A random clinical trial study to assess the efficiency of topical applications of podophyllin resin (25%) versus podophyllin resin (25%) together with acyclovir cream (5%) in the treatment of oral hairy leukoplakia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of topical applications of podophyllin resin (25%) (P) versus podophyllin resin (25%) together with acyclovir cream (5%) (PA) in the treatment of oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) in accordance with the following criteria: (1) number of applications necessary for the total clinical resolution of OHL; (2) correlation between the decrease of lesion size and the number of applications; (3) total clinical resolution of OHL; and (4) clinical reevaluation 12 months after the end of treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-six OHLs were treated with P (P group) or with PA (PA group). Applications were performed weekly. Student t, Fisher exact, and Pearson correlation tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: All 24 lesions from the PA group presented total clinical resolution while 4 lesions from the P group did not. The P group required up to 25 applications performed weekly while the PA group required up to 18. Observed was a negative significant association between the size of the lesions and the number of applications performed weekly in the PA group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the following: (1) P and PA topical treatments presented a similar average number of applications performed weekly; (2) both groups showed the same clinical response at 12 months post-therapy; and (3) PA presented a 100% clinical resolution and a continuous decrease in OHL size over the course of weekly applications.     

Sensitivity-encoded (SENSE) proton echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (PEPSI) in the human brain.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) provides spatially resolved metabolite information that is invaluable for both neuroscience studies and clinical applications. However, lengthy data acquisition times, which are a result of time-consuming phase encoding, represent a major challenge for MRSI. Fast MRSI pulse sequences that use echo-planar readout gradients, such as proton echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (PEPSI), are capable of fast spectral-spatial encoding and thus enable acceleration of image acquisition times. Combining PEPSI with recent advances in parallel MRI utilizing RF coil arrays can further accelerate MRSI data acquisition. Here we investigate the feasibility of ultrafast spectroscopic imaging at high field (3T and 4T) by combining PEPSI with sensitivity-encoded (SENSE) MRI using eight-channel head coil arrays. We show that the acquisition of single-average SENSE-PEPSI data at a short TE (15 ms) can be accelerated to 32 s or less, depending on the field strength, to obtain metabolic images of choline (Cho), creatine (Cre), N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), and J-coupled metabolites (e.g., glutamate (Glu) and inositol (Ino)) with acceptable spectral quality and localization. The experimentally measured reductions in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Cramer-Rao lower bounds (CRLBs) of metabolite resonances were well explained by both the g-factor and reduced measurement times. Thus, this technology is a promising means of reducing the scan times of 3D acquisitions and time-resolved 2D measurements.     

Chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome: A bladder dysfunction?

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is frustrating for both clinicians and patients. The prostate is not scientifically proven to cause the symptoms of CP/CPPS, yet the prostate continues to be the diagnosis of convenience in this complex syndrome in men. However, if the pain is not of prostatic origin, what causes it? A heterogeneous group of insults can result in a common neurogenic pain response, resulting in recurring pain and voiding or sexual dysfunction. To add to this dilemma, certain life-threatening diagnoses, such as carcinoma-in-situ, are in the differential diagnosis and must be excluded. Urodynamics may be useful in evaluating and treating patients whose voiding symptoms predominate, such as those with concomitant overactive bladder symptoms. However, many patients with CP/CPPS will not have measurable abnormalities by conventional methods and likely suffer from a functional somatic syndrome that is best treated with a multimodality approach.     

Thoracic aortic disease: Spectrum of multidetector computed tomography imaging findings

The clinical presentation of diseases involving the thoracic aorta ranges from a large number of asymptomatic patients with clinically undetectable thoracic aortic aneurysm to patients with symptoms of severe chest pain as a result of acute aortic dissection. Thoracic aortic disease often remains undiagnosed until a life-threatening complication occurs or the disease is discovered serendipitously on imaging studies performed for other purposes. Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) imaging of the aorta is used to diagnose various acute and chronic conditions, including aortic aneurysms, aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, traumatic injury, rupture, inflammatory disorders, and congenital malformations. This review illustrates the wide range of MDCT imaging findings of thoracic aortic disease.     

