Stellate ganglion ischemia on the prevention of pulmonary vasospasm during bilateral carotid artery ligation: The first experimental study

Fatal pulmonary edema and hemorrhage are significant complications of endovascular treatment in steno-occlusive carotid artery disease; a rational mechanism has not been adequately examined in the literature so far. We investigated if cervical sympathetic ganglia ischemia prevents pulmonary vasospasm on the prognosis of bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCAL). Twenty-three adult New Zealand rabbits (4.2 ± 0.3 kg) were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (G1, n = 5), the sham group (G2, n = 6), and the BCCAL group (G3, n = 12). Common carotid arteries were dissected bilaterally in G2/G3, and permanent BCCAL was applied to only in G3. All animals were followed for 3 weeks and decapitated under general anesthesia. Histopathological changes in stellate ganglia and severity of pulmonary vasospasm-related lung edema and hemorrhage were investigated. Results were analyzed by the Kruskal–Wallis test. Two animals of G3 dead within three weeks and the remainder were sacrificed three weeks later. Subpleural petechial foci and an endotracheal bloody fluid collection were grossly observed in the lungs. Histopathologically, pulmonary artery vasospasm, perivascular and subintimal edema, interalveolar hemorrhage, and alveolar wall destructions were observed with less ischemic-degenerated neuron density-determined stellate ganglia animals. Neurodegeneration of stellate ganglia may have a beneficial effect on the prevention of lung injury during steno-occlusive carotid artery disease.     

Glycopolymer Code: Programming Synthetic Macromolecules for Biological Targeting

Targeting in a cellular level is still one of the major challenges in biomedical treatments. However, new synthetic and analytical techniques now allow the development of precisely prepared macromolecules. Thus, glycopolymer chains are reported to be prepared with controlled length, monomer sequences, as well as chain‐folded structures. A high level of complexity in synthetic macromolecules also allows increased selectivity in targeting, which is a key factor in biomedical applications.     

Repeated tissue expansions on split-thickness skin graft in a patient with neurocutaneous syndrome

Soft tissue expansion is a mechanical process that increases the surface area of local tissue available for reconstructive procedures. In most cases, adjacent tissue that matches the recipient site in color, texture, and hair-bearing quality is preferred for tissue expansion. In this particular case with neurocutaneous syndrome, the defects that resulted from removal of parts of a giant hairy nevus overlying the latissimus dorsi muscle bilaterally were grafted with a split-thickness skin graft. Two expanders were then placed under the latissimus dorsi muscles. After full expansion of the grafted area, some part of the remaining nevus surrounding the grafted area was removed and the defects were covered with the expanded skin graft obtained after deflation of the expanders. The expanders placed under the latissimus dorsi muscle in the first operation were reused in the second operation to obtain a second expansion of the skin graft. After the second expansion of the skin graft, the expanders were deflated and another portion of the remaining nevus surrounding the grafted area was removed. The resulting defects were again covered with the excess expanded skin graft. Although repeated expansion of the skin graft is a time-consuming and laborious process, it eliminates the need for taking repeated skin grafts; it decreases skin graft donor site morbidity; it decreases possible infectious complications of tissue expansion by decreasing the number of surgical interventions to the expander pocket; and it increases the aesthetic outcome by keeping all the surgical scars around the grafted area without extending them into healthy surrounding skin.     

Orbital foreign body penetrating from the cheek

This study emphasizes the importance of diagnostic first aid procedures to avoid the consequences of trauma due to foreign body. A 20-year-old man referred to our hospital with a history of having a sharp penetrating injury to his right eye. Computed tomography evaluation reported right globe perforation and intraorbital glass foreign body measuring 4 x 7 cm was removed. Perforated eye was repaired and traumatic cuts were sutured. Orbital and ocular injuries are common, and delays in management may lead to complication. A team approach is the best technique for these patients.     

