Recent studies have suggested that cementoblasts may be derived from osteoblast progenitor cells, although the cementoblast phenotype has not been extensively characterized. This immunocytochemical study was carried out to investigate the expression by rat cementoblasts of a number of proteins which are characteristic of the osteoblast phenotype. Paraffin sections from developing rat tooth germs and from fully formed adult rat teeth with surrounding tissues, were incubated with antibodies to type I & III collagen, osteocalcin, transforming growth factor β(TGEβ), and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGFI). Frozen sections and unfixed resin‐embedded sections were stained for alkaline phosphatase activity. Cementum and bone matrix were strongly positive for type I collagen, although there was only weak staining for type III collagen. Cementum was also positive for osteocalcin, which was particularly strong in the matrix of acellular cementum. Most osteoblasts and cementoblasts of the cellular cementum showed intense staining for TGIβ and IGFI, although some cementocytes and osteocytes were negatively stained. The osteoblast‐specific anti‐EII mAb reacted strongly with cementoblasts and newly formed cementocytes in the cellular cementum. Cells associated with acellular cementum did not express TGFβ, IGFI or stain positively with anti‐EII antibody at any time during root development. Cementoblasts were weakly or negatively stained for alkaline phosphatase in contrast to the osteoblasts examined, which may reflect the low level of synthetic activity in cementoblasts. These results demonstrate that osteoblasts and cementoblasts of cellular cementum share many phenotypic characteristics, and also suggest that there may be phenotypic differences between cementoblasts associated with cellular and acellular cementum.

Introduction:The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with worse outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Little is known about this association in the pediatric population who require surgery for congenital heart defects, especially in patients with a single ventricle (SV).Objective: To analyze the association of the preoperative NLR with outcomes in patients undergoing the bidirectional Glenn procedure.Methods: This study involved a retrospective cohort analysis of 141 consecutive patients with SV undergoing the bidirectional Glenn procedure between January 2011 and December 2017 in two centers. The preoperative NLR was included in the last hemogram test before surgery. According to the NLR level, the patients were divided into group I (NLR < 1), group II (NLR between 1 and 2), and group III (NLR > 2).The primary endpoint was total hospital length of stay (LOS), and secondary endpoints were mechanical ventilation (MV) time, intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, ventricular dysfunction, complications, and middle-term mortality.Results: The average follow-up duration was 48 months. There were 61, 47, and 33 patients in groups I, II, and III, respectively. Patients in group III exhibited an increased risk of prolonged total hospital LOS (P = .00). An increase in MV time (P = .03) and ICU LOS (P = .02) was also observed in this group, and these patients experienced greater mortality in 24 months following the surgery (P = .03). There was no association between the NLR and ventricular dysfunction (P = .26) and complications (P = .46). Conclusion:A high preoperative NLR was associated with worse outcomes in patients with SV physiology undergoing the bidirectional Glenn procedure. K E Y W O R D Sbidirectional Glenn procedure, congenital heart disease, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, single-ventricle physiology

Biglycan and decorin are small leucine-rich proteoglycans that play several biological and structural roles in different tissues and organs. Several reports have indicated that biglycan participates in odontoblast and ameloblast differentiation and in the calcification process. In the present study we show that the expression of biglycan changes from within the ameloblasts and odontoblasts to the extracellular space according to the stage of animal development. In predentin and in the pulp space, however, biglycan was continually expressed throughout the period of investigation. In contrast, decorin was absent in odontoblasts and in ameloblasts and was exclusively expressed in predentin throughout the period of observation. In young rats, however, decorin was expressed in the extracellular spaces of the pulp, where it was concentrated mainly in the peripheral pulp. Correspondence

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