Cross-Sectional Imaging of Third Molar-Related Abnormalities

Third molars may be associated with a wide range of pathologic conditions, including mechanical, inflammatory, infectious, cystic, neoplastic, and iatrogenic. Diagnosis of third molar-related conditions can be challenging for radiologists who lack experience in dental imaging. Appropriate imaging evaluation can help practicing radiologists arrive at correct diagnoses, thus improving patient care. This review discusses the imaging findings of various conditions related to third molars, highlighting relevant anatomy and cross-sectional imaging techniques. In addition, key imaging findings of complications of third molar extraction are presented.

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in Ménière disease: the current state of endolymphatic hydrops evaluation

Technical advances in magnetic resonance imaging have allowed to accurately detect and grade endolymphatic space distension in Ménière disease; this was only possible in post-mortem histological studies until a few years ago. Magnetic resonance imaging rules out other causes of vertigo and hearing loss, and is able to evaluate the cochlear and vestibular compartments of the endolymphatic space using a dedicated protocol.

Morbidity of adjuvant high-dose-rate brachytherapy for low to intermediate risk endometrial adenocarcinoma completely resected

The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate bowel and urinary acute and late morbidity in patients with low to intermediate risk endometrial carcinoma, submitted to total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, without lymphadenectomy, and postoperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-B) as the sole treatment. From March 1996 to June 1998, 70 patients were treated on an outpatient basis, to a total dose of 30-50 Gy, given in two fractions per week. A total of 4-5 fractions of 6-10 GY was delivered. Three patients (4.2%) developed severe bowel complications, with one patient experiencing severe rectal bleeding. Local control was observed in 68 (97.1%) patients. Five-year actuarial disease and complication-free survival were 94.3% and 96.8%, respectively. In conclusion, it seems that a modest dose fraction schedule of HDR-B yields very high local control rates and low morbidity rates.

[Influence of different methods of chemical disinfection on the physical properties of type IV and V gypsum dies]

Several instruments and materials frequently used in prosthodontics--such as stone casts, dental impressions, interocclusal records--are classified, by the dental literature, as vehicles of transmission of infectious diseases to those who handle them. The present study aims at comparing dimensional alteration, superficial texture and compression resistance of stone dies submitted to different disinfection methods: 30-minute immersion in 1% sodium hypochlorite or in 2.2% alkaline glutaraldehyde (with or without previous ultrasonic washing) and addition of 2.2% alkaline glutaraldehyde or 5% sodium hypochlorite to the gypsum during its preparation. It was possible to conclude that: (1) chemical disinfection did not cause significant dimensional alteration in stone dies; (2) superficial texture was altered according to the disinfection method utilized; (3) immersion in disinfectant solution during 30 min, as well as the addition of disinfectant to the gypsum during its preparation, reduced the compression resistance of dies.

High-level synthesis of human prolactin in Chinese-Hamster ovary cells

Two eukaryotic human prolactin (hPRL) expression vectors, based on a selectable dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) marker, were used to transfect dhfr(-) Chinese- hamster ovary (CHO) cells. One vector, p658-hPRL, contains the hepatitis-B virus-X cDNA coding for a viral transactivator and sequences mediating dhfr mRNA degradation. The other, pEDdc-hPRL, carries the encephalomyocarditis virus leader sequence coupled to hPRL cDNA to provide high-level protein expression, possibly via a mechanism of internal translation initiation in dicistronic mRNA. Without methotrexate (MTX) amplification, p658-hPRL-transfected stable cell lines, secreting up to approximately 10 microg of hPRL/10(6) cells per day, could be rapidly obtained; production by pEDdc-hPRL-transfected cells was about 10-fold lower. However, a three-step MTX amplification of the latter led to clones secreting up to approximately 30 microg of hPRL/10(6) cells per day. A pilot production using a hollow-fibre bioreactor indicated that highly concentrated hormone levels in the medium could be obtained, with a production of up to 150 microg of hPRL/ml per day. SDS/PAGE analysis indicated that recombinant hPRL contained approximately 10% glycosylated PRL. Chromatographically purified non-glycosylated and glycosylated recombinant hPRL had bioactivities of 35 and 16 i.u./mg, respectively (Nb2 cell bioassay). This appears to be the first report describing production and purification of recombinant hPRL from CHO cells, secreted at levels higher than reported thus far in eukaryotic systems.

High-yield purification of biosynthetic human growth hormone secreted in Escherichia coli periplasmic space

A six-step, high-yield purification procedure for the preparation of clinical grade recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) secreted in bacterial periplasmic space is described. Particular emphasis is given to hormone recovery yields and maximum contaminant host cell elimination. The strategy adopted, in addition to using one precipitation and five chromatographic steps in a particularly efficient sequence, was also based on running E. coli proteins - immunoradiometric assay profiles right after each chromatographic elