bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of Slackia exigua, Mogibacterium timidum and Eubacterium saphenum from pulpal and periradicular samples using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method
Authors: Hashimura T. , Sato M. , Hoshino E. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAimThe purpose of this study was to detect Slackia exigua from root canal samples using a sensitive PCR amplification method. Mogibacterium timidum and Eubacterium saphenum were also included because of their culture‐difficult properties.MethodologyThe species‐specific PCR primers were prepared according to 16S rDNA sequence analysis data, and confirmed to be effective for PCR amplification as species‐specific, respectively. A total of 36 clinical samples were obtained during the first visit of root canal treatment.ResultsThe sensitivity of detection was a minimum of 10 organisms for S. exigua and five organisms for M. timidum and E. saphenum, respectively. In seven cases of pulpitis, S exigua was detected in two cases (29%), and M. timidum in two cases (29%), but E. saphenum was not detected. In 17 cases of root canal treatment, S.exigua was detected in seven cases (41%), M. timidum in 12 cases (71%) and E. saphenum in four cases (24%). In 12 cases of root canal retreatment, S. exigua was detected in three cases (25%), M. timidum in three cases (25%) and E. saphenum in two cases (17%).Conclusions S. exigua, M. timidum and E. saphenum were present in root canal systems, and may be associated with pulpal and periradicular pathosis.
The quality of root fillings remaining in mandibular incisors after root‐end cavity preparation
Authors: Wu M‐K. , De Schwartz F. B. C. , Van Der Sluis L. W. M. , Wesselink P. R. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to determine the quality of root fillings remaining in mandibular incisors after root‐end resection and root‐end cavity preparation.MethodologyRoots of 40 mandibular incisors, 12 mm in length, were divided into two groups and instrumented using a balanced force technique and obturated by vertically compacted warm gutta‐percha. In one group sealer was used when back‐filling the root canal with the Obtura System. The other group was also back‐filled with the Obtura System but without sealer. The apical 4 mm of each root filling was removed by root‐end resection and root‐end cavity preparation. Fluid transport along the 7 mm of remaining root filling was measured. After the leakage test, horizontal sections were cut at a level 3 mm from the apical end of the remaining root filling. The cross sectional area of the canal and gutta‐percha was measured using an image analysis program. The quality of the remaining root fillings was also evaluated by calculating the percentage of gutta‐percha filled canal area.ResultsIn total, 27 (67%) out of the 40 roots demonstrated leakage. No significant difference was found between the two groups (P = 0.265). In the cross‐sections the bucco‐lingual canal diameter was up to 2.6 mm long (mean 1.6 mm). The average percentage of gutta‐percha filled canal area was 85.6%. Warm gutta‐percha could not obturate areas where debris remained after instrumentation.ConclusionsThe quality of the root fillings in mandibular incisors was poor, probably because the unprepared recesses of oval canals were not clean.
A case of unusual anatomy: a mandibular second premolar with four canals
Authors: Rhodes J. S. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAimThe aim of this case report is to describe conventional root canal treatment on a mandibular second premolar with four canals.SummaryThe pulp of a mandibular second premolar had become irreversibly inflamed, probably as a result of bacterial microleakage from a carious lesion. The general dental practitioner had initiated root canal treatment, but due to procedural difficulties referred the case. Conventional root canal treatment was then performed with magnification. Preparation was undertaken in a crown‐down manner using balanced force hand instrumentation with flexible K‐type files and files of Greater Taper. The root canals were obturated with vertically condensed gutta‐percha technique.Key learning points

Good illumination and magnification are vital during root canal treatment.
Crown‐down preparation using the balanced force technique with flexible files makes instrumentation easier and prevents many of the procedural errors that can occur with filing techniques.
Greater Taper instruments made of nickel–titanium are sufficiently flexible to be used in complex curved canals and obviate the need for step‐back flaring of the apical preparation.
Vertical compaction of warm gutta‐percha may simplify the obturation of complex root canal systems.
When the technical difficulty of a procedure exceeds the expertise of the practitioner, specialist referral may be required.
