The Role of 25-OH Vitamin D in Alzheimer's Disease through Mendelian Randomization and MRI.

INTRODUCTION: The mechanism underlying the relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and minerals (serum calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc), vitamins (25-OH vitamin D, vitamin A1 [retinol], B9 [folic acid], B12, C) is unclear. METHODS: In a two-step Mendelian randomization analysis, the association between positive nutritional elements and 3935 MRI phenotypes was examined, and the mediation proportion was calculated. Horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity of Mendelian randomisation were assessed using MR-Egger, Cochran's Q test, MR-PRESSO. RESULTS: 25-OH vitamin D (p = 0.0019, OR = 0.6179, 95% CI = 0.4562-0.8368, IVW) is negatively associated with AD among 10 nutrients. The mediation proportion of the effect of vitamin D on AD mediated by IDP_dMRI_TBSS_L3_Superior_fronto-occipital_fasciculus_L was approximately 7.08%. DISCUSSION: Our results support 25-OH vitamin D as a causal protective factor for Alzheimer disease. It was found that the Superior_fronto-occipital_fasciculus_L may play a minimal mediating role.

Nanosecond infrared laser (NIRL) for cutting roots of human teeth: thermal effects and quality of cutting edges.

A nanosecond infrared laser (NIRL) was investigated in cutting dental roots. The focus of the investigation was defining the preparation accuracy and registration of thermal effects during laser application. Ten teeth were processed in the root area using a NIRL in several horizontal, parallel incisions to achieve tooth root ablation as in an apicoectomy. Temperature change was monitored during ablation and the quality of the cutting edges in the roots were studied by means of micro-CT, optical coherence tomography, and histology of decalcified and undecalcified specimens. NIRL produced clearly defined cut surfaces in dental hard tissues. The automated guidance of the laser beam created regular, narrow dentin defects that tapered in a V-shape towards the ablation plane. A biologically significant increase in the temperature of the object and its surroundings did not occur during the laser application. Thermal dentin damage was not detected in histological preparations of treated teeth. Defined areas of the tooth root may be ablated using a NIRL. For clinical translation of NIRL in apicoectomy, it would be necessary to increase energy delivered to hard tissue and develop beam application facilitating beam steering for oral treatment.

Three-dimensional anatomical analysis of the optic nerve canal with virtual model based on CBCT.

The optic nerve canal (ONC) is a fine skeletal structure that contains the optic nerve. However, it has not been thoroughly examined. This necessitates establishing a baseline knowledge of the geometrical and volumetric parameters of the ONC. The data of twenty patients who received a cone beam computed tomography examination were prepared using a voxel-based segmentation. The measurement was performed separately by two examiners on virtual skull models in stereolithography format in Geomagic Wrap®. The results showed that the volume of the ONC varied between 92.48 mm3 and 162.7 mm3 (M = 123.46 mm3, SD = 26.61 mm3). Sex-specific statistically significant differences in volume were detected only for the right side. The angle of the ONC to the skull base was independent of the diameter of the canal. Both the intrarater and interrater comparisons of the measurements showed high values of reproducibility of the results. This study showed that a virtual anatomical model provides a feasible and reliable method to investigate the ONC. The examination technique could have a wider range of application in anthropology and application in clinical medicine. Advances in the automation of radiological diagnostics and the digital analysis of X-ray images could help to reduce examination times.

