Work-Related musculoskeletal pain among lebanese dentists: An epidemiological study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and identify their associated factors among a group of Lebanese dentists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 314 Lebanese, dentists completed an anonymous questionnaire that focused on occupational health problems. This study was approved by the ethics committee of Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for windows. The alpha error was set to 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 39.2 (±11.66) years. The results showed that 61.5% of the surveyed dentists complained of spinal pain: 31.6% of cervical pain, 22.3% of lumbar pain and 13.0% of dorsal pain. Moreover, the pain was continuous in 20.7% and, occasional in 65.8%. Our statistics showed that 7.6% had a problem with the carpal tunnel. A total of 22.3% suffered from tendinitis and 9.2% from arthritis of shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. The frequency of headaches was 30.6%. Concerning sports activity, 49.7% practiced it occasionally and 3.6% did so frequently. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of musculoskeletal pain in the upper extremities is a serious concern that affects Lebanese dentists. Most of them often complained of tendinitis and headaches because they do not practice sports; thus, encouraging them to practice sports may reduce or solve such health problems. Issuing brochures that include exercises to perform and hiring trained assistants could help reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Finally, these occupational health problems should be highlighted at all clinical and research symposia to increase awareness.

Scrotal wall metastasis from a primary lung adenocarcinoma.

This a case of a 77 years old male heavy smoker, known to have Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema complicated by a primary invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung with bone metastasis, who presented with a two weeks history of right inguino-scrotal pain and swelling. Imaging studies revealed a right paratesticular formation that appeared to involve the epididymis and the scrotal wall. A biopsy of the mass showed morphological and Immunophenotypic features in favor of metastasis of an adenocarcinoma of the lung. Based on our literature review, there are only few published cases about scrotal wall metastasis of a lung primary.

[Oral lesions in psoriasis]. / Manifestations buccales du psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The literature contains little information about the incidence or prevalence of oral signs in psoriasis. The pustular forms are the most commonly incriminated, with geographic tongue being the most frequently cited oral sign. The aim of our study was to determine the various types of oral signs seen in a large population of psoriasis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred psoriasis patients were recruited consecutively and a detailed oral examination performed by two clinicians. Similar examinations were performed over the same period in 1000 nonpsoriasis subjects comprising a control group in order to assess the incidence of the same oral signs in the general population. RESULTS: Comparing the two groups, fissured tongue was seen in 33.2% of psoriasis patients versus 9.9% of control subjects (P<0.0001). There was thus a highly significant (P<0.0001) correlation between geographic tongue and psoriasis (7.7% of psoriasis patients versus 1% of controls). In addition, a strong correlation was seen between the presence of pustular psoriasis and fissured tongue (83.3% of patients with pustular psoriasis versus only 30% of patients with other forms of psoriasis). DISCUSSION: Our study shows a strong correlation between psoriasis and fissured and geographic tongue, although these features are not pathognomonic for the disease. As regards geographic tongue, our results are consistent with the data in the literature. However, the prevalence of fissured tongue was considerably higher among our patients than in series published to date. These two types of sign involving the tongue, and which can occur in all forms of psoriasis, appear to be particularly strongly associated with pustular psoriasis. Patients are generally unaware of this sign and rarely complain of it.

[Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary glands: the prognostic value of tumoral markers]. / Cancer mucoépidermoïde des glandes salivaires: signification pronostique des marqueurs tumoraux.

INTRODUCTION: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignant lesions of salivary glands. The treatment is based on clinical, paraclinical and histological data. Several studies on the prognostic value of molecular markers for these cancers were made with contradictory results. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the prognostic value of molecular markers of salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixteen patients were treated for mucoepidermoid carcinoma of principal and/or accessory salivary glands between 1994 and 2003. An immunohistochemical study of archive specimen was performed. Nine markers were specifically studied: 4 proteins/oncoproteins (p53, bcl2, c-erb-B2 and cd117), 2 markers of proliferation (PCNA and Ki67), 1 growing factor receptor (EGFR), 1 epithelial adhesion molecule (E-cadherin), and 1 angiogenic cytokine (PDGF). RESULTS: Nine men and 7 women were included, with a mean age of 43.7 years (14-80). The mean diameter of tumors was 3.1 mm (1-14), and the parotid gland was the most frequent location. The mean global survival rate was 57.3 months with a median of 55 months. The 2 to 5 years survival expectation rate were 82.5% and 46.4% respectively. The mean survival rate for women was superior to that of men (P=0.043). The expression of p53 and the high expression rate of EFGR were bad prognostic factors (respectively P=0.049 and P=0.012). The expression of PCNA was linked to the location (mainly the salivary gland) and to the diameter of the tumor (respectively P=0.037 and P=0.029). The degree of EFGR positivity and the histological grade were linked (P=0.027). DISCUSSION: The strong expression of EGFR was statistically linked to the histological tumor grade. The degree of PCNA positivity seemed to be associated to the preferential location in the main salivary glands and to the diameter of the tumor. The strong expression of p53 and EGFR were bad prognostic factors. These retrospective results need to be confirmed by prospective randomized and larger studies. EGFR and p53 were significant negative prognostic factors. EGFR was highly correlated to the histological grade, making it an interesting target for further investigation.

