Inhibition of tooth movement by osteoprotegerin vs. pamidronate under conditions of constant orthodontic force

The undesired movement of anchor teeth, and relapse of previously moved teeth, are major clinical problems in orthodontics. Dental implants are increasingly used to preserve anchorage, but these are costly and require invasive surgical procedures. An alternative strategy for maintaining anchorage may be the use of biological inhibitors of osteoclastic bone resorption. In the present study, we investigated the relative efficacy of pamidronate vs. osteoprotegerin (OPG) in inhibiting bone resorption and tooth movement, using a new orthodontic model in mice in which maxillary molars are moved for prolonged periods by near-constant, clinically relevant forces. Osteoclast influx to compression sites was initiated on day 3, was maximal on day 4, and persisted until at least day 12 after force application. Tooth movement paralleled osteoclast numbers. Minimal osteoclast apoptosis was observed, suggesting that recruitment, rather than programmed cell death, is a critical regulatory mechanism under conditions of constant force. Osteoclasts were reduced at compression sites by both OPG (95%) and pamidronate (70%); tooth movement was more dramatically inhibited by OPG (77% vs. 34%). Our findings indicate that constant orthodontic force regulates the recruitment, activation, and viability of osteoclasts, and that OPG could have clinical utility in preventing undesired tooth movement.     

吸烟,血清抗氧化维生素水平和老年性黄斑变性之间的关系

目的：研究老年性黄斑变性（ AMD）等级、血清抗氧化维生素水平（维生素A、C和E）和吸烟的关系。 方法：对84例患者行黄斑彩色眼底成像,根据AMD损伤率和损伤程度将其分为五组（等级I～V）。应用高效液相色谱法（ HPLC）测量血清抗氧化维生素水平。根据吸烟状况分不吸烟者、已戒烟者和吸烟者三组,并统计吸烟者每年的吸烟总量。 结果：对照组中,维生素A、E、C水平分别为0.874依0.326mg/L,10.739依4.874mg/L和1.737依0.447mg/L,AMD组中分别为0.880依0.305mg/L,9.487依6.060mg/L 和1.870依2.191mg/L,无显著差异（P〉0.05）。 AMD不同等级分组间维生素A（P=0.881）和E（P=0.293）水平差异无统计学意义,维生素C水平（ P=0.044）随AMD程度的加深而增加。根据吸烟状况,AMD组与对照组之间无显著差异。根据每年的吸烟总量,两组之间有显著差异（P=0.02）。AMD越严重,年吸烟总量越高（ P=0.007）。 结论：研究结果显示AMD与维生素A、E血清水平无关,但和维生素C的血清水平相关,并与吸烟量有关。     

Hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft supports HCV replication: a mouse model for evaluating antivirals

AIM: To develop a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft model for studying hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in a mice, and antiviral treatment.METHODS: We developed a stable S3-green fluorescence protein (GFP) cell line that replicated the GFP-tagged HCV sub-genomic RNA derived from a highly efficient JFH1 virus. S3-GFP replicon cell line was injected subcutaneously into γ-irradiated SCID mice. We showed that the S3-GFP replicon cell line formed human HCC xenografts in SCID mice. Cells were isolated f...     

Prognostic factors associated with the response to sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Objective

We investigated the prognostic clinicopathologic factors associated with overall survival (os) and progression-free survival (pfs) in the once-daily continuous administration of first-line sunitinib in a consecutive cohort of Turkish patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (rcc).

Methods

The study enrolled 77 Turkish patients with metastatic rcc who received sunitinib in a continuous once-daily dosing regimen between April 2006 and April 2011. Univariate analyses were performed using the log-rank test.

Results

Median follow-up was 18.5 months. In univariate analyses, poor pfs and os were associated with 4 of the 5 factors in the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center (mskcc) score: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or higher, low hemoglobin, high corrected serum calcium, and high lactate dehydrogenase. In addition to those factors, hypoalbuminemia, more than 2 metastatic sites, liver metastasis, non–clear cell histology, and the presence of sarcomatoid features on pathology were also associated with poor pfs; and male sex, hypoalbuminemia, prior radiotherapy, more than 2 metastatic sites, lung metastasis, nuclear grade of 3 or 4 for the primary tumour, and the presence of sarcomatoid features were also associated with poorer os. The application of the mskcc model distinctly separated the pfs and os curves (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study identified prognostic factors for pfs and os with the use sunitinib as first-line metastatic rcc therapy and confirmed that the mskcc model still appears to be valid for predicting survival in metastatic rcc in the era of molecular targeted therapy.     

