Mutagenic potentials of dental cements as detected by the Salmonella/microsome test

The potential mutagenicity of a zinc phosphate (Poscal), a polycarboxylate (Aqualox) and glass ionomer cements with (Argion) and without (Meron) silver reinforcement were characterized by employing the Ames Salmonella/microsome test. The materials were eluted in dimethyl sulphoxide or physiologic saline and the aliquots were used either immediately or after an incubation period of 24h at 37 degrees C. Mutagenic effects of the materials were tested on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98, TA 100, TA 102 and TA 1535 using the standard plate incorporation assay, and in the presence or absence of S9 fraction from rat liver. Poscal and Aqualox elicited mutagenic effects on S. typhimurium TA 98 and TA 1535, whereas Meron exhibited mutagenic effects on S. typhimurium TA 98. No mutagenic effects were detected for Argion. The type of solvent, dose of the material and incubation as well as the interactions between these factors exhibited varying degrees of influences on the mutagenic activities of the cements (P<0.05 and P<0.1). We conclude that zinc phosphate, polycarboxylate, and glass ionomer cements may have possible mutagenic activities.     

Changes in cyclic nucleotides during the calcium paradox in the isolated rat heart

Reperfusion of hearts with a Ca²⁺-containing medium after a perfusion period in Ca²⁺-free medium results in irreversible cell damage (calcium paradox). In this investigation we have studied coronary flow and cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels after several periods of Ca²⁺-free perfusion in isolated rat hearts. We also investigated the effects of papaverine (Pap), noradrenaline (NA), acetylcholine (ACh) and absence of inorganic phosphate during Ca²⁺-free perfusion on coronary flow (CF) and cyclic nucleotide levels. Inability of the heart to recover contractile activity with development of contracture during the reperfusion period was accepted as indicative of the calcium paradox. Ca²⁺-free perfusion alone and NA and absence of inorganic phosphate during the Ca²⁺-free perfusion period increased CF, whereas Pap and ACh decreased it. However, only Ca²⁺-free perfusion and NA elevated cyclic AMP. On the other hand, Pap and ACh increased cyclic GMP (with a transient rise of cyclic AMP in Pap infusion), and absence of inorganic phosphate decreased both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. Pap, ACh and absence of phosphate prevented the calcium paradox. Our study suggests that increased cyclic AMP during the Ca²⁺-free perfusion may contribute, with the other factors, to the occurrence of the calcium paradox.     

Immediate and Follow‐Up Results of Repeat Percutaneous Mitral Balloon Commissurotomy for Restenosis After a Succesful First Procedure

Background: The widespread use of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) has led to an increase in restenosis cases. The data regarding follow‐up results of repeat PMC are quite limited. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate the immediate and midterm results of the second PMC, in patients with symptomatic mitral restenosis after a succesful first procedure. Methods: Twenty patients (95% female, mean age 37 ± 4 years) who have undergone a second PMC, 6.3 ± 2.5 years after a first successful intervention built the study group. All were in sinus rhythm, with a mean Wilkins score of 8.5 ± 1.2. Results: The valve area increased from 1.2 ± 0.2 to 1.9 ± 0.2 cm² and mean gradient decreased from 10.5 ± 3.4 to 6.1 ± 1.1 mmHg. There were no complications except for a transient embolic event without sequela (5%) and two cases (10%) of severe mitral regurgitation. The immediate success rate was 90%. The mean follow‐up was 70 ± 29 months (36–156 months). The 5‐year restenosis and intervention (repeat PMC or valve replacement) rates were 9.1 ± 5.2% and 3.6 ± 3.3%, respectively. The intervention free 5‐year survival in good functional capacity (New York Heart Association [NYHA] I–II) was 95.1 ± 5.5% and restenosis and intervention free 5‐year survival with good functional capacity was 89.7 ± 6.8%. Conclusions: Although from a limited number of selected patients, these findings indicate that repeat PMC is a safe and effective method, with follow‐up results similar to a first intervention and should be considered as the first therapeutic option in suitable patients. (Echocardiography 2010;27:765‐769)     

A rare cause of hydrops fetalis in two Gaucher disease type 2 patients with a novel mutation

Metabolic Brain Disease - Gaucher disease type 2 is the most progressive and the rarest form of Gaucher disease, defined as the acute neuronopathic type. We presented two GD2 patients who died...     

