Distribution of biglycan and decorin in rat dental tissue

Biglycan and decorin are small leucine-rich proteoglycans that play several biological and structural roles in different tissues and organs. Several reports have indicated that biglycan participates in odontoblast and ameloblast differentiation and in the calcification process. In the present study we show that the expression of biglycan changes from within the ameloblasts and odontoblasts to the extracellular space according to the stage of animal development. In predentin and in the pulp space, however, biglycan was continually expressed throughout the period of investigation. In contrast, decorin was absent in odontoblasts and in ameloblasts and was exclusively expressed in predentin throughout the period of observation. In young rats, however, decorin was expressed in the extracellular spaces of the pulp, where it was concentrated mainly in the peripheral pulp

The routine use of nasal topic vasoconstrictor for computerized tomography of nasal & paranasal cavities

The use of a long lasting nasal topic vasoconstrictor (NTVC) 15 minutes before CT-scans of nasal & paranasal cavities (N&PC) would be higbly advisable in order to avoid that normal or pathological transitory engorgement of the nasal mucosa can be interpreted as permanent or semipermanent changes in it, or toavoid that such transitory changes could obliterate the vision or importantanatomic or pathologic details, mostly in the middle meatus - a "K" area for interpretation of anterior sinuses inflamatory diseases. From a group of 10 patients who had CT-scans taken before and after the use of NTVC two cases ilustrates it quite well. The presence of swollen tissues not retracted by NTVC would indicate their permanent or semipermanent change. In evaluating nasal lumen patency, CT-scans after the use of NTVC - coronal or semicoronal sectionstaken for studying N&PC - can provide interesting and realistic correlations with rhinomanometric data from noses also decongested. The purpose of thisshort communication was to reiterate the advantage of NTVC use in N&PC CT-scans