Distinct epitope structures of defensin-like proteins linked to proline-rich regions give rise to differences in their allergenic activity.

BACKGROUND: Art v 1, Amb a 4, and Par h 1 are allergenic defensin-polyproline-linked proteins present in mugwort, ragweed, and feverfew pollen, respectively. We aimed to investigate the physicochemical and immunological features underlying the different allergenic capacities of those allergens. METHODS: Recombinant defensin-polyproline-linked proteins were expressed in E. coli and physicochemically characterized in detail regarding identity, secondary structure, and aggregation status. Allergenic activity was assessed by mediator releases assay, serum IgE reactivity, and IgE inhibition ELISA using sera of patients from Austria, Canada, and Korea. Endolysosomal protein degradation and T-cell cross-reactivity were studied in vitro. RESULTS: Despite variations in the proline-rich region, similar secondary structure elements were observed in the defensin-like domains. Seventy-four percent and 52% of the Austrian and Canadian patients reacted to all three allergens, while Korean patients were almost exclusively sensitized to Art v 1. This was reflected by IgE inhibition assays demonstrating high cross-reactivity for Austrian, medium for Canadian, and low for Korean sera. In a subgroup of patients, IgE reactivity toward structurally altered Amb a 4 and Par h 1 was not changed suggesting involvement of linear epitopes. Immunologically relevant endolysosomal stability of the defensin-like domain was limited to Art v 1 and no T-cell cross-reactivity with Art v 125-36 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite structural similarity, different IgE-binding profiles and proteolytic processing impacted the allergenic capacity of defensin-polyproline-linked molecules. Based on the fact that Amb a 4 demonstrated distinct IgE-binding epitopes, we suggest inclusion in molecule-based allergy diagnosis.

Exacerbación aguda de una lesión crónica: absceso fénix / Acute exacerbation of a chronic lesión: Phoenix abscess

El absceso fénix se produce cuando una periodontitis apical crónica ya existente es infectada secundariamente por bacterias. El comportamiento es idéntico al absceso apical agudo, presentando las mismas características clínicas e histológicas, pero la radiografía revelará una radiolucidez apical que indica la existencia de una lesión crónica. Los síntomas y los signos del absceso fénix incluyen tumefacción, dolor espontáneo e intenso de carácter pulsátil, dolor a la percusión y palpación. En los casos más avanzados, el cuadro clínico puede completarse con fiebre, malestar general y linfoadenopatía regional (AU)

The Phoenix abscess occurs where an existing chronic apical periodontitis is secondarily infected by bacteria. The behavior is identical to acute apical abscess, presenting the same clinical and histological characteristics, however X-rays reveal an apical radiolucency indicating the existence of a chronic injury. Symptoms and signs of the phoenix abscess include swelling, pain and intese throbbing in nature, pain to percussion and palpation. In more advanced cases, the clinical picture can be completed with fever, malaise, and regional lymphadenopathy (AU)

Morfología de los conductos radiculares de premolares superiores e inferiores / Anatomic mrphology of both upper and lower root canal premolars

El propósito de este estudio fue caracterizar la anatomía de los conductos radiculares de dientes premolares superiores e inferiores provenientes de pacientes espaoles. Fueron seleccionados 200 dientes premlares permanetes sometidos a diafanización. Para el estudio de los conductos radiculares se empleó la clasificacion de Vertucci. La incicia de conducto tipo I (un conducto) para los primeros premolares superiores fue de 5,88%, mientres que un 88,22% presentó dos conductos (de tipo II a tipo VI). Sólo el 5,88% de los primeros premolares superiores fueron tipos VIII (tres conductos). En los segundos premolares superiores, la incidencia de un conduto (tipo I) fue de 39, 65% y el 60,31• presentaron dos conductos ( de tipo II a tipo VII). La incidencia e un conducto (tipo I) fue de 68,18% para los primeros premolares inferiores y un 31,8%) presentó dos conductos (de tipo II a tipo V). En los segundos premolares inferiores, la incidencia de tipo I (un conducto) fue de 73,91%, mientras que el 26,08% presentó dos conductos (de tipo IV a V). Salvo en el caso del segundo premolar inferir, nuestros resultados coincidieron con los detrabajos previos hechos en otras poblaciones (AU)

