Treatment of central giant cell lesions using bisphosphonates with intralesional corticosteroid injections

ABSTRACT: Central giant cell lesions are benign intraosseous proliferative lesions that have considerable local aggressiveness. Nonsurgical treatment methods, such as intralesional corticosteroid injections, systemic calcitonin and interferon have been reported. Recently, bisphosphonates have been used to treat central giant cell lesions. A case of a 36-year-old male with a central giant cell lesion crossing the mandibular midline was treated with intralesional corticosteroids combined with alendronate sodium for the control of systemic bone resorption. The steroid injections and the use of bisphosphonates were stopped after seven months when further needle penetration into the lesion was not possible due to new bone formation. After two years, the bony architecture was near normal, and only minimal radiolucency was present around the root apices of the involved teeth. The patient was followed up for four years, and panoramic radiography showed areas of new bone formation. Thus far, neither recurrence nor side effects of the medication have been detected.     

Evaluation of the effect of pentoxifylline on sleep‐deprivation induced memory impairment

In this study, we examined the ability of Pentoxifylline (PTX) to prevent sleep deprivation induced memory impairment probably through decreasing oxidative stress. Sleep deprivation was chronically induced 8 h/day for 6 weeks in rats using modified multiple platform model. Concurrently, PTX (100 mg/kg) was administered to animals on daily basis. After 6 weeks of treatment, behavioral studies were conducted to test the spatial learning and memory using the Radial Arm Water Maze. Additionally, the hippocampus was dissected; and levels/activities of antioxidant defense biomarkers glutathione reduced (GSH), glutathione oxidized (GSSG), GSH/GSSG ratio, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were assessed. The results show that chronic sleep deprivation impaired short‐ and long‐term memories, which was prevented by chronic treatment with PTX. Additionally, PTX normalized sleep deprivation‐induced reduction in the hippocampus GSH/GSSG ratio (P < 0.05), and activities of GPx, catalase, and SOD (P < 0.05). In conclusion, chronic sleep deprivation induces memory impairment, and treatment with PTX prevented this impairment probably through normalizing antioxidant mechanisms in the hippocampus. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Metformin Eased Cognitive Impairment Induced by Chronic L-methionine Administration: Potential Role of Oxidative Stress

Chronic administration of L-methionine leads to memory impairment, which is attributed to increase in the level of oxidative stress in the brain. On the other hand, metformin is a commonly used antidiabetic drug with strong antioxidant properties. In the current study, we tested if chronic metformin administration prevents memory impairment induced by administration of L-methionine. In addition, a number of molecules related to the action of metformin on cognitive functions were examined. Both metformin and L-methionine were administered to animals by oral gavage. Testing of spatial learning and memory was carried out using radial arm water maze (RAWM). Additionally, hippocampal levels or activities of catalase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and GSH/GSSG ratio were determined. Results showed that chronic L-methionine administration resulted in both short- and long- term memory impairment, whereas metformin treatment prevented such effect. Additionally, L-methionine treatment induced significant elevation in GSSG and TBARs, along with reduction in GSH/GSSG ratio and activities of catalase, and GPx. These effects were shown to be restored by metformin treatment. In conclusion, L-methionine induced memory impairment, and treatment with metformin prevented this impairment probably by normalizing oxidative stress in the hippocampus.     

Assessment of genotoxicity of waterpipe and cigarette smoking in lymphocytes using the sister‐chromatid exchange assay: A comparative study

