Bottom-of-sulcus dysplasia: the role of 18F-FDG PET in identifying a focal surgically remedial epileptic lesion.

PURPOSE: Bottom-of-sulcus dysplasia (BOSD) is a type of focal cortical dysplasia and an important cause of intractable epilepsy. While the MRI features of BOSD have been well documented, the contribution of PET to the identification of these small lesions has not been widely explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET in the identification of BOSD. METHODS: Twenty patients with BOSD underwent both 18F-FDG PET and structural MRI scans as part of preoperative planning for surgery. Visual PET analysis was performed, and patients were classified as positive if they exhibited a focal or regional hypometabolic abnormality, or negative in the absence of a hypometabolic abnormality. MRI data were reviewed to determine if any structural abnormality characteristic of BOSD were observed before and after co-registration with PET findings. RESULTS: PET detected hypometabolic abnormalities consistent with the seizure focus location in 95% (19/20) of cases. Focal abnormalities were detected on 18F-FDG PET in 12/20 (60%) patients, while regional hypometabolism was evident in 7/20 (35%). BOSD lesions were missed in 20% (4/20) of cases upon initial review of MRI scans. Co-registration of 18F-FDG PET with MRI enabled detection of the BOSD in all four cases where the lesion was initially missed. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that 18F-FDG PET provides additional clinical value in the localisation and detection of BOSD lesions, when used in conjunction with MRI.

In vitro study of biofilm formation and effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment on various dental material surfaces.

Elevated proportions of Candida albicans in biofilms formed on dentures are associated with stomatitis whereas Streptococcus mutans accumulation on restorative materials can cause secondary caries. Candida albicans, S. mutans, saliva-derived and C. albicans/saliva-derived mixed biofilms were grown on different materials including acrylic denture, porcelain, hydroxyapatite (HA), and polystyrene. The resulting biomass was analysed by three-dimensional image quantification and assessment of colony-forming units. The efficacy of biofilm treatment with a dissolved denture cleansing tablet (Polident(®)) was also evaluated by colony counting. Biofilms formed on HA exhibited the most striking differences in biomass accumulation: biofilms comprising salivary bacteria accrued the highest total biomass whereas C. albicans biofilm formation was greatly reduced on the HA surface compared with other materials, including the acrylic denture surface. These results substantiate clinical findings that acrylic dentures can comprise a reservoir for C. albicans, which renders patients more susceptible to C. albicans infections and stomatitis. Additionally, treatment efficacy of the same type of biofilms varied significantly depending on the surface. Although single-species biofilms formed on polystyrene surfaces exhibited the highest susceptibility to the treatment, the most surviving cells were recovered from HA surfaces for all types of biofilms tested. This study demonstrates that the nature of a surface influences biofilm characteristics including biomass accumulation and susceptibility to antimicrobial treatments. Such treatments should therefore be evaluated on the surfaces colonized by the target pathogen(s).

The Antimicrobial Effect of Silver Ion Impregnation into Endodontic Sealer against Streptococcus mutans.

Pulpal and periradicular diseases are primarily caused by bacterial invasion of the root canal system as a result of caries progression. The presence of residual bacteria at the time of root canal completion (obturation) is associated with significantly higher rate of treatment failure. Re-infection of obturated root canals can be potentially prevented by enhancing the antibacterial activities of root canal obturation materials. We evaluated, in an in vitro model, the antimicrobial efficacy of silver ions added to a common endodontic sealer. For that purpose we performed growth inhibition studies and bacterial viability tests. We measured the zone of inhibition, optical density and performed confocal laser scanning microscopy. Our results show that the silver ions enhance the antimicrobial activity of the root canal sealer against Streptococcus mutans. This study approach may hold promise for studying other biologically based therapies and therefore increasing the success rate of routine orthograde root canal treatment.

Controlling biofilm and microbial contamination in dental unit waterlines.

Despite the fact that the ADA had set the goal of less than 200 colony-forming units per milliliter of unfiltered output water from dental unit waterlines to be achieved voluntarily by the year 2000, there is much confusion and resistance within the profession with regard to waterlines. Many in the profession are still wondering what the most effective means are to predictably achieve the goal. It is a well-established fact that bacterial biofilm can readily form within dental unit waterlines and degrade the microbial quality of the water in dental units regardless of the water source. These biofilms are primarily formed by various microcolonies of bacteria that attach to surfaces over time within the waterlines. An increasing number of medically compromised and immunocompromised patients being treated in dental offices and increased public awareness have brought about renewed interest in this issue. There are generally four categories of products that are available to address this issue: independent water systems, sterile water delivery systems, filtration, and chemical treatment protocols. A recent study at the University of California at Los Angeles demonstrates that the Ultra chemical treatment protocol can be an effective means of controlling biofilm in dental unit waterlines.

Effect of carbamide peroxide bleaching on the shear bond strength of composite to dental bonding agent enhanced enamel.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Carbamide peroxide bleaching has been implicated in adversely affecting the bond strength of composite to enamel. PURPOSE: This in vitro study evaluated the effect of 3 dental bonding agents (OptiBond, All-Bond 2, One-Step) on the shear bond strength of a hybrid composite to enamel which was treated by a 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cylinders of composite were bonded to carbamide peroxide-treated enamel on extracted human teeth using 3 dental bonding agents. After thermocycling, shear bond strengths were determined with a universal testing machine. RESULTS: OptiBond aided bond strengths were 23.7 +/- 5.6 MPa to bleached and 19.6 +/- 2.9 MPa to unbleached enamel. For All-Bond 2, bleached enamel exhibited bond strengths of 14.9 +/- 4.0 MPa and unbleached enamel exhibited a bond strength value of 20. 4 +/- 2.3 MPa. The composite bond strength for One-Step was 13.6 +/- 5.9 MPa to bleached and 23.0 +/- 3.9 MPa to unbleached enamel. There was no statistical difference between OptiBond (alcohol base) aided bond strengths for bleached and unbleached enamel; however, the bond strength of composite to bleached enamel with All-Bond 2 or One-Step (acetone base) was significantly lower than unbleached controls. CONCLUSION: The effect of bonding agent usage on composite bond strength to enamel bleached with a particular carbamide peroxide was dependent on the bonding agent used.

