Apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio in relation to various definitions of metabolic syndrome among Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To assess if the apolipoprotein (Apo) B/Apo A-I ratio in Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 patients with T2DM, above 40 years of age, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital Diabetes Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January and December 2006. Metabolic syndrome was defined, and compared according to 3 criteria, namely, National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III, International Diabetes Federation, and World Health Organization. RESULTS: In the 250 patients studied, all 3 definitions demonstrated significant increase in the Apo B/Apo A-I ratio, in Saudi type 2 diabetics with the MetS. There was a strong positive correlation between the Apo B/Apo A-I ratio and triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol (r=0.43-0.54, p<0.0001), and a weak, yet significant, correlation (r=0.14-0.21, p<0.05) with waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, fasting glucose, and hemoglobin A1c, however, not with body mass index (r=0.01, p=0.88). In contrast, the ratio showed strong negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.7, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio is significantly associated with MetS in Saudi patients with T2DM, similar to observations made in other ethnic groups.     

The interference of the cleaning procedure of root walls with two different solvents on the adhesion of fiberglass intraradicular posts

Aim: This study was undertaken to examine the effect of root canal (RT) sealers content and the cleaning procedure of RT walls on bond strength (BS) of a fiber reinforced composite (FRC) post cemented with resin-based or zinc phosphate cement. Materials and methods: Forty bovine roots were divided into 2 groups (n = 20) and obturated with gutta-percha points plus Sealer 26 sealer or gutta-percha points plus N-Rickert sealer. In each group, half (n = 10) of intracanal walls was cleaned with ethanol and the other half with sulfuric ether. In each of these subgroups, half of intracanal posts (n = 5) were cemented with Bistite resin-based cement and half with zinc phosphate cement. Specimens were submitted to pull-out test and tensile force until post dislodgement. The maximum forces required for post removal was expressed in MPa, means were submitted to statistical analysis (Analysis of Variance Test, a = 0.05). Results: Fiber reinforced composite cemented with zinc phosphate were significantly more retentive than those cemented with Bistite (p < 0.05). Regarding the influence of eugenol-based sealer on post retention, there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) only between groups cemented with Bistite, in which canals filled with N-Rickert + gutta-percha showed lower BS than canals filled with Sealer 26 + gutta-percha. Conclusion: Despite endodontic cement used, higher pull-out bond strength were obtained when posts were cemented with zinc phosphate. Clinical significance: The importance of ethanol or sulphuric ether application to properly replace water from intraradicular dentine still requires further investigations, especially to clarify if this technique may reduce the effect of aging and improve the stability of the bond, when used to cement fiber posts into the root canal. Keywords: Laboratory research, Dentin, Eugenol, Resin cements, Root canal filling material, Pull-out test, Cleaning procedure. How to cite this article: Gomes MF, Botta SB, Matos AB, Garone- Netto N. The Interference of the Cleaning Procedure of Root Walls with Two Different Solvents on the Adhesion of Fiberglass Intraradicular Posts. J Contemp Dent Pract 2012;13(3):275-279. Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None declared.     

A rare diagnosis of dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the orbit

We report the case of a 56-year-old female who presented to the ophthalmic casualty department with proptosis and diplopia. Initially, non-specific orbital inflammation was suspected while investigations were ongoing. A trial of steroids failed to resolve the proptosis to a significant extent. A CT scan showed a well-defined orbital mass, which on orbital biopsy was shown to be a primary orbital liposarcoma of the dedifferentiated variety. This was confirmed by expert histopathological analysis. An exenteration followed by removal of orbital bone was required to achieve total tumour removal. Radiotherapy was delivered to reduce the chance of micro-metastasis. Orbital liposarcoma is an extremely rare tumour. The dedifferentiated variety is even rarer, with only a few reported cases. Lack of information about this potentially aggressive tumour may create therapeutic dilemmas as to the best treatment approach. Similarly, prediction of an accurate prognosis for the patient may be difficult due to the rarity of this condition.     

Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis in a family of patients with sarcoidosis reinforces the association between both entities

Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) is a rare entity mainly characterized by a prominent granulomatous vasculitis affecting middle-aged or old individuals and with a favorable prognosis. Although many believe it is a variant of sarcoidosis, the proper classification is still a matter of debate as some of its features are found in sarcoidosis but also in Churg-Strauss syndrome, Wegener's disease and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In this paper, we described for the first time a case of NSG in a family with several cases of sarcoidosis, reinforcing the relationship between NSG and sarcoidosis. Additional interesting findings were the young age of the patient (15 years old), the symptoms limited to the respiratory tract (uncommon when NSG affects youngsters) and the increase in serologic markers of autoimmune disease. Though complete criteria for autoimmune disease were not present, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren's syndrome are possible candidates. As sarcoidosis is described to be associated with several autoimmune diseases, this finding is an additional suggestion of the relationship between both entities.     

