bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of Fusobacterium nucleatum biofilm formation by Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Saito Y. , Fujii R. , Nakagawa K.‐I. , Kuramitsu H. K. , Okuda K. , Ishihara K. 
Published: September 2010

Background/aims: Bacterial infection is a major cause of periapical periodontitis. Eradication of these microorganisms from apical lesions is essential to the success of endodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to clarify the molecular interaction between Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis and other microorganisms associated with periapical periodontitis.Methods:  Microorganisms isolated from periapical lesions were inoculated into type‐I collagen‐coated polystyrene microtiter plates and maintained at 37°C under anaerobic conditions for 2 days, after which, the quantity of organized biofilm on the plates was evaluated by crystal violet staining. Growth enhancement via soluble factor was evaluated by separated coculture using a 0.4‐μm membrane filter.Results:  F. nucleatum exhibited strong adherence to type‐I collagen‐coated polystyrene microplates. Biofilm formation by F. nucleatum was significantly enhanced by P. gingivalis. It was complemented by compartmentalized coculture with P. gingivalis. Enhancement of biofilm formation by P. gingivalis was only slightly reduced by inactivation of its autoinducer‐2‐producing gene luxS.Conclusion: The results suggest that P. gingivalis enhances biofilm formation by F. nucleatum by releasing diffusible signaling molecules other than autoinducer‐2.
Bacterial composition and red fluorescence of plaque in relation to primary and secondary caries next to composite: an in situ study
Authors: Thomas R. Z. , Van Der Mei H. C. , Van Der Veen M. H. , De Soet J. J. , Huysmans M. C. D. N. J. M. 
Published: September 2010

Background/hypothesis:  Secondary caries has been suggested as the main reason for restoration replacement. We hypothesized that more caries‐associated bacteria are found on composite resin restoration material, compared to sound tooth tissue.Methods:  Both restored and unrestored dentin and enamel samples were placed in a full denture of eight subjects for 20 weeks. The microbiological composition of approximal plaque and the association between caries‐associated bacteria and red autofluorescence of dental plaque was studied. Every 4 weeks the specimens were microradiographed using transversal wavelength independent microradiography (T‐WIM). After 1 and 20 weeks red fluorescence pictures and plaque samples were taken. Samples were cultured for total anaerobic counts, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, candida and Actinomyces odontolyticus.Results:  Lesion depth in the dentin and enamel was positively associated with lactobacilli, and lesion depth in dentin was positively associated with A. odontolyticus, whereas no association was found between mutans streptococci and lesion depth. The red‐fluorescent bacteria A. odontolyticus and lactobacilli did not correlate with red‐fluorescent plaque, indicating that red fluorescence is probably not caused by a single species of these bacteria. After 20 weeks, a higher proportion of combined mutans streptococci and lactobacilli was found on restored tissue compared to non‐restored tissue (P = 0.04).Conclusion:  The higher proportion of caries‐associated bacteria on restored tissue indicates that the ecology on the surface of primary lesions differs from that on lesions next to composite, and that secondary caries next to composite may differ from the primary caries process.
Effects of antibodies against a fusion protein consisting of parts of cell surface protein antigen and glucosyltransferase of Streptococcus sobrinus on cell adhesion of mutans streptococci
Authors: Kawato T. , Yamashita Y. , Katono T. , Kimura A. , Maeno M. 
Published: September 2010

