Expression of S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen and alpha fetoprotein in normal salivary glands and primary salivary gland tumors.

The distribution of S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen and alpha fetoprotein was studied in 38 primary salivary gland tumors. S-100 protein, a useful marker of myoepithelial cells, was demonstrated in some benign tumors. Carcinoembryonic antigen expression was consistently positive in adenoid cystic carcinoma. Demonstration of epithelial membrane antigen helped to confirm the epithelial nature of some neoplastic cells. Alpha fetoprotein was not expressed in any of the cases examined. No correlation was found between immunopositivity and tumor behavior in the present series.     

Effectiveness of etanercept in bleomycin-induced experimental scleroderma

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of etanercept and thalidomide in the mouse model of bleomycin-induced scleroderma (BLM-IS). METHODS: This study involved four groups (n = 8 mice in each group). Dermal sclerosis was induced by repeated subcutaneous injections of BLM (10 microg) for 4 weeks in BALB/c mice. Control group received only phosphate-buffered saline. The second group received only BLM; the third and fourth groups were also given an intraperitoneal injection of 100 microg etanercept or 150 mg/kg thalidomide, respectively. RESULTS: BLM increased serum TGF-beta1, tissue hydroxyproline levels and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and dermal fibrosis was histopathologically prominent. Although thalidomide had no significant effect, etanercept caused decreases in levels of serum TGF-beta1, tissue hydroxyproline and number of alpha-SMA-positive cells. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of TNF-alpha with etanercept in BLM-IS was resulted in a significant reduction of the dermal sclerosis, collagen accumulation and the number of infiltrating myofibroblastic cells. TNF-alpha may play a key role in the progression of BLM-IS and TNF-alpha antagonists may be useful in the management of scleroderma.     

Quantitative Evaluation of Normal Aqueductal Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Using Phase‐Contrast Cine MRI According to Age and Sex

The aim of this study was cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow quantification in the cerebral aqueduct using phase‐contrast cine magnetic resonance ?maging (PCC‐MRI) according to both sexes and three different age groups to obtain normative data. Seventy two volunteers with no cerebral pathology were included in this study. Subjects were divided into three age groups: 20–34 years, 35–49 years, and 50–65 years including equal gender groups. CSF flow's quantitatively evaluation was performed with images that were obtained by 1.5 T Magnetic Resonance (MR) unit from cerebral aqueduct level on the semi‐axial plan. Between groups, peak velocity (cm sec^?1), average velocity (cm/s), forward volume (mL), reverse volume (mL), net forward volume (mL), and average flow over range (ml/min) values of current flowing through aqueduct and average aqueductal areas were compared. There were no statistically significant differences in CSF flow parameters among different age groups and between sexes (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in average cerebral aqueduct area between the age group of 50–65 years and the other age groups (P = 0.002). The average aqueductal area was higher in the age group of 50–65 years. Normal aqueductal CSF flow parameters evaluated with PCC‐MRI don't show a significant difference by age and sex. We have achieved the lower and upper values of these parameters would be useful in future clinical studies. The size of aqueductal area may also be explained by atrophy‐dependent ventricular system dilatation in the elderly. Anat Rec, 300:549–555, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The effects of stabilization splint treatment on the volume of masseter muscle in sleep bruxism patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate, quantitatively, the volumetric effects of stabilization splint therapy on the masseter muscle of sleep bruxism (SB) patients.

Methods: The magnetic resonance (MR) images of 16 SB patients diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) who used stabilization splints for four months were obtained before and after the therapy. The masseter muscle volume was calculated using Cavalieri’s principle on the MR images.

Results: After the splint therapy, the mean volume of the masseter muscle did not reduce significantly. The fat and/or water content of the muscles did not change either.

Discussion: The stabilization splint therapy had no effect on the volume, fat and/or water content of the masseter muscle; however the discomfort was reduced in the patients. Although the effect of splint therapy is not fully understood, the non-invasive and reversible stabilization splint can be used in SB patients because of its relaxation effect on muscles.     

The denticulate ligament: anatomical properties,functional and clinical significance

Background  

It is widely believed that the main function of denticulate ligaments (DLs) is to stabilize the spinal cord within the vertebral canal. The aim of this study was to assess the anatomical and histological structure of the DLs and to document any regional differences.     

Ischemia-Modified Albumin: Could It Be a New Oxidative Stress Biomarker for Colorectal Carcinoma?

Background/Aims

An impaired oxidative/antioxidative status plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of the novel marker ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and albumin-adjusted IMA (Adj-IMA) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and look for the associations of these with the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI).

Methods

Forty patients with CRC (19 females and 21 males; mean age, 56.5±2.1 years) and 39 age- and sex-matched healthy people (22 females and 17 males; mean age, 56.0±1.7 years) were included in this study. Serum levels of IMA, TAS, and TOS were analyzed, and the OSI was calculated.

Results

Serum IMA, TOS, and OSI levels were significantly higher in patients with CRC than in controls (p<0.0001), whereas TAS levels were significantly lower in CRC patients (p=0.03). There was no significant difference in serum Adj-IMA levels between groups (p=0.32).

Conclusions

In this study, the oxidative/antioxidant status was impaired in favor of oxidative stress in CRC patients. This observation was not confirmed by IMA measurement. Further studies are needed to establish the relationship between IMA and oxidative stress parameters in CRC and other cancers.     

An unusual complication of immunosuppression in myasthenia gravis: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

We present a 44-year-old female patient with generalised myasthenia gravis who developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. She was receiving high dose corticosteroids, azathioprine 200 mg daily and high dose intravenous immunoglobulin during relapses. Two months after thymectomy she presented with progressive cognitive decline, asymmetric quadriparesis and ataxia. Two months later she was bedridden. Cranial MRI showed large asymmetric T2 and FLAIR hyperintense lesions in cortical and subcortical structures. Positive CSF PCR of JC virus confirmed the diagnosis. The patient survives with severe sequela which confirms slow progression as typical in nonAIDS cases. This is the second case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a myasthenic patient.