Does pendimethalin develop in pancreatic cancer induced inflammation?

Pendimethalin, one of the dinitroaniline group herbicides, is applied for controlling weeds in cereals, legumes and vegetable crops, and has been classified as possible human carcinogen. It is indicated that pendimethalin should arise risks of developing some cancer types; however, there is no data on the effects of pendimethalin on pancreatic cancer-induced inflammation. Injuries resulting from by acute pancreatitis attacks and inflammation are significant factors in the development of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we investigated whether pendimethalin triggers inflammation as a mechanism of pancreatic cancer development. Parameters related to pancreatic activation, oxidative stress, and inflammation were measured in the human pancreatic (PANC-1) cell line. In the range of 0-100 µM, the levels of chymotrypsin decreased. It should be indicated that the reason for the decrease in chymotrypsin may be the high rates of cell death (20%) observed in the high concentration levels. We observed that pendimethalin significantly induced oxidative damage, while levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) did not change. The obtained results may draw attention to the usage and possible toxic effect of pendimethalin due to oxidative damage induction; however, detailed inflammation mechanisms and other cancer pathways should be investigated.

Increased apoptosis during morphogenesis of the lower cheek teeth in tabby/EDA mice.

In wild-type (WT) mice, epithelial apoptosis is involved in reducing the embryonic tooth number and the mesial delimitation of the first molar. We investigated whether apoptosis could also be involved in the reduction of tooth number and the determination of anomalous tooth boundaries in tabby (Ta)/EDA mice. Using serial histological sections and computer-aided 3D reconstructions, we investigated epithelial apoptosis in the lower cheek dentition at embryonic days 14.5-17.5. In comparison with WT mice, apoptosis was increased mainly mesially in Ta dental epithelium from day 15.5. This apoptosis showed a similar mesio-distal extent in all 5 morphotypes (Ia,b,c and IIa,b) of Ta dentition and eliminated the first cheek tooth in morphotypes IIa,b. Apoptosis did not appear to play any causal role in positioning inter-dental gaps. Analysis of the present data suggests that the increased apoptosis in Ta mice is a consequence of impaired tooth development caused by a defect in segmentation of dental epithelium.

Spotlight on lasers. A look at potential benefits.

Before lasers can be highly integrated into clinical practice, further research must prove the efficacy, efficiency, consistency and safety of this new technology. Currently, increased caries prevention and rapid laser etching are two potential benefits of laser technology.

The emerging role for lasers in endodontics and other areas of dentistry.

This article focuses on the emerging role of lasers in endodontic therapy, a discipline where lasers could significantly change the way we practice. The use of the CO2 laser in caries prevention therapy and laser etching is also discussed to illustrate how the same laser can be used for other important procedures in dental practice by simply varying the exposure parameters. Lasers will have a definitive place in dentistry in the future, but to be practical, one dental laser will have to be applicable to a number of therapeutic procedures. This article discusses just such a situation relating to a wide variety of endodontic procedures, caries preventive procedures, and laser etching of enamel. Due to its very favorable absorption on dental hard tissues, the CO2 laser will also undoubtedly be useful for many other procedures in dental practice.

Desmoplastic fibroma of the mandible.

Desmoplastic fibromas of the facial skeleton are the bony counterparts to the soft-tissue desmoid tumors and are almost exclusively confined to the mandible. The diagnosis should be considered whenever a rapidly increasing swelling with little functional disability is noted in the mandible. Historical, clinical, radiologic, and histologic findings must be correlated to establish the correct diagnosis. Every effort must be made to distinguish these lesions from well-differentiated fibrosarcomas. An illustrative case is presented. The treatment of desmoplastic fibromas affecting the facial skeleton should be conservative. Curettage is recommended for small tumors. Wide resections with reconstruction should be reserved for larger lesions and for those that have recurred after conservative treatment.

Effects of locus ceruleus and olfactory bulb stimulation on rat olfactory tubercle neuron activity.

The effects of electrical stimulation of the olfactory bulb and the locus ceruleus on olfactory tubercle neurons were examined in rat models. Ipsilateral stimulation of the olfactory bulb produced excitation in 31% of olfactory tubercle neurons tested and inhibition in 17%. Twenty-two percent of the olfactory tubercle neurons were excited, whereas 9% were inhibited by ipsilateral stimulation of the locus ceruleus. Contralateral stimulation of the locus ceruleus produced similar responses in the same neuron entities. A negative-positive evoked potential was recorded in the olfactory tubercle after ipsilateral and contralateral stimulation of the locus ceruleus. Thirty-three percent of the olfactory tubercle neurons that responded orthodromically or antidromically to stimulation of the olfactory bulb were excited by ipsilateral stimulation of the locus ceruleus. In contrast, only 10% responded with excitation to ipsilateral stimulation of the locus ceruleus among the olfactory tubercle neurons that were unresponsive to stimulation of the olfactory bulb. These findings suggest that olfactory tubercle neurons that receive input from or sending output to the olfactory bulb are influenced by the noradrenergic system of the locus ceruleus. A possible role of the olfactory tubercle in olfactory transduction will also be discussed.