Cementoblastoma Mimicking Pathology of Endodontic Origin: A Case Report.

Interdisciplinary care in the management of complex pathology is critical to ensure patients receive predictable, evidence-based treatment. The authors report the unique case of a healthy 38-year-old female patient who presented to a private endodontics practice with a radiopaque lesion associated with the root of tooth No. 20. The patient experienced mild and occasional palpation tenderness associated with the tooth. Extraoral examination and intraoral soft tissues presented without any abnormalities. Intraoral radiographs revealed a radiopacity overlying the apex of tooth No. 20. A cone-beam computed tomography scan of the region revealed a well-delineated bulbous radiopaque lesion attached to the lingual aspect of the apical third of the root of tooth No. 20. The lesion could not be distinguished from the root outline and presented with a radiolucent halo along its periphery. The differential diagnosis at the time consisted of cementoblastoma, condensing osteitis, hypercementosis, and periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia. The patient was referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for evaluation and treatment. Tooth No. 20 was subsequently treated with an excisional biopsy and concurrent extraction of the tooth. Histologic examination of the lesion supported the diagnosis of cementoblastoma.

Postharvest Diseases of Pomegranate: Alternative Control Means and a Spiderweb Effect.

The pomegranate is a fruit known since ancient times for its beneficial properties. It has recently aroused great interest in the industry and among consumers, leading to a significant increase in demand. Consequently, its cultivation has been boosted all over the world. The pomegranate crop suffers considerable yield losses, especially at the postharvest stage, because it is a "minor crop" with few permitted control means. To control latent (Alternaria spp., Botrytis spp., Coniella spp., Colletotrichum spp., and Cytospora spp.) and wound (Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Talaromyces spp.) fungal pathogens, different alternative compounds, previously evaluated in vitro, were tested in the field on pomegranate cv. Wonderful. A chitosan solution, a plant protein hydrolysate, and a red seaweed extract were compared with a chemical control treatment, all as preharvest (field application) and postharvest treatments and their combinations. At the end of the storage period, the incidence of stamen infections and external and internal rots, and the severity of internal decay were evaluated. Obtained data revealed that pre- and postharvest application of all substances reduced the epiphytic population on stamens. Preharvest applications of seaweed extract and plant hydrolysate were the most effective treatments to reduce the severity of internal pomegranate decays. Furthermore, the influence of spider (Cheiracanthium mildei) cocoons on the fruit calyx as a possible barrier against postharvest fungal pathogens was assessed in a 'Mollar de Elche' pomegranate organic orchard. Compared to no-cocoon fruit (control), the incidence of infected stamens and internal molds in those with spiderwebs was reduced by about 30%, and the mean severity of internal rots was halved. Spiderwebs analyzed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) disclosed a layered, unordered structure that did not allow for the passage of fungal spores due to its mean mesh size (1 to 20 µm ca). The aims of this research were (i) to evaluate alternative compounds useful to control postharvest pomegranate decays and (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of spiders in reducing postharvest fungal infections by analyzing related mechanisms of action. Alternative control means proposed in the present work and calyx spider colonization may be helpful to reduce postharvest pomegranate diseases, yield losses, and waste production in an integrated control strategy, satisfying organic agriculture and the planned goals of Zero Hunger Challenge launched by the United Nations.

Coding-Complete Genome Sequence of a Black Queen Cell Virus Isolate from Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in Italy.

In this study, we documented the complete coding genome sequence of a Black queen cell virus (BQCV) isolate from honey bees in Italy. This genome sequence illustrates a high similarity with other BQCV isolates reported worldwide and could provide insights into BQCV genome phylogeny and divergence.

Intraoperative fluorescence perfusion assessment should be corrected by a measured subject-specific arterial input function.

SIGNIFICANCE: The effects of varying the indocyanine green injection dose, injection rate, physiologic dispersion of dye, and intravenous tubing volume propagate into the shape and magnitude of the arterial input function (AIF) during intraoperative fluorescence perfusion assessment, thereby altering the observed kinetics of the fluorescence images in vivo. AIM: Numerical simulations are used to demonstrate the effect of AIF on metrics derived from tissue concentration curves such as peak fluorescence, time-to-peak (TTP), and egress slope. APPROACH: Forward models of tissue concentration were produced by convolving simulated AIFs with the adiabatic approximation to the tissue homogeneity model using input parameters representing six different tissue examples (normal brain, glioma, normal skin, ischemic skin, normal bone, and osteonecrosis). RESULTS: The results show that AIF perturbations result in variations in estimates of total intensity of up to 80% and TTP error of up to 200%, with the errors more dominant in brain, less in skin, and less in bone. Interestingly, error in ingress slope was as high as 60% across all tissue types. These are key observable parameters used in fluorescence imaging either implicitly by viewing the image or explicitly through intensity fitting algorithms. Correcting by deconvolving the image with a measured subject-specific AIF provides an intuitive means of visualizing the data while also removing the source of variance and allowing intra- and intersubject comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that intraoperative fluorescence perfusion assessment should be corrected by patient-specific AIFs measured by pulse dye densitometry.

