Periodontal Tissue Regeneration Using Fibroblast Growth Factor -2: Randomized Controlled Phase II Clinical Trial

Background: The options for medical use of signaling molecules as stimulators of tissue regeneration are currently limited. Preclinical evidence suggests that fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 can promote periodontal regeneration. This study aimed to clarify the activity of FGF-2 in stimulating regeneration of periodontal tissue lost by periodontitis and to evaluate the safety of such stimulation. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used recombinant human FGF-2 with 3% hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) as vehicle and conducted a randomized double-blinded controlled trial involving 13 facilities. Subjects comprised 74 patients displaying a 2- or 3-walled vertical bone defect as measured ?3 mm apical to the bone crest. Patients were randomly assigned to 4 groups: Group P, given HPC with no FGF-2; Group L, given HPC containing 0.03% FGF-2; Group M, given HPC cotaining 0.1% FGF-2; and Group H, given HPC Containing 0.3% FGF-2. Each patient underwent flap operation during which we administered 200 μL of the appropriate investigational drug to the bone defect. Before and for 36 weeks following administration, patients underwent periodontal tissue inspections and standardized radiography of the region under investigation. As a result, a significant difference (p = 0.021) in rate of increase in alveolar bone height was identified between Group P (23.92%) and Group H (58.62%) at 36 weeks. The linear increase in alveolar bone height at 36 weeks in Group P and H was 0.95 mm and 1.85 mm, respectively (p = 0.132). No serious adverse events attribute to the investigational drug were identified. Conclusions: Although no statistically significant differences were noted for gains in clinical attachment level and alveolar bone gain for FGF-2 groups versus Group P, the significant difference in rate of increase in alveolar bone height (p = 0.021) between Groups P and H at 36 weeks suggests that some efficacy could be expected from FGF-2 in stimulating regeneration of periodontal tissue in patients with periodontitis

Involvement of Girdin in the Determination of Cell Polarity during Cell Migration

Cell migration is a critical cellular process that determines embryonic development and the progression of human diseases. Therefore, cell- or context-specific mechanisms by which multiple promigratory proteins differentially regulate cell migration must be analyzed in detail. Girdin (girders of actin filaments) (also termed GIV, Gα-interacting vesicle associated protein) is an actin-binding protein that regulates migration of various cells such as endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, neuroblasts, and cancer cells. Here we show that Girdin regulates the establishment of cell polarity, the deregulation of which may result in the disruption of directional cell migration. We found that Girdin interacts with Par-3, a scaffolding protein that is a component of the Par protein complex that has an established role in determining cell polarity. RNA interference-mediated depletion of Girdin leads to impaired polarization of fibroblasts and mammary epithelial cells in a way similar to that observed in Par-3-depleted cells. Accordingly, the expression of Par-3 mutants unable to interact with Girdin abrogates cell polarization in fibroblasts. Further biochemical analysis suggests that Girdin is present in the Par protein complex that includes Par-3, Par-6, and atypical protein kinase C. Considering previous reports showing the role of Girdin in the directional migration of neuroblasts, network formation of endothelial cells, and cancer invasion, these data may provide a specific mechanism by which Girdin regulates cell movement in biological contexts that require directional cell movement

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

農場から食卓までの青果物の微生物的安全性

On-farm food safety program such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) has been recommended in the United States, because fresh produce can become contaminated with microorganisms along the farm-to-table food chain and can be the source for foodborne pathogens. However, a more intensive and extensive research studies are needed to establish and implement a validated GAP program for all produce in Japan. Our research showed that the microbial count was basically higher on vegetables than on fruits, and approximately 80％ of the total isolates were bacteria in vegetables and molds in fruits. Most of the bacteria and molds isolated from produce are phytopathogenic and soilborne organisms. The on-farm sources of microbial contamination are from soil, fertilizer, agricultural water, pesticide solution, and humans at the preharvest level and soil, agricultural and rinse waters, packing shed equipment, and humans at the postharvest level. To better understand the interaction of environmental conditions and various treatments in reducing and regulating spoilage and human pathogens, we have researched preharvest treatments including chlorination of agricultural water and ethyl alcohol spraying on packing shed equipment, postharvest treatments including chemical disinfectants with electrolyzed water and ozonated water for fresh produce, and packaging technologies including active modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of high CO_2 during storage and distribution. These procedures will be effective in establishing a scientific baseline for designing and improving food safety guidelines that will control microbial quality and assure safety of fresh produce in Japan. (和文) 青果物は農場から食卓までの間に微生物汚染を受け、食性疾患の原因となる可能性がある。米国では、農場の食品安全プログラムである適正農業規範(GAP)が推奨されている。しかし、日本では、青果物に有効なGAPプログラムを確立して実施するには、さらに広く深い微生物的研究が必要である。野菜と果実では、野菜のほうが果実よりも付着微生物は多く、微生物叢の約80％を野菜では細菌、果実ではカビが占める。これらの付着微生物は、植物病原菌および土壌由来菌が中心である。農場における栽培中の微生物汚染源は、土壌、肥料、農業用水、農薬およびヒトであり、収穫後の微生物汚染源として、土壌、農業用水と洗浄水、収穫と出荷用具およびヒトが挙げられる。安全性を確立するためには、これらの青果物を取り巻く環境から微生物(腐敗原因菌と食性病原菌)汚染を防ぐための技術が要求される。筆者らは、収穫前では農業用水の塩素殺菌と収穫用具のエタノール消毒、収穫後では電解水やオゾン水を利用した青果物の化学的殺菌、さらに貯蔵・流通中では高二酸化炭素を充填したフィルム包装技術(MAP)を検討してきた。これらの微生物制御技術は、日本における青果物の衛生管理法として、科学的技術に基づくGAPの確立と発展に役立つものと期待される

