IAN5 polymorphisms are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a representative autoimmune disease, which is frequently associated with lymphopenia. Biobreeding (BB) rat is a typical animal model which develops autoimmune diseases with lymphopenia which results from a frame-shift mutation in the immune-associated nucleotide (IAN) 5 gene. IAN5 is involved in the regulation of T-cell activation and survival. To examine the association of IAN5 gene with SLE, we scrutinised the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IAN5 gene. We conducted a case-control study where 132 SLE patients, 505 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and 546 controls were genotyped for four SNPs in the IAN5 gene. Two SNPs (+2071C > T and +2677G > A) were associated with susceptibility to SLE (P = 0.040 and 0.045, respectively), and -4432G > A SNP was associated with the development of leukopenia (P = 0.028) and the requirement of steroid pulse therapy (P = 0.040) in SLE patients. Haplotype analyses showed that Ht1(CTCG) was associated with susceptibility to SLE (P = 0.036), and Ht4(ACCG), Ht5(ACTA) and Ht6(GCCG) were associated with the development of nephritis (P = 0.017, 0.019, 0.022, respectively). In conclusion, the IAN5 polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility to SLE and the development of clinical disease manifestations in a strictly Korean population.

Difference in the distribution pattern of Helicobacter pylori and grade of gastritis in the antrum and in the body between duodenal ulcer and benign gastric ulcer patients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization and the grade of gastritis in the antrum and in the body of patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) or benign gastric ulcer (BGU). METHODS: This study was performed in H. pylori-positive 220 DU patients and 180 BGU patients. H. pylori density was evaluated by modified Giemsa staining and CLO test, and gastritis grade was graded by H&E staining in the antrum and in the body. RESULTS: H. pylori grade by Giemsa staining was 1.24 in the antrum and 0.82 in the body for DU group (p < 0.01), and those of BGU group were slightly reversed, 0.83 and 0.87, respectively, but without statistical significance. Similarly H. pylori grade by CLO test was 3.1 in the antrum and 2.8 in the body for DU group (p < 0.01), and those of BGU group 2.3 and 2.6 (p < 0.05), respectively. In contrast, gastritis grade was 1.7 in the antrum and 1.2 in the body for DU group (p < 0.01), and those of BGU group 1.6 and 1.3 (p < 0.01), respectively, similar to those of DU. However, there was a correlation between H. pylori grade and gastritis grade in the antrum and in the body, not only in DU but also in BGU group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In spite of different distribution patterns of H. pylori between DU group and BGU group, gastritis grade of the antrum was significantly higher than that of the body in both DU and BGU. However, gastritis is correlated with H. pylori density not only in DU but also in BGU patients. It looks like the inflammatory reaction to H. pylori is stronger in the antrum than in the body.

Bond strength of younger and older permanent teeth with various etching times.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the tensile bond strength and debonding failure mode in younger and older permanent teeth after etching for 15 and 60 seconds. Bond strength did not change significantly when etching time was increased from 15 to 60 seconds in younger or older permanent teeth. However, regardless of etching time, the bond strength of the older permanent teeth was greater than that of the younger teeth with statistically significant differences. Four types of debonding interface were found; bracket base-resin, within the resin, resin-enamel and enamel detachment. There were no statistically significant differences noted among younger and older permanent teeth with 15 or 60 second etching fracture mode incidence at debondings. Enamel detachment was found only at etching times of 60 seconds. To reduce enamel destruction and save chair time, 15 second etching on either younger or older permanent teeth is suggested.

The effect of pretreatment with fluoride on the tensile strength of orthodontic bonding.

White spot decalcifications and caries occurring adjacent to bonded orthodontic brackets have long been a concern to orthodontists. One procedure suggested to overcome this problem is fluoride treatment prior to bonding. The purpose of this study was to compare the tensile bond strength of orthodontic self-cured resin from Concise on teeth rinsed 4 minutes in 1.23% APF with untreated controls. Measurements were made on an Instron machine. Debonding interfaces were observed with a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry. Distributions were calculated. The tensile bond strengths of the fluoride-treated teeth and the untreated teeth were not significantly different. The debonding interfaces between resin and bracket base, within the resin itself, and between enamel and resin were similar in the two experimental groups. However, greater enamel detachment was seen within the fluoride pretreatment group. So while fluoride pretreatment does not significantly affect tensile bond strength, it may cause enamel detachment after debonding.