Spironolactone inhibits production of proinflammatory mediators in response to lipopolysaccharide via inactivation of nuclear factor-κB

The effect of spironolactone (SPIR) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of proinflammatory mediators was examined using RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages. SPIR significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α and prostaglandin E2. The inhibition was not mediated by cell death. SPIR reduced the expression of an inducible NO synthase mRNA in response to LPS. SPIR significantly inhibited phosphorylation of p65 nuclear factor (NF)-κB in response to LPS. Furthermore, SPIR inhibited phosphorylation of IκB kinase (IKK) as an upstream molecule of NF-κB in response to LPS. LPS did not induce the production of aldosterone in RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, SPIR is suggested to inhibit LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators via inactivation of IKK/NF-κB in LPS signaling.     

A method to maintain the thickness of the mouthguard after the vacuum forming process: changes of the holding conditions of the mouthguard sheet

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the thickness of the mouthguard sheet according to the holding conditions during heating. The material used in this study was Sports Mouthguard (3.8 mm thickness), and two holding conditions of the sheet were undertaken: one was the condition that the sheet was held all around the periphery and the other was that the sheet was held at only four points. The sheets were formed using a vacuum former when the sheets were heated until they hung 2.0 cm from the baseline. We measured the thickness of each part of the mouthguard and calculated the ratio of changes in the thickness. The difference in the thickness by the holding conditions at the area of the sheet that fitted over the anterior teeth, palate, and posterior teeth was analyzed by the paired t-test. The results showed that the thickness of the sheet differed statistically and significantly at the regions of the sheet that fitted over the anterior teeth and posterior teeth (P < 0.01) and the palate (P < 0.05) according to the holding conditions of the sheet. The thickness of the condition that the sheet was held all around the periphery was thinner than that of the condition that the sheet was held at only four points. These results suggested that the thickness of the sheet was maintained by holding the sheet only at four points, and this new method could be an effective way to maintain the thickness of the mouthguard in clinical use.     

Influence of color difference of mouthguard sheet on thickness after forming

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine the color difference of mouthguard in hardness, water sorption and thickness after forming EVA sheets. Six different colors of sheets were tested for each of three manufacturers.MethodsThe materials used in this study were mouthguard sheets made by three manufacturers. Each manufacturer supplied six colors: clear, white, yellow, blue, red, and black. Shore A hardness and water sorption were measured based on ISO 7619 and 1817, respectively. The thickness after formation was measured by using a measuring device. The differences in hardness, water sorption and thickness after formation were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance. The correlation between the hardness and changes in thickness was analyzed using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient.ResultsShore A hardness was different depending upon various colored sheets and manufactures. There were differences in the water sorption depending upon some colored sheet among manufacturers. There was a significant difference in the thickness after formation was found to be dependent upon few colors of the sheets on one manufacturer's product on the anterior teeth and on three products on posterior teeth. A negative correlation between the hardness and the change of thickness was found in two products.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that the Shore A hardness and thickness after formation varied depending upon the colors of the EVA sheets and manufactures. A correlation between the hardness and change of thickness was observed in two manufactures that suggests that the hard sheets tend to reduce in thickness greater than that in softer ones.     

SCAPHOLUNATE DISSOCIATION CAUSED BY GOUTY ARTHRITIS OF THE WRIST: Case report

Gouty arthritis of the wrist is rare, and may be associated with scapholunate dissociation. To our knowledge, only two cases have been reported so far. In this report, we describe a 40-year-old patient with scapholunate dissociation caused by acute gouty arthritis of the wrist. His clinical findings and radiographs mimicked infectious arthritis or osteomyelitis of the carpal bones.     

Difference in the thickness of mouthguards fabricated from ethylene-vinyl acetate co-polymer sheets with differently arranged v-shaped grooves

PurposeTo investigate the form of mouthguard sheets that best retains its thickness.MethodsMouthguards were molded using ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) sheets and a suction-type molding device. Five sheet conditions were compared. These were I-N (Incisal part of the cast positioned at the center – Normal sheet), I-H (Incisal part positioned at the center – Horizontal v-shaped groove 30 mm from the anterior end), I-C (Incisal part positioned at the center – Convexing v-shaped groove toward the back 10–40 mm from the anterior end), C-N (Center part positioned at the center – Normal sheet), and C-C (Center part positioned at the center – Convexing v-shaped groove toward the back 10–30 mm from the anterior end). Post-molding thickness was determined for the incisal (incisal edge and labial surface) and molar portion (cusp, central groove, and buccal surface). Sheets were heated until they sagged 15-mm below the clamp. Scheffé multivariate comparison was performed to compare changes in post-molding thickness among sheet conditions.ResultsPost-molding thickness of mouthguard material differed significantly between the two portions; rates of thickness reduction were smaller for I-C and C-C compared with other conditions. There were no significant differences between I-C and C-C at any measurement points.ConclusionThe present results suggested that thickness reduction of the EVA sheet material after vacuum-forming may be decreased at both incisal and molar portions if the v-shaped groove with a v-shaped cross section was given in the frontal teeth region of the sheet at the apparatus and materials for this study used.     

Cancer screening with PET: advantages and limitations

Warburg first reported that tumours are characterized by abnormally increased glucose metabolism accompanied by increase production of lactate. This is a basic principle underlying cancer detection by the glucose analogue 18-F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG). FDG positron emission tomography (PET) is currently used widely to examine virtually any part of the body in order to detect tumours, e.g., lung, breast, colorectal, pancreatic and head and neck cancers, malignant lymphoma and malignant melanoma. The advantage of whole-body FDG-PET in comparison with the other imaging modalities is that it allows the entire body to be surveyed seamlessly within a reasonably short period. Furthermore, the staging of most cancers can be determined. The characteristics of whole-body FDG-PET seem to satisfy the requirements for cancer screening. PET used simultaneously with conventional tests can prevent the overlooking of cancer, reduce false-positive results and assist in the interpretation of CT and MRI images. Thus, PET can play a supportive role when used with conventional screening tests. In 1994, PET was applied to cancer screening for the first time at our Imaging Center at Lake Yamanaka in Japan. Within 12 years after starting, a total of 10,292 asymptomatic individuals (6,227 men and 4,065 women; mean age, 52.2 and 52.9 years) participated in 29,090 screening sessions. As a result, malignant tumours were demonstrated in 355 of the 10,292 participants (2.61%). PET findings were true-positive in 175 of the 355 cancers (49.3%).