Plasma HIV-1 RNA decline within the first two weeks of treatment is comparable for nevirapine, efavirenz, or both drugs combined and is not predictive of long-term virologic efficacy: A 2NN substudy

BACKGROUND: The initial rate of plasma HIV-1 RNA (pVL) decline has been proposed as a marker of early efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a possible predictor of late efficacy. We compared the rate of pVL decline in patients starting ART with nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV), or both drugs combined in addition to lamivudine (3TC) and stavudine (d4T). METHODS: Analysis of the viral decay constant (VDc) during the first 2 weeks of treatment in patients enrolled in the 2NN study who remained on allocated treatment. RESULTS: The median VDc (log10 copies per day, [interquartile range]) was similar for NVP (0.30 [0.25-0.36], EFV (0.31 [0.27-0.37]), and NVP + EFV (0.30 [0.27-0.36]). Patients with a baseline pVL >100,000 copies/mL were 8.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.2-12.3) times more likely to have a VDc >75th percentile. A high VDc was not associated with plasma drug concentration or with a decreased risk of virologic failure at week 48 after the start of therapy (hazard ratio = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-1.2). CONCLUSION: NVP, EFV, or NVP + EFV in combination with 3TC and d4T show similar rates of pVL decline during the first 2 weeks of treatment. The VDc with these regimens is not predictive of late virologic efficacy.     

Evidence for the role of nitric oxide in nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization in mice

Rationale Nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in both acute effects of addictive drugs and development of dependence to them. We investigated the role of NO in nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization.Objectives The effects of N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, and a combination of a NO precursor l-arginine and l-NAME on nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization were investigated in Swiss Webster mice.Methods Sensitization to psychomotor stimulating effect of nicotine was rendered by seven injections of nicotine (1 mg/kg) on every other day. To investigate their effect on the development of sensitization to nicotine, l-NAME (15–60 mg/kg) and l-arginine (1 g/kg) were given before nicotine administration during the first seven sessions. To investigate the effect of these compounds on the expression of nicotine sensitization, after a 4-day drug-free period another group of mice received a challenge injection of nicotine on day 18.Results Nicotine (1 mg/kg) produced a robust locomotor sensitization in mice. The doses of 30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg of l-NAME blocked the development of sensitization to nicotine; and, l-arginine (1 g/kg) pretreatment reversed this effect of l-NAME. Likewise, the doses of 30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg of l-NAME inhibited the expression of sensitization to nicotine on day 18; and, l-arginine (1 g/kg) pretreatment reversed this inhibitory effect of l-NAME.Conclusions Our results suggest that NO is implicated in the development and expression of nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization in mice.     

Oligodontia associated with femoral bifurcation, tibial hemimelia and cleft hand

Oligodontia, the congenital absence of more than one tooth in the primary dentition and/or the permanent dentition, is a rare developmental dental anomaly commonly associated with syndromes and systemic abnormalities. Femoral bifurcation is rare and is usually associated with tibial aplasia, food deformity, and congenital deformities of the contralateral lower extremity.     

Relation of ectodermal dysplasia and hypodontia

Ectodermal dysplasia and hypodontia were diagnosed in three families who referred to Gazi University Pedodontic Department in 1989. From the view point of dentistry, it is intended to point out the genetic transitive character of ectodermal dysplasia and its possible relation with hypodontia. Also; some approaches to satisfy the patients in social and psychological aspects besides replacing the functional and cosmetic demands were carried out.     

