Oxidative stress is involved in LLLT mechanism of action on skin healing in rats.

The skin injury healing process involves the main phases of homoeostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on hematological dynamics, oxidative stress markers, and its relation with tissue healing following skin injury. Wistar rats were divided into control, sham, skin injury, and skin injury LLLT. The biochemical and morphological analyses were performed in the inflammatory (1 and 3 days) and regenerative phases (7, 14, and 21 days) following injury. The skin injury was performed in the dorsal region, between the intrascapular lines, using a surgical punch. LLLT (Al-Ga-In-P, λ=660 nm, energy density of 20 J/cm2, 30 mW power, and a time of 40 s) was applied at the area immediately after injury and on every following day according to the experimental subgroups. LLLT maintained hematocrit and hemoglobin levels until the 3rd day of treatment. Surprisingly, LLLT increased total leukocytes levels compared to control until the 3rd day. The effects of LLLT on mitochondrial activity were demonstrated by the significant increase in MTT levels in both inflammatory and regenerative phases (from the 1st to the 7th day), but only when associated with skin injury. The results indicated that LLLT modulated the inflammatory response intensity and accelerated skin tissue healing by a mechanism that involved oxidative damage reduction mostly at early stages of skin healing (inflammatory phase).

Oxidative stress is involved in LLLT mechanism of action on skin healing in rats

The skin injury healing process involves the main phases of homoeostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on hematological dynamics, oxidative stress markers, and its relation with tissue healing following skin injury. Wistar rats were divided into control, sham, skin injury, and skin injury LLLT. The biochemical and morphological analyses were performed in the inflammatory (1 and 3 days) and regenerative phases (7, 14, and 21 days) following injury. The skin injury was performed in the dorsal region, between the intrascapular lines, using a surgical punch. LLLT (Al-Ga-In-P, λ=660 nm, energy density of 20 J/cm2, 30 mW power, and a time of 40 s) was applied at the area immediately after injury and on every following day according to the experimental subgroups. LLLT maintained hematocrit and hemoglobin levels until the 3rd day of treatment. Surprisingly, LLLT increased total leukocytes levels compared to control until the 3rd day. The effects of LLLT on mitochondrial activity were demonstrated by the significant increase in MTT levels in both inflammatory and regenerative phases (from the 1st to the 7th day), but only when associated with skin injury. The results indicated that LLLT modulated the inflammatory response intensity and accelerated skin tissue healing by a mechanism that involved oxidative damage reduction mostly at early stages of skin healing (inflammatory phase).

A pilot study evaluating a new low-volume colon cleansing procedure for capsule colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) offers an alternative approach for endoscopic visualization of the colon. Some of the current CCE bowel cleansing regimens use sodium phosphate, which has raised safety concerns. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to test the feasibility and efficacy of a new low-volume, sodium phosphate-free polyethylene glycol (PEG) bowel preparation. METHODS: The first 26 patients (original cleansing procedure) received a colon cleansing regimen of PEG plus ascorbic acid: patients drank 1 L in the evening and 0.75 L in the morning before capsule ingestion. Patients also drank an additional 0.5 L PEG boost and an optional 0.25 L PEG boost during the capsule procedure. Following an interim analysis, the cleansing procedure of the subsequent 24 patients was modified, with the morning intake before capsule ingestion being increased to 1 L, as well as the second boost (0.25 L) being administered 1 - 2 hours earlier (modified cleansing procedure). RESULTS: The overall colon cleanliness was considered to be good or excellent in 83 % (original cleansing procedure) and 82 % (modified cleansing procedure) of patients, without any significant difference between regimens (P > 0.05). In 37 /49 (76 %) of the CCE procedures, the hemorrhoidal plexus was identified and thus the examination was considered complete, with no significant differences between the two CCE cleansing procedures. The capsule sensitivity and specificity for detecting colonic polyps ≥ 6 mm were 91 % (95 %CI 70 % - 98 %) and 94 % (95 %CI 87 % - 97 %), respectively, compared with standard optical colonoscopy. CONCLUSION: A colon cleansing procedure using PEG + ascorbic acid for capsule colonoscopy yielded an adequate cleansing level in > 80 % of patients, a completion rate of 76 %, and good accuracy for detecting polyps. This procedure may be considered as an alternative, particularly for patients in whom sodium phosphate-based preparations are contraindicated.

[Diagnosis of a high-grade B-cell lymphoma of the small bowel by means of wireless capsule endoscopy]. / Diagnostik eines hochmalignen B-Zell-Lymphoms des Dünndarms mit der Kapselendoskopie.

