Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in a Pediatric Patient.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a rarely diagnosed interstitial lung disease with variable manifestations. It results from repeated inhalation of certain antigens, e.g. mold, avian antigen, etc. in susceptible patients. The diagnosis is made by exposure history, relevant clinical presentation, and specific radiologic features. It is treated by avoidance of triggers and use of corticosteroids. We report a 7.5-year girl with HP. She was admitted for cough and severe respiratory distress. Key Words: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, Antigen, Allergy, Child.

Access Cavity Preparations: Classification and Literature Review of Traditional and Minimally Invasive Endodontic Access Cavity Designs.

INTRODUCTION: Several endodontic access cavity designs have been proposed in the past decade to access the root canal space in a minimally invasive manner. The rationale for this approach was derived from the assumption that preserving more tooth structure during access preparation will improve the tooth's resistance to fracture and its long-term survivability. However, is this assumption valid? Also, can this approach compromise other treatment-related aspects? METHODS: We conducted a literature review using 4 online databases and classified the access cavity designs presented in each article according to our proposed classification. RESULTS: Through the literature search, we identified 49 articles that evaluated the effect of the access cavity design on 11 different treatment parameters. The majority of the studies failed to demonstrate clear benefits of the minimally invasive access designs, whereas others raised concerns regarding the ability to adequately disinfect, fill, and restore teeth with a minimally invasive access cavity design. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive access cavity designs present more risk than benefit on the outcome of endodontic treatment. Clinicians should reconsider the application of a minimally invasive access cavity for routine endodontics and cautiously apply it in selected cases when the proper armamentarium is available.

Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms of FAS and FASL Genes and Risk of Idiopathic Aplastic Anemia.

FAS/FASL signaling system plays a vital role in the regulation of apoptosis, envisaged as a death process required for immune surveillance to prevent autoimmunity and tumorigenesis along with several other biological activities. Several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of FAS/FASL system can result in aberrant apoptosis, which can cause different cancers and autoimmune diseases. Aplastic anemia (AA) is an autoimmune dysfunction characterized by peripheral blood pancytopenia associated with hypoplasia of bone marrow. The aim of this study was to screen Pakistani AA patients and controls for two Fas SNPs rs2234767 and rs1800682 and two FASLG SNPs rs763110 and rs5030772. Genotyping of 392 DNA samples was done by Tetra-ARMS polymerase chain reaction. Genotypic frequencies of Fas rs1800682 and FASLG rs5030772 showed significance difference in their distribution in both controls and patients, while Fas rs2234767 and FASLG rs763110 SNPs had no such difference. Carriers of rs1800682 AG+GG had a very odd ratio of 4.63, with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 3.01-7.11, while individuals with FASLG rs5030772 AG+GG were more common in controls than patients with OR 0.53 and 95% CI of 0.34-0.83. Cumulative effects of these SNPs were analyzed, and they showed almost similar trends; however, Fas rs2234767 and FASLG rs763110 genotypes in combination with Fas rs1800682 and FASLG rs5030772 demonstrated significant association. This study provided information that endorsed the involvement of FAS/FASL system SNPs in the pathogenesis of AA; further studies should be designed to understand the exact role of SNPs that can help in early diagnosis and treatment.