Histiocytosis X (Langerhans-cell histiocytosis) of the palate. Case report

A case of histiocytosis X (Langerhans-cell histiocytosis) occurring in the maxilla of a two-year-old boy is presented. Common dental and oral conditions were considered and eliminated. Diagnosis was made through a biopsy which showed aggregates of histiocytes. Management consisted of multi-modal treatment. Full skeletal radiographic survey and review were essential to detect other possible sites of involvement. None was found in this case over a four-year review.     

Eyelid grafting as a preprosthetic measure for restoring facial defects

Prosthetic restoration of a facial defect involving the loss of an eye and associated orbital tissues may be restricted by incorrect orientation of the prosthesis if the reconstructed tissue bed is uniform and without distinctive orbital landmarks. A surgically grafted eyelid is useful in this situation. The lower eyelid graft serves to provide an anatomical guide with which to position the ocular component of the orbital prosthesis in relation to its established visual axis. This assists the subsequent orientation of the adjoining tissue portion of the orbital prosthesis, contributing to a well-positioned and cosmetically pleasing result.     

Knowledge and practice of behavioral management principles among dentists treating adults with learning disabilities

This study investigated U.K. dentists’ knowledge and practice of behavioral management principles (BMPs) as applied to adults with learning disabilities (AWLD). A postal questionnaire enquired into the dentists’ experience in managing AWLD, utilization of behavioral management techniques, and knowledge of BMPs. The response rate was 41% (N = 53). Two groups were investigated: specialists (dentists registered on the Special Care Dentistry specialists’ list, n = 37) and nonspecialists (dentists not on the list, n = 16). Although specialists treated more AWLD than nonspecialists, both groups of dentists reported they felt highly confident in managing AWLD. However, all dentists’ knowledge of the principles of nonpharmacological BMPs was low. Specialists had a tendency to use a greater range of nonpharmacological behavioral management techniques compared to non‐specialists. These results suggest that dental team members need more training in the theory and practice of BMPs, which might lead to less reliance on costly pharmacological interventions and a clinical experience that is more respectful of the dignity and independence of AWLD.     

The Relationship between College Graduate’s Dual Self-Consciousness and Job Search Clarity: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between college graduates’ dual self-consciousness, job searchclarity and perceived stress, and reveal the mediating role of perceived stress between dual self-consciousness andjob search clarity. In this study, 467 college graduates were investigated using the Dual Self-Consciousness Scale,Job Search Clarity Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. After controlling for gender, age, and region, the resultsrevealed that: (1) private self-consciousness has a significant positive predictive effect on job search clarity; (2)perceived stress has a significant negative predictive effect on job search clarity; (3) perceived stress plays partialmediation effects between private self-consciousness and job search clarity; (4) perceived stress plays completemediation effects between public self-consciousness and job search clarity; (5) perceived stress has suppressingeffects between public self-consciousness and job search clarity.     

Vitamin D3 analog, EB1089, inhibits growth of subcutaneous xenografts of the human colon cancer cell line, LoVo, in a nude mouse model

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the effect of the vitamin D ₃ analog, EB1089, on the growth of subcutaneous xenografts of the human colon cancer cell line, LoVo, in a nude mouse model. METHODS: BALB/c Nu/Nu nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 10 ⁶ LoVo cells. EB1089 dissolved in isopropanol was administered intraperitoneally and orally on alternate days at doses of 0.1, 0.5, and 2.5 g/kg/day. Control animals received isopropanol alone. Tumor volumes estimated using the formula 0.5×length×(width). The tumor kinetic index was determined by immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. RESULTS: Significant dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth was seen. After 20 days of treatment with 0.1 g/kg/day EB1089, mean tumor volume in treated mice was 41 to 49 percent less than that in control animals (P <0.01). Significant inhibition of tumor growth was also seen with 0.5 g/kg/day EB1089 after 22 days of treatment (51 percent of control P <0.01). Treatment with 2.5 g/kg/day resulted in weight loss that required termination of this group; these mice were subsequently found to be hypercalcemic. The tumor kinetic index was significantly lower in tumors treated with 0.1 g/kg/day EB1089 compared with that for control tumors (8 vs.30 percent in controls). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the vitamin D ₃ analog, EB1089, is a potent antiproliferative agent for some human colon cancers.The human colonic adenocarcinoma cancer cell line, LoVo, was a gift from CRC Laboratories, Nottingham, United Kingdom.Read at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Melbourne, Australia, June 5 to 10, 1996.     

High incidence of false positives by a latex agglutination test for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile associated colitis in compromised patients

Detection of Clostridium difficile cytotoxin using cell culture assays for the diagnosis of antibiotic-associated colitis has been used for over a decade. Because the methodology is time consuming and cumbersome, a recently introduced commercial latex agglutination (LA) kit has attracted much attention. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of this method with the cytotoxic assay (CTA) using diarrheal stools from 652 patients at a referral tertiary care center. Specimens from 71 (10.9%) patients were found positive with CTA and 98 (15%) by LA. Of these, 67 stools were positive by both methods. Four specimens showed cytotoxicity but were negative by LA. Of the 31 patient specimens that were positive by LA but negative by CTA, 22 were obtained from leukemic bone marrow transplant and four from renal transplant patients [corrected]. Sixteen of these patients had Giardia lamblia (four), Salmonella enteritidis (three), Blastocystis hominis (five), Rotavirus (two), and Shigella boydii (two) in their stools [corrected]. No significant organisms were found in the rest of the LA-positive and CTA-negative specimens.