Class II high angle case for which titanium screws were added after mandibular posterior rotation

In skeletal Class II patients with a high mandibular plane angle, it is well known that posterior rotation of the mandible often occurs during treatment using a preadjusted edgewise appliance. In this case, posterior rotation of the mandible with increased overjet occurred after the buccal inclination of the mandibular 2nd molars. This case report describes a Class II high angle case for which titanium screws were added as an absolute anchorage to improve the posterior rotation of the mandible. To correct the posterior rotation of the mandible, mandibular molars were intruded and the mandibular arch was mesially moved using titanium screws. The treatment results show that titanium screws were useful for improving the posterior rotation of the mandible during treatment using a preadjusted edgewise appliance.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of auxiliary chemical substances and natural extracts on Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis in root canals

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of auxiliary chemical substances and natural extracts on Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis inoculated in root canals.

Material and Methods:

Seventy-two human tooth roots were contaminated with C. albicans and E. faecalis for 21 days. The groups were divided according to the auxiliary chemical substance into: G1) 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), G2) 2% chlorhexidine gel (CHX), G3) castor oil, G4) glycolic Aloe vera extract, G5) glycolic ginger extract, and G6) sterile saline (control). The samples of the root canal were collected at different intervals: confirmation collection, at 21 days after contamination; 1^st collection, after instrumentation; and 2^nd collection, seven days after instrumentation. Microbiological samples were grown in culture medium and incubated at 37º C for 48 hours.

Results:

The results were submitted to the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn (5%) statistical tests. NaOCl and CHX completely eliminated the microorganisms of the root canals. Castor oil and ginger significantly reduced the number of CFU of the tested bacteria. Reduction of CFU/mL at the 1^st and 2^nd collections for groups G1, G2, G3 and G4 was greater in comparison to groups G5 and G6.

Conclusion:

It was concluded that 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and 2% chlorhexidine gel were more effective in eliminating C. albicans and E. faecalis, followed by the castor oil and glycolic ginger extract. The Aloe vera extract showed no antimicrobial activity.     

Impact of glutathione S-transferase T1 gene polymorphisms on acute cellular rejection in living donor liver transplantation

It has previously been demonstrated that glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) genetic mismatch between recipient and donor is a risk factor for developing immune-mediated hepatitis following liver transplantation and for antibody-mediated rejection in renal transplantation. Little is known whether the GSTT1 gene polymorphism affects the incidence of acute cellular rejection (ACR) following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Patients underwent LDLT at Nagoya University or Kyoto University, Japan, between 2004 and 2009. Genotyping of GSTT1 genes (null or present genotype) was conducted in recipients and donors. A total of 155 LDLT cases were examined. Forty-seven recipients (30.3%) developed early ACR. There was no association of recipient GSTT1 genotype with ACR incidence. However, ACR incidence was significantly higher in recipients transplanted from GSTT1 present genotype donors than in those transplanted from GSTT1 null genotype donors [odds ratio (OR) = 2.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12–5.83, p = 0.016]. Moreover, GSTT1 recipient/donor genotype mismatch (present/null or null/present) was significantly associated with ACR development (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.12–4.61, p = 0.022). The genotyping of GSTT1 in recipients and donors might be useful to stratify the liver transplant recipients according to risk of ACR.     

Mastication suppresses initial gastric emptying by modulating gastric activity

Because various mastication-related factors influence gastric activity, the functional relationship between mastication and gastric function has not been fully elucidated. To investigate the influence of mastication on gastric emptying and motility, we conducted a randomized trial to compare the effects of mastication on gastric emptying and gastric myoelectrical activity under conditions that excluded the influences of food comminution, taste, and olfaction. A (13)C-acetate breath test with electrogastrography and electrocardiography was performed in 14 healthy men who ingested a test meal with or without chewing gum. Autonomic nerve activity was evaluated by fluctuation analysis of heart rate. Gastric emptying was significantly delayed in the 'ingestion with mastication' group. Gastric myoelectrical activity was significantly suppressed during mastication and increased gradually in the post-mastication phase. A decrease in the high-frequency power of heart rate variability was observed coincidentally with gastric myoelectrical activity suppression. These findings suggest that initial gastric emptying is suppressed by mastication, and that the suppression is caused by mastication-induced inhibition of gastric activity (UMIN Clinical Trial Registration no. UMIN000005351).     

Neuroprotective effects of different frequency preconditioning exercise on neuronal apoptosis after focal brain ischemia in rats

ABSTRACT

Objective: Preconditioning exercise can exert neuroprotective effects after stroke; however, the effects of exercise intensity, frequency, duration are unknown. We investigated the neuroprotective effect of different frequency preconditioning exercise on neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischemia in rats.

Methods: Rats were divided into the following five groups: 5 times a week of exercise (5/w-Ex) group, 3 times a week of exercise (3/w-Ex) group, once a week of exercise (1/w-Ex) group, no exercise (No-Ex) group, and intact control (control) group. Rats were made to run on a treadmill for 30 min per day at a speed of 25 m/min for 3 weeks. After the running program, the rats were subjected to 60-min left middle cerebral artery occlusion. Two days after ischemia, the cerebral infarct volume, neurological and motor function, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) ratio, expression of caspase-3, and TUNEL positive cells were examined in the cerebral cortex surrounding the ischemic zone.

Results: The 3/w-Ex and 5/w-Ex groups showed significantly reduced infarct volumes compared with the No-Ex group, but the 1/w-Ex group did not. In addition, the 3/w-Ex and 5/w-Ex groups had improved neurological scores and sensorimotor function compared with the No-Ex group. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, expression of caspase-3, and TUNEL-positive cells significantly decreased in the penumbra area in the 3/w-Ex or 5/w-Ex groups compared with the No-Ex group.

Discussion: Our findings suggested that three times or more per week of high-intensity preconditioning exercise exert neuroprotective effects through the downregulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 activation after stroke.

Abbreviations: TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated dUTP nick and labeling; MCAO:middle cerebral artery occlusion; BAX:Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bcl-2: B-cell lymphoma 2; TTC: 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazorlium chloride     

A case of myeloid sarcoma diagnosed by FISH

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a tumor mass of myeloblasts or immature myeloid cells occurring in an extramedullary site or in bone. The tumor mass may precede or occur concurrently with acute or chronic myeloid leukemia or with other types of myeloproliferative disorders or myelodysplastic syndromes. MS is a rare disease, estimated to comprise between 2 to approximately 14% of acute myeloid leukemia. On the other hand, 95% of cases of CML have characteristic t (9;22) cytogenetic abnormality and BCR/ABL fusion gene at diagnosis. We here report the clinical significance of FISH in a diagnosis of MS that formed tumor in femur during the chronic phase of CML.