Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a significant cause of cancer-related deaths. A previous study showed that combination therapy with high-dose radiotherapy and an anti-CTLA-4 antibody (C4) enhanced distant anti-tumor effects, referred to as the abscopal effect. Hyperthermia (HT) enhances the anti-tumor effects in combination with radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy. However, the local and abscopal effects of RT with HT combined with C4 therapy for PDAC remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether combination therapy with HT, RT, and C4 is an effective therapeutic strategy for PDAC. Murine PDAC cells were inoculated into both legs of C57BL/6 mice, and the mice were treated only one leg with HT and/or RT. C4 was administered intraperitoneally every 3 days for a total of three doses. According to in vitro experiments, the radiosensitizing effect of HT was approximately 23%. In vivo experiments, no radiosensitizing or abscopal effect of HT to 10 Gy of RT was obtained, and the same results were observed when C4 was used in combination. However, the dose escalation to 14 Gy with HT and C4 induced the abscopal effect. These results suggest that the radiosensitizing effect of HT plays a role not only at local sites, but also at abscopal sites via C4. Further studies using more focal and high-temperature HT (eg; magnetic nanomaterial-based HT) may unveil enhanced therapeutic efficacy and safety.

We have reported that oral care tablets (Rifrele) containing three types of phytochemicals inhibit the growth of early colonizing bacteria (cariogenic bacteria) that form dental plaque in vitro. In this study, we investigated whether Rifrele affects the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g.) in vitro. Four different concentrations of Rifrele were added to P. g. that had been anaerobically cultured at 37˚C for one week. As a result, the number of colonies formed 30 minutes after addition changed. The viable bacterial count increased in the group without Rifrele and in the group with Rifrele added at 25 mg/mL. In contrast, the viable bacterial count decreased in the groups with Rifrele added at 50 mg/mL, 100 mg/mL, and 200 mg/mL. The viable bacterial count was lowest in the group with Rifrele added at 200 mg/mL. The reduction rate of viable cell count was highest in the group where Rifrele was added at 200 mg/mL. It was shown that Rifrele affects the growth of P. g., and it was suggested that high concentrations of Rifrele suppress the growth of P. g. after 30 minutes of incubation.

Although the number of extracted cells from dental pulp (DPCs) is small and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are fewer, MSCs are ideal for dentine regeneration on tooth defects. A dexamethasone (Dex) based mixture (Dex-based mixture) is an excellent factor to promote bone or dentine formation by MSCs. However, it might be required to enhance the effects. Then, immunosuppressive effect of Dex was focused. And, it was examined that transferrin (Tf), which involved in immune responses, would enhance the effects of Dex-based mixture for dentinogenesis.

The suspensions of DPCs from mandibular incisors of rats (rDPCs) were poured into 6 well culture plates. Tf was added to the medium in subculture of rDPCs containing Dex-based mixture. Quantity of Ca²⁺ from mineralized nodules and level of alkaline phosphatase activity were measured in the culture. Statistical analysis of these results was performed using Dunnett’s test.

Tf added to medium without Dex did not increase the amount of mineralized nodules by rDPCs. The level of Ca²⁺ was low. The quantity of mineralized nodules by rDPCs increased in medium with Dex-based mixture and Tf. The role of Tf to enhance the effects of Dex was shown. The results of measured quantity of Ca²⁺ shown that Tf does not act directly on rDPCs, it simply enhanced the effects of Dex.

Tf added to the medium with Dex-based mixture in subculture of rDPCs increased mineralized nodule aggregates formation. Tf act as a co-factor of Dex and enhance the effect in vitro for dentine formation by DPCs.

The microplastic accumulate in large quantities in the ocean, raising serious environmental issues. There are concerns about the impact that chemicals may have on the ecosystem if they are absorbed into the food chain. Recently, light-cured composite resins have been widely used in dental caries treatment. These wear debris enter the body's digestive and respiratory systems. In recent years, dental composite resins have naturally worn away from the teeth, and polishing powder has been generated during dental treatment. Polishing and grinding powder is also dispersed by dental air turbines. There is concern that these various powders may enter the human digestive and respiratory systems.

Gold leaf flakes are considered to pass through the body and be excreted without reaction with digestive juices, such as gastric acid. However, gold leaf particles are likely to stay in the human digestive tract for a long time. If it stays in the digestive tract for a long time, the possibility to cause chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis in the digestive organ cannot be ruled out.