Investigation of the incidence of stylohyoid ligament calcifications with panoramic radiographs

Aim: This study examined and classified patients who were treated at the Faculty of Dentistry at Ankara University Dentistry to determine the incidence of different types of stylohyoid ligament calcification (SLC) using panoramic radiographs. In addition, it also assessed the possible causative symptoms and Eagle’s syndrome in cases of styloid process elongation. Methods: The study consisted of 2000 patients (1161 females and 839 males), aged 3–88 years, who were treated at our clinic. The panoramic radiographs were evaluated as part of this study. Results: Panoramic radiography examination revealed SLC in 1350 patients. Both‐sided (right and left), type 1 SLC was observed in 345 patients, while types 2–4 were found in 203, 418, and 384 patients, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of SLC was found to be higher in female patients when compared to male patients. In addition, calcifications were seen more often at age 50–59 years, and the incidence of calcification was found to increase with age. Two Eagle’s syndrome cases were diagnosed among a total of 2000 patients. Finally, it was determined that the incidence of calcified stylohyoid ligament is higher in patients with systemic diseases.     

Melatonin protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury in skeletal muscle

Abstract:  Melatonin has been shown to diminish ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in many tissues. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the protective antioxidant effect of melatonin in skeletal muscle during I/R injury. Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. Hindlimb ischemia was achieved by clamping the common femoral artery in two groups but not in control group. Limbs were rendered ischemic for 1.5 hr; at the end of the reperfusion period of 1.5 hr muscle tissue samples were taken for the histological evaluation and biochemical analysis. Melatonin (10 mg/kg) was injected i.p. in the I/R + Mel group at the onset of ischemia whereas the vehicle solution was injected in the I/R group. In I/R + Mel group histological damage was significantly less than in the I/R group ( P  < 0.001). In the I/R + Mel group, the mean malonedialdehyde level was lower than in the I/R group ( P  < 0.01) and was quite near to the levels in the control group ( P  > 0.05). Glutathione levels were found to be reduced in the I/R group compared with the control ( P  < 0.01) and I/R + Mel group ( P  < 0.01). Melatonin has a protective effect against I/R injury in skeletal muscle and may reduce the incidence of compartment syndrome, especially after acute or chronic peripheral arterial occlusions.     

Interrupted aortic arch associated with aortopulmonary window in a 20 year-old young adult

Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) and aortopulmonary window (APW) are rare but well-described congenital malformations. However, coexistence of these anomalies in young adults is an unusual event. Patients rarely reach adulthood without surgical correction in the neonatal period. The authors describe a 20-year-old patient, who presented with exertional dyspnea and was diagnosed as having IAA and concomitant APW. IAA just distal to the left subclavian artery and a large APW were demonstrated by chest multi-slice computed tomography angiography and cardiac catheterization.     

Low-level laser therapy of dentin hypersensitivity: a short-term clinical trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate low-level laser therapy in cervical dentin hypersensitivity. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with a total of 64 teeth. Dentin desensitizer and diode laser were applied on the cervical dentin surfaces. Distilled water and placebo laser was used as the placebo groups. The irradiance used was 4?J/cm² per treatment site. The baseline measurement of hypersensitivity was made by using visual analog scale (VAS). Twenty-four hours and 7?days after the application of desensitizer, diode laser and placebo groups, a new VAS analysis was conducted for the patients?? sensitivity level. The mean pain scores of placebo groups were significantly higher than the desensitizer??s and diode laser??s mean scores (ANOVA, p?<?0.05). The VAS analysis revealed a significant decrease in dentin hypersensitivity in 7?days with the use of the desensitizer and low-level laser therapy and no statistically significant difference was observed between these two treatments (p?>?0.05). Although low-level laser and glutaraldehyde containing desensitizer present distinct modes of action, experimental agents caused a significant reduction of dentin hypersensitivity without showing secondary effects, not irritating the pulp or causing pain, not discoloring or staining the teeth, and not irritating the soft tissues at least for a period of 1?week with no drawbacks regarding handling and/or ease of application. Low-level laser therapy and desensitizer application had displayed similar effectiveness in reducing moderate dentin hypersensitivity.     

Imatinib Treatment Alone in Philadelphia-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Is It Enough?

BCR-ABL fusion gene t(9;22)(q34;q11) occurs in only 3% of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. Previously, less than 40% of Philadelphia-positive ALL patients were cured with intensive chemotherapy. The use of imatinib (340 mg/m(2)/day) added to an intensive chemotherapy regimen has improved the outcome in this population at 3 years to an event-free survival of 80%. Imatinib treatment alone was administered after remission induction chemotherapy to a patient with Philadelphia-positive ALL who presented with serious chemotherapy toxicity, so that intensive chemotherapy could not be maintained. This is the only patient in the literature who survived remission for more than 2.5 years with imatinib treatment only.