CT Evaluation of mandibular bone resorption in patients with systemic sclerosis

In this study, 27 patients with scleroderma and 12 age matched healthy controls underwent full clinical examination, routine laboratory investigation, CT of the mandible and plain radiographs of the hands. Radiological evidence of resorption of the mandible and coronoid process was detected in 33.3% of the patients, all of them had diffuse skin involvement; while 66.6% showed normal mandibular radiographs. A significant difference was found between patients with mandibular resorption and those without as regards age, disease duration, facial skin thickness, extent of distal phalangeal resorption and severity of Raynaud's phenomenon. As regards the presence rheumatoid factor or severity of local pain and tenderness, no significant difference was found between patients with mandibular resorption and those without

Abnormal iron metabolism in non alcoholic steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH] is a form of liver disease resembling alcoholic liver disease in a patient who did not consume significant amount of alcohol. Our study is concerned with the relation between NASH and iron level in serum and liver tissue. 44 patients with NASH proved by liver biopsy were the subjects of our study. The investigations done to all of them included: fasting and post prandial blood glucose, hepatitis markers, lipid profile, liver function tests, serum iron, total iron binding capacity [TIBC], serum ferritin, prothrombin time and concentration, abdominal ultrasonography, ultrasonography guided liver biopsy and histopathological examination of the specimen. Our results showed elevation of the serum levels of iron, total iron biding capacity, serum ferritin and total iron score in 84% of our NASH patients. There was no significant difference in the studied iron parameters in different grades of steatosis and in different grades of activity while there was significant difference in different stages of fibrosis. Thus we might conclude that in addition to diabetes mellitus, lipid abnormalities and obesity, increased iron stores may play important role in the development of NASH and this may be through increased oxidative stress that ultimately lead to fibrosis and iron reduction might be of benefit in the treatment of this disease

Stress analysis of axial force on using two different bioceramic implants as posterior abutments for distal extension prosthesis

Stress analysis of axial force on using two different bioceramic implants [alumina and bioglass implants] were studied by using microstrain gauge technology. The results showed significant difference between stresses recorded on the buccal and lingual sites of the alumina and bioglass implants. Higher stresses were transmitted to the abutment tooth on using bioglass implant