Control of dentin/root sensitivity during non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment.

AIM: To determine the efficacy of a desensitizing regimen compared to a control in preventing the occurrence and/or alleviating dentin/root sensitivity (DRS) following non-surgical (NSPT) and surgical periodontal treatment (SPT). METHODS: Seventy-four chronic-periodontitis patients (CPP) were randomized into a test group (n = 38) using an in-office prophylaxis paste and a toothpaste at home both containing 8% arginine and calcium carbonate (Pro-Argin(™) Technology) or into a control group (n = 36) receiving a fluoride-free prophylaxis paste and a fluoride toothpaste. The examiner applied the assigned paste onto selected teeth for 3 s following NSPT and for 60 s before flap closure. Patients brushed with the assigned toothpaste twice daily throughout the study. DRS to air stimulus was assessed by the Schiff scale (0-3) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS: 0-100 mm) six times over 17 weeks. RESULTS: In the test group, VAS scores significantly decreased at 8, 11 and 17 weeks from baseline (p ≤ 0.003) and Schiff scores at 8 and 11 weeks from baseline (p ≤ 0.014). The control group exhibited significant increases in VAS and Schiff during the study period (p ≤ 0.006). Marked inter-group differences were noted at all time points (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of desensitizing products (8% arginine and calcium carbonate) in-office and at-home prevented DRS development and maintained this effect for 17 weeks following NSPT and SPT.

Brucellosis presenting as a spinal epidural abscess in a 41-year-old farmer: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Brucellar epidural abscess is rare but potentially fatal medical entity and very few cases have been reported so far. Whilst in developed countries, cases of brucellar spondylitis and epidural abscess are unusual, since brucellosis has practically been eradicated in animals, in Greece it is one of the most frequent zoonosis. By reporting this case report we want to stress out the importance of early diagnosis and management and also that physicians should keep an open mind and high index of suspicion especially in regions where brucellosis is endemic or when their patients have traveled to these areas and have consumed unpasteurized dairy products. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 41-year-old male Caucasian farmer complaining of acute, progressively worsening low back pain of five days duration. Fever with rigors, malaise and profuse night sweating were added to the symptoms, two days before admission. Magnetic Resonance imaging clearly showed the lesion and blood and tissue cultures were positive for Brucella melitensis. CONCLUSION: Spinal epidural abscess is a rare condition, difficult to diagnose, may be complicated by potentially disastrous neurological or vascular complications, and it can be fatal if left untreated. Patients complaining of fever and back pain, particularly in endemic areas should be investigated as possible cases of brucellosis and MRI is the method of first choice in the diagnostic process. Neurological dysfunction is often disproportionate to the observed degree of compression. A delay in diagnosis or surgical treatment may result in deleterious sequelae such as permanent paralysis or even death for patients with spinal epidural abscess.

Somatostatin is expressed in the murine thymus and enhances thymocyte development.

A functional interaction between the immune and the nervous system has been suggested, with neuropeptides acting as immunomodulators. Somatostatin (SOM) is a neuropeptide, mainly produced in the brain, that binds to five different receptors (SSTR). It is believed that SOM along with one of its receptors, SSTR2, is expressed in the murine thymus, although their exact localization is unresolved. We found that SOM is highly expressed in both cortical and medullary epithelial cells whereas its receptor SSTR2 is expressed on thymocytes. In order to elucidate its role in thymopoiesis, SOM was added in fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC) and found to increase thymocyte numbers and enhance maturation. SOM increased the cellular proliferation of total splenocytes but inhibited proliferation of thymocytes and purified splenic T cells. Furthermore, SOM was able to induce the migration of thymocytes. We also investigated the effect of four other neuropeptides in FTOC and found that, vasoactive intestinal peptide had a marginal effect, whereas substance P increased thymic cellularity, at intermediate but not at low or high concentrations. In contrast, both neuropeptide Y and calcitonin gene-related peptide reduced thymocyte numbers. This study supports the hypothesis for a role of neuropeptides, particularly somatostatin, in immune regulation and development.