Salivary biomarkers in the context of gingival inflammation in children with cystic fibrosis

Abstract Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening chronic inflammatory disease in children due to respiratory complications. Saliva could serve as reservoir of bacterial colonization and potentially reflect systemic inflammation. This study investigated whether salivary triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1), peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 (PGLYRP1), interleukin (IL)-1? and calprotectin are associated with CF or reflect concomitant gingival inflammation. Methods Ten CF (age:3-12yrs) and ten systemically healthy age-and-gender-matched children (C) were enrolled in the study. Individuals with CF underwent routine laboratory determinations. Probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded on fully erupted teeth and saliva samples collected. Salivary TREM-1, PGLYRP1, IL-1? and calprotectin were analysed by ELISA. Results Children with CF had significantly higher BOP scores (P = 0.001) and calprotectin levels (P = 0.017) compared to the C group. TREM-1, PGLYRP1 and IL-1? could not distinguish between CF and SH but showed positive correlation with GI, PI and BOP in both groups. Calprotectin levels positively correlated with procalcitonin (P = 0.014), thrombocyte counts (P = 0.001), mean platelet volume (P = 0.030) and with PGLYRP1 (P = 0.019) and IL-1? (P = 0.013) in CF children. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for calprotectin (CFvsC) showed an area under the curve of 0.79 (95% CI 0.58-0.99, P = 0.034). Conclusions CF children presented with higher gingival inflammation scores and salivary calprotectin levels, that correlated with systemic inflammatory markers. Salivary calprotectin levels were not associated with periodontal parameters. Hence, preliminary data demonstrate that salivary calprotectin might have a chairside diagnostic potential for CF in children. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reservedPeer reviewe

Perception of Verticality in Patients with Primary Headache Disorders

WOS: 000346138500008OBJECTIVE: Migraine is associated with several vestibular syndromes, and vestibular syndromes can cause tilt of the subjective visual vertical (SVV). MATERIALS and METHODS: Caloric tests, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs), and SVV deviations were studied in a group, including 20 patients with migraine without aura (MoA), 24 patients with vestibular migraine (VM), 20 patients with tension-type headache (TTH), and 30 healthy controls. SVV deviations were measured using a translucent bucket. The procedure was repeated 10 times, and the mean SVV deviation was calculated for each subject. RESULTS: Apart from 5 patients with VM, the caloric test results were normal. cVEMP latencies, amplitudes, and SVV deviation values measured from the patient groups were not statistically different from the healthy controls. Despite not having differences in the average SVV deviation compared to controls, patients with migraine, either associated with vertigo or not, had significantly larger variability in their SVV measurements when all 10 test trials were taken into consideration. CONCLUSION: The larger variability of SVV measurements in our patients with migraine has also been reported in a previous study. It is difficult to interpret this finding as evidence of vestibular dysfunction involving the otolithic pathways. Cognitive processes affecting the awareness of body orientation seem to be a more reasonable explanation. On the other hand, the bucket method is an easily performed, reliable bedside test to study SVV

Oral Health Status and Oral Hygiene Habits of an Adult Turkish Population on Dialysis

WOS: 000207968300005PubMed ID: 18399306Purpose: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the oral health status and oral hygiene habits of dialysis patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 145 patients on dialysis were evaluated in two centres. Evaluation included oral examination of soft and hard tissues and completion of a questionnaire that was used to gather information about demographic, socioeconomic, medical and dental status and oral hygiene attitudes of patients. Awareness of the importance of oral health was also determined by four yes/no questions within this questionnaire. Results: Of the 145 patients, 89(61.4%) were presently candidates for renal transplantation. Nineteen patients (13.1%) were edentulous and nearly half of the patients (n = 69, 47.6%) had 15 or fewer remaining teeth. Dentate patients who regularly brushed twice a day and flossed were few (n = 18, 14.3%; n = 3, 2.4%, respectively). In addition, plaque score was more than 50% in most of the dentate patients (93.7%). Gingival bleeding was reported by about two thirds of dentate patients (67.5%). None of the patients were referred to a dentist or were attending regular dental care. The percentage of patients who were aware of oral cavity-related infections and importance of oral hygiene following renal transplantation was very low (20.7% and 9.7%, respectively). Conclusions: Poor oral health, unsatisfactory daily oral hygiene habits and insufficient awareness of the importance of oral health is frequent among Turkish dialysis patients. Dentists and nephrologists should work in close cooperation in order to raise awareness and encourage regular dental controls