Background/aims:  The cell surface protein antigen (PAg) and glucosyltransferases (GTFs) produced by Streptococcus sobrinus are considered to be major colonization factors of the organism.Methods:  We constructed a fusion gene encoding a protein composed of the alanine‐rich region of PAg (PAgA) and the glucan‐binding domain (GB) of GTF‐I, which catalyzes the synthesis of water‐insoluble glucan in S. sobrinus. The fusion protein PAgA‐GB was purified from cell extracts of Escherichia coli harboring the fusion gene, and antibodies against the fusion protein were prepared in rabbits.Results:  In the presence of sucrose, the antibody against PAgA‐GB significantly inhibited the adhesion of both S. sobrinus MT8145 and Streptococcus mutans Xc to saliva‐coated hydroxyapatite beads, and the inhibitory effect on S. sobrinus was stronger than that on S. mutans. In the absence of sucrose, the antibody against PAgA‐GB significantly inhibited the adhesion of both S. sobrinus and S. mutans, however the inhibitory effect on S. sobrinus was unexpectedly weaker than that on S. mutans. A similar result was observed with the antibody against the intact recombinant PAg protein (rPAg), while the same antibody reacted more strongly against S. sobrinus than against S. mutans cells.Conclusion:  Taken together, these results show that the antibody against S. sobrinus GTF‐I may be useful for effective inhibition of the sucrose‐dependent adhesion of S. sobrinus. However, PAg of S. sobrinus may not function primarily as a receptor for acquired pellicles, and other cell surface proteins may be involved in the sucrose‐independent adhesion of S. sobrinus.
The stage of native biofilm formation determines the gene expression of human β‐defensin‐2, psoriasin, ribonuclease 7 and inflammatory mediators: a novel approach for stimulation of keratinocytes with in situ formed biofilms
Authors: Eberhard J. , Menzel N. , Dommisch H. , Winter J. , Jepsen S. , Mutters R. 
Published: September 2010

Background/aims:  Antimicrobial peptides such as human β‐defensin‐2 (hBD‐2), psoriasin (PSO), and ribonuclease 7 (RNase 7) play an important role in innate immunity. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that epithelial cells show a differential gene expression pattern of antimicrobial peptides (hBD‐2, PSO, RNase 7) and inflammatory mediators such as interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LO) in response to different stages of naturally formed biofilms.Methods:  Epithelial cells were cultured from biopsies obtained from five healthy individuals. Native bacterial biofilms were taken from the same subjects that donated the gingival biopsies. To obtain different stages of biofilm formation, polymer disks were attached to prostheses and carried intraorally for 1, 3, 5, and 9 days. The expression of genes for hBD‐2, PSO, RNase 7, 5‐LO, and IL‐8 was examined using semi‐quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The bacterial composition of the individual biofilms was defined using a microarray system (Parocheck®), which showed the presence of 20 different bacterial species that are associated with plaque formation.Results:  The expression of the messenger RNAs of hBD‐2, RNase 7, and 5‐LO was upregulated as a result of the exposure to early biofilm stages, whereas the gene expression of IL‐8 was increased in response to matured biofilms. Inter‐individual differences in the innate immune response were observed.Conclusion:  The results of the present study showed a time‐dependent messenger RNA expression of antimicrobial peptides (hBD‐2, RNase 7), 5‐LO, and IL‐8 in oral epithelial cells responding to different stages of biofilm formation.
Biological properties of the native and synthetic lipid A of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Kumada H. , Haishima Y. , Watanabe K. , Hasegawa C. , Tsuchiya T. , Tanamoto K. , Umemoto T. 
Published: September 2010

Introduction and methods:  A pentaacyl and diphosphoryl lipid A molecule found in the lipid A isolated from Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was chemically synthesized, and its characteristics were evaluated to reconfirm its interesting bioactivities including low endotoxicity and activity against LPS‐unresponsive C3H/HeJ mouse cells.Results:  The synthesized P. gingivalis lipid A (synthetic Pg‐LA) exhibited strong activities almost equivalent to those of Escherichia coli‐type synthetic lipid A (compound 506) in all assays on LPS‐responsive mice, and cells. LPS and native lipid A of P. gingivalis displayed overall endotoxic activities, but its potency was reduced in comparison to the synthetic analogs. In the assays using C3H/HeJ mouse cells, the LPS and native lipid A significantly stimulated splenocytes to cause mitosis, and peritoneal macrophages to induce tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6 production. However, synthetic Pg‐LA and compound 506 showed no activity on the LPS‐unresponsive cells. Inhibition assays using some inhibitors including anti‐human Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4/MD‐2 complex monoclonal antibodies showed that the biological activity of synthetic Pg‐LA was mediated only through the TLR4 signaling pathway, which might act as a receptor for LPS, whereas TLR2, possibly together with CD14, was associated with the signaling cascade for LPS and native lipid A of P. gingivalis, in addition to the TLR4 pathway.Conclusion:  These results suggested that the moderated and reduced biological activity of P. gingivalis LPS and native lipid A, including their activity on C3H/HeJ mouse cells via the TLR2‐mediated pathway, may be mediated by bioactive contaminants or low acylated molecules present in the native preparations having multiple lipid A moieties.
Identification of the genes associated with a virulent strain of Porphyromonas gingivalis using the subtractive hybridization technique
Authors: Tachibana‐Ono M. , Yoshida A. , Kataoka S. , Ansai T. , Shintani Y. , Takahashi Y. , Toyoshima K. , Takehara T. 
Published: September 2010

