Preventive effects of iontophoresis on bovine enamel decalcification through enhancing uptake and transportation of fluoride -in vitro study

Background

Topical fluoride application has been performed all over the world especially in the field of Pediatric Dentistry to prevent enamel decalcification. However, the effect of the method against demineralization has not been sufficiently reported yet. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the method by measuring the uptake amount of fluorine (F) into enamel, and also to investigate the relationship between the amount of F incorporated and the decalcification depth.

Comparisons of Objective Sleep Quality Between Elderly Individuals With and Without Cataract Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study of the HEIJO-KYO Cohort

Background

Cataract surgery (CS) drastically increases the capacity for light reception to the retina. Several previous studies have suggested the beneficial effect of CS on subjectively measured sleep quality; however, the association between CS and objectively measured sleep quality remains uncertain.

Methods

To evaluate the association between CS and objectively measured sleep quality in home settings, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 1037 elderly individuals (mean age, 71.9 years). We evaluated actigraphically measured sleep quality, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion, and ambulatory light levels, in addition to CS status.

Results

The CS group (n = 174) showed significantly higher sleep efficiency and shorter wake after sleep onset than the no CS group (n = 863), even after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, current smoking status, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, sleep medication, bedtime, rising time, daytime physical activity, daytime and nighttime light exposure, and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion (sleep efficiency: 85.8% in the CS group vs 84.4% in the no CS group, P = 0.042; wake after sleep onset: 45.7 min vs 50.6 min, respectively, P = 0.033). In contrast, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion, sleep onset latency, total sleep time, and sleep-mid time did not differ significantly between the CS and no CS groups.

Conclusions

Among a community-dwelling elderly population, CS is significantly associated with objectively measured sleep quality, but urinary levels of melatonin metabolite do not differ between individuals with and without CS. These associations are independent of daily light exposure profiles.Key words: sleep quality, cataract surgery, circadian rhythms, actigraphy, melatonin     

Topographical analysis of proliferating cells in meningiomas. Regional heterogeneity of the ability of tumors to proliferate

Abstract

Regional heterogeneity of the ability of tumors to proliferate has been pointed out, but its topographical analysis has not been studied in detail. To evaluate the distribution of highly proliferating cells in totally resected meningiomas, seven cases (including one recurrent case) were investigated in this study. Immunostaining of PCNA was performed on the sections crossing the equator of the tumors. These sections were divided into multi-squares with sides of 500 micrometers. The proliferating potential was determined as the PCNA positive cell count in each square. By painting those squares in eight kinds of color corresponding to the value of the PCNA positive cell count, maps of proliferative ability were made. To predict the localization of proliferating cells, we studied these maps in relation to the following: MR image, calcification, distance from the dural attachment and distance from the tumor capsule. Maps of the PCNA positive cell count showed the intra-tumoral heterogeneity of proliferative ability in all cases. Most of the cases showed homogeneous enhancement on MRIs and these images could not be a predicting factor of the highly proliferating area. There was no significant relationship between the calcification and the PCNA positive cell count. Although the proliferating ability was not correlated with the distance from the dural attachment, inner regions distant from the capsule showed higher proliferative ability in all cases. From these results, one should be aware that the information from the samples of meningiomas do not reflect the proliferating ability of the whole tumor. [Neurol Res 1999; 21: 721-726]     

Clinicopathological features of 8 patients with metastatic gastric tumors

We examined the clinicopathological features of metastatic gastric tumor, using 9 tumors of 8 patients. Histological diagnosis with all biopsy specimens were adenocarcinoma. Most of the metastatic sites were located in the middle or upper gastric corpus. Endoscopic features of the lesion showed a submucosal tumor-like (5 cases) and primary gastric cancer-like (3 cases) appearance. Immunohistochemical staining of cytokeratins, TTF-1, surfactant protein, ER, or MGB1 identified the primary site; 6 in the lung and 2 in the breast. One case was diagnosed based on the EGFR mutation analysis. In conclusion, immunohistochemical staining and molecular method are useful tools to distinguish metastatic gastric tumor from primary gastric cancer.     

Effect of transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy using iodized oil and degradable starch microspheres for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy (TAI) using a combination of iodized oil (lipiodol) and degradable starch microspheres (DSMs) has been reported to be superior to TAI with either lipiodol or DSMs separately for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on the results of a prospective randomized study. In the study reported here, we investigated the predictors influencing response and survival in HCC patients receiving TAI using lipiodol and DSMs.

Methods

A total of 50 HCC patients [Child–Pugh A/B,?34/16 patients; maximum tumor size 2.9?cm (mean); tumor number <5/≥5?=?29/21 patients] were administered a mixture of cisplatin and lipiodol, followed by the injection of DSMs.

Results

According to the criteria of the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan, the response [complete response (CR)?+?partial response (PR)] rate and CR rate were 72 and 38%, respectively [CR, 19 patients; PR, 17; stable disease, 9; progressive disease, 5]. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year cumulative survival rates were 85, 67, 41, and 35%, respectively, and the median survival time was 32.6?months. Multivariate analysis identified tumor number <5 nodules [odds ratio 10.651, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.168–52.317; P?=?0.004] as an independent predictor of response and des-γ-carboxyprothrombin level <100 mAU/mL [hazard ratio (HR), 0.268, 95% CI 0.091–0.786, P?=?0.017] and therapeutic effect CR or PR (HR 0.255, 95% CI 0.099–0.659; P?=?0.005) as independent predictors of survival.

Conclusion

Transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy using lipiodol and DSMs might be considered as a potential intervention in HCC patients, especially those with tumors of <5 nodules.