Microbiology and Quality Attributes of ‘Pione’ Grapes Stored in Passive and Active MAP

The quality of ‘Pione’ grapes was evaluated during passive and active modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) storage. In the passive MAP study, ‘Pione’ grapes were packaged in two types of films with an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of either 440 mL/m2/d/atm (low OTR) or 1250 mL/m2/d/atm (high OTR) and stored at 25 °C or 10 °C. When the CO2 concentration in low and high-OTR films stored at 25 °C reached 10% and 3%, respectively, on day 2, grape berries showed lower bacterial counts in the low-OTR films than in the high-OTR films. At 10 °C, the packages approached an equilibrium of 12% CO2 in low-OTR films and 7% CO2 in high-OTR films during 8 days of storage, and no difference was observed in the bacterial counts between the two films. In an active MAP study, ‘Pione’ grapes were stored in low-OTR (440 mL/m2/d/atm) and high-OTR (1170 mL/m2/d/atm) films flushed with air or high CO2 (10%, 20%, and 30%) at 10 °C for 8 days. The CO2 concentration in active MAP with low-OTR films reached approximately 20% by the end of storage, while that with high-OTR films approached an equilibrium of 10% CO2 after 4 days of storage. The bacterial counts remained below the limit of detection until 4 days of storage in active MAP with high-OTR films. Although the fungal counts of berries were non-detectable or below the limit of detection in all active MAPs, Alternaria and Candida fungi and Chryseobacterium and Cutibacterium bacteria were found in the berries stored in active MAP. The firmness, soluble solid content, and surface color of the berries were not affected, regardless of the film type, in both passive and active MAP, and rachis browning due to high-CO2 injury was not observed in any samples in active MAP. These results indicate that passive MAP with low-OTR films or active MAP of 10–20% CO2 with high-OTR films at 10 °C were the optimum packing systems for ‘Pione’ grapes to control the physical and microbiological quality without high-CO2 injury, such as rachis browning

Paddy Distribution system and the Commercial Capital in Rice Production Area in Thailand

商業資本の機能は、基本的機能と副次的機能に大別できる。基本的機能は、需給の整合と売買の接合という流通過程に与えられた社会的役割を果たすためのものであり、副次的機能はそれを補う機能である。農産物取扱商業資本の場合、農産物の商品としての独自性から、この2つの機能が独立して行われることは少なく、特に発展途上地域においてはその分離が困難となる。また発展途上地域の社会環境では、機能は本来の役割とともに「前期的」性格をもちやすい。タイでは社会環境の整備が進み、籾市場における商業資本の機能から「前期的」性格が払拭されつつあり、商業資本は機能本来の役割の遂行に存立基盤を移している。この変化は産地集荷市場の形成によって体現されているといえよう。The purpose of this paper is to examine the change in paddy distribution system in Thailand, with a special attention to the functions of commercial capital in the assembly stage. The functions of commercial capital can be classified into two in main groups; fundamental and subsidiary. Their fundamental function is to unite supply with demand, both in value and value in use. It can be appeared as acts of commercial capital, such as buying for selling and assembling for dispersion. Subsidiary function includes transporting, storing, standardizing, financing and risk-taking. For the commercial capital dealing with agricultural products, these two groups of functions are closely related. In the developing economies, especially, it is almost impossible to separate them. Thus, it remains a chance for commercial capital to be unjust in transaction. In a case of paddy market in Thailand, the distribution channels of paddy have become diversified with the expansion of market. The functions of commercial capital dealing with paddy, however, has become more simple and justified by the development of social surroundings, e. g. motorization in rural area, generalization of market information, complicated standardization and indirect intervention of government. This transformation on their functions is embodied in the formation of assembly market in producing area (than khao ptuak and talaat claartg khao Pluck)

Calcium treatments to maintain quality of zucchini squash slices J. Food Sci

ABSTRACT MATERIALS & METHODS Zucchini squash slices dipped in solutions of CaCl, alone or with chlorine were stored at O'C, 5"C, and 10°C. Slices developed water soaked areas (chilling injury) at 0°C and brown discoloration at 5°C and 10°C, which increased with storage. The amount and severity of chilling injury/browning/decay of water-dipped controls were least at 5°C. Calcium treatments helped in reducing development of decay, rate of total microbial growth, ascorbic acid loss, and shear force decrease of slices stored at 0°C and 10°C but not at 5°C. Addition of chlorine to CaCl, seemed to have some benefits at 0°C or 10°C. Sample preparatio