The aim of this investigation was to study the root canal anatomy of maxillary and mandibular premolars teeth form Spanish population, 200 extracted permanet premolars were studied using a clearing technique. The exaination of root canal systems of the teeth was based on Vertucci´s clssification. The incidence of type I canal (one canal) for the maxillary first premolars was 5,88% whereas 88,22% of the total samples showed two canals (from type II to type VI), Only 5,88% of maxillary first premolars were type VIII (three canals). In maxillary second premolars, the incidence of type I (one canal) was 39.65%, whreas it was 60,31% for type II to type VII (two canals). Regarding mandibular premlars, the incidece of type I (one canal) for the mandibular first preolars was 68,18% and 31,8% for type II to type V (Two canals). In the mandibular second premolars, the incidence of type I (one canal) was 73,91% and 26,08% for type IV to V (two canals). Except for the second mandibular premolar, our results were in accordance with previous studies referred in the literature (AU)

Técnicas de diafanización: estudio comparativo / No disponible

Las técnicas de diafanización dental, han sido frecuentemente empleadas para evaluar diferentes aspectos anatómicos y endodóncicos, son muy variables y se utilizan principalmente con objetivos docentes. El propósito de éste estudio consistió en comparar la transparencia y dureza de la dentina entre grupos de dientes diafanizados mediante diferentes técnicas y comparar además su eventual idoneidad para realizar técnicas endodóncicas. Las técnicas de diafanización empleadas fueron: la técnica de Okumura-Aprile, Venturi, Robertson y dos modificaciones de esta última. Para el análisis de los datos obtenidos de la transparencia se utilizó un modelo de análisis de varianza (ANOVA) a dos vías y el test Tukey HSD (Tukey Honest Significant Difference). Los datos obtenidos de la dureza fueron analizados mediante el Test de Medicanas y el Test de Mann-Whitney. Nuestro resultados demuestran que la dureza de la dentina de los dientes diafanizados es igual independientemente de la técnica utilizada, mientras que la transparencia de los dientes diafanizados sí difiere de manera significativa en función de la técnica utilizada(AU)

The clearing technique has been proposed to evaluate different anatomical and endodontic aspects, they are very variable and they are used mainly with educational objective. The purpose of this study consisted in to compare the transparency and hardness of the dentin between groups of cleared teeth by different techniques and to compare in addition its possible suitability to make endodontic techniques. The clearing techniques used were: Okumura-Aprile, Venturi, Robertson and two modified Robertson techniques. The resultant data of transparency was analyzed by two-way ANOVA test and HDS (Honest Significant Difference) Turkey test. The Means test and Mann-Whitney test were employed to compare the hardness. It is concluded that that the hardness of the dentin of the cleared teeth is equal independently of the used technique, whereas the transparency of the cleared teeth differs form significant way based on the used technique(AU)

The Declaration of Sydney on human death.

On 5 August 1968, publication of the Harvard Committee's report on the subject of "irreversible coma" established a standard for diagnosing death on neurological grounds. On the same day, the 22nd World Medical Assembly met in Sydney, Australia, and announced the Declaration of Sydney, a pronouncement on death, which is less often quoted because it was overshadowed by the impact of the Harvard Report. To put those events into present-day perspective, the authors reviewed all papers published on this subject and the World Medical Association web page and documents, and corresponded with Dr A G Romualdez, the son of Dr A Z Romualdez. There was vast neurological expertise among some of the Harvard Committee members, leading to a comprehensible and practical clinical description of the brain death syndrome and the way to diagnose it. This landmark account had a global medical and social impact on the issue of human death, which simultaneously lessened reception of the Declaration of Sydney. Nonetheless, the Declaration of Sydney faced the main conceptual and philosophical issues on human death in a bold and forthright manner. This statement differentiated the meaning of death at the cellular and tissue levels from the death of the person. This was a pioneering view on the discussion of human death, published as early as in 1968, that should be recognised by current and future generations.

Recognizing a mother's voice in the persistent vegetative state.

We studied an 8-year-old boy after a near-drowning left him in a vegetative state (VS) for 4 years before the study. Findings fulfilled all clinical criteria for the diagnosis of VS. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was significant differential activation of the brain in response to hearing his mother's voice compared with the voices of unknown women. The data were assessed using quantitative electric tomography (QEEGt), a technique that combines anatomical information of the brain by MRI with EEG patterns to estimate the sources of the EEG within the brain. We found significant differences for EEG frequencies from 14-58 Hz, with a peak at 33.2 Hz (gamma band). The 3D reconstruction showed that these statistical differences were localized in the lateral and posterior regions of the left hemisphere. No significant differences were found between unknown women vs. basal conditions. These results demonstrate recognition of the mother's voice and indicate high-level residual linguistic processing in a patient meeting clinical criteria for VS. These findings launch new ethical and practical implications for the management of VS patients.

