Influence on the masticatory system in treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring with a mandibular protruding device: A 2-year follow-up

The aim was to identify the incidence and types of possible adverse events in the masticatory system after treatment with a mandibular protruding device (MPD) during a 2-year period in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or snoring. The subjects comprised 65 middle-aged patients (44 OSA patients, 21 snorers). A clinical examination and a questionnaire concerning signs and symptoms from the masticatory system were performed before, after 6 months, and after 2 years of MPD use. The frequencies of registered signs from the masticatory system, such as muscle and joint tenderness, palpation, and pain during mandibular movement, decreased significantly between baseline and the 2-year follow-up. There were significant changes in the mandibular range of protrusion (+0.7 mm, P < .001), overjet (-0.5 mm, P < .001), and overbite (-0.6 mm, P < .001) compared with the initial examination. Nine patients developed a lateral open bite during treatment, and 2 of them experienced subjective symptoms related to the altered occlusion but still used the MPD every night. No patient reported pain on opening the mouth wide or during jaw movements. Two reported tiredness on jaw function. The reported frequency of headaches was also significantly reduced (P < .01). The high compliance rate in MPD use showed that the therapy is well tolerated, but there is a risk of minor alterations in the occlusion during MPD treatment.     

The importance of oral foci of infection in renal transplantation

During the treatment of patients with renal failure or renal transplants the most important consideration is to eliminate sources of infection before and after the treatment. Acute or chronic oral infections or bacteraemias resulting from dental procedures may cause serious complications in these patients who already have lowered host resistance caused by immunosuppressant therapy. In order to determine the latest concepts from some international transplantation centres relating to the importance of and the effect of infective sources in the oral cavity, a survey form was prepared which included several questions related to oral foci of infection and renal transplantations.
Results obtained from 22 centres from 12 countries indicated that the majority of the centres included a dental examination in their routine protocol and required completion of any necessary dental treatment before transplantation. However, full agreement among all these centres on the necessity for dental examination as part of the protocol has not yet been reached.     

The Encapsulation of Squid Diisopropylphosphorofluoridate-Hydrolyzing Enzyme within Mouse Erythrocytes

This study describes the entrapment of squid-type diisopropylphosphorofluoridate-hydrolyzingenzyme (DFPase) within mouse red blood cells. These erythrocytesthereby gain the ability to rapidly hydrolyze alkylphosphatecholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors such as diisopropyl fluorophosphate(DFP). DFPase rapidly hydrolyzes DFP to diisopropyl phosphate.Resealed erythrocytes provide a stable carrier system that canpreserve the activity of encapsulated enzymes against otherwiserapid in vivo degradation; thus, ChE inhibitors can be degradedto relatively nontoxic metabolites by these erythrocyte carriers.Squid DFPase was purified from the hepatopancreas of Atlanticsquid and DFPase activity was determined by measuring changesin fluoride ion concentration using a fluoride ion selectiveelectrode. Mouse erythrocytes in suspension with excess squidDFPase were dialyzed against hypotonic buffer to allow the encapsulationof the enzyme to occur. Cells were then resealed by returningthe suspension to isosmotic with saline. Rate of DFP hydrolysisobserved with these cells was much greater than the rate ofnonenzymatic hydrolysis and was directly proportional to theamount of the erythrocyte suspension added to the assay solution.The rate of hydrolysis was first order in substrate. Erythrocytecontrols showed no endogenous DFPase activity. These resultssuggest that enzyme entrapment may be developed as a methodto prevent and antagonize organophosphate poisoning.