Effect of single‐dose injection of vitamin D on immune cytokines in ulcerative colitis patients: a randomized placebo‐controlled trial

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent inflammation of the colon. It has been proposed that the UC pathogenesis may be related to vitamin D deficiency and/or vitamin D administration in UC patients may have an ameliorating effect on the intestinal inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vitamin D on the serum levels of immune cytokines in UC patients. In this double‐blind randomized controlled trial, 90 mild‐to‐moderate UC patients were assigned to get either a single muscular injection of 7.5 mg vitamin D3 or 1 mL normal saline as placebo. Three months later serum levels of IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, IFN‐γ, and TNF‐α were measured. Two group variables were compared using independent t‐test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). There was a significant increase in vitamin D only in the vitamin D group. Compared to placebo, vitamin D had significant decreasing effects on serum TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and IL12p70 levels, but it had no significant effect on serum levels of IL4 and IL10. Vitamin D seems to inhibit Th1 immune responses and have no effect on Th2 responses. The findings of this study support several in vitro studies, which suggest a therapeutic immunomodulatory potential of vitamin D.     

Artificial formed caries-like lesions around esthetic restorative materials

Dental restorations fail for a variety of reasons. Secondary caries is one of the primary causes of failure of dental restorations. One method for reducing frequency and severity of this problem is the use of fluoride containing restorative materials. The ability of a material to inhibit secondary caries formation is an important clinical therapeutic property. This investigation assessed the capacity of esthetic restorative materials to resist caries in vitro. Class V cavities were prepared in buccal and lingual surfaces of 50 extracted sound third molars. The occlusal and gingival cavosurface margin of each preparation was on enamel surface. The five materials were used: Conventional glass ionomer cement Ceramfil beta (PSP), two polyacid modified resin composites Compoglass (Vivadent) and Dyract (Dentsply/DeTrey), non fluoride releasing composite resin Valux Plus (3M) and fluoride releasing composite resin Tetric (Vivadent). After 10 weeks in an acid gel for caries-like lesion formation, the teeth were sectioned occluso-gingivally through the middle of the restorations and examined by polarized light microscopy, while immersed in water. The statistical analysis of the results showed that secondary caries initiation and progression might be reduced significantly when fluoride-containing materials were placed. The conventional glass ionomer cement (Ceramfil beta) provided the highest protection against caries attack and the non-fluoride releasing composite resin (Valux Plus) restoration provided the least (p<0.05).     

The effect of finishing and polishing procedures on the surface roughness of composite resin materials

AIMS: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of various finishing and polishing procedures on the surface roughness of six different composite resin materials (Artemis Enamel, TPH Spectrum, Filtek A-110, Filtek Supreme Enamel, Solitaire 2, and Filtek P-60) as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the surface sealant application (BisCover) on the surface roughness after finishing and polishing procedures of tested composites. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Specimens (n=168) measuring 5 mm in diameter x 2 mm in thickness were fabricated in a plexiglass well covered with a Mylar strip using six composite resins. A control group of seven specimens of each material received no polishing after being cured under the Mylar strip. Twenty-one specimens for each composite were randomly divided among three finishing and polishing groups (n=7). Each group was polished using a different system: Carbide bur/Sof-Lex disc, Carbide bur/Enhance disc with polishing paste, and Carbide bur/Edenta composite finishing kit. The average surface roughness (Ra, microm) of the control and treated specimens were measured with the Mitutoyo Surftest-402 Surface Roughness tester. After a surface sealant (BisCover) was applied to all treated specimens, according to manufacturer's instructions, the average roughness (Ra) was measured again. Results were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the post-hoc Scheffe's test at a p<0.05 significance level. RESULTS: Significant differences were found for the surface roughness (p<0.05) with interaction among composite resins and the finishing systems used (p<0.05). Enhance/Biscover finishing and polishing procedure surface was not significantly different from the Mylar strip surface groups (p>0.05). The Mylar strip group was not significantly different from the Sof-Lex/BisCover and Edenta/BisCover groups. The ranking of mean Ra values by materials was as follows: Filtek Supreme Enamel < Filtek A110 < TPH Spectrum < Artemis 相似文献   

AIDS and HIV infections in oral medicine. Incidence of orofacial manifestations in a group of African patients in the region of Paris]

We studied a group of African immigrant, living in France with HIV and we report oral and facial manifestations observed among them.     

Comparison of cement pressurisation in flanged and unflanged acetabular cups

Background

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas consist of two distinguishable components: low-grade chondrosarcoma components and high-grade dedifferentiated components.

Materials and methods

Nine cases (4 males, 5 females) of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma were treated in our institute. The average age was 58.6 (range, 37–86) years. The tumor location was the long bone in 7 cases (femur, n=5; humerus, n=1; tibia, n=1) and the pelvic bone in 2 cases. The average time from appearance of symptoms to treatment was 9.4 (range, 1–40) months.

