Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) have the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts. To identify genes involved in the commitment of hMSC to osteoblasts, total RNA from hMSC cultured in osteogenic induction medium was isolated on days 0 and 10 and used to create gene expression profiles with oligonucleotide microarrays. Seven SLRPs were expressed in hMSC during osteoblast differentiation. Asporin, which is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP), was the most up-regulated extracellular matrix protein in the mineralization stage. The expression levels of these SLRPs genes were compared in hMSC cultured in osteogenic induction medium and hMSC cultured in MSC growth medium on days 0, 1, 3, and 10. The mRNA levels of asporin and osteomodulin were drastically increased in hMSC cultured in osteogenic induction medium as compared to MSC growth medium. The expression levels of asporin, osteomodulin (OMD), proline arginine rich end leucine rich repeat protein, and decorin on day 10 were significantly increased in osteogenic induction medium culture as compared to MSC growth medium culture. These SLRPs are ECM components in bone and articular cartilage. Thus, these SLRPs, particular OMD and ASPN, may be important matrix molecules during differentiation into osteoblasts and/or mineralization.

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Aim: In dental treatment, to remove an instrument, such as dental mirror or to remove a dental cotton roll inserted in the gingivobuccal fold, often brings the patient discomfort or pain. To prevent these uncomfortable conditions, dental instruments or dental cotton rolls are moistened based on an empirical basis. However, there has been no research done evaluating whether discomfort is reduced by these techniques. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of moistened techniques on the patientsʼ discomfort and the operatorsʼ ease. Materials and Methods: Thirty eight subjects without hyposalivation were studied. Two procedures were implemented. One was that a dry or moistened dental mirror was removed after exclusion of the buccal mucosa. The other was removal of a dental cotton roll from the gingivobuccal fold after either moistening it or leaving it dry. The subjectsʼcomfort and the operatorsʼ treatment ease were evaluated on five point scales. Results: During these procedures, the subjectsʼ comfort was significantly increased by moistening of both the dental mirror and the cotton roll. The ease of performing both procedures was also significantly increased for operators in the moistened condition. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the subjectsʼ comfort and the operatorsʼ ease. Conclusion: When using dental instruments and removing cotton rolls, moistening increases both the subjectsʼ comfort and operatorsʼ treatment ease.

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The presence of yeasts in periodontal pockets is well known and Candida albicans (C. albicans) is thespecies most commonly isolated from theoral cavity. Theimmuneresponse and anti-candidal activity of oral epithelium cells play a key role in the host defense against C. albicans infection. Rat gingival tissue was infected with C. albicans ATCC90029. Total RNA was extracted from the epithelium and mRNA levels were monitored using DNA microarray. By ingenuity pathway analysis demonstrated that TNF and IL-1 stimulated gene expression of CC type chemokine CCL2, also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), through NF-κB pathway. Altered mRNA level of CCL2 by rat gingival tissue was infected with C. albicans was confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The immunohistochemical examination for CCL2 production was carried out. As a result, stronger immunoreactivity against CCL2 was observed in the rat gingival epithelium infected with C. albicans.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristic magnetic resonance (MR) finding of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in children. Two hundred fifty-six temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in 130 patients less than 15 years of age of MR images of 1278 TMJs in 653 patients with disc displacement who underwent MR imaging for suspected TMD were studied retrospectively as childrenʼs group. These MR images of childrenʼs group were compared with those of adultʼs group concerning disc displacement with or without reduction, joint effusion, and bony change. Logistic multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that reduction (odds ratio=2.23,p=. 0001), joint effusion (odds ratio=1.73,p=. 0012), and bony change (odds ratio=2.44,p=. 0003) were significant variables. These results suggest that characteristic MR findings of TMD in children are disc displacement with reduction, without joint effusion, and without bony change.

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One of the potential virulence factors produced by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a leukotoxin, which is secreted to membranous vesicles and to the culture supernatant, generating membrane pores and killing several lymphoid cell types. The lymphoid cells, THP-1 cells exposed to vesicles were lyzed. However, various catechins inhibited the cell lysis by the vesicles. Next, to determine how catchins inhibit vesicles interact with THP-1 cells, SP-DiOC₁₈ labeled vesicles were incubated with catechins and visualized by fluorescens microscopy. Fluorescens microscopy showed that the vesicle did not bind to THP-1 cells in the presence of catechins. These results suggest that the inhibitory mechanisms of catechin on cytotoxic activity could result in the inhibition of binding vesicles to cells by catechins because the catechin component binds to the vesicles.

