ABSTRACT
A dentigerous cyst or follicular cyst is an odontogenic cyst - thought to be of developmental origin - associated with the crown of an unerupted tooth. Such cyst remain initially completely asymptomatic unless when infected. The purpose of this case report was to describe the diagnosis and management of dentigerous cyst in a 9-year-old boy. The chosen treatment was cyst enucleation and tooth extraction.
Subject(s)
Dentigerous Cyst/diagnosis , Dentigerous Cyst/surgery , Mandibular Diseases/diagnosis , Mandibular Diseases/surgery , Child , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Radiography, Panoramic , Tooth ExtractionABSTRACT
Concentrations of 15 elements were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in brain, spinal cord, blood cells, serum and nails of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients and appropriately matched control subjects. Several significant imbalances were detected in trace element levels in ALS samples compared to control samples. Some of these changes are probably secondary to the loss of tissue mass, especially in spinal cord. However the widespread changes observed in Hg and Se levels in ALS tissues deserve special attention. The significance of these alterations in trace element levels in relation to the pathogenesis of ALS is discussed.
Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/metabolism , Trace Elements/metabolism , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/blood , Blood Cells/metabolism , Brain/metabolism , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Female , Humans , Male , Motor Cortex/metabolism , Nails/metabolism , Neutron Activation Analysis , Organ Specificity/physiology , Sex Factors , Spinal Cord/metabolism , Trace Elements/bloodABSTRACT
Although the etiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are still unknown, it has been suggested that perturbations in element metabolism may play a role. Even if not causative factors, these imbalances may prove to be markers that could aid in diagnosis. We have employed a sequential neutron activation analysis (NAA) procedure to determine elemental concentrations in brain, hair, fingernails, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of these patients and age-matched controls. Samples are first irradiated with accelerator-produced 14-MeV neutrons for determination of nitrogen and phosphorus, then with reactor thermal neutrons for the instrumental determination of 16-18 minor and trace elements, and, finally, reactor-irradiated again, followed by a rapid radiochemical separation procedure (RNAA) to determine four additional elements. Major advantages of NAA are: (1) its simultaneous multielement capability; (2) the relative freedom from reagent and laboratory contamination; (3) the absence of major matrix effects; and (4) an adequate sensitivity for most elements of interest. Ranges of concentrations by INAA and RNAA in selected control tissues and interelement correlations in control brain are presented to illustrate results obtained by the procedure. Longitudinal studies of tissues from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients are still in progress.
