Comparison of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine and 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine when used as a supplemental anesthetic

A randomized, double-blind trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine and 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine when used as a supplemental anesthetic. Forty-eight patients with irreversible pulpitis requiring supplemental buccal infiltration for endodontic therapy were given either 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine or 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine in a double-blind manner. A standard VAS pain scale was used to evaluate the patient's response to pain after a supplemental injection. The mean VAS score after supplemental anesthesia was 15.28 for 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine and 19.70 for 2% lidocaine with 1:00,000 epinephrine. The mean percentage change in VAS score was 70.5 and 62.2% for articaine and lidocaine, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the VAS pain score between 4% articaine with 1:00,000 epinephrine and 2% lidocaine with 1:00,000 epinephrine as a supplemental anesthetic.     

Loss of expression of receptor tyrosine kinase family genes PTK7 and SEK in metastatic melanoma

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) have been implicated in the development of many common human tumours including melanoma. Previously we isolated PTK gene sequences expressed in normal melanocytes. Here we examined expression of 9 of these genes in cell lines derived from defined stages of melanoma progression, by Northern blotting and in some cases immunoblotting. We also tested cells from 2 animal models of particular stages in progression, as well as uncultured biopsies of metastatic melanoma. The expression of 2 receptor kinase family members found in melanocytes, PTK7/CCK-4 and SEK/TYRO1, was decreased or lost in advanced melanomas. PTK7 mRNA was found in only 54% of melanoma cell lines and 20% of melanoma biopsies. Similarly, expression was lost in 2 advanced cell lines selected from an early melanoma line that did express PTK7 mRNA. SEK/TYRO1 expression was observed in 75% and 17% of cell lines from primary and metastastic melanomas, respectively. Conversely, mRNA for the non-receptor kinase PTK6/BRK was not detected in normal melanocytes or primary melanoma lines, but was found in 9% of metastatic melanoma cell lines. Int. J. Cancer 71: 1061-1065, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Mucormycosis at a tertiary care centre in Gujarat,India

The prevalence of mucormycosis is reportedly high in India, although the studies are mainly from north and south India only. We analysed the mucormycosis cases at tertiary care centres of West India. We retrieved the clinical details of all the patients with probable and proven mucormycosis diagnosed at Sterling Hospital and ID clinic at Ahmedabad, Gujarat over the period from 1 January 2013 through 30 April 2015. The data were analysed to determine demography, risk factors, underlying diseases, site of infection and outcome of these patients. A total of 27 patients with the median age of 50 (16‐65) years were diagnosed with mucormycosis during the period. Rhino‐orbital‐cerebral mucormycosis was the most common (51.9%) presentation. Majority (55.6%) of the patients had uncontrolled diabetes with or without ketoacidosis; 25.9% patients had no underlying disease and most of them (85.7%) had cutaneous mucormycosis. In this group, the mortality was 25.9% and an equal percentage of patients were lost to follow up; 14 (51.9%) patients could complete 6 weeks of amphotericin B therapy. All patients who completed antifungal therapy survived except one. Like other parts of India, uncontrolled diabetes was the predominant risk factor for mucormycosis in our group. Patients completing 6 weeks of amphotericin B treatment were likely to survive.     

Chemical priming for spinal cord injury: a review of the literature. Part I��factors involved

Introduction  

There are significant differences between the propensity of neural regeneration between the central and peripheral nervous systems.     

Chemical priming for spinal cord injury: a review of the literature part II��potential therapeutics

Introduction  

Spinal cord injury is a complex cascade of reactions secondary to the initial mechanical trauma that puts into action the innate properties of the injured cells, the circulatory, inflammatory, and chemical status around them, into a non-permissive and destructive environment for neuronal function and regeneration. Priming means putting a cell, in a state of “arousal” towards better function. Priming can be mechanical as trauma is known to enhance activity in cells.     

Nonvestibular schwannomas: an evaluation of functional outcome after radiosurgical and microsurgical management

Purpose  

Nonvestibular cranial nerve schwannomas (NVCNS) are relatively rare tumors. We evaluated our experience with radiosurgical and microsurgical treatment alone and in combination for the management of NVCNS.     

De novo arteriovenous malformations: case report and review of the literature

Intracerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are traditionally recognized as congenital lesions. However, with the advent of frequent, noninvasive imaging of the brain, that notion has been challenged. We describe another patient with a de novo cerebral arteriovenous malformation and evaluate the reported literature for trends in the development of these lesions. Cases were selected from the English literature using the PUBMED database using the search term “acquired or de novo cerebrovascular arteriovenous malformations”. A total of seven patients (including the one reported in this study) with de novo arteriovenous malformations are reported. Majority of patients were female, and mostly diagnosed as children. Their mean age at diagnosis was 18 years (6–32), and the mean time from the initial intracranial study to the diagnosis of an AVM was 8 years (3–17). De novo formation of AVMs is being increasingly reported, especially in young females. We present only the seventh such case reported in the literature and challenge the traditional view that all arteriovenous malformations are congenital in nature.     

Neuromuscular junction morphology,fiber‐type proportions,and satellite‐cell proliferation rates are altered in MyoD−/− mice

Gene compensation by members of the myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) family has been proposed to explain the apparent normal adult phenotype of MyoD^?/? mice. Nerve and field stimulation were used to investigate contraction properties of muscle from MyoD^?/? mice, and molecular approaches were used to investigate satellite‐cell behavior. We demonstrate that MyoD deletion results in major alterations in the organization of the neuromuscular junction, which have a dramatic influence on the physiological contractile properties of skeletal muscle. Second, we show that the lineage progression of satellite cells (especially initial proliferation) in the absence of MyoD is abnormal and linked to perturbations in the nuclear localization of β‐catenin, a key readout of canonical Wnt signaling. These results show that MyoD has unique functions in both developing and adult skeletal muscle that are not carried out by other members of the MRF family. Muscle Nerve, 2010