Sequential expressions of Notch1, Jagged2 and Math1 in molar tooth germ of mouse

The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionary conserved mechanism that plays an important role in cell-cell communication and cell fate in a wide range of tissues. The mammalian family of Notch receptors consists of 4 members: Notch1/2/3/4. The Notch ligand family consists of 5 members: Delta1/3/4 and Jagged1/2. Math1 encodes a murine Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that acts as positive regulator of cell differentiation. Recently, links between Notch and Math1 pathways were demonstrated in various tissues. Expression of Notch1, Jagged2 and Math1 were analyzed in the mouse molar tooth germ during embryonic stage (E) 13 and E15 and during postnatal stage (PN) 1, PN3, PN5, PN10 and PN14 by using in situ hybridization. Positive Notch1 expression was found at the tooth bud during embryonic stages, but its expression was absent from the basal cells in contact with the dental mesenchyme. Jagged2 and Math1 were strongly expressed in differentiated ameloblasts and odontoblasts and Math1 strong expression was even maintained until PN14 stage. Math1 showed the strongest expression. Our results suggest that the Notch1 signaling pathway through Jagged2 could be importantly related to Math1, directing the process of odontogenesis toward cell differentiation.

Changes in remnant-like particle cholesterol level during treatment of hypertension with amlodipine and cilnidipine

This study was designed to determine the effect of antihypertensive agents (calcium channel blockers) on the levels of remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol; a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, during treatment of hypertension. Thirty six hypertensive patients of both sexes were selected into this study. Twenty-five of them were treated with amlodipine while eleven patients were treated with cilnidipine all for 3 months. At the beginning and after 3 months of treatment, serum RLP-cholesterol levels were measured in the two treatment groups. RLP-cholesterol level was significantly reduced after clinidipine treatment while the reduction in RLP-cholesterol level after amlodipine treatment was not statistically significant. Our findings show that calcium channel blockers may lower the risk of myocardial infarction, coronary atherosclerosis and/or coronary thrombus formation through reduction in RLP-cholesterol levels during antihypertensive pharmacotherapy

Effect of intestinal helminthiasis on nutritional status of schoolchildren.

This study was conducted in a rural agricultural area in Siniloan, Republic of the Philippines. The subjects were the school children. The nutritional status of 58 children infected with helminthiasis (Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura) was compared with that of 19 uninfected controls. Prevalence of Ascaris and Trichuris was 40.3% and 71.4% respectively, and 36.4% of infected children had both Ascaris and Trichuris infections. Statistically significant evidence of an adverse effect of helminthiasis on serum albumin levels was found, but no child had inadequate levels of other nutrients. Although helminthic infections increase the level of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in children endemically exposed to these parasites, there was no significant difference in the serum IgE among Ascaris or Trichuris infected groups in this study.