Effect of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor‐2 on bone formation in rabbit mandibular distraction models using β‐tricalcium phosphate

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor‐2 (rhFGF‐2) on the amount and period of new bone formation in rabbit mandibular distraction models using β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) as a bone graft substitute. Sixteen male Japanese White rabbits were divided into the following four experimental groups: 1, distraction alone; 2, distraction with β‐TCP granules; 3, distraction with rhFGF‐2 (25 µg/50 µL) injected into β‐TCP granules; and 4, distraction with rhFGF‐2 (100 µg/50 µL) injected into β‐TCP granules. The bones were harvested at 4 weeks after the operation and examined using soft radiography, micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT), and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). The dissected mandibles were stained using the Villanueva bone staining method, and the amount of new bone formed, bioresorption of β‐TCP, and new blood vessel formation were morphometrically calculated using bone histomorphometry. Radiopaque areas were observed more frequently in the distracted area of groups 3 and 4. Micro‐CT analysis revealed partial new bone formation in the central region of the distracted area in groups 3 and 4. pQCT analysis revealed increased bone mineral density in groups 3 and 4. Histomorphometric analysis revealed increased newly formed bone and blood vessel areas in groups 3 and 4. In group 4, the number of osteoclasts around the β‐TCP granules had significantly increased. The present findings suggested that the combined use of rhFGF‐2 and β‐TCP reduced the treatment period for distraction osteogenesis and accelerated the formation of a new high‐quality bone.     

Diffusion-weighted echoplanar MR imaging of the salivary glands

OBJECTIVE: We determined the apparent diffusion coefficients of normal and dysfunctional salivary glands. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A diffusion-weighted single-shot spin-echo type of echoplanar MR imaging was performed on the parotid or submandibular glands, or both, in 36 healthy subjects, 20 patients with Sj?gren's syndrome, and six patients with sialoadenitis. The apparent diffusion coefficient of the salivary gland was calculated using two b factors (b = 500 and 1,000 sec/mm(2)). RESULTS: The apparent diffusion coefficient was lower in the parotid glands (0.28 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec) than that of the submandibular glands (0.37 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec). The apparent diffusion coefficient was increased in sialoadenitis, whereas it decreased with abscess formation. The apparent diffusion coefficients of the parotid glands in patients with Sj?gren's syndrome correlated with the salivary flow rates but not with the sialographic gradings of the glands. We also found a correlation of the decreases in apparent diffusion coefficients with the severity of gland damage as assessed on T1-weighted MR images. CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted echoplanar MR imaging may reveal diseased states of the salivary glands.     

Nicorandil accelerates recovery of neuromuscular block caused by vecuronium

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of nicorandil, a K ATP channel agonist, on neuromuscular block caused by vecuronium in patients anesthetized with nitrous oxide, oxygen, isoflurane, and fentanyl. METHODS: Sixty adult patients were allocated to four groups of 15: nicorandil-post-tetanic count (N-PTC), nicorandil-train-of-four (N-TOF), control-post-tetanic count (C-PTC) or control-train-of-four (C-TOF) group. In the N-PTC and N-TOF groups, 0.1 mg kg nicorandil was given as a bolus followed by an infusion at 1 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). Two minutes after the bolus, 0.1 mg x kg(-1) vecuronium was administered. In the C-PTC or C-TOF group normal saline was given instead of nicorandil. PTC and TOF responses were measured mechanically using a force displacement transducer. RESULTS: Time from the administration of vecuronium to the onset of neuromuscular block in the N-PTC or N-TOF group did not differ from that in the C-PTC or C-TOF group (241 +/- 33 vs 225 +/- 32 sec, mean +/- SD). Times from vecuronium injection to the return of PTC in the N-PTC and C-PTC groups, and those of T1, T2, T3, and T4 (first, second, third, and fourth stimulation of TOF) in the N-TOF and C-TOF groups did not differ. Recoveries of PTC in the N-PTC and C-PTC groups followed similar time course. T1/control twitch height and TOF ratio (T4/T1) in the N-TOF group were higher than those in the C-TOF group 80-120 min and 100-120 min after administration of vecuronium, respectively. CONCLUSION: Nicorandil accelerates recovery of neuromuscular block caused by vecuronium.     

Clinicopathological diversity of semantic dementia: Comparisons of patients with early-onset versus late-onset,left-sided versus right-sided temporal atrophy,and TDP-type A versus type C pathology

Semantic dementia (SD) is a unique clinicopathological entity associated with TDP-type C pathology. We present four cases of SD that illustrate the clinicopathological diversity of TDP-43 pathology, including early-onset cases of TDP-type C with corticospinal tract (CST) and motor neuron pathology and late-onset cases of TDP-type A with combined pathology. Case 1 was a 62-year-old man with semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) with left-predominant temporal atrophy and TDP-type C pathology with low Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic changes (ADNC). Case 2 was a 63-year-old woman with right-predominant temporal atrophy and TDP-type C pathology who had prosopagnosia and personality changes. Phosphorylated(p)-TDP-43-positive long dystrophic neurites (DNs) were observed throughout the cerebral cortex; they were more abundant in the relatively spared cortices and less so in the severely degenerated cortices. We observed CST degeneration with TDP-43 pathology in the upper and lower motor neurons, without apparent motor symptoms, in SD with TDP-type C pathology. Case 3 was a 76-year-old man who had svPPA and personality changes, with left-predominant temporal atrophy and TDP-type A pathology with high ADNC and argyrophilic grain (AG) stage 3. Case 4 was an 82-year-old man who had prosopagnosia and later developed symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) with right-predominant temporal atrophy and TDP-type A pathology with high ADNC, DLB of diffuse neocortical type, and AG stage 3. The distribution of p-TDP-43-positive NCIs and short DNs was localized in the anterior and inferior temporal cortices. An inverse relationship between the extent of TDP pathology and neuronal loss was also observed in SD with TDP-type A pathology. In contrast, the extent of AD, DLB, and AG pathology was greater in severely degenerated regions. CST degeneration was either absent or very mild in SD with TDP-type A. Understanding the clinicopathological diversity of SD will help improve its diagnosis and treatment.