Quantitative analysis of substance P, neurokinin A and calcitonin gene‐related peptide in pulp tissue from painful and healthy human teeth
Authors: Awawdeh L. , Lundy F. T. , Shaw C. , Lamey P‐J. , Linden G. J. , Kennedy J. G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAim The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) in painful and healthy human dental pulps.Methodology Forty‐six samples of pulp tissue were collected from extracted or endodontically treated painful teeth and 20 from clinically healthy teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons. All pulp samples were boiled in 0.5 m acetic acid for 10 min, centrifuged and the supernatant collected. SP, NKA and CGRP levels were measured using radioimmunoassay.Results Substance P and CGRP were present in all samples and NKA was detected in 96% of the pulps. CGRP was present in much higher concentrations than SP and NKA in both painful and non‐painful teeth. The painful teeth had significantly higher concentrations of SP (P = 0.02), NKA (P < 0.001) and CGRP (P = 0.03) than non‐painful teeth. The concentration of CGRP was significantly higher in the pulps of smokers compared with non‐smokers (P = 0.02).Conclusions Elevated levels of these neuropeptides in pulps from painful teeth indicate that they may play an important role in the process of pulpal inflammation and pain. Further investigation of the association between these neuropeptides and pulpal status may help to improve our understanding of pulpal inflammation and dental pain.
Interleukin‐1β and tumour necrosis factor‐α levels in periapical exudates
Authors: Ataoğlu T. , Üngör M. , Serpek B. , Haliloğlu S. , Ataoğlu H. , Ari H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAim The aim of this study was to determine IL‐1β and TNF‐α levels in periapical exudates and to evaluate their relationship with clinical and radiological findings.Methodology Periapical exudates were collected from root canals of 35 single‐rooted teeth using absorbent paper points. IL‐1β and TNF‐α levels were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The samples were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of clinical signs including swelling and/or fistula, pain on palpation and/or percussion, and pus discharge from canals. Periapical exudate samples were divided into two groups according to size of periapical radiolucent area.Results The mean concentration of IL‐1β (72.79 ng mL−1) in periapical exudates was approximately 12‐fold higher than TNF‐α (6.17 ng mL−1). There was no significant correlation between these cytokines (P > 0.05). IL‐1β levels in canals with larger radiolucent areas (long axis ≥1 cm) were significantly higher than those with small areas (P < 0.05). There was a tendency toward higher levels of IL‐1β in groups with clinical signs, but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05).Conclusions Periapical exudate levels of both cytokines failed to reflect periapical disease state.
Influence of age, hormones and germ cells on glutathione S‐transferase activity in cultured Sertoli cells
Authors: CASTELLÓN  
Published: March 2003

Glutathione S‐transferase (GSH‐S‐T) activity was measured, using 1‐Cl‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene as substrate, in Sertoli cell cultures obtained from rats aged 10, 18, and 26 days. The GSH‐S‐T activity showed a significant increase with age of the Sertoli cell donor. When cultures were treated with hypotonic solution, in order to eliminate residual contaminating germ cells, the age dependent increase in enzyme activity was less pronounced. FSH, but not testosterone, increased enzyme activity in all cultures. Addition of freshly isolated germ cells (mainly pachytene spermatocytes) to hypotonic‐treated Sertoli cell monolayers enhanced GSH‐S‐T activity at all ages.It is concluded that GSH‐S‐T activity can be measured in cultured Sertoli cells during the period of onset of spermatogenesis (10–26 days). This enzyme activity is dependent on age of the Sertoli cell donor and is influenced by FSH and germ cells. Since GSH‐S‐Ts are actively engaged in cell detoxificative functions through conjugation of xenobiotics with glutathione, the present findings suggest that this enzyme may have a relevant protective role during the critical period when spermatogenesis is being established.
