Poncet’s disease (reactive arthritis associated with tuberculosis): retrospective case series and review of literature

The primary objective of this study is to describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with Poncet’s disease (PD) in the Makkah region in Saudi Arabia, where tuberculosis is on the rise. The secondary objective is conducting a PD systematic literature review to compare our findings. We studied seven patients who presented with arthritis within the first 3?years from diagnosis of active tuberculosis in two centers in the Makkah region: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and King Fahad Hospital in Jeddah from January 2005 to December 2011. We conducted a literature review on PD in multiple biomedical/pharmaceutical databases up to December 2011. We detected a new pattern of reactive arthritis associated with tuberculosis (TB). We identified this as PD or tuberculous rheumatism, which is a sterile reactive arthritis that can emerge during any stage of acute TB infection. Seven cases of Poncet’s disease were identified in our study. The most common presentation was extrapulmonary with involvement of multiple sites. Six out of seven patients developed arthritis after initiation of anti-TB drugs; one patient developed polyarthritis after completion of anti-TB medication. Asymmetrical polyarthritis was the most common presentation and the resolution of the arthritis was with symptomatic treatment and continuation of anti-TB drugs except in one case. PD may manifest in a variable pattern during the course of active tuberculous infection. Physicians should be aware of this rare complication associated with a common disease to prevent delay in diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment.     

Effect of resin coating on dentin bonding of resin cement in Class II cavities

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of resin coating on the regional microtensile bond strength (MTBS) of a resin cement to the dentin walls of Class II cavities. Twenty mesio-occlusal cavities were prepared in human molars. In 10 cavities, a resin coating consisting of a self-etching primer bonding system, Clearfil SE Bond, and a low-viscosity microfilled resin, Protect Liner F, was applied. The other 10 teeth served as a non-coating group. After impression taking and temporization, they were kept in water for one day. Composite inlays were then cemented with a dual-cure resin cement, Panavia F 2.0, and stored in water for one day. Thereafter, MTBSs were measured. Two-way ANOVA (p=0.05) revealed that the MTBS of resin cement to dentin was influenced by resin coating, but not by regional difference. In conclusion, application of a resin coating to the dentin surface significantly improved the MTBS in indirect restorations.     

Folinic acid protects against suppression of growth by methotrexate in mice.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether folinic acid supplementation would protect young mice against suppression of growth by methotrexate (MTX). Four equal groups of Balb/c young male mice (5 animals in each group; mean+/-SD body weight 9.64+/-0.85 g, in their rapid growth phase) were subjected to the following drug treatment: One group was given MTX (3.5 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally on every 2nd day, another received folinic acid (7.0 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally every 2nd day. The third group was given both of these drugs (MTX on every 2nd day and folinic acid 8 h post-MTX injection). The fourth group was injected with physiological saline every other day to serve as a control group. Total body weight, food and water consumption by animals in each group were monitored every second day for a period of 3 weeks. After this period mice were sacrificed and liver, spleen and kidneys were excised, weighed and analyzed for MTX and dihydrofolate reductase activity. A small segment of the proximal part of small intestine and small pieces of liver and kidney were also removed to study morphological changes. Compared to the groups, which received folinic acid alone, folinic acid plus MTX or physiological saline, mean increase in body weight (6.8+/-0.8 g) of mice over a period of 3 weeks was minimal in the group receiving MTX alone (one-way ANOVA p=0.0001). The mean weights of liver and kidney in this group receiving MTX alone were also found to be significantly less than the mean weights of these organs in the 3 groups (p<0.001). The negative effect on growth of animals appears not only due to malabsorption but inhibition of pathway of de novo DNA synthesis may also be involved. This is supported by loss of villous pattern in small intestine of mice treated with MTX alone and increased accumulation of free MTX and decreased dihydrofolate reductase in the liver of the group receiving MTX alone as compared with the group receiving MTX plus folinic acid. The data indicate that the administration of folinic acid protects mice against suppression of growth by MTX. On the basis of these observations it can be deduced that patients suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia receiving MTX over a long period of time might be at a risk of experiencing short-term suppression of growth, however they could benefit from supplementation with folinic acid.     

