Effect of venlafaxine on bone loss associated with ligature-induced periodontitis in Wistar rats

Background  

The present study investigated the effects of venlafaxine, an antidepressant drug with immunoregulatory properties on the inflammatory response and bone loss associated with experimental periodontal disease (EPD).     

Iron binding saturation and genotypic testing for hereditary hemochromatosis in patients with liver disease

We compared the results of HFE genotype with tests for iron binding saturation (IBS) in 190 consecutive patients with liver disease using 2 IBS cutoff levels: 45% and 60%. Saturation was more than 45% in 117 patients (61.6%) and more than 60% in 89 (46.8%). The number of patients (10) with the highest-risk HFE genotype (C282Y homozygote) was higher than expected. Elevated IBS cannot be used to predict genotype. There was a modest association of C282Y homozygosity with increased IBS (7 of 10, saturation >45% and 6 of 10, >60%). There was poor correlation of elevated saturation with other genotypes containing 1 or more HFE variants. Patients with a wild-type genotype (lacking HFE variants) and elevated IBS were far more likely to have an iron binding capacity less than 250 microg/dL (<44.8 micromol/L) than those with saturation values less than 45%, suggesting that a significant percentage of elevated IBS test results in liver disease are false-positives associated with decreased synthetic capacity. Nevertheless, an appreciable number of patients with elevated IBS had normal iron binding capacity, indicating the complexity of relationships among iron absorption and binding, disease status, HFE genotype, and other potential modifying factors in liver disease.     

Pediatric exposure to choking hazards is associated with parental knowledge of choking hazards

Objective

To evaluate parental knowledge regarding household food and non-food choking hazards.

Design

Cross Sectional Survey.

Setting

Tertiary Care Children's Hospital.

Participants

Parents presenting to a Pediatric Otolaryngology Clinic with a child <4 years old.

Methods

Parental survey asking which choking hazard foods (CHF) they allow their child to eat, previous instruction of CHF, knowledge of non-food choking hazards, and their knowledge sources. Statistics: adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and logistic regressions.

Results

492 respondents. Adjusted for significant covariates associations between correct knowledge of CHF and correct parents actions of disallowing CHF: fruit chunks (prior instruction = 42%; correct action = 25%; AOR = 3.51; P < 0.0001), hot dogs (59%; 28%; 1.75; 0.0178), raw vegetables (41%; 47%; 1.28; 0.198) popcorn (67%; 49% 2.64; <0.0001), whole grapes (68%; 51%; 2.2; <0.0001), nuts (73%; 66%; 2.47; <0.0001), chunks of peanut butter (45%; 79%; 2.55; 0.0003), sticky candy (79%; 80%; 2.16; <0.0033), gum (72%; 84%; 1.75; 0.028), seeds (65%; 87%; 1.4; 0.247), 76% always supervise meals, 57% always cut food, 62% know CPR.

Knowledge of non-food hazards

Coins (97%), marbles (94%), small batteries (93%), small toy parts (93%), dice (92%), pen caps (92%), safety pins (85%), balloons (84%), syringes (40%). Sources of choking hazard knowledge: physicians (67%), family/friends (52%), books/magazines (40%), and the Internet (25%).

Conclusions

Parental knowledge of CHF is incomplete. The consumption of CHF in children under 4 is significantly associated with decreased parental knowledge. Therefore, more parental education is needed.