Pro-resolving lipid mediators in traumatic brain injury: emerging concepts and translational approach.

Despite the high mortality and disability associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), effective pharmacologic treatments are lacking. Of emerging interest, bioactive lipids, including specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators of inflammation (SPMs), act to attenuate inflammation after injury resolution. The SPM lipidome may serve as a biomarker of disease and predictor of clinical outcomes, and the use of exogenous SPM administration represents a novel therapeutic strategy for TBI. This review article provides a comprehensive discussion of the current pre-clinical and clinical literature supporting the importance of bioactive lipids, including SPMs, in TBI recovery. We additionally propose a translational approach to answer important clinical and scientific questions to advance the study of bioactive lipids and SPMs towards clinical research. Given the morbidity and mortality associated with TBI with limited treatment options, novel approaches are needed.

Older Age Is Not Associated with Worse Outcomes Following Decompressive Hemicraniectomy for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) is commonly offered after large spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) as a life-saving measure. Based on limited available evidence, surgery is sometimes avoided in the elderly. The association between age and outcomes following DHC in spontaneous ICH remains largely understudied. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of older age on outcomes of patients who undergo DHC for spontaneous ICH. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, inpatient data were obtained from the United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2000 to 2011. Using International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision designations, patients with a primary diagnosis of nontraumatic ICH who underwent DHC were identified. The primary outcome of interest was the association of age to inpatient mortality and poor outcome. Subjects were grouped by age: 18-50, 51-60, 61-70, and more than 70 years. Sample characteristics were compared across age groups using χ2 testing, and univariate and multivariate Poisson Regression was performed using a generalized equation to estimate rate ratios for primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred and forty four patient cases were isolated. Death occurred in an estimated 28.9% and poor outcome in 86.4%. In multivariate Poisson regression models, there was no difference in hospital mortality or poor outcome by age group. Although younger patients were more likely to be diagnosed with herniation, total complication rate was similar between age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results do not provide evidence that age independently predicts in-hospital mortality or poor outcomes. The true influence of age on outcomes is unclear, and further study is needed to determine which factors may be best in selecting candidates for DHC following spontaneous ICH.

CCR5 Is a Therapeutic Target for Recovery after Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury.

We tested a newly described molecular memory system, CCR5 signaling, for its role in recovery after stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). CCR5 is uniquely expressed in cortical neurons after stroke. Post-stroke neuronal knockdown of CCR5 in pre-motor cortex leads to early recovery of motor control. Recovery is associated with preservation of dendritic spines, new patterns of cortical projections to contralateral pre-motor cortex, and upregulation of CREB and DLK signaling. Administration of a clinically utilized FDA-approved CCR5 antagonist, devised for HIV treatment, produces similar effects on motor recovery post stroke and cognitive decline post TBI. Finally, in a large clinical cohort of stroke patients, carriers for a naturally occurring loss-of-function mutation in CCR5 (CCR5-Δ32) exhibited greater recovery of neurological impairments and cognitive function. In summary, CCR5 is a translational target for neural repair in stroke and TBI and the first reported gene associated with enhanced recovery in human stroke.

A clinical study of caries diagnosis with a laser fluorescence system.

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted an in vivo study to compare a laser fluorescence system with a visual system for occlusal caries diagnosis in children's primary and permanent molars. METHODS: The authors selected for evaluation 320 untreated, cavity-free primary and permanent molars in healthy children aged 6 through 14 years. Two of the authors conducted the laser fluorescence evaluation. Another of the authors completed the clinical evaluation. The kappa value was 0.68. The authors compared sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, odds ratio and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the laser fluorescence system. RESULTS: For the whole sample, the sensitivity and specificity of the laser fluorescence system were 0.79 and 0.87, respectively. The positive and negative odds ratios for the whole sample were 6.33 and 0.23. The positive and negative predictive values for the whole sample were 33.9 percent and 98.1 percent. The value of the area beneath the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.92 for the whole sample. CONCLUSIONS: The laser fluorescence system was more precise than visual evaluation in identifying lesions without cavities and healthy surfaces in primary and permanent molars. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In daily practice, dentists can consider the laser fluorescence system a complementary tool in the visual exploration of occlusal surfaces of primary molars and permanent first molars.

Self-injurious behavior in a patient with mental retardation: review of the literature and a case report.

Self-injurious behavior is deliberate harm to the body that may lead to factitious oral injuries. Management of patients with self-inflicted injury continues to be a challenge for the dental profession. The purpose of this article is to review clinical findings in a patient who presented with severe, painful gingival recession in the primary dentition. A case report of an 8-year-old girl with mental retardation is presented. The periodontal examination showed bilateral gingival recession of the mandibular canines and the mandibular first and second molars so severe that it was possible to clinically observe the exposed roots. The diagnosis of self-inflicted gingival lesions and self-injurious behavior was established. Although the lesions are no longer present, the self-injurious behavior persists. Psychologic support was suggested, and an oral removable appliance was fitted.

Severe trauma in the primary dentition--diagnosis and treatment of sequelae in permanent dentition.

A 2-year 6-month male presented after an intrusive injury sustained at 15 months of age. Intra-oral radiographs showed coronal dilaceration of the germ of the permanent central incisor and the presence of a calcified tissue mass in the area of the trauma which was identified after surgical removal as the permanent upper left lateral incisor. Immediate treatment and long-term options are discussed.

Displacement and pulpal involvement of a maxillary incisor associated with a talon cusp: report of a case.

The talon cusp is a relatively uncommon dental anomaly manifested as an accessory cusp-like structure on the crown of anterior teeth. The presence of a talon cusp can cause clinical problems. This article reports the case of a patient presenting a talon cusp affecting the permanent maxillary right central incisor causing clinical problems related to caries, displacement of the tooth, occlusal position and tendency to dental traumatism. The management of this tooth included caries removal and reduction of the cusp. Pulp-capping with calcium hydroxide was required because of the presence of pulp horn extensions in the talon cusp.