Transcriptome Analysis of Beta-Catenin-Related Genes in CD34+ Haematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells from Patients with AML.

Background: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a disease of the haematopoietic stem cells(HSCs) that is characterised by the uncontrolled proliferation and impaired differentiation of normal haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Several pathways that control the proliferation and differentiation of HSCs are impaired in AML. Activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway has been shown in AML and beta-catenin, which is thought to be the key element of this pathway, has been frequently highlighted. The present study was designed to determine beta-catenin expression levels and beta-catenin-related genes in AML. Methods: In this study, beta-catenin gene expression levels were determined in 19 AML patients and 3 controls by qRT-PCR. Transcriptome analysis was performed on AML grouped according to beta-catenin expression levels. Differentially expressed genes(DEGs) were investigated in detail using the Database for Annotation Visualisation and Integrated Discovery(DAVID), Gene Ontology(GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG), STRING online tools. Results: The transcriptome profiles of our AML samples showed different molecular signature profiles according to their beta-catenin levels(high-low). A total of 20 genes have been identified as hub genes. Among these, TTK, HJURP, KIF14, BTF3, RPL17 and RSL1D1 were found to be associated with beta-catenin and poor survival in AML. Furthermore, for the first time in our study, the ELOV6 gene, which is the most highly up-regulated gene in human AML samples, was correlated with a poor prognosis via high beta-catenin levels. Conclusion: It is suggested that the identification of beta-catenin-related gene profiles in AML may help to select new therapeutic targets for the treatment of AML.

Efficacy of Passive Ultrasonic Activation in Removing Calcium Hydroxide from Simulated Internal Resorption Cavities at Different Root Regions.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of passive ultrasonic activation on calcium hydroxide removal from simulated internal root resorption (IRR) cavities at different root levels. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Sixty mandibular canines were prepared and divided into 3 groups to create IRR cavities at apical, middle, coronal root levels. The cavities filled with calcium hydroxide (CH). Specimens were divided into two subgroups according to the technique used for CH removal: Passive ultrasonic activation (PUA), Classic syringe irrigation (CSI). The cavities were photographed with a stereomicroscope, and percentage of remaining CH was measured using digital image analysis software (Image J). Statistical analysis was performed with two-way ANOVA and post-hoc Duncan tests. RESULTS: PUA removed significantly more CH at apical and middle levels. (p < 0.05) There was no significant difference between PUA and CSI at coronal level. (p > 0.05) In PUA group, the amount of residual CH was the highest at coronal level. (p < 0.05) In CSI group, the amount of residual CH was the highest at apical level. (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: None of the tested technique was able to completely remove CH from the simulated IRR cavities. CH was removed better with PUA than CSI at middle and apical root levels. For both techniques, the best results were obtained at middle root level.

The effect of nonthermal plasma on the push-out bond strength of two different root canal sealers.

BACKGROUND: An optimum bonding between the sealer and dentin is important for impermeable root canal filling and many procedures were applied to improve root canal dentin and in turn the bond strength between the sealer and dentine. There is lack of sufficient data on the effect of nonthermal plasma application on the bond strength of sealers to the root canal dentin. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of NAP on the push-out bond strength (PBS) of a bioceramic and resin-based root canal sealer (RCS) to root canal dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty single-rooted mandibular premolars were decoronated. After preparation and final irrigation, the specimens were divided into four groups (n = 10). Group AH: Root canals were filled with gutta-percha (GP) and AH Plus RCS, Group P-AH: Root canals were filled with GP and AH Plus RCS following the NAP application, Group BC: Root canals were filled with GP and Endosequence BC RCS, and Group P-BC: Root canals were filled with GP and Endosequence BC RCS following the NAP application. Then roots were sectioned horizontally to obtain ~1 mm thick dentin disks. PBS test was performed to the second (coronal) and fourth (middle) slices. Data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis and t-test. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference among the groups for both coronal and middle regions (P < 0.05). P-BC group showed higher PBS than AH and P-AH groups in the coronal region. P-BC group showed higher PBS than the other groups in the middle region. CONCLUSIONS: The use of NAP did not influence the push-out bond strength of AH-Plus sealer to the root canal dentin. The Endosequence-BC sealer showed a better bond strength than the AH-Plus sealer after NAP application.

The effect of cervical preflaring on the apical debris extrusion of single or multiple rotary Ni-Ti files.

BACKGROUND: There were no comparing data about the effect of recently developed file system OneCurve on apical debris extrusion. AIM: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the influence of the rotary nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) files on apical debris extrusion after cervical preflaring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six lower incisor teeth with a single root canal were used in this study. After the determination of working length, the specimens were divided into six experimental groups according to root canal preparation. G1: ProTaper-Next, G2: EndoFlare + ProTaper-Next, G3: 2Shape, G4: EndoFlare + 2Shape, G5: OneCurve, and G6: EndoFlare + OneCurve. Each specimen was inserted into separate preweighed Eppendorf tubes to collect apically extruded debris. A total of 8 mL of distilled water was used for each specimen for irrigation. After the completion of root canal preparation, the Eppendorf tubes were weighed again after evaporation to calculate the amount of extruded debris. The data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (P > 0.05). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental groups. The amount of apically extruded debris was similar after preparing root canals with ProTaper-Next, 2Shape, and OneCurve with and without cervical preflaring. CONCLUSION: Under the conditions of this in vitro study, ProTaper-Next, 2Shape, and OneCurve files had similar apical debris extrusion values. Cervical preflaring of root canals did not affect the amount of apically extruded debris.

