Calcitonin, sodium alendronate and high intensity laser in the treatment of traumatized teeth: a preliminary study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser compared with traditional treatment on dentin permeability to calcitonin and sodium alendronate. Forty bovine roots were sectioned and divided into eight groups. Groups 1 and 2 (G1/G2) were immersed in saline solution; G1T/G2T were immersed in ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid plus sodium lauryl ether sulfate (EDTA-T) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); G1I/G2I were irradiated with Er:YAG laser (2.94 microm, 6 Hz, 40.4 J/cm(2)); G1TI/G2TI were immersed in EDTA-T, NaOCl and subjected to Er:YAG irradiation. After 4 h the radioactivity of the saline solution was measured. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (P < 0.05) when the groups treated with EDTA-T and NaOCl followed by Er:YAG laser irradiation were compared with the groups treated with EDTA-T only and with the groups that received no treatment. Er:YAG laser associated with traditional procedures significantly increased the diffusion of calcitonin and sodium alendronate through dentin. All groups showed calcitonin and sodium alendronate diffusion.

Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein kinetics in postoperative pediatric cardiac surgical patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the kinetics of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration after pediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. DESIGN: Prospective, clinical cohort study. SETTING: A fifteen-bed tertiary-care pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Fourteen pediatric patients admitted for cardiac surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum PCT and CRP were measured before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); after CPB; and on the first, second, and third days after surgery by means of immunoluminometry and nephelometry, respectively. Reference values for systemic inflammatory response syndrome are 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL for PCT and <5 mg/L for CRP. Baseline serum PCT and CRP concentrations were 0.24 +/- 0.13 ng/mL and 4.06 +/- 3.60 mg/L (median 25th percentile-75th percentile), respectively. PCT concentrations increased progressively from the end of CPB (0.62 +/- 0.30 ng/mL), peaked at 24 hours postoperatively (POD1) (0.77 +/- 0.49 ng/mL), and began to decrease at 48 hours or POD2 (0.35 +/- 0.21 ng/mL). CRP increased just after CPB (58.82 +/- 42.23 mg/L) and decreased after 72 hours (7.09 +/- 9.81 mg/L). CONCLUSION: An increment of both PCT and CRP was observed just after CPB. However, PCT values remained within reference values, whereas CRP concentrations increased significantly after CPB until the third day. These preliminary results suggest that PCT was more effective than CRP to monitor patients with SIRS and a favorable outcome.

Efecto de dosis bajas de calcitonina sobre la remodelación ósea en mujeres postmenopáusicas con alto recambio / Effects of low calcitonin doses on bone remodeling in postmenopausal women with high bone turnover rate

Background: Calcitonin is specially indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in women that cannot receive estrogen replacement therapy or that have a high bone turnover rate. Aim: To study the effects of low intranasal calcitonin doses on bone remodeling in postmenopausal women with a high bone turnover. Patients and methods: Forty one healthy women aged 56 ñ 6 years old, with a mean lapse after menopause of 7.6 ñ 6.5 years and with a high bone turnover rate, evidenced by an urinary hydroxyproline (mg/dl)/creatinine (g/dl) ratio of 52.4 ñ 7.2, were studied. They were randomly assigned to receive 100 or 50 U/calcitonin thrice a week during 3 months or to a control group that received placebo. All received 500 mg/day calcium carbonate. Urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio was measured a 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days. Plasma bone fraction of alkanine phosphatases was measured at 0, 30 and 90 days. Results: Initial urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio and plasma bone fraction of alkanine phosphatases were similar in all study groups and there was no change in these parameters during the study period. Conclusions: Intranasal calcitonin in doses of 100 U thrice a week or less, does not modify accelerated bone turnover in postmenopausal women