Radiographic evaluation of low-level laser therapy-enhanced maxillary sinus augmentation with simultaneous dental implant placement

Background: To evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on bone healing in patients undergoing bilateral sinus lifting and simultaneous dental implant application. Methods: Twelve patients with total/partial posterior maxillary edentulism who needed bilateral sinus bone augmentation were included in the study. Dental implants were inserted in the same session. LLLT (? = 630-660 nm, 25 mW/cm2, 6 min) was used for one operation side on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days, whereas contralateral side served as control side. Preoperative and postoperative 1st, 3rd, and 6th month orthopantomograms were obtained using the aluminum step-wedge technique. Optic density analyses were performed using a Cardinal Health Digital Densitometer (Fluke Biomedical 07-443) with 1 mm diameter. Digital densitometry results were obtained as the equivalent aluminum thickness for each radiograph. These data were used to evaluate the changes in optical bone density and to compare the treatment side with the control side for each patient. Results: The LLLT side showed better results than the control side according to the densitometry results. Increase in the bone density at all the postoperative intervals was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: LLLT enhances bone regeneration in sinus augmentation with simultaneous dental implant placement. © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved

IDIOPATHIC TOLOSA-HUNT SYNDROME: FOUR ADDITIONAL CASES

Idiopathic Tolosa Hunt syndrome (ITHS) is a very rare cause of painful ophthalmoplegia characterized by unilateral orbital pain, ipsilateral oculomotor paralysis and prompt response to steroids. In this paper we report 4 additional cases of ITHS. This rare cause of painful ophthalmoplegia effects the cranial nerves due to a granulomatous lesion of unknown etiology in the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure. The International Headache Society redefined the diagnostic criteria for ITHS but it is still mostly a diagnosis of exclusion. Careful evaluation and follow-up is essential for diagnosis. Optimal therapy duration and dosage and prophylactic treatment in recurrent cases needs further research

The association of PTPN22 R620W polymorphism is stronger with late-onset AChR-myasthenia gravis in Turkey.

A functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the PTPN22 gene encoding a protein tyrosine phosphatase has been associated with autoimmune disorders including myasthenia gravis (MG). As the PTPN22 R620W polymorphism has a wide variation of allele frequencies among different populations, this polymorphism was investigated in MG in Turkey. An emphasis is put on MG subgroups according to autoantibody (Abs) production and presence of thymoma. DNA samples from 416 patients with clinically diagnosed generalized MG (231 with Abs to acetylcholine receptor, AChR-MG), 53 with Abs to muscle-specific kinase (MuSK-MG), 55 patients with no detectable Abs (SN-MG), 77 patients with thymoma (TAMG) and 293 healthy controls (HC) were genotyped for the SNP (PTPN22 R620W, C1858T, rs2476601). The PTPN22 T allele was increased in AChR-MG patients (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5, 95%CI: 1.2-5.1). The association was stronger in late disease-onset AChR (LOMG, OR: 3.1, 95%CI: 1.2-8.2). MuSK-MG, SN-MG and TAMG groups did not carry the variant allele more frequently than the HC. In contrast to findings in other autoimmune diseases, the distribution of the PTPN22 polymorphism in this population provides a susceptibility marker for AChR-MG. The strongest association is detected in patients with LOMG

The distribution of the <i>PTPN22</i> (rs2476601 T→C) genotype frequencies in healthy controls (HC) and myasthenia gravis (MG) patients.

<p>AChR-MG, MuSK-MG, SN-MG and thymoma associated MG (TAMG) subgroups are compared with HC separately and only the significant p value is listed. OR: Odds ratio, 95% Confidence interval (CI), (NS: not significant compared to HC).</p

Gender distribution in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), anti-AChR antibody positive MG (AChR-MG) with early disease onset (EOMG<50 years of age) and late disease onset (LOMG≥50 years of age), anti-MuSK antibody positive MG (MuSK-MG), MG without any of these two antibodies (SN-MG), thymoma associated MG (TAMG) and healthy controls (HC).

<p>Gender distribution in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), anti-AChR antibody positive MG (AChR-MG) with early disease onset (EOMG<50 years of age) and late disease onset (LOMG≥50 years of age), anti-MuSK antibody positive MG (MuSK-MG), MG without any of these two antibodies (SN-MG), thymoma associated MG (TAMG) and healthy controls (HC).</p

The logistic regression analysis of the <i>PTPN22</i> (rs2476601 T→C) genotype frequencies with sex (women and men) and disease onset (early onset: EOMG and late onset: LOMG) in anti-AChR antibody positive MG (AChR-MG) with reference to healthy controls (HC).

<p>OR: Odds ratio, 95% Confidence interval (CI).</p