrees C for 1 h. On moving toward the metal interior, the sodium titanate layer gradually changes into the pure metal within a distance of 1 microm from the surface. The mechanical strength of the titanium metal or a titanium alloy is not adversely affected by these chemical and thermal treatments. The titanium metal and its alloys resulting from the above treatment can release Na+ ions from its surface into a surrounding body fluid via an ion exchange reaction with H3O+ ions, resulting in many Ti-OH groups forming on its surface. These Ti-OH groups initially combine with Ca2+ ions to form amorphous calcium titanate in the body environment, and later the calcium titanate combines with phosphate ions to form amorphous calcium phosphate. The amorphous calcium phosphate eventually transforms into bone-like apatite, and by this process the titanium metals are soon tightly bonded to the surrounding living bone through the bone-like apatite layer. The treated metals have already been subjected to clinical trials for applications in artificial total hip joints. Metallic tantalum has also been found to bond to living bone after it has been subjected to the NaOH and heat treatment to form a sodium tantalate layer on its surface.

Apatites↗

PubMed2004

Apatite-forming ability of alginate fibers treated with calcium hydroxide solution.

Calcium alginate fibers were prepared by extruding an aqueous sodium alginate solution into an aqueous calcium chloride solution. The fibers were treated with a saturated aqueous calcium hydroxide solution for various periods and their apatite-forming ability was examined in a simulated body fluid (SBF). The calcium alginate fibers were treated with the aqueous calcium hydroxide solution for periods longer than five days formed apatite on their surfaces in SBF, and their apatite-forming ability improved with increasing calcium hydroxide treatment time. The amount of calcium ions released from the fibers also increased with increasing calcium hydroxide treatment time, resulting in acceleration of nucleation and growth of apatite on the fiber surfaces. The resultant apatite-alginate fiber composite is expected to be useful as a flexible bioactive bone-repairing material.

Alginates↗

PubMed2004

Mechanical behavior of bioactive composite cements consisting of resin and glass-ceramic powder in a simulated body fluid: effect of silane coupling agent.

Time-dependent strength behavior was investigated for bisphenol-a-glycidyl methacrylate/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA/TEGDMA) resin cements combined with glass-ceramic A-W filler treated with various kinds of silane coupling agents. The fracture strength of the composite resin cements was measured by three-point bending as a function of stressing rate in a simulated body fluid (SBF), and thereby the stress-corrosion susceptibility constant was evaluated. The fracture strength was found to depend on the kind of coupling agent used. For the present Bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin, the silane coupling agents without hydrophilic amine groups can be used to obtain good adhesion between resin and A-W filler owing to their nature of co-polymerizing with the resin. On the other hand, all the composite resin cements showed nearly the same degree of stress-corrosion susceptibility whether the A-W fillers were treated or untreated with silane coupling agents. This means that the stress-corrosion susceptibility of the present composite cements is predominantly affected by that of the matrix resin. Thus, the microcrack formation and growth at the resin matrix near particle - resin interface were thought to determine overall time-dependent strength behavior of the composite cements.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMed2004

Metallic materials stimulating bone formation.

Metallic materials implanted into bone defects are generally encapsulated by a fibrous tissue. Some metallic materials such as titanium and tantalum, however, have been revealed to bond to the living bone without forming the fibrous tissue, when they were subjected to NaOH solution and heat treatments. Thus treated metals form bone tissue around them even in muscle, when they take a porous form. This kind of osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties are attributed to sodium titanate or tantalate layer on their surfaces formed by the NaOH and heat treatments. These layers induce the deposition of bonelike apatite on the surface of the metals in the living body. This kind of bioactive metals are useful as bone substitutes even highly loaded portions, such as hip joint, spine and tooth root.

Alloys↗

PubMed2003

Bonding strength of the apatite layer formed on glass-ceramic apatite-wollastonite-polyethylene composites.