Comparative study of the effect of a tube drain in impacted lower third molar surgery.

PURPOSE: Postoperative variables such as pain, swelling, and trismus after surgery of the impacted lower third molars are the main concerns of dental clinicians and surgeons. Many authors claim that the use of a drain could help control these variables. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the use of a tube drain in impacted lower third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients of both genders with bilateral impacted lower third molars comprised our comparative study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: in the first the suture procedure was accomplished using a drain, and in the second the suture procedure was accomplished without a drain. The postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus were evaluated at 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, and 15 days. RESULTS: In the group in which the drain was used, the control of the swelling variable was statistically significant at 24 and 72 hours (P <.001) in comparison with the group in which the drain was not used. However, pain and trismus were not statistically significant at the evaluation period. CONCLUSION: The use of the drain helps to control swelling. However, it had no effect on pain or trismus.     

Assessment of vector microfilarial uptake as a comparatively non-invasive technique for monitoring onchocerciasis treatment campaigns in the Americas

Summary Since 1992, efforts have been made to combat onchocerciasis in Guatemala through mass distribution of ivermectin. The impact of the campaign is assessed by taking skin-snips from sentinel groups within selected communities. This method gives an estimate of the prevalence and intensity of infection, and thus the efficacy of the treatment. In some communities people are becoming reluctant to volunteer for skin-snipping, and so there is a need for an alternative technique that will give quantitative results. In most hyperendemic communities in Guatemala, biting blackflies are so ubiquitous that few people object to allowing 10 to 20 flies to engorge upon them. We examined data on the quantitative uptake of microfilariae by Simulium ochraceum before and after ivermectin distribution to see whether results similar to skin-snip data could be obtained. Counts of microfilariae ingested by S. ochraceum are compared to the numbers found in skin-snips from the same volunteers. In a group of 31 untreated infected persons, a skin-snip survey detected 64.5% positive, while feeding flies (vector microfilarial uptake, VmfU) detected 96.8%. Post-treatment, in a sample of 58 of whom 52 (89.7%) had a history of infection, both skin-snips and VmfU detected 54.2%. Vector blood meals contained more microfilariae than a mg of skin before treatment, but both recorded about equal numbers after treatment. When the data set was subdivided to compare samples taken at 2–3, 6–8 and 14–17 months post-treatment, the effect of ivermectin was still apparent at 6–8 months, but had virtually disappeared by 14 months post-treatment. A surprising observation was that the flies ingested fewer microfilariae from treated persons than was expected from the skin densities as estimated by skin-snip. This effect lasted for over 8 months, and could indicate that ivermectin has a greater effect on transmission than previously suspected. We conclude that VmfU could be used as an alternative to skin-snipping, and discuss the ethical implications.     

Potassium currents in primary cultured astrocytes from the rat corpus callosum

The corpus callosum (CC) is the main white matter tract in the brain and is involved in interhemispheric communication. Using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique, a study was made of K⁺-currents in primary cultured astrocytes from the CC of newborn rats. These cells were positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein after culturing in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (> 95% of cells) or in serum-free neurobasal medium with G5 supplement (> 99% of cells). Astrocytes cultured in either medium displayed similar voltage-activated ion currents. In 81% of astrocytes, the current had a transient component and a sustained component, which were blocked by 4-aminopyridine and tetraethylammonium, respectively; and both had a reversal potential of −66 mV, indicating that they were carried by K⁺ ions. Based on the Ba²⁺-sensitivity and activation kinetics of the K⁺-current, two groups of astrocytes were discerned. One group (55% of cells) displayed a strong Ba²⁺ blockade of the K⁺-current whose activation kinetics, time course of decay, and the current-voltage relationship were modified by Ba²⁺. This current was greatly blocked (52%) by Ba²⁺ in a voltage-dependent way. Another group (45% of cells) presented weak Ba²⁺-blockade, which was only blocked 24% by Ba²⁺. The activation kinetics and time course of decay of this current component were unaffected by Ba²⁺. These results may help to understand better the roles of voltage-activated K⁺-currents in astrocytes from the rat CC in particular and glial cells in general.