Results and discussion

On plain radiographs, matrix mineralization was seen in all 9 cases (100%). Bone destruction was observed in 5 of 9 cases (56%), while pathological fracture was seen in one femur case (11%). Lung metastasis was observed in all cases (initially in 5 cases; during the treatment course in 4 cases). Surgery was performed in 8 cases, with local recurrence occurring in 2 of those cases (time to recurrence, 2 and 10 months). Chemotherapy was administered in 4 cases, but did not result in significant improvement. All 9 cases died of lung metastases, with a median survival time of 10 (range, 3.4-18.8) months. The presence of initial metastasis at diagnosis was a significant unfavorable prognostic factor.

Conclusion

The prognosis of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma is dismal. With the lack of convincing evidence of the benefit of chemotherapy, complete surgical excision is the initial recommended treatment.     

Hyperlipidemia in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Saudi Arabia: Correlation with C-reactive protein levels and disease activity

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in patients from Saudi Arabia with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to investigate its relationship with C-reactive protein level and disease activity.

Methods:

A cross-sectional 3-year study was conducted on RA patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia between January 2011 and December 2013. Lipid profiles were determined following 12-hour overnight fasting, and the association of lipid profiles with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and disease activity was determined.

Results:

This study involved a total of 180 RA patients (mean age: 40.49±12.19 years). These subjects displayed a high prevalence of elevated total cholesterol (55.1%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (51.2%). Notably, we detected a significant association between increased total cholesterol and high CRP levels (p=0.002). Moreover, we observed a positive correlation between total cholesterol and disease activity, as measured using the 28-Joint Disease Activity Score index (r=0.23, p=0.036).

Conclusions:

Hyperlipidemia is common among RA patients and is significantly associated with CRP levels and disease activity. Our findings emphasize the need to raise awareness among healthcare professionals regarding the development of hyperlipidemia when RA is active.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that typically affects middle-aged individuals. The estimated prevalence of RA in Saudi Arabia is 2.2 per thousand people; it is more common in women, and incidence increases with age.1 If left untreated, RA is associated with high morbidity and mortality, which specifically results from cardiovascular disease (CVD).2,3 In order to reduce the CVD-related mortality rate in RA patients, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has recommended annual risk assessment, management of identified risk factors, and aggressive suppression of inflammation.4-6 In this regard, it has been demonstrated that treating RA with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can effectively reduce CVD-related mortality.4,7 Cardiovascular disease is not only linked to traditional risk factors as hyperlipidemia, but also to nontraditional risk factors including chronic systemic inflammation. Notably, changes in lipid profiles have been established as traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, but also as non-traditional that is directly linked to active inflammation (namely, disease activity).8-11 In fact, studies on CVD in RA patients have indicated that chronic systemic inflammation can enhance the development of atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia.12,13 In this regard, the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in RA patients is known to vary between 20-45%.14,15 Hyperlipidemia in RA patients in Saudi Arabia has not been thoroughly investigated to date. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in RA patients in Saudi Arabia, and to identify possible associated risk factors, including inflammatory markers.     

Pharmacological treatment of high‐normal blood pressure (prehypertension) in high‐risk patients for primary prevention of cardiovascular events

Currently, the best treatment strategy for patients with a high‐normal blood pressure (prehypertension) is not known. The authors aimed to determine whether pharmacological reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP) to a normal level (<120 mm Hg) would prevent cardiac morbidity and mortality in prehypertensive patients. In this secondary analysis, the authors obtained the data from SPRINT from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute data repository center. Among 9361 patients enrolled in SPRINT, 289 high‐risk (ASCVD risk = 24.8% ± 13.0 [10‐65]) prehypertensive patients without previous cardiovascular disease and not receiving any antihypertensive medications were enrolled. One hundred and forty‐eight of them were assigned to standard treatment which consisted of clinical follow‐up till SBP goes above 140 mm Hg and then staring medications to keep SBP <140 mm Hg. One hundred and forty‐one were assigned to the intensive treatment receiving pharmacological SBP reduction to <120 mm Hg upon enrollment. The primary composite outcome was myocardial infarction, and other acute coronary syndromes, stroke, heart failure, or death from cardiovascular causes. Throughout the 3.06 years of follow‐up, a primary outcome event was confirmed in three participants (0.74% per year) in the intensive‐treatment group and 8 (1.61% per year) in the standard‐treatment group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.19; P = .045). Rates of serious adverse events were not increased by intensive‐treatment (HR, 0.83; P = .506). Based on this secondary post hoc analysis, intensive SBP reduction may probably be beneficial for primary prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in high‐risk prehypertensive patients. This finding needs to be evaluated in a larger trial designed specifically to answer this question.