Bioactive glass-ceramic apatite-wollastonite (A-W) has been incorporated into polyethylene in particulate form to create new bioactive composites for potential maxillofacial applications. The effects of varying the volume fraction of glass-ceramic A-W filler and the glass-ceramic A-W particle size were investigated by measuring the bonding strength of the bonelike apatite layer formed on the surface of glass-ceramic A-W-polyethylene composites. The bonding strength was evaluated via a modified ASTM C-333 standard in which a tensile stress was applied to the substrate and the strength of the bioactive layer was compared with that formed on commercially available hydroxyapatite-polyethylene composite samples, HAPEX. The composites demonstrated greater bonding strength with increased filler content and reduced filler particle size (maximum 6.9 +/- 0.5 MPa) and a marginally greater bonding strength as compared with HAPEX (2.8 +/- 0.5 MPa), when glass-ceramic A-W-polyethylene composite samples with the same filler content were tested. The higher bonding strength of the apatite layer formed on the A-W-polyethylene composite samples suggests that, in addition to maxillofacial applications, these composites might also be utilized in applications involving higher levels of load bearing.

Adhesiveness↗

PubMed2003

Apatite-forming ability of carboxyl group-containing polymer gels in a simulated body fluid.

Carboxymethylated chitin, gellan gum, and curdlan gels were soaked in a simulated body fluid (SBF) having ion concentrations nearly equal to those of human blood plasma. Some of the gels had been soaked in a saturated Ca(OH)(2) solution, while others had not. The carboxymethylated chitin and gellan gum gels have carboxyl groups, while the curdlan gel has hydroxyl groups. None of the gels formed apatite on their surfaces in the SBF when they had not been subjected to the Ca(OH)(2) treatment, whereas the carboxymethylated chitin and gellan gum gels formed apatite on their surfaces when they had been subjected to the Ca(OH)(2) treatment. The curdlan gel did not form an apatite deposit even after the Ca(OH)(2) treatment. Apatite formation on the carboxymethylated chitin and gellan gum gels was attributed to the catalytic effect of their carboxyl groups for apatite nucleation, and acceleration of apatite nucleation from released Ca(2+) ions. This result provides a guiding principle for obtaining apatite-organic polymer fiber composites. This composite is expected to have an analogous structure to that of natural bone.

Apatites↗

PubMed2003

Apatite-forming ability of glass-ceramic apatite-wollastonite - polyethylene composites: effect of filler content.

The bioactivity of a range of glass-ceramic apatite-wollastonite (A-W) - polyethylene composites (AWPEXs) with glass-ceramic A-W volume percentages ranging from 10 to 50, has been investigated in an acellular simulated body fluid (SBF) with ion concentrations similar to those of human blood plasma. The formation of a biologically active apatite layer on the composite surface after immersion in SBF was demonstrated by thin-film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). An apatite layer was formed on all the composites, with the rate of formation increasing with an increase in glass-ceramic A-W percentage. For composites with glass-ceramic A-W filler contents >or=30 vol %, the apatite layer was formed within 12 h of immersion, which is a comparable time for apatite formation on monolithic glass-ceramic A-W. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) demonstrated that the apatite formation on AWPEX samples with 50 vol % filler content occurred in a manner similar to that seen on pure glass-ceramic A-W, in that the calcium, silicon, and magnesium ion concentrations increased and, conversely, a decrease was observed in the phosphate ion concentration. These results indicate that a suitable in vitro response was achieved on a composite incorporating particulate glass-ceramic A-W with a particularly favorable response being observed on the AWPEX sample with 50 vol % filler content.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Apatite formation on CaO-free polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-TiO2 hybrids.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-TiO(2) hybrids with PDMS (M=550)/tetraethylorthotitanate molar ratios at 0.27, 0.68 and 1.35, i.e. Si/Ti atomic ratios at 2, 5 and 10 (hybrids PD2, PD5 and PD10, respectively) were prepared by a sol-gel method. Hybrid PD2 formed many cracks. Hybrids PD5 and PD10 were subjected to hot-water treatment 80 degrees C for 7 d. Hybrid PD5 produced cracks, whereas hybrid PD10 was crack-free after the hot-water treatment. Hybrid PD10 took a homogeneous amorphous structure before the hot-water treatment, and precipitated anatase particles 10-20 nm in size after the hot-water treatment. Hybrid PD10 did not form apatite on its surface in a simulated body fluid before the hot-water treatment, but formed it after the hot-water treatment. The obtained hybrid showed elastic deformation as large as 200% after the hot-water treatment. This kind of hybrid could be useful as a new type of bone-repairing material.

Journal Article↗