Dental erosion among children in an Istanbul public school

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and etiology of dental erosion among children. A total of 153 healthy, 11-year-old children were sampled from a downtown public school in Istanbul, Turkey comprised of middle-class children. Data were obtained via: (1) dinical examination; (2) questionnaire; and (3) standardized data records. A new dental erosion index for children designed by O'Sullivan (2000) was used. Twenty-eight percent (N=43) of the children exhibited dental erosion. Of children who consumed orange juice, 32% showed erosion, while 40% who consumed carbonated beverages showed erosion. Of children who consumed fruit yogurt, 36% showed erosion. Of children who swam professionally in swimming pools, 60% showed erosion. Multiple regression analysis revealed no relationship between dental erosion and related erosive sources (P > .05).     

Evaluation of sleep bruxism by polysomnographic analysis in patients with dental implants

PURPOSE: The aims of the present study were to use polysomnographic analysis to confirm sleep bruxism (SB) and to evaluate clinical findings of dental implant treatment in SB patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study comprised the retrospective analysis of 368 patients with a total of 838 endosseous implants. Nineteen patients who experienced mechanical complications, such as implant or abutment fractures, loosened gold screws, or occlusal surface wear or damage, were selected for polysomnographic analysis to monitor sleep symptoms. Six patients in the study group were identified as having SB, and this was confirmed by polysomnographic analysis. RESULTS: The SB electromyographic episodes were at least 20% of the patients' maximum voluntary contractions while awake and were scored. Most of the bruxism episodes (80%) were seen in light sleep stages. Only 5% of bruxism episodes were detected during rapid-eye-movement sleep. Sleep stage recordings were similar in all individuals. Bruxism episodes did not cause arousals. Patients were unaware of their nocturnal parafunctional habits. Despite protection with night guards, all patients were reported to have continued bruxism. DISCUSSION: Since possible occlusal parafunctional habits may be evident in any stage of dental treatment, treatment outcome risks must be considered. CONCLUSIONS: Polysomnographic study was evaluated as an effective, low-cost method to confirm occlusal parafunctional habits during sleep. Precautions against SB in patients having dental implant treatment have not been properly clarified. However, night guard protection appears to have some validity in patients having sleep bruxism.     

Effects of different light-curing units and obturation techniques on the seal of the Resilon/Epiphany system

The purpose of this study was to compare the sealing ability of a resin- and polymer-based root canal obturation system (Resilon; Resilon Research LLC, Madison, CT/Epiphany; Clinical Technologies, Wallingford, CT) used in conjunction with different light-curing units and obturation techniques. A total of 120 decrowned single-rooted human teeth were used. After preparation of the root canals with 0.06 taper nickel-titanium rotary files to size 30, the roots were randomly assigned into three experimental groups according to the obturation technique used: (1) single cone, (2) cold lateral compaction, and (3) System B + Obtura. In all groups, the specimens were randomly assigned into four subgroups according to the polymerization method that was used to cure Epiphany sealer from the coronal aspect: (1) quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH), (2) light-emitting diode (LED), (3) plasma-arc curing (PAC), and (4) chemical cure (uncured). Leakage was measured by the fluid-filtration method at 1 day and 1 week. Statistical analysis was performed by using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests at p < 0.001. Fluid conductance of all groups increased significantly within time (p < 0.001). The tested obturation techniques had no significant effect on the leakage values (p = 0.433). The following statistical ranking was obtained for fluid-filtration values: uncured > PAC > LED > QTH (p < 0.001).     

Bilateral tonsillar adenoid cystic carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a malignant epithelial tumor of the salivary glands. It accounts for less than 1% of all head and neck cancers and less than 10% of all salivary gland neoplasms. It shows slow and indolent growth rate, low probability of regional nodal metastases, high propensity for perineural invasion, multiple and/or delayed recurrences and high incidence of distant metastases. It is the most frequently encountered malignant tumor of the minor salivary glands. The oral cavity and the oropharynx are the most common sites followed by the parotid, submandibular gland, paranasal sinuses, larynx, trachea, and pharynx, in frequency order. In this report an adenoid cystic carcinoma of oral cavity localized in the left palatine tonsil and right peritonsillar tissue was presented.