Cone beam CT evaluation of the presence of anatomic accessory canals in the jaws

Objectives: To assess the prevalence, location and anatomical course of accessory canals of the jaws using cone beam CT. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 4200 successive cone beam CT scans, for patients of both genders and ages ranging from 7 to 88 years, was performed. They were exposed at the School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. After applying the exclusion criteria (the presence of severe ridge resorption, pre-existing implants, a previously reported history of craniofacial malformations or syndromes, a previous history of trauma or surgery, inadequate image quality and subsequent scans from the same individuals), 4051 scans were ultimately included in this study. Results: Of the 4051 scans (2306 females and 1745 males) that qualified for inclusion in this study, accessory canals were identified in 1737 cases (42.9%; 1004 females and 733 males). 532 scans were in the maxilla (13.1%; 296 females and 236 males) and 1205 in the mandible (29.8%; 708 females and 497 males). Conclusions: A network of accessory canals bringing into communication the inner and outer cortical plates of the jaws was identified. In light of these findings, clinicians should carefully assess for the presence of accessory canals prior to any surgical intervention to decrease the risk for complications

Diagnostic Value of Serum Neuron-Specific Enolase Level in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke; A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: We aim to assess the predictive value of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level in patients with acute ischemic stroke referring to the emergency department.Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis performed, considering the PRISMA and MOOSE statement guidelines. A computerized literature search of the known medical database conducted by using the relevant keywords. We included studies published before November 2016 in which stroke patients compared with non-stroke controls and also studies evaluating the serum levels of NSE in the study groups. Statistical analysis was pooled in a random effect model analysis using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software.Results: We included 12 articles in the qualitative and quantitative analysis, that their quality acceptable based on the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS scale). The pooled effect estimates showed that NSE is significantly higher in ischemic stroke patients in comparison with their controls with a high effect estimate [OR 9.68, 95% CI (3.06 to 30.6)]. The effect estimate remained statistically significant under the fixed and random effects model.Conclusion: Our results show higher levels of NSE in patients with stroke than in the control group, indicating that NSE plays a role in the diagnosis of stroke. In terms of prognosis, there is evidence regarding the direct and indirect relationship; and it founded that serum levels of NSE is higher in larger stroke volume, which needs further research

Dynamic MR-Mammography as the best method for diagnosis of invasive lobular breast carcinoma: A retrospective study

AbstractAim of the studyIt is a retrospective study aiming to provide diagnostic characterization of ILC in Dynamic MR-Mammography and to compare its diagnostic performance to mammography and ultrasonography.Material and MethodA total of 56 cases of ILC were selected in retrospective review of mammography, ultrasonography and Dynamic MRM of 420 patients with invasive breast cancer.ResultsAsymmetric density was the commonest mammography finding and the measured sensitivity of mammography in detecting ILC was 87.5% (9/56 FN).The most common US manifestation of ILC was focal shadowing without a discrete mass and its sensitivity in detecting ILC was 84.9% (10/56 FN). At MR imaging, the most common manifestation of ILC was a solitary irregular or angular mass with speculated or ill-defined margins (33.9%of cases [n=19]).The measured sensitivity is 96.5% (2/56 FN). Additional data such as those affected the patient management including the presence of multifocal or multicentric disease, chest wall involvement and contralateral breast cancer were encountered in 48.2% of cases [n=27]. ILC has a tendency to demonstrate delayed maximum enhancement with washout exhibited by only a minority of lesions (21.4% [n=12]).ConclusionMR imaging has proved to be superior to mammography and US in the detection and management of ILC. It provides useful information for further management and pre-surgical planning

Metastatic Testicular Cancer Patient with Synchronous Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presented with Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Case Report

Testicular cancer is a curable oncologic disease of males mostly aged 15-44 years. Most of the patients are successfully treated with radical orchiectomy. However, a delayed presentation may lead to a dismal prognosis. There are several risk factors including cryptorchidism, a first-degree relative with testicular cancer, hypospadias, childhood inguinal hernia, and military pollutant exposure, among others. The distant metastasis of testicular carcinoma to the lung, liver, and brain are widely described. We present a unique case of a 28-year-old male who presented with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Later, it was discovered that he had a metastatic testicular carcinoma synchronous with an oral squamous cell carcinoma. Metastasis was detected by imaging including X-ray, computerized tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The presence of two primary cancers concurrently is rare and indicates a poor prognosis. Because of the absence of risk factors in this patient, he was thought to be potentially exposed to depleted uranium from warfare due to his residence in Iraq. Markedly raised beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) titers indicate a possible non-seminomatous type; however, the exact type is unknown as the patient declined fine needle aspiration (FNA)/biopsy and orchiectomy. This case focuses on the atypical presentation and the importance of when to seek medical attention, as a delayed presentation can lead to a poor prognosis. Moreover, it heightens awareness that other malignancies may occur concurrently. As well as to emphasize on means that can be used to educate high-risk groups