Comparative study of disomy and diploidy rates in spermatozoa of fertile and infertile men: a donor‐adapted protocol for multi‐colour fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
Authors: Schultz Hendrik , Mennicke Kirsten , Schlieker Heiko , Al‐Hasani Safat , Bals‐Pratsch Monika , Diedrich Klaus , Schwinger Eberhard 
Published: March 2003

Spermatozoa from seven healthy donors (two of whom had already fathered children) and five infertile patients taking part in the local programme of intracytoplasmic sperm‐injection (ICSI) were investigated for the disomy rates of chromosomes 13/21, 18, X and Y as well as for the diploidy rates. Two‐ and three‐colour fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied after a donor‐adapted decondensation pre‐treatment: in a preliminary decondensation series the optimum fluorescence signals were individually determined by variation of the concentration of the decondensation reagents and the duration of incubation with these reagents. Strict scoring criteria were applied.The average disomy rates ranged from 0.10% (chromosomes 13/21) to 0.44% (disomy XY) in the infertile donors and from 0.07% (disomy XX) to 0.36% (disomy XY) in the controls. The average diploidy rates were 0.22% and 0.20% for the infertile donors and the controls respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the disomy and diploidy rates. Within the two groups there were inter‐individual differences which were partly statistically significant, indicating considerable inter‐donor variation of the aneuploidy rates.
Effect of human sperm exposure to progesterone on sperm–oocyte fusion and sperm–zona pellucida binding under various experimental conditions
Authors: Francavilla F. , Romano R. , Santucci R. , Macerola B. , Ruvolo G. , Francavilla S. 
Published: March 2003

In this study, the effect of human sperm exposure to progesterone on sperm/oocyte fusion, using the hamster egg penetration test, and on sperm/zona pellucida (ZP) binding, using the hemizona assay, was investigated under various experimental conditions.A brief exposure of human spermatozoa to progesterone exerted a stimulatory effect on sperm/oocyte fusion which was dose‐dependent, capacitation‐dependent, influenced by the source of serum albumin in capacitating medium, and was higher than that produced by the exposure to progesterone from the onset of capacitation. The exposure of capacitated spermatozoa to progesterone during 20 min‐spermatozoa/ZP‐coincubation produced an enhancement of ZP‐binding, which was not significantly influenced by the source of serum albumin in capacitating medium. A significantly lower ZP‐binding was exhibited by spermatozoa exposed to progesterone from the beginning of capacitation. These results indicate that progesterone exerts a stimulatory effect on human sperm's fertilizing ability, which occurs mainly in post‐capacitation events directly involved in sperm/oocyte fusion and in ZP‐binding. Conditions optimizing these effects are provided. They should be taken into account in the standardization of experimental and clinical studies designed to evaluate the response of human spermatozoa to progesterone.
Management of premature ejaculation – a comparison of treatment outcome in patients with and without erectile dysfunction
Authors: Chia Sing joo 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThis study evaluated the problem of premature ejaculation (PE) in patients treated for erectile dysfunction. The aim was to compare the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the management of primary PE and PE associated with sildenefil treatment. Eighty‐seven patients with PE seen over a period of 17 months were recruited into this prospective study. They were categorized into two groups: primary PE (GPI) and PE in sildenefil‐treated patients (GPII). All patients recruited into GPII had erectile dysfunction (ED) that was successfully treated with sildenefil citrate for at least a year. Both groups of patients were given sertraline 50 mg 4 h before expected time of sex. The minimum follow‐up was 6 months. The ejaculation latency before and after treatment of the two groups were compared. The sexual satisfaction scores of the patients in the two groups were also sought and analysed. Twenty‐eight percent of patients with ED who were successfully treated with sildenefil developed PE. Subjects in group GPI were younger and have less comorbid factors than those in group GPII. There was no significant difference in the mean ejaculation latency for both groups (46 vs. 34.6 sec for GPI and GPII, respectively). However, there was highly significant difference in the ejaculation latency between the two groups after treatment with sertraline for 6 months (247.2 vs. 111.6 sec for GPI and GPII, respectively). There was also significant difference in the sexual satisfaction score for group GPI post‐treatment, but not for GPII. No significant side‐effect of sertraline was reported from patients in both groups. Successful treatment of ED could not assure sexual satisfaction. At least a quarter of sildenefil treated ED patients might develop PE which would continue to frustrate these patients sexually. While selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) was effective in the management of primary PE, they were not as effective in patients with sildenefil corrected ED.
