Relationship between periodontal inflammation and calcium channel blockers induced gingival overgrowth—a cross-sectional study in a Japanese population

Abstract

Objectives

Periodontal inflammation is regarded as a risk factor for drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO). In order to elucidate the involvement of periodontal inflammation in DIGO, the periodontal status of subjects who do not develop DIGO despite receiving causative drugs (non-responders) needs to be examined. Therefore, the aim of the present study which was a pilot study was to assess periodontal inflammatory variables in responders (calcium channel blocker induced-GO patients), non-responders, and patients who did not receive causative drugs (non-consumers).

Materials and methods

The following parameters were measured: (1) existence of gingival overgrowth, (2) number of teeth, (3) mean periodontal pocket depth (PPD), and (4) percentage of positive sites for bleeding on probing (BOP). The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and periodontal epithelial surface area (PESA) and the PISA/PESA ratio which indicated the degree of periodontal inflammation in each patient were also used to evaluate periodontal inflammation.

Results

Thirteen responders, 32 non-responders, and 83 non-consumers were included in the analyses. The mean PPD, percentage of BOP, PESA, and PISA, and the PISA/PESA ratio were significantly higher in responders than in non-responders and non-consumers (p < 0.01). The BOP, PISA, and PISA/PESA ratio were significantly lower in non-responders than in non-consumers (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between PPD and age in non-consumers. On the other hand, a negative correlation was noted between PPD and age in non-responders.

Conclusions

Periodontal inflammation may be associated with the initiation of DIGO.

Clinical relevance

It could be speculated that periodontal therapy before the administration of calcium channel blockers may prevent the development of gingival overgrowth.

http://bit.ly/2TRjmIe

Do electrical current and laser therapies improve bone remodeling during an orthodontic treatment with corticotomy?

Abstract

Objectives

Evaluate the bone remodeling during orthodontic movement with corticotomy when submitted to low-intensity electrical stimulation application (microcurrent—MC) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT).

Material and methods

One hundred and fifty Wistar rats were divided into the following 5 groups: (C) submitted to tooth movement; (Cort) tooth movement/corticotomy; (Cort-L) tooth movement/corticotomy/laser AsGaAl 808 nm (4.96J/50s); (Cort-Mc) tooth movement/corticotomy/microcurrent (10 μA/5 min); (Cort-L-Mc) tooth movement/corticotomy and laser/microcurrent alternated. Inflammation, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis were evaluated in the periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days of orthodontic movement.

Results

The quantification of inflammatory infiltrate, angiogenesis and expression of TGF-β1, VEGF, and collagen type I were favorably modulated by the application of therapies such as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), MC, or both combined. However, electrical stimulation increased fibroblasts, osteoclasts and RANK numbers, birefringent collagen fiber organization, and BMP-7 and IL-6 expression.

Conclusions

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and MC application both improved the process of bone remodeling during orthodontic treatment with corticotomy. Still, electrical current therapy promoted a more effective tooth displacement but presented expected root resorption similar to all experimental treatments.

Clinical relevance

It is important to know the effects of minimally invasive therapies on cellular and molecular elements involved in the bone remodeling of orthodontic treatment associated with corticotomy surgery, in order to reduce the adverse effects in the use of this technique and to establish a safer clinical routine.

http://bit.ly/2BCMRGS

Intestinal barrier dysfunction following traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause non-neurological injuries to other organs such as the intestine. Newer studies have shown that paracellular hyperpermeability is the basis of intestinal barrier dysfunction following TBI. Ischemia–reperfusion injury, inflammatory response, abnormal release of neurotransmitters and hormones, and malnutrition contribute to TBI-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction. Several interventions that may protect intestinal barrier function and promote the recovery of TBI have been proposed, but relevant studies are still limited. This review is to clarify the established mechanisms of intestinal barrier dysfunction following TBI and to describe the possible strategies to reduce or prevent intestinal barrier dysfunction.

http://bit.ly/2tn4y8I

Benito’s neuralgia: the first description of the occipital neuralgia was made for Spanish doctors at the beginning of the nineteenth century

Abstract

Background

The occipital neuralgia affects 3 out of every 100,000 people and includes the neuralgia of the greater occipital nerve (GON) and the neuralgia of the minor and third occipital nerves. These nerves emerge from the posterior branches of the first cervical roots, innervate the muscles of the nape, and provide the sensitivity of the scalp. The most frequent issue is not to find causes that justify neuralgia for what is usually idiopathic. The nerve that most often causes neuralgia is the GON that is usually wrongly called Arnold's nerve, so neuralgia is also called Arnold's neuralgia.

Methods

We have reviewed the first description of occipital neuralgia.