The role of herpes simplex virus infection in the etiology of head and neck cancer-a Mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a complex disease, and multiple risk factors can lead to its progression. Observational studies indicated that herpes simplex virus (HSV) may be correlated with the risk of HNC. However, the causal effects and direction between them were still unclear. Methods: This study utilized a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach for causality assessment between HSV infection and Head and neck cancer based on the latest public health data and Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data. The causal effects were estimated using IVW, weighted median, and MR-Egger. A reverse MR analysis was subsequently performed. Cochrans Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, leave one out analysis, and the funnel plot were all used in sensitivity analyses. Results: Genetically predicted higher level of HSV-1 IgG was causally related to HNC (OR=1.0019, 95%CI=1.0003-1.0036, p=0.0186, IVW) and oral and oropharyngeal cancer (OR=1.0018, 95%CI=1.0004-1.0033, p=0.0105, IVW). The reverse MR analysis did not demonstrate a reverse causal relationship between HSV and HNC. However, HSV-2 infection was not causally related to HNC data and oropharyngeal cancer data. Sensitivity analysis was performed and revealed no heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Conclusion: Collectively, a significant association was noted between HSV infection and increased risk of HNC, providing valuable insights into the etiology of this malignancy. Further in-depth study is needed to validate these findings and elucidate the underpinning mechanisms.

Retracing RAS signaling by correlating protein expression in different subtypes of neurofibromatosis 1-associated nerve sheath tumors.

AIMS: Expression patterns of key proteins involved in RAS signaling and connected pathways were determined and correlated to possibly provide information for therapeutic application of RAS inhibitors in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNST). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical variables (age, sex), histological parameters (cell density, mitoses), and expression of immunohistochemically evaluated ligand and receptor proteins (neuregulin 1 (NRG1), ErbB2, ErbB3), RAS pathway proteins (mTor, Rho, phosphorylated MEK), transcription factors (Pax7, Sox9), and proliferation marker Ki-67, were correlated in cutaneous (CNF, n = 136), diffuse (DNF, n = 123)/diffuse plexiform (DPNF, n = 113), and plexiform neurofibroma (PNF, n = 126), and in malignant PNST (MPNST, n = 22). RESULTS: In CNF, NRG1 correlated with Ki-67 and Pax7. Further, mTOR correlated with ErbB3, Sox9, Pax7, and Ki-67. In DNF/DPNF, expression of NRG1 correlated with pMEK and Pax7. mTOR correlated with pMEK, Sox9, and Pax7. Noteworthy, pMEK was weakly expressed in some DNF but not in DPNF. ErbB3 correlated with mTor and Ki-67. Furthermore, Rho correlated with Pax7 and Ki-67. In PNF, ErbB3 expression was associated with Sox9, mTOR, pMEK, and Pax7 as well as mTOR with Sox9 and Pax7, Rho with pMEK and Pax7, and pMEK with Pax7 and Sox9. In MPNST, only few correlations were observed, ErbB2 correlated with Ki-67, and Rho with pMEK. CONCLUSION: Signaling networks of the RAS pathway could be retraced by correlation analysis of protein expression in subgroups of NF1 associated benign PNST. In regard to treatment of PNST, MEK inhibitors, which are presently evaluated for PNF, may possibly also be effective to some extent in DNF.

PIK3CA Hotspot Mutations in Saliva as a Diagnostic Marker in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed at the analogous detection of PIK3CA mutations, common in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), in matched tumor and saliva samples. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tissue and saliva samples were obtained from 29 patients diagnosed with primary OSCC. Saliva samples were obtained preoperatively; tissue specimens were acquired during tumor resection. Tumor DNA was extracted from both tissue and saliva samples. All samples were controlled for DNA quantity and quality and genetic matching of sample pairs was confirmed using the iPlex Pro Exome QC Panel. Variant detection was performed using the MassARRAY® System, a mass-spectrometry based detection system. Mutational analysis in tissue tumor DNA was made using the multiplexed ClearSEEK™ PIK3CA v1.0 Panel covering 20 hotspot mutations in PIK3CA. In saliva samples, variants were analyzed using both the ClearSEEK™ and the UltraSEEK® Lung v1.1 Panel, with a higher limit of detection but covering less PIK3CA variants. RESULTS: Overall, a PIK3CA variant was found in seven of the 29 tumor tissue samples (24%) by ClearSEEK™; UltraSEEK® additionally confirmed the variant in four of these seven positive samples. Of the three variants not detected by UltraSEEK®, two were not included in the panel and one was included but not detected. Of the seven variants found in tissue, five could also be detected in the matching saliva samples (71%), either by utilizing ClearSEEK™ or UltraSEEK® Conclusion: The detection of PIK3CA hotspot mutations in OSCC and their simultaneous occurrence in saliva underline the potential benefit of liquid biopsies for non-invasive cancer detection and follow-up care of OSCC patients.

