Serum levels of BMP-2, 4, 7 and AHSG in patients with degenerative joint disease requiring total arthroplasty of the hip and temporomandibular joints.

To date, there is no objective or reliable means of assessing the severity of degenerative joint disease (DJD) and need for joint replacement surgery. Hence, it is difficult to know when an individual with DJD has reached a point where total arthroplasty is indicated. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether serum levels of Alpha-2 HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) as well as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2, 4, 7) can be used to predict the presence of severe DJD of the hip and/or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) (specifically: joints that require replacement). A total of 30 patients scheduled for arthroplasty (diseased) (15 HIP, 15 TMJ) and 120 age-matched controls (healthy/non-diseased) were included. Blood samples were collected from all patients ≥8 weeks after the last arthroplasty. Concentrations of serum analytes were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and these were compared between the Diseased and Healthy groups, utilizing the Mann-Whitney U-test. Patients with disease had significantly higher levels of BMP-2 and BMP-4 and lower levels of AHSG in serum compared to non-diseased humans (p < 0.01). Higher levels of BMP-2, 4 and reduced levels of AHSG appear to characterize patients who have DJD that is severe enough to require total joint replacement. Perhaps measurements of these proteins can be used to make objective decisions regarding the need for total arthroplasty as opposed to the current subjective approaches.

Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy with extensive heterotopic ossification of the oral and maxillofacial region: how fetuin research may help a seemingly impossible condition.

Albright"s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) is a complex genetic disorder characterized by brachydactyly, gonadotropin resistance, hypothyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroid syndrome and heterotopic ossification. Heterotopic ossification rarely occurs in the maxillofacial region. In this article, we present such a case, describe the etiology, characteristics and treatment of AHO and suggest a potential role of an inhibitor of bone formation such as fetuin in preventing recurrence of aberrant ossification.

Do eating disorders and chronic facial pain coexist? A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Although eating disorders and chronic facial pain have been documented for many years, no studies have investigated the coexistence of these disorders. Both conditions are chronic, possess an underlying psychologic component to their origin and are associated with other psychiatric comorbidites. The objective of this descriptive study was to determine the prevalence of chronic facial pain in a population of patients with eating disorders. In addition, eating disorder symptoms were investigated in a patient population with chronic facial pain. METHODS: The study group was composed of 110 patients from 2 eating disorder programs and 78 patients from a chronic facial pain treatment centre participated in the study. All patients received 2 standarized questionnaires, the Eating Attitudes Test 26 (EAT-26) and the Hapak questionnaire, to determine the presence of symptoms associated with an eating disorder or a temporomandibular disorder, respectively. RESULTS: Using a digital analog scale, 60.9% of those in the eating disorder population reported some form of facial pain currently or in the recent past. Only 2 patients in the chronic facial pain population scored above the threshold for significant eating disorder symptoms. DISCUSSION: This pilot study describes the coexistence of chronic pain in an eating disorder population. The presence of chronic pain may interefere in the treatment provided to patients with eating disorders.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the face: a rare but dangerous complication of dental infection.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the face is extremely rare. However, dentists should be familiar with the presentation of this condition because of the suddenness of its onset, the rapidity of its spread, the resulting drastically disfiguring morbidity and the high rate of mortality associated with it. In this paper, we describe the presentation and treatment of a 57-year-old woman with necrotizing fasciitis of the face and neck due to dental causes and discuss factors in the management of this life-threatening condition.

Sensory receptors on the adult labial and maxillary palpi and galea of Cicindela sexguttata (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae).

Five types of sensilla are situated on the apical area of the labial and maxillary palpi and galea of Cicidela sexguttata. Large, conical, and peg-like sensilla are in rows on the central region of each palpus. These sensilla have a hollow cuticular peg, with an apical pore and multi-innervation. This central region of palpal sensilla is surrounded by campaniform sensilla that are disc-shaped and small conical peg sensilla. A similar type of conical sensillum as the found in the palpal central region is situated around the periphery of the palpal apex and apex of the galea. This conical peg sensillum is located in a shallow depression and is structurally similar to the other peg sensilla, but it has a mechanoreceptor neuron attached to the cuticular base of the sensillum. A long, single, trichoid sensillum is situated in the center of the galea and is hollow, thick-walled, porous, and multi-innervated. The apices of the palpi and galea have a large number of dermal gland openings that actively secrete a substance during the feeding process of the tiger beetle. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Sensilla on the mouthparts and antennae of the elephant louse, Haematomyzus elephantis piaget (Phthiraptera: Haematomyzidae).

The labial palpus of the elephant louse Haematomyzus elephantis has six sensilla that represent three different types: trichoid, basiconic, and styloconic. Two rows of basiconic sensilla are situated on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the rostrum, and each row consists of three sensilla. Male and female antennae have 15-17 trichoid sensilla situated on the scape, pedicel, and three antennal annuli. Both sexes have two sensilla basiconica on the dorsal surface of the pedicel near the junction of the scape and pedicel. Two coeloconic (tuft) sensilla are situated on the antennae of both sexes, one sensillum on each of the last two annuli. There are three plate organs, two on the last annulus and one on the penultimate annulus of the male and female antennae. Sexual dimorphism is exhibited in the male and female antennae, in that the male has about twice as many sensilla basiconica on the apex of the last annulus as does the female. The total number of sensilla basiconica on the apex of the male antennae is at least two times the number that is known to be present in any other species of lice. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.