Background/aims:  Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major etiological organism implicated in periodontal disease, can be classified into virulent and avirulent strains. Our aim was to identify a gene for the virulence of P. gingivalis.Methods:  The subtractive hybridization technique was employed to identify the genes specific to P. gingivalis W83, a virulent strain. In this study, P. gingivalis W83 was used as the tester strain, and P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 was the driver strain. The prevalence of W83‐specific genes was determined by Southern blot analysis of several P. gingivalis strains.Results:  We obtained 575 colonies using the subtractive hybridization technique. From among these, 26 DNA fragments were subjected to a homology search using the BLAST program. Compared with strain ATCC 33277, strain W83 contained 12 unique clones. The specificities of the isolated DNA fragments were analyzed among four P. gingivalis strains by Southern blot analysis. Five genes showed specificity for strain W83 compared with strain ATCC 33277. All five genes were also identified in strain W50.Conclusions:  The subtractive hybridization technique was effective in screening the two strains for specific DNA sequences, some of which might be responsible for determining virulence. The results suggested that several genes specific to strain W83 were associated with its virulence. Further analysis of these DNA fragments will provide important information on the pathogenesis of virulent P. gingivalis strains.
Correlations of oral bacterial arginine and urea catabolism with caries experience
Authors: Nascimento M. M. , Gordan V.V. , Garvan C. W. , Browngardt C. M. , Burne R. A. 
Published: September 2010

Background/aim:  Alkali generation by oral bacteria plays a key role in plaque pH homeostasis and may be a major impediment to the development of dental caries. To determine if the capacity of oral samples to produce ammonia from arginine or urea was related to caries experience, the arginine deiminase system (ADS) and urease activity in saliva and dental plaque samples were measured in 45 adult subjects.Methods:  The subjects were divided into three groups according to caries status; 13 caries‐free (CF) individuals (decayed, missing, and filled teeth = 0); 21 caries‐active (CA) individuals (decayed teeth ≥ 4); and 11 caries‐experienced (CE) individuals (decayed teeth = 0; missing and filled teeth > 0). Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the proportion of certain acid‐ or alkali‐producing organisms in the samples.Results:  The amount of ammonia generated from the test substrates by plaque samples was generally higher than that produced by salivary samples in all groups. Significantly higher levels of salivary ADS activity and plaque urease activity were observed in CF subjects compared to CA subjects (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.014, respectively). The proportions of Streptococcus mutans from saliva and dental plaque of CA subjects were significantly higher than those from the CF group (P = 0.0153 and P = 0.0009, respectively). In the CA group, there was an inverse relationship between urease activity and the levels of S. mutans (P < 0.0001).Conclusion:  This study supports the theory that increased caries risk is associated with reduced alkali‐generating capacity of the bacteria colonizing the oral cavity; providing compelling evidence to further our understanding of oral alkali‐generation in health and disease.
Invasion of human coronary artery endothelial cells by Streptococcus mutans OMZ175
Authors: Abranches J. , Zeng L. , Bélanger M. , Rodrigues P. H. , Simpson‐Haidaris P. J. , Akin D. , Dunn Jr W. A. , Progulske‐Fox A. , Burne R. A. 
Published: September 2010

Introduction:  Dissemination of oral bacteria into the bloodstream has been associated with eating, oral hygiene, and dental procedures; including tooth extraction, endodontic treatment, and periodontal surgery. Recently, studies identified Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of dental caries, as the most prevalent bacterial species found in clinical samples from patients who underwent heart valve and atheromatous plaque surgery.Methods:  By using antibiotic protection assays, we tested the capacity of 14 strains of S. mutans to invade primary human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC).Results:  Serotype e strain B14 and serotype f strain OMZ175 of S. mutans were able to efficiently invade HCAEC. Among the tested strains, serotype f S. mutans OMZ175 was the most invasive, whereas strains of serotype c S. mutans, the most prevalent serotype in dental plaque, were not invasive. Based on its high invasion rate, we further investigated the invasive properties of serotype f OMZ175. Using transmission electron microscopy and antibiotic protection assays we demonstrate that S. mutans OMZ175 is capable of attaching to the HCAEC surface, entering the cells and surviving in HCAEC for at least 29 h.Discussion:  Our findings highlight a potential role for S. mutans in the pathogenesis of certain cardiovascular diseases.
Influence of body fat distribution on oxygen uptake and pulmonary performance in morbidly obese females during exercise
Authors: Li Jing , Li Shiyue , Feuers Ritchie J. , Buffington Cynthia K. , Jr George S. M. Cowan 
Published: September 2010

