Advance in Functional Restoration of Injured Nerve with Low Level Laser and its Utilization in the Dental and Maxillofacial Region

The inferior alveolar nerve and facial nerve are the two most important nerves in the dental and maxillofacial region. The injury to them is one of the major postoperative complications after alveolar surgery and orthognathic surgery. However, recovering the nerve function after injury takes a long time and the recovery effect tends to be unsatisfactory. In recent years, an intensively investigated technique, low level laser which has been applying in assisting the recovery of nerve function, has been gradually proved to be effective in clinically treating postoperative nerve injury. In this article we review in terms of the mechanisms involved in low level laser-assisted functional restoration of nerve injury and its clinical application in the recovery of nerve function in the dental and maxillofacial area as well.     

The preventive role of wheat germ oil against sertraline‐induced testicular damage in male albino rats

Sertraline is an antidepressant medication used extensively in the therapy of depression. The present investigation was intended to estimate the actual protective role of wheat germ oil on sertraline‐caused testicular injury in albino rats. Sertraline (human therapeutic dose, 15.63 mg/kg) was orally administrated to rats for 28 successive days. Sertraline‐administered rats were concurrently supplemented with wheat germ oil (human therapeutic dose, 68.75 mg/kg) for 28 successive days. Sertraline administration induced an elevation in testicular DNA damage and acute testicular damage illustrated by the histopathological alterations including marked degeneration and necrosis of germ cells lining seminiferous tubules, as well as interstitial oedema, congestion of interstitial blood vessel. Wheat germ oil administration potentially mitigated the histopathological alterations of sertraline‐administered rats. Lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress biomarker, showed a significant elevation in testicular tissue of sertraline‐administered rats. Furthermore, glutathione content and catalase activity were decreased in testicular tissue of sertraline‐administered rats. Serum testosterone level was elevated in sertraline‐administered rats. Wheat germ oil significantly reduced lipid peroxidation of testicular tissue and improved the antioxidant defences. Finally, wheat germ oil has a preventive role against testicular damage induced by sertraline in rats probably via its potential to prevent reactive oxygen species.     

Elevated Serum Cytokines and Trichomonas vaginalis Serology at Diagnosis Are Not Associated With Higher Gleason Grade or Lethal Prostate Cancer

Background

Inflammation and infections have been associated with prostate cancer progression. We assessed whether elevated serum cytokines or T. vaginalis seropositivity at the time of diagnosis was associated with higher grade or lethal prostate cancer.

Treatment of oral manifestations of toxic epidermal necrolysis with low‐level laser therapy in a pediatric patient

Drug‐induced reactions are complications associated with high mortality and significant morbidity. Stevens–Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are examples of these conditions, which are characterized by skin and mucous lesions. Here, we report a case of a 9‐year‐old girl who presented with blisters associated with an extensive vesicular rash and multiple ulcerations on the lips and oral cavity. A drug‐induced hypersensitivity reaction to antibiotics was suspected, and a diagnosis of TEN was made. The patient was managed with withdrawal of the suspected causative agent, and the oral lesions were treated with low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) and oral hygiene. This case highlights that TEN requires interdisciplinary intervention with dental assistance and follow‐up to improve symptoms, nutrition, systemic condition, and quality of life.     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

钩虫病感染者免疫球蛋白水平、临床特点及胃肠镜下形态分析

目的分析钩虫病感染者血清免疫球蛋白(Ig)A、IgG、IgM和IgE水平,临床特点及胃肠镜下形态。方法分析16例钩虫病感染者的临床资料,观察患者的临床表现、Ig水平、血常规检查结果、胃肠镜检查结果及治疗结果。结果 16例患者的IgE水平明显高于正常参考上限值;IgA、IgG、IgM水平与正常参考上限值比较,差异不明显。经诊断患者的钩虫分布情况:十二指肠降部8例(50.00%),十二指肠球部5例(31.25%),回肠末端3例(18.75%),升结肠1例(6.25%),其中十二指肠及回肠末端均见钩虫者1例(6.25%)。所有患者均予阿苯达唑片驱虫治疗,治疗后1个月复查见贫血得到纠正,消化道症状得以缓解,复查胃肠镜未见虫体,均治愈。结论钩虫病感染者的IgE水平明显升高,胃肠镜检查是确诊钩虫病的重要手段,尤其是要加强对十二指肠降部的检查,并在确诊后及时给予正规治疗措施。     

