Nanoparticle analysis of cancer cells by light transmission spectroscopy.

We have measured the optical properties of cancer and normal whole cells and lysates using light transmission spectroscopy (LTS). LTS provides both the optical extinction coefficient in the wavelength range from 220 to 1100nm and (by spectral inversion using a Mie model) the particle distribution density in the size range from 1 to 3000nm. Our current work involves whole cells and lysates of cultured human oral cells in liquid suspension. We found systematic differences in the optical extinction between cancer and normal whole cells and lysates, which translate to different particle size distributions (PSDs) for these materials. Specifically, we found that cancer cells have distinctly lower concentrations of nanoparticles with diameters less than 100nm and have higher concentrations of particles with diameters from 100 to 1000nm-results that hold for both whole cells and lysates. We also found a power-law dependence of particle density with diameter over several orders of magnitude.

Comparison between tungsten and steel polypectomy snares: evaluation of depth of colonic thermal wall injury in a pig model.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Thermal injury of the colonic wall during polypectomy may induce complications such as bleeding and perforation. To date, the role of the snare material in these injuries has not been examined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the depth of colonic post-polypectomy thermal wall injury induced by tungsten and steel endoscopic snares, in an effort to reduce electrosurgery-related complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single tertiary center experimental study in a porcine model. A total of 90 polypectomies where performed in three live pigs under general anesthesia, using both steel and tungsten snares by cut, coagulation, and blend current modes. The pigs were then euthanized and their colons examined histologically. RESULTS: Steel snares induced significantly deeper tissue injury than tungsten snares in the pure cut mode (Pearson χ2 = 6.136, P = 0.013). The ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that the current mode and snare material were significantly associated with the ordinal score for the depth of injury. Thus, cut mode was positively associated with a lower score and coagulation mode with a higher score. In addition, tungsten was significantly associated with a lower depth of tissue injury. CONCLUSIONS: Due to its inherent electrical properties, tungsten is very well suited for manufacture into electrosurgical endoscopic devices. Thus, tungsten snares may be advantageous for routine use in endoscopic polypectomy, although further studies are needed to confirm these promising findings in human patients.

Compromised osseous healing of dental extraction sites in zoledronic acid-treated dogs.

UNLABELLED: The goal of this study was to document how treatment with high doses of zoledronic acid affects dental extraction healing. Our results, showing significantly compromised osseous healing within the socket as well as presence of exposed bone and development of a sequestrum in one animal, provide a building block toward understanding osteonecrosis of the jaw. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to document how treatment with a bisphosphonate affects the bone tissue following dental extraction. METHODS: Skeletally mature female beagle dogs were either untreated controls (CON) or treated with intravenous zoledronic acid (ZOL). Following the extraction of the fourth premolars, healing was allowed for 4 or 8 weeks. Properties of the extraction site were assessed using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and dynamic histomorphometry. RESULTS: The initial infilling of the extraction socket with bone was not affected by ZOL, but subsequent removal of this bone was significantly suppressed compared to CON. After 8 weeks of healing, the alveolar cortical bone adjacent to the extraction socket had a remodeling rate of ∼50% per year in CON animals while ZOL-treated animals had a rate of <1% per year. One ZOL-treated animal developed exposed bone post-extraction which eventually led to the formation of a sequestrum. Assessment of the sequestrum with micro-CT and histology showed that it had features consistent with those reported in humans with osteonecrosis of the jaw. CONCLUSIONS: These results, showing significantly compromised post-extraction osseous healing as well as presence of exposed bone and development of a sequestrum in one ZOL animal, provide a building block toward understanding the pathophysiology of osteonecrosis of the jaw.

[The role of endoscopy in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors]. / Il ruolo dell'endoscopia nei tumori neuroendocrini gastroenteropancreatici.

Versione italiana Riassunto: Il ruolo dell'endoscopia nei tumori neuroendocrini gastroenteropancreatici. L. Magno, L. Sivero, V. Napolitano, S. Ruggiero, G. Fontanarosa, S. Massa I tumori neuroendocrini (NET) gastro-entero-pancreatici (GEP) sono neoplasie rare che originano dalle cellule neuroendocrine del tubo digerente e del pancreas. L'endoscopia digestiva e l'ecoendoscopia rivestono un ruolo importante nella diagnosi, stadiazione e sorveglianza dei pazienti con NET. Inoltre, in casi selezionati, le tecniche endoscopiche operative consentono il trattamento di queste neoplasie in fase precoce. English version Summary: The role of endoscopy in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. L. Magno, L. Sivero, V. Napolitano, S. Ruggiero, G. Fontanarosa, S. Massa Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are rare neoplasia arisen from neuroendocrine cells present in the gut mucosa and pancreas. Digestive endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography play a relevant role in NET diagnosis, stadiation and surveillance. Moreover, in selected patients, surgical endoscopy allows the tratment of these cancers at an early stage.

