Association of Toll-like receptors 2, 3, and 4 genes polymorphisms with periapical pathosis risk.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of gene variations of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2, 3, and 4 on genetic susceptibility to periapical pathosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients were included in the study and divided into two groups as follows; Control Group (n=50) that have root canal treatment and no periapical lesion, Patient Group (n=50) that have root canal treatment and periapical lesion. TLR2 Arg753Gln, TLR3 (c.1377C/T) and TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms were genotyped by using PCR-RFLP. Genotypical analysis of control and patient groups were investigated to disclose whether there is any association between periapical lesions and gene variations. RESULTS: There are no significant statistical differences between control and patient groups according to TLR 2 and 4 gene sequence. On the contrary, CC allele detected 74% for TLR 3 in patient group, and this difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: According to these results, it can be suggested that patients with Toll-like receptor 3 gene polymorphisms could be susceptible to periapical pathosis.

Dynamic assessment of Capparis spinosa buds on survival of periodontal ligament cells using a real-time cell analysis method.

BACKGROUND: Tooth avulsion is the most severe type of traumatic dental injuries and it results in the complete displacement of the tooth out of its socket in alveolar bone. Reimplantation of the tooth is considered to be a best treatment modality due to its biological and psychological advantages. Its prognosis depends on the extra alveolar time, the storage medium, and the patient's general health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Capparis spinosa (C. spinosa) in maintaining the viability of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells using a real-time cell analysis method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Periodontal ligament cells were obtained from healthy human third molars extracted for orthodontic purposes. The storage media tested were: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), C. spinosa, Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), and light milk. A real-time cell analyzer system was used to evaluate cell viability. After seeding cell suspensions into the wells of the E-plate 96, PDL cells were treated with each of tested media and monitored for every 5 min for 26 h. Statistical analysis of the data was accomplished using one-way analysis of variance complemented by the Tukey test. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (control) and C. spinosa groups had significantly higher cell index values compared with the HBSS and light milk (P < 0.05). Although, C. spinosa showed better results than DMEM (control), but this difference was not found statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Capparis spinosa can be a suitable, alternative storage medium for avulsed teeth.

Successful labor in the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and management of CLL during pregnancy with leukapheresis.

We describe the successful management of a 30-year-old woman in the second trimester of her pregnancy with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in stage IV by using only leukapheresis. We applied three sessions (courses) of leukapheresis throughout the pregnancy. The procedure did not have any significant adverse effect on the patient and the fetus. The patient gave birth vaginally to a healthy boy, weighing 3100 g, at 39 weeks of gestation. Seven months after delivery, Richter's syndrome developed in the patient. We conclude that leukapheresis may provide an alternative for palliative treatment to chemotherapy in pregnant patients with CLL. To our knowledge, this is the fourth reported case of CLL in pregnancy, and the first management of CLL during pregnancy with leukapheresis.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in pregnancy: a single institutional experience with maternal and neonatal outcomes.

We observed 13 pregnant women of 70 females with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) from January 1992 through September 2002. Thirteen mothers with ITP gave birth to twelve babies and two fetuses died. One of the pregnancies produced twins. Seven of the cases were diagnosed with ITP before pregnancy and six during pregnancy. One of the thirteen pregnancies was complicated by preeclampsia, one by ablatio placentae, and one by intrauterine death. Seven mothers received corticosteroid treatment, four high-dose immunoglobulin therapies, and one underwent splenectomy in the second trimester of gestation. At the time of delivery six mothers had normal platelet counts and seven had low platelet counts. Nine deliveries were by vaginal route and four were by cesarean section. Eleven infants were born with normal platelet counts and one was thrombocytopenic at the time of delivery. No infant showed any clinical signs of hemorrhage and there were no neonatal complications. Two fetuses died; one of them because of ablatio placentae and the other was intrauterine dead. In conclusion, ITP in pregnancy requires the management of two patients, the mother and her baby; hence, the close collaboration of a multidisciplinary group composed of a hematologist, obstetrician, anesthesiologist, and neonatologist is essential.

Successful treatment of acquired haemophilia with prednisolone therapy.

Acquired hemophilia is a rare, life threatening coagulopathy in adults caused by the development of autoantibodies against to factor VIII. No general consensus exists on the best therapeutic approach. We report here a case that presented with extensive cutaneous and mucosal bleedings due to factor VIII inhibitors and treated successfully with steroid therapy alone but complicated with a life threatening thromboembolic attack during her follow up. In conclusion, corticosteroids are "cost effective therapy" associated with high inhibitor elimination rates and although recurrence of inhibitor in a patient with factor VIII inhibitor is an expected clinical situation thrombosis risk should also be considered.

Effect of prechemotherapy filgrastim on the bone marrow toxicity of topotecan.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of single-dose filgrastim administered 24 hours prior to chemotherapy in the prevention of topotecan-related myeloid suppression. METHODS: No medication was given to 21 rats in group 1; 1.5 mg/m2/day topotecan was administered intraperitoneally for five days every three weeks to 21 rats in group II; a single dose of 5 microg/kg filgrastim was injected intraperitoneally 24 hours before the intraperitoneal administration of the same dose of topotecan to 21 rats in group III. After completion of six cycles of chemotherapy. the rats were decapitated and blood samples were immediately collected into citrated tubes for complete blood counts. RESULTS: White blood cell and lymphocyte counts in the control and the filgrastim + topotecan groups were similar (p > 0.05) and significantly higher than the counts in the topotecan group (p < 0.05). There was no difference in means of neutrophil, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil and erythrocyte counts among the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Filgrastim administration prior to chemotherapy seems to be beneficial and further investigations are needed.