中重度肥胖儿童与正常儿童血脂水平及自我意识水平的差异

目的比较分析中重度肥胖儿童与正常儿童的血脂水平及自我意识水平的异同。方法对商丘市3所小学6年级学生912例进行身高、体重检测,将符合儿童中重度肥胖的26例设为肥胖组,并选择同年级自愿参与研究的身高、体重正常的健康儿童26例设为对照组。两组均由专业的临床医师和专业的心理医师进行血脂及Piers-Harris儿童自我意识量表测试。结果肥胖组血总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇(LDL-C)及高密度脂蛋白-胆固醇(HDL-C)与正常组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。肥胖组儿童自我意识总分及各分量表评分与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论中重度肥胖症儿童的血脂较正常儿童偏高,自我意识低于正常同龄儿童。提示儿童肥胖症给儿童的身心均带来不同程度的损害,应高度重视儿童肥胖症的纠正与预防。     

2 121例老年急性冠脉综合征患者血清脂类浓度的分析

目的分析60岁以上老年人血清脂类水平的参考值,并探讨急性冠脉综合征与血脂指标的相关性.方法将3 766例健康成人分为≤60岁和＞60岁的两个年龄段,采用生物化学的方法测量他们的血脂水平,找出60岁以上老年人的脂类参考值.同时分析2 121例老年急性冠脉综合征病人的脂类指标.结果 60岁以上老年人血脂参考值为:TC 4.65±1.96×1.05mmol/L;TG 1.02±1.96×0.45mmol/L;HDL-C 1.47±1.96×0.40mmol/L;LDL-C 2.98±1.96×0.56mmol/L;ApoA1 1.32±1.96×0.25g/L;ApoB 0.99±1.96×0.35g/L,并且急性心肌梗死和不稳定性心绞痛病人血清脂类各项指标之间没有显著性差异.结论血清LDL-C/HDL-C＞5和TG ≥1.9mmol/L这两项联合指标比其他单独指标与老年人急性冠脉综合征关系更密切.     

Effect of norethisterone acetate on serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters as well as on blood coagulation in female monkeys (M. fascicularis)

The effects of daily oral administration of a high dose of 10 mg norethisterone acetate (NET-Ac.)/kg/day over 14 weeks on serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters as well as on blood coagulation were investigated in female monkeys (M. fascicularis). Measurements of lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol were performed in weeks —5 and — 1 before treatment and in weeks 4, 8 and 12 after treatment. In addition, various blood coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters were determined in weeks 11–14 after treatment with NET-Ac. Furthermore, the serum levels of norethisterone (NET) were determined in order to monitor the real systemic compound exposure and revealed that C_max and AUC (0–3 h) values reached for norethisterone in this experiment in monkeys were about 25 times higher than those obtained after an oral contraceptive dose of NET-Ac. in women.

The results of lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol determinations showed decreases in serum total lipids, phospholipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol associated with similar decreases in HDL-, LDL- and VLDL-cholesterol fractions after NET-Ac.-treatment in monkeys. These effects were observed from week 4 onwards and maintained their magnitude up to week 12 after treatment. Since both HDL- and LDL-cholesterol fractions decreased, the HDL/LDL-ratio remained almost unchanged. Thus, the results obtained in this study after high-dose treatment with NET-Ac. in monkeys did not indicate any changes of lipid and lipoprotein parameters which in humans are supposed to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular lesions, namely a decrease in HDL- and increase in LDL-cholesterol fractions.

The results of blood coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters showed increased antithrombin-III and plasminogen levels besides minor changes in other parameters, thus indicating that NET-Ac. -treatment does not contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular thrombotic events in the cynomolgus monkey.