Improved wound healing by low-level laser irradiation after gingivectomy operations: a controlled clinical pilot study

Aim: Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) may induce morphological, molecular and cellular processes, which are involved in wound healing. The aim of this split‐mouth controlled clinical trial was to assess the effects of LLLT on healing of gingiva after gingivectomy and gingivoplasty. Material and Methods: Twenty patients with inflammatory gingival hyperplasias on their symmetrical teeth were included in this study. After gingivectomy and gingivoplasty, a diode laser (588 nm) was randomly applied to one side of the operation area for 7 days. The surgical areas were disclosed by a solution (Mira‐2‐tones) to visualize the areas in which the epithelium is absent. Comparison of the surface areas on the LLLT‐applied sites and controls were made with an image‐analysing software. Results: Despite the prolonged time needed for application, patients have tolerated LLLT well. While there were no statistically significant differences between the stained surface areas of the LLLT applied and the control sites immediately after the surgery, LLLT‐applied sites had significantly lower stained areas compared with the controls on the post‐operative third, seventh and 15th day (p<0.001 for each). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, the results indicated that LLLT may enhance epithelization and improve wound healing after gingivectomy and gingivoplasty operations.     

The effects of vitamin E on the skin lipid peroxidation and the clinical improvement in vitiligo patients treated with PUVA.

Solar-simulated UV-irradiation causes changes in the enzymic antioxidant defence system in the human epidermis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on the skin lipid peroxidation and clinical improvement in vitiligo patients treated with PUVA. The first group of patients was treated for six months with psoralen plus UV-A (n = 15). The second group of patients was treated for six months with psoralen plus UV-A vs vitamin E (900 IU daily perorally) (n = 15). There was no significant difference in the clinical improvement between the group of patients who were treated with PUVA and vitamin E and the group of patients treated with PUVA alone (p > 0.05). Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the levels of lipoperoxides before and after treatment in the first group (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the levels of lipoperoxides before and after treatment in the second group (p > 0.05). According to our results, vitamin E may prevent oxidative distress resulting from PUVA therapy, but does not affect the clinical improvement of the vitiligo lesions.     

Horseshoe lung associated with left-lung hypoplasia,left pulmonary artery sling and bilateral agenesis of upper lobe bronchi

Horseshoe lung, a rare congenital anomaly, is almost always associated with unilateral (usually right-sided) lung hypoplasia, and, in most cases, in conjunction with the scimitar syndrome. We present an 8-month-old boy with horseshoe lung associated with left-lung hypoplasia, left pulmonary artery sling and bilateral agenesis of the upper lobe bronchi, diagnosed by multidetector CT (MDCT) imaging. The study also revealed an anomalous origin of the left vertebral artery as the last branch of the aortic arch, distal to the left subclavian artery, and an anomalous origin of the left common carotid artery from the brachiocephalic trunk. A hemivertebral anomaly of the seventh cervical vertebra was incidentally detected. MDCT with high-quality multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions is a noninvasive and rapid technique for detecting the complex combination of vascular, tracheobronchial and parenchymal anomalies, and any potential bone anomalies, in one imaging study.     

Family-based genetic association study of insulin-like growth factor I microsatellite markers and premenopausal breast cancer risk

Several studies suggest that higher circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels are associated with premenopausal breast cancer risk. Breast cancer risk and circulating IGF-I concentration appear to be partly heritable, thus genetic variation at IGF1 could influence IGF-I levels and breast cancer risk. We investigated the association of IGF1 CA repeat variants with premenopausal breast cancer risk using a family-based design. The study sample included 840 families from the Ontario Familial Breast Cancer Registry (OFBCR) and the Australian Breast Cancer Family Registry (ABCFR). Three CA repeat variants, at 5′, 3′, and in intron 2 were genotyped (5′CA, 3′CA, In2CA). We found several nominally significant associations. The 5′CA-21 allele (P = 0.03) and In2CA-212 allele (P = 0.04) were associated with lower risk, and the In2CA-216 allele with higher risk (P = 0.04) for the combined ABCFR–OFBCR. These associations were not significant after taking into account multiple comparisons. In2CA-216 was more strongly associated with risk when we used a recessive instead of an additive model (P = 0.01). 5′CA alleles of repeat length 18–20 were associated with higher risk (P = 0.02), and 5′CA alleles of >20 repeats were associated with lower risk (P = 0.01). These associations were significant in the OFBCR (In2CA-216 recessive, P = 0.02; 5′CA 18–20 and >20 allele grouping, P = 0.01) but not strongly supported by the ABCFR (In2CA-216 recessive, P = 0.14; 5′CA 18–20, P = 0.25; 5′CA >20, P = 0.20). The associations we found could be due to chance as many comparisons were made. Our results do not strongly support an association between these IGF1 variants and breast cancer risk.     

BACTEC MGIT 960培养结合INNO-LIPA~(TM) RIF.TBDNA探针新技术快速诊断结核病

目的通过MGIT960培养系统结合国外最新的INNO -LIPATM RIF.TB(LIPA)DNA探针技术的应用 ,探讨其快速诊断结核病的可行性。方法应用BACTECMGIT960系统进行临床疑似结核病例标本的培养 ,筛选了70例结核分枝杆菌 ,35例非结核分枝杆菌 ,用LIPA探针技术诊断是否为结核分枝杆菌。结果用LIPADNA方法在70例结核分枝杆菌中获得阳性69例 ,占98.6 % ;35例非结核分枝杆菌均为阴性。与单纯消化纯化后涂片的82.9 % (58/70)的阳性率相比增加了15.7个百分点 ,两者在统计学上差异有显著性(P<0.05)。BactecMGIT960培养结合LIPADNA探针与传统诊断方法4～8周相比 ,整个过程只需6～37天 ,平均15天 (2周 )。结论LIPADNA探针是一种具有高度敏感性和特异性、能够简便、快速、准确地诊断结核病的新技术。同时还能鉴定rpoβ 基因位点的突变 ,诊断耐利福平 (RMP)性结核 ,有望适用于结核分枝杆菌耐RMP性结核的快速检测 ,进一步为结核病快速准确的治疗提供理论依据。