Rapid Disruption of Cellular Integrity of Zinc-treated Astroglia Is Regulated by p38 MAPK and Ca(2+)-dependent Mechanisms

Cultured cortical primary astroglia treated with zinc died while rapidly detached from culture plates, a distinct part of zinc-treated astroglia. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the rapid change in the morphologic integrity of zinc-treated astroglia. Among the early cellular events occurring in zinc-treated astroglia, strong activation of p38 MAPK and JNK was evident. Although inhibitors of p38 (SB203580 and SB202190) or JNK (SP600125) did not protect zinc-insulted astroglia from cell death, the p38 inhibitors, but not the JNK inhibitor, suppressed actin filament and cell morphology disruption. The Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, also suppressed actin filament and cell morphology disruption, but not cell death, of zinc-insulted astroglia. However, A23187 did not inhibit p38 MAPK activation in zinc-treated astroglia. Together these results suggest that zinc influx in astroglia results in rapid loss of the morphologic integrity via mechanisms regulated by p38 kinase and/or Ca2+ signaling.

Friction of calcium phosphate brackets to stainless steel wire / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: Esthetic brackets which resemble the color of natural teeth have been widely used. But the frictional resistance of ceramic brackets, a typical esthetic bracket, is greater than that of metal brackets. The purpose of this study was to measure the frictional resistance of the new calcium phosphate brackets (CPB) which were recently developed and to evaluate its clinical usability by comparing the frictional differences of CPB with metal brackets and metal slot inserted ceramic brackets. METHODS: Experimental groups were CPB (Hyaline II, Tomy, Tokyo, Japan), metal bracket (Kosaka, Tomy, Tokyo, Japan) and metal slot inserted ceramic bracket (Clarity, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA). All of the brackets had 0.022-inch slot sizes. The brackets were tested with 0.019 x 0.025 inch stainless steel wire (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA). A biologic model was used to simulate the situation which would occur during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Retraction force was applied at a speed of 5 mm/min for 30 seconds. The frictional resistance was measured on a universal testing machine (Instron 4467, Instron, Norwood, MA, USA). RESULTS: CPB showed significantly higher friction than metal brackets (p < 0.05) and lower friction than metal slot inserted ceramic brackets (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CPB can be considered to be a useful orthodontic esthetic bracket with respect to frictional resistance, as its friction is remarkably lower than that of metal slot inserted ceramic brackets.