Penile vibratory stimulation and electroejaculation in the treatment of ejaculatory dysfunction1
Authors: SØNKSEN JENS , OHL DANA A. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe purpose of this review is to present the current understanding of penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) and electroejaculation (EEJ) procedures and its clinical use in men with ejaculatory dysfunction. Unfortunately, the record of treating such individuals has been quite poor, but within recent years development and refinement of PVS and EEJ in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) has significantly enhanced the prospects for treatment of ejaculatory dysfunction. The majority of spinal cord injured men are not able to produce antegrade ejaculation by masturbation or sexual stimulation. However, approximately 80% of all spinal cord injured men with an intact ejaculatory reflex arc (above T10) can obtain antegrade ejaculation with PVS. Electroejaculation may be successful in obtaining ejaculate from men with all types of SCI, including men who do not have major components of the ejaculatory reflex arc. Because vibratory stimulation is very simple in use, non‐invasive, it does not require anaesthesia and is preferred by the patients when compared with EEJ, PVS is recommended to be the first choice of treatment in spinal cord injured men. Furthermore, EEJ has been successfully used to induce ejaculation in men with multiple sclerosis and diabetic neuropathy. Any other conditions which affect the ejaculatory mechanism of the central and/or peripheral nervous system including surgical nerve injury may be treated successfully with EEJ. Finally, for sperm retrieval and sperm cryopreservation before intensive anticancer therapy in pubertal boys, PVS and EEJ have been successfully performed in patients who failed to obtain ejaculation by masturbation. Nearly all data concerning semen characteristics in men with ejaculatory dysfuntion originate from spinal cord injured men. Semen analyses demonstrate low sperm motility rates in the majority of spinal cord injured men. The data give evidence of a decline in spermatogenesis and motility of ejaculated spermatozoa shortly after (few weeks) an acute SCI. Furthermore, it is suggested that some factors in the seminal plasma and/or disordered storage of spermatozoa in the seminal vesicles are mainly responsible for the impaired semen profiles in men with chronic SCI. Home insemination with semen obtained by penile vibratory and introduced intravaginally in order to achieve successful pregnancies may be an option for some spinal cord injured men and their partners. The majority of men will further enhance their fertility potential when using either penile vibratory or EEJ combined with assisted reproduction techniques such as intrauterine insemination or in‐vitro fertilization with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Expression and regulation of the prointerleukin‐1α processing enzymes calpain I and II in the rat testis
Authors: Sultana Taranum , Wahab‐Wahlgren Aida , Assmus Monique , Parvinen Martti , Weber Günther , Söder Olle 
Published: March 2003

SummaryInterleukin‐1α (IL‐1α) is constitutively expressed in an age‐ and stage‐dependent manner by rat Sertoli cells. However, the mechanism of regulation of IL‐1α is unclear in testis. We studied this regulation at the level of the enzyme calpain, a potential regulator that cleaves 32 kDa proIL‐1α to produce mature 17 kDa IL‐1α. Both calpain I and II were found to cleave recombinant rat testis 32proIL‐1α in vitro. A temporary age‐related increase in messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of calpain I was found in testis of 20‐ and 25‐day‐old rats, coinciding with important events of spermatogenesis and a gradual increase in IL‐1α, while calpain II expression was constant. In response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), calpain I protein levels were down‐regulated in the seminiferous tubules, while calpain II was less affected. By contrast, the liver after LPS treatment showed up‐regulated calpain I and II immunoreactive protein and reverse transcriptase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) signal. Depleting Leydig cells by ethane 1,2‐dimethane sulphonate treatment resulted in down‐regulated calpain I mRNA and protein expression, whereas calpain II remained unchanged. In summary, there is a differential expression of calpain I and II under pathological conditions induced either by endotoxin stimuli or Leydig cell depletion, which may produce a differential effect on IL‐1α processing.
