Comparative evaluation of pulpal repair after direct pulp capping using stem cell therapy and biodentine: An animal study

The response of the dentin–pulp complex in rat teeth was investigated after direct capping with biodentine with or without bone marrow‐derived stem cells (BMDSCs). Following mechanical exposure, pulps were randomly capped with one of the followings materials: calcium hydroxide, biodentine or 1 × 10⁵ BMDSCs mL^?1 + biodentine. Histological examination was performed by light microscopy after 1, 3 and 5 weeks. Inflammatory reaction, necrotic tissue formation and calcific bridge formation were scored. Analysis showed that compared with the effects of calcium hydroxide or biodentine, BMDSCs + biodentine substantially reduced inflammatory reaction and necrotic tissue while promoting calcified tissue formation. Therefore, the combination of biodentine and BMDSCs could potentially stimulate pulp tissue regeneration after direct pulp capping.     

Prevalence of malocclusions and orthodontic treatment need in 8- to 12-year-old schoolchildren in Casablanca,Morocco

ObjectivesThe purpose of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of malocclusions and orthodontic treatment need among schoolchildren in Casablanca, Morocco.Materials and methodsA sample of 1000 children aged between 8 and 12 years, with no history of orthodontic treatment, was chosen at random in state schools in different administrative areas of the city of Casablanca. Data was registered using the method of Bjork et al. (1964). Orthodontic treatment need was assessed with the index used by the Swedish National Board of Health (SweNBH).ResultsWe found Angle Class I malocclusions in 61.4%, Class II in 24%, Class III in 10% and an indeterminate molar class with one or more missing molars in 4.6% of the children. Overjet was 1–4 mm in 63.8%, 4–6 mm in 17.2% and >6 mm in 10%. Bite was normal in 65.4%, 23.6% presented an overbite greater than 4 mm, 1.7% an anterior open bite ≤3 mm, 1.2% an anterior open bite >3 mm and 0.2% a bilateral open bite. Half of the sample presented anterior crowding, while only 2.5% presented posterior crowding. In all, 84.2% of the subjects needed some orthodontic treatment, and 15.8% needed no treatment. No statistically significant difference was found between sex or age and orthodontic treatment need (P>0.05).ConclusionsThis study found a strong need for orthodontic treatment, confirming the utility of implementing a programme of bucco-dental prevention and screening for malocclusion.     

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA and specific antibodies in high-risk pregnant women

Primary maternal infection with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is frequently associated with transplacental transmission to the fetus. This study was conducted to test the utility of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect recent infections with Toxoplasma in pregnant women. One hundred forty-eight women with high-risk pregnancies who had abnormal pregnancy outcomes (cases) and 100 with normal pregnancies (controls) were tested for the presence of Toxoplasma DNA in their blood by a nested PCR and specific antibodies to Toxoplasma by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The IgG results of the cases differed significantly from those of the controls (54% and 12%, respectively; P < 0.02). Four (2.7%) of the cases were IgM positive, but none of the controls were positive. Detection of Toxoplasma DNA in 20 (8.1%) of the IgG-positive cases suggests a recent infection. The risk factors associated with the infection were eating raw meat and contact with soil. The diagnostic serology of recent infection in early pregnancy could be confirmed by a positive Toxoplasma-specific PCR result in blood samples collected in the first half of pregnancy, even in the presence of serologic results difficult to interpret due to the lack of sequential follow-up during pregnancy.     

Superiority of Higher-Volume Fresh Feces Compared to Lower-Volume Frozen Feces in Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile Colitis

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - To compare the clinical outcomes of different protocols for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in two community hospitals with similar patient demographics....     

Pulmonary vascular resistance and proper timing of percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy

It is frequent to see pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) secondary to increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), data about the effect of PVR on the results of percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV) are insufficient. To detect the role of PVR in predicting residual PH immediately after PBMV. This prospective study comprised 49 consecutive patients with moderate to severe MS who were investigated pre and within 48 h post a successful PBMV for the first time. Echocardiography was used to assess the mitral valve area (MVA), mean transmitral pressure gradient (MPG), mitral valve resistance (MVR), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and PVR. Patients were classified into two groups according to the pre PVR (≥?1.6 WU as group I and < 1.6 as group II). At baseline compared to group II (32 patients), Group I (17 patients) had higher MPG (13.6?±?5.2 vs. 11.7?±?3.7 mmHg, P?<?0.05), RVSP (45.6 vs. 37.9 mmHg, P?<?0.001) and PVR (2.2?±?0.1 vs. 1.2?±?0.1WU, P?<?0.001) with no significant difference regarding age, gender, MVS, MVA and MVR. Patients of group I had comparatively lower improvement immediate post procedural of RVSP and PVR with no significant difference in immediate post procedural improvement in NYHA classification, MVA, MPG and MVR. Basal PVR?>?1.8WU was proved to be a highly specific (91%), a good predictor (AUC 0.78) of persistent elevation of RVSP?>?50 mmHg post PMV. Pathological rise of PVR that associates MS had provided a strong and an independent predictor of persistent pulmonary hypertension post PBMV and by this aspect it could be used as a valuable tool as MVA and MPG to send patients earlier for PBMV even with less severe MS. PVR?>?1.81 WU could be used as a noninvasive parameter for predicting regression of PH immediately after PBMV.     

The use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in in acute ischemic stroke is associated with increased level of BDNF

Much concern was directed towards the crucial role of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in improving neuroplasticity in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The aim of the work to investigate the effect of treating patients with acute ischemic stroke with rt-PA, on the level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a marker of neuroplasticity. This study was conducted on 47 patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (during the first 4.5 h from stroke onset); 26 patients of them eligible for receiving rt-PA (patient group) and 21 patients having contraindications for treatment with rt-PA (control group). Neurological, radiological and laboratory assessment (including BDNF serum level) were done for both groups at stroke onset (before receiving rt-PA) and at day 7. There was a statistically significant increase in BDNF serum level from day 1 to day 7 in rt-PA treated patients in comparison to control group (P-value? 0.001). Serum level of BDNF is significantly higher at the onset of stroke in female patients and non-smokers than males or smokers (P-value?=?0.011, 0.01 respectively). There was no effect of either age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, drug abuse, past or family history of stroke, valvular heart diseases, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, ejection fraction, carotid atherosclerotic changes, lipid profile or uric acid, on BDNF serum level measured at the onset of stroke. Treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke with rt-PA causes significant improvement in neuroplasticity through increasing BDNF serum level.