CHARACTERISTIC OF APOPTOSIS AND EXPRESSION OF GENES-RELATED APOPTOSIS (c-myc, c-erb AND c-fos ONCOGENE) IN HeLa CELL LINES AFTER EXPOSURE BY NEEM (Azadirachta indica A.Juss)

 ABSTRACT Azadirachta indica A. Juss is a medicinal plant commonly known as neem. The effect of neem leaves extract on cervical cancer cells, however, has never been studied. Due to the lack of information, this study was conducted to determine the effect of neem leaves extract on cervical cancer (HeLa) cell growth. In vitro cytotoxicity effect of ethanolic neem extract indicated the presence of cytotoxicity activity of the extract against HeLa cells with IC50 of  30.0 μg/mL. The morphological changes under confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) on HeLa cells were cell shrinkage and membrane blebbing. There were also cells with condensed nucleus and few cells have fragmented nucleus, and finally formed apoptotic body. Control cells showed a clear cytoplasm and centrally placed nucleus and no cells exhibited any apoptotic features. Appearance of apoptotic cells under scanning electron microscope (SEM) are indentations, blebs and hole on cell surface and disintegration of cell. The controls remained morphologically normal. Apoptotic features of the cells are widely seen with longer incubation time while 24 hours incubation time, it is scarcely seen. The RT-PCR product showed that the c-erb gene expression was expressed in both treated and untreated HeLa cells. Contrary, the the c-myc and c-fos oncogenes on  HeLa cells which exposed to A. indica  EtOH extract were significantly decreased.  Thus, the results from this study strongly suggest that the ethanolic extract of A. indica may contain bioactive compound(s) that caused cervical cancer cells, HeLa cell death by apoptosis mechanism and lead to succession of discovering new alternative treatment for cervical cancer.  Keywords : cytotoxic, apoptosis genes, oncogenes, nee

Adverse childhood experiences increase HIV risk factors in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been associated with increased risk factors for HIV transmission, but the causal pathway is uncertain. This study documents the prevalence of ACEs by gender and their association with HIV risk factors and assesses depressive symptoms as mediating this relationship. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2019 among a representative sample of men and women, aged 18–24 years, living in an informal settlement in Accra, Ghana. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, ACEs, ten HIV risk factors (five sexual behaviors, HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual assault, three substance use behaviors), and depressive symptoms were collected. Multiple logistic regression models were estimated to assess the independent association between four or more ACEs and each of the ten HIV risk factors. Structural equation models examined depressive symptoms as a mediator in these associations. A third (34.6%) of participants reported four or more ACEs, and among those who experienced four or more ACEs 60% were men and 40% were women. Gender did not modify the effect of the association between four or more ACEs and HIV factors and therefore the multiple regression analysis was not stratified by gender. After controlling for sociodemographic covariates and depressive symptoms, having experienced four or more ACEs was associated with alcohol use (OR = 3.88; 95% CI: 1.34, 11.21), injection drug use (OR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.15, 6.73), low knowledge of HIV (OR = 3.59; 95% CI: 1.43, 9.00), sexually transmitted infection (OR = 3.70; 95% CI: 1.15, 11.96), and sexual assault (OR = 3.58; 95% CI: 1.07, 12.05). There was some evidence that depressive symptoms could be mediating the association between reporting four or more ACEs and ever having a sexually transmitted infection. The mitigation of ACEs and depressive symptoms has the potential to decrease HIV risk factors and thus reduce the risk for HIV transmission among youth living in informal settlements

Biochemical and Genetical Evaluation of Pomegranate Impact on Diabetes Mellitus Induced by Alloxan in Female Rats

Abstract: Various food industries explored the possibility of developing a nutritional supplement rich in natural antioxidants from pomegranates. This study has focused on the ability of pomegranate peel and juice to study the antioxidant status. Thirty two rats were allocated in 4 groups as follows: GroupI; control group without any treatment; GroupII: diabetic animals injected with alloxan; Group III: diabetic peel group animals injected with alloxan and then feed on peel pomegranate; GroupIV: diabetic juice group animals injected with alloxan and then gavage with pomegranate juice. After 4 weeks of treatment biochemical analysis were measured such as glucose, insulin, alpha-amylase, lipid profile (cholesterol, triglyceride HDL, LDL and total lipids), total protein, homocysteine, total antioxidant capacity and liver enzymes (AST&ALT). In addition, pancreas and liver tissues were separated for genetic analysis in which pancreatic tissues were used for RAPD-PCR analysis and liver tissues for DNA fragmentation assay. Results showed significant increase in glucose and alpha amylase levels in diabetic group, while insulin decreased. Peel and juice of pomegranate ameliorates this effect and decreased glucose, alpha amylase while insulin level increased. Cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and total lipids increased while HDL decreased in diabetic group. Peel and juice of pomegranate prevented these changes. The more pronounced effect appeared in group III treated with peel pomegranate. Total protein was not affected by alloxan or pomegranate. Homocysteine was significantly increased while total antioxidant capacity decreased in diabetic group. After treatment by pomegranate peel and juice, these parameters become near to the control values. AST and ALT were significantly increased in diabetic group. But after treatment with peel and juice, AST and ALT levels decreased and become near to the control level especially ALT value. Furthermore, rate of DNA fragmentation and DNA band polymorphism increased significantly in diabetic group. While after treatment by peel and juice rate of DNA band polymorphism and DNA fragmentation were decreased significantly. Pomegranate peel and juice showed significant reduction in LDL oxidative susceptibility and an increase in total antioxidant status. Pomegranate is able to reduce the progression in atherosclerosis. The antioxidant content in foods decreased the oxidative stress related diseases

Fabrication and characterization of PU-g-poly(HEMA) film for clotting time and platelet adhesion

This paper describes a fabrication of poly (2-hydroxylethyl methacrylate) poly(HEMA) grafted on polyurethane (PU) film prepared by radiation-induced grafting (RIG) copolymerization method using electron beam irradiation for the first time. This method was well known to be fast technique, clean method without involve any chemical initiator, chemically bond the materials, and at the same time is a sterile technique suitable for further potential of biomedical application. This poly(HEMA) grafted on PU film or called as PU-g-poly(HEMA) films was analysed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), water contact angle analyser (WCA), platelet adhesion and clotting time measurement. As the results, poly(HEMA) was confirmed successful grafted on PU based on the shifting of the functional group, no significant changes in surface morphology, lowering the water contact angle from 78.28° to 70.02°, nearly no platelet adhesion and no excessive disturbance of the clotting time was observed. This means that PU-g-poly(HEMA) was improved its hydrophilicity, thus significantly reduced the platelet adhesion and maintain the normal range of time taken for blood to clot. Therefore, the present PU-g-poly(HEMA) films not only improved hydrophilicity, however, was also compatible with blood. Thus, it may be potential candidates in the biomedical devices or new biomaterial useful for future tissue engineering fields

Dietary Fiber and Saturated Fat Intake Associations with Cardiovascular Disease Differ by Sex in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Cohort: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to examine associations between intake of macronutrients and dietary fiber and incident ischemic cardiovascular disease (iCVD) in men and women. METHODS: We used data from 8,139 male and 12,535 female participants (aged 44-73 y) of the Swedish population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort. The participants were without history of CVD and diabetes mellitus, and had reported stable dietary habits in the study questionnaire. Diet was assessed by a validated modified diet history method, combining a 7-d registration of cooked meals and cold beverages, a 168-item food questionnaire (covering other foods and meal patterns), and a 1-hour diet interview. Sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected by questionnaire. iCVD cases, which included coronary events (myocardial infarctions or deaths from chronic ischemic heart disease) and ischemic strokes, were ascertained via national and local registries. Nutrient-disease associations were examined by multivariate Cox regressions. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 13.5 years, we identified 1,089 male and 687 female iCVD cases. High fiber intakes were associated with lower incidence rates of iCVD in women and of ischemic stroke in men. In post-hoc analysis, we discovered statistically significant interactions between intake of fiber and saturated fat; these interactions also differed between men and women (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this well-defined population, a high fiber intake was associated with lower risk of iCVD, but there were no robust associations between other macronutrients and iCVD risk. Judging from this study, gender-specific nutrient analysis may be preferable in epidemiology