Raman difference spectroscopy and U-Net convolutional neural network for molecular analysis of cutaneous neurofibroma.

In Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), peripheral nerve sheaths tumors are common, with cutaneous neurofibromas resulting in significant aesthetic, painful and functional problems requiring surgical removal. To date, determination of adequate surgical resection margins-complete tumor removal while attempting to preserve viable tissue-remains largely subjective. Thus, residual tumor extension beyond surgical margins or recurrence of the disease may frequently be observed. Here, we introduce Shifted-Excitation Raman Spectroscopy in combination with deep neural networks for the future perspective of objective, real-time diagnosis, and guided surgical ablation. The obtained results are validated through established histological methods. In this study, we evaluated the discrimination between cutaneous neurofibroma (n = 9) and adjacent physiological tissues (n = 25) in 34 surgical pathological specimens ex vivo at a total of 82 distinct measurement loci. Based on a convolutional neural network (U-Net), the mean raw Raman spectra (n = 8,200) were processed and refined, and afterwards the spectral peaks were assigned to their respective molecular origin. Principal component and linear discriminant analysis was used to discriminate cutaneous neurofibromas from physiological tissues with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 97.3%, and overall classification accuracy of 97.6%. The results enable the presented optical, non-invasive technique in combination with artificial intelligence as a promising candidate to ameliorate both, diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by cutaneous neurofibroma and NF1.

Dental Developmental Stages and Decayed, Missing, and Restored Teeth in Neurofibromatosis Type 1-affected Children and Adolescents.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant inherited tumor predisposition disease with a highly variable phenotype. The influence of the characteristic NF1 tumors (neurofibromas) on dentition has not yet been examined in detail. The aim of the study was to assess the dentition of NF1 children and adolescents, considering the symmetry of tooth development. Material and Methods: The panoramic radiographs of 59 patients with a confirmed NF1 diagnosis were compared with 59 age-and-sex-matched controls. The stages of tooth development on the sides of the jaw, added to a score, were assessed. In addition, the number of filled or decayed teeth, and the number of retained or missing teeth were assessed. Results: The tooth development of both study groups is symmetrical for almost all parameters and in the same developmental stage according to the sum score of the tooth development stages. Discrete developmental delays of teeth, in particular in the oral area of facial plexiform neurofibroma (PNF) are noticeable. NF1 patients' teeth showed less decay and more restorations than that of the control group. The facial PNF (FPNF) does not impair emergence of deciduous teeth. Conclusions: Development of dentition of NF1 patients does not differ from the general population. However, FPNF with oral tumor components often prevent mesial movement of permanent molars and premolars, so these teeth do not develop contact (spacing), hardly emerge or may stay retained in bone. Oral PNF may have a low-retarding effect on some tooth root development (e.g., wisdom teeth). This effect is negligible when comparing the affected and unaffected sides of the jaw and is probably non-specific. Key words:Neurofibromatosis type 1, plexiform neurofibroma, dentition, mixed dentition, symmetry, oral health, tooth development.

How to make full use of dental pulp stem cells: an optimized cell culture method based on explant technology.

