Can cystic lesions of the jaws be considered as the cause of mandibular asymmetry?

Background The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of condylar and ramal asymmetry in patients with a cyst larger than 10 mm in the maxilla or mandible.Material and Methods Condylar and ramal asymmetry index measurements of 47 patients (mean age: 28.85 ± 15.348) in the study group and 40 patients in the control group (mean age: 33.73 ± 13.095) were performed using panoramic radiographs. The study group consists of patients with cysts larger than 10 mm in diameter in the maxilla or mandible. The control group consisted of patients with no radiolucent lesions and no history of trauma. The possible statistical difference between the groups was evaluated by the Mann-Whitney U test.Results No statistically significant difference was observed in asymmetry indices according to gender and the jaw (maxilla or mandible) in which the cyst was located. However, it was determined that CAI and RAI values were statistically significantly different between the study and control groups (p = 0.047 and p = 0.016, respectively).Conclusions The presence of intraosseous cysts larger than 10 mm in the jaws was found to be associated with condylar and ramal asymmetry. Key words:Condylar asymmetry, ramal asymmetry, odontogenic cysts     

Effects of current and potential dental etchants on nerve compound action potentials

In this study, a 35% phosphoric acid gel (3M Scotchbond etchant), a nonrinse etchant (NRC), and two EDTA-containing conditioners (RC-Prep and File-Eze) were tested in vitro for blocking nerve conductance evoked in the rat sciatic nerve after local application. The phosphoric acid gel and NRC completely and irreversibly inhibited conductance. On the other hand, RC-Prep reduced the compound action potentials (cAPs) by 50% in 120 min. With File-Eze, the reduction in cAPs was less than 50% after an application time of 160 min (61.8 +/- 1.8%). At 160 min the cAPs in the RC-Prep group had been inhibited by 62.4%. These results indicated strong neurotoxic effects of phosphoric acid and NRC when applied directly on exposed pulp in the total etch procedure.     

Health Warnings,Smoking Rules,and Smoking Status: A Cross-National Comparison of Turkey and the United States

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of smoking status (i.e., current, former and never) between the United States and Turkey in terms of age and gender, and examine how smoking rules and health warnings are associated with smoking status within and between the two countries. Methods: The study used data from the 2012–2013 National Adult Tobacco Survey (U.S. sample, N = 60,196) and the 2012 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (Turkey sample, N = 9,581). SAS PROC SURVEYLOGISTIC with a weighted variable was used to examine the associations between demographics (age, gender and education), smoking rules, health warnings, and smoking status within and between the two countries. Results: There was an 18% current smoking prevalence among U.S. sample, compared to 27% of the Turkey sample. The U.S. sample had a higher rate of former smoking compared to the Turkey sample (25% vs. 22%). In both countries, being older and male gender predicted former smoking while being younger and female gender predicted never smoking. Having seen a health warning, and not allowing smoking in the vehicle and home positively predicted former and never smoking status. Higher education predicted both smoking statuses in the U.S. only. Conclusions: It is important to work with partners particularly in low- and middle-income countries (e.g., Turkey) to combat the global tobacco epidemic. In both counties, cessation endeavors should emphasize a comprehensive understanding of smoking status in terms of smoking rules in personal spaces and health warnings.     

Imaging in secondary tumors of the ovary

Abdominal Radiology - Metastatic involvement of the ovaries is not rare. The most common tumor types metastasizing to the ovaries, from non-gynecological organs, are breast, colorectal, gastric,...     

Neudesin: a neuropeptide hormone decreased in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Neudesin is a neuropeptide hormone involves in female reproduction system via promoting effects of progesterone. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic and reproductive disorder associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis abnormalities and impaired negative feedback mechanism of progesterone upon gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion. Our aims were to discover whether neudesin levels were altered in PCOS women comparing to controls and to determine the link of neudesin with hormonal-metabolic parameters in PCOS women. The current research was designed as a case-control study. Sixty-eight subjects with PCOS and 67 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched subjects as controls were enrolled into the study. Circulating neudesin levels were measured by ELISA. Neudesin levels were significantly lower in PCOS subjects compared to controls (4.07?±?1.22 vs. 6.02?±?2.07?ng/ml, p?<?.001). Neudesin exhibited an inversely independent link with luteinizing hormone, free-androgen index, and BMI whereas it showed a positively independent link with progesterone in women with PCOS. Logistic regression analysis revealed that decreased neudesin levels were parallel with increased risk of having PCOS. Decreased neudesin levels were associated with hormonal disturbances in PCOS women, suggesting that neudesin may play a role in pathophysiology of PCOS.     

Editorial Commentary: Arthroscopic Fixation of Tibial Eminence Fractures—Which Technique Is the Best Has Not Been Defined Yet!

