Applications of basic fibroblastic growth factor (FGF‐2, bFGF) in dentistry

Recent developments in research have been based on the maintenance and regeneration of natural organs and tissues; among such developments is the use of growth factors (GFs). The use of basic fibroblastic growth factors (bFGF) may be indicated in different disciplines of dentistry such as periodontics and dental traumatology. These cells' ability to induce proliferation and differentiation of cells may make GFs a useful source for the development of natural structures. This mini‐review will discuss how bFGF can be beneficial to dentistry in relation to 1) re‐implantation/autotransplantation of avulsed teeth and 2) periodontal regeneration.     

Methamphetamine induces oligodendroglial cell death in vitro

We investigated whether the psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH) has a cytotoxic effect on oligodendrocytes and which cell-death pathways are involved in the cytotoxic process. METH caused concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxicity in rat oligodendrocyte cultures. METH induced apoptotic cell death and mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (bax and DP5), but not anti-apoptotic proteins (bcl-2 and bcl-XL). These results suggest that METH induces cytotoxicity in rat oligodendrocytes via the differential regulation of the expression of genes involved in the apoptotic process.     

Mismatch between ADA and AGS recommendations for glycated hemoglobin targets for older adults

In recent years, modified glycemic targets have been defined for older adults with diabetes mellitus. In a sample of elderly patients, we have identified several inconsistencies between the real life applicability of glycated hemoglobin goals recommended by the American Diabetes Association and the American Geriatrics Society.     

EPCR gene A3 haplotype and elevated soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) levels in Turkish pediatric stroke patients

INTRODUCTION: High plasma levels of sEPCR lead to dysfunction of the EPCR-mediated coagulation. We have evaluated the role of EPCR A3 haplotype with its representative promoter variant 1651 C-G in a total of twenty-seven pediatric stroke patients and fifty-nine healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotyping of the A3 haplotype was performed with RFLP analysis. Plasma sEPCR levels were measured with ELISA. The mutant 1651 G allele frequency was observed to be 0.166 in the patient group. Common risk factors such as FV 1691 G-A and PT 20210 G-A mutations were also screened. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: None of the patients with sEPCR levels below 100 ng/ml carried the A3 haplotype, while patients with elevated sEPCR levels carried the A3 haplotype either in a heterozygous or homozygous state. Our study confirms that there is a strong association between A3 haplotype and elevated sEPCR levels. We suggest that elevated sEPCR levels might increase the risk of stroke at pediatric age when compared to controls. Studies with large series of patients are warranted to confirm this hypothesis.     

Prognostic value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with active infective endocarditis

Our aim was to determine whether N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels are valuable for predicting prognosis in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). We analyzed measured plasma NT-pro-BNP levels at admission in 45 patients with definite IE. The primary end point was early surgery or in-hospital death. The other data recorded were baseline clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory parameters. Thirty patients underwent early surgery, and 9 died in hospital. Univariate analysis revealed that log NT-pro-BNP, cTnI > or =0.03 ng/ml, New York Heart Association functional class III to IV symptoms, left atrial diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and severe valvular regurgitation were associated with increased risk of reaching the primary end point. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis identified log NT-pro-BNP (hazard ratio 1.5; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 1.9, p <0.001) as the only independent predictor of the primary end point. The log NT-pro-BNP cut-off value with the highest sensitivity (97%) and specificity (92%) for predicting primary end point was 7.2 (1,500 pg/ml). Patients with NT-pro-BNP level > or =1,500 pg/ml had significantly lower event-free survival than others. In conclusion, admission NT-pro-BNP is of prognostic value in patients with IE. The combination of admission NT-pro-BNP and cTnI levels appears to have even greater value for risk stratification in this patient group.     

