Use of photosensitizers activated by photodynamic therapy on the canal disinfection of radicular dentin bonded to Dimethacrylate-based glass fiber post: an assessment of pushout bond strength.

OBJECTIVE: The present lab-based investigation aimed at evaluating the canal disinfectants using photodynamic therapy (PDT) using different photosensitizers, conventional NaOCl, a mixture of doxycycline, citric acid, and a detergent (MTAD) and their impact on the bond strength of glass fiber post to radicular dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty extracted human premolars were gathered and disinfected. The decoration was performed up to the cementoenamel junction. Using the crown down technique cleaning of the canal was done following rinse with distilled water. All canals were dried with paper points and obturated with gutta-percha. Post space was prepared using peso reamers and samples were randomly allocated into four groups following different disinfection regimes: Group 1 - Methylene blue photosensitizer (MBP) + MTAD; Group 2 - RBP (Rose Bengal photosensitizer) + MTAD; Group 3 - CP (curcumin photosensitizer) + MTAD and Group 4 - 2.25% NaOCl + MTAD (control). Following disinfection, the canals were dried and the post was placed and cemented within the canal. Samples were dissected at coronal, middle, and apical third and placed in a universal testing machine for push-out bond strength (PBS). Debonded surfaces were evaluated for failure modes. PBS was examined using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The means of PBS were compared using Tukey multiple comparison tests with a significance threshold of (p<0.05). RESULTS: Group 3 canals disinfected with CP and MTAD had the highest PBS at two levels: cervical (9.57±1.21 MPa), middle (6.37±0.79 MPa), and group 2 canal space disinfected by RBP and MTAD had the maximum PBS in apical portion (5.35±0.42 MPa). No significant difference at all root levels between group 2 (RBP + MTAD) and group 3 (p>0.05). Canal irrigation with group 1 (MBP + MTAD) and group 4 control (2.25% NaOCl + MTAD) exhibited comparable PBS at all three levels of the root. CONCLUSIONS: CP, MTAD, RBP and MTAD for canal disinfection and bonding of glass fiber post to radicular dentin demonstrated comparable bond values at all three root levels and can be recommended in clinical settings after further investigations.

Neural transcriptome of constitutional Pten dysfunction in mice and its relevance to human idiopathic autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with a clear, but heterogeneous, genetic component. Germline mutations in the tumor suppressor Pten are a well-established risk factor for ASD with macrocephaly, and conditional Pten mouse models have impaired social behavior and brain development. Some mutations observed in patients disrupt the normally balanced nuclear-cytoplasmic localization of the Pten protein, and we developed the Pten(m3m4) model to study the effects of a cytoplasm-predominant Pten. In this model, germline mislocalization of Pten causes inappropriate social behavior with intact learning and memory, a profile reminiscent of high-functioning ASD. These animals also exhibit histological evidence of neuroinflammation and expansion of glial populations by 6 weeks of age. We hypothesized that the neural transcriptome of this model would be altered in a manner that could inform human idiopathic ASD, a constitutional condition. Using total RNA sequencing, we found progressive disruption of neural gene expression in Pten(m3m4) mice from 2-6 weeks of age, involving both immune and synaptic pathways. These alterations include downregulation of many highly coexpressed human ASD-susceptibility genes. Comparison with a human cortical development coexpression network revealed that genes disrupted in Pten(m3m4) mice were enriched in the same areas as those of human ASD. Although Pten-related ASD is relatively uncommon, our observations suggest that the Pten(m3m4) model recapitulates multiple molecular features of human ASD, and that Pten operates far upstream of common pathways within ASD pathogenesis.

The mechanism of action for hyaluronic acid treatment in the osteoarthritic knee: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of disability within the adult population. Current treatment options for OA of the knee include intra-articular (IA) hyaluronic acid (HA), a molecule found intrinsically within the knee joint that provides viscoelastic properties to the synovial fluid. A variety of mechanisms in which HA is thought to combat knee OA are reported in the current basic literature. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature search to identify currently available primary non-clinical basic science articles focussing on the mechanism of action of IA-HA treatment. Included articles were assessed and categorized based on the mechanism of action described within them. The key findings and conclusions from each included article were obtained and analyzed in aggregate with studies of the same categorical assignment. RESULTS: Chondroprotection was the most frequent mechanism reported within the included articles, followed by proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, anti-inflammatory, mechanical, subchondral, and analgesic actions. HA-cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) receptor binding was the most frequently reported biological cause of the mechanisms presented. High molecular weight HA was seen to be superior to lower molecular weight HA products. HA derived through a biological fermentation process is also described as having favorable safety outcomes over avian-derived HA products. CONCLUSIONS: The non-clinical basic science literature provides evidence for numerous mechanisms in which HA acts on joint structures and function. These actions provide support for the purported clinical benefit of IA-HA in OA of the knee. Future research should not only focus on the pain relief provided by IA-HA treatment, but the disease modification properties that this treatment modality possesses as well.

A phase I trial assessing the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of single-dose Auron Misheil therapy in healthy male subjects.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Auron Misheil therapy (AMT) is a combination of widely used pharmaceuticals and herbal components that has been used since the 1980s as a supportive therapy, mainly in end-stage cancer patients on a compassionate basis. This phase I study was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of AMT in a controlled trial environment. METHODS: The study was conducted in a single rising dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Three groups of eight healthy male volunteers received one of three doses of AMT (0·011, 0·033 or 0·066 mL AMT/kg body weight intramuscularly; n = 6 per group) or placebo (n = 2 per group). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Auron Misheil therapy was shown to be well tolerated, revealing no severe or serious adverse events. There were no unexpected PK or PD results for any of the three components of AMT. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide important PK, PD and safety data for AMT, and support further controlled clinical investigation in patients with different types of cancer as an option for supportive care.

