The effect of two fibre impregnation methods on the cytotoxicity of a glass and carbon fibre-reinforced acrylic resin denture base material on oral epithelial cells and fibroblasts

Acrylic resin dentures may have cytotoxic effects on oral soft tissues. However, there is sparse data about the cytotoxic effect of fibre-reinforced acrylic resin denture base materials. The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of two fibre impregnation methods on the cytotoxicity of a glass and carbon fibre-reinforced heat-polymerized acrylic resin denture base material on oral epithelial cells and fibroblasts. One hundred acrylic resin discs were assigned to five experimental groups (n = 20). One of the groups did not include any fibre. Two groups consisted of silane and monomer treated glass fibres (Vetrolex) impregnated into acrylic resin (QC-20) discs. The other two groups consisted of silane and monomer treated carbon fibres (Type Tenox J, HTA). Untreated cell culture was used as positive control. The human oral epithelial cell line and buccal fibroblast cultures were exposed to test specimens. The cytotoxicity of the test materials was determined by succinic dehydrogenase activity (MTT method) after 24 and 72 h exposures. Data were analysed with a statistical software program (SPSSFW, 9.0). A one-way analysis of variance (anova) test and Bonferroni test were used for the comparisons between the groups. All statistical tests were performed at the 0.95 confidence level (P < 0.05). After 24 and 72 h incubation, cell viability percentages of all experimental groups showed significant decrease according to the positive control cell culture. Fibroblastic cell viability percentages of silane and monomer treated fibre-reinforced groups were lower than the unreinforced group. Cell viability of monomer-treated groups displayed the lowest percentages. Elapsed incubation time decreased epithelial cell viability in silane-treated groups. Fibroblastic cell viability was not influenced by elapsed time except the unreinforced group.     

Thymosin β(4) is a novel potential prognostic marker in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Thymosin beta‐4 (Tβ₄) is a major actin‐sequestering molecule that contributes to cell growth, differentiation, motility, survival, mitosis and angiogenesis. It is overexpressed in certain type of carcinoma and fibrosarcoma cell lines and is associated with metastatic potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Tβ₄ expression and clinicopathologic features and VEGF status in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Retrospectively, 60 GISTs were re‐examined and immunohistochemistry for Tβ₄ and VEGF was performed. Increased expression of Tβ₄ and VEGF was observed in 26 (43.3%) and in 19 (31.6%) of the tumors, respectively. Tβ₄ expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression (p < 0.01). Tβ₄ and VEGF expression were significantly associated with tumor size (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively) and high mitosis (p = 0.03 and p = 0.00, respectively). Although Tβ₄ expression was positively associated with pleomorphism (p = 0.01), VEGF expression was positively associated with necrosis (p = 0.03). Tβ₄ expression was related with local recurrence and/or metastasis (p = 0.03), but VEGF expression was not (p = 0.12). We firstly demonstrate the presence of Tβ₄ protein in GISTs. Our study reveals that increased expression of Tβ₄ could be considered as an indicator of aggressive behavior of tumor.     

Attitudes among medical and nonmedical university students toward the survivors of childhood abuse

ObjectiveChildhood sexual abuse (CSA) is increasing, and current studies should address issues such as stigmas and casual attitudes that may be amenable to intervention. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of education on the attitudes of medical students toward CSA survivors.MethodWe divided medical students into 2 groups: preclinical and clinical medical students. We compare the attitudes of nonmedical students with the attitudes of medical students with respect to survivors of CSA. All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about stigmatization.ResultsThere were 572 students in our study, 347 of whom were enrolled in medical school. Of the 347 medical students, 151 were from the preclinical group, and 196 were from the clinical practice group. The remainder of the participants (n = 225) were in other fields of university. Of the medical students, 68.3% responded negatively about “asking a survivor of abuse to supervise their child for a few hours,” whereas 62.7% of the nonmedical students responded negatively. When asked, “What would you think if your child wanted to marry a survivor of sexual abuse?”, 72.9% of the medical students and 59.1% of the nonmedical students displayed negative attitudes toward that idea. Our research also found that significantly more preclinical students than clinical students would not want to be in a companionship/friendship with a CSA survivor at work (P = .015) or in their neighborhoods (P = .034).ConclusionBoth medical and nonmedical students seem to have negative thoughts about sexual abuse survivors, particularly when the issue involves their own children and/or social situations. Thus, the medical professionals must be careful and should avoid over interpretations of findings on childhood abuse studies that may lead to stigmatization.     

Cathepsin B, p53 expression and AgNORs in transitional cell carcinoma

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between silver-strained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR), tumor stage, tumor grade and p53 expression with cathepsin B staining in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder. Tissue sections from 64 transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder were evaluated for the relation between AgNOR, tumor stage, tumor grade and p53 expression with cathepsin B staining in the neoplastic and stromal cells. Mean AgNOR values were significantly higher and the presence of p53 expression were different in cathepsin B positive and negative tumor and stromal cells. Although the number of cases is limited, this pilot study shows that cathepsin B staining may have a prognostic value in transitional cell carcinoma, but more studies are needed for a definite conclusion.     

