Polycarbonate and polystyrene nanoplastic particles act as stressors to the innate immune system of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas).

Water pollution with large-scale and small-scale plastic litter is an area of growing concern. Macro-plastic litter is a well-known threat to aquatic wildlife; however, the effects of micro-sized and nano-sized plastic particles on the health of organisms are not well understood. Small-scale plastic particles can easily be ingested by various aquatic organisms and potentially interfere with their immune system; therefore, the authors used a freshwater fish species as a model organism for nanoplastic exposure. Characterization of polystyrene (41.0 nm) and polycarbonate (158.7 nm) nanoplastic particles (PSNPs and PCNPs, respectively) in plasma was performed, and the effects of PSNPs and PCNPs on the innate immune system of fathead minnow were investigated. In vitro effects of PSNPs and PCNPs on neutrophil function were determined using a battery of neutrophil function assays. Exposure of neutrophils to PSNPs or PCNPs caused significant increases in degranulation of primary granules and neutrophil extracellular trap release compared to a nontreated control, whereas oxidative burst was less affected. The present study outlines the stress response of the cellular component of fish innate immune system to polystyrene and polycarbonate nanoparticles/aggregates and indicates their potential to interfere with disease resistance in fish populations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:3093-3100. © 2016 SETAC.

Rare lesions of the oral cavity: case report of an actinomycotic lesion limited to the gingiva.

Actinomycosis is an infectious disease that frequently has chronic granulomatous and suppurative lesions caused by saprophytic Actinomyces species. Although cervicofacial actinomycosis is known to be the most common type, intraorally and periodontally types occur rarely in a localized fashion. The present case reports on an adult periodontitis patient with a diffuse and atypic actinomycotic lesion which was limited to the gingiva and had an abscess formation, a large desquamation and subsequent exposure of the alveolar bone in the involved region. Diagnosis was based on histopathological examination, the history of the case and clinical nature of the lesion. The patient responded to daily administration of 100 g doxcycycline (first day-bid) for 3 weeks and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation (following tooth brushing) performed with oral hygiene reinforcement and periodontal debridement procedures. Complete improvement of the lesion was observed after 5 weeks. Due to the opportunistic characteristics of the actinomycotic infection, early and adequate differential diagnosis of actinomycosis prior to therapeutic attempts, as well as management steps, are of great importance in the oral cavity to prevent the spread of the disease.

A rare complication of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Brown tumor of the maxilla and mandible.

Brown tumors are focal bone lesions caused by increased osteoclastic activity and fibroblastic proliferation encountered in primary or more rarely secondary hyperparathyroidism. Ninety-two percent of the patients undergoing dialysis develop secondary hyperparathyroidism. Of these, approximately 1.5% develops brown tumors. Brown tumors of hyperparathyroidism may appear in any bone but are frequently found in the facial bones and jaws, particularly in long-standing cases of the disease. As it becomes common for hyperparathyroidism to be detected earlier during the disease, the bony manifestations of the disease are rarely seen. The following report describes a case of brown tumor of the maxilla and mandible in a patient with renal insufficiency. This patient presented multiple skeletal lesions, which are uncommonly seen nowadays.

A rare clinical presentation of sarcoidosis; gingivitis.

Gingivitis due to sarcoidosis is a relatively rare condition. Gingivitis or isolated gingival involvement may be the first sign of systemic sarcoidosis. We report the case of a 37 year-old woman with isolated gingivitis due to sarcoidosis confirmed by biopsy. Following treatment with a systemic corticosteroid (prednisolone 40 mg/day), all clinical and radiologic findings were completely improved. In cases of chronic and intractable gingivitis, systemic sarcoidosis should be suspected. It should be confirmed with a biopsy, and the patient should be referred to a chest disease clinic to exclude other organ involvement.

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with true anodontia of the primary dentition.

Ectodermal dysplasia is a rare congenital hereditary entity. The most commonly observed forms of ectodermal dysplasia are the hidrotic and hypohidrotic types; discrimination is based on the absence or presence of sweat glands. In this report, a child with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia having true anodontia of the primary dentition is presented. Physical, mental, and intraoral examinations were performed. Photographs and occlusal and panoramic radiographs were taken. A medical consultation and biopsies were requested. Mentally, the patient was normal. His hair and eyebrows were light colored and sparse. He had frontal bossing, a saddle nose, reduced vertical facial dimension, and prominent supraorbital ridges and chin. Radiographs revealed absence of all primary and permanent teeth except the bilaterally unerupted maxillary permanent canines. An armpit biopsy specimen revealed the absence of eccrine and apocrine glands. A removable prosthesis was made to satisfy the patient's esthetic and functional needs. The absence of primary teeth (true anodontia) is a rare phenomenon. It is claimed that primary teeth must be present for the development of their permanent successors. In the present case, however, the permanent canines existed despite the absence of their predecessors. Dental clinicians can be the first to diagnose ectodermal dysplasia. The dental team should be aware of its signs and symptoms in order to provide the correct therapies for the functional and psychologic needs of these patients.