Post-burn head and neck reconstruction using tissue expanders.

Tissue expanders have become useful adjuvants in reconstruction after burn. This study reviews experience with of tissue expanders in the treatment of head and neck burns, from April 2002 to February 2007; 82 expanders were used for 72 patients, all of whom underwent reconstruction at least 6 months after complete healing. The only major difference in this study from other techniques was the preoperative approach for selecting flaps and implants. The use is described of tissue expanders to enhance the area and provide suitable tissue for large expanded flaps for reconstruction of the face and neck. This was based on previous laboratory studies demonstrating that large flaps with very narrow pedicles remain well vascularised and can be transposed to cover very large defects. Satisfactory results were achieved after reconstruction in all cases. Tissue expansion, if carefully planned and conducted, is part of the treatment of choice for post-burn reconstruction of the head and neck, allowing an expanded flap suitable for versatile coverage.

Multiplex RT-PCR, a novel technique for the simultaneous detection of the DNA and RNA viruses causing rice tungro disease.

Rice tungro, economically the most important viral disease of rice, is a complex disease caused by two morphologically and genomically dissimilar viruses, Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV), a double stranded DNA virus replicating through RNA intermediate and Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV), a single stranded RNA virus with 3' poly (A) tail. A novel multiplex RT-PCR technique for the simultaneous detection of RTBV and RTSV from the total RNA extracted from tungro-infected plants has been developed. It involves a one-step reaction initiating first strand cDNA synthesis by oligo (dT) primer with poly (A) tailed RTBV transcript and RTSV genomic RNA as template for the PCR amplification. The results indicate that adaptation of this technique will strengthen the screening for tungro resistance among rice varieties and hybrids.

One-year efficacy of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft in eighty-three hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Our aim was to evaluate the patency and efficacy of expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular graft in hemodialysis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study from January 1999 to January 2001 at Sina hospital 41 patients underwent implantation of 6-mm vascular grafts and 42 underwent implantation of 8-mm grafts in order to make vascular assess for hemodialysis. They were followed up to 12 months, observing the complications. RESULTS: Mean patients' age was 52.2 years. Thirty-seven of them were females and 46 were males. Over a 12 months period of follow-up, 12 cases of graft infection (14.5%), 21 cases of thrombosis (25.3%), 7 cases with both complications (8.4%), and 1 case of pseudoaneurism (1.2%) were observed. One-year patency rate was 34.9%. Diabetes was the only factor associated with lower patency rate (27% versus 57%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: ePTFE vascular graft seems to be an appropriate substitute for arteriovenous fistula as a vascular assess in hemodialysis patients. Educating patients and good care can decrease the rate of infection, thrombosis, and other complications, resulting in a better patency and lower morbidity rate.

Sparfloxacin in the treatment of purulent sinusitis-a multicentric study in Indian patients.

Sparfloxacin, a new quinolone antibacterial was used to treat one hundred and thirty two patients with acute purulent sinusitis, at a dosage of 400 mg on the first day followed by 200 mg once daily for a further four days. A clinically successful outcome (defined as disappearance of nasal discharge, fever, pain, tenderness over the sinuses and headache) was recorded in 122 ( 95.3%) patients. Sparfloxacin was well tolerated. Fourteen adverse experiences were reported in 7 patients ( 5.3%); they were mainly gastrointestinal and mild. No phototoxic or cardiological adverse events occurred. An unusual feature was that Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas spp. were the most common bacterial species isolated from middle meatal was of patients in this study.

Risperidone in Indian patients with schizophrenia.

Conventional antipsychotic agents are not effective against negative symptoms of schizophrenia and are also noted for their extrapyramidal side effects. Risperidone is a noval antipsychotic agent whose dual antagonism of dopamine and serotonin receptors is believed to underlie its efficacy against negative symptoms and the low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. An open, non-comparative study of seven weeks duration was performed to evaluate risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia in Indian patients. Previous antipsychotic therapy was discontinued for a week before risperidone therapy was initiated. At the end of six weeks of risperidone therapy, clinical improvement (≥ 20% reduction in total score on positive and negative syndrome scale for schizophrenia (PANSS;; was shown by 128 (87.7%) of the 146 evaluable patients. Statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) occurred in the total score of this scale and in the subscale scores for positive, negative and general psychopathology symptoms and in the clinical global impression severity score. The number of patients with adverse experiences were 108 (65.5%) at baseline and 120 (72.7%) at the end of risperidone therapy. Extrapyramidal symptoms, seen in 65 (39.4%) patients compared to 22 (13.3%) patients at baseline, were largely mild to moderate in intensity.

Detection of rice tungro bacilliform virus in field and glasshouse samples from India using the polymerase chain reaction.

Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) together with rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) is the causal agent for the rice tungro disease. A rapid technique was developed to detect RTBV DNA in the crude extract of freshly collected leaf samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This technique can detect the viral DNA in 1000-fold diluted leaf extract. Detection has been possible in samples stored upto 5 days after the collection. This technique may have wide application for the field diagnosis of RTBV infection.