Effect of LED curing modes on the microleakage of a pit and fissure sealant

PURPOSE: To evaluate in vitro the curing effect of a very high intensity light-emitting diode (LED) unit and a conventional LED unit (including "soft-start" modes) on the microleakage of a pit and fissure sealant. METHODS: 120 intact caries-free human molars were randomly divided into six groups (n=20), sealed with Fissurit-F and polymerized using either a conventional halogen unit (Optilux) (Control group) in standard mode (40 seconds @ 600 mW/cm2); a very high intensity LED unit (Mini LED) in fast (10 seconds @ 1,100 mW/cm2) or soft-start mode (pulse mode: ten 1-second flashes @ 1,100 mW/cm2; exponential mode: exponential increase from 0 to 1,100 mW/cm2 within 10 seconds followed by 10 seconds @1,100 mW/cm2); or a conventional LED unit (Elipar Freelight) in standard (40 seconds @ 400 mW/cm2) or exponential mode (exponential increase from 0 to 400mW/cm2 within 12 seconds followed by 28 seconds @ 400 mW/cm2). Restored specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. Specimens were then immersed in a 0.5% fuchsin dye solution for 24 hours, with half of the specimens from each group subjected to thermocycling (5/55 degrees C; x 1000) prior to dye immersion. After removal from the dye solution, specimens were sectioned and the degree of dye penetration scored. Data was statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test and the Mann-Whitney U-test (P< 0.05). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in microleakage of pit and fissure sealant polymerized using various curing techniques. Thermocycling regimens had no effect on either LED- or halogen-cured specimens.     

Joint and nail involvement in Turkish patients with psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune, chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by the association of arthritis with psoriasis. In this paper, we explore the characteristics of joint and nail involvement in Turkish patients with psoriatic arthritis. Forty patients with psoriasis (M/F, 18/22) and 49 (M/F, 25/24) subjects with psoriatic arthritis were included in the study. Clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The distribution of the subjects with arthritis: (according to the clinical and radiological findings): polyarticular, 65%; oligoarticular, 23%; isolated axial involvement, 7.7%; arthritis mutilans, 3.8%; sacroiliitis, 19%. Nail involvement was significantly higher among patients with arthritis; i.e., 91 versus 32%; (P < 0.05). There were no correlation between the skin involvement pattern and the arthritis type (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, no relation was observed between the psoriasis duration and arthritis (P > 0.05). Nail involvement is a frequent feature of the psoriatic arthritis which may be a useful finding for differential diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis from other inflammatory arthropathies.     

Complication and cost analysis of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy and awake video-assisted thoracic surgery in diagnosis of interstitial lung disease

Aim and introduction:Diagnosing of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is difficult and expensive. The standard diagnostical approaches to ILD are bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial lung biopsy, transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) and surgical lung biopsy (SLB). SLB is gold standard for the confident diagnosis of ILD but because of the poor performance of the patients it’s use is limited. We conducted a retrospective study to point out that TBLC plays an important role in diagnosis of ILD and has fewer complications and lower cost than awake video-assisted thoracic surgery (AVATS).Material and methods:132 patients who underwent TBLC and AVATS with a pre-diagnosis of ILD in our hospital between 2015 and 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Diagnosis rates, complications and costs were recorded.Results:There were no non-diagnostic materials in 44 patients in AVATS arm. Prolonged air leak was observed in 11(25.0%) of the patients, and six of them (13.6%) were discharged with Heimlich Valve (HV). Median length of stay in the hospital was 8 days, while average patient cost was $515.9 (415.2-2662.9) in the AVATS arm. Non-diagnostic material was obtained from 10 (11.3%) of 88 patients in TBLC arm. Six (6.8%) of them had pneumothorax, only one of them required a chest tube. No patient was discharged with HV (p=0.001). Median cost for each patient with a median hospital stay of 2.0 (1.0-21.0) (p<0.001) days was $171.9 (80.8-1493.3) (p<0.001).Discussion:Although TBLC is behind AVATS in terms of diagnostic accuracy, it may be an alternative diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease due to its acceptable safety profile and cost-effectiveness.