Rarebit perimetry in the evaluation of visual field defects in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

9th Meeting of the European-Neuro-Ophthalmology-Society -- JUN 17-20, 2009 -- Lubeck, GERMANYWOS: 000280191600018PubMed ID: 20306442PURPOSE. Rarebit perimetry (RBP) is a new perimetric technique that has been reported as a sensitive test for the evaluation of the neural structure of the visual system. The aim of this study was to compare RBP with standard automated perimetry in detecting the visual field defects of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). METHODS. Twenty-five patients with IIH and 16 healthy controls were considered. Visual fields were analyzed with Marco automated static perimeter with threshold and central 30-2 programs (MP 30-2) and rarebit perimetry. A visual field was classified into 3 zones for both tests as central, paracentral, and peripheral zones. Mean sensitivity (MS) recorded by the MP 30-2 was compared with the mean hit rate (MHR) recorded by RBP for each zone. RESULTS. MS recorded by MP 30-2 and MHR recorded by RBP for each zone were significantly lower in the IIH group than in healthy control eyes (p<0.001). Good correlation was present between the visual fields recorded by both tests. Although the sensitivity and specificity values for each zone were lower in the RBP group than the MP 30-2 group, RBP was found to be efficient to differentiate between the visual fields of normal and IIH-affected eyes. The average RBP test duration was significantly shorter than the MP 30-2 test duration (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS. RBP is a rapid, comfortable, and widely accessible perimetric test giving reliable results in detecting visual field defects in IIH. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2010; 20: 756-62)European Neuro Ophthalmol So

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Splenius Capitis Muscle

WOS: 000326204800015Objectives: Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are biphasic responses recorded from tense anterior neck muscles [sternocleidomastoids (SCM)] with loud sound stimulus. The aim of this study was to record VEMPs from the splenius capitis muscles (SPC). Method: Seventy-four healthy controls were studied. Recordings were performed from the ipsilateral SCM, contralateral and ipsilateral SPC muscles when the subjects were seated and turned their head contralaterally to the ear being tested. The recording sites were named as I, II and III respectively. Results: The responses were recorded in 100% at site I, in 98.6 % at site II, in 97.9 % at site III. The earliest responses were detected at sites II and I, followed by site III. The potential amplitude was determined by the muscle tension. The responses recorded both from flexor and extensor muscles had positive/negative polarity. Conclusions: Extensor neck muscles can also be used for VEMP studies and the responses can be recorded even from mildly contracted muscles which make it easier to study in patients with poor cooperation. Significance: Positive/negative polarity of the muscles recorded from all sites may indicate that sacculo-collic connections are mainly inhibitory in nature

Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in primary headache disorders

WOS: 000316789200021PubMed ID: 23122971Objective: To determine if cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPS) differ in patients with migraine without aura (MoA), vestibular migraine (VM) and tension type headache (TTH). Methods: Twenty patients with MoA, 24 patients with VM and 20 patients with TTH were included in the study. Thirty healthy volunteers of comparable age and gender were taken as the control group. The latencies of peaks p13 and n23, peak-to-peak amplitude of p13-n23 divided by a mean prestimulus EMG recorded during cVEMP testing were measured. The amplitude asymmetry between right and left sides was also calculated and taken into consideration. Caloric testing was conducted to check if the results are associated with the results of the cVEMPs. Results: Five (one on the right, four on the left side) of the 24 patients with VM (20.8%) displayed a unilateral caloric hypofunction. Normal results were recorded from patients with MoA and TTH. p13, n23 latencies and amplitudes of the patient groups were not statistically different from the results of the healthy controls (p > 0.05). An amplitude asymmetry between right and left sides exceeding that of the healthy controls was not also present (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Though a hypofunctioning horizontal semicircular canal was detected in 20.8% of the patients with VM, saccular function seemed to be unaffected. Patients with MoA and TTH did not display any vestibular test abnormality. Significance: Primary headache disorders seem to be associated with a normal interictal cVEMP profile. (c) 2012 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Lower extremity venous Duplex ultrasonographic findings in nurses before and after nightshifts

