Impact of interocclusal contacts on infrared laser fluorescence in pits of sound first permanent molars in children

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 265–270 Background. A device based on infrared laser fluorescence (IRLF) has become available as an adjunct for the diagnosis of dental caries. Aims. The objective of this study was to clarify the differences of IRLF readings in the mesial, central and distal occlusal pits of first permanent molars. Design. Sixty‐four children (average age 8.0 years) were examined using IRLF. The mesial, central and distal pits of clinically healthy first permanent molars were measured. The instrument provides measurements in arbitrary units on an open‐ended interval scale. Results. Mean (± SE) IRLF values in the mesial pits were 4.9 ± 0.4 (upper) and 6.5 ± 0.4 (lower) and were significantly lower than those in the central (8.8 ± 0.6 and 11.5 ± 0.9) and distal (9.6 ± 0.7 and 10.4 ± 0.8) pits in the maxilla and mandible. There was no significant difference between the right (7.3 ± 0.5, 9.4 ± 0.6) and left (8.2 ± 0.5, 9.5 ± 0.6) dental arches. IRLF measurements in the mesial pits of human first permanent sound molars were lower than the central and distal pits in children whose second molars had not erupted. Conclusions. The inherently higher IRLF values of some sites should not be misinterpreted and trigger early invasive treatment.     

CD48 as a novel molecular target for antibody therapy in multiple myeloma

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs are desirable for the improvement of multiple myeloma (MM) treatment. In this study, we found for the first time that CD48 was highly expressed on MM plasma cells. In 22 out of 24 MM patients, CD48 was expressed on more than 90% of MM plasma cells at significantly higher levels than it was on normal lymphocytes and monocytes. CD48 was only weakly expressed on some CD34(+) haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, and not expressed on erythrocytes or platelets. We next examined whether CD48 could serve as a target antigen for mAb therapy against MM. A newly generated in-house anti-CD48 mAb induced mild antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and marked complement-dependent cytotoxicity against not only MM cell lines but also primary MM plasma cells in vitro. Administration of the anti-CD48 mAb significantly inhibited tumour growth in severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated subcutaneously with MM cells. Furthermore, anti-CD48 mAb treatment inhibited growth of MM cells transplanted directly into murine bone marrow. Finally and importantly, we demonstrated that the anti-CD48 mAb did not damage normal CD34(+) haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. These results suggest that the anti-CD48 mAb has the potential to become an effective therapeutic mAb against MM.     

A neuropsychological and neuroimaging study of a patient before and after treatment for paretic neurosyphilis

Abstract

A 41-year-old woman suffering from paretic neurosyphilis was treated successfully with high-dose penicillin. Detailed neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies were performed before and after treatment. The patient initially presented with presbyophrenia-like features of an amnesic-confabulatory state with a hypomanic mood. Pre-treatment neuropsychological examination revealed deficits in general intelligence, attention, memory, and frontal lobe executive function. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated severe hippocampa/parahippocampal damage, in addition to fronto-temporal atrophy and ventricular dilatation. Immediately after treatment, she was no longer confabulatory or hypomanic, but remained densely amnesic. Neuropsychological examination at that time revealed a significant improvement in frontal lobe function, whereas her memory was still impaired. However, CT and MRI showed no interval change. Single-photon emission CT (SPECT) demonstrated a remarkable improvement in cerebral perfusion, but the Increase in frontal perfusion was relatively small. Seven months after treatment, clinical and neuropsychological examination revealed no evidence of memory impairment. Cerebral perfusion on SPECT in the frontal areas by this time had improved to normal. Positron emission tomography (PET), however, still showed patchy areas of hypoperfusion/hypometabolism. This study demonstrates the patient's stepwise clinical recovery following early antibiotic therapy and shows the dissociation of neuropsychological recovery and changes on SPECT and PET.     

The observational study of delayed wound healing after tooth extraction in patients receiving oral bisphosphonate therapy

IntroductionIn this study, we investigated whether such a discontinuation of oral bisphosphonate (BP) for 3 months might influence the incidence of BP-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) and wound healing after tooth extraction in patients receiving oral BP therapy.Material and methodsThere were a total of 434 teeth in 201 patients (18 males and 183 females). The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether or not they underwent a 3-month discontinuation of BP therapy (BP? and BP+) before tooth extraction. In this observational study investigated delayed wound healing after tooth extraction in patients receiving oral BP therapy.ResultsIn all cases of the BP? group, there were no BRONJ although there was delayed wound healing in two cases. However, in one case of the BP+ group, oral BP was continued because it was deemed high risk to discontinue treatment by the patient's physician. In this case, an intraoral fistula was still present with bone exposure at 120 weeks after extraction (BRONJ stage 1).ConclusionThis study supports the idea of a drug holiday and encourages further clinical research on this topic of tooth extraction in patients receiving oral BP therapy.     

Targeting the hedgehog signaling pathway with interacting peptides to Patched-1

Background  

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in many cancers. Overproduction of sonic hedgehog (Shh), a ligand in the Hh pathway, increases Hh signaling activity by inhibiting Patched-1 (Ptch1), a suppressive receptor in the Hh pathway. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel strategy for treating pancreatic cancer and other Hh-dependent cancers through control of the tumor-suppressive function of Ptch1.     

Association between ApoE phenotypes and telomere erosion in Alzheimer's disease

Although several reports suggest that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with shortened telomere length, the clinical relevance of this has not yet been fully elucidated. This study was conducted to clarify the correlation of telomere length with clinical characteristics and ApoE phenotypes in 74 AD patients. Telomere length was determined from genomic DNA extracted from whole blood by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found no significant difference in telomere length between the AD and non-dementia elderly control (n = 35) groups. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found among telomere length and the severity of cognitive decline and disease duration, age, or gender difference. However, telomere length was significantly shorter in AD patients with the ApoE4 homozygote than in those with the ApoE4 heterozygote (p < .001) and noncarriers (p < .001). These findings suggest that shortened telomere length may be associated with the ApoE4 homozygote in AD patients.