Multiple internal resorptions in deciduous teeth: a case report

We report a case of rare multiple internal resorptions. Etiology of multiple internal resorptions is unknown. Interestingly, the patient had an atopic dermatitis, which is possibly related to multiple and rapid internal resorptions.     

New Latex Bead Agglutination Assay for Differential Diagnosis of Cattle Infected with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

Extensive studies have shown that the current assays used to identify cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis are not sufficiently sensitive and specific to detect all infected animals, especially animals recently infected with the pathogens. In the present report we show that these limitations might be overcome with a latex bead agglutination assay (LBAA). With the specific immunodominant epitope (ESAT6-p) of M. bovis, we developed an LBAA and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for that purpose and compared them with the “gold standard” culture method and skin test for their efficacy in detecting bovine tuberculosis. When sera from control healthy cows (n = 10), M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-positive cattle (naturally infected, n = 16; experimentally infected, n = 8), and M. bovis-positive cattle (naturally infected, n = 49;experimentally infected, n = 20) were applied to an EIA and an LBAA developed with ESAT6-p, the two tests showed similar sensitivity (97.1% by EIA, 95.7% by LBAA), high specificity (94.2% by EIA, 100% by LBAA), and a positive correlation (kappa value, 0.85; correlation rate, 93.2%; correlation coefficient, 0.64). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of EIA results and comparison with the culture method determined a suitable cutoff value at 0.469, with an area under the curve of 0.991 (95% confidence interval, 0.977 to 1.0). As LBAA didn't show any positive reactions with sera from uninfected control cows or M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-infected cattle, which were confirmed to be free of M. bovis by culture or PCR, LBAA using the ESAT6-p can be a rapid and useful M. bovis diagnostic assay. The data suggest that rapid, sensitive, and specific assays can be developed with peptides containing immunodominant epitopes present in proteins uniquely expressed in M. bovis or M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis for differential diagnosis of cattle infected with M. bovis or M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis.     

The effect of pre-vertebroplasty tumor ablation using laser-induced thermotherapy on biomechanical stability and cement fill in the metastatic spine

A biomechanical study comparing simulated lytic vertebral metastases treated with laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) and vertebroplasty versus vertebroplasty alone. To investigate the effect of tumor ablation using LITT prior to vertebroplasty on biomechanical stability and cement fill patterns in a standardized model of spinal metastatic disease. Vertebroplasty in the metastatic spine is aimed at reducing pain, but is associated with risk of cement extravasation in up to 10%. Six pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric thoracolumbar spinal motion segments were tested in axial compression intact, with simulated metastases and following percutaneous vertebroplasty with or without LITT. Canal narrowing under load, pattern of cement fill, load to failure, and LITT temperature and pressure generation were collected. In all LITT specimens, cement filled the defect without extravasation. The canal extravasation rate was 33% in specimens treated without LITT. LITT and vertebroplasty yielded a trend toward improved posterior wall stability (P = 0.095) as compared to vertebroplasty alone. Moderate rises in temperature and minimal pressure generation was seen during LITT. In this model, elimination of tumor by LITT, facilitates cement fill, enhances biomechanical stability and reduces the risk of cement extravasation.     

Beziehung zwischen dem UV-Absorptionsmuster einiger Flavone und ihrer gegen L1210-Zellen cytotoxischen Aktivität

The UV-pattern of several flavones, their cytotoxicities against L1210 cell and their Inhibiting effects on ATPase from the cell seem to be correlated. 5,2′-Dihydroxy-6,7,8,6′-tetramethoxyflavone (ED₅₀=2.3 ug/ml) and 5,2′,6′-trihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (ED₅₀=4.5 ug/ml), the most active flavones studied, have shown a narrow range of the absorbance ratio, Log εII/Log εI=1.073～1.109. They have inhibited the ATPase-activity to the greatest extent. These findings suggest that a certain angle between the flavone rings B and C plays an important role for the inhibition of the enzyme activity and thus the cytotoxicity.     