Tobacco smoking is a major world health problem. Recently, waterpipe smoking has become more popular in many countries. Although the genotoxicity associated with cigarette smoking has been extensively investigated, studies evaluating such toxicity in waterpipe users are still lacking. In this study, we examined the genotoxicity of waterpipe smoking in lymphocytes compared with the genotoxicity of cigarette smoking. Genotoxicity was evaluated using the sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) assay. Fifty waterpipe smokers and 18 healthy nonsmokers participated in this study. Additionally, 18 heavy cigarette smokers (CS) were recruited for comparison. The results show that waterpipe smoking and cigarette smoking significantly increase the frequencies of SCEs (P < 0.01) compared with those of nonsmokers, indicating the genotoxic effect of tobacco smoking. In addition, frequencies of SCEs were significantly higher among waterpipe smokers compared with CS (P < 0.01), indicating that waterpipe smoking is more genotoxic than cigarette smoking. Moreover, the frequency of SCEs increased with the extent of waterpipe use. In conclusion, waterpipe smoking is genotoxic to lymphocytes and the magnitude of its genotoxicity is higher than that induced by regular cigarette smoking. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa—oral rehabilitation using stereolithography and immediate endosseous implants

Dental management of patients with epi-dermolysis bullosa (EB) is challenging because of the severe soft tissue lesions associated with this disease. A case history is presented where two immediate endosseous implants were placed in the mandible of a patient with recessive dystrophic EB using computer-aided technology to plan the surgery and prosthetic rehabilitation. After a 24-month follow-up, the prosthesis was stable with healthy asymptomatic soft tissue around the implants. The stereolithographic model provides a precise and noninvasive copy of the mandibular and maxillary arches of patients with EB for rehabilitation of the dentition with immediate endosseous implants and a prosthesis.     

Immunization of mice with Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B genomic expression libraries elicits functional antibodies and reduces the level of bacteremia in an infant rat infection model

The feasibility of expression library immunization against the pathogenic bacterium Neisseria meningitidis was studied. A genomic library of N. meningitidis serogroup B strain CU385, containing 6000 individual clones, was constructed and divided into 10 sublibraries. Immunization of BALB/c mice with plasmid DNA from six sublibraries induced a humoral response, with recognition of several meningococcal proteins by Western blot. Three of these sublibraries elicited bactericidal antibodies against the homologous strain, and sera from mice immunized with one of these sublibraries reduced significantly the number of viable bacteria in blood of infant rats challenged with N. meningitidis. In addition, after DNA immunization, mice were boosted intraperitoneally with 5 x 10(2) colony forming units of strain CU385. Mice immunized with nine of the 10 libraries developed bactericidal antibodies 1 week after the boost and controls did not, demonstrating the priming capacity and specificity of our immunization strategy. Our study demonstrates, for the first time, that genomic immunization offers a novel approach for screening possible vaccine candidates against N. meningitidis.     

characterization of acute-phase humoral immunity to monkeypox: use of immunoglobulin M enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of monkeypox infection during the 2003 North American outbreak

A monkeypox outbreak occurred in the United States in 2003. Patient's sera were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a part of outbreak response measures. Clinical and epidemiologic information was abstracted from the case investigation forms. Serum samples from patients were tested by using an immunoglobulin M (IgM)-capture and an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA against Orthopoxvirus antigen. The detection of antiviral IgG and IgM antibodies and the kinetics of the antiviral IgG and IgM antibody responses were evaluated. Patients were classified as confirmed, probable, or suspect cases or were excluded as cases based on laboratory test results and epidemiologic and clinical criteria. A total of 37 confirmed case patients with monkeypox were identified, and 116 patients were excluded as case patients based on molecular testing or insufficient epidemiology and clinical data to warrant classification as a suspect or probable case. Of 37 confirmed case patients, 36 had a known history (presence or absence) of smallpox vaccination. Of those, 29 of the 36 either had or developed an IgG response, while 34 of the 36 developed an IgM response, regardless of vaccination status. Serum collected > or =5 days for IgM detection or serum collected > or =8 days after rash onset for IgG detection was most efficient for the detection of monkeypox virus infection. IgM ELISA detects recent infection with orthopoxviruses and, in this case, recent infection with monkeypox virus. In addition, analysis of paired sera for IgG and IgM detected seroconversion, another indicator of recent infection. The ELISA results correlated with the virologic PCR and viral culture results, indicating its diagnostic capabilities for monkeypox and potentially other orthopoxvirus infections due to zoonotic transmission or bioterrorism events.