The immunity of upper airways.

A specialized immune system, called the nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT), is located on the mucosal surface of upper airways and is composed of both innate and specific immunity elements, closely related to each other and to the systemic defence, and spread over the nasopharynx, the nose and the middle ear. The NALT has a major role as regards to the infectious diseases of this area, which are the most common in children. It is also an interesting field of experimentation for new vaccine strategies in the future.

Salivary nitrate, nitrite and N-nitroso compounds in patients with cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract.

N-nitroso compounds are carcinogens that can be ingested directly or synthesized from nitrites and nitrates. The possible role of N-nitroso compounds in the induction of upper aerodigestive tract tumours was considered in a case-control study conducted in the Valle d'Aosta, an Italian region with a high incidence of these neoplasms. Nitrate, nitrite, labile and stable N-nitroso compounds were analysed in the saliva of 36 patients with cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract and 23 healthy individuals. After allowing for tobacco, salivary nitrate, nitrite and N-nitroso compounds were not associated with an increased risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancers. The odds ratio for continuous units of total N-nitros compounds was 0.99 (95% confidence interval 0.9-1.1). Thus, salivary nitrate, nitrite and N-nitroso compounds might not be suitable markers for the assessment of the risk of cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract, although a role for N-nitroso compounds cannot be excluded.

Oral hairy leukoplakia in two children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection.

We report on two children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a 5-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, who presented with oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) as a late clinical manifestation of perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. The reasons why OHL is a rare symptom in HIV-1-infected children, compared with HIV-1-infected adults, are discussed.

Dental and craniofacial findings in hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia during the primary dentition phase.

A more detailed knowledge of dental and craniofacial features in hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) during childhood is needed in order to include these characteristics among diagnostic criteria. The present study comprised 5 HED children, 4 males and 1 female, during the primary dentition phase. Clinical and radiological dental findings consisted of multiple congenitally missing primary teeth, conoid primary incisors, moderate to severe taurodontic second primary molars. Supernumerary cusps and diastema were found as well. A pattern of symmetry was assessed for hypodontia in the primary dentition. The cephalometric study compared the HED sample to a matched non-syndrome sample and revealed abnormally short maxillary depth (p < 0.05), strongly reduced lower facial height (p < 0.01) and a reduction in facial soft tissue thickness (p < 0.05 - p < 0.01) in HED children. The importance of an early diagnosis and treatment of HED dento-facial malformations so as to improve esthetics and function is stressed.

[Role of "leukocyte adhesion molecules" in early periodontal disease]. / Ruolo delle "molecole di adesione leucocitaria" nella patologia parodontale precoce.

The purpose of this paper is to focus on functional characteristics of leukocyte adhesion molecules, on their localization and specific ligands. In fact, leukocyte chemotaxis and adhesion to endothelium is an essential step in promoting adequate immune response to bacterial infections. Since periodontal health is highly dependent on neutrophil function against the microbial dental plaque, defects in chemotaxis and adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium often result in severe, early onset periodontitis. Furthermore, oral lesions may be the only clinical manifestation of neutrophil impairment.

Changes in heart rate levels during avoidance conditioning in the rabbit.

During avoidance conditioning heart rate levels tend to increase or to decrease according to their initial values and these changes are not related to learning or performance of the task.