Presence of melamine in human milk and the evaluation of the effects on mother-infant pairs in a cohort study.

Melamine contamination is a recent public health problem emerging globally. Present study aimed to detect the rate of melamine presence in human milk in a cohort study and to evaluate any possible differences in maternal-infant pair characteristics such as breastfeeding status, crying and sleep problems of infants, maternal postpartum depression, maternal-infant bonding, infant and maternal anthropometry, and maternal complete blood count caused by the melamine exposure. Mothers of infants born in Sanliurfa were invited to participate in 'Urfa Child Cohort Survey'. Overall, two breast milk samples were taken between 5 days and 15 days postpartum and between 4 weeks and 10 weeks. Randox Food's InfiniPlex array was used to analyse the presence of melamine. Melamine was detected in 32.2% and 24.4% of the first and the second milk samples; 16.7% of mothers had two positive samples. z Scores for birth weight and z scores for height for age were detected to be significantly lower in cases with two positive samples compared to cases with negative samples. Mean maternal white blood cells counts were found to be lower in cases with repeated melamine contact. Melamine might have a detrimental effect on birth weight, infant height and maternal blood count. Further studies should be done to detect environmental contamination in different regions and countries.

The effect of oral L-carnitine supplementation on the lipid profiles of hyperlipidaemic children.

AIM: To investigate the carnitine status and the effect of carnitine supplementation on serum lipid profiles in children with hyperlipoproteinaemia, a clinical open trial was conducted at Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital, Section of Nutrition and Metabolism. METHODS: Patients were given carnitine at a dose of 100 mg/kg/d for 12 wk. Blood samples for the determination of lipid profile and carnitine levels and urine samples for carnitine levels were obtained on admission, at week 4 and week 12 of the study period. RESULTS: A total of 41 children were enrolled in the study: 20 patients had type II heterozygotes, eight patients had type II homozygotes, three patients had type III, six patients had type V and four patients had secondary hyperlipidaemias. Serum and urine carnitine levels were within normal limits on admission. No significant correlations were found between serum carnitine levels and serum lipid profiles. Serum HDL and apolipoprotein A-I decreased significantly during the 12 wk of intervention in type II heterozygotes. In type II homozygotes, total cholesterol and LDL levels at weeks 4 and 12 increased significantly compared to initial levels. No significant change was noted for lipid parameters in hyperlipoproteinaemia type V. CONCLUSION: The results of this trial demonstrated that carnitine supplementation was of no benefit for children with hyperlipidaemias, especially in primary hyperlipoproteinaemia type II heterozygotes, homozygotes and type V.

[Bis(diphenylphosphino)methane][1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane]platinum(II) dibromide.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Pt(C(25)H(22)P(2))(C(27)H(26)P(2))]Br(2) or [Pt(dppm)(dppp)]Br(2), where dppm is bis(diphenylphosphino)methane and dppp is 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, consists of a discrete [Pt(dppm)(dppp)](2+) cation and two Br(-) anions at van der Waals distances. This is the first reported platinum(II) complex containing both dppm and dppp ligands. Noticeable features are that the coordination of platinum by the differing dppm and dppp ligands produces a distorted coordination geometry with differing ligand bite angles (and to a lesser extent bond distances), and that the strain induced by the formation of the four-membered dppm chelate ring has a marked effect upon the bond angles at the P atoms of this ligand.

Troponin I Assessment of Cardiac Involvement in Patients With Connective Tissue Disease and an Elevated Creatine Kinase MB Isoform Report of Four Cases and Review of the Literature.

Levels of creatine kinase MB isoform (CKMB) can be elevated in patients with myopathy, neuropathy, skeletal muscle injury, or renal failure in the absence of myocardial injury. These elevated CKMB levels make it difficult to identify cardiac involvement in conditions that can be associated with a variety of cardiac abnormalities or with symptoms that mimic them. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a myocardial regulatory protein, has a high specificity for cardiac muscle and can be used to clarify the etiology of CKMB elevations in such patients. In this report, four patients with diverse causes for increased CKMB levels are discussed with respect to cill.The first three patients, with tentative diagnoses of mixed connective tissue disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and polymyositis presented with increasing shortness of breath, tachycardia, nonspecific electrocardiogram changes, high creative kinase, and CKMB levels. A normal cTnI helped exclude a diagnosis of a cardiac cause of their symptoms. Patient 4 had a scleroderma variant and experienced sudden, fatal, cardiac decompensation caused by a dilated cardiomyopathy, accompanied by an increased cTnl.The cTnI is a reliable, specific, and quick wav of excluding or determining cardiac involvement in patients with connective tissue disease. As this test is inexpensive and becoming increasingly available, it could become the test of choice, especially in scenarios in which urgent management decisions are needed.