Hyaluronic acid enhances cell migration, viability, and mineralized tissue-specific genes in cementoblasts.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES It has been repeatedly demonstrated that cementum formation is a crucial step in periodontal regeneration. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important component of the extracellular matrix which regulates cells functions and cell-cell communication. Hyaluronic acid/derivatives have been used in regenerative periodontal therapy, but the cellular effects of HA are still unknown. To investigate the effects of HA on cementoblast functions, cell viability, migration, mineralization, differentiation, and mineralized tissue-associated genes and cementoblast-specific markers of the cementoblasts were tested. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cementoblasts (OCCM-30) were treated with various dilutions (0, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, 1:128) of HA and examined for cell viability, migration, mineralization, and gene expressions. The mRNA expressions of osteocalcin (OCN), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone sialoprotein (BSP), collagen type I (COL-I), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cementum protein-1 (CEMP-1), cementum attachment protein (CAP), and small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) -1, 2, 3, 6, 7, β-catenin (Ctnnb1) were performed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Total RNA was isolated on days 3 and 8, and cell viability was determined using MTT assay on days 1 and 3. The cell mineralization was evaluated by von Kossa staining on day 8. Cell migration was assessed 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours following exposure to HA dilutions using an in vitro wound healing assay (0, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8). RESULTS At dilution of 1:2 to 1:128, HA importantly increased cell viability (p < .01). HA at a dilution of 1/2 increased wound healing rates after 4 h compared to the other dilutions and the untreated control group. Increased numbers of mineralized nodules were determined at dilutions of 1:2, 1:4, and 1:8 compared with control group. mRNA expressions of mineralized tissue marker including COL-I, BSP, RunX2, ALP, and OCN significantly improved by HA treatments compared with control group both on 3 days and on 8 days (p < .01). Smad 2, Smad 3, Smad 7, and β-catenin (Ctnnb1) mRNAs were up-regulated, while Smad1 and Smad 6 were not affected by HA administration. Additionally, HA at dilutions of 1:2, 1:4, and 1:8 remarkably enhanced CEMP-1 and CAP expressions in a dilution- and time-dependent manner (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS The present results have demonstrated that HA affected the expression of both mineralized tissue markers and cementoblast-specific genes. Positive effects of HA on the cementoblast functions demonstrated that HA application may play a key role in cementum regeneration

A Study on Teaching Information Literacy Skills to Teachers Öğretmenlere Bilgi Okuryazarlığı Becerilerinin Kazandırılması Üzerine Bir Çalışma

Teaching information literacy skills to the individuals of information society has a great importance. In this paper, necessity of equipping primary and secondary school teachers with information literacy skills is discussed. A study to teach information literacy skills to teachers and the findings of the study will also be introduced. Bilgi toplumunun bireylerine bilgi okuryazarlığı becerilerinin öğretilmesi büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu yazıda, ilköğretim ve ortaöğretim öğretmenlerinin bilgi okuryazarlığı becerileriyle donatılmalarının gerekliliği tartışılmaktadır. Öğretmenlere bilgi okuryazarlığı becerilerini kazandırmaya yönelik bir çalışma ile bu çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular da aktarılacaktır

Information Literacy: A Study Applied in a Primary School Bilgi Okuryazarlığı: Bir İlköğretim Okulunda Yürütülen Uygulama Çalışması

An information society needs individuals who have lifelong learning skills. Information literacy, the ability to find and use information, is the keystone of lifelong learning. Therefore, teaching information literacy skills to students and integrating it into the school curriculum have a great importance. In this paper, planning and pilot study steps of an applied study to teach information literacy skills in a primary school to 6th grade students and the findings of the pilot study are introduced. Bilgi toplumları, yaşamboyu öğrenme becerilerine sahip bireylere ihtiyaç duymaktadır. Bilgiye ulaşma ve bilgiyi kullanma becerisi olarak tanımlanan bilgi okuryazarlığı, yaşamboyu öğrenmenin temel taşıdır. Bu nedenle bilgi okuryazarlığı becerilerinin öğrencilere erken yaşlarda kazandırılması ve okul programlarının bir parçası haline getirilmesi büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu yazıda bir ilköğretim okulunda 6. sınıf öğrencilerine bilgi okuryazarlığı becerilerini kazandırmak amacıyla yürütülen uygulamanın planlama ve pilot çalışma aşamaları ve pilot çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular aktarılacaktır

Evaluation of the dyeing and fastness properties of wool fabrics treated by chitosan in different molecular weights and dyed with mint

C1 [Arik, Buket; Dikkal, Idil; Karacan, Sibel] Pamukkale Univ, Fac Engn, Text Engn Dept, Denizli, Turkey.Chitosan solutions were prepared by dissolving chitosan polymers, which were provided in three different molecular weight as low, medium and high, in acetic acid solution and were applied to wool fabrics. After chitosan treatment, the half of the samples were dyed with dried mint by mordanting with potassiumaluminumsulphate and another half of the samples were dyed with dried mint without mordanting. In addition, mordanted and unmordanted dyeing processes were also applied to the samples that were not treated by chitosan for comparison. Following the dyeing processes, the color values of the samples were measured via spectrophotometer by selecting the wool sample dyed with mint only as a reference. Then, the samples were exposed to washing, rubbing and light fastness tests and evaluated. Moreover, the color values of the samples after washing were measured again in order to determine the effect of washing process to color yield. From the results, it was observed that wool samples dyed with mint were in yellow and green colors and chitosan treatment had positive effects on color yield. Mordanting process caused for the wool samples to be in yellower color shades and to significant changes in color yield. Washing process decreased the color yield in all samples. Rubbing and light fastness values were found to be in acceptable limits for natural dyeing. On the other hand, chitosan treatment in different molecular weights was not found to be significant but generally medium molecular weight chitosan resulted in the most available one

The interfacial free energy of solid Sn on the boundary interface with liquid Cd-Sn eutectic solution

Equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes for solid Sn in equilibrium with Cd-Sn liquid were directly observed after annealing a sample at the eutectic temperature for about 8 days. The thermal conductivities of the solid phase, KS, and the liquid phase, K(L), for the groove shapes were measured. From the observed groove shapes, the Gibbs-Thomson coefficients were obtained with a numerical method, using the measured G, K(S) and K(L) values. The solid-liquid interfacial energy of solid Sn in equilibrium with Cd-Sn liquid was determined from the Gibbs-Thomson equation. The grain boundary energy for solid Sn was also calculated from the observed groove shapes

Combined thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair and off-pump coronary artery surgery

WOS: 000171930500014PubMed ID: 11605147Off-pump coronary revascularization using local stabilizing devices and less invasive methods are getting more interest with good results. To our knowledge we report the first operation of which concomitant coronary revascularization using "Octopus'" device and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair has been done without extracorporeal circulation with successful outcome. Repair of the aorta and patency of the descending aorta to coronary saphenous bypass graft were showed with angiography at postoperative 6 month