Enhanced CEA production associated with aspirin in a culture of CW-2 cells on some polymeric films

Human colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor (CW2) cells were cultivated in RPMI 1640 media containing 0-7.5 mM aspirin and 10% fetal bovine serum for the production of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). By adding aspirin to the media, the production of CEA per cell increased by up to one hundred fold compared to cultivation in normal media containing no aspirin, even though the total cell concentration decreased with the increase in aspirin in the media. The production of CEA was also investigated for CW2 cells cultured on silk fibroin, poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) and poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate)/poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer films prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett and casting methods. The highest production of CEA per cell was observed for the CW2 cells on poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) and its diblock copolymer films prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett method in the medium containing 5 mM aspirin after 168 hr of inoculation. This originates from the fact that the cell density on the films in the medium containing 5 mM aspirin was the lowest under these conditions. It is suggested that CW2 cells produce CEA more effectively when the cell growth is suppressed by addition of toxic chemicals such as aspirin or by culture on unfavorable films for cell growth.

[Clinical evaluation of hydroxyapatite-coated titanium artificial tooth root]

The present study was aimed at evaluating the clinical usefulness of a new type of dental implant, one piece-type artificial root made of a titanic core coated with HAp by plasma-spray coating. A total of 227 artificial roots were implanted in 78 healthy subjects (44 females, 34 males) ranging in age from 17 to 74 years. Each of them was examined on several given occasions by both radiography and a method used in periodontal disease screening. Prognostic observation lasted up to 4 years and 3 months. No implants were rejected in 77 subjects, although marked mobility of the implants resulted in their withdrawal in 1 subject (2 implants). They were functioning favorably during the study period, affording great satisfaction to the subjects. No side effects were found in any of the subjects excluding one case of oral lichen planus in which the presence of a direct cause-effect relation remained unclear. From the above results, we conclude that this new type of artificial root is of extremely high clinical use.

[Clinical efficacy of fosfomycin in the treatment of orofacial infections]

In this study, the clinical efficacy of fosfomycin (FOM) for various types of orofacial infections was evaluated in 40 patients, 27 males and 13 females, ranging in age from 16 to 71 years. All but 1 patients were treated orally with FOM at 500 mg 4 times daily. The total duration of treatment varied from 3 to 31 days. Basically, clinical effectiveness was determined by the criteria of Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Two cases, in which the final therapeutic evaluation could not be obtained because of side effects, were excluded from the analysis. The results were rated as excellent in 7, good in 26 and poor in 5 out of 38 evaluable cases, with an efficacy rate reaching 86.8%. From the clinical standpoint, the differences of efficacy were further discussed in terms of phase, type and intensity of infections respectively. In 9 (10 times) of 40 cases, the bacteriological analyses could be made. The identification of organisms obtained from abscess in each case demonstrated mixed infections caused by both aerobic and anaerobic organisms in more than half cases. From their sensitivity tests, it should be pointed out that FOM was efficiently active against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive organisms, while it was ineffective for the anaerobic Gram-negative organism, Bacteroides, although the role of the latter generally remained still obscure in orofacial infection. No serious side effects were observed except for mild diarrhea in 3 patients and a slight elevation of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) level in 1 patient. This study conclusively demonstrated that FOM was a useful and safe antibiotic in the treatment of patients with various orofacial infections.

[Clinical use of cefroxadine in dentistry and oral surgery]

Cefroxadine (CXD) is an orally administered synthesized cephalosporin antibiotic developed by Ciba-Geigy Limited (Switzerland) in 1972. We have studied the clinical effectiveness of this drug in a total of 45 cases of various types of infections in the dentistry and the oral surgery. The studies resulted in showing 18 markedly effective cases, 19 effective cases, 5 slightly effective cases, 1 ineffective case, and 2 unknown cases showing an effective rate of 82.2%. Side effects manifested in 2 cases, of which 1 case was considered to be attributable to CXD, and the occurrence frequency of side effects was as low as 2.2%. In bacteriological test, there were many cases of mixed infections by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and these infections were those which are observed in high frequency in dentistry and oral surgery infections. As a result of an overall evaluation of CXD clinical effects, the drug considered to be an antibiotic which is highly useful in dentistry and oral surgery.

Ultrastructural studies of human gingiva. V. Microfibrils of elastic nature and their direct penetration of the basal lamina in chronic periodontitis

In this study, microfibrils widely distributed in the connective tissue of the gingival wall of periodontal pockets were examined by electron microscopy, Theirdistribution, ultrastructural characteristics, close association with fibroblasts and direct communication with the basal lamina were shown. The microfibrils in our specimens were observed in three different groupings (Types A, B, and C). They were believedto represent different stages of maturation of elastic fibera. There was a striking ultrastructural resemblance between oxytalan microfibrils, and the immature or imcompletetype of elastic fiber shown in this report.