Absence of association of androgen receptor trinucleotide expansion and poor semen quality
Authors: Erasmuson Tanya , Sin Iris L. , Sin Frank Y. T. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThis study investigated the relationship between variation in the polymorphic CAG trinucleotide repeat (TNR) region of the human androgen receptor (AR) gene and semen quality in a Caucasian sample population. These men were patients attending the New Zealand Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Christchurch. The AR TNR region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and then DNA sequenced to determine exact numbers of CAG repeats for each sample. In addition, the samples were screened for microdeletions within the AZFc region of the Y‐chromosome. A total of 105 men with poor semen quality were compared with a group of 93 men with normal semen quality. Men with poor semen quality had similar CAG repeat number to men with normal semen quality (21.46 ± 0.30 vs. 20.99 ± 0.28, p = 0.126). Y‐chromosome microdeletions were only detected in men with suboptimal semen parameters (7.4%). However, the presence of a deletion was not related to CAG repeat number. The CAG repeat number in the men with normal semen quality in the present study is similar to the Australian and German samples, but lower than those reported for the Swedes, Dutch and Danes. These results are contrary to the hypothesis that higher CAG repeats are associated with infertility in men, but strongly suggest that different populations may show different numbers of CAG repeats in addition to racial variation reported in previous studies.
Tissue granuloma structure‐function in experimental visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Murray Henry W. 
Published: March 2003

In experimental visceral leishmaniasis in normal mice (BALB/c, C57BL/6) acquired resistance to Leishmania donovani, a protozoan which targets tissue macrophages, depends upon T cells, Th1 cell‐type cytokine generation and activated mononuclear phagocytes. In the intact host, initial control and eventual resolution of L. donovani hepatic infection in normal mice is expressed by and accomplished within well‐formed, mature tissue granulomas. In the liver, these immunologically active, inflammatory structures are assembled around a core of fused, parasitized resident macrophages (Kupffer cells) which come to be encircled by both cytokine‐secreting T cells and influxing leishmanicidal blood monocytes. This pro‐host defense granuloma structure‐function relationship, in which histologically mature granulomas provide the microenvironment for intracellular L. donovani killing, however, is only one of seven which have been identified through experimental modifications in this model. This report reviews these structure‐function relationships and illustrates the broad spectrum of additional possible responses. These responses range from structurally intact granulomas which provide no antileishmanial function (the ‘ineffective’ granuloma), to enlarged granulomas which show enhanced parasite killing (the ‘hypertrophied’ granuloma), to effective antileishmanial activity in the absence of any tissue reaction (the ‘invisible’ granuloma).
Mechanisms of 5‐azacytidine (5AzC)‐induced toxicity in the rat foetal brain
Authors: Ueno Masaki , Katayama Kei‐ichi , Nakayama Hiroyuki , Doi Kunio 
Published: March 2003

Summary.Mechanisms of 5‐azacytidine (5AzC)‐induced toxicity in the rat foetal brain were investigated. 5AzC (10 mg/kg) was injected into pregnant rats on day 13 of gestation and the protein and mRNA expressions of p53 and its transcriptional target genes, p21, bax, cyclin G1, fas, and gadd45, were examined in the foetal brain. The number of p53‐positive cells peaked at 9 h after treatment (HAT) and those of apoptotic cells and p21‐positive cells peaked at 12 HAT. The expressions of p21, bax, cyclin G1, and fas mRNAs were significantly elevated from 9 to 12 HAT. From the experiments using 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU), as compared with controls, the migration of neuroepithelial cells significantly delayed and BrdU‐positive signals were observed in many apoptotic cells from 9 to 24 HAT in the 5AzC‐group. In addition, the number of S phase cells significantly decreased at 12 HAT. The present results indicate that 5AzC induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest probably at G1 phase in the rat foetal brain and they might be mediated by p53 in response to DNA damage.