Immunogenicity of meningococcal ACYW135 polysaccharide vaccine in Saudi children 5 to 9 years of age.

Meningococcal tetravalent polysaccharide vaccines were observed to be immunogenic in Saudi children 5 to 9 years of age, with >90% having serum bactericidal antibody titers of > or = 8 for serogroups A, Y, and W135; for serogroup C, 77% were putatively protected after vaccination.

Serologic responses to ACYW135 polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine in Saudi children under 5 years of age.

An immunization campaign with meningococcal ACYW135 polysaccharide vaccine was conducted in 2003 by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health and included a study to evaluate the immune responses in children under 5 years of age in the Al Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Children who were >/=24 months old were given one dose of tetravalent polysaccharide vaccine, while younger children were given two doses with an interval of 2 to 3 months. Blood samples were collected prevaccination and 1 month after the second dose for children younger than 24 months old and 1 month after the single dose for older children. Serogroup-specific antibody responses were determined by serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) assays and a tetraplex immunoglobulin G (IgG) bead assay. Significant increases in the proportions of individuals who were >/=24 months old with SBA titers of >/=8 were observed pre- to postvaccination for all serogroups. Age-dependent increases in the percentage of individuals with SBA titers of >/=8 1 month postvaccination were observed for each serogroup. Age-dependent increases in postvaccination IgG levels were observed for serogroup A (menA), serogroup W135 (menW), and serogroup Y (menY) but not for serogroup C (menC). Two doses of tetravalent polysaccharide vaccine in individuals who were /=8. A high percentage of subjects who were >/=2 years of age were putatively protected for menA; a similar level was observed for menY for children who were 4 years of age but not for younger children. However, for menC and menW poor levels of putative protection were still evident at 4 years of age.

Clinical evaluation of bacterial leakage of endodontic temporary filling materials.

This study was an in vivo comparison of the bacterial leakage associated with three endodontic temporary restorative materials: Cavit, Intermediate Restorative Material (IRM), and TERM. The access openings of 51 endodontically treated teeth were randomly sealed with a 4-mm thickness of one of the three materials. Three wk after placement of each temporary restoration, bacterial leakage was evaluated by sampling from beneath the temporary restoration and then culturing the samples both aerobically and anaerobically. Positive growth occurred in 4 of 14 TERM samples and in 1 of 18 IRM samples. Cavit did not demonstrate leakage in any of the teeth in which it was used. Cavit provided a significantly better seal than TERM over the study period.

A comparison of pulpectomy alone versus pulpectomy with trephination for the relief of pain.

Patients who when initially seen have pain of endodontic origin have a higher incidence of posttreatment pain than those who are pain-free pretreatment. The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of treatment--pulpectomy alone or pulpectomy with trephination--for the reduction of posttreatment pain in patients presenting with acute periradicular pain of pulpal origin. Seventeen patients with pretreatment pain were studied. Eleven received a pulpectomy to the radiographically determined working length. Six patients received a pulpectomy and trephination using a #4 round bur through a vertical incision. Visual analog scales were used preoperatively to measure pain intensity and unpleasantness, and postoperatively to measure intensity, unpleasantness, and pain relief at 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Analysis of preoperative data showed no difference between control and experimental groups. Posttreatment, at 4 h, the trephination group reported significantly more pain intensity and unpleasantness and less pain relief than the control group. Pulpectomy alone provided significantly better postoperative pain relief at 4 h compared with pulpectomy with trephination. At no time interval did the trephination group have less pain than the group without trephination.

An in vitro evaluation of microleakage of a new root canal sealer.

An in vitro dye leakage study was performed to compare the apical microleakage of Ketac-Endo root canal sealer with that of Roth's 801E and AH26 sealers. Sixty-four single-rooted human teeth were instrumented and randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were obturated with laterally condensed gutta-percha and either Roth's 801E, AH26, or Ketac-Endo as the sealer. A fourth group was obturated using a single master cone and the Ketac-Endo sealer. The teeth were suspended in 1% methylene blue dye for 6 days. The teeth were then longitudinally sectioned and evaluated for linear apical dye penetration. In general, Ketac-Endo root canal sealer showed greater dye penetration than Roth's 801E and AH26. There was no statistical difference in leakage between the laterally condensed Ketac-Endo group and the single-cone-obturated Ketac-Endo group.

Histological response to titanium endodontic endosseous implants in dogs.

Endodontic endosseous implants stabilize teeth that have crown-root ratios compromised by periodontal disease, trauma, or apical resorption. By increasing the crown-root ratio, the implant improves the prognosis of the tooth, thus increasing its longevity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in vivo, the healing response to a newly introduced titanium endodontic implant. Eight implants were placed in the maxillary incisors and mandibular premolars of two adult beagle dogs after completion of root canal and osseous preparation. Peri-implant tissues were examined radiographically and histologically at 6 months postinsertion. Radiographically, the periapical area and tissue surrounding the implants seemed normal. Histologically, fibrous connective tissue and healthy bone intimately surrounded the implant. Epithelium or chronic inflammatory cells were not observed along the length of the implant. These findings suggest that titanium is a biocompatible metal when used as an endodontic endosseous implant.

Use of an electronic apex locator on a cardiac pacemaker patient.

Modern cardiac pacemakers are complex and heterogenous devices. The potential effect of electrically powered instruments on a patient's pacemaker function must be carefully evaluated before treatment. Interference with the pacemaker's function by the instrument depends on the specific type of pacemaker placed and the patient's dependence on it. A case is presented in which an electronic apex locator was used on a patient with a pacemaker, despite the manufacturer's written warning to the contrary. The patient's cardiologist was consulted before treatment.

Central odontogenic fibroma mimicking a lesion of endodontic origin.

The central odontogenic fibroma is a rarely reported lesion that can be associated with vital teeth. Although it is uncommon and unlikely to recur after enucleation, the central odontogenic fibroma should be considered in a differential diagnosis of radiolucencies associated with vital teeth. This case report presents the radiographic and clinical signs of a central odontogenic fibroma occurring in the maxillary anterior region.