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The ideal bone graft substitute should have certain properties and there are many studies dealing with mixture of polymethylmetacrilate (PMMA) and β-tricalciumphospate (β-TCP) presenting the best characteristics of both. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), for ultra-structural data, resulted a very reliable in vivo model to better understand the bioactivity of a cement and to properly evaluate its suitability for a particular purpose. The present study aims to further improve the knowledge on osteointegration development, using both parameters obtained with the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) and focused histological examination...

The role of Na+ in hypoxic injury was evaluated by a time-course analysis of damage in isolated livers perfused with N2-saturated buffer containing standard (143 mM) or low (25 mM) Na+ levels. Trypan blue uptake was used to detect non-viable cells. Under hypoxia with standard-Na+, trypan blue uptake began at the border between pericentral areas and periportal regions and increased in the latter zone; using a low-Na+ buffer, no trypan blue zonation occurred but a homogenous distribution of dye was found associated with sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC) staining...

The present study was aimed at investigating whether human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells (hPDLSCs) were capable of sensing and reacting to lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis (LPS-G) which is widely recognized as a major pathogen in the development and progression of periodontitis. At this purpose hPDLCs were stimulated with 5 μg/mL LPS-G various times and the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was evaluated. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an essential role in innate immune signaling in response to microbial infections, and in particular TLR4, type-I transmembrane proteins, has been shown recognizing LPS-G...

Multiple factors have been considered to play a role in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including chronic inflammation, hormones, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Inflammation is regarded as one of the potential inducers of EMT. However, the mechanisms, modulating pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TGF-β1) induce EMT features, have not yet been studied in BPH. In this study, we investigated whether DNA methyltransferases1 (DNMT1) could regulate IL-6 and TGF-β1 induce EMT...

We previously developed a novel method for gene transfer, which combined a non-viral gene expression vector with transcutaneous in vivo electroporation. We applied this method to transfer the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) gene and induce ectopic bone formation in rat skeletal muscles. At present, it remains unclear which types of cells can differentiate into osteogenic cells after BMP gene transfer by in vivo electroporation. Two types of stem cells in skeletal muscle can differentiate into osteogenic cells: muscle-derived stem cells, and bone marrow-derived stem cells in the blood...

Introduction Maternal exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with shortened breastfeeding duration, but few studies have examined the effects on breastfeeding outcomes of low level exposures to other toxic chemicals. Moreover, it is unclear if passive smoking is associated with duration of breastfeeding. Our objective was therefore to examine the effect of low-level prenatal exposures to common environmental toxins (tobacco smoke, lead, and phthalates) on breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. Methods We conducted an analysis of data from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study...

PURPOSE: Since 2011, several direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs; dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban) have been introduced as alternatives to warfarin for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation. We wanted to investigate changes in utilization of oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation in Norway following the introduction of DOACs. METHODS: Using nationwide registries, we identified all adults with pharmacy dispensings for warfarin or DOACs between January 2010 and December 2015 in Norway, and used ambulatory reimbursement codes to identify atrial fibrillation as indication...

Precise quantitation of allelic burden for a pathogenic mutation has diverse clinical and research applications but can be difficult to achieve with conventional qPCR-based techniques, especially at lower mutant allele frequencies. Digital PCR overcomes many of the limitations of qPCR and can be highly quantitative even for single-nucleotide variants, with distinct advantages over next-generation sequencing approaches. Here we describe a method combining the principles of TaqMan(®)-chemistry SNP genotyping with microfluidic digital PCR to generate a highly sensitive, quantitative allele-specific digital PCR assay for the six most common IDH1 and IDH2 mutations encountered in myeloid malignancy...

The recent advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has greatly accelerated identification of gene mutations in myeloid malignancies at unprecedented speed that will soon outpace their functional validation by conventional laboratory techniques and animal models. A high-throughput whole-organism model is useful for the functional validation of new mutations. We recently reported the use of zebrafish to evaluate the hematopoietic function of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and the effects of expressing human IDH1-R132H that is frequently identified in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in myelopoiesis, with a view to develop zebrafish as a model of AML...

Tumor heterogeneity is a major challenge when it comes to treating cancer and also complicates research aimed at determining genetic sources for tumorigenesis. Leveraging high-throughput sequencing technology has been an effective approach for advancing our understanding of genetic diseases, and this type of data can also be used to better understand and make inferences about tumor heterogeneity. Here we describe the basics of genomics data analysis, as well as analysis pipelines for investigating tumor heterogeneity with next-generation sequencing data...

