Effects of high-dose major components in oral disinfectants on the cell cycle and apoptosis in primary human gingival fibroblasts in vitro

We evaluated the effects of high-dose major components in oral disinfectants on oral cells from the standpoints of the cell cycle and apoptosis. We examined the viability and cell cycle of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with the components of dental disinfectants, benzethonium chloride (BEC), benzalkonium chloride (BAC), and povidone iodine (PVD-I) using a cell counting kit and flow cytometry. The IC(50) inhibitory concentration value in HGF cultures at 24 hours was 1.3x10(-2) mM BEC, 6.0x10(-3) mM BAC, and 2.6x10(-1) mM PVD-I. In the cell cycle analysis, propidium iodide-stained HGFs were arrested in G(0)/G(1) of the cell cycle by all three disinfectants, and in the apoptosis assay, annexin V-FITC/PI-stained HGFs that became apoptotic at 5.0x10(-2) and 1.0x10(-1) mM BEC and 5.0x10(-2) and 1.0x10(-1) mM BAC, but not in PVD-I at concentrations as high as 5.0x10(-1) mM. Our findings describe the effects of high-dose oral disinfectants, rather than clinical concentrations. Nevertheless, appreciating the effects of high-dose disinfectants absorbed into the human body is important, where they may accumulate in specific tissues and cells.

Different effects of carbon ion and γ-irradiation on expression of receptor activator of NF-kB ligand in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells

We investigated the effects of carbon ion and gamma-irradiation on osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells by comparing mRNA expression levels for RANKL and osteoprotegerin by RT-PCR. MC3T3-E1 cells were irradiated with 2, 4, or 6 Gy of carbon ions or gamma-rays, and total RNA was harvested 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days after irradiation. The RANKL mRNA/OPG mRNA ratio in carbon ion-irradiated MC3T3-E1 cells was lower, while in gamma-irradiated MC3T3-E1 cells this ratio was higher than in non-irradiated cells. To evaluate osteoclastogenesis of MC3T3-E1 cells, carbon ion- or gamma-irradiated cells were co-cultured with non-irradiated cells from murine bone marrow. Staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in co-cultures showed that carbon ion irradiation suppressed osteoclastogenesis. This result is consistent with the lower RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio for carbon ion-irradiated cells. These results suggest that carbon ion irradiation acts primarily on osteoblastic cells, leading to a decrease in the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio. This effect, in turn, leads to a decrease in osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity, which results in an increase in bone volume.

Effect of ozonated water on the surface roughness of dental stone casts

Infection control of dental stone cast is an important issue. Ozone is effective for disinfection against microorganisms and inactivation of viruses. However, there is little information regarding the use of ozone. We prepared 4 types of gypsum specimens and 3 types of disinfectants (4-5 ppm Ozonated water [OZW], 2% glutaraldehyde [GL], and 1% sodium hypochlorite [SH]). Gypsum specimens were immersed in each disinfectant for 5 and 10 min, and surface roughness was then examined using laser scanning microscopy. Surface microstructure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Immersion of gypsum specimens in SH, GL, and OZW increased the surface roughness to a maximum of 1.04, 0.37, and 0.30 μm, respectively, based on the difference between the average values of surface roughness before and after the disinfection procedure. The effects of OZW and GL were comparable. OZW is useful as a candidate for relatively safe disinfection of material for dental stone casts.

Antibody Arrays for Quality Control of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Quality control of mesenchymal stem cells is an important step before their clinical use in regenerative therapy. Among various characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells, reproducibility of population compositions should be analyzed according to characteristics, such as stem cell contents and differentiation stages. Such characterization may be possible by assessing the expression of several surface markers. Here we report our attempts to utilize antibody arrays for analyzing surface markers expressed in mesenchymal stem cell populations in a high-throughput manner. Antibody arrays were fabricated using a glass plate on which a micropatterned alkanethiol monolayer was formed. Various antibodies against surface markers including CD11b, CD31, CD44, CD45, CD51, CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD254 were covalently immobilized on the micropatterned surface in an array format to obtain an antibody array. To examine the feasibility of the array, cell binding assays were performed on the array using a mouse mesenchymal stem cell line. Our results showed that cell binding was observed on the arrayed spots with immobilized antibodies which exhibited reactivity to the cells in flow cytometry. It was further found that the density of cells attached to antibody spots was correlated to the mean fluorescent channel recorded in flow cytometry. These results demonstrate that data obtained by cell binding assays on the antibody array are comparable to those by the conventional flow cytometry, while throughput of the analysis is much higher with the antibody array-based method than flow cytometry. Accordingly, we concluded that the antibody array provides a high-throughput analytical method useful for the quality control of mesenchymal stem cells.

