Ethanol changes atpB gene expression and proton permeability in Streptococcus mutans / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: As a first step to study the anticaries effect of ethanol alone, we investigated the effects of ethanol on the expression levels of the atpB gene and proton permeability of Streptococcus mutans in suspension cultures. METHODS: S. mutans UA159 was grown in brain heart infusion medium at either pH 4.8 or 6.8. The total extracted RNA was reverse-transcribed into cDNA using a Superscript™ First-Strand Synthesis System. The resulting cDNA and negative controls were amplified by ABI PRISM 7700 real-time PCR system with SYBR Green PCR Master Mix. For proton flux assay, bacterial suspensions were titrated to pH 4.6 with 0.5 M HCl, and then additional 0.5 M HCl was added to decrease the pH values by approximately 0.4 units. The subsequent increase in pH was monitored using a glass electrode. Ten percent (v/v) butanol was added to the suspensions at 80 min to disrupt the cell membrane. RESULTS: In a concentration-dependent manner, ethanol alone not only decreased the growth rate of S. mutans and the expression of the atpB gene but also increased the proton permeability at both pH 4.8 and 6.8. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ethanol has the potential for an anticaries ingredient. We believe that ethanol may be used together with fluoride and/or other cariostatic agents in order to develop better anticaries toothpastes and/or mouthrinses.

Endothelial Cell Products as a Key Player in Hypoxia-Induced Nerve Cell Injury after Stroke

OBJECTIVE: Activated endothelial cells mediate the cascade of reactions in response to hypoxia for adaptation to the stress. It has been suggested that hypoxia, by itself, without reperfusion, can activate the endothelial cells and initiate complex responses. In this study, we investigated whether hypoxia-induced endothelial products alter the endothelial permeability and have a direct cytotoxic effect on nerve cells. METHODS: Hypoxic condition of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC) was induced by CoCl2 treatment in culture medium. Cell growth was evaluated by 3,4,5-dimethyl thiazole-3,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Hypoxia-induced products (IL-1beta, TGF-beta1, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and VEGF) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Endothelial permeability was evaluated by Western blotting. RESULTS: Prolonged hypoxia caused endothelial cells to secrete IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and VEGF. However, the levels of IL-1, IL-10, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, IFN-gamma and nitric oxide remained unchanged over 48 h hypoxia. Hypoxic exposure to endothelial cells induced the time-dependent down regulation of the expression of cadherin and catenin protein. The conditioned medium taken from hypoxic HUVECs had the cytotoxic effect selectively on neuroblastoma cells, but not on astroglioma cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the possibility that endothelial cell derived cytokines or other secreted products with the increased endothelial permeability might directly contribute to nerve cell injury followed by hypoxia.

Management Outcome of Poor Grade Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the treatment strategies for the poor grade patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) with respect to the timing of surgery. METHODS: We have analyzed 51 patients of Hunt and Hess grade IV and V at admission among 140 SAH patients who were managed during recent three years. They were devided into two groups according to the interval between SAH and surgery: 30 early treatment group(operated within 3 days) and 21 delayed treatment group(6 delayed operation cases and 15 unoperated cases). RESULTS: Clinical outcome of early surgery group was favorable(Good or Fair) in 23 cases(76.7%) and unfavorable in 7 cases(23.3%, 2 Poor, 5 Dead). On the contrary, those of delayed surgery group or without surgery group was favorable in 4 cases(19.1%) and unfavorable in 17 cases(80.9%, 1 Poor, 16 Dead). Overall management outcome of poor grade SAH patients was favorable in 27 cases(52.9%), unfavorable in 24 cases(47.1%) and mortality rate was 41.2%. Unfavorable outcome in poor grade SAH patients was largely affected by the initial hemorrhage and subsequent development of intractable intracranial hypertension(Hunt and Hess grade IV: 5 cases, grade V: 8 cases), cerebral infarction(grade IV: 3 cases, grade V: 1), rebleeding(grade IV: 3 cases), and surgical complication(4 cases). CONCLUSION: An active treatment policy including early surgery might achieve a better outcome of poor grade SAH patients.

Management Outcome of Poor Grade Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the treatment strategies for the poor grade patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) with respect to the timing of surgery. METHODS: We have analyzed 51 patients of Hunt and Hess grade IV and V at admission among 140 SAH patients who were managed during recent three years. They were devided into two groups according to the interval between SAH and surgery: 30 early treatment group(operated within 3 days) and 21 delayed treatment group(6 delayed operation cases and 15 unoperated cases). RESULTS: Clinical outcome of early surgery group was favorable(Good or Fair) in 23 cases(76.7%) and unfavorable in 7 cases(23.3%, 2 Poor, 5 Dead). On the contrary, those of delayed surgery group or without surgery group was favorable in 4 cases(19.1%) and unfavorable in 17 cases(80.9%, 1 Poor, 16 Dead). Overall management outcome of poor grade SAH patients was favorable in 27 cases(52.9%), unfavorable in 24 cases(47.1%) and mortality rate was 41.2%. Unfavorable outcome in poor grade SAH patients was largely affected by the initial hemorrhage and subsequent development of intractable intracranial hypertension(Hunt and Hess grade IV: 5 cases, grade V: 8 cases), cerebral infarction(grade IV: 3 cases, grade V: 1), rebleeding(grade IV: 3 cases), and surgical complication(4 cases). CONCLUSION: An active treatment policy including early surgery might achieve a better outcome of poor grade SAH patients.