Introduction: Dental pulp stem cells from humans possess self-renewal and versatile differentiation abilities. These cells, known as DPSC, are promising for tissue engineering due to their outstanding biological characteristics and ease of access without significant donor site trauma. Existing methods for isolating DPSC mainly include enzyme digestion and explant techniques. Compared with the enzymatic digestion technique, the outgrowth method is less prone to cell damage and loss during the operation, which is essential for DPSC with fewer tissue sources. Methods: In order to maximize the amount of stem cells harvested while reducing the cost of DPSC culture, the feasibility of the optimized explant technique was evaluated in this experiment. Cell morphology, minimum cell emergence time, the total amount of cells harvested, cell survival, and proliferative and differentiation capacity of DPSC obtained with different numbers of explant attachments (A1-A5) were evaluated. Results: There was a reduction in the survival rate of the cells in groups A2-A5, and the amount of harvested DPSC decreased in A3-A5 groups, but the DPSC harvested in groups A1-A4 had similar proliferative and differentiation abilities. However, starting from group A5, the survival rate, proliferation and differentiation ability of DPSC decreased significantly, and the adipogenic trend of the cells became more apparent, indicating that the cells had begun to enter the senescence state. Discussion: The results of our study demonstrated that the DPSC obtained by the optimized explant method up to 4 times had reliable biological properties and is available for tissue engineering.

Multiple central giant cell granuloma of the jaws: diagnostic signposts of Noonan syndrome and RASopathy.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a phenotypically variable inherited multi-system disorder. Maxillofacial findings can be diagnostic, especially in the evaluation of discrete facial dysmorphia. Diagnostic landmark findings of therapeutic relevance for the jaws such as central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) are rare in NS. However, recent molecular genetic studies indicate that these rare, benign lesions are neoplasms and more common in specific syndromes grouped under the umbrella term RASopathies. A specialist surgical diagnosis can be helpful in identifying the underlying disease. This report outlines diagnosis and treatment of a case of CGCG for which jaw diagnosis became the key to identifying a syndromic disease.

Neurofibromatosis type 1-associated plexiform neurofibromas of the neck: topography of lesions and surgical treatment data of 69 patients.

PURPOSE: Plexiform neurofibromas (PNF) are rare tumors arising from peripheral nerve sheath cells. PNF are a hallmark in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a tumor predisposition syndrome. PNF often grow invasively and destructively, what may complicate surgical treatment. Data on frequency, location, and surgical procedures of patients with NF1-associated FPNF are scarce. This study provides treatment data of NF1 patients. METHODS: Localization and treatment data of 69 NF1 patients with neck PNF were analyzed. Frequency of lesions was recorded in coded colors on schematic neck drawings. RESULTS: The tumors showed no side preference, were located in the entire area under investigation, and did not respect anatomical units/dermatomes. However, the sternocleidomastoid region was particularly frequently affected. The mean number of surgical measures per patient was 1.33. Complications were extensive swelling, hematoma, and bleeding. Histological assessment usually confirmed the clinical assessment of neoplasm. However, histologic differentiation of PNST reveals differences in between tumors that have been unified in clinical assessment as PNF. CONCLUSION: The color-coded, schematic overview of the frequency distribution of surgical neck interventions in NF1 patients with PNF proved a useful tool to gain assessment of preferred treatment needs. The imaging procedure may be suitable for controlling the external aspect of natural tumor development (growth, effects of aging) in the same way as the documentation of the post-surgical course. Treatment plans for patients with these tumors should consider that repeated interventions may be necessary to achieve a longer-term stable result.

Mandibular symmetry on posterior-anterior cephalograms of neurofibromatosis type 1 patients with facial plexiform neurofibroma.

