Effects of tampon components on growth and dissemination of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Six components used in vaginal tampons were tested for their effects on a strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from a patient with disseminated infection. Tampon components containing carboxymethyl cellulose or its derivative prolonged the in-vitro survival of gonococci and, when injected with mucin into mice, significantly (P less than 0.0001) increased the dissemination of gonococci from the peritoneal cavity. In contrast, a component extracted from rayon tampons reduced in-vitro survival and appeared to suppress gonococcal dissemination in mice. Since tampons are used by a large number of women at a time when the risk of developing complications from venereal infections are increased, their effects on potential urogenital pathogens warrant further study.     

Efficacy of the enamel matrix derivative to induce cementogenesis in vital and endodontically treated teeth with osseous dehiscence defects

Abstract – This experiment assessed the efficacy of the enamel matrix derivative (EMD) to regenerate cementum in vital and endodontically treated teeth with osseous dehiscence defects. Five adult female beagle dogs were used. Thirty maxillary teeth (bilateral maxillary canines and second and fourth premolars) were randomly divided into two experimental groups (groups A and B, containing 12 teeth each) and one control group (group C). Endodontic treatment was only performed on teeth in group A compared with teeth in groups B and C. Buccal osseous dehiscence defects were surgically created in teeth from all groups. Teeth in the experimental group were treated with the EMD, whereas the controls were not. After 5 months, the animals were sacrificed and block sections of the teeth in experimental and control groups were processed for histological analysis. Newly regenerated cementum was observed in all teeth in groups A and B. No cementum regeneration was observed in group C. There was a significant difference in cementum generation between the experimental and control groups (P < 0.001). EMD therapy induces cementogenesis in vital and endodontically treated teeth with osseous dehiscence defects.     

A cohort study of cancer incidence in systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence of cancer in a large cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and compare it to the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registries. METHODS: Cancer risk in a large cohort of patients with SSc followed at our institution was assessed. A total of 769 patients with SSc who were followed between 1987 and 2002 were screened for the development of cancer. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) for malignancies identified after diagnosis of SSc were calculated using the SEER cancer registries and stratified by sex. RESULTS: Ninety malignancies were diagnosed in 769 patients followed at our institution between 1987 and 2002. Sixty-two malignancies were diagnosed after diagnosis of SSc in a total of 3,775 patient years of followup. Twenty-eight malignancies were diagnosed prior to diagnosis of SSc. The SIR for all cancers diagnosed after diagnosis of SSc was 1.55 (1.16-1.93). The SIR for esophageal cancer was 15.9 (4.2-27.6) while that of oropharyngeal cancer was 9.63 (2.97-16.29). CONCLUSION: We identified an overall increase in the incidence of cancer in a cohort of patients with SSc compared to the general population, with statistically significant differences in the incidence of esophageal and oropharyngeal cancers.