Investigating possible correlation between condylar asymmetry and clinical dysfunction indices in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction using Cone-beam computed tomographic

Purpose

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common problem in modern societies. Causes of TMD, as a consequence of condylar asymmetry index (CAI), are still a subject of controversy. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible correlations between the degree of condylar asymmetry and clinical dysfunction indices.

Auraptene Induces Apoptosis via Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1‐Mediated Activation of Caspases in PC3 and DU145 Prostate Cancer Cells

Although auraptene, a prenyloxy coumarin from Citrus species, was known to have anti‐oxidant, anti‐bacterial, antiinflammatory, and anti‐tumor activities, the underlying anti‐tumor mechanism of auraptene in prostate cancers is not fully understood to date. Thus, in the present study, we have investigated the anti‐tumor mechanism of auraptene mainly in PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells, because auraptene suppressed the viability of androgen‐independent PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells better than androgen‐sensitive LNCaP cells. Also, auraptene notably increased sub‐G1 cell population and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling‐positive cells as features of apoptosis in two prostate cancer cells compared with untreated control. Consistently, auraptene cleaved poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase, activated caspase‐9 and caspase‐3, suppressed the expression of anti‐apoptotic proteins, including Bcl‐2 and myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl‐1), and also activated pro‐apoptotic protein Bax in both prostate cancer cells. However, Mcl‐1 overexpression reversed the apoptotic effect of auraptene to increase sub‐G1 population and induce caspase‐9/3 in both prostate cancer cells. Taken together, the results support scientific evidences that auraptene induces apoptosis in PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells via Mcl‐1‐mediated activation of caspases as a potent chemopreventive agent for prostate cancer prevention and treatment. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sublingual versus vaginal misoprostol for second trimester termination: a randomized clinical trial

Purposes

To evaluate the efficacy of two routes of administration of misoprostol (sublingual and vaginal) for medical termination of second trimester pregnancies.

Methods

One hundred and thirty-four women referred for second trimester termination were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial. They were divided to receive 400 μg every 6 h misoprostol either sublingually or vaginally. They were followed for 48 h, at which point they underwent D&C if the termination was not complete. Efficacy was defined as successful termination without the need for interventions.

Results

There were no differences between the vaginal and sublingual groups in terms of tablets mean dose of misoprostol applied (1360 ± 2.4 vs. 1320 ± 2.3) or endometrial thickness after termination of pregnancy (13.02 ± 5.2 vs. 13.3 ± 6.6 mm). The success rate was 61.2 % (n = 41) in the vaginal group versus 70.1 % (n = 47) in the sublingual group (p = 0.3). Twenty-six patients (38.8 %) in the vaginal group underwent D&C due to retained tissue, compared with 20 patients (29.8 %) in the sublingual group. In primigravids, the success rate was significantly higher in the sublingual group than vaginal group. There was no significant difference with regards to complications between the two groups.

Conclusion

The sublingual route of misoprostol administration has the same efficacy as the vaginal route and can be applied for second trimester pregnancy termination in primigravid women in outpatient settings due to its simple administrations.     

Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on serum values of adiponectin,leptin, 8-isoprostane and malondialdehyde in women with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been known to be suffering from coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiency which results in some complications in them. The purpose of this clinical trial study was to evaluate the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on serum values of adiponectin (A), leptin (L), 8-isoprostane, malondialdehyde (MDA), the A/L ratio in women with T2DM. Sixty-eight women with T2DM were enrolled in the current study and were randomly divided into drug (n?=?34) and placebo (n?=?34) groups who were consuming 100?mg CoQ10 and 100?mg cellulose acetate per day for 12?weeks, respectively. Measurements were performed at the beginning and after the intervention. Serum values of adiponectin (p?=?.001) and the A/L ratio (p?=?.001) were increased while values of leptin (p?=?.041), MDA (p?=?.023), 8-isoprostane (p?=?.004) were decreased significantly in drug group after intervention. This study had shown that CoQ10 supplementation in women with T2DM was effective in elevation of adiponectin and the A/L ratio and reduction of leptin, MDA and 8-isoprostane which could result in improving insulin resistance and modulating oxidative stress situation.     

Both combined oral azithromycin plus allopurinol and intramuscular Glucantime yield low efficacy in the treatment of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis (OWCL) is an endemic and major health problem in Iran. The optimal treatment of OWCL is unknown, and current treatments are not ideally effective and have many adverse effects. To compare the efficacy and tolerability of combined oral azithromycin and allopurinol with intramuscular Glucantime in the treatment of OWCL, we conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial. A total of 86 patients with OWCL were assigned and divided randomly into two groups; they received a combination of azithromycin capsule 10 mg/kg/d and allopurinol tablet 10 mg/kg/d for two months or IM injection of Glucantime 20 mg/kg of antimony daily for 20 days. All patients were followed for two months after termination of treatment. Although immediately at the end of the treatment period, complete response was seen in 27.8% of patients on combination therapy vs. 0% in the Glucantime group. The combination of azithromycin and allopurinol had a better outcome; two months after the end of the treatment period, complete, partial, and no responses were seen in 38.9%, 22.2%, and 38.9% in combination therapy and 40%, 31.4%, and 28.6% in the Glucantime group. There was no significant difference between the response rate in both groups after two months (P = 0.5). No severe adverse effect occurred. This study demonstrated that the efficacy of combined oral azithromycin and allopurinol at the above doses and duration was similar to that of IM Glucantime in the treatment of OWCL.     