Previously successful dental implants can fail when patients commence anti-resorptive therapy-a case series.

This article reports a type of localized osteonecrosis that can occur in patients who have had successful osseointegrated implants for many years and then commence anti-resorptive therapy. Eleven female patients were identified who had successful implant insertion, but who were placed on anti-resorptive therapy (bisphosphonates or denosumab) several years later and developed osteonecrosis around the implants. In each case, the osteonecrosis occurred only around the implants and not around the patient's remaining teeth. The implants of eight patients were removed with a sequestrum of bone tightly adherent to the implant. This is different from the normal pattern of implant failure. Implant failure can occur when patients with successfully integrated implants are later placed on anti-resorptive therapy, and the osteonecrosis takes a particular form where a sequestrum forms that remains adherent to the implant. Why the adjacent remaining teeth are not affected is unclear.

Task Force on Design and Analysis in Oral Health Research: Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw.

Knowledge Transfer Statement: This article discusses the proceedings of the conference organized by the Task Force on Design and Analysis in Oral Health Research on the understanding of the translational evidence on the etiology and pathogenesis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw as well as the clinical protocols on patient management.

Osteonecrosis of the jaws and bisphosphonate therapy.

Bisphosphonates are a class of agents used to treat osteoporosis and malignant bone metastases. The efficacy of these agents in treating and preventing the significant skeletal complications associated with these conditions has had a major positive impact for patients and is responsible for their widespread use in medicine. Despite these benefits, osteonecrosis of the jaws has recently emerged as a significant complication in a subset of patients receiving these drugs. Based on a growing number of case reports and institutional reviews, bisphosphonate therapy may cause exposed and necrotic bone that is isolated to the jaw. This complication usually presents following simple dento-alveolar surgery, and can cause a significant adverse effect on the quality of life for most patients. The pathogenesis for this complication appears to be related to the profound inhibition of osteoclast function and bone remodeling.

[Teleradiology with DICOM e-mail: recommendations of @GIT]. / Teleradiologie mit DICOM E-mail: Empfehlungen der @GIT.

E-mail is ideal for ad-hoc connections in teleradiology. The DICOM standard offers the possibility to append DICOM data types as a MIME attachment to any e-mail, thus ensuring the transmission of the original DICOM data. Nevertheless, there are additional requirements (e.g. protection of data privacy) which must be obeyed. Because of the lack of given standards which would grant interoperability as well as manufacturer independence, teleradiology has not been established in Germany until today. Therefore, the IT-Team (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Informationstechnologie, @GIT) of the Radiological Society of Germany (Deutsche Rontgengesellschaft, DRG) set up an initiative to standardise telemedicine by using e-mail. Its members agreed that an e-mail-based variant would be the most practicable way to a communication solution -- as easy to implement as to use. In their opinion, e-mail represents the smallest common denominator for a safe data interchange that would fulfill the legal advantages for telemedicine in Germany.

Hyaluronidase activity of rabbit skin wound granulation tissue fibroblasts.

The objective of this work was to identify and compare hyaluronidase activities of normal dermal and dermal wound granulation tissue fibroblasts. Direct evidence of the fibroblast as a source of tissue hyaluronidase was obtained. Fourth passage rabbit dermal fibroblasts were harvested on culture days 4, 8, 14, 18, and 22. Hyaluronidase activity and [35S]-sulfate- or [3H]-glucosamine-labeled glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were monitored. Hyaluronidase assays were performed on medium and cellular fractions at the designated intervals. Enzyme activity of cellular fractions for both normal dermal and 14-day post-wound granulation tissue fibroblasts increased progressively through culture day 8. Thereafter (days 14-22), an eight-fold drop in cellular activity was coupled with cell death and emergence of hyaluronidase activity in medium fractions. Marked increases in degradation of secreted matrix components were concurrent with lysis-induced release of hyaluronidase. In this culture system, hyaluronidase activity was confined exclusively to cellular fractions and was released into the medium only under non-physiological conditions conducive to cellular death and lysis. Accordingly, this work suggests that previously reported skin wound hyaluronidases may be of fibroblastic origin and that susceptible GAGs are not degraded extracellularly, but, rather, must be internalized as a prerequisite to depolymerization.

