The effect of a single injection of irinotecan on the development of enamel in the Wistar rats

Fluoride-related changes in the fetal cord blood proteome; a pilot study

Background

Fluoride exposure during pregnancy has been associated with various effects on offspring, including changes in behavior and IQ. To provide clues to possible mechanisms by which fluoride affects human fetal development, we completed proteomic analyses of cord blood serum collected from second-trimester pregnant women residing in Northern California with either high or low fluoride exposure, as identified by maternal serum fluoride concentrations.

Objective

To identify changes in cord blood proteins associated with maternal serum fluoride concentration in pregnant women living in Northern California.

Methods

The proteomes of 19 archived second-trimester cord blood samples representing highest and lowest serum fluoride concentrations from a cohort of 48 women living in Northern California, previously analyzed for serum, urine and amniotic fluoride concentrations, were characterized by mass spectrometry. Proteins highly correlated to maternal serum fluoride concentrations were identified, and further compared in a group of samples from women with the highest serum fluoride to the group with the lowest maternal serum fluoride concentrations.

Results

Nine cord blood proteins were significantly correlated with maternal serum fluoride concentrations. Six of these proteins, including apolipoprotein B-100, delta homolog 1, coagulation factor X, mimecan, plasma kallikrein, and vasorin, were significantly decreased in the cord blood from women with the highest serum fluoride levels.

Conclusion

Changes in the relative amounts of second trimester cord blood proteins included proteins associated with the development of the fetal hematopoetic system.

Late Complications in Long-Term Childhood Cancer Survivors: What the Oral Health Professional Needs to Know

With diagnostic and therapeutic advances, over 80% of children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors. As the number of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) continues to increase, dental practitioners become more likely to have CCS among their patients. CCS may develop late complications from damage caused by their cancer treatment to endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and other organ systems. These complications may surface decades after the completion of treatment. Adverse outcomes of childhood cancer treatment frequently involve oral and craniofacial structures including the dentition. Tooth development, salivary gland function, craniofacial growth, and temporomandibular joint function may be disturbed, increasing oral health risks in these individuals. Moreover, CCS are at risk of developing subsequent malignancies, which may manifest in or near the oral cavity. It is important that dental practitioners are aware of the childhood cancer history of their patients and have knowledge of potential late complications. Therefore, this narrative review aims to inform dental practitioners of late oral complications of cancer treatment modalities commonly used in pediatric oncology. Furthermore, selected common non-oral late sequelae of cancer therapy that could have an impact on oral health and on delivering dental care will be discussed.

Effect of irinotecan on the tongue mucosa of juvenile male albino rat at adulthood

Irinotecan is one of the most important anti-tumour drugs against a broad spectrum of malignancies, but is known to be associated with possible oral complications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of irinotecan on the tongue mucosa of juvenile male albino rat at adulthood using different histological and immunohistochemical methods. Twenty juvenile male albino rats were divided equally into two groups: control and irinotecan-treated group (single injection of 200 mg irinotecan/kg, then kept for four weeks without treatment). The tongue specimens were processed for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The irinotecan-treated group showed statistically significant shortening and thinning of the lingual papillae. There was loss of the normal appearance of the filiform papillae with focal cell loss alternating with areas of hyperkeratosis. Focal separation of the keratin layer, some nuclear changes and vacuolation of some epithelial cells were detected. Dilated congested blood vessels and mild mononuclear cellular infiltration were encountered. Atrophic fungiform papillae with ill-defined taste bud cells were observed. A statistically significant decrease in the pattern of Ki67 immunohistochemical staining reaction was detected in comparision to the control group. Scanning electron microscopy revealed different signs of atrophy of the tongue papillae. Focal areas of desquamation of lingual papillae were observed revealing some filiform papillae with desquamated surface, bisected tips and evident thinning. Some extravasated red blood cells could be detected. Thus irinotecan caused significant morphological and morphometrical alterations of the tongue mucosa in particularly the filiform papillae.