Permanent tooth agenesis in non-syndromic Robin sequence and cleft palate: prevalence and patterns

Objectives: Partial tooth agenesis is frequently observed in Robin sequence. Tooth anomalies are increasingly considered as an extended phenotype of the cleft palate population. The study objective was to compare the prevalence and patterns of tooth agenesis in a group of patients with non-syndromic Robin sequence (ns-RS) and a group with non-syndromic cleft palate (ns-CP). Materials and methods: The panoramic radiographs of 115 ns-RS and 191 ns-CP patients were assessed for agenesis of the permanent dentition (excluding third molars) and the patterns recorded using the Tooth Agenesis Code. Results: Partial tooth agenesis was observed in 47.8% of ns-RS and 29.8% of ns-CP patients with a greater prevalence in the mandibula than in the maxilla, particularly in ns-RS. The teeth most frequently absent in both groups were the mandibular second premolars and maxillary lateral incisors. Tooth agenesis was bilateral in two-thirds of affected ns-RS patients and one-half of ns-CP patients. In ns-RS, bilateral agenesis of the mandibular second premolars was more frequently observed in female than that in male patients. Completely symmetrical patterns of hypodontia were found in around 45% of ns-RS patients with tooth agenesis compared to 35% in ns-CP. No association was found between the extent of the palatal cleft and the severity of hypodontia. Conclusion: Tooth agenesis is more prevalent in ns-RS than that in ns-CP, demonstrates a much greater predilection for the mandible in ns-RS, and bears no relation to the extent of the palatal cleft. Clinical relevance: When compared to ns-CP, additional developmental disturbances are likely involved in the etiology of tooth agenesis in ns-RS. Future research could help identify the underlying genetic traits and aid in classifying patients in those with and without expected tooth agenesis in order to facilitate orthodontic management strategies

Compression of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve due to volar dislocation of the fifth carpometacarpal joint

Volar dislocation of the base of the fifth metacarpal bone is an unusual event. When it occurs, damage to the deep branch of the ulnar nerve may be expected because of its close relation to the carpometacarpal joint. A case of neuropathy of the deep ulnar motor branch due to such a dislocation is reported. Mild wasting of the first dorsal interosseous muscle and a severe loss of adduction strength of the thumb was observed 7 weeks after reduction of the dislocation. Complete functional recovery occurred 4 months after the initial injury

Differential and strain-specific triggering of bovine alveolar macrophage effector functions by mycoplasmas

Mycoplasma strains being considered as pathogenic or non-pathogenic for cattle were tested on their capacity to activate bovine alveolar macrophages in vitro. Of particular interest was the behaviour of Mycoplasma mycoides ssp. mycoides small colony type (M.m.m. SC), the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Increases in procoagulant activity (PCA), tumor necrosis factor-?- (TNF-?) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) generation were tested. To minimize an influence of macrophage activation by mycoplasmagrowth media, mycoplasmas were cultured on embryonic calf nose epithelial cells. The three macrophage functions tested were not correlated, but were differentially induced in strain-specific manner. Four out of seven strains induced PCA, regardless of pathogenicity, and all strains promoted moderate NO generation at high concentrations. All tested M.m.m, SC strains (Afadé, L2 and PG1), and the pathogenic M. bovis, induced TNF-? product ion at low concentrations (106 colony forming units per ml). M. sp. serogroup 7 and the non-pathogenic M. bovirhinis and Acholeplasma laidlawii did not induce TNF-? up to 108 cfu/ml. Thus, strain-specific differences are reflected in differential macrophage activation patterns. The findings are consistent with an important role for TNF-? in pathogenesis of CBPP

Swiss Dent J

Air/water syringe (AWS) tips can be used in any type of dental care. They may be disposable (plastic) or reusable (stainless steel or plastic). We assessed the costs of using both sorts of tips in a French teaching hospital. A systematic use of one AWS tip per dental consultation was considered. Consultations performed with reusable AWS (stainless steel) tips give rise to costs linked to initial purchase of tips, their sterilisation, and replacement. Consultation costs of disposable AWS tips were calculated at their current purchase price. Replacing reusable tips was evaluat-ed in two different situations: annual replacement or replacement in case of visual deterioration. Results showed that the number of consultations must lie beyond a certain threshold in order to make reusable tips more economical in use than disposable counterparts. If the reusable tips are replaced every year, this threshold is higher (e.g.: 1,366consultations at the University of Bordeaux) than under a rule of tip replacement in case of visual deterioration (e.g. at the Bordeaux University: 1,267consultations in case of an annual replacement rate of 10%, or 1,289 with a re-placement rate of 30%). This is the first study regarding the costs of disposable versus reusable AWS tips. We suggest that disposable tips might be more cost-effective than reusable tips, not-ably because of their reduced risk of crosscontamination. The choice of the use of one or an-other AWS tip crucially depends on the number of consultations, as well as on their practical utilisation and on infection control issues