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Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is implicated in the etiology of aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. LPS from Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa-LPS) and Escherichia coli (Ec-LPS) was isolated by the hot phenol-water method and partially purified on a column. The purpose of this study was to compare the properties of Aa-LPS with Ec-LPS. Aa- and Ec-LPS showed different patterns in the results of SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, the total sugar and limulus activity of Aa-LPS were different from those of Ec-LPS. The cytotoxic effect of Aa-LPS was in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Aa-LPS had a strong cytotoxic effect on human leukemia cell lines and human gingival fibroblasts compared with Ec-LPS. These results suggested that the difference in structure, total sugar amount and limulus activity of Aa-LPS from those of Ec-LPS or the cell difference may participate in the cytotoxic effect.

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Fibrous dysplasia is a skeletal developmental anomaly of bone-forming mesenchyme that manifests as a defect in osteoblastic differentiation and maturation. It is one of the most perplexing diseases of osseous tissue because it is a nonhereditarydisorder of unknown cause. Here we present a case of monostotic fibrous dysplasia in the maxilla of a 12-year-old girl.

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Hemifacial hypertrophy is a rare congenital disease involving hypertrophy of both soft and hard tissues of the face, and is usually discovered soon after birth. This pathology may be classified as either true or partial hemifacial hypertrophy. Many conditions resemble hemifacial hypertrophy, potentially complicatingdiagnosis. We present a case of true hemifacial hypertrophy in a 6-year-old girl with radiological findings, differential diagnosis and a brief review of the literature. Myohyperplasia, reported previously as a separate entity, may actually represent a form of true or partial hemifacial hypertrophy. Management of true hemifacial hypertrophy requires meticulous planning, including multiple treatment modalities.

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Odontogenic tumors constitute a heterogeneous group of lesions with diverse clinical manifestations and histopathologic features. Odontogenic myxomas are believed to arise from odontogenic ecto-mesenchyme, and accounts for 3-6% of all odontogenic tumors. The tumor is more common in the mandible, with an age predilection for th 2^nd -3^rd decade. Radiographically, they appear as initially unilocular radiolucencies, becoming multilocular over time. The radiolucent defect can contain thin, wispy trabeculae of residual bone, which are often arranged at right angles to each other. Large myxomas can also show soap bubble pattern. Treatment modalities varies depending on the tumor size and ranges from local excision, curettage or enucleation- to radical resection. Hereby presenting the case report of a 32 year old male patient diagnosed and treated for odontogenic myxoma of the mandible, along with a detailed review of literature.

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We experienced a case of a large torus palatinus (TP) in a 59-year-old Japanese woman, her chief complaint being that of speech interference. The lesion consisted of three pieces of nodular hard masses. The largest nodule was 34.5mm in max diameter.Histopathologically, the lesion contained an exophytic over growth of cortical and/or a trabecular bone-like hard tissue with adipose marrow-like and fibrous tissues between the trabecular bone-like structures indicating hyperplastic features of the bone. After reviewing literatures, the larger and multinodular case was not so many, therefore, the present case was rare, and should be removed if it interferes exceedingly with speech.

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Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral malignancy. However, combinations of more aggressive treatments have been unable to substantially improve the 5-year survival rate, due to a 10-30% locoregional recurrence rate. Conventional approaches such as physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are generally presumed insufficient for detecting residual or recurrent tumors during follow-up. Posttreatment prediction of tumor recurrence remains a diagnostic challenge. This article reviews the utilization of various non-invasive imaging modalities, such as ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (PET), PET/ CT, MRI, dynamic contrast-enhanced-MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI, CT, perfusion-CT and ultrasonography in addition to physical examination for earlier prediction of tumor recurrence in patients with OSCC during follow-up. A need for high-level scientific evidence remains, to guide us to the optimal radiological strategies for earlier prediction of tumor recurrence in OSCC. Further investigation is thus needed to standardize these methods for predicting tumor recurrence.

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