Mass cytometry time-of-flight (CyTOF) empowers us to understand acute myeloid leukemia (AML) biology at the single-cell level. This technology, combined with advanced data-analysis methods, enables identification and characterization of the rare AML stem/progenitor cells that play key roles in drug resistance and AML relapse. Here we provide a protocol for AML sample preparation for CyTOF and keynotes emphasizing critical steps in and troubleshooting strategies for this procedure.

A remarkable number of different, but recurrent, structural cytogenetic abnormalities have been observed in AML, and the 2016 WHO AML classification system incorporates numerous distinct entities associated with translocations or inversions, as well as others associated with single gene mutations into a category entitled "AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities." The AML classification is heavily reliant on cytogenetic and molecular information based on conventional genetic techniques (including karyotype, fluorescence in situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, single gene sequencing), but large-scale next generation sequencing is now identifying novel mutations...

The influences of relative humidity (RH) on the heterogeneous reaction of NO2 with soot were investigated by a coated wall flow tube reactor at ambient pressure. The initial uptake coefficient (γ initial) of NO2 showed a significant decrease with increasing RH from 7 to 70%. The γ initial on "fuel-rich" and "fuel-lean" soot at RH = 7% was (2.59 ± 0.20) × 10(-5) and (5.92 ± 0.34) × 10(-6), respectively, and it decreased to (5.49 ± 0.83) × 10(-6) and (7.16 ± 0.73) × 10(-7) at RH = 70%, respectively...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by bisphenol A (BPA) have been implicated in cellular oxidative damage and carcinogenesis. It is not known whether the potential alternatives of BPA, bisphenol AF (BPAF), and bisphenol F (BPF) can also induce ROS involved in mediating biological responses. This study evaluated the toxicity of BPAF and BPF on cell proliferation, DNA damage, intracellular calcium homeostasis, and ROS generation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The results showed that BPAF at 0.001-1 μM and BPF at 0...

Fungal prosthetic joint infection is a rare complication in total joint arthroplasty. There are no established guidelines for management of these infections. We present a case of a 53-year-old male with a hip joint prosthesis co-infected with Candida tropicalis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. A two-stage exchange arthroplasty was performed. The patient underwent implant removal, debridement, irrigation with saline solution and application of cement spacer impregnated with vancomycin followed by aggressive antimicrobial treatment in first stage...

PURPOSE: Preexisting diabetes is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cancer. We examined the impact of incident cancer on the long-term outcomes of diabetes. METHODS: Using the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we identified three cohorts of diabetes patients subsequently diagnosed with breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer, each matched to diabetic noncancer controls. Patients were required to have survived at least 1 year after cancer diagnosis (cases) or a matched index date (controls), and were followed up to 10 years for incident microvascular and macrovascular complications and mortality...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive power of the morphology of the distal surface on 1st and mesial surface on 2nd primary molar teeth on caries development in young children. SAMPLE AND METHODS: Out of 101 3-to 4-year-old children from an on-going study, 62 children, for whom parents' informed consent was given, participated. Upper and lower molar teeth of one randomly selected side received a 2-day temporarily separation. Bitewing radiographs and silicone impressions of interproximal area (IPA) were obtained...

PURPOSE: Spine surgery still remains a challenge for every spine surgeon, aware of the potential serious outcomes of misplaced instrumentation. Though many studies have highlighted that using intraoperative cone beam CT imaging and navigation systems provides higher accuracy than conventional freehand methods for placement of pedicle screws in spine surgery, few studies are concerned about how to reduce radiation exposure for patients with the use of such technology. One of the main focuses of this study is based on the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable)...

Pioglitazone use is associated with an increased risk of fractures. In this randomized, placebo-controlled study, pioglitazone use for 12 months was associated with a significant increase in bone marrow fat content at the femoral neck, accompanied by a significant decrease in total hip bone mineral density. The change in bone marrow fat with pioglitazone use was predominantly observed in female vs. male participants. INTRODUCTION: Use of the insulin sensitizer pioglitazone is associated with greater fracture incidence, although the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood...

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of preoperative diagnostic tools for axillary lymph nodes (LNs) staging of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2464 consecutive patients with operable breast cancer were prospectively identified at our institution between April 2012 and March 2017. Patients with suspicious axillary LN of breast cancer were assessed using preoperative ultrasound(US) or computed tomography (CT), underwent fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB)...