Circulating adhesion molecule levels in childhood asthma

The present study aims at comparing the levels of circulating forms of E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in 10 patients with acute asthma, 10 stable atopic asthmatics, 10 nonatopic stable asthmatics and 10 age-matched healthy children. sE-selectin levels of patients with acute asthma were found to be significantly higher than that of the other three groups. The insignificant rise in sICAM-1 levels was attributed to the usage of inhaler corticosteroids. Serum sE-selectin and sICAM-1 seem to be promising serological markers for monitoring disease activity in childhood asthma.     

Right ventricular involvement in anterior myocardial infarction: a tissue Doppler-derived strain and strain rate study

OBJECTIVE:

Strain and strain rate imaging is currently the most popular echocardiographic technique that reveals subclinical myocardial damage. There are currently no available data on this imaging method with regard to assessing right ventricular involvement in anterior myocardial infarction. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate right ventricular regional functions using a derived strain and strain rate imaging tissue Doppler method in patients who were successfully treated for their first anterior myocardial infarction.

METHODS:

The patient group was composed of 44 patients who had experienced their first anterior myocardial infarction and had undergone successful percutaneous coronary intervention. Twenty patients were selected for the control group. The right ventricular myocardial samplings were performed in three regions: the basal, mid, and apical segments of the lateral wall. The individual myocardial velocity, strain, and strain rate values of each basal, mid, and apical segment were obtained.

RESULTS:

The right ventricular myocardial velocities of the patient group were significantly decreased with respect to all three velocities in the control group. The strain and strain rate values of the right mid and apical ventricular segments in the patient group were significantly lower than those of the control group (excluding the right ventricular basal strain and strain rate). In addition, changes in the right ventricular mean strain and strain rate values were significant.

CONCLUSION:

Right ventricular involvement following anterior myocardial infarction can be assessed using tissue Doppler based strain and strain rate     

Melatonin attenuates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in nitric oxide synthase inhibited rats

Recent studies show that melatonin reduces the blood pressure (BP) and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced damage. This study was designed to investigate the effects of melatonin on the renal I/R injury in rats given the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). After right nephrectomy, I/R was induced by occlusion of the left renal vessels for 60 min, followed by 24h reperfusion. The administration of melatonin significantly attenuated BP in NOS-inhibited hypertensive rats. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a stable metabolite of the free-radical-mediated lipid peroxidation cascade, were found to be significantly higher in the I/R group (3.48+/-0.2mg/l serum) than in the control group (2.69+/-0.2mg/l serum). L-NAME (40 mgkg(-1) for 15 days)+I/R significantly increased the MDA levels compared to I/R alone. Melatonin administration to L-NAME rats significantly reduced the MDA values resulting from I/R. We also demonstrated that I/R, and especially L-NAME+I/R, lead to structural changes in the kidney and that melatonin attenuates these changes. These results suggest that melatonin reduces BP and I/R injury in NOS inhibited rats by L-NAME.     

Adaptive noise cancellation to suppress electrocardiography artifacts during real-time interventional MRI

Purpose:

To develop a system for artifact suppression in electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings obtained during interventional real‐time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and Methods:

We characterized ECG artifacts due to radiofrequency pulses and gradient switching during MRI in terms of frequency content. A combination of analog filters and digital least mean squares adaptive filters were used to filter the ECG during in vivo experiments and the results were compared with those obtained with simple low‐pass filtering. The system performance was evaluated in terms of artifact suppression and ability to identify arrhythmias during real‐time MRI.

Results:

Analog filters were able to suppress artifacts from high‐frequency radiofrequency pulses and gradient switching. The remaining pulse artifacts caused by intermittent preparation sequences or spoiler gradients required adaptive filtering because their bandwidth overlapped with that of the ECG. Using analog and adaptive filtering, a mean improvement of 38 dB (n = 11, peak QRS signal to pulse artifact noise) was achieved. This filtering system was successful in removing pulse artifacts that obscured arrhythmias such as premature ventricular complexes and complete atrioventricular block.

Conclusion:

We have developed an online ECG monitoring system employing digital adaptive filters that enables the identification of cardiac arrhythmias during real‐time MRI‐guided interventions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;33:1184–1193. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.