The Carbomer-Lecithin Adjuvant Adjuplex Has Potent Immunoactivating Properties and Elicits Protective Adaptive Immunity against Influenza Virus Challenge in Mice

The continued discovery and development of adjuvants for vaccine formulation are important to safely increase potency and/or reduce the antigen doses of existing vaccines and tailor the adaptive immune response to newly developed vaccines. Adjuplex is a novel adjuvant platform based on a purified lecithin and carbomer homopolymer. Here, we analyzed the adjuvant activity of Adjuplex in mice for the soluble hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein of influenza A virus. The titration of Adjuplex revealed an optimal dose of 1% for immunogenicity, eliciting high titers of HA-specific IgG but inducing no significant weight loss. At this dose, Adjuplex completely protected mice from an otherwise lethal influenza virus challenge and was at least as effective as the adjuvants monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and alum in preventing disease. Adjuplex elicited balanced Th1-/Th2-type immune responses with accompanying cytokines and triggered antigen-specific CD8⁺ T-cell proliferation. The use of the peritoneal inflammation model revealed that Adjuplex recruited dendritic cells (DCs), monocytes, and neutrophils in the context of innate cytokine and chemokine secretion. Adjuplex neither triggered classical maturation of DCs nor activated a pathogen recognition receptor (PRR)-expressing NF-κB reporter cell line, suggesting a mechanism of action different from that reported for classical pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-activated innate immunity. Taken together, these data reveal Adjuplex to be a potent and well-tolerated adjuvant with application for subunit vaccines.     

Electrophysiological evidence for differences between fusion and combination illusions in audiovisual speech perception

Incongruent audiovisual speech stimuli can lead to perceptual illusions such as fusions or combinations. Here, we investigated the underlying audiovisual integration process by measuring ERPs. We observed that visual speech‐induced suppression of P2 amplitude (which is generally taken as a measure of audiovisual integration) for fusions was similar to suppression obtained with fully congruent stimuli, whereas P2 suppression for combinations was larger. We argue that these effects arise because the phonetic incongruency is solved differently for both types of stimuli.     

Effect of ice compression on pain after mandibular third molar surgery: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial

This study was designed to investigate the effect of compression with ice and compression alone on pain and quality of life after surgical removal of mandibular third molars. A prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study design was chosen. Participants in group A applied 45 min of repeated compression with ice; those in group B applied 45 min of repeated compression without ice (control); and those in group C did not apply any compression. Pain intensity was measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) three times a day for seven days. At day seven, overall pain reduction was scored on a global perceived effect (GPE) scale and a quality-of-life questionnaire was completed. Ninety-five patients completed the trial. The VAS scores demonstrated a significant pain decrease in groups A and B three days postoperatively. No significant differences were observed between groups A and B. Based on the GPE ratings, in groups A and B more patients indicated that pain was reduced successfully, but this was not statistically significant. Quality of life was significantly better for patients in groups A and B. These results demonstrate that compression after surgical removal of mandibular third molars is a valuable method for preventing pain.     

Syndromes 22. Rieger's syndrome

Rieger syndrome is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by defects of the anterior chamber of the eye, failure of the periumbilical skin to involute, and developmental malformations of the dentition. Recognition of the dental anomalies may result in the early diagnosis of this syndrome and prevent progressive visual loss.     

Regional odontodysplasia: Report of three cases

Regional odontodysplasia is a developmental anomaly of dental tissues with characteristic clinical, radiographic, and histologic appearances. It most commonly affects the maxillary anterior teeth of both the primary and permanent dentition, and occurs in females twice as often as in males. The pathogenesis is unknown. The clinical and histopathologic findings of regional odontodysplasia in three patients are discussed.     

Practical aspects of local anesthesia. Infiltration anesthesia

Local anaesthesia through infiltration is daily practiced in dentistry. Infiltration anaesthesia is effective in gums, mucosa and teeth, in the upper jaw and in the front part of the lower jaw. An amount of 0.3-0.5 ml of anaesthetics including vasoconstrictor is sufficient for 1-2 hours. The method is safe; only few contra-indications are known. Infiltration anaesthesia seldom leads to complications. Intravascular injection cannot entirely be excluded. Therefore slow injection and subsequent observation of the patient's reactions are required.     

Conduction anesthesia in and around the mouth

Local infiltration anaesthesia is generally used in dentistry. The so-called nerve block anaesthesia is only routinely used for the mandible. The purpose of this article is to discuss the variety of blocks that can be used by dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and anaesthesiologists. Furthermore, local reactions caused by anaesthetic solutions are described.