Static magnetic fields promote osteoblastic/cementoblastic differentiation in osteoblasts, cementoblasts, and periodontal ligament cells

PURPOSE: Although static magnetic fields (SMFs) have been used in dental prostheses and osseointegrated implants, their biological effects on osteoblastic and cementoblastic differentiation in cells involved in periodontal regeneration remain unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of SMFs (15 mT) on the osteoblastic and cementoblastic differentiation of human osteoblasts, periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs), and cementoblasts, and to explore the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. METHODS: Differentiation was evaluated by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralized nodule formation based on Alizarin red staining, calcium content, and the expression of marker mRNAs assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Signaling pathways were analyzed by western blotting and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The activities of the early marker ALP and the late markers matrix mineralization and calcium content, as well as osteoblast- and cementoblast-specific gene expression in osteoblasts, PDLCs, and cementoblasts were enhanced. SMFs upregulated the expression of Wnt proteins, and increased the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and total β-catenin protein expression. Furthermore, p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways were activated. CONCLUSIONS: SMF treatment enhanced osteoblastic and/or cementoblastic differentiation in osteoblasts, cementoblasts, and PDLCs. These findings provide a molecular basis for the beneficial osteogenic and/or cementogenic effect of SMFs, which could have potential in stimulating bone or cementum formation during bone regeneration and in patients with periodontal disease.

Applicability of the use of waste from different banana cultivars for the cultivation of the oyster mushroom

The objective of this research was to evaluate the oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus- (Jacq.: Fr.) Kumm. cultivation in substrates based on different combinations of wastes (leaf, pseudo-stem and pseudo-stem + leaf) and banana cultivars - Musa spp. (Thap Maeo, Prata Anã, Pelipita and Caipira) during 49 days. Organic matter loss in the substrate by action of the fungus was also evaluated during that period. It was verified that the pseudo-stem waste provided the best averages of biological efficiency among all cultivars tested and best rates were obtained by Thap Maeo (61.5%). The highest organic matter loss (OML) was obtained from pseudo-stem + leaf wastes (Prata Anã - 78.6%; Thap Maeo - 67.6%; Pelipita - 64.8%; Caipira - 60.6%). Therefore, the use of those wastes showed itself viable for P. ostreatus cultivation due to its availability and low cost, besides decreasing discards to environment.

Basics of particle therapy II: relative biological effectiveness

In the previous review, the physical aspect of heavy particles, with a focus on the carbon beam was introduced. Particle beam therapy has many potential advantages for cancer treatment without increasing severe side effects in normal tissue, these kinds of radiation have different biologic characteristics and have advantages over using conventional photon beam radiation during treatment. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) is used for many biological, clinical endpoints among different radiation types and is the only convenient way to transfer the clinical experience in radiotherapy with photons to another type of radiation therapy. However, the RBE varies dependent on the energy of the beam, the fractionation, cell types, oxygenation status, and the biological endpoint studied. Thus this review describes the concerns about RBE related to particle beam to increase interests of the Korean radiation oncologists' society.

Aproveitamento de resíduos madeireiros para o cultivo do cogumelo comestível Lentinus strigosus de ocorrência na Amazônia / Use of wood residues for the cultivation of edible mushroom Lentinus strigosus in the Amazon

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a utilização de resíduos madeireiros do estado do Amazonas para o cultivo de Lentinus strigosus. de ocorrência na região. A linhagem foi procedente da coleção do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA. Utilizou-se separadamente serragens de Simarouba amara (marupá), Ochroma piramidale (pau de balsa) e Anacardium giganteum (cajuí) suplementadas com farelo de arroz e de trigo e CaCO3 (80:10:8:2), respectivamente, ajustando-se a umidade em torno de 75 por cento. Os substratos (500g) foram acondicionados em sacos de polipropileno, esterilizados a 121 ºC , durante 30 minutos, inoculados e incubados em câmara climatizada a 25 ± 3 ºC e UR de 85 por cento, até emissão dos primórdios, com redução de temperatura de 25 para 23 ± 1 ºC e aumento de UR para 85-90 por cento, no período de "frutificação". O crescimento micelial ocorreu de 12 a 20 dias, com surgimento de primórdios com cerca de 15 a 25 dias após a inoculação. A produção de basidiocarpos ocorreu três a cinco dias após a emissão dos primórdios. Foram avaliados: eficiência biológica (EB, por cento), rendimento (g kg-1) e perda da matéria orgânica (PMO, por cento). As serragens suplementadas foram eficientes no cultivo de L. strigosus, apresentando EB de 38, 48 e 59 por cento; rendimento de 98, 119 e 177 g kg-1; e PMO de 42, 59 e 48 por cento, para marupá, pau de balsa e cajuí, respectivamente. Assim, há um potencial de aproveitamento desses resíduos na Amazônia, bem como uma provável utilização da linhagem selvagem, podendo contribuir para melhoria das condições sócio-econômicas da população regional e sustentabilidade dos recursos da biodiversidade.