Introduction: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an is an autosomal dominant heritable tumor predisposition syndrome.. Peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNST) are a hallmark of NF1. Plexiform neurofibromas (PNF) are neoplasms that are characteristic of NF1, often causing disfiguring effects (e.g., on the face), and are considered precancerous lesions. Previous studies have shown that facial PNF (FPNF) have an impact on the shape of facial bones. This study examines deviations of mandibular symmetry from cephalometric reference planes considering the topography of FPNF. Material and methods: The posterior-anterior (PA) cephalograms of 168 patients with NF1 were examined. We compared three groups: patients with FPNF (n=74), with disseminated cutaneous neurofibroma (DNF (n=94)), and control subjects without NF1 (n=23). The PNF group was subtyped with respect to facial PNST type and location. Typical mandibular cephalometric reference points were determined (condyle, antegonion, and menton). Results: The skeletal measurement points of the mandible in FPNF patients often differ significantly from those of the DNF group. It has been proven that typical asymmetries of the median-sagittal measurement points are indicators of PNF. Differences within the trigeminal tumor spread patterns are indicated in the measured values. A local tumor effect (PNF) on the relation of the measurement points to the reference planes is made plausible by the study results. The investigations prove that tumor type (FPNF) and the number of FPNF affected branches of the trigeminal nerve may correlate with significant deviations of mandible from symmetry on PA projections. Conclusion: The presented study shows that characteristic patterns of mandibular deformity can be measured on standardized radiographs in NF1 patients with FPNF. Mandibular deformities imaged on standardized radiographs may be initial indicators of a previously unrecognized NF1. Tumor-associated alterations of the mandible should be considered in the classification systems of pathognomonic, diagnostically pioneering osseous findings in NF1. The radiological findings provide clues for planning mandibular osteotomies in NF1 patients, especially for assessing facial regions typically highly vascularized by tumor spread. Furthermore, the radiological findings are an indication of a tumor potentially invading and destroying adjacent masticatory and mimic muscle, findings that may have an influence on surgical measures (function, aesthetics, and wound healing).

The causal association between COVID-19 and herpes simplex virus: a Mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a main global public health challenge. Additionally, herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are widespread viruses that can cause orolabial herpes and genital herpes. Several clinical case reports have declared a possible association between the two, however, the causal relationship between them has not been clarified. Methods: This study utilized a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach for causality assessment between COVID-19 infection and HSV infection based on the latest public health data and Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data. Multiple causal estimation methods, such as IVW, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode, were employed to validate the causal relation between COVID-19 infection and HSV infection, with COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 hospitalization, and severe COVID-19 as exposures, and HSV1/2 infection as the outcome. A reverse MR analysis was subsequently performed. Results: MR analysis exhibited that COVID-19 infection was relevant to a reduced risk of HSV1 infection (p=7.603239e-152, OR=0.5690, 95%CI=0.5455-0.5935, IVW). Regarding the effect of COVID-19 infection on HSV2, MR analysis suggested that COVID-19 infection was correlated with an augmented risk of HSV2 infection (p=6.46735e-11, OR=1.1137, 95%CI=1.0782-1.1502, IVW). The reverse MR analysis did not demonstrate a reverse causal relationship between HSV and COVID-19. Discussion: Altogether, COVID-19 infection might cause a decreased risk of HSV1 infection and an elevated risk of HSV2 infection.

Scoring system for assessing the symmetry of tooth development in mixed dentition.

Background: Human teeth develop sequentially and symmetrically in both halves of the jaws. Disorders of tooth development and eruption can be local or generalized. The symmetry comparison of tooth development is an essential measuring point to assess dentition. The aim of this study was the development of an easy-to-apply score that represents the tooth development of one side of the jaw to carry out side-specific development comparisons. Material and Methods: The stages of development and the state of health of the teeth were determined on orthopantomograms of 59 healthy children and adolescents applying acknowledged developmental standards of teeth. The individual stages of tooth development on one side of the jaw were combined into a numerical score. The sum score of each jaw side was compared. Results: The dental developmental score reveals the side differences of tooth development are small in children and adolescents with mixed dentition (n.s.). The change of teeth starts earlier in females. Conclusions: The presented score enables an easily applicable examination of the symmetry of tooth development in mixed dentition. Potential applications of the Score are to examine the influence of unilaterally manifest dento-skeletal developmental disorders on the change of teeth and the influence of deviating individual tooth development on neighboring teeth on one side. Key words:Dentition, development, symmetry, permanent teeth, deciduous teeth, oral health.Dentition, development, symmetry, permanent teeth, deciduous teeth, oral health.