Results

Two Spanish doctors, José Benito Lentijo and Mateo Martínez Ramos, had already described in detail the neuralgia of the GON before Arnold was born. The first clinical case of occipital neuralgia due to GON involvement was published by them in a Spanish medical journal in 1821, and they called it cervico-suboccipital neuralgia.

Conclusion

We claim in this article the role of these two Spanish doctors in the history of Neurology.

http://bit.ly/2GJ058d

Reductive soil disinfestation effectively alleviates the replant failure of Sanqi ginseng through allelochemical degradation and pathogen suppression

Abstract

Replant failure has threatened the production of Sanqi ginseng (Panax notoginseng) mainly due to the accumulation of soil-borne pathogens and allelochemicals. Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is an effective practice used to eliminate soil-borne pathogens; however, the potential impact of RSD on the degradation of allelochemicals and the growth of replant Sanqi ginseng seedlings remain poorly understood. In this study, RSD was conducted on a Sanqi ginseng monoculture system (SGMS) and a maize-Sanqi ginseng system (MSGS), defined as SGMS_RSD and MSGS_RSD, respectively. The aim was to investigate the impact of RSD on allelochemicals, soil microbiomes, and survival rates of replant seedlings. Both short-term maize planting and RSD treatment significantly degraded the ginsenosides in Sanqi ginseng–cultivated soils, with the degradation rate being higher in the RSD treatment. The population of Fusarium oxysporum and the relative abundance of genus Fusarium were dramatically suppressed by RSD treatment. Furthermore, the RSD treatment, but not maize planting, markedly alleviated the replant failure of Sanqi ginseng, with the seedling survival rate being 52.7–70.7% 6 months after transplanting. Interestingly, RSD followed by short-term maize planting promoted microbial activity restoration, ginsenoside degradation, and ultimately alleviated the replant failure much better than RSD treatment alone (70.7% vs. 52.7%). Collectively, these results indicate that RSD treatment could considerably reduce the obstacles and might also act as a potential agriculture regime for overcoming the replant failure of Sanqi ginseng. Additional practices, such as crop rotation, beneficial microorganism inoculation, etc. may also still be needed to ensure the long-term efficacy of seedling survival.

http://bit.ly/2SyKfUM

Engineering the effector specificity of regulatory proteins for the in vitro detection of biomarkers and pesticide residues

Abstract

Transcriptional regulatory proteins (TRPs)-based whole-cell biosensors are promising owing to their specificity and sensitivity, but their applications are currently limited. Herein, TRPs were adapted for the extracellular detection of a disease biomarker, uric acid, and a typical pesticide residue, carbaryl. A mutant regulatory protein that specifically recognizes carbaryl as its non-natural effector and activates transcription upon carbaryl binding was developed by engineering the regulatory protein TtgR from Pseudomonas putida. The TtgR mutant responsive to carbaryl and a regulatory protein responsive to uric acid were used for in vitro detection, based on their allosteric binding of operator DNA and inducer molecules. Based on the quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCRs) output, the minimum detectable concentration was between 1 nM–1 μM and 1–10 nM for uric acid and carbaryl, respectively. Our results demonstrated that engineering the effector specificity of regulatory proteins is a potential technique for generating molecular recognition elements for not only in vivo but also in vitro applications.

http://bit.ly/2DFF6jJ

The benefit of surveillance imaging for paediatric cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma

Abstract

Objectives

Paediatric cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas (PA) (WHO grade 1) are amongst the most common of childhood brain tumours and are generally amenable to resection, with surgery alone being curative in the majority of cases. There is, however, a lack of consensus regarding the frequency and duration of post-treatment MRI surveillance for these tumours. This is important, as follow-up imaging is a significant use of resources and often associated with patient and family anxiety. We have assessed the utility of MRI surveillance in the detection of cerebellar PA recurrence at our regional paediatric neurosurgical centre.

Materials and methods

The tumour register at Alder Hey Children's Hospital was searched to identify all patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2017, with a confirmed histopathological diagnosis of cerebellar PA. Patient demographics, surgical outcome, number of MRI scans and length of follow-up were recorded for each patient.

Results

Forty patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at diagnosis was 7.8 years (range 2 to 17 years). Complete surgical resection (CR), confirmed by post-operative MRI, was achieved in 36 of the 40 patients, including all 31 cases from 2009 and later for which intraoperative MRI (iMRI) was utilised. There was one case of recurrence after CR (at 2.2 years) out of the 36 cases, whereas all 4 patients with initial partial resections had progressive growth of their tumours and required second surgical interventions.

Conclusion

This series confirms the very low likelihood of recurrence for completely resected cerebellar PAs and suggests that in such cases the duration and frequency of surveillance imaging could be limited to a maximum of 2.5 to 3 years of follow-up imaging. This report also indicates improved complete resection rates over time, probably associated with technical advances including the routine in-house use of iMRI in 2009.

http://bit.ly/2GMrmXp