The objective of this work was to use wood residues from the state of Amazonas for the cultivation of Lentinus strigosus. found in that region. The strain came from the collection of the National Institute of Amazonian Research. Sawdust species Simarouba amara, Ochroma piramidale and Anacardium giganteum were separately used in the preparation of the substrates, supplemented with rice and wheat bran and CaCO3 (80:10:8:2), respectively, with humidity adjusted to approximately 75 percent. Substrates (500 g) were packed using bags polypropylene, sterilized at 121 ºC for 30 minutes, inoculated and incubated in an acclimatized chamber at 25 ± 3 ºC and relative air humidity of 85 percent until primordia emission, with temperature reduced from 25 to 23 ± 1 ºC and air relative humidity increased to 85-90 percent in the fruiting period. Micelial growth occurred within 12 to 20 days and primordia appeared within 15 to 25 days after the inoculation. Harvest occurred three to five days after primordia emission. Biological efficiency (BE, percent), yield (g kg-1) and loss of organic matter (PMO, percent) were evaluated. Supplemented sawdust were efficient in the cultivation of L. strigosus, presenting BE of 38, 48 and 59 percent, yield of 98, 119 and 177 g kg-1 and PMO of 42, 59 and 48 percent for Simarouba amara, Ochroma piramidale and Anacardium giganteum, respectively. The results show the potential use of those residues in the Amazon, as well as the possibility of using the wild strain, to contribute to the improvement of the social and economical conditions of the regional population and sustainability of the biodiversity resources.

Multi-institutional Comparison of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Planning Strategies and Planning Results for Nasopharyngeal Cancer

The intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning strategies for nasopharyngeal cancer among Korean radiation oncology facilities were investigated. Five institutions with IMRT planning capacity using the same planning system were invited to participate in this study. The institutions were requested to produce the best plan possible for 2 cases that would deliver 70 Gy to the planning target volume of gross tumor (PTV1), 59.4 Gy to the PTV2, and 51.5 Gy to the PTV3 in which elective irradiation was required. The advised fractionation number was 33. The planning parameters, resultant dose distributions, and biological indices were compared. We found 2-3-fold variations in the volume of treatment targets. Similar degree of variation was found in the delineation of normal tissue. The physician-related factors in IMRT planning had more influence on the plan quality. The inhomogeneity index of PTV dose ranged from 4 to 49% in Case 1, and from 5 to 46% in Case 2. Variation in tumor control probabilities for the primary lesion and involved LNs was less marked. Normal tissue complication probabilities for parotid glands and skin showed marked variation. Results from this study suggest that greater efforts in providing training and continuing education in terms of IMRT planning parameters usually set by physician are necessary for the successful implementation of IMRT.

Audit of radiation dose to patients during coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND: There is widespread concern about radiation doses imparted to patients during cardiology procedures in the medical community. The current study intends to audit and optimize radiation dose to patients undergoing coronary angiography (CA) performed using two dedicated cardiovascular machines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty nine patients who underwent CA are reported in this study. Dose auditing was done by implementing dose reduction strategies using spectral filters and by evaluating work practices of operators involved in performing CA. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: A Student's 't' test was used to analyze the statistical significance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The radiation dose imparted to patients was measured using dose area product (DAP) meter. The mean DAP values during CA before optimization was 55.86 Gy cm2 and after optimization was 27.71 Gy cm2. No ill-effects of radiation were reported for patients who underwent CA. Use of copper filtration may be recommended for procedures performed using cardiovascular machines.