Neurocysticercosis in Persons with Epilepsy in Medellín,Colombia

Summary: Purpose: A prospective series of 643 persons with epilepsy attending a reference neurologic center in Medellin, Colombia, was examined by computed tomography (CT scan) or serology or both with the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay (EITB) to assess the prevalence of Taenia solium cysticercosis. Methods: All presenting patients were consecutively enrolled in the study. Five hundred forty-six persons underwent cerebral CT scans; 376 of them also had serum EITB performed. Results: Prevalence of neurocys@ercosis by CT scan was 13.92%. Overall prevalence of T. solium antibodies with EITB was 9.82%, but for those with late-onset epilepsy (onset after age 30 years), prevalence increased to 17.5% and 19% for those who originated from outside urban Medellin. Seroprevalence in individuals with mixed lesions (cysts and calcifications) was 88.2% and 64.10% in those with live cysts. Conversely, only 2.72% of persons with CT findings not related to neurocysticercosis had positive EITB tests. Conclusions: Our study shows that an important proportion of individuals with epilepsy have radiologic or serologic evidence of T. solium infection, suggesting that neurocysticercosis is an important etiology for epilepsy in Colombia.     

Comparative analysis of NK/T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma in Korea: Clinicopathological correlations and analysis of EBV strain type and 30-bp deletion variant LMP1

Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are prevalent in the Asian population and exhibit a high association with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Moreover, differentiation of these two groups is often difficult and problematic. We investigated 35 cases of NKTL (22 nasal cases and 13 extranasal cases) and 30 cases of PTCL in terms of their clinical features, immunohistology, EBV positivity, EBV strain-type polymorphism and latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) deletion variant distribution. Eighteen cases (82%) of nasal NKTL and seven (54%) of extranasal NKTL showed EBV positivity by EBV in situ hybridization. Fifteen cases (50%) of PTCL revealed EBV positivity. EBV strain type A was predominant in NKTL (18:5), and EBV strain types A and B were distributed evenly in PTCL (6:6). EBV-positive patients had significantly shorter survival than EBV-negative patients (P < 0.05), and EBV positivity correlated with advanced clinical stage (P < 0.05). Patients harboring type A EBV showed slightly poorer prognoses than those having type B, though it was not obviously statistically different (P = 0.07). The LMP1 deletion variant was prevalent in both NKTL (three wild-type LMP1, 15 deletion variants) and PTCL (three wild-type LMP1, eight deletion variants, two coexistent forms) patients, but did not have prognostic impact. Our results indicate that EBV acts as a negative prognostic factor in NKTL and PTCL, and that the intrinsic properties of a specific viral strain might influence the clinical behavior of these diseases.     

Combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide and a recruitment maneuver in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Nitric oxide (NO) inhalation therapy has been employed in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in order to improve oxygenation. Several factors have been implicated as being responsible for the action of inhaled NO. Alveolar recruitment methods, such as prone positioning and a sufficient positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), have been identified as having a positive impact on the NO response. A Recruitment maneuver (RM) was introduced for the treatment of ARDS, along with a lung protective strategy. Here, we hypothesized that a RM may further augment the oxygenation of patients treated with NO inhalation. Therefore, the effects of the inhalation of NO, either in combination with a RM, or separately, were evaluated on patients with ARDS for their enhancing action. 23 patients with ARDS were enrolled, and divided into three groups. The patients in group 1 (n=11) were treated with 5 ppm NO via inhalation, followed by a RM, applying a sustained inflation pressure of 30 - 35 cmH2O for 30 seconds. Group 2 (n=6) received a RM alone, while group 3 (n=3) was treated with NO inhalation alone. The oxygenation and hemodynamic parameters were obtained prior to, and 2, 12, and 24 h after, the respective treatment procedures. For group 1, the PaO2/FiO2 increased from its initial value of 171.8 +/- 67.8 to 203.2 +/- 90.0 2 h after NO inhalation. Further improvement was noted with the continual application of the RM reaching, 215.5 +/- 74.6 (p=0.05) and 254.2 +/- 109.5 (p < 0.05), after 12 and 24 h, respectively. Initially 7 of the subjects did not respond to NO inhalation, but 3 of these non-responders changed into responders 12 h after the RM. The changes in the PaO2/FiO2 from baseline at each time period were greater in group 1 than in the other groups, but with no statistical significance. The hemodynamics of the patients was not significantly altered during the entire study period. We conclude that the combined application of NO inhalation and a RM could be beneficial and safe for patients with ARDS, showing an enhancing effect in improvement of oxygenation.