Malan syndrome: Sotos-like overgrowth with de novo NFIX sequence variants and deletions in six new patients and a review of the literature

De novo monoallelic variants in NFIX cause two distinct syndromes. Whole gene deletions, nonsense variants and missense variants affecting the DNA-binding domain have been seen in association with a Sotos-like phenotype that we propose is referred to as Malan syndrome. Frameshift and splice-site variants thought to avoid nonsense-mediated RNA decay have been seen in Marshall–Smith syndrome. We report six additional patients with Malan syndrome and de novo NFIX deletions or sequence variants and review the 20 patients now reported. The phenotype is characterised by moderate postnatal overgrowth and macrocephaly. Median height and head circumference in childhood are 2.0 and 2.3 standard deviations (SD) above the mean, respectively. There is overlap of the facial phenotype with NSD1-positive Sotos syndrome in some cases including a prominent forehead, high anterior hairline, downslanting palpebral fissures and prominent chin. Neonatal feeding difficulties and/or hypotonia have been reported in 30% of patients. Developmental delay/learning disability have been reported in all cases and are typically moderate. Ocular phenotypes are common, including strabismus (65%), nystagmus (25% ) and optic disc pallor/hypoplasia (25%). Other recurrent features include pectus excavatum (40%) and scoliosis (25%). Eight reported patients have a deletion also encompassing CACNA1A, haploinsufficiency of which causes episodic ataxia type 2 or familial hemiplegic migraine. One previous case had episodic ataxia and one case we report has had cyclical vomiting responsive to pizotifen. In individuals with this contiguous gene deletion syndrome, awareness of possible later neurological manifestations is important, although their penetrance is not yet clear.     

Does clinical outcome of birch pollen immunotherapy relate to induction of blocking antibodies preventing IgE from allergen binding? A pilot study monitoring responses during first year of AIT

Background

The clinical benefit of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) involves induction of blocking antibodies. It is not clear if these antibodies function via steric hindrance alone or a combination of levels, avidities, and epitope specificities, and clinical outcome cannot be predicted. We aim to in-depth characterize serum antibody profiles during birch pollen AIT, investigate therapy-induced antibodies for their capacity to block IgE binding to Bet v 1 and correlate data with clinical outcomes.

Methods

Immune responses of five birch pollen allergic patients were monitored during the first year of AIT by nasal provocation tests (NPTs), ImmunoCAP, immunoblots, direct and avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, mediator release assays, facilitated antigen binding (FAB) assays, and inhibition mediator release assays.

Results

There was no correlation between NPT results and therapy-induced changes in levels (IgE, IgG, IgA, IgM), avidities, or mediator release potency of Bet v 1-specific antibodies. In FAB assays, blocking antibodies initiated upon AIT were shown to prevent formation of Bet v 1-IgE complexes of an indicator serum pool and significantly correlated with clinical readout. Inhibition mediator release assays using patient-specific IgE for passive sensitization revealed therapy-induced blocking capacities with very good correlation to NPT results. Notably, this assay was the only one to detect a non-responder during treatment in this pilot study.

Conclusions

Clinical outcome of AIT depends on induction of blocking antibodies able to prevent the patient’s own IgE from allergen binding. Monitoring of clinical efficacy seems to be best achieved using the inhibition mediator release assay, as development of relevant blocking antibodies can be verified in a patient-tailored manner.

     

Microbiota That Affect Risk for Shigellosis in Children in Low-Income Countries

Pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract exist within a vast population of microbes. We examined associations between pathogens and composition of gut microbiota as they relate to Shigella spp./enteroinvasive Escherichia coli infection. We analyzed 3,035 stool specimens (1,735 nondiarrheal and 1,300 moderate-to-severe diarrheal) from the Global Enteric Multicenter Study for 9 enteropathogens. Diarrheal specimens had a higher number of enteropathogens (diarrheal mean 1.4, nondiarrheal mean 0.95; p<0.0001). Rotavirus showed a negative association with Shigella spp. in cases of diarrhea (odds ratio 0.31, 95% CI 0.17–0.55) and had a large combined effect on moderate-to-severe diarrhea (odds ratio 29, 95% CI 3.8–220). In 4 Lactobacillus taxa identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the association between pathogen and disease was decreased, which is consistent with the possibility that Lactobacillus spp. are protective against Shigella spp.–induced diarrhea. Bacterial diversity of gut microbiota was associated with diarrhea status, not high levels of the Shigella spp. ipaH gene.     

Shape-controlled synthesis of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with different iron precursors and capping agents

This paper describes a modified method to prepare monodisperse Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles with different shapes (cube, octahedron, and sphere). The shape of the magnetic nanoparticles could be conveniently controlled by changing the types of precursor/capping agent and concentration of capping agent. The prepared samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry. Cubes and octahedra were formed using ferrous sulfate heptahydrate as an iron source, ethylene glycol as a solvent and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a capping agent while spheres were formed by using ferric chloride hexahydrate as an iron source, ethylene glycol as a solvent and ammonium acetate as a capping agent. By varying KOH concentration (0.5 M, 1 M, 1.5 M, and 5 M), the shape was transformed from cubes to octahedra because octahedra are developed dominantly at higher concentration of KOH within the reaction mixture. The magnetic studies show superparamagnetic behavior for all samples at room temperature. The Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles show the magnetic saturation values of 87 emu g⁻¹, 85 emu g⁻¹, and 82 emu g⁻¹ for spheres, cubes, and octahedrons, respectively.

This paper describes a modified method to prepare monodisperse Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles with different shapes (cube, octahedron, and sphere).