Manejo del diente permanente traumatizado con fractura radicular: reporte de un caso / Root fractures treatment in permanent dentition. A case report

Las fracturas radiculares son lesiones que involucran pulpa, dentina, cemento y ligamento periodontal; y comprenden del 0.5 al 7% de las lesiones traumáticas en la dentición permanente. El siguiente caso describe el tratamiento de una fractura radicular horizontal a nivel apical en un incisivo superior permanente. El paciente sufrió un traumatismo dental y al cabo de seis meses asistió a la consulta odontológica. La línea de fractura fue tratada con agregado trióxido mineral MTA (ProRoot - Denstply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa OK). Clínicamente, el diente presenta disminución de la movilidad y ausencia de síntomas clínicos

Root fractures, defined as fractures involving dentin, cementum and pulp, comprising 0.5 to 7% of the injuries affecting the permanent dentition. A case report of the treatment of maxillary permanent incisor with horizontal root fracture is presented. Patient reported accidental trauma, which occurred several months ago. A radiolucent lesion at the fracture line was treated with mineral trioxide aggregate MTA (ProRoot - Denstply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa OK). Clinically, the teeth became firm and asymptomatic

Primer premolar superior contres raíces. A propósito de un caso clínico / Upper first premolar with three roots. A clinical case review

Los premolares superiores presentan una alta incidencia de variaciones morfológicas. Este artículo describe el diagnóstico y manejo clínico de un premolar superior con tres raíces, prestando particular atención a la interpretación radiográfica y modificaciones del acceso. Los clínicos deben estar atentos de las variaciones anatómicas en los premolares superiores y deben ser capaces de aplicar estos conocimientos en la interpretación clínica y radiográfica, con el fin de lograr una completa limpieza y conformación del sistema de conductos radiculares

Maxillary premolars bave a highly variable root canal morphology. This article describes the diagnosis and clinical management of a first premolar with three canals and three separate roots, drawing particular attention to radiograpbic interpretation and access refinements. Clinicians should be aware of anatomical variations in maxillary premolars and be able to apply this knowledge in radiograpbic and clinical interpretation. Complex premolar anatomy may be predictably managed following its identification and negotiation

The role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and type beta transforming growth factor (TGF-beta 1-beta 2-beta 3) during rat craniofacial development.

Growth factors seem to be part of a complex cellular signalling language, in which individual growth factors are the equivalents of the letters that compose words. According to this analogy, informational content lies, not in an individual growth factor, but in the entire set of growth factors and others signals to which a cell is exposed. The ways in which growth factors exert their combinatorial effects are becoming clearer as the molecular mechanisms of growth factors actions are being investigated. A number of related extracellular signalling molecules that play widespread roles in regulating development in both invertebrates and vertebrates constitute the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) and type beta Transforming Growth Factor (TGF beta). The latest research literature about the role and fate of these Growth factors and their influence in the craniofacial bone growth ad development is reviewed.

[Infantile hydrocephalus: long-term results in 102 patients and the importance of neurosonography]. / Hidrocefalia infantil: resultados tardios em 102 pacientes e importância da neuro-sonografia.

A personal series (in 94% of the cases) of 102 children who underwent 170 procedures (1.66 procedures/patient) for hydrocephalus has been followed for 5 1/2 years (Jan-83 to June-88). Most of the children were under two years of age (80%) and in these cases brain sonography was the examination of choice for both diagnosis and follow-up (307 examinations, 4.4 per patient). Only occasionally was computed tomography necessary for better study in these cases. Our results suggest that there was no significant difference between our cases and those published in the literature concerning the number or procedures/patient (1.66)., infection rate (5.2%), mortality rate (6.8%) and intellectual performance. We recommend the use of brain sonography both in diagnosis and follow-up studies for hydrocephalic children since this examination is innocuous, inexpensive and easy to perform by neurosurgeons. Also it provides a good interaction between the examiner, the child and the parents, which is of utmost importance for the comprehension of the disease by the parents and early diagnosis of complications by the neurosurgeon.