[Verrucous carcinoma of the tongue occurring on lesions of lichen planus]. / Carcinome verruqueux de la langue survenu sur des lésions de lichen plan.

BACKGROUND: Verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity is a rare entity that was formerly controversial. Etiopathogenesis remains unclear, notably as for its possible association with lichen planus. We report a case of verrucous carcinoma occurring in lesions of lichen planus of the tongue. CASE REPORT: A 78-year old, non smoking patient, with past history of cutaneous lichen planus presented for lesions of oral lichen planus affecting both the tongue and the palate. A treatment by topical tretinoin improved him in a spectacular way and brought about a remission which lasted 5 years. A recurrence occurred when the treatment was stopped; new whitish, warty cauliflower-like lesions appeared on the tongue. A biopsy confirmed the clinical suspicion of verrucous carcinoma. A laser resection was performed. Three months later, another recurrence was observed. A chemotherapy associating isotretinoin and methotrexate eliminated all lesions. The patient's condition is considered stable, under treatment, one year later. DISCUSSION: Verrucous carcinoma is a rare slow-growing oral tumor that is chiefly exophytic and does not metastasize, but it can invade and destroy oral tissues. Its clinical presentation contrasts with benign histologic features: papillomatosis, acanthosis, dysplasia in variable degrees. The occurrence on lesions of lichen planus, although "classic", is very rarely found in the literature. The treatment is not well codified. An additional chemotherapy seems necessary to prevent recurrences.

Magnetic resonance imaging in autism: measurement of the cerebellum, pons, and fourth ventricle.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research has suggested that autistic individuals have hypoplasia of cerebellar lobules VI and VII, the pons, and enlargement of the fourth ventricle. Using MRI we measured the mid-sagittal area of these structures in 15 high-functioning autistic males; 15 age- and IQ-comparable male volunteers (control group I); and 15 male volunteers comparable to cases on age and parental socioeconomic status (SES) (control group II). Using ratio measures, cerebellar lobules VI-VII were found to be smaller in autistic subjects than controls in group II but not those in group I. No differences were found after multivariate analysis adjusting for mid-sagittal brain area (MSBA), age, and IQ. The size of the pons and fourth ventricle did not differ between cases and controls, although autistic subjects were noted to have a significantly larger MSBA than subjects in either control group.

Platelet serotonin, a possible marker for familial autism.

Serotonin (5HT) levels in platelet-rich plasma were measured in 5 autistic subjects who had siblings with either autism or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), 23 autistic subjects without affected siblings, and 10 normal controls. The 5HT levels of autistic subjects with affected siblings were significantly higher than probands without affected siblings, and autistic subjects without affected siblings had 5HT levels significantly higher than controls. Differences in 5HT levels remained significant after adjustment for sex, age, and IQ. These results suggest that 5HT level in autistic subjects may be associated with genetic liability to autism.

Magnetic resonance imaging evidence for a defect of cerebral cortical development in autism.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed on 13 high-functioning male autistic subjects and 13 male nonautistic control subjects comparable in age and nonverbal IQ. Scans were rated for the presence of cerebral cortical malformations. Five autistic subjects had polymicrogyria, one had schizencephaly and macrogyria, and one had macrogyria. None of the control subjects had abnormalities of this type. These abnormalities result from a defect in the migration of neurons to the cerebral cortex during the first 6 months of gestation. The detection of these malformations by MRI, their pathogenesis, and the implications regarding the pathogenesis of autism are discussed.