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of fat distribution on aerobic and ventilatory response to exercise testing in morbidly obese (MO) females.Methodology: The study population consisted of 164 MO females, 55% (n = 90) with upper body or abdominal adiposity (UBD), as defined by waist–hip circumference ratio (WHR) ≥ 0.80, and 45% (n = 74) with lower body fat distribution (LBD) (WHR < 0.80). An incremental exercise testing on cycle ergometer was performed to determine the effect of exercise on oxygen consumption (V·O2), carbon dioxide production (V·CO2), minute ventilation (V·E), tidal volume (

T), respiratory rate (fb) and heart rate (HR).Results: Upper body adiposity individuals had significantly higher O2 and V·CO2 than LBD subjects (P < 0.05) from 0 watt (W) of pedalling up to their anaerobic threshold (AT) and maximal exercise.

E was significantly higher in UBD subjects compared with LBD subjects, from 20 W during exercise up to AT and peak work levels (P < 0.05). Upper body adiposity group also had a significantly higher fb than the LBD group at rest, after each workload and at AT and peak exercise work rates (P < 0.05).

T was lower in UBD subjects at free pedalling and up to AT and peak workload with significant difference at 60 and 80 W (P < 0.05). The anaerobic threshold, expressed as work rate, was significantly lower in the UBD subjects (P < 0.05) and peak workload achieved did not differ significantly between the two groups.Conclusions: Upper body adiposity subjects had higher oxygen requirement, more rapid and shallow breathing, higher ventilatory demand, but lower anaerobic threshold than the LBD individuals during progressive exercise. It suggests that the cardiopulmonary endurance to exercise in MO patients with upper body fat distribution is lower than in those with lower body fat distribution.
Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae in Isparta
Authors: Şahin Ünal , Ünlü Mehmet , Demirci Mustafa , Akkaya Ahmet , Turgut Erhan 
Published: September 2010

Objective: The first case reports of infection with penicillin‐resistant pneumococci were made in Australia in 1967 and South Africa in 1977. Since this time the increasing emergence of penicillin‐ resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae have been a serious therapeutic problem. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the penicillin resistance of S. pneumoniae strains isolated in the laboratory. The effect of procaine penicillin treatment against these strains was also investigated.Methods: Sensitivity testing was done by disc diffusion method using oxacillin discs. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined in tests with penicillin by the use of E‐test (AB Biodisc, Solna, Sweden). Patients were treated with 2 × 800 000 U of i.m. procaine penicillin every 12 h for 10 days.Results: Thirty‐seven strains of S. pneumoniae were isolated from the sputa of adult patients who had pneumonia. Moderately resistant (0.12–1.00 μg/mL) and penicillin‐sensitive (≤ 0.06 μg/mL) strains were identified in nine (24.3%) and 28 (75.7%) isolates, respectively. There were no high‐level penicillin‐resistant strains in the study. There was no therapeutic failure.Conclusion: These results suggest that procaine penicillin may still be useful in the empirical therapy of pneumococcal pneumonia.
Efficacy of budesonide Turbuhaler® compared with that of beclomethasone dipropionate pMDI in Japanese patients with moderately persistent asthma
Authors: Miyamoto Terumasa , Takahashi Terumi , Nakajima Shigenori , Makino Sohei , Yamakido Michio , Mano Kenji , Nakashima Mitsuyoshi , Tollemar Ulf , Selroos Olof 
Published: September 2010