Dosimetric Characteristics of a Thermal Neutron Beam Facility for Neutron Capture Therapy at HANARO Reactor / 의학물리

A thermal neutron beam facility utilizing a typical tangential beam port for Neutron Capture Therapy was installed at the HANARO, 30 MW multi-purpose research reactor. Mixed beams with different physical characteristics and relative biological effectiveness would be emitted from the BNCT irradiation facility, so a quantitative analysis of each component of the mixed beams should be performed to determine the accurate delivered dose. Thus, various techniques were applied including the use of activation foils, TLDs and ionization chambers. All the dose measurements were performed with the water phantom filled with distilled water. The results of the measurement were compared with MCNP4B calculation. The thermal neutron fluxes were 1.02E9 n/cm2 s and 6.07E8 n/cm2 s at 10 and 20 mm depth respectively, and the fast neutron dose rate was insignificant as 0.11 Gy/hr at 10 mm depth in water. The gamma-ray dose rate was 5.10 Gy/hr at 20 mm depth in water. Good agreement within 5%, has been obtained between the measured dose and the calculated dose using MCNP for neutron and gamma component and discrepancy with 14% for fast neutron flux. Considering the difficulty of neutron detection, the current study support the reliability of these results and confirmed the suitability of the thermal neutron beam as a dosimetric data for BNCT clinical trials.

Evaluation de l'efficacite de la chloroquine dans le traitement du paludisme simple a plasmodium falciparum chez les enfants de 6 a 59 mois a l'Hopital General d'Ayame (Protocole OMS de 14 jours)

Ce travail; qui est une etude prospective s'est deroule du 4 juin 2003 au 23 juillet 2003 a l'Hopital General d'Ayame. L'objectif de l'etude a ete d'evaluer l'efficacite therapeutique de la chloroquine dans le traitement du paludisme non complique a Plasmodium falciparum chez les enfants de 6 a 59 mois a Ayame. 107 enfants selectionnes sur la base d'un acces febrile isole; ont beneficie d'une goutte epaisse et d'un frottis sanguin. 77 enfants ont repondu aux criteres d'inclusion exiges par l'OMS (1996). La chloroquine a ete administree selon le schema de 25mg/ kg repartis sur 3 jours : 10mg/kg/j a J0 et a J1 ; 5mg/ kg/ j a J2. Des controles cliniques et/ou parasitologiques ont ete effectues respectivement a J1; J2 ; J3 J7 et J14. En definitive; 66 enfants ont ete regulierement suivis et nous avons obtenu les resultats suivants : 36;36pour cent de succes therapeutique ; 63;64pour cent d'echec therapeutique avec 45;46pour cent ETP et 18;18 d'ETT. Au terme de cette etude; il ressort que la chloroquine administree a la dose de 25mg/kg repartis sur 3 jours a une efficacite tres reduite 'pour un traitement en premiere intention du paludisme non complique a Plasmodium falciparum a Ayame. Ce medicament est donc a proscrire pour le moment dans cette zone

Study on the synthesis and bioactivities of beta-aminoceton derivatives of 5 bromo-vanilin

By the condensation of azometines, 5-bromovalline with azomatic ketones, six beta-aminoketones was formed. All compounds was tested on 10 strains of bacteria and candida albicans in vitro. The results showed that synthesized compounds had strong antibacterial and antifungal activities.

Study on synthesis of some compounds of azometine base, derivatives of vanilline and exploration of its biological effects

Synthesis research and test on biological activities of some azomethines from vanilline and 5-Nitro vanilline. 10 azomethines can be obtained by condensing vanilline and 5-Nitro Vanilline with aromatic amines such as aniline, pAB, p.Bromoe aniline, or.Toluidin, anthraniclic acid. The structures of obtained products have been characterized by element analyses and IR, UV spectroscopy. The compounds have been tested for antibacterial activities on positive gram bacteria rather than on negative ones. Azomethines of 5-Nitro vanillin have great effect in antibacterial and antifungal activities.

Influence of dose per fraction and alpha/beta ratio on the variation in biological effectiveness caused by physical dose inhomogeneity