Correlations between gut microbiota and lichen planus: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Purpose: Several existing studies have revealed that the occurrence of lichen planus (LP) is relevant to the gut microbiota, and the causal relationship between gut microbiota and LP was analyzed using the Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Methods: Through the two-sample MR method, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) relevant to gut microbiota were selected as instrument variables (IVs) to evaluate the causal association between gut microbiota and the risk of LP. Results: According to the selection criteria of inverse-variance weighted (IVW), six bacterial genera were found to be significantly linked to the initiation of LP; The IVW results suggested that Oxalobacteraceae, Victivallaceae, and Actinobacteria could restrain the initiation of LP, showing protective effects against LP. Desulfovibrio, Veillonella, and Ruminococcus gauvreauii groups were demonstrated to have casual correlations with the onset of LP. Conclusion: The relationship between gut microbiota and LP was not a single positive or inverse relationship. Investigation of the causal relationship of these gut microbiota with LP could further provide evidence for the intestine-skin axis theory. However, the specific mechanism of microorganisms affecting the skin remains to be clarified. In this paper, the protective effects and mechanisms of Oxalobacteraceae, Victivallaceae, and Actinobacteria on LP require further exploration.

Analysis of 5-Year-old children's oral health service utilization and influencing factors in Guizhou Province, China (2019-2020).

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the utilization patterns and factors related to oral health care for 5-year-old preschoolers based on Andersen's Behavioural Model in Guizhou Province, Western China. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of 4,862 5-year-old preschoolers in 66 kindergartens was conducted in 2019 and 2020. A basic oral examination and a survey of parents and grandparents were conducted to gather data on oral health services. The results were analysed using chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. RESULT: The utilization rate of oral health services for children in Guizhou province was 20.5%. The dmft was 4.43, and the rate of caries was 72.2%. The average cost of a dental visit was higher in rural areas and higher for girls. Logistic regression analysis revealed that dmft ≥ 6 teeth, a history of toothache, starting toothbrushing at age ≤ 3 years and limited parental knowledge were the primary factors impacting dental visits. CONCLUSION: Needs factors such as severe oral conditions and pain in children are the main reasons for the utilization of these services. This study underscores the urgency to actively promote the importance of oral health and expand insurance coverage for oral health services.

Raman spectroscopy and U-Net deep neural network in antiresorptive drug-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

OBJECTIVE: Application of an optical method for the identification of antiresorptive drug-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ). METHODS: We introduce shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy followed by U-Net deep neural network refinement to determine bone tissue viability. The obtained results are validated through established histological methods. RESULTS: Discrimination of osteonecrosis from physiological tissues was evaluated at 119 distinct measurement loci in 40 surgical specimens from 28 patients. Mean Raman spectra were refined from 11,900 raw spectra, and characteristic peaks were assigned to their respective molecular origin. Then, following principal component and linear discriminant analyses, osteonecrotic lesions were distinguished from physiological tissue entities, such as viable bone, with a sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of 100%. Moreover, bone mineral content, quality, maturity, and crystallinity were quantified, revealing an increased mineral-to-matrix ratio and decreased carbonate-to-phosphate ratio in ARONJ lesions compared to physiological bone. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate feasibility with high classification accuracy in this collective. The differentiation was determined by the spectral features of the organic and mineral composition of bone. This merely optical, noninvasive technique is a promising candidate to ameliorate both the diagnosis and treatment of ARONJ in the future.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Associated Plexiform Neurofibromas of the Face and Adjacent Head Regions: Topography of Lesions and Surgical Treatment Data of 179 Patients.

