ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To investigate the frequency of non-syndromic distomolars in a Greek population sample. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population of this retrospective study consisted of 859 Orthopantomograms (OPGs) of 425 male and 434 female patients, attended the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Dental School of Athens seeking for treatment. The OPGs were taken as a part of the patients treatment planning. Patients' mean age was 33.57 years. Exclusion criteria from this study was cleft lip ± palate and diseases associated with systemic conditions and syndromes (such as cleidocranial dysplasia and Gardner syndrome). OPGs were only included in the study if at least one 3rd molar was present. The data collected were the number of 3rd molars, the number of distomolars, the age and the gender of each patient, information concerning previous extraction of 3rd molars. Statistical evaluation of the data included descriptive and bivariate analyses (Chi-square test and Spearman's rho correlation coefficient). In an attempt to further estimate the correlation between the presence of upper and lower 3rd conditions we assumed that the absence of 3rd molars, the presence of 3rd molars, and the presence of distomolars was ordinal in nature and we calculated the Spearman Correlation Coefficient. RESULTS: The number of distomolars was greater in the maxilla than in the mandible. In the maxilla the distomolars were located almost equally in both left and right side. It was more possible lower left distomolars to be present in males than in females. Furthermore, males present higher prevalence of supernumerary teeth than females. CONCLUSIONS: Early radiographic diagnosis of distomolars is fundamental so as to prevent complications such malocclusion, delayed eruption or displacement root or/ and resorption of adjacent teeth, pulp necrosis, follicular cyst, pain. KEY WORDS: Non syndromic, distomolars, supernumerary molars, fourth molars.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although ischemic colitis (IC) usually occurs in old people with concomitant illnesses, an increasing frequency of this disease among young people has been reported. Inherited risk factors have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of IC. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and possible role of mutations associated with cardiovascular morbidity in young patients with IC. METHODS: Patients younger than 55 years old with nonocclusive colon ischemia who were conservatively treated were included in the study. The diagnosis of definite IC was based on established clinical, endoscopic, and histologic criteria. Twelve polymorphisms of thrombophilic and vasoactive genes were evaluated in a group of 19 young patients with IC compared with 52 matched healthy controls (HC) by using commercially available kit. RESULTS: The frequency of the 506 Q allele of the factor V (FV) 506 RQ (Leiden) mutation was significantly higher in patients with IC than in HC (P = .005). The allele frequency of the mutant 4G allele of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) polymorphism was significantly higher in patients with IC compared with HC (P = .006). The frequencies of the genotypes and mutant alleles of the other 10 polymorphisms were not statistically different in the 2 groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that FV R506Q and PAI-1 gene polymorphisms might be associated with the development of IC in young patients without other serious illness. Genetic predisposition might play an important role in the pathogenesis of IC in young patients.