Changes of placental diameter thickness and cotyledon in eclampsia

The study was done to see the changes of placental diameter, thickness and number of cotyledons in eclapmsia. A total 45 placenta, 25 from eclamptic mother and 20 from normal pregnant mother were collected from Gynaecology and Obstetric department of Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital (MMCH). Study was done in Anatomy department of Mymensingh Medical College (MMC). Macroscopic study of the formol saline fixed placentas revealed that, compared to the controls there was trend of less placental diameter in eclamptic group(p=0.0004). Cotyledon number was found to be significantly less in eclampsia (p=0.0001). However there was no significant difference in placental thickness in eclamptic placenta than that of normal group. Statistical significance of difference between two groups was calculated by using Students "t" test. A difference between the two groups was considered to be significant when p<0.005. The morphological changes in placenta are possibly due to reduced uteroplacental blood flow in eclampsia.     

Learning by Doing and Learning by Observing: Training Parents in Saudi Arabia to Implement the Natural Language Paradigm

The present study trained six parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to implement the Natural Language Paradigm in Saudi Arabia. Three of the parents participated in direct training using a Behavioral Skills Training (BST) model involving instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. As each of the three parents were being trained directly an additional parent observed the training (i.e., there were three trainee-observer dyads). While all of the parents learned from observing other parents being trained directly, only one observer met the predetermined performance criteria after observation alone, with the other two requiring direct training using BST. The parents demonstrated maintenance of their skills at follow-up, and social validity evaluations were strong. In addition, all parents implemented the NLP procedures at mastery criteria in another setting during generalization probes. Implications for further training research are provided.     

T2182C mutation in 23S rRNA is associated with clarithromycin resistance in Helicobacter pylori isolates obtained in Bangladesh

Twelve clarithromycin-resistant (MIC, > or = 1 microg/ml) Helicobacter pylori isolates were analyzed for point mutations in the 23S rRNA gene. Sequence analysis of all of the resistant isolates revealed a T-to-C transition mutation at position 2182. Transformation experiments confirmed that a single T-to-C transition mutation at position 2182 is associated with clarithromycin resistance.     

Evaluation of Biocompatibility and Osteogenic Potential of Tricalcium Silicate–based Cements Using Human Bone Marrow–derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Introduction

The success of endodontic regeneration lies in the appropriate combination of stem cells and bioactive materials. Several novel dental materials are available on the market in this regard. Hence, the current study aimed to evaluate the proliferation, differentiation, and osteogenic potential of human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) onto biomaterials like ProRoot MTA (MTA; Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK), Biodentine (BD; Septodont, Saint Maur de Fosses, France), and EndoSequence Root Repair Material (ERRM; Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA).

Anti-Hyperglycemic,Anti-Hyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Potential of Alcoholic-Extract of Sida cordifolia (Areal Part) in Streptozotocin-Induced-Diabetes in Wistar-Rats

Sida cordifolia is a shrub found throughout the tropical and sub-tropical plains. All parts of the plant are used as anti-rheumatic, antipyretic, anti-asthmatic, laxative, diuretic, vasorelaxative, hypotensive, central nervous system depressant, antioxidant, analgesic and hypoglycemic. The present study was aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant potential of alcoholic-extract obtained from areal part of S. cordifolia in streptozotocin-induced-diabetes in wistar-rats. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin at the intra-peritoneal dose of 55 mg/kg. Diabetic rats were treated with alcoholic extract of S. cordifolia at dosage of 200, 400 mg/kg and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) after sub-acute administration for 28 days. Alcoholic extract of S. cordifolia at 400 mg/kg significantly improved the body-weight whereas significantly decreased the blood glucose level in diabetic rats. However at 400 mg/kg, the alcoholic extract of S. cordifolia showed beneficial effect indicating significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipids, plasma-creatinine, plasma-urea nitrogen and lipid-peroxidation and a significant increase in high density lipid-level in diabetic rats. Interestingly at 400 mg/kg, a significant increase in antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide-dismutase-activity was seen in the diabetic rats. The dose 200 mg/kg of alcoholic extract of S. cordifolia showed non-significant change in diabetic rats. The above therapeutic-potential of alcoholic extract of areal parts of plant may be because of the presence of bioactive compounds such as glycosides, resins, alkaloids, sterols, saponins and flavonoids. Thus, the findings of the present study indicate that the alcoholic extract of S. cordifolia at dosage level of 400 mg/kg produces anti-diabetic effect in the streptozotocin-induced diabetes in wistar-rats.