Introduction: Facial plexiform neurofibromas (FPNF) are rare tumors frequently diagnosed in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a tumor predisposition syndrome. FPNF often grows invasively and destructively, which may complicate surgical treatment. Data on the frequency, location, and surgical procedures of patients with NF1-associated FPNF are scarce. This study provides treatment data from a nationally networked reference center for the treatment of NF1 patients. Material and Methods: The localization and treatment data of 179 NF1 patients with FPNF were analyzed. Photographically documented tumors of the study area, further determined by imaging, were manually transferred to a facial scheme and digitized. The digitized registrations of the facial extensions of the tumors of each patient were overlaid in a single image (Photoshop™), so that the file of the facial scheme contained the sum of the tumor localization. Finally, the frequency of tumor localization was indicated with a color code. The frequency of tumor extension-related coded colors was applied to outline the lesions' topography on schematic face drawings (heat map). Results: The distribution of the tumors showed no side preference. The need for the treatment of patients with orbital/periorbital manifestations became evident in the graphic representations. Tumors do not respect anatomical units. However, the classification of the face according to dermatomes, especially the trigeminal nerve, offers indications of tumor spread and guides treatment planning. The mean number of surgical measures per patient was 2.21 (median: 1). Extensive swelling, hematoma, and delayed wound healing were all common postoperative complications. Conclusion: The color-coded, schematic overview of the frequency distribution of cutaneous tumor spread in NF1 patients with FPNF illustrates the importance of orbital/periorbital and cheek tumor manifestations in patients' treatment needs. The imaging procedure is suitable for controlling natural tumor growth in the same way as the documentation of the post-surgical course. Repeated interventions in the region are included in surgical planning of the progressing tumor disease.

Association between C-Reactive protein and periodontitis in an obese population from the NHANES 2009-2010.

BACKGROUND: Various data have been obtained on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and periodontitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether CRP/BMI are associated with periodontitis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of data from 3602 participants in the 2009-2010 NHANES cycle was performed. The definition of periodontitis was used to divide participants into four groups according to the criteria of Eke. Correlations between CRP/BMI and periodontitis were tested for statistical significance by means of descriptive statistics, multivariate regression, and subgroup-stratified analyses, with and without adjustments for confounders (such as age and sex). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) regarding BMI and the development of periodontitis. After adjustment for age, sex, race, marital status, annual family income, alcohol consumption, hypertension, smoking, chronic pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, flossing, and arthritis, CRP correlated significantly with the development of periodontitis in the subgroups stratified by obesity, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.2 (95% CI, 1.0 to 1.5). CONCLUSION: Through data analysis, we found an association between CRP levels and periodontitis prevalence in the American population, although this association was only present in the obese population. While there are several hypotheses about the underlying mechanism, further studies are needed to validate these findings.

Expression of Ras signaling pathway proteins and developmental factors in peripheral nerve sheath tumors of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

PURPOSE: To characterize expression of factors relevant for Ras signaling and developmental factors in a large series of peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNST) obtained from patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue micro-array technique was applied to study 520 PNST of 385 NF1 patients by immunohistochemistry for mTor, Rho, phosphorylated MEK, Pax7, Sox9, and periaxin expression. PNST comprised cutaneous neurofibroma (CNF) (n = 114), diffuse neurofibroma (DNF) (n = 109), diffuse plexiform neurofibroma (DPNF) (n = 108), plexiform neurofibroma (PNF) (n = 110), and malignant PNST (MPNST) (n = 22). RESULTS: All proteins examined showed highest expression levels/highest frequency of expression in MPNST. Benign PNF with potential for malignant dedifferentiation expressed mTor, phosphorylated MEK, Sox9, and periaxin significantly higher/more frequently than other benign neurofibroma subtypes. CONCLUSION: In NF1-associated PNST, expression of proteins involved in Ras-signaling and development is upregulated not only in MPNST, but also in benign PNF with the potential for malignant dedifferentiation. The differences in protein expression may provide clues for understanding the therapeutic effects of substances applied for reduction of PNST in NF1.