Revascularization with and without Platelet-rich Plasma in Nonvital,Immature, Anterior Teeth: A Pilot Clinical Study

Introduction

This study was conducted to evaluate and compare maturogenesis induced by revascularization with and without platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Methods

Twenty patients with nonvital, immature anterior teeth were randomly categorized into 2 groups. Subsequent to chemomechanical preparation, revascularization with and without PRP carried on a collagen sponge was induced in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The cases were followed up clinically and radiographically at 6- and 12-month intervals.

Results

Clinically, all cases were asymptomatic with complete resolution of signs and symptoms. Radiographically, there was a marked difference in periapical healing, apical closure, and dentinal wall thickening in group 2 in comparison with group 1. However, root lengthening was comparable for both of the procedures.

Conclusions

Revascularization is a conservative and an effective method for inducing maturogenesis in nonvital, immature teeth. Supplementations with PRP can potentially improve the desired biological outcome of this regenerative technique.     

Digital assessment and quantification of pelvic organ prolapse (DPOP-Q): a randomised cross-over diagnostic agreement trial

Introduction

Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system, measured in centimetres using a ruler (e.g. POPstix®), is recommended to quantify prolapse severity. POPstix® are costly (US $1/ruler). Home-made devices are used instead, but these have not been shown to be reproducible.

Hypothesis

Digitally assessed POP-Q (DPOP-Q) is as reliable, reproducible and acceptable as POP-Q assessed using POPstix®.

Methods

In this randomised crossover diagnostic agreement trial, each assessor measured the index finger of their dominant hand using a ruler. At visit one, patients were randomised to either POPstix® POP-Q assessment in a modified lithotomy position or DPOP-Q in both modified a lithotomy and a standing position. After the first clinician conducted this assessment, a second blinded clinician then carried out the remaining assessment on the same patient. For each examination, duration was recorded, along with a patient-completed discomfort score. Twenty-five women were invited for visit two, at which DPOP-Q was recorded by the same clinician who undertook DPOP-Q at the first visit. This allowed evaluation of inter- and intraobserver agreement together with examination acceptability.

Results

One hundred and nine women were recruited [median age 55 years, parity 2, body mass index (BMI) 27.1]. Of the 25 patients invited, 23 returned for visit two. DPOP-Q had high interobserver reliability [κ?=?0.94, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.878–0.996] and intraobserver reliability (α?=?0.96) with POPstix®. DPOP-Q was significantly quicker (p?=?0.02) and less uncomfortable (p?<?0.01) than POPstix® POP-Q.

Conclusion

DPOP-Q is reliable, acceptable and cost effective.

     

Recent advances in targeting the autotaxin-lysophosphatidate-lipid phosphate phosphatase axis in vivo

Extracellular lysophosphatidate(LPA) is a potent bioactive lipid that signals through six G-protein-coupled receptors.This signaling is required for embryogenesis,tissue repair and remodeling processes.LPA is produced from circulating lysophosphatidylcholine by autotaxin(ATX),and is degraded outside cells by a family of three enzymes called the lipid phosphate phosphatases(LPPs).In many pathological conditions,particularly in cancers,LPA concentrations are increased due to high ATX expression and low LPP activity.In cancers,LPA signaling drives tumor growth,angiogenesis,metastasis,resistance to chemotherapy and decreased efficacy of radiotherapy.Hence,targeting the ATX-LPA-LPP axis is an attractive strategy for introducing novel adjuvant therapeutic options.In this review,we will summarize current progress in targeting the ATX-LPA-LPP axis with inhibitors of autotaxin activity,LPA receptor antagonists,LPA monoclonal antibodies,and increasing low LPP expression.Some of these agents are already in clinical trials and have applications beyond cancer,including chronic inflammatory diseases.     

Inhibition of Enterococcus faecium adherence to collagen by antibodies against high-affinity binding subdomains of Acm

Strains of Enterococcus faecium express a cell wall-anchored protein, Acm, which mediates adherence to collagen. Here, we (i) identify the minimal and high-affinity binding subsegments of Acm and (ii) show that anti-Acm immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) purified against these subsegments reduced E. faecium TX2535 strain collagen adherence up to 73 and 50%, respectively, significantly more than the total IgGs against the full-length Acm A domain (28%) (P < 0.0001). Blocking Acm adherence with functional subsegment-specific antibodies raises the possibility of their use as therapeutic or prophylactic agents.     

Significance of p53 expression in ovarian tumors and its correlation to the morphological differentiation

Cancer of breast and cervix reign supreme among the fatal diseases in women globally. Interestingly the ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate. This is attributed to its late clinical presentation and delayed diagnosis. The expression of p53 throws light on the prognosis of ovarian tumors. The surface epithelial tumors, especially the serous cystadenocarcinoma and non Hodgkin lymphoma of ovary where in the expression p53 was high compared to the benign and borderline tumors. Further the expression of p53 in tumors arising from germinal cells, sex-cord stromal cells are observed to be very low. The expression of p53 and its correlation to the morphology enhances the prognostic significance.     

Management of cap striae following challenging small incision lenticule extraction surgery – A case report

A 24-year-old female underwent small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopic astigmatism OU. In the left eye, cap-lenticular adhesion along with tearing of the cap occurred, resulting in a gaped incision and transverse striae involving the visual axis on the first post op day. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/32. The case was managed with interface wash and stretching of the cap, in order to iron out the striae. Post intervention, the UDVA improved to 20/20, striae resolved, and interface remained clear through a follow-up of nine months, suggesting that cap striae in SMILE may be similarly managed as the flap striae in laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), resulting in satisfactory visual outcomes.     

Synthesis,biological evaluation,and molecular modeling of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-2-aryl-5-styryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives as acetylcholine esterase inhibitors

A library of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives of (E)-2-aryl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 4(a–o) and (E)-2-aryl-5-(2-benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)vinyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 5(a–q) were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. All the synthesized compounds exhibited moderate to good inhibitory activity toward the AChE enzyme. Among the oxadiazole derivatives examined, compounds 4a, 4g, 5c, and 5m (IC₅₀ values of 24.89, 13.72, 37.65, and 19.63 μM, respectively) were found to be promising inhibitors of AChE. Molecular protein–ligand docking studies were examined for these compounds using GOLD docking software and their binding conformations were determined and the simultaneous interactions mode was also established for the potent derivatives.     

Experimental and finite element analysis of dynamic loading of the mouse forearm

Bone formation is reported to initiate in osteocytes by mechanotransduction due to dynamic loading of bone. The first step towards this is to characterize the dynamic strain fields in the overall bone. Here, the previously developed mouse forearm ulna‐radius model, subjected to static loading, has been further enhanced by incorporating a loading cap and applying a cyclic dynamic load to more closely approximate experimental biological conditions. This study also incorporates data obtained from strain gauging both the ulna and radius simultaneously. Based on separate experiments, the elastic modulus of the ulna and radius were determined to be 13.8 and 9.9 GPa, respectively. Another novel aspect of the numerical model is the inclusion of the interosseous membrane in the FE model with membrane stiffness ranging from 5–15 N/mm that have been found to give strain values closer to that from the experiments. Interestingly, the inclusion of the interosseous membrane helped to equalize the peak strain magnitudes in the ulna and radius (～1800 at 2 N load and ～3200 at 3.5 N), which was also observed experimentally. This model represents a significant advance towards being able to simulate through FE analysis the strain fields generated in vivo upon mechanical loading of the mouse forearm. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1580–1588, 2014.