干细胞移植治疗时间窗与临床疗效的荟萃分析

目的:探讨寻找干细胞移植治疗急性心肌梗死的最佳移植治疗时间,指导临床应用,提高临床疗效。方法:应用计算机检索medline2000-01/2006-05文章,检索词为:"stem cell transplantation and/or acute myocardialinfarction(AMI)and/or chronic heart failure or ischemic cardiomyopathy",限定文章语言种类为English;同时计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库,相同时间的文章,检索词:"干细胞移植治疗,干细胞移植与急性心肌梗死,干细胞移植治疗与心力衰竭或慢性缺血性心肌病",限定文章语言种类为中文。共检索到300余篇与主题有关的文献,其中12篇有价值的文章见参考文献。移植时间取平均值,并按射血分数值和P值进行列表、作图。对干细胞移植时间与射血分数值之间的关系进行分析。结果:在急性心肌梗死后2～5d和9d以后进行干细胞移植治疗疗效较24h内及6～8d为好。结论:干细胞移植治疗急性心肌梗死的移植时间与临床疗效之间可能存在一定的相关性。经冠脉注入干细胞比经静脉或经心内膜下注入可以更好地改善左室功能,但还需要进一步的临床资料证实。     

A comparative histological analysis of human pulp following direct pulp capping with Propolis, mineral trioxide aggregate and Dycal

Background:  Permanent teeth pulp exposures have traditionally been treated with calcium hydroxide pulp capping. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of human pulp tissue which were mechanically exposed to a new material, Propolis and compare it with two existing and commonly used pulp capping agents (mineral trioxide aggregate and Dycal).
Methods:  Thirty-six intact human premolars were mechanically exposed. Teeth were divided into six groups of 6 teeth each and were capped with Propolis, mineral trioxide aggregate and Dycal. Final restoration was done with posterior composite resin using light cured glass ionomer cement as a liner. The teeth were then extracted on the 15th or the 45th day and processed for histological evaluation.
Results:  Differences in inflammatory response and dentine bridge formation of the exposed pulp to the three different materials were statistically calculated using chi-square test and were found to be non-significant. There was more pulp inflammation in teeth treated with Dycal than with Propolis and MTA on the 15th as well as on the 45th day. Propolis and MTA showed bridge formation in more teeth, and the bridges were in closer proximity to pulp capping material than teeth treated with Dycal on the 45th day.
Conclusions:  The response of pulps to Propolis as a pulp capping agent was comparable to MTA and Dycal.     

Stobadine protects rat kidney against ischaemia/reperfusion injury

1. Ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, one of the main causes of acute renal failure, still needs satisfactory treatment for routine clinical application. Stobadine, a novel synthetic pyridoindole anti-oxidant, has the ability to reduce tissue injury induced by mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species during I/R. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of stobadine on renal I/R injury. 2. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: sham, I/R, stobadine treated and I/R + stobadine treated. Stobadine (2 mg/kg, i.v.) was given intravenously to two groups of rats. The stobadine-treated group was treated with stobadine following sham operation before the abdominal wall was closed, whereas the I/R + stobadine group received stobadine at the beginning of reperfusion. Renal I/R was achieved by occluding the renal arteries bilaterally for 40 min, followed by 6 h reperfusion. Immediately thereafter, blood was drawn and tissue samples were harvested to assess: (i) serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine; (ii) serum and/or tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx); (iii) renal morphology; and (iv) immunohistochemical staining for P-selectin. 3. Stobadine was able to significantly attenuate the renal dysfunction as a result of renal I/R injury. Ischaemia-reperfusion resulted in a significant increase in serum and kidney MDA levels and a decrease in serum and kidney GSH. Stobadine treatment at the beginning of reperfusion attenuated both the increased MDA levels and decreased GSH secondary to I/R injury. In addition, the decreased G-6PD activity observed after I/R was significantly attenuated by stobadine treatment. Stobadine did not alter 6-PGD activity after I/R. Neither GR nor GPx activity was significantly changed in the I/R alone or the I/R + stobadine groups compared with the sham group. In addition, stobadine decreased the morphological deterioration and high P-selectin immunoreactivity secondary to renal I/R injury. 4. A pyridoindole anti-oxidant, stobadine exerts a renal protective effect in renal I/R injury, which is probably due to its radical-scavenging and anti-oxidant activities.