Wireless capsule endoscopy is a new diagnostic procedure to detect diseases of the small bowel, in particular in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. We report on a 76-year-old patient who presented at our hospital with signs of gastrointestinal bleeding and hypochromic anaemia. Bidirectional endoscopy, push enteroscopy, angiography as well as small bowel barium enema rendered no pathologic findings. Wireless capsule endoscopy demonstrated a polypous space in the cantral area of the small bowel. Subsequent intraoperative endoscopy revealed a subtotal stenosing tumour of the upper jejunum which was resected. Based on the histology a high-grade B-Cell lymphoma was diagnosed. The postoperative staging examinations did not indicate any further extranodal involvement.

[Endoscopy of the small intestine without tube or enema? A video capsule makes it possible]. / Dünndarmendoskopie ohne Schlauch und Klysma? Eine Videokapsel macht's möglich.

The diagnosis of unclear bleeding in the small bowel remains a gastroenterological problem. To date, the diagnostic approach routinely employed has been roentgen Sellink. With such newer techniques as magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) substantially more diagnostic information can now be obtained. A recent new development is capsule endoscopy, which is intended for use when conventional endoscopic examinations fail to identify the source of bleeding. Using this new option in the Ludwigshafen Klinikum the small bowel lesions were discovered in 81% of the 26 patients in whom they had been previously remained undetected. At present, the patients have to bear the cost of this examination themselves.

[Surgical therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases. Rational diagnosis--endoscopy, contrast media administration, CT? Indications for operation]. / Chirurgische Therapie entzündlicher Dickdarmerkrankungen. Rationelle Diagnostik--Endoskopie, KE, CT? Indikation zur Operation.

Some 10 to 25 percent of all patients with diverticulosis will come down with diverticulitis in the course of their lives. Apart from physical examinations, sonography and--if results are still unclear--computer tomography are seen as the most important diagnostic devices. 75 percent of patients with acute diverticulitis can initially be treated conservatively, and only one in four ever falls ill again with another inflammation. According to those numbers a conservative method is justified when dealt with a primary uncomplicated diverticulitis. If a second attack occurs, should an elective resection be considered. An increased mortality and morbidity exists among young and immunocompromised patients so that elective surgery is recommended already after the first incident.

Effect of calcitonin on bone and connective tissue metabolism in hemiplegic patients: a two-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To test the effects of 200 IU/day of a nasal spray of salmon calcitonin in modulating the increased bone tissue metabolism observed in hemiplegic patients. DESIGN: A two-year, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. PATIENTS: Thirty-four patients with hemiplegia due to a cerebrovascular accident were included in the study during the first month after onset of hemiplegia after giving their informed consent. All patients followed a suitably planned course of active rehabilitation according to Bobath. They were randomly allocated to either the calcitonin or the placebo group but all of them received a daily oral calcium supplementation of 1000 mg. RESULTS: Biochemical markers of bone formation, serum total alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and type I procollagen did not vary during the two years of follow-up. Cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, a biochemical marker of bone resorption, was elevated initially after stroke and then decreased significantly (p <0.001), stabilizing as of month 12. Urinary calcium/creatinine and total hydroxyproline/creatinine ratios presented with similar profiles. The serum levels of the type III procollagen, a marker of connective tissue metabolism, were also elevated upon entry and decreased thereafter. No significant difference could be found between the calcitonin-treated and the placebo group for any of the biochemical markers at any time point. CONCLUSION: This prospective study demonstrated that biochemical markers of bone and connective tissue metabolism were elevated shortly after the occurrence of stroke and then gradually decreased during the first two years after injury. The daily administration of 200 IU of intranasal calcitonin did not influence the levels of these markers.

Ultrastructural characterization of mesenchymal and epithelial cells co-cultured from human dental root apical explants.

