Periodontal Disease: Early Progress Reported in Tissue Engineering
Scientists have long known that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has the potential to help regenerate the lost bone and soft tissue that occurs with advanced periodontal, or gum, disease. The problem always has been finding a way to administer PDGF that prevents scissor-like enzymes in the wound from snipping the growth factor to pieces and degrading it before complete regeneration can occur. more...
May 4, 2004
Scientists Identify Candidate Genes in Tumor Regression
cientists discovered several years ago that interleukin-12, a protein that immune cells secrete in response to an invading pathogen, can also alert disease-fighting T cells to recognize, attack, and remember tumor cells for months to come. But as researchers have developed Il-12 as a possible treatment for cancer, they have found the protein or its gene is most effective when injected directly into tumors, not infused into the bloodstream. more...
May 3, 2004
Animal Studies Show Promise Treating Severe Chronic Pain
Researchers may be on the trail of a new and more targeted treatment for severe chronic pain. In the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, a team of scientists established in a series of animal studies the therapeutic potential of selectively deleting specific nerve cells from the nervous system that convey severe chronic pain. more...
Scientists Discover
Unique Source of Postnatal Stem Cells
Scientists report for the first time that "baby" teeth, the temporary
teeth that children begin losing around their sixth birthday, contain a
rich supply of stem cells in their dental pulp. more..
March 27 , 2003
Scientists Report Important
New Data in Adult Stem Cell Debate Developmental biologists have long
maintained that adult stem cells cannot be reprogrammed. Once a stem cell
commits to a specific tissue, such as the brain, it can’t turn back
its biological clock and become blood, bone, or any other type of adult
stem cell. more..
October 17 , 2002
Scientists Turn Early
Fat Cells into Bone Cells in the Laboratory
In the 1970s, researchers discovered that adult progenitor cells in the
bone marrow can differentiate into a variety of different cell tissue types,
such as bone, fat, or cartilage. With this finding, scientists also began
to wonder: Once a progenitor cell has committed initially to become a fat
cell, for instance, is it possible to influence the cell to turn back and
become another cell type instead? more...
October 16 , 2002
Scientists Decipher Genome
Sequence of S.Mutans
Scientists have deciphered the complete genome sequence of Streptococcus
mutans, the main organism implicated in causing tooth decay. The scientists
have made each piece of sequencing data freely available online during the
course of the four-year project. Supported by the National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the sequencing project was carried
out by researchers at the University of Oklahoma. more...
October 1 , 2002
Scientists Identify Key
Gene Involved in Cleft Lip and Palate
Scientists report in this month's Nature Genetics they have discovered
the gene that causes Van der Woude syndrome, the most common of the syndromic
forms of cleft lip and palate. The term "syndromic" means
babies are born with cleft lip and palate, in addition to other birth defects.
more...
July 1, 2002
Scientists Report New
Resin Matrix Passes Initial Tests
Scientists report in this month's issue of the journal Dental Materials
that two synthetic molecules designed in their laboratory to improve the
durability of composite fillings had acceptable strength and good biocompatibity
during initial tests. more...
June 4, 2002
Scientists
Extend Life Span of Adult Bone Marrow Stromal Stem Cells
Scientists report for the first time that under laboratory conditions they
have more than doubled the life span of adult stem cells from the bone marrow,
while also enhancing their natural ability to form new bone and possibly
cartilage. more...
National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892-2190
e-mail: nidcrinfo@mail.nih.gov
phone: 301/496-4261
