Tobacco smoke in the development and therapy of periodontal disease: progress and questions.

In recent years, epidemiological studies have pointed to a significant correlation between cigarette smoke and poor periodontal status. Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for the onset and development of periodontal disease, and an association between reduced healing response subsequent to periodontal therapies and cigarette smoking has been found. The epidemiological studies reported here are also supported by the results of an in vitro study on the cytotoxicity of two of the volatile components of cigarette smoke that we ourselves conducted, in which the investigated compounds were found to damage human gingival fibroblasts. We concluded that this damage would be reflected in periodontal health and could slow down wound healing. Patients should thus be alerted by clinicians to the risks smoking poses to oral and dental health.

The lymphatic vessels and their relationship to lymph formation in the human urinary bladder.

After endoscopic transurethral biopsies of normal human urinary bladder, an extensive network of small initial lymphatic vessels was depicted by means of light and electron microscopy. Using light microscopy, lymphatic vessels were seen in the mucosa and submucosa and formed a complex network in the detrusor muscular coat. These lymphatics were characterized by an irregular and attenuated wall and increased in number and size from the superficial to the deeper region of the bladder. Ultrastructurally, the lymphatic wall was characterized by endothelial cells joined together end-to-end or by complicated interdigitations. Often intercellular channels and gaps between two contiguous endothelial cells were present. A broad network of elastic and collagen fibers joined the lymphatic endothelial wall to the neighboring connective tissue. Nevertheless, as far as the fibrillar component was concerned, the vesical intramuscular lymphatic endothelial wall lacked elastic fibers. These anatomic variations were examined in reference to lymph formation in an organ (the urinary bladder) which undergoes continual changes in volume and pressure.

[Angiomorphology of the ciliary body in diabetic disease]. / Angiomorphologie du corps ciliaire dans la maladie diabétique.

The authors describe the pathological changes in the vascular structures of the ciliary body occuring in diabetes mellitus. The lesions consist of a quantitative reduction in the number of vessels and in modifications of diameter and arborisation. Changes include sectoral thinning, isolated and grouped aneuryms and marked tortuosity. These findings are thought to be constant in the diabetic patient and are probably involved in the various aspects of diabetic eye disease affecting other structures besides the ciliary body. The group of vascular changes in the ciliary body in diabetes may aptly be termed "diabetic ciliopathy".

[Blood circulation of the optic nerve with respect to the development of glaucomatous papilla excavation]. / Uber die Durchblutung des Nervus opticus im Hinblock auf die Entstehung der glaukomatösen Papillenexkavation.

Recent research findings in microvascular anatomy enable the authors to make as new suggestion regarding the arrangement of the intraorbital vasculature of the optic nerve. In anatomical specimens three separate zones can be identified, sharply delimited and each with its own source of blood supply. After briefly describing the vasculature of the distal segment (neck) of the optic nerve the authors report several new theories concerning the pathogenesis of glaucomatous cupping of the optic disk.

[Morphological remarks concerning the venous circulation of the uveal tract (author's transl)]. / Remarques morphologiques sur la circulation veineuse de l'uvée.

The author has undertaken a study of the means of drainage of blood from the chorio-capillary system. The veinules arise in three essential ways: "comb teeth", "palm" and "vortex". Study of the prevortical veins showed, in addition, the presence of numerous fine anastomotic vessels which unite the veins which run to the vortical veins.

[Examination of the venous system of the uvea (author's transl)]. / Untersuchung über die venösen Systeme der Uvea.

The authors examined the microvascular venous aspects of the uveal membrane and have divided it into three territories: anterior, intermediate and posterior. They showed a double drainage system of the anterior territory. In addition, they believe that there is a difference between the anterior and the intermediate territories, which show sectorization, and the posterior venous territory which presents morphological and functional homogenity.