Previous studies have shown the role of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in the differentiation of the specific secretory cells of the tooth. In order to elucidate the mechanisms implicated in root dentin formation, we developed a co-culture system of human pulpal mesenchymal and epithelial root sheath cells. Root tips of premolars were cultured in Eagle's basal Medium supplemented with fetal calf serum, ascorbic acid, antibiotics and, for some of them, with sodium beta-glycerophosphate. After 60 days of culture, cells were prepared for light and electron microscopy. Three main cell types were observed: (1) polygonal mesenchymal cells showing a functional polarity and producing a dense network of tactoid collagenous fibers. The latter had a specific circular organization that delimited small lacunae around the cells and mineralized in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate; (2) spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells mainly localized inside epithelial-mesenchymal knots and synthesizing an abundant collagenous matrix; and (3) epithelial cells lying on the plastic culture dish, on the dense collagenous matrix, or on spindle-shaped cells. Epithelial cells deposited a structured basement membrane when they were lying on the plastic culture dish or on spindle-shaped cells. On the contrary, no basement membrane was found when epithelial cells were overlying the dense collagenous network. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis of type IV collagen and laminin indicated that these two specific basement membrane components were produced by all cell types. These results show that the co-culture system should be valuable for (1) studying the in vitro formation of human dental root hard tissues, (2) characterizing cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions implicated in dental basement membrane production, and (3) isolating populations of cells implicated in dental root formation.

The bioavailability of supplemental biotin in cattle.

A trial using 12 yearling heifers was carried out to test whether biotin metabolism and bioavailability are influenced by continuous dietary supplementation with biotin. Six of these heifers received no biotin supplementation (controls), while six received a daily dietary supplement of 20 mg biotin over the whole experimental period of four months. During each of three test periods (on days 14 and 21, 56 and 63, and 118 and 124), single test dosages of 40 mg (oral) and 5 mg (intravenous) biotin were given to each animal in a crossover test design. Blood samples were collected up to 72 h after each of these single doses, and at approximately two-weekly intervals for the assessment of baseline values. Serum biotin levels were determined by an ELSA test. Areas under the curves (AUC) were calculated as the target parameter for the assessment of the bioavailability of orally administered biotin. Serum biotin baseline levels were 300-800 ng/l in the controls and 3000-8000 ng/l in the supplemented animals. In both groups, AUC values in the first test period (days 14 and 21) were significantly higher than in subsequent periods. However, the biotin supplementation showed no significant effect. There was no significant difference in elimination half-lives between groups with and without biotin supplementation. The range was 5-18 h. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the bioavailability of biotin between the test periods or between the biotin-supplemented and unsupplemented animals. Overall bioavailability was 48%.

Odontoblast-like cytodifferentiation of human dental pulp cells in vitro in the presence of a calcium hydroxide-containing cement.

The cement produced microcrystals of calcite by reaction with culture medium supplemented with calf serum. Human dental pulp cells seeded on such a substrate preferentially adhered and aggregated around the microcrystals. Immunofluorescence and immunogold labelling revealed a high affinity of serum fibronectin molecules for the calcite crystals. At 4 weeks in culture, the cells had various features of differentiated odontoblasts, notably nuclear polarization, typical appearance of the Golgi apparatus, synthesis of type I collagen and absence of type III, and apical accumulation of actin and vimentin. These cells also elaborated a collagenous extracellular matrix which did not mineralize.

[Circulating immune complexes: optimization and characteristics of the C1q(I125) fixation test]. / Complexes immuns circulants: optimisation et caractéristiques d'un test de fixation du C1q [125I].

The present paper describes the optimisation of a liquid phase [125I] C1q binding assay for the detection of circulating immune complexes. Blood must be collected without any anticoagulant. The serum can be stored or transported as usual without damage. A 90 min incubation is needed to reach the equilibrium of the reaction; polyethylene glycol (2,5% final concentration) is added to precipitate the [125I] C1q-CIC complex. By its simplicity and reproducibility, this test can be currently employed, especially in the case of treatment by plasmapheresis.

[Current state of therapy for gastrointestinal tumors]. / Stand der Therapie bei gastrointestinalen Tumoren.

For many years, the treatment of malignant gastrointestinal tumors has been disappointing. However, recent results have shown an improvement in the rate of remissions and survival, especially in the treatment of gastric, pancreatic and localized rectal carcinoma. The therapy of cancer of the colon still remains unsatisfactory: the rate of remissions could be increased, but survival remains unaltered. Adjuvant chemotherapy is under investigation in many quarters but cannot yet be recommended as an established method of treatment.

On the absorption of ascorbic acid in man.

The daily intake of ascorbic acid with the diet was strongly restricted in seven healthy non-smoking males and 90 to 180 mg of ascorbic acid were orally supplemented. After an equilibration period of three weeks about 5 muCi of (1-14C) ascorbic acid was orally administered with carrier (30 mg or 60 mg). The daily intake was then increased to 4 X 1000 mg and the cumulative excretion of radioactivity in the urine measured over a period of 10 days. The average absorption was estimated to amount to 80-90% of the dose.