Effect of lactoferrin on enamel characteristics of primary and permanent teeth: an in-vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Lactoferrin, a glycoprotein naturally found in breast milk, is known for its bactericidal and antiviral properties, as well as its capacity to modulate the immune system; therefore, pediatricians routinely recommend it as dietary support. The objective of this study was to determine how lactoferrin oral suspension could affect the enamel surface characteristics of primary and permanent teeth. METHODS: This research was conducted on 40 unidentified extracted teeth, including primary and permanent teeth. Experimental teeth were free of cracks or enamel defects, as confirmed by careful examination using a dental operating microscope. The crowns were bisected into 80 specimens and assorted into two groups based on the type of dentition. Group DM included 40 specimens of second deciduous molars, while Group PM contained 40 samples of first premolars. Each of the DM and PM specimens was subsequently split based on the type of dispersion medium into two subgroups: a control subgroup (artificial saliva) and a test subgroup (lactoferrin suspension). The specimens were immersed in lactoferrin suspension for two minutes, then kept in artificial saliva for the rest of the 24 h for 30 successive days. This is a pioneering study about the effect of orally supplemented lactoferrin on teeth; therefore, we examined enamel hardness, ultra-morphology, and mineral contents. RESULTS: Our findings indicated a highly significant decrease (p < 0.01) in the microhardness of the lactoferrin subgroup in Group DM (second deciduous molars) and a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the microhardness of the lactoferrin subgroup in Group PM (premolars). Calcium weight% was not statistically different (p > 0.05) compared with a significant decline (p < 0.05) in phosphorus weight% in lactoferrin subgroups in both DM and PM groups. The enamel surface of lactoferrin subgroups in both DM and PM groups was demineralized and porous, with the enamel of deciduous teeth being more affected by lactoferrin than permanent teeth. CONCLUSION: Lactoferrin suspension decreased the microhardness of enamel and both calcium and phosphorus weight percentages. Both dentitions exhibited erosions in the enamel surface, with primary teeth being more affected than the permanent teeth.

Frequency of hypopigmented mycosis fungoides in Egyptian patients presenting with hypopigmented lesions of the trunk.

Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (HMF) is an uncommon variant of mycosis fungoides with an unknown exact frequency. We aimed to study the frequency of HMF in a cohort of Egyptian patients presenting to a tertiary care center in Cairo, Egypt, with hypopigmented lesions of the trunk. Hundred patients with hypopigmented lesions involving the trunk (with or without other sites involvement) were subjected to thorough clinical and histopathological examination. Immunohistochemical studies (S100, CD4, and CD8) were performed when indicated. Constellation of findings was used to reach a final diagnosis. Sixteen cases had HMF (16%). Other than HMF, our cohort included hypopigmented parapsoriasis en plaque (42 cases), postinflammatory hypopigmentation (28 cases), progressive macular hypomelanosis (12 cases), and pityriasis alba (2 cases). In comparison with other hypopigmented disorders, HMF was significantly associated with progressive disease course (P = 0.004), affection of distal upper limbs (P = 0.005), proximal lower limbs (P = 0.003), large-sized lesions (>5 cm) (P < 0.0001), well-defined margin (P < 0.0001), scaliness (P = 0.002), erythema (P < 0.0001), atrophy (P = 0.012), and mottled pigmentation (P < 0.0001). Awareness of HMF and its characteristic clinical features is mandatory to avoid underdiagnosis or overdiagnosis with subsequent morbidity or unnecessary aggressive therapy, respectively.

Image cytometry of fine needle aspiration of thyroid epithelial lesions.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy has been documented as a reliable, cost-effective test, diagnosing different thyroid lesions. However, its sensitivity declines much in some settings. This study aimed to investigate the value of computerized morphometry and DNA ploidy in differential diagnosis of different thyroid epithelial follicular lesions diagnosed on FNA smears. In this study, 68 cases of thyroid FNA were cytologically examined, and classified according to their postthyroidectomy histopathologic diagnosis as follow: 10 cases of nodular goiter, 14 cases of adenomas, 10 cases of follicular carcinoma, 20 cases of papillary carcinoma, 10 cases of anaplastic carcinoma, and 4 cases of poorly differentiated carcinoma. Using Leica Qwin 500 image analysis system, nuclear area as a morphologic variable, and the DNA ploidy, DNA index, and proliferation indices were measured for each case. Sensitivity of FNA in the studied cases was optimum (100%) in papillary carcinomas and anaplastic carcinomas. However, the sensitivity declined sharply in discriminating nodular goiter and follicular adenoma from well-differentiated follicular carcinoma, thus, most of these cases were diagnosed as follicular lesions. A significant difference in mean values of nuclear area was found between benign and malignant lesions, with no statistical differences within the benign group. Aneuploidy was significantly associated with malignancy. Therefore, image analysis may become an important ancillary test in the initial evaluation of patients with thyroid epithelial lesions.