Successful radiotherapy requires delivery of a tumoricidal treatment while sparing as much normal tissue as possible in the target volume. The aim of optimizing radiation treatment planning is to satisfy this requirement whilst achieving a homogeneous dose distribution with in the target volume. However, expressing the treatment plan solely as a physical dose distribution might be misleading. In the most centres variation of 0% [ +/- 5%], or even more, is considered to be an acceptable range of inhomogeneity. If we convert isodose lines [phsical dose distribution] in an irradiated volume into isoeffect lines [biological effect distribution], using the linear quadratic model, the inhomogeneity factor will be increased. In this analysis an equation has been introduced to calculate the biological dose inhomogeneity factor in terms of the physical dose inhomogeneity. The biological inhomogeneity factor depends on the fraction size as well as radiobiology of the irradiated tissue [e.g. alpha/beta ratio]. The biological dose inhomogeneity factor depends on the fraction size as well as radiobiology of the irradiated tissue [e.g. alpha/beta ratio]. The biological dose inhomogeneity factor resulting in a 10% physical dose inhomogeneity was calculated for isoeffective schedules with different fraction size [1-5 GY]. For late responding tissues with alpha/beta of 1 to 5 GY, the biological inhomogeneity ranged from 12% [ +/- 6%] to 19% [ +/- 9.5%] depending a/B and fraction size. For tumours and actue responding tissues with alpha/beta values ranging between 5 and 20 Gy, the biological dose inhomogeneity was between 11% [ +/- 5.5%] and 15% [ +/- 7.5%]. For late responding tissues an increase of 9.5% in the biological effective dose may give a significant increase in the complication probability. Also a reduction of the effective dose by 7.5% may give a substantial drop in the tumour curability. Therefore, it may be useful to express the outcome of radiotherapy treatment planning in terms of calculated biological effect distribution as well as distribution of physical dose. The analysis shows that hyperfractionated schedules generate lesser biological dose inhomogeneity for any given level of physical dose inhomogeneity. This spatial consideration provide an additional rationale for use of hyperfractionated treatment scheduled in radiotherapy

Frequency of Micronuclei in Lymphocytes Following Gamma and Fast-neutron Irradiations / 대한치료방사선과학회지

The dose response of the number of micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked (CB) lymphocytes after in vitro irradiation with -rays and neutrons in the 5 dose ranges was studied for a heterogeneous population of 4 donors. One thousand binucleated cells were systematically scored for micronuclei. Measurements performed after irradiation showed a dose-dependent increase in micronuclei(MN) frequency in each of the doctors studied. The dose-response curves were analyzed by a linear-quadratic model, frequencies per 1000 CB cells were (0.31+/-0.049) D+(0.0022+/-0.0002) D2+(13.19+/-1.854) (r2=1.000, X2=0.7074, p=0.95) following irradiation, and (0.99+/-0.528) D+(0.0093+/-0.0047) D2+(13.31+/-7.309) (r2=0.996, X2=7.6834, p=0.11) following neutrons irradiation (D is irradiation dose in cGy). The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons compared with -rays was estimated by best fitting linear-quadratic model. In the micronuclei frequency between 0.05 and 0.8 per cell, the RBE of neutrons was 2.37+/-0.17. Since the MN assay is simple and rapid, it may be a good tool for evaluating the y-ray and neutron response.

Neutron therapy for prostatic cancer / 대한비뇨기과학회지

The neutron beam has higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) than conventional X or gamma ray because it is densely ionizing radiation which is presented by high linear energy transfer (LET). This physical and radiobiological characteristic plays an important role in killing of cancer cells in the state of biologically radio-resistant to the conventional radiation. The rationale of high LET radiation in the application to clinical radiotherapy is summarized as, high oxygen enhancement ratio (OER), less repair of cell damage, and less dependence of radio-sensitivity on cell cycle. Neutron therapy alone or combined with conventional radiotherapy was performed in 12 patients with stage C or D1 prostatic cancer from Mar. 1987 to Dec. 1989 in Korea Cancer Center Hospital. Local control rate at the time of 24 months after therapy was 67% (4/6) in stage C and 67% (4/6) in stage DI. Two-year actuarial survival rate after therapy was 82% in stage C and 67% in stage D1. The problem of neutron therapy was relatively high incidence of major complication rate, but it could be lessened by the accumulation of experience for neutron therapy. We think neutron therapy to be one of adequate treatment modalities for local control of stage C or Dl prostatic cancer.

Synthesis and biological activity of some new 2- [alkyl/ acylthio] -4-methyl and 4,6dimethyloxazolo [4,5-c] quinolines

Quinoline and its derivatives are known to exhibit antibacterial and antifungal activities. Oxazoloquinoline compounds possess significant biological activities as bactericidal Gram-positive and Gram-negative agents [1-5]. The antibiotic nybomycin contains the oxazolo [5,4,3,-ij] quinoline nucleus [1,2] and it has been observed that nybomycin acetate and dichloro acetate derivatives are more active than parent nybomycin specially against staphylococci [2]. In view of the above facts it was therefore considered of interest to undertake the synthesis of some new 2-[alkyl/acylthio]-4-methyi and 4,6-dirnethyl-oxazolo [4,5-c] quinolines [IIa, IIb] in order to evaluate their antibacterial and antifungal activities