The tibial eminence fractures are most frequently observed in children and adolescents increasingly. Their classification and management are mainly made by the displacement of the fracture fragment. The surgical management has evolved from open to arthroscopic techniques. Various fixation techniques have been defined. Mainly, there are 2 types of fixation: screw and suture-based methods. Although recent studies have demonstrated the biomechanical advantages of newer suture-based fixation methods, the best method of fixation has not been defined, yet. Currently, nondisplaced and reducible fractures are managed nonoperatively, and displaced and irreducible fractures are managed operatively. Until the best surgical method is defined by higher level of evidence studies clinically, functionally, radiologically, and biomechanically, the type of fixation will be chosen by considering the experience of the surgeon, the clinical status of the patient, the availability of the implants, and the morphology of these fractures.     

Whortleberry protects kidney against the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity: an experimental study

Purpose: This study investigated the antioxidant effects of whortleberry against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Material and methods: This study included 48 female Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 263.68?±?8.29?g. The rats were divided into the following six groups, with eight rats in each group: control, ethanol control, whortleberry control, cisplatin control, 16?mg/kg cisplatin +100?mg/kg whortleberry, and 16?mg/kg cisplatin +200?mg/kg whortleberry groups. Biochemical analysis was performed by measuring total oxidant status and total antioxidant status, histopathological analysis was performed by calculating proximal and distal tubule areas (μm²), and immunohistochemical analysis was performed by determining anti-Caspase-3 immunostaining. Differences among the groups were examined using one-way analysis of variance, and p?Results: Cisplatin treatment decreased the total antioxidant status and increased the total oxidant status and Caspase-3 level. Moreover, it resulted in the dilatation, vacuolization and loss of tubular epithelial cells; and glomerular degeneration and edema in the kidney tissues (p?p?Conclusions: Our results indicate that the antioxidant effects of the whortleberry decrease cisplatin-associated nephrotoxicity.     

The Clinical Significance of Serum Apoptotic Cytokeratin 18 Neoepitope M30 (CK-18 M30) and Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) Levels in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Cirrhosis

Background

Serum apoptotic cytokeratine 18 neoepitope M30 (CK-18 M30) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) have been popular markers for detecting liver fibrosis in recent years. CK-18 is a major intermediate filament protein in liver cells and one of the most prominent substrates of caspases during hepatocyte apoptosis. MMP-2 plays an important role in tissue remodeling and repairing processes during physiological and pathological states.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the significance of CK-18 M30 and MMP-2 levels for clinical use in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), as well as their sensitivity in determining cirrhotic patients.

Patients and Methods

This study included 189 CHB patients and 51 healthy controls. A modified Knodell scoring system was used to determine the fibrosis level in chronic hepatitis B patients. CK-18 M30 levels were determined with an M30-Apoptosense ELISA assay. MMP-2 levels were determined with the ELISA assay.

Results

The study group consisted of 132 (69.8%) males and 57 (30.2%) females, and the control group consisted of 25 males (49.0%) and 26 females (51%). Patients’ CK-18 M30 levels were higher than values of the control group (308 [1–762] vs. 168 [67–287], P=0.001). Serum MMP-2 levels were found to be statistically higher in the patient group with respect to the controls (3.0 [1.1–6.8] vs. 2.0 [1.2–3.4], P=0.001). The highest serum CK-18 M30 and MMP-2 levels were measured in patients with cirrhosis. Serum apoptotic CK-18 M30 levels positively correlated with advanced age, fibrosis stage, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (P= 0.001, 0.033, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). Serum MMP-2 levels positively correlated with fibrosis stage, serum ALT, and AST levels (P= 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study indicated that CK-18 M30 and MMP-2 levels were higher in CHB patients compared to healthy controls and they were in association with significant hepatic fibrosis, especially cirrhosis.     

A major histocompatibility complex class I-dependent subset of memory phenotype CD8+ cells

Most memory phenotype (MP) CD44(hi) CD8(+) cells are resting interleukin (IL)-15-dependent cells characterized by high expression of the IL-2/IL-15 receptor beta (CD122). However, some MP CD8(+) cells have a CD122(lo) phenotype and are IL-15 independent. Here, evidence is presented that the CD122(lo) subset of MP CD8(+) cells is controlled largely by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Many of these cells display surface markers typical of recently activated T cells (CD62L(lo), CD69(hi), CD43(hi), and CD127(lo)) and show a high rate of background proliferation. Cells with this phenotype are highly enriched in common gamma chain-deficient mice and absent from MHC-I(-/-) mice. Unlike CD122(hi) CD8(+) cells, CD122(lo) MP CD8(+) cells survive poorly after transfer to MHC-I(-/-) hosts and cease to proliferate. Although distinctly different from typical antigen-specific memory cells, CD122(lo) MP CD8(+) cells closely resemble the antigen-dependent memory CD8(+) cells found in chronic viral infections.