Enamel formation in ameloblastomas

Enamel formation has been observed in six of seventeen solid, cystic, acanthomatous or dentigerous (mural) ameloblastomas. Droplets of young, transitional, semi-mineralized or more fully mineralized enamel structures have been observed. Amelogenesis in ameloblastomas unrelated to dentine formation is similar to the findings of atypical amelogenesis in animal experiments. The presence of enamel droplets surrounded by ameloblasts in an ameloblastoma indicates that, as in certain other neoplasms, a high degree of differentiation may be achieved.     

Watery diarrhea-hypokalemia-achlorhydria syndrome and carcinoma of the esophagus

The watery diarrhea-hypokalemia-achlorhydria syndrome associated with ectopic secretion of vasoactive intestinal peptide has only been conclusively documented with tumors originating in the pancreas or sympathetic chain. We report here the case of a 50-yr-old woman who developed this syndrome 3 wk after an apparently effective course of radiotherapy for an obstructing, mixed-cell carcinoma of the esophagus. High concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide were found in plasma (100-200 pmol/L; normal less than 20 pmol/L) and in the metastatic skin nodules (750 pmol/g) that later developed and that contained one of the two cell types from the original tumor. Stool volumes reached a plateau of 15-20 L/day, and potassium requirements were greater than 1000 mmol/day. Symptoms failed to respond to any of the regimens previously described as effective in this syndrome. After 14 wk of massive fecal fluid and electrolyte losses, symptoms resolved dramatically with the first dose of 5-fluorouracil. Plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide concentration returned to normal, where it remained despite subsequent evidence of renewed tumor spread. This case illustrates the unpredictability of the response of this syndrome to medical treatment, and suggests that vasoactive intestinal peptide secretion may occur in a wider range of tumors than has so far been described.     

Evaluation of oral health status of retirement-age population in Latvia

INTRODUCTION. Latvian government Health care financing regulations do not envisage free dental care in nursing homes. Consequently, in this situation arises need to carry out comparative evaluation of oral health status and quantity indicators of dental prosthodontics among retirement-age population in Latvia. The aim of the study was to estimate oral health and dental prosthodontics indicators among retirement-age population in Latvia. PATIENTS AND METHODS. We examinated 465 retirement-age inhabitants in Latvia. We assessed dental status, quantity and quality of the existing complete dental prostheses. We also evaluated the DMF-T index. RESULTS. Oral health indicators among Latvian retirement-age population are better than those for nursing homes residents in the same age group. Complete dental prostheses used by nursing homes residents do not meet denture's quality criteria. Retirement-age patients have oral hygiene problems. CONCLUSIONS. DMF-T index among Latvian retirement-age population is lower than among residents of nursing homes. The major component of DMF-T index is the number of lost teeth. The assessment of dental prostheses among residents of nursing homes showed unsatisfactory results. Retirement-age population in Latvia needs treatment of oral mucosal diseases, improvement of oral hygienic measures and increase of amount of dental prosthodontics.     

Experimental Evaluation of a New Single Wire Stainless Steel Fishscale Coronary Stent (Freedomª)

Recent randomized clinical trials revealed a significant reduction in angiographic restenosis rates when adjunctive stenting was performed after conventional coronary balloon angioplasty. Current approved coronary stents are however hampered by their rigidity, limiting their trackability in tortuous vessels and furthermore, needing high pressure deployment for optimal vessel apposition. New coronary stents are currently under development, using more biocompatible metal alloys and/or designs which better align to the vessel wall at moderate deployment pressures. We evaluated the safety, efficacy, angiographic and histological effect of a new stainless steel fishscale designed stent (Freedoma, Global Therapeutics, Co., USA) in a porcine coronary and peripheral artery model. Implantation in the right coronary artery was successful in all 20 pigs. Control angiograms at 6 weeks follow-up demonstrated patent vessels and morphologic evaluation showed only a mild fibromuscular neointimal response resulting in an area stenosis of 28.7 +/- 0.18% and a mean neointimal hyperplasia of 0.18 +/- 0.25 mm. Comparison with the Palmaz-Schatza coronary stent in a porcine peripheral artery model demonstrated similar quantitative angiographic and morphologic vessel analysis results. Also the morphometric data were comparable. Area stenosis: Palmaz-Schatz: 37 +/- 0.24%, Freedom: 21 +/- 0.14%, p = 0.07. Mean neointimal hyperplasia: Palmaz-Schatz: 0.33 +/- 0.24 mm, Freedom: 0.18 +/- 0.08 mm, p = 0.08. CONCLUSION: Freedom coronary stent implantation in a porcine model resulted in a high procedural success without subacute thrombotic occlusions, despite no further anticoagulation nor antiplatelet therapy. Six weeks histopathological and morphometric evaluation demonstrated only a mild fibromuscular neointimal hyperplasia.     

Glomus vagale presenting as a supraclavicular mass: Magnetic resonance imaging findings

Glomus vagale are rare vascular tumours of the paraganglion cells of the vagus nerve, and they usually occur in the carotid space. Tumours can be familial, multicentric, malignant but rarely hormonally active. A rare case is reported of glomus vagale presenting as a supraclavicular mass.