Effects of alpha-lipoic acid therapy on experimentally induced apical periodontitis: a biochemical, histopathological and micro-CT analysis.

AIM: To investigate the possible therapeutic effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in a model of chronic apical periodontitis in rats by analysing biochemical, histopathological and micro-CT parameters. METHODOLOGY: The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Near East University. Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into four groups of eight rats each: Control Group; ALA Group; AP Group; AP + ALA Group. In the AP and AP + ALA groups, the pulp chambers of the mandibular first molars were surgically exposed and were left open to the oral environment for 4-weeks to allow the establishment of periapical lesions. The rats in the Control and AP groups were treated intraperitoneally with saline solution (with a daily dose of 100 mg kg-1 , for 28 days after periapical lesion induction). The rats in the ALA and AP + ALA groups were treated intraperitoneally with ALA (with a daily dose of 100 mg kg-1 , for 28 days after periapical lesion induction). After decapitation, the trunk blood was collected for the assessment of biochemical parameters. The mandibles were surgically removed and dissected for histopathologic analysis and further scanned with micro-CT. Groups of data were compared with a two-way analysis of variance (two-way anova) followed by Sidak's multiple comparison tests. Values of P < 0.05 were regarded as significant. RESULTS: TNF-α, IL-1ß, MMP-1, MMP-2 levels were significantly lower in AP + ALA group compared with AP group (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the AP and AP + ALA groups according to assessment of the inflammatory scores (P < 0.05). The periapical inflammatory infiltrates were significantly more severe (P < 0.05) in the AP group. The AP + ALA group exhibited lower values both in terms of surface area and volume of resorption cavities than the AP group and this difference was significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: alpha-lipoic acid treatment provided therapeutic effects on the inhibition of periapical bone loss.

Giant clinodactyly and macrodactyly of the hand associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Macrodactyly is a rare congenital deformity of the extremities, and with clinodactyly is even rarer. Both conditions may also be associated with a lipofibromatous hamartoma of the median nerve. We report an adult woman with clinodactyly and macrodactyly of the fourth and fifth fingers of her left hand associated with a carpal tunnel syndrome.

Iloprost inhibits fracture repair in rats.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that prostaglandins (PGs) dramatically stimulate healing processes in bone. However, the effect of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) on fracture healing remains unclear. To investigate the effect of PGI2, a study on fracture healing process in closed tibia fractures was designed. METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomized into two groups. On the first day, their right tibias were fractured by three-point bending technique. The study group (n = 18) received a single injection of 10 µg/kg iloprost for 5 days, while the control group (n = 18) received saline solution in the same way. On the 7th, 14th and 28th days following the fracture, six rats were sacrificed and their right legs were harvested in each group. The progression of fracture healing was assessed for each specimen by the scores of radiography (by Lane-Sandhu) and histology (by Huo et al). RESULTS: On the 7th day, the radiographic and histologic scores were equal. On the 14th day radiographic total score was 6 and histologic total score was 23 in the iloprost group, whereas radiographic total score was 11 and histologic total score was 33 in the control group. On the 14th day radiographic and histologic scores were significantly decreased in the iloprost group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). On the 28th day radiographic total score was 12 and histologic total score was 37 in the iloprost group, whereas radiographic total score was 15 and histologic total score was 40 in the control group. On the 28th day although there was a decrease in radiographic and histologic scores of the iloprost group acording to control group, it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Iloprost delays fracture healing in early stage in rats.

Evaluation of the mental foramen and accessory mental foramen in Turkish patients using cone-beam computed tomography images reconstructed from a volumetric rendering program.

This study determined the occurrence and location of the mental foramen (MF) and accessory mental foramen (AMF) in Turkish patients using cone-beam computed-tomography (CBCT) with 3D-imaging software. CBCT scans of 386 sites in 193 (92 male, 101 female) patients were retrospectively analyzed to determine MF and AMF occurrence, sizes, and locations. Digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data were transferred to surface-rendering software to generate 3D images. Distances between the MF and AMF and from both foramina to the alveolar ridge and to the closest tooth were measured. Differences in AMF incidence by sex, side, and location were evaluated using chi-squared tests, and MF and AMF measurements were evaluated using Mann-Whitney U-tests. AMFs were observed in 6.5% of patients and were most commonly in an anteroinferior location. Mean AMF size did not differ significantly by sex or side [males: horizontal = 1.5 mm (1.0-2.4 mm), vertical = 1.4 mm (0.8-2.4 mm); females: horizontal = 1.5 mm (0.8-3 mm), vertical = 1.3 mm (0.8-2.1 mm); P > 0.05]. Males showed significantly greater mean vertical and horizontal MF dimensions compared with females [males: horizontal = 3.9 mm (1.0-7.0 mm), vertical = 3.6 mm (1.2-7.0 mm); females: horizontal = 3.5 mm (1.3-5.6 mm), vertical = 3.3 mm (0.8-5.8 mm); P < 0.05]. Awareness of the AMF is important to avoid mental nerve damage during surgical intervention and anesthetic applications. CBCT is useful for AMF detection, distributes less ionizing radiation, and allows 3D imaging.

The topographical features and variations of nervus ischiadicus in human fetuses.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the topographical features and variations of ischiadic nerve during prenatal period in human. METHODS: Our study was conducted on lower extremities of 34 human fetal cadavers who were free of any anomalies and were obtained from the department of pathology of our faculty. RESULTS: When the development of topographical features of ischiadic nerve is considered according to the gestational weeks, it was shown that the distances increased in accordance with the age and there was a positive correlation between the two (p < 0.01), however the width of the ischiadic nerve did not increase similarly and there was no significant correlation between its width and the age (p > 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the structure and course of ischiadic nerve in both gluteal and femoral regions is important during all interventions to these regions due to the potential damage on the nerve itself. The knowledge of topographical features of ischiadic nerve in the prenatal period and its relations with reference points that are used especially in childhood and adults will help to follow up the variations during postnatal and grow up periods (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 13).

Biomechanical comparison of Achilles tenotomy and achilloplasty techniques in young rats: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Tendo Achillis lengthening is performed by means of Z-plasty in the classic treatment of clubfoot. In the Ponseti method for treating clubfoot, Achilles tenotomy is performed percutaneously for residual equine deformity. A randomized study was designed to compare tendon healing after tenotomy versus Z-plasty. METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into two groups. On the first day, while the right tendo Achillis of group 1 rats underwent tenotomy, those of group 2 rats underwent Z-plasty. Nine rats from each group were humanely killed on days 21 and 45 postoperatively. The two groups were compared with each other biomechanically and histologically. The Achilles tendons of eight rats in each group were evaluated biomechanically, and the remaining rat in each group underwent histologic evaluation. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD maximum load at rupture of the treated tendons on days 21 and 45 in the tenotomy group was 26.38 +/- 7.31 N and 47.16 +/- 15.36 N, respectively, and in the Z-plasty group was 27.37 +/- 5.20 N and 45.27 +/- 9.59 N, respectively. The biomechanical evaluation revealed no significant difference in terms of breaking forces between the two groups. The difference between breaking forces on days 21 and 45 was statistically significant for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Tendons in the tenotomy group healed as well as those in the Z-plasty group, and Achilles tenotomy in the rat was similar to Z-plasty for Achilles tendon lengthening. Human correlation may or may not exist, but this study suggests that it should be considered and investigated.