Evaluation of a social-setting detoxication program.

Nonmedical social-setting detoxication (SSD) is proposed as a safe, cost-effective program which emphasizes referral to long-term treatment. An examination of patient characteristics, program safety, utilization and cost, referral rate, and patient-staff interaction at one SSD program indicated the viability of the SSD model.

Heterotopic oral gastrointestinal cyst: report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

Oral heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst is a rare entity occurring in infants and children and showing a predilection for males. The cyst usually appears as an asymptomatic swelling in the floor of the mouth. Difficulty in feeding, swallowing, respiration, and speech have been reported in approximately 30% of those affected. The tongue-in particular, its anterior aspectis involved in up to 60% of reported cases. The clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of cases of heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst involving the anterior tongue in a 2-year-old girl and the anterior floor of the mouth in a 2-month-old boy are presented, and theories of pathogenesis are discussed.

Surgical management of lingual nerve injuries.

Injuries to the lingual nerve remain a relatively uncommon event. However, given the frequency of surgical procedures in this anatomic region, it is likely that every oral and maxillofacial surgeon will be required to manage such an injury. When spontaneous recovery of lingual sensation is absent, microsurgical reconstruction can predictably achieve improved sensation in a majority of patients provided that such injuries are properly assessed and treated early. The quality of the sensory improvement is related to the age of the patient, the timing of surgery, the extent of the neural injury, and the quality of the repair.

Trigeminal nerve injury and repair.

Injuries to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and the lingual nerve are relatively uncommon. However, there are certain routine surgical and non-surgical procedures that have the potential, albeit small, for injuring these neural structures. A review of the diagnosis, classification and management of these injuries is presented.

DNA-based species detection capabilities using laser transmission spectroscopy.

Early detection of invasive species is critical for effective biocontrol to mitigate potential ecological and economic damage. Laser transmission spectroscopy (LTS) is a powerful solution offering real-time, DNA-based species detection in the field. LTS can measure the size, shape and number of nanoparticles in a solution and was used here to detect size shifts resulting from hybridization of the polymerase chain reaction product to nanoparticles functionalized with species-specific oligonucleotide probes or with the species-specific oligonucleotide probes alone. We carried out a series of DNA detection experiments using the invasive freshwater quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) to evaluate the capability of the LTS platform for invasive species detection. Specifically, we tested LTS sensitivity to (i) DNA concentrations of a single target species, (ii) the presence of a target species within a mixed sample of other closely related species, (iii) species-specific functionalized nanoparticles versus species-specific oligonucleotide probes alone, and (iv) amplified DNA fragments versus unamplified genomic DNA. We demonstrate that LTS is a highly sensitive technique for rapid target species detection, with detection limits in the picomolar range, capable of successful identification in multispecies samples containing target and non-target species DNA. These results indicate that the LTS DNA detection platform will be useful for field application of target species. Additionally, we find that LTS detection is effective with species-specific oligonucleotide tags alone or when they are attached to polystyrene nanobeads and with both amplified and unamplified DNA, indicating that the technique may also have versatility for broader applications.

Ceftriaxone-induced pancreatitis in a pediatric patient: case report.

We describe the first case of probable ceftriaxone-induced pancreatitis in a 2-year-old child. The patient was admitted to Santobono-pausilipon Children's Hospital with fever, vomiting and diarrhea and was treated with ceftriaxone 700 mg/day by intramuscular route. After the second administration of ceftriaxone, laboratory data revealed an increase in amylase. The patient's abdomen was mildly distended and diffusely painful. Drug-induced pancreatitis was considered and ceftriaxone was immediately discontinued, but after 24 hours laboratory data showed a further increase in amylase and an increase in lipase. Three days after interruption of ceftriaxone, the child's symptoms had improved. based on a) biochemical, clinical and instrumental parameters, b) criteria of drug-induced pancreas disorders and c) the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, we made a diagnosis of probable ceftriaxone-induced pancreatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of probable primary ceftriaxone-induced pancreatitis in children.

Observation of nonmagnetic resonant scattering effects by tunneling in dilute Al-mn alloy superconductors.

We have observed the BCS-like density of states predicted for energy-gap suppression by nonmagnetic Anderson impurities in superconductors. We show that Mn impurities in Al exhibit no magnetic character and act exclusively as strong resonant scattering sites without producing time-reverse symmetry breaking of Cooper pairs (pair breaking).