The relationship of gingival crevicular fluid short chain carboxylic acid concentration to gingival inflammation

Abstract Short-chain carboxylic acids (SCCA; C≤5: e.g., lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid) are metabolic by-products of bacterial metabolism which accumulate in the gingival crevice, and exhibit significant biological activity, including the ability to alter gene expression. It has been hypothesized that among the activities of SCCAs are their ability to contribute to gingival inflammation. This concept complements the notion that specific periodontal pathogens are the causative agents of gingival inflammation. To begin testing these 2 hypotheses, we examined the relationship between SCCA concentrations, specific putative periodontal pathogens, and gingival inflammation in medically healthy periodontally diseased subjects. We reasoned that if SCCAs and/or specific periodontal pathogens were causative gingival inflammatory agents, gingival inflammation should increase with increasing concentration of the inflammatory mediator. We also recognized that other clinical variables needed to be controlled for, and an objective quantitative assessment of gingival inflammation used. To accomplish these tasks, sites within subjects were stratified by location and pocket depth, and the following quantified: bacteria] presence; SCCA concentration: and gingival inflammation. The results indicated that gingival inflammation directly and significantly correlated with SCCA concentrations in the maxillary and mandibular molars, incisors and canines (all r≥0.47; all p≤ 0.015; too few bicuspids were available for complete analysis). The relationship between gingival inflammation and SCCA concentration was best described by a natural log relationship. Gingival inflammation did not, however, correlate positively with either the total number of specific putative periodontal pathogens, or the sum of subsets of these pathogens (?0.31 ≤r≤ 0.39; 0.08 ≤p 0.75) for any of the locations. Finally, the SCCA concentration did not correlate with the level of individual or groups of pathogens. These data, together with historical work and other preliminary data, support the hypothesis that SCCA, rather than specific putative periodontal pathogens, may be a causative agent in gingival inflammation. This work may, in part, begin to explain the apparent lack of a direct relationship between current gingival inflammation and the prediction of bacterially mediated periodontal attachment loss.     

Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in the rat: A study of inflammatory and immunological mechanisms

Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) can be produced by systemic injection of endotoxin (ET). It is not clear yet why exclusive ocular involvement occurs in this model. To clarify this question and to establish the sequence of inflammatory events, EIU was induced in Lewis rats by footpad injection of Salmonella ET. Ocular inflammatory response (anterior chamber cells and proteins), aqueous inflammation mediators (thromboxane B₂, prostaglandin E₂, leukotriene B₄ and substance P) and MHC class 2 (Ia) antigen expression in the ciliary body were monitored for 72 hours. Thromboxane B₂ was detected early in the aqueous humor, peaking already 1 hour after ET injection. Prostaglandin E₂ & leukotriene B₄ peaks and a second peak of thromboxane B₂ were recorded 18 hours after ET-injection, at the time of maximal ocular inflammation. MHC-class 2 expression was first detected in the ciliary body stroma at the vascular level 6 hours after ET injection and was massively expressed in the ciliary body epithelium at 18 and 72 hours. It is hypothetized that ciliary body endothelium is particularly sensitive to the effect of ET and is the site of thrombocyte adherence. Vascular damage leads in succession to cellular infiltration, release of inflammation mediators and disruption of blood-ocular barrier. MHC-class 2 expression is a secondary phenomenon and is probably at the origin of additional tissue damage from immune effector mechanisms.     

The influence of anaesthetic techniques and type of delivery on peripartum serum interleukin-6 concentrations

Background: Interleukin-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a wide range of physiological activities. It plays an important role in the immuno-neuro-humoral axis during stress and surgery.
Methods: Serum interleukin-6 in parturients was measured on hospital admission, immediately after birth and 12 and 24 hours later. All parturients had uncomplicated pregnancies, and delivered vaginally without (n=31) or with (n=20) epidural analgesia, or underwent Caesarean section under epidural (n=20) or general (n=10) anaesthesia.
Results: Serum interleukin-6 assayed immediately following Caesarean section was low, but peaked 12 hours later, irrespective of the anaesthetic technique or other foetomaternal characteristics. Patients who delivered vaginally showed the highest interleukin-6 levels immediately after delivery. These were positively correlated with serum interleukin-6 on admission and duration of labour. Serum interleukin-6 was significantly higher in parturients who had epidural analgesia, and was significantly lower in those receiving intravaginal prostaglandins compared to those without prostaglandins.
Conclusion: The interleukin-6 response after Caesarean section can be explained by a generalized acute phase response to surgery, with no anaesthetic, maternal or neonatal interference. The rapid increase in peripartum serum interleukin-6 levels after vaginal delivery reflects, in part, cervical ripening or labour, their physiological triggers and psychological or physical stress. Regional anaesthesia, duration of labour and exogenous prostaglandin administration can modulate the peripartum interleukin-6 response and subsequently the physiological effects of this cytokine.     

