Enamel remineralization effect of a dentifrice containing calcium sodium phosphosilicate: an optical coherence tomography observation

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSP) on the remineralization of the enamel using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Materials and methods: Bovine incisors were sliced and shaped in a rectangular form. One group of five specimens was treated with undersaturated 0.1 M lactic acid buffer solution (pH 4.75) for 10?min and then placed in artificial saliva (pH 7.0) (De group). Other specimens were stored in solutions of toothpaste containing CSP for 10?min, followed by 10-min immersion in the lactic acid buffer solution twice a day before storage in artificial saliva (CSP group). An additional group was stored in only artificial saliva (control group). OCT imaging on the selected location of the enamel surface was performed. The peak intensity and width at 1/e² were recorded in each of the six areas on the sample and averaged, and the sample size of each group was six. The integrated value in units (dB?×?μm) was calculated in the area of peak intensity. The data for each group was subjected to one-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (α?=?0.05).

Results: The changes in integrated values of each group were different. A slight but significant increase in the integrated value was observed in the control group, whereas a slight but significant decrease in the value was observed the De group. Integrated values increased in the CSP group.

Conclusions: Remineralization occurred upon immersion in the toothpaste containing CSP.     

Potential extraperitoneal space continuous with the peri-intestinal space: CT evidence and anatomical evaluation in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis without intestinal ischemia

Purpose  

Extraperitoneal spaces, such as the mesenteric space and the retroperitoneal space, can serve as areas that enable a reduction in the pressure exerted by extraperitoneal fluid collection and infiltrating diseases. In clinical practice, understanding the existence of these decompression spaces (or pathways) is very important for making accurate diagnoses. Here, we evaluated potential anatomical extraperitoneal spaces based on the extraluminal gas distribution in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis without intestinal ischemia.     

Effects of alendronate on bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers in postmenopausal asthmatic women treated with inhaled corticosteroids

We have recently shown that long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids decreases bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine in postmenopausal asthmatic women. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of alendronate in comparison with that of alfacalcidol (1-alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(3)) for the treatment of BMD reduction in postmenopausal asthmatic patients who had inhaled corticosteroid therapy without regular use of systemic corticosteroids. Twenty-eight postmenopausal asthmatic patients with BMD T score of -1.0 or less were randomized to receive alendronate (5 mg/d) or alfacalcidol (1 microg/d). Bone mineral density was determined at baseline and 12 months after the treatment, and biochemical markers of bone metabolism were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. The mean (+/-SD) BMD values at the lumbar spine, the total hip, and the Ward's triangle significantly increased by 4.9 +/- 4.5% (P = .0005), 2.4 +/- 2.2% (P = .0005), and 3.6 +/- 5.2% (P = .02) at 12 months in the alendronate group, whereas the corresponding values did not significantly change in the alfacalcidol group. In the alendronate group, urinary N-telopeptide (NTx), serum osteocalcin, and serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations significantly decreased, and serum intact parathyroid (PTH) level significantly increased, from baseline at both 6 and 12 months. In the alfacalcidol group, urinary NTx showed modest but significant decrease, although the extent of the change was smaller than that in the alendronate group. We concluded that alendronate was effective to improve reduced BMD in postmenopausal asthmatic patients on inhaled corticosteroid therapy through the mechanism of inhibiting bone resorption.     

A novel videoendoscopy system by using autofluorescence and reflectance imaging for diagnosis of esophagogastric cancers

BACKGROUND: Image quality of the prior autofluorescence (AF) imaging systems, including the fiber-optic endoscope, was not feasible for general clinical use. The use of AF image alone resulted in low specificity. The objective of the study was to evaluate the resolution and the sensitivity of the novel videoendoscopy system by using AF and reflectance imaging (AFI) in the diagnosis of early esophagogastric cancers. METHODS: This was a case series study. The setting was a pretreatment examination at a cancer center. Five patients with superficial esophageal cancers (SEC) and 21 patients with 22 early gastric cancers (EGC) were included in the study. The extent of the tumors was diagnosed by white light (WL), AF and chromoendoscopic observations. The main outcome measurement was the diagnostic accuracy of each observation in relation to the histologic mapping as a criterion standard. RESULTS: Two of 5 SECs (40%) were correctly diagnosed in the WL image and all (100%) in the AF image as purple or magenta color in a green background. EGCs in atrophic mucosa were observed as purple or magenta areas in a green background, while diffuse-type EGCs in fundic mucosa were observed as green areas in a purple background. Of the 22 EGCs, diagnostic accuracy of WL, AF, and chromoendoscopic observations were 36%: 95% CI [16%, 56%], 68%: 95% CI [49%, 88%], and 91%: 95% CI [79%, 100%], respectively. AFI could reveal flat or isochromatic extensions that were not detected in the WL images. The limitations of the study were ulcerations or inflammation that caused overdiagnosis in the AF observation. CONCLUSIONS: The resolution of the AFI at present is limited, but the image quality was acceptable. The current system of AFI does not equal to chromoendoscopy in sensitivity but has an advantage over standard WL videoendoscopy.     