Medically compromised patients, Part II. Current trends in zidovudine chemoprophylaxis post HIV exposure.

Zidovudine chemoprophylaxis is commonly offered to health care workers post exposure to HIV. The use of this therapy appears to have escalated since the early 1990s in spite of the lack of consensus science. This paper presents the results of a survey of 15 academic health care centers representing the major cities whose aggregate AIDS cases accounted for 81 percent of the reported cases in the United States. Thirteen of the 15 institutions have a zidovudine chemoprophylaxis protocol in place. With the efficacy and risks of prophylactic zidovudine still in question, health care workers should establish their positions on this therapy prior to facing an occupational exposure.

Multidisciplinary treatment of dental phobia.

Using contributions from different schools of psychotherapy provides a range of treatment options for the complex needs of dental fear patients. A single case study of a severely phobic patient explores the advantages of the team approach, strategies of fear reduction and the evolution of a patient coping with the symptoms of dental phobia.

Adhesion of resin to casting alloys.

The bond strength of a composite resin bonded to various dental casting alloys with three adhesive systems--Silicoater, Panavia, and Superbond C&B--was investigated. The metal surfaces were treated solely with aluminum oxide blasting before application of the adhesive. Thermal cycling caused a reduction in bond strength for all combinations of the adhesive systems and alloys, but the Silicoater system recorded the greatest bond strength. The 4-META system was equivalent to Panavia system in bond strengths to most metals and exhibited greater strength with others.

Load transfer to abutment teeth by two non-metal adhesive bridges.

Recently, two alternatives to the etched metal, Maryland-type bridge have been proposed for anterior applications. These are the all-ceramic bridge and the composite resin framework, ceramic veneered pontic bridge. Both designs use acid-etched winged retainers for adhesion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the load transfer to abutment teeth by these two designs using photoelastic modeling.

In vitro toothbrush abrasion and bond strength of bleached enamel.

Vital tooth bleaching is experiencing increased usage because of its convenient application and effectiveness for lightening teeth and stain removal. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of bleaching agents on enamel toothbrush abrasion and bond strength.

Effect of midazolam pretreatment on the intravenous toxicity of lidocaine with and without epinephrine in rats.

The effect of the benzodiazepine midazolam on the intravenous toxicity of lidocaine with and without epinephrine was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Test rats with and control rats without midazolam premedication (2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally, 10% of the median dose that caused loss of the righting reflex in a third group of rats) were given 2% lidocaine with and without 10 micrograms/ml epinephrine intravenously in doses sufficient to construct log-dose response curves for both convulsant and lethal responses. In control rats the median convulsant dose (CD50) of lidocaine was 15.2 mg/kg given alone and 10.9 mg/kg with epinephrine (a statistically significant difference); respective values for the median lethal dose (LD50) were 26.4 and 18.5 mg/kg (also statistically significant). While epinephrine enhanced lidocaine seizure activity and lethality by approximately 50%, midazolam almost completely prevented lidocaine-induced convulsions but had no significant effect on mortality.

Hypertensive response to levonordefrin in a patient receiving propranolol: report of case.

Propranolol is a commonly used drug; of new and refilled prescriptions, it ranked no. 1 in 1984 and no. 2 in 1985. Medical conditions for its use include angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, hypertension, cardiac dysrhythmias, hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, migraine headache, hyperthyroidism, and pheochromocytoma. Almost all dental practitioners will treat a patient receiving propranolol for one of these conditions. The following recommendations seem appropriate at this time: The patient should continue to receive propranolol during dental treatment. Sudden withdrawal of the beta-blocker will cost the patient the benefit of propranolol therapy and may lead to acute myocardial ischemia. Acute stress should be minimized, as hypertensive responses may also be caused by endogenously released epinephrine. Short appointments scheduled in the morning, possibly with conscious sedation, should be considered. The dosage of adrenergic vasoconstrictors should be limited and gingival retraction cord containing epinephrine avoided entirely. The blood pressure should be taken approximately 5 minutes after local anesthesia is administered to determine if a systemic response has occurred. In the unlikely event of a hypertensive emergency, a rapidly acting, short-duration antihypertensive drug, such as the alpha-blocker phentolamine (Regitine, 5 mg intravenously) should be administered. Sublingual nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, 0.4 mg) may be useful as a nonparenteral alternative. These recommendations apply to other nonselective beta-blockers, including nadolol (Corgard) and timolol (Blocadren). They may also apply to labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), a nonselective beta-antagonist with some alpha-blocking activity and to pindolol (Visken), a beta-blocker with some intrinsic beta 2-agonistic activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Oral mucositis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Thirty patients who received bone marrow transplantation treatment from HLA identical sibling donors for immunologic and malignant diseases were studied. In essentially all of the patients oral changes developed during the first 30 days following transplant. Oral symptoms frequently constituted the major complaints of the patients during the follow-up period. The oral changes included mucositis, xerostomia, pain, and bleeding. Mucositis was more severe and of longer duration when associated with herpes simplex infections and when optimal oral hygiene was not maintained. Xerostomia which accompanies engraftment was an early sign of acute graft-versus-host disease. A nonbrushing method of oral hygiene was effective in reducing the severity and duration of mucositis. This technique offers a short-term alternative to brushing in pancytopenic patients who are susceptible to bleeding or trauma.