孤立性左肝胆管结石并肝管狭窄的外科治疗

目的总结近２０年来孤立性左肝胆管结石并发左肝胆管狭窄的临床治疗体会．方法原发性肝胆管结石１０１８例，年龄２７～７２岁，其中孤立性左肝胆管结石１３３例，手术治疗１１２例，对其临床资料进行回顾性分析，包括各肝管狭窄并发率，术前各项检查确诊率，手术治疗方式，再狭窄率．结果左肝管狭窄的发生率为５９８％，左外肝管和左内肝管分别为８４０％和８４８％，均以重度狭窄为主．狭窄切开整形后高位胆肠吻合术是处理左肝管狭窄的常用手术方式（５２２％），远期再狭窄率为１７１％；左半肝切除术施实率为１９４％，再狭窄率为００％；狭窄整形术和狭窄扩张术的施实率分别为９０％和１９４％，再狭窄率分别为５００％和９２３％．左外肝管狭窄通常采用肝段或肝叶切除术（７８７％），而左内肝管狭窄的处理则通常采用非左半肝切除术（８４８％）．左内肝管狭窄的术前／后影像学确诊率明显低于左肝管和左外肝管，平均确诊率依次２５９％，９３３％和８７９％．结论二级肝管狭窄是孤立性左肝管结石的常见并发症，肝叶或肝段切除术是其首选治疗原则．过多依赖非肝叶／段切除术和不适当的肝段切除术是遗留狭窄和远期疗效差的重要原因     

妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症与血清甘胆酸的关系

检测了７４例正常足月妊娠妇女和５６例妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症（ＩＣＰ）患血清甘胆酸（ＣＧ）的浓度，结果ＩＣＰ患血ＣＧ浓度显升高（１３．５２±９．５４ｍｇ／Ｌ），为正常孕妇（２．６７±１．９２ｍｇ／Ｌ）的５～１０倍，根据血ＣＧ浓度将ＩＣＰ患分为〈１０、１０～２０，〉２０ｍｇ／Ｌ３组，将３组胎儿出生情况与正常组相对照，结果显示血ＣＧ浓度〈１０ｍｇ／Ｌ组羊水胎粪污染率及新生儿窒息率与正常组无差异，而     

Oxidative breakdown of octanoic acid is maintained in patients with cirrhosis despite advanced disease

As an octanoic acid 13CO2 breath test is frequently used to test gastric emptying of solid food, the purpose of the present study was to study whether oxidative breakdown of octanoic acid is affected by severe liver disease. The design of our study was twofold. First, cirrhotic patients (n = 82) of varying severity were compared with healthy controls (n = 17). Values of half-time, time point of maximal expiration and cumulative recovery of octanoic acid breath tests (OBT) were not significantly different between them. Secondly, cirrhotic patients (n = 10) were studied before placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, 4-7 days later and 1-2 months later. Values of half-time, time point of maximal expiration and cumulative recovery of consecutive OBTs did not change significantly. The OBT may therefore be a suitable test in the future to detect delayed gastric emptying of solids in cirrhotic patients with reduced liver function and portal hypertension.     

The effects of maternal inflammation on neuronal development: possible mechanisms

That maternal inflammation adversely affects fetal brain development is well established. Less well understood are the mechanisms that account for neurodevelopmental disorders arising from maternal inflammation. This review seeks to begin an examination of possible sites and mechanisms of action whereby inflammatory cytokines - produced by the mother or by the fetal brain - could impact the developing fetus. We focus first on the placenta where cytokines maintain the immunological environment that prevents maternal rejection of the fetus. Following a brief examination of placental transfer of maternal cytokines, the focus turns on embryonic microglia, early and ubiquitous residents of the developing brain. Finally, a more intense examination of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) provides examples of glial- or maternal-derived cytokines that are known to have profound effects on developing systems and that could, if dysregulated, have undesirable consequences for brain development.     

肝内胆管细胞癌的CT表现

目的分析胆管细胞癌的CT表现,提高对胆管细胞癌的认识。方法回顾性分析经病理证实的21例胆管细胞癌的CT表现。结果CT平扫所有病例均为单发低密度灶。CT增强扫描21例不均匀轻度强化,其中4例出现大片无强化低密度区,部分边缘强化,2例病灶延迟强化,17例肝内胆管扩张。结论CT是胆管细胞癌的重要影像检查方法,不均匀强化病灶内可见胆管扩张是胆管细胞癌的重要征象。