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of budesonide Turbuhaler® with that of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) pMDI.Methodology: Three hundred and fifty adult asthma patients (mean age 52.7 years, mean baseline morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) 294 L/min (< 80% predicted normal)), taking BDP via pressurized metered‐dose inhaler (pMDI), 400 μg daily for at least 2 months, were randomized in an open 6 week study to receive daily doses of either budesonide 100 μg or 400 μg twice daily via Turbuhaler or continued treatment with BDP, 100 μg four times daily. The primary efficacy variable was the mean change in morning PEF from baseline to the end of treatment. Outcome was also assessed using symptom scores and investigators' assessments employed in Japanese clinical trials.Results: At the end of the 6 week treatment period, mean morning PEF improved significantly from baseline in both budesonide groups, 16 L/min and 33 L/min in the 200 μg and 800 μg groups, respectively, but not in the BDP group, 5 L/min. There was no significant difference between 200 μg budesonide and 400 μg BDP treatment in the effect on PEF (P = 0.29), but 800 μg budesonide was significantly superior to BDP (P < 0.001). Final assessment of improvement and usefulness ratings showed that both budesonide treatments were significantly superior to BDP (P < 0.001). All treatments were well tolerated.Conclusion: Budesonide Turbuhaler (200 μg) was as effective as 400 μg BDP pMDI. The efficacy of budesonide was improved significantly by increasing the dosage to 800 μg daily. The study design shows the importance of including a higher dose treatment group when comparing two formulations of inhaled corticosteroids in order to determine whether the treatments to be compared are on the steep part of the dose–response curve. Without that information, comparative studies are usually inconclusive.
New quinolone, grepafloxacin, inhibits Cl− secretion across bovine airway epithelium in culture
Authors: Kanoh Soichiro , Tamaoki Jun , Kondo Mitsuko , Nagai Atsushi 
Published: September 2010

Objective: Transepithelial ion transport plays an important role in the regulation of the amount and the rheological properties of bronchial secretion. The effect of grepafloxacin (GPFX), a new quinolone agent, on bioelectrical properties of airway epithelium was determined.Methodology: Electrical properties of bovine tracheal epithelium cultured under an air–liquid interface condition were measured by the short‐circuit technique.Results: Addition of GPFX (100 μg/mL) to the mucosal side decreased short‐circuit current (Isc) from 14.4 ± 1.3 to 5.6 ± 0.6 μA/

cm2 (P < 0.001), and the response was accompanied by corresponding decreases in transepithelial potential difference and cell conductance. This effect was concentration dependent, and a similar response was also noted when GPFX was added to the submucosal side. The GPFX‐induced decrease in Isc was not altered by the Na+ channel blocker amiloride, but was inhibited by the Cl− channel blocker diphenylamine‐2‐carboxylate or Cl−‐free medium (P < 0.001, in each case). Furthermore, GPFX reduced Cl− conductance (P < 0.01) without affecting Na+ conductance of the epithelium.Conclusions: Grepafloxacin selectively inhibits Cl− secretion across tracheal epithelial cells, which may result in the inhibition of water secretion and, hence, the reduction of airway secretion.
Epidemiology of pleural mesothelioma in a population with non‐occupational asbestos exposure
Authors: METINTAS Muzaffer , METINTAS Selma , AK Guntulu , ERGINEL Sinan , ALATAS Fusun , KURT Emel , UCGUN Irfan , YILDIRIM Huseyin 
Published: September 2010

Background and objective:  This study describes the epidemiology of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in a rural population with environmental asbestos exposure.Methods:  Patients with diagnosed MPM were recruited and their relevant demographic and exposure data were analysed.Results:  A total of 131 patients with MPM (59 men, 72 women) were studied. The patients' mean age was 57.8 years and the mean exposure duration was 28.9 years. The cumulative fibre count of the villagers ranged from 0.19 to 14.61 fibre/mL‐years. Of the 131 patients, 85 had epithelial cell type, 20 had mixed, and eight had sarcomatous pleural mesothelioma. No significant relationship was found between asbestos fibre type and age, exposure period, or cellular type of MPM; similarly, no significant relationship could be found between the cellular type and age or exposure period. Patients with sarcomatous mesotheliomas were considerably older. Only five of 131 (3.8%) patients had a family history of mesothelioma.Conclusions:  Environmental exposure to asbestos begins at birth and this may be important in the age of disease onset, if a threshold model for cancer initiation is operative. Both men and women had an excess risk of mesothelioma. Given that a family history of MPM was not common in this relatively homogenous patient group, a genetic predisposition to mesothelioma appears unlikely.