Temporary restorative resins using non-phthalate ester plasticizers

OBJECTIVE

This study examined temporary restorative resins that use non-phthalate ester plasticizers.

METHODS

Three non-phthalate plasticizers were tested: tri-ethyl citrate (TEC), tri-butyl citrate (TBC), and di-butyl sebacate (DBS). The experimental resins were compared with resins that use a phthalate ester plasticizer (di-butyl phthalate, DBP) and commercial products (Dura Seal, Plast Seal, and Fit Seal). For the experimental resins, the ratio of plasticizer to PMMA/MMA resin was varied from 30 to 60% (wt). The mechanical properties of the experimental resins were evaluated using a modified diametral compressive strength and the resistance to explorer insertion.

RESULTS

The strengths of the experimental resins with plasticizer concentrations ranging from 40 to 50% (TEC, TBC, and DBP) or from 30 to 40% (DBS), by weight, were equivalent to the strengths of commercial temporary restorative resins. A similar tendency was seen for the resistance to explorer insertion.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that new temporary restorative resins can be prepared by choosing the appropriate proportions of resin monomer and non-phthalate ester plasticizer.

Development of the negative ion beams relevant to ITER and JT-60SA at Japan Atomic Energy Agency

In order to realize negative ion sources and accelerators to be applicable to International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor and JT-60 Super Advanced, a large cesium (Cs)-seeded negative ion source and a multi-aperture and multi-stage electric acceleration have been developed at Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Long pulse production and acceleration of the negative ion beams have been independently carried out. The long pulse production of the high current beams has achieved 100 s at the beam current of 15 A by modifying the JT-60 negative ion source. The pulse duration time is increased three times longer than that before the modification. As for the acceleration, a pulse duration time has been also extended two orders of magnitudes from 0.4 s to 60 s. The developments of the negative ion source and acceleration at JAEA are well in progress towards the realization of the negative ion sources and accelerators for fusion applications.

Irradiation effect on osteoclastogenesis stimulated by breast cancer cells

To examine the effects of carbon ion and gamma ray irradiation on cancer-induced osteoclastogenesis, mouse calvaria MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured with conditioned medium from irradiated and non-irradiated MCF7 human breast cancer cells. The authors examined RANKL and OPG mRNA expression in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells following treatment with conditioned MCF7 medium. Co-cultured MC3T3-E1 and bone marrow cells treated with conditioned medium from irradiated MCF7 cells showed decreased numbers of osteoclasts, assessed using TRAP staining. Conditioned medium from control MCF7 cells elevated the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio in MC3T3-E1 cells; this effect was suppressed by carbon ion irradiation of the MCF7 cells. These data demonstrate that indirect interactions between breast cancer cells and MC3T3-E1 cells induce osteoclastogenesis in vitro through modulation of RANKL expression and that this process is suppressed by carbon ion irradiation.

Development of design technique for vacuum insulation in large size multi-aperture multi-grid accelerator for nuclear fusion

Design techniques for the vacuum insulation have been developed in order to realize a reliable voltage holding capability of multi-aperture multi-grid (MAMuG) accelerators for fusion application. In this method, the nested multi-stage configuration of the MAMuG accelerator can be uniquely designed to satisfy the target voltage within given boundary conditions. The evaluation of the voltage holding capabilities of each acceleration stages was based on the previous experimental results about the area effect and the multi-aperture effect. Since the multi-grid effect was found to be the extension of the area effect by the total facing area this time, the total voltage holding capability of the multi-stage can be estimated from that per single stage by assuming the stage with the highest electric field, the total facing area, and the total apertures. By applying these consideration, the analysis on the 3-stage MAMuG accelerator for JT-60SA agreed well with the past gap-scan experiments with an accuracy of less than 10% variation, which demonstrated the high reliability to design MAMuG accelerators and also multi-stage high voltage bushings.

Measurement of heat load density profile on acceleration grid in MeV-class negative ion accelerator

To understand the physics of the negative ion extraction/acceleration, the heat load density profile on the acceleration grid has been firstly measured in the ITER prototype accelerator where the negative ions are accelerated to 1 MeV with five acceleration stages. In order to clarify the profile, the peripheries around the apertures on the acceleration grid were separated into thermally insulated 34 blocks with thermocouples. The spatial resolution is as low as 3 mm and small enough to measure the tail of the beam profile with a beam diameter of ∼16 mm. It was found that there were two peaks of heat load density around the aperture. These two peaks were also clarified to be caused by the intercepted negative ions and secondary electrons from detailed investigation by changing the beam optics and gas density profile. This is the first experimental result, which is useful to understand the trajectories of these particles.