Morphological changes of gingiva in streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are chronic bacterial diseases of the underlying and surrounding tooth tissues. Diabetes mellitus is responsible for tooth deprivation both by decay and periodontal disease. The streptozotocin-induced diabetes results in a diabetic status in experimental animals similar to that observed in diabetes patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the gingival lesions and the microangiopathy changes in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups (control and experimental). Diabetes mellitus was induced by 45 mg/kg IV streptozotocin. The histological investigation of the marginal gingival and the relevant gingival papilla showed inflammation of the lamina propria and the squamous epithelium as well as marked thickness of the arteriole in the diabetic group, but no changes were observed in the control group. The results suggested a probable application of a routine gingival histological investigation in diabetic patients in order to control the progress of disease complications. It may be concluded that histological gingival investigation can be used as a routine assay for the control of the diabetic disease and prevention of its complications.

H3 Propranolol serum levels following lidocaine administration in rats with CCL4 induced liver damage.

Liver disease alters the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of hepatically eliminated drugs. The main factors influenced are plasma albumin levels, enzyme balance (induction & inhibition) and drug binding to tissue proteins. The influence of lidocaine on serum, heart and liver propranolol levels in Wistar rats after liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride CCl4 0.4 ml/kg x 2/wkl, was investigated. 40 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (I, II, III, IV; n=10), Group I animals received only propranolol (labelled + cold substance) 40 mg/kg/12 h p.o., group II propranolol plus lidocaine in a single dose of 4mg/kg s.c., group III was treated with CCl4 for 6 weeks and received propranolol x2 at the same dosage as group I, while group VI was treated with CCl4 and the same drug dosage as group II. The simultaneous administration of H3-propranolol and lidocaine increased propranolol levels in the serum and tissues. The liver in damaged animals showed an increase of propranolol level under lidocaine co-administration, probably due to CCl4 induced liver enzyme activity, resulting in a rapid propranolol metabolism or to competition between both drug protein binding sites. The increased propranolol levels in the heart after lidocaine administration were probably due to attributed to its high affinity for heart tissue. Consequently, as regards the therapeutic approach for patients with liver disease receiving propranolol their propranolol dosage should be reduced when lidocaine is co-administered.

Effect of forceps size and mode of orientation on endoscopic small bowel biopsy evaluation.

Endoscopy is increasingly being used to obtain duodenal biopsy specimens in suspected small intestinal malabsorption. We have prospectively evaluated the effect of standard and jumbo biopsy forceps, as well as the mode of orientation of the specimens (naked eye or stereomicroscopy), on duodenal biopsy weight, length, depth, and orientation in 18 consecutive patients. A pair of biopsy specimens was obtained from each patient by each type of forceps in random order. After they had been weighed, one biopsy specimen from each pair was oriented stereomicroscopically and all four were blindly evaluated by two pathologists. The biopsy specimens obtained with the jumbo forceps were significantly larger (15.9 +/- 6.9 mg, mean +/- SD) and longer (0.6 +/- 0.2 cm) than those obtained with the standard forceps (8.0 +/- 1.3 mg, 0.4 +/- 0.2 cm, respectively; p < 0.001). Seventy-two percent of the jumbo biopsy specimens that were oriented with stereomicroscopy included a minimum of four villi in a row, as compared to 44% of the eye-oriented jumbo specimens and less than 39% of the standard specimens, irrespective of the mode of orientation (p = 0.02). These results indicate that the jumbo forceps is superior to the standard, because it produces a larger duodenal mucosal specimen, usually suitable for optimal histologic evaluation when oriented with stereomicroscopy.

[Central giant cell granuloma of the maxilla]. / kentriko gigantokyttariko kokkioma tes ano gnathou.

We report the experience of the clinical, histologic and radiologic features of a giant cell granuloma of the maxilla of severe growth. The removal of the lesion led to a large defect of the maxilla with oroantral fistula, which was immediately repaired by the use of the temporalis muscle flap. A four year follow-up period revealed no evidence of recurrence as well as excellent aesthetic and functional results. Further diagnostic and therapeutic problems are discussed in relation with recent literature.

Chemotherapy as initial management of patients with operable colorectal cancer.

The evidence in support of the concepts of PrCh and of anticoagulation in the management of primary CRCa are briefly presented. The first study incorporating both these novel approaches to the treatment of CRCa with a minimum follow-up of 5 years is herein presented. Whereas no discernible differences on survival were documented on a long-term basis, when patient who ultimately recurred in each group were compared, a substantial and statistically significant prolongation of the free-of-disease interval from surgery to recurrence and of survival from recurrence to death are revealed. PRCa and anticoagulation appear to deserve further study, in the management of operable CRCa.