The distribution of muscle primary afferents from the masseter nerve to the trigeminal sensory nuclei

Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase--wheat germ agglutinin conjugate was used to study the pattern of termination of somatic afferent fibers innervating the masseter muscle within the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex (TSNC) of the cat. The central processes of the masseteric nerve terminated in the caudal third of the pars interpolaris, and laminae I/V through the caudal two-thirds of caudalis and rostral parts of the C1 spinal cord segment. The functional significance of the masseteric afferent projections to the TSNC with a preferential pattern was discussed, particularly with respect to muscle pain.     

Photostimulation of osteogenic differentiation on silk scaffolds by plasma arc light source

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used for more than 30 years to heal wounds. In recent years, LLLT or photostimulation has been indicated as an effective tool for regenerative and dental medicine by using monochromatic light. The aim of this study is to indicate the usability of plasma arc light source for bone regeneration. This is why we used polychromatic light source providing effective wavelengths in the range of 590–1500 nm for cellular response and investigated photostimulation effects on osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) seeded on 3D silk scaffolds. Cellular responses were examined by using cell culture methods in terms of proliferation, differentiation, and morphological analyses. The results showed that photostimulation with a polychromatic light source (applied for 5 min from the 3rd day after seeding up to the 28th day in 2-day intervals with 92-mW/cm² power from 10-cm distance to the cells) enhanced osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs according to higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen and calcium content, osteogenic gene expressions, and matrix mineralization. In conclusion, we suggest that the plasma arc light source that was used here has a great potential for bone regeneration.     

Long-term outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent liver resection using microwave tissue coagulation

Background/Aims. Our policy for the surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been to minimize the extent of liver resection using a microwave tissue coagulator (MTC) and to not perform Pringle''s maneuver for the prevention of ischemic injury to the liver routinely. We verify the safety of liver resection using MTC in HCC patients with poor liver functional reserve, and clarify the long-term outcome of HCC patients who underwent curative resection using MTC. Methodology. One hundred sixty-eight patients who underwent curative resection using MTC between 1992 and 2001 were divided into two groups according each patient''s score in the Indocyanin Green Retension 15 Test (ICG-R15 test). The high (ICG-R15 values>20) and low ICG-R15 groups (ICG-R15 values<20) included 100 and 68 HCC patients, respectively. Clinical characteristics of each group were evaluated, and operative mortality and morbidity, as well as overall and disease-free survival rates, were compared between the two groups to determine risk factors for overall and disease-free survival. Results. Although there were significant differences in liver function-related parameters between the low and high ICG-R15 groups, no differences in surgical or tumor factors were found. No patients in this study developed post-operative liver failure, and there was no significant difference in morbidity between the low and high ICG-R15 groups. The overall survival rate of the low ICG-R15 group was significantly longer than the high ICG-R15 group (p=0.0003). Cox''s multivariate analysis showed that an ICG-R15 value less than 20 was the only significant independent factor for overall survival. Disease-free survival rates in the low ICG-R15 group were significantly longer than in the high ICG-R15 group (p=0.0007). Multivariate analysis showed that serum albumin level and number of tumors were significant independent factors for disease-free survival. Conclusion. The long-term outcome of HCC patients with low ICG-R15 following curative resection using MTC was acceptable. This procedure was safe even for patients with high ICG-R15.     

Hormonal and reproductive factors in relation to melanoma in women: current review and meta-analysis

A number of studies have focused on possible relationships between characteristics of female endocrine status and melanoma (CM) risk; however, the link between melanoma, oral contraceptive (OC) and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) use, and reproductive factors remains controversial. A comprehensive, systematic bibliographic search of the medical literature was conducted to identify relevant studies. Random effects models were used to summarise results. Subgroup, meta-regression and sensitivity analyses have been carried out to explore sources of between-study variation and bias. We included thirty-six observational studies published in the last 30 years. Summarising a total of 5626 melanoma cases, we did not find any significant melanoma risk associated with OC and HRT use. Several reproductive factors were also investigated, summarising data on 16787 melanoma cases. We found a significantly increased melanoma risk for late age at first birth, and women with more than one child may be at a lower risk for melanoma; however, socio-economic confounders were found to play a significant role in explaining this association. This study confirmed no increased risk of CM with the use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy: exogenous female hormones do not contribute to an increased risk of CM. In contrast, significant associations of CM with parity and age at first pregnancy were observed in this meta-analysis finds and warrant further research.     

Representation of upper and lower primary teeth in the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex in the young dog

Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin conjugate entrapped in polyacrylamide gel was used to study the patterns of termination of primary afferents that innervate the upper and lower primary tooth pulps within the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex of the young dog. The lower and upper primary tooth pulp afferents projected to the subnucleus dorsalis of the principal nucleus, the rostrodorsomedial part and subnucleus dorsomedialios (Vo.dm) of the parts oralis, the nucleus of the intermediate plexus (Vi.ip) of the pars interpolaris, and laminae I, II and V of the caudalis. The lower and upper primary teeth were topographically represented in the Vo.dm, rostrocaudal mid-levels of Vi.ip and in laminae I/V of the caudal levels of the pars caudalis, whereas an extensive overlapped projection was seen in other subdivisions.     

Respiratory diseases in hard metal workers: an occupational hygiene study in a factory

A hygiene study of a hard metal factory was conducted from 1981 to 1984. All workers exposed to hard metal were medically examined and their exposure to cobalt measured. Eighteen employees had occupational asthma related to exposure to hard metal, a prevalence rate of 5.6%. Nine had a positive bronchial provocation test to cobalt and reactions of the immediate, late, or dual type were elicited. Exposure measurements suggest that asthma may be caused by cobalt at a mean time weighted average concentration below 0.05 mg/m3. Only two of the nine individuals with cobalt asthma had a positive patch test to cobalt. Chest radiographs of three workers showed diffuse shadows of category 1 or over. X ray microanalysis of lung biopsy specimens from two of these three workers showed the presence of tungsten, titanium, cobalt, nickel, and some minerals. One of the two was diagnosed as having pneumoconiosis due to exposure to silica in a steel industry and the other was suspected of having pulmonary fibrosis caused by dust generated from the carborundum wheels used to grind hard metal. There were no cases with interstitial pneumonitis in the factory.