WOS: 000385271000012Background: This study aims to investigate whether prolonged standing changed Duplex ultrasonography findings in nurses using two different reflux provocation techniques and to assess whether the findings of these techniques were in agreement. Methods: Between February 2014 and July 2014, 32 nurses (30 females, 2 males; mean age 31.3 +/- 5.1 years; range 23 to 46 years) with a total of 64 lower extremities were evaluated prospectively using the Duplex ultrasonography before and after 12 hour nightshifts. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed by a single radiologist under similar conditions. Duration of working of the nurses was noted and examined prior to nightshifts and immediately following the nightshifts. Reflux was provoked by manual compression and Valsalva maneuver. Pretibial edema noted. Spectral data were obtained from deep and superficial vein segments. Results: Prior to nightshifts, there was edema in only one nurse; however, bilateral edema developed in five additional nurses after nightshifts (p=0.002). Working duration of nurses with pretibial edema was significantly longer. In all vein segments, we found no significant differences in measurements before and after nightshifts using either technique (p>0.05). Manual compression and Valsalva maneuver showed either "no" or "poor" agreement in deep veins, while they showed either "fair" or "good" agreement in superficial veins. Conclusion: Our study results show that both reflux provocation techniques yield similar outcomes before and after nightshifts with significantly increased pretibial edema after nightshifts.Vamet medikal under the regulation of Dokuz Eylul University Hospital Supportive Scientific Projects (DAPS) [702]; Vamet medikal under the regulation of Dokuz Eylul University Ethic CommitteeThis study received financial support from Vamet medikal under the regulations of Dokuz Eylul University Hospital Supportive Scientific Projects (DAPS - study number 702) and Dokuz Eylul University Ethic Committee

The role of apelin in the assessment of response to chemotherapy and prognosis in stage 4 nonsmall cell lung cancer

WOS: 000389053000013PubMed ID: 27966297Background/aim: Prediction of response to chemotherapy and prognosis bears clinical significance in patients with lung cancer. The aim of the study was to examine the association between apelin expression in tumor tissues and overall survival, progression-free survival, chemoresistance, and treatment response in stage 4 nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and methods: A total of 81 patients who received chemotherapy due to a biopsy-documented diagnosis of NSCLC between 2004 and 2011 were retrospectively studied. Bronchoscopic biopsy samples were examined immunohistochemically. Results: Of the overall study population (n = 81), the mean age was 59.0 +/- 9.2 years; 83% (n = 67) were male and 17% (n = 14) were female. All patients received chemotherapy. A total of 30 patients (37%) had no apelin positivity, while 21 (30%) had 1 +, 20 (25%) had 2 +, and 10 (12%) had 3 + apelin positivity. We detected no association between apelin positivity and overall survival, 6-month survival, or 1-year survival rates (P = 0.05, 0.74, and 0.63). Patients with apelin expression as compared to those without it had shorter overall survival (P = 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that apelin, an angiogenic factor, does not seem to provide significant prognostic information in this patient group

Recovery of visual-field defects after occipital lobe infarction: a perimetric study

WOS: 000290298600027PubMed ID: 20935321Objective To assess the temporal course of homonymous visual-field defects due to occipital lobe infarction, by using automated perimetry. Methods 32 patients with ischaemic infarction of the occipital lobe were studied prospectively, using a Humphrey Visual Field Analyser II. The visual field of each eye was divided into central, paracentral and peripheral zones. The mean visual sensitivity of each zone was calculated and used for the statistical analysis. The results of the initial examination, performed within 2 weeks of stroke, were compared with the results of the sixth-month control. The lesions were assigned to the localisations, optic radiation, striate cortex, occipital pole and occipital convexity, by MRI. Results A statistically significant improvement was noted, especially for the lower quadrants. Lesions of the occipital pole and convexity were not significantly associated with visual-field recovery. However, involvement of the striate cortex and extensive lesions involving all the areas studied was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Conclusions Homonymous visual-field defects in our patients improved within 6 months. Restoration of the lower quadrants and especially the peripheral zones was noted. Incomplete damage to the striate cortex, which has a varying pattern of vascular supply, could explain this finding. Magnification factor theory, which is the increment of the receptive-field size of striate cortex cells with visual-field eccentricity, may explain the more significant improvement in the peripheral zones