Genetic Variation in Healthy Oldest-Old

Individuals who live to 85 and beyond without developing major age-related diseases may achieve this, in part, by lacking disease susceptibility factors, or by possessing resistance factors that enhance their ability to avoid disease and prolong lifespan. Healthy aging is a complex phenotype likely to be affected by both genetic and environmental factors. We sequenced 24 candidate healthy aging genes in DNA samples from 47 healthy individuals aged eighty-five years or older (the ‘oldest-old’), to characterize genetic variation that is present in this exceptional group. These healthy seniors were never diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, or Alzheimer disease. We re-sequenced all exons, intron-exon boundaries and selected conserved non-coding sequences of candidate genes involved in aging-related processes, including dietary restriction (PPARG, PPARGC1A, SIRT1, SIRT3, UCP2, UCP3), metabolism (IGF1R, APOB, SCD), autophagy (BECN1, FRAP1), stem cell activation (NOTCH1, DLL1), tumor suppression (TP53, CDKN2A, ING1), DNA methylation (TRDMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B) Progeria syndromes (LMNA, ZMPSTE24, KL) and stress response (CRYAB, HSPB2). We detected 935 variants, including 848 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 87 insertion or deletions; 41% (385) were not recorded in dbSNP. This study is the first to present a comprehensive analysis of genetic variation in aging-related candidate genes in healthy oldest-old. These variants and especially our novel polymorphisms are valuable resources to test for genetic association in models of disease susceptibility or resistance. In addition, we propose an innovative tagSNP selection strategy that combines variants identified through gene re-sequencing- and HapMap-derived SNPs.     

Altered Regulation of mRNA and miRNA Expression in Epithelial and Stromal Tissue of Keratoconus Corneas

PurposeEvaluation of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression in epithelium and stroma of patients with keratoconus.MethodsThe epithelium and stroma of eight corneas of eight patients with keratoconus and eight corneas of eight non-keratoconus healthy controls were studied separately. RNA was extracted, and mRNA and miRNA analyses were performed using microarrays. Differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs in epithelial and stromal keratoconus samples compared to healthy controls were identified. Selected genes and miRNAs were further validated using RT-qPCR.ResultsWe discovered 170 epithelial and 1498 stromal deregulated protein-coding mRNAs in KC samples. In addition, in epithelial samples 180 miRNAs and in stromal samples 379 miRNAs were significantly deregulated more than twofold compared to controls. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of metabolic and axon guidance pathways for epithelial cells and enrichment of metabolic, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and focal adhesion pathways for stromal cells.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates significant differences in the expression and regulation of mRNAs and miRNAs in the epithelium and stroma of Patients with KC. Also, in addition to the well-known target candidates, we were able to identify further genes and miRNAs that may be associated with keratoconus. Signaling pathways influencing metabolic changes and cell contacts are affected in epithelial and stromal cells of patients with keratoconus.     

Glomerulopathy in patients with dermatomyositis in early active disease: clinical,pathological and capillaroscopic manifestations,and response to treatment

IntroductionIdiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a group of systemic connective tissue diseases that present with muscular and extra-muscular manifestations. There are few reports on kidney involvement, especially in dermatomyositis (DM) patients. We evaluated the clinical, laboratory, capillaroscopy, and kidney pathology of patients with DM, who presented with proteinuria during the first year, and followed them for response to treatment.Material and methodsWe evaluated 205 patients with proximal muscle weakness or high muscle enzymes, who referred to the nailfold capillaroscopy clinic from April 2010 to October 2021. Seventy-four patients fulfilled the New 2017 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for adult and juvenile IM with probability of ≥ 90% for DM with duration of ≤ 12 months and proteinuria > 350 mg/24 hours. All manifestations of patients with glomerulopathy and their kidney biopsies were reviewed, and they were followed for their treatment response.ResultsFrom 74 patients with DM, 52 female and 22 male, median age 37 (19–65) years, and disease duration of median 4.5 (1–12) months, 2 (2.7%) patients (25- and 28-year-old male) had proteinuria. Their kidney biopsy showed mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (GN). There was no case of acute or chronic kidney damage or rhabdomyolysis. Both had high disease activity, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), abnormal capillaroscopy, and high anti-Ro positivity with good early response of their kidney function, muscle weakness, and laboratory tests after immunosuppressive treatment for 3–6 months. One patient had capillaroscopy follow-up, and all abnormalities were resolved in 8 fingers. One patient, due to poor follow-up, after 8 months had recurrence of his disease.ConclusionsWe found mesangioproliferative GN as a rare extra-muscular manifestation in patients with DM in the active and early phase of the disease. Full immunosuppressive treatment showed early complete recovery in these patients.