Recent updates on electronic cigarette aerosol and inhaled nicotine effects on periodontal and pulmonary tissues

E‐cigarette‐derived inhaled nicotine may contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontal and pulmonary diseases in particular via lung inflammation, injurious, and dysregulated repair responses. Nicotine is shown to have antiproliferative properties and affects fibroblasts in vitro, which may interfere in tissue myofibroblast differentiation in e‐cig users. This will affect the ability to heal wounds by decreasing wound contraction. In periodontics, direct exposure to e‐vapor has been shown to produce harmful effects in periodontal ligament and gingival fibroblasts in culture. This is due to the generation of reactive oxygen species/aldehydes/carbonyls from e‐cig aerosol, leading to protein carbonylation of extracellular matrix and DNA adducts/damage. A limited number of studies regarding the effects of e‐cig in oral and lung health are available. However, no reports are available to directly link the deleterious effects on e‐cigs, inhaled nicotine, and flavorings aerosol on periodontal and pulmonary health in particular to identify the risk of oral diseases by e‐cigarettes and nicotine aerosols. This mini‐review summarizes the recent perspectives on e‐cigarettes including inhaled nicotine effects on several pathophysiological events, such as oxidative stress, DNA damage, innate host response, inflammation, cellular senescence, profibrogenic and dysregulated repair, leading to lung remodeling, oral submucous fibrosis, and periodontal diseases.     

Experimental Evaluation of a New Single Wire Tantalum Coil Coronary Stent (Wiktor-iª)

To improve scaffolding properties, a new more densely woven Wiktor stent, the Wiktor-ia stent, was developed. Although the metal coverage remains still low compared to other stents, increased metal/vessel area raises the concern of increased thrombogenicity and neointimal hyperplasia. In this study we evaluated the Wiktor-i stent in a porcine peripheral and coronary model and compared the thrombogenicity and neointimal hyperplasia with the Wiktor-GX coronary stent. In a first study, a Wiktor-i and a Wiktor-GX coronary stent were implanted symmetrically in a preselected side branch of the right and left iliac artery of 10 healthy pigs. Quantitative vessel analysis showed comparable data before, immediately after and at follow-up. Hyperplasia measured by morphometry was also comparable in both groups (Wiktor-GX: 1.43 mm2 vs. Wiktor-i: 1.17 mm2, NS). Also, area stenosis was very similar (Wiktor-GX: 32% vs. Wiktor-i: 29%, NS). In a second study, 20 Wiktor (Wiktor-i: n=10, Wiktor-GX: n=10) coronary stents were implanted in the right coronary artery of 20 healthy pigs. Quantitative coronary analysis before, immediately after and at follow-up was comparable in both stents. The hyperplasia measured morphometrically was also comparable in both stents. (Wiktor-GX: 1.51 +/- 0.47 mm2 vs. Wiktor-i: 1.46 +/- 0.66 mm2, NS). Also the area stenosis was not significantly different (Wiktor-GX: 31% vs. Wiktor-i: 35%). In conclusion, this study shows that the increased metal/vessel area of the Wiktor-i stent does not result in an increased neointimal hyperplasia. Both stents show to be very biocompatible when implanted in porcine coronary and peripheral vessels.     

Association of the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase A1298C but not the C677T Single Nucleotide Polymorphism with Sickle Cell Disease in Bahrain

The association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutations, C677T and A1298C, together with changes in homocysteine (Hcy) levels was investigated in 106 sickle cell disease patients and 156 healthy controls from Bahrain. The mutation analysis was done by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR). While the frequencies of the mutant alleles C677T and A1298C were comparable between patients and controls, the frequency of the A1298C (C/C) (p = 0.03) but not C677T (T/T) (p = 0.67) genotype, and of the 677T/1298C haplotype were significantly higher in the patients (p = 0.05). Homocysteine levels were normal in all subjects. This suggests that the A1298C, but not C677T, mutation is associated with the genotype of sickle cell disease.     

Changing infant feeding practices and declining incidence of coeliac disease in West Somerset

An association was investigated between changing infant feeding practices and a declining incidence of childhood coeliac disease and transient gluten intolerance (TGI) in West Somerset, England during 1971-92. Dietary histories of 18 patients with coeliac disease were compared with 23 controls during 1971-80 and eight patients with coeliac disease and 39 controls during 1981-92. Our findings showed that the declining incidence of coeliac disease and TGI were associated with changing infant feeding practices, characterised by the later introduction of dietary gluten, an increased use of baby rice and gluten free foods for weaning, and an increased incidence of initial breast feeding.     

The therapeutic activity of melatonin and its effect on immunological parameters of patients with eczema

Regular administration of epiphyseal hormone melatonin in patients suffering of eczema provides for a better clinical result than the traditional treatment. This is confirmed by clearly pronounced normalization of the immune state of the patients.     

Ultrasound prediction of fetal lung maturity

Amniocentesis for determination of fetal lung maturity and ultrasonographic (US) evaluation of the biparietal diameter (BPD) and placental grade were performed simultaneously in 261 nondiabetic pregnant women. A BPD of at least 9.3 cm and a grade 3 placenta were evaluated as predictors of fetal lung maturity using amniotic fluid phospholipids as indicators of a mature lung profile. The ability of the sonographic parameters to predict fetal lung maturity was closely related to menstrual age. Before 37 weeks, the false-positive prediction rate using a grade 3 placenta was 100%, and the false-positive prediction using the BPD was 85.6%. After 37 weeks, the false-positive rate using a grade 3 placenta was 5.9%, and the false-positive rate using the BPD was 9.5%. Thus menstrual age, and not these two US parameters, dictated fetal lung maturity. The authors conclude that the best use of US for predicting fetal lung maturity is in establishing menstrual age early in pregnancy.