Prevalence and correlates of carotid atherosclerosis among elderly Japanese men

We determined intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter of carotid artery and estimated their correlations with cardiovascular risk factors in 1129 men aged 60-74 years, who participated in a cardiovascular risk survey in three Japanese communities. The multivariate odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for the maximum IMT > or = 1.1 mm in the common carotid artery (CCA) were 1.3 (1.1-1.5) per 4 years of age, 1.8 (1.4-2.5) for hypertension, 1.4 (1.2-1.7) for a 34.4 mg/dl increase in serum total cholesterol, 0.7 (0.6-0.8) for a 14.7 mg/dl increase in serum HDL-cholesterol, and 2.4 (1.1-5.0) for history of stroke, while the maximum IMT > or = 1.5mm in the internal carotid artery (ICA) were 1.6 (1.4-1.8) per 4 years of age, 1.9 (1.5-2.4) for hypertension, 1.6 (1.2-2.1) for current smoking, and 3.5 (1.6-7.6) for history of stroke. Age, height, hypertension, current smoking, ethanol intake and history of coronary heart disease were independent determinants of both the outer and inner CCA diameter. Maximum IMT correlated positively with the outer diameter and inversely with the inner diameter in the CCA. Carotid atherosclerosis suggests to be a risk factor for stroke among Japanese elderly men, although future prospective studies are required to confirm this finding.     

A case of synchronous primary lung cancer with hamartoma]

We present a case of a synchronous primary lung cancer adjacent to a hamartoma. In a 48-year-old man, a nodular shadow was found in the right middle lung field in 1990, and had grown slowly for 10 years. Another mass shadow was detected in the right upper lung field in 2000. The patient was admitted to our hospital for further examination of these abnormal shadows. Bronchoscopic examination revealed, in the right upper lobe, a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of clinical stage IIIB. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by pneumonectomy was performed. The microscopic findings for the tumor resected from the right S2 showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and those for the other, in the right S3, showed chondromatous hamartoma. Some 50 reports of lung cancer in parents with a chondromatous hamartoma have appeared in the literature. Most of these cases have some common features as follows: 1) men past middle age, 2) adenocarcinoma, and 3) lung cancer and chondromatous hamartoma present in the same lobe. The present case had all of these features, and may assist in the understanding of the process of development of lung cancer adjacent to a hamartoma.     

Liver with hypoechoic nodular pattern as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma

Ultrasonography should be used for screening of hepatocellular carcinoma, but there are few reports on the relationship between liver ultrasonographic findings and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using prospective follow-up studies, we examined the role of liver with a hypoechoic nodular pattern as a high-risk factor in HCC. The study was performed by follow-up on 593 patients with chronic liver disease recorded at our hospital. The ultrasonographic pattern of the liver parenchyma was classified either as a small or large hypoechoic nodular pattern or as a nonnodular pattern. Patients were followed up from the time of initial ultrasonographic examination (1985–1987) until January 1, 1991. During the follow-up period (average, 4.2 years, range, 0.3–6.0 years), 62 patients were found to have HCC (12%). Patients whose livers showed small or large hypoechoic nodular pattern had a significantly higher risk of HCC than did patients whose livers showed a nonnodular pattern (rate ratios were 14.0 and 20.0, respectively, adjusted for age, sex, hepatitis virus markers, ICG R15, α-fetoprotein concentration, and ultrasonographic pattern of the liver). Liver showing a hypoechoic nodular pattern is a major risk factor in HCC.     

Video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery can help enable the complete resection of a mediastinal tumor caused by immunoglobulin G4‐related disease and avoid the need for postoperative medication: A case report

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4‐related disease has various clinical signs and symptoms, and steroidal therapy with corticosteroids has been found to be effective for treatment. Few cases of IgG4‐related disease associated with paravertebral tumor have been reported, and there have been no reports on complete resection of such a tumor. Here, we report a case of IgG4‐related disease associated with a paravertebral tumor that was successfully resected without the need for postoperative medication. An 84‐year‐old woman was admitted to our hospital with a paravertebral tumor. She underwent thoracoscopic surgery, and pathological examination of the tumor specimen revealed that the tumor resulted from IgG4‐related disease. After resection, there was no need for postoperative medication. Our case indicates the rare possibility of a paravertebral tumor associated with IgG4‐related disease and the potential for complete resection as a treatment for such a tumor.     

Milk Drinking and Mortality: Findings From the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study

Background

Findings regarding the association between milk consumption and all-cause mortality reported by studies carried out in Western populations have been inconsistent. However, no studies have been conducted in Japan on this issue. The present study aimed to investigate the association of milk drinking with all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in Japan.

Methods

The data were obtained from the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) study. A total of 94 980 Japanese adults aged 40–79 years who had no history of cancer, stroke, or chronic cardiovascular diseases were followed between 1988 and 2009. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of mortalities were assessed using a Cox proportional hazard regression model and taking the lowest milk consumption group as the reference.

Results

During a median of 19 years of follow-up, there were 21 775 deaths (28.8% and 35.3% from cardiovascular diseases and cancer, respectively). Drinking milk 1–2 times a month was associated with lower all-cause mortality in men compared to those who never drank milk (multivariable-adjusted HR 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85–0.99). In women, those who drank 3–4 times a week also had a lower mortality risk compared with those who never drank milk (HR 0.91; 95% CI 0.85–0.98). Inverse associations between drinking milk and mortality from cardiovascular diseases and cancer were found only in men.

Conclusions

Drinking milk at least 1–2 times a month was associated with lower all-cause mortality in men compared to never drinking milk. An inverse association was also found between drinking milk and mortality from both cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, lower all-cause mortality in women was found only in those who drank milk 3–4 times/week.Key words: milk drinking, all-cause mortality, prospective study