Risk factors for atherosclerosis and the development of preatherosclerotic intimal hyperplasia

BACKGROUND: Intimal hyperplasia or thickening is considered to be the precursor lesion for atherosclerosis in humans; however, the factors governing its formation are unclear. To gain insight into the etiology of preatherosclerotic intimal hyperplasia, we correlated traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis with the intimal hyperplasia in an atherosclerosis-resistant vessel, the internal thoracic artery. METHODS: Paired internal thoracic arteries were obtained from 89 autopsies. Multivariate logistic regression and multiple regression models were used to examine the association of preatherosclerotic intimal hyperplasia with traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis: age, gender, hypertension, smoking, body mass index, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. RESULTS: Atherosclerotic lesions consisting of fatty streaks and/or type III intermediate lesions were identified in 19 autopsies. Only age >75 years was found to be significantly correlated with atherosclerotic lesion development (P=.01). Multiple regression model of the intima/media ratio in all 89 cases revealed age >75 years (P<.0001), age 51-75 years (P=.0012), smoking (P=.008), and hypertension (P=.02) to be significantly correlated with intimal thickness. In the 70 cases without atherosclerosis, only age 51-75 years (P=.006) and smoking (P=.028) were found to be significantly associated with preatherosclerotic intimal thickening. CONCLUSIONS: In the atherosclerosis-resistant internal thoracic artery, preatherosclerotic intimal hyperplasia routinely forms during adulthood after the fourth decade and is associated with at least two traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis: age and smoking. These observations indicate that in some settings, intimal hyperplasia may be part of the disease process of atherosclerosis and that its formation may be influenced by traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis.     

Complete replacement resorption after replantation of maxillary incisors: report of case.

This article describes the treatment of a 17-year-old patient with complete root resorption of the maxillary permanent central and lateral incisors following avulsion and replantation seven years ago. The most important factor influencing the prognosis of replanted teeth is the status of the periodontal ligament (PDL). As a result of replantation, the PDL cells necrosed and tooth replacement resorption occurred. The main factors, which affected the resorption after replantation and survival of PDL cells, could be summarize as; dry extraoral time greater than 30 minutes, the kept tooth in a dry environment, touching the cementum surface, and splint treatment for a prolonged time. Since complete root resorption was found in our case, these factors probably also occurred.     

High Hip Center Reduces the Dynamic Hip Range of Motion and Increases the Hip Load: A Gait Analysis Study in Hip Arthroplasty Patients With Unilateral Developmental Dysplasia

BackgroundLong-term favorable clinical outcomes of anatomical or high hip center techniques in total hip arthroplasty (THA) are reported in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). However, there is little information about the effect of the hip center location on gait characteristics. The purpose of this study was to compare these surgical techniques with gait analysis, analyze the effect of the hip rotation center location on gait parameters, and discuss the possible problems that may arise.MethodsA total of 40 patients who underwent THA due to unilateral coxarthrosis secondary to Crowe type III-IV DDH and completed 5 years of follow-up were included in the study. Group 1 included 20 patients who underwent anatomical hip center reconstruction, while group 2 included 20 patients who underwent high hip center reconstruction. Gait analysis was performed, and the groups were compared according to the gait characteristics.ResultsThe mean temporospatial values were similar between the groups. The extension of the operated side was significantly lower in group 2 (?9.11 ± 8.92) than in group 1 (?1.87 ± 11.51) (P = .04). The mean longitudinal hip joint force was found to be significantly higher in group 2 (8.92 N/kg ± 0.54) than in group 1 (8.16 N/kg ± 0.66) (P = .04). The high hip center technique has been shown to increase the load on the hip and restrict the dynamic range of motion.ConclusionThe high hip center technique can decrease the survival of the implant and increase the fall risk as it increases the load on the hip and reduces the dynamic range of motion. The hip center should be reconstructed anatomically when possible in DDH patients who undergo unilateral THA.     

A rare form of abruptio placenta and clinical presentation in a preterm labor case: Breus' mole

A normotensive pregnant woman who had no historical risk factors for abruption placenta and found to have Breus' mole that indicates the pattern of single or multiple hematoma protrude above the chorionic plate was encountered. The case resembled a large fetal abdominal wall defect coexisting with a singleton live-born fetus at 27 weeks of gestational age is presented. The obstetric ultrasound showed that multiple coiled masses in the amniotic cavity, both the fetus and the placenta were normal. After two courses of tocolysis therapy, a healthy and, 1,400 g live-born infant was delivered through cesarean section due to fetal distress. Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min were 5 and 8, respectively. The infant died on postnatal day 6 due to severe respiratory distress and prematurity. This rare condition probably occurs frequently in missed abortion and the etiology is unknown, but is probably related to circulatory disturbance on maternal site. We report a rare clinical presentation and review the literature of Breus' mole.