Wall motion velocities of ascending aorta measured by tissue Doppler imaging in obese children

Background: Obesity is associated with the development of early cardiovascular abnormalities such as atherosclerotic lesions. Arterial stiffness may be an indicator of early vascular changes signaling the development of vascular disease. The objective of the current study was to screen aortic elastic properties with tissue Doppler imaging in obese children. Methods: We examined 37 obese children and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched normal subjects. Anthropometric measurements and metabolic risk profile were assessed in a physical examination and with blood taking. The subjects were divided into two subgroups: those with and without metabolic syndrome. Internal aortic systolic and diastolic diameters by M‐mode echocardiography and aortic systolic upper‐wall tissue velocity by tissue Doppler imaging were measured 3 cm above the aortic valve. Aortic distensibility and aortic stiffness index were calculated using accepted formulae. Results: Aortic stiffness parameters and both tissue Doppler peak systolic and diastolic velocities differed significantly in obese children compared to controls. Among the subgroups, children with metabolic syndrome had a lower aortic stiffness index, aortic distensibility and tissue Doppler velocities. However, only peak diastolic velocities significantly differed between obese children without metabolic syndrome and controls. Homeostatic model scores, diastolic blood pressures and pulse pressures were the strongest to correlate with peak diastolic velocity (r=?0.88, P < 0.001, r=?0.62, P= 0.001 and, r= 0.55, P= 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Tissue Doppler imaging is a feasible and sensitive method to identify aortic stiffness in obese children. Reduced aortic diastolic velocity is the most prominent early vascular change detected in obese children before metabolic syndrome occurs.     

Differences in Craniofacial Structures and Obesity in Caucasian and Chinese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Study Objectives:

To explore differences in craniofacial structures and obesity between Caucasian and Chinese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Design:

Inter-ethnic comparison study.

Setting:

Two sleep disorder clinics in Australia and Hong Kong.

Patients:

150 patients with OSA (74 Caucasian, 76 Chinese).

Interventions:

Anthropometry, cephalometry, and polysomnography were performed and compared. Subgroup analyses after matching for: (1) body mass index (BMI); (2) OSA severity.

Measurements and Results:

The mean age and BMI were similar between the ethnic groups. Chinese patients had more severe OSA (AHI 35.3 vs 25.2 events/h, P = 0.005). They also had more craniofacial bony restriction, including a shorter cranial base (63.6 ± 3.3 vs 77.5 ± 6.7 mm, P < 0.001), maxilla (50.7 ± 3.7 vs 58.8 ± 4.3 mm, P < 0.001) and mandible length (65.4 ± 4.2 vs 77.9 ± 9.4 mm, P < 0.001). These findings remained after correction for differences in body height. Similar results were shown in the BMI-matched analysis (n = 66). When matched for OSA severity (n = 52), Chinese patients had more craniofacial bony restriction, but Caucasian patients were more overweight (BMI 30.7 vs 28.4 kg/m², P = 0.03) and had a larger neck circumference (40.8 vs 39.1 cm, P = 0.004); however, the ratios of BMI to the mandible or maxilla size were similar.

Conclusions:

Craniofacial factors and obesity contribute differentially to OSA in Caucasian and Chinese patients. For the same degree of OSA severity, Caucasians were more overweight, whereas Chinese exhibited more craniofacial bony restriction.

Citation:

Lee RWW; Vasudavan S; Hui DS; Prvan T; Petocz P; Darendeliler MA; Cistulli PA. Differences in craniofacial structures and obesity in Caucasian and Chinese patients with obstructive sleep apnea. SLEEP 2010;33(8):1075-1080.     

Relationships between serum PSA levels,Gleason scores and results of 68Ga-PSMAPET/CT in patients with recurrent prostate cancer

Aim

To investigate the relationship between serum PSA level, Gleason score of PCa and the outcomes of Ga⁶⁸-PSMA PET/CT in patients with recurrent PCa.

Methods

A total of 109 consecutive patients (median age 71 years; range 48–89 years) who had PSA recurrence after RP and/or hormonotherapy and/or radiotherapy were included in this study. Local recurrences, lymph node metastasis (pelvic, abdominal and/or supradiaphragmatic), bone metastases (oligometastatic/multimetastatic) and other metastatic sites (lung, liver, brain, etc) were documented.

Results

In 91(83.4%) patients at least one lesion characteristic for PCa was detected by⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT. The median serum total PSA (tPSA) was 6.5 (0.2–640) ng/ml.There was a significant difference between ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT positive and negative patients in terms of serum total PSA value. No statistical significance was found between positive and negative ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT findings in terms of Gleason score. Local recurrence was detected in 56 patients. whereas lymph node metastases were demonstrated in 46 patients. Pelvic nodal disease was the most frequent presentation followed by abdominal and supradiaphragmaticnodal involvement. Bone metastases [oligometastasis, (n?=?20); multimetastasis, (n?=?35)? were also detected in 55 patients. In the ROC analysis for the study cohort, the optimal cut-off value of total serum PSA was determined as 0.67 ng/ml for distinguishing between positive and negative ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT images, with an area under curve of 0.952 (95% CI 0.911–0.993).

Conclusions

⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT was found to be an effective tool for the detection of recurrent PCa. Even though no relationship was detected between the GS and ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT findings, serum total PSA values may be used for estimating the likelihood of positive ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT results.