Central xanthoma of the jaw in association with Noonan syndrome.

Xanthomas are histiocytic lesions of the skin, soft tissue, and bone and are generally considered to be reactive in nature. When they arise in the bones of the jaw, they are referred to as central xanthomas. New evidence supports the hypothesis that central xanthomas are a separate and distinct entity from their extragnathic counterparts. Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that has been associated with giant cell lesions, which also commonly occur in the jaw. We present a case of a 15-year-old boy with NS who presented with a radiolucent lesion of the mandible that on excision was found to be a central xanthoma. Although giant cell lesions have been well described in NS, xanthomas of the jaw have not been reported. We will also discuss the entities that must be excluded before making a diagnosis of central xanthoma, as this can affect both treatment and follow-up.

Metabolism of Fructophilic Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from the Apis mellifera L. Bee Gut: Phenolic Acids as External Electron Acceptors.

Fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) are strongly associated with the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of Apis mellifera L. worker bees due to the consumption of fructose as a major carbohydrate. Seventy-seven presumptive lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from GITs of healthy A. mellifera L. adults, which were collected from 5 different geographical locations of the Apulia region of Italy. Almost all of the isolates showed fructophilic tendencies: these isolates were identified as Lactobacillus kunkeei (69%) or Fructobacillus fructosus (31%). A high-throughput phenotypic microarray targeting 190 carbon sources was used to determine that 83 compounds were differentially consumed. Phenotyping grouped the strains into two clusters, reflecting growth performance. The utilization of phenolic acids, such as p-coumaric, caffeic, syringic, or gallic acids, as electron acceptors was investigated in fructose-based medium. Almost all FLAB strains showed tolerance to high phenolic acid concentrations. p-Coumaric acid and caffeic acid were consumed by all FLAB strains through reductases or decarboxylases. Syringic and gallic acids were partially metabolized. The data collected suggest that FLAB require external electron acceptors to regenerate NADH. The use of phenolic acids as external electron acceptors by the 4 FLAB showing the highest phenolic acid reductase activity was investigated in glucose-based medium supplemented with p-coumaric acid. Metabolic responses observed through a phenotypic microarray suggested that FLAB may use p-coumaric acid as an external electron acceptor, enhancing glucose dissimilation but less efficiently than other external acceptors such as fructose or pyruvic acid.IMPORTANCE Fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) remain to be fully explored. This study intends to link unique biochemical features of FLAB with their habitat. The quite unique FLAB phenome within the group lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may have practical relevance in food fermentations. The FLAB phenome may have implications for the levels of hexose metabolism products in fermented foods, as well as food probiotication. Due to the harsh conditions of honeybees' GITs, these bacteria had to develop specific physiological and biochemical characteristics, such as tolerance to phenolic acids. The screening of FLAB strains based on metabolic pathways involving phenolic acids may allow the selection of starter cultures with both technological and functional beneficial attributes. Bioconversion of phenolic compounds may contribute to the aroma attributes and biofunctionality of fermented foods. Thus, the selection of FLAB strains as starter cultures with specific enzymatic activities involving phenolic acids may have a promising role in food fermentations.

Intraosseous ameloblastoma.

Ameloblastomas are benign slow-growing aggressive neoplasms with a poorly understood potential for rare metastasis. They are capable of reaching large sizes with extensive local bone erosion and destruction. They are composed of a mixture of ameloblastic epithelium and mesenchyme and arise from rests of outer and inner enamel epithelium and dental lamina. Microscopically, ameloblastomas are recognizable from their recapitulation of embryologic ameloblasts and stellate reticulum. There are 3 subtypes: the conventional or solid-multicystic variant, the unicystic variant, and the desmoplastic variant. Treatment planning for a given tumor includes consideration of location, primary versus recurrent, size, presence of cortical perforation, and age and health of the patient. Complete excision is recommended for conventional and desmoplastic variants. The unicystic variant requires additional subtyping to determine the best treatment approach.

Early onset of hereditary gingival fibromatosis in a 28-month-old.

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare, genetically transmitted disorder that only affects approximately 1 in 750,000 people. HGF is principally transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Autosomal recessive transmission has been reported infrequently in the literature. HGF primarily has its onset with the eruption of the permanent dentition, but it can also occur with the eruption of the primary dentition and can on rare occasions be present at birth. The gingival enlargement can be generalized or localized, and can vary in severity. HGF can be on isolated entity or be part of a syndrome. The purpose of this case report was to describe the early onset of nonsyndromic hereditary gingival fibromatosis in a 28-month-old who had severe generalized gingival hyperplasia. Treatment consisted of surgically uncovering 16 primary teeth. Future surgical intervention will likely be required.