Mineral trioxide aggregate enriched with iron disulfide nanostructures: an evaluation of their physical and biological properties

The purpose of this study was to characterize mineral trioxide aggregates (MTA) enriched with iron disulfide (FeS₂) nanostructures at different concentrations, and to investigate their storage modulus, radiopacity, setting time, pH, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity. Iron disulfide nanostructures [with particle size of 0.357 ± 0.156 μm (mean ± SD)] at weight ratios of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 wt% were added to white MTA (wMTA). The radiopacity, rheological properties, setting time, and pH, as well as the cytotoxicity (assessed using the MTT assay) and antibacterial activity (assessed using the broth microdilution test) were determined for MTA/FeS₂ nanostructures. The nanostructures did not modify the radiopacity values of wMTA (~6 mm of aluminium); however, they reduced the setting time from 18.2 ± 3.20 min to 13.7 ± 1.8 min, and the storage modulus was indicative of a good stiffness. Whereas the wMTA/FeS₂ nanostructures did not induce cytotoxicity when in contact with human pulp cells (HPCs) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), they showed bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis. Adding FeS₂ nanostructures to MTA might be an option for improving the root canal sealing and antibacterial effects of wMTA in endodontic treatments.     

Dental implants in patients with oral mucosal diseases – a systematic review

To reveal dental implants survival rates in patients with oral mucosal diseases: oral lichen planus (OLP), Sjögren's syndrome (SjS), epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). A systematic literature search using PubMed/Medline and Embase databases, utilising MeSH and search term combinations identified publications on clinical use implant‐prosthetic rehabilitation in patients with OLP, SjS, EB, SSc reporting on study design, number, gender and age of patients, follow‐up period exceeding 12 months, implant survival rate, published in English between 1980 and May 2015. After a mean observation period (mOP) of 53·9 months (standard deviation [SD] ±18·3), 191 implants in 57 patients with OLP showed a survival rate (SR) of 95·3% (SD ±21·2). For 17 patients with SjS (121 implants, mOP 48·6 ± 28·7 months), 28 patients with EB (165 implants, mOP 38·3 ± 16·9 months) and five patients with SSc (38 implants, mOP 38·3 ± 16·9 months), the respective SR was 91·7 ± 5·97% (SjS), 98·5 ± 2·7% (EB) and 97·4 ± 4·8% (SSc). Heterogeneity of data structure and quality of reporting outcomes did not allow for further comparative data analysis. For implant‐prosthetic rehabilitation of patients suffering from OLP, SjS, EB and SSc, no evidence‐based treatment guidelines are presently available. However, no strict contraindication for the placement of implants seems to be justified in patients with OLP, SjS, EB nor SSc. Implant survival rates are comparable to those of patients without oral mucosal diseases. Treatment guidelines as for dental implantation in patients with healthy oral mucosa should be followed.     

Provoked Vestibulodynia—Medical Factors and Comorbidity Associated with Treatment Outcome

IntroductionProvoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is the most common cause of dyspareunia in young women. The etiology is unclear, and there is little knowledge of how to predict treatment outcome.AimThe aim of this study was to identify medical factors associated with treatment outcome and coital pain in women with PVD.MethodsSeventy women previously treated for PVD at a vulvar open care unit completed questionnaires and a quantitative sensory testing session.Main Outcome MeasuresConcomitant bodily pain and treatment outcome were surveyed using a study specific questionnaire. Coital pain was rated on a visual analog scale (VAS), range 0–100. Psychometric screening was carried out using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Pressure pain thresholds on the arm, leg, and in the vestibulum were measured using pressure algometers.ResultsMajor improvement/complete recovery was more likely in PVD patients with a maximum of one other concomitant pain disorder compared with patients with four or more (odds ratio = 7.8, confidence interval: 1.2–49.4, P = 0.03). In a multiple linear regression model, the number of other pain disorders (P < 0.01) and a diagnosis of primary PVD (P = 0.04) were positively associated with the coital VAS pain score. Women with secondary PVD reported major improvement/complete recovery to a higher extent than women with primary PVD (z = 2.11, P = 0.04).ConclusionA successful treatment outcome was more likely in PVD patients with fewer other concomitant pain conditions. The number of other bodily pain conditions was also associated to the intensity of the coital pain. Additionally, the results indicate higher incomplete response rates to treatment in women with primary PVD compared with secondary PVD. Heddini U, Bohm‐Starke N, Nilsson KW, and Johannesson U. Provoked vestibulodynia—Medical factors and comorbidity associated with treatment outcome. J Sex Med 2012;9:1400–1406.     

Occipital Nerve Stimulation for Medically Refractory Hypnic Headache

Objective: Hypnic headache is a rare, primary headache disorder that exclusively occurs regularly during sleep. We present a case of hypnic headache successfully managed with occipital nerve stimulation. Materials and Methods: A 64‐year‐old female presented with a four‐year history of a right occipital headache that regularly awakened her from sleep. The headache, which was dull and throbbing, would awaken her regularly at 4:00 am , five hours after bedtime at 11:00 pm . No photophobia, nausea or vomiting, lacrimation, or other autonomic symptoms were present. The headache was refractory to various medical treatments, including indomethacin, flunarizine, propranolol. She underwent a trial of occipital nerve stimulation with a lead electrode using a medial approach. Results: During the ten‐day trial stimulation, she reported almost complete relief from hypnic headache. Chronic occipital nerve stimulation replicated the trial results. The attacks of hypnic headache recurred in one year with loss of stimulation‐induced paresthesia; a subsequent x‐ray showed electrode migration. After revision of the electrode to the original location, the effectiveness of the occipital nerve stimulation against hypnic headache was achieved again, and this effect has been consistent through 36 months of follow‐up. Conclusion: Occipital nerve stimulation was effective in a patient with chronic, refractory hypnic headache.     

Pneumonia‐induced sepsis in mice: temporal study of inflammatory and cardiovascular parameters

The aim of the present work is to provide a better comprehension of the pneumonia‐induced sepsis model through temporal evaluation of several parameters, and thus identify the main factors that determine mortality in this model. Klebsiella pneumoniae was inoculated intratracheally in anesthetized Swiss male mice. Inflammatory and cardiovascular parameters were evaluated 6, 24 and 48 h after the insult. The results show that severity of infection and the mortality correlated with the amount of bacteria. Six, 24 and 48 h after inoculation, animals presented pathological changes in lungs, increase in cell number in the bronchoalveolar lavage, leukopenia, increase in TNF‐α and IL‐1β levels, hypotension and hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors, the two latter characteristics of severe sepsis and septic shock. Significant numbers of bacteria in spleen and heart homogenates indicated infection spreading. Interestingly, NOS‐2 expression appeared late after bacteria inoculation, whereas levels of NOS‐1 and NOS‐3 were unchanged. The high NOS‐2 expression coincided with an exacerbated NO production in the infection focus and in plasma, as judging by nitrate + nitrite levels. This study shows that K. pneumoniae inoculation induces a systemic inflammatory response and cardiovascular alterations, which endures at least until 48 h. K. pneumoniae‐induced lung infection is a clinically relevant animal model of sepsis and a better understanding of this model may help to increase the knowledge about sepsis pathophysiology.     

Guidelines and considerations for conducting experiments using tissue microarrays

Tissue microarrays (TMAs) represent a powerful method for undertaking large‐scale tissue‐based biomarker studies. While TMAs offer several advantages, there are a number of issues specific to their use which need to be considered when employing this method. Given the investment in TMA‐based research, guidance on design and execution of experiments will be of benefit and should help researchers new to TMA‐based studies to avoid known pitfalls. Furthermore, a consensus on quality standards for TMA‐based experiments should improve the robustness and reproducibility of studies, thereby increasing the likelihood of identifying clinically useful biomarkers. In order to address these issues, the National Cancer Research Institute Biomarker and Imaging Clinical Studies Group organized a 1‐day TMA workshop held in Nottingham in May 2012. The document herein summarizes the conclusions from the workshop. It includes guidance and considerations on all aspects of TMA‐based research, including the pre‐analytical stages of experimental design, the analytical stages of data acquisition, and the postanalytical stages of data analysis. A checklist is presented which can be used both for planning a TMA experiment and interpreting the results of such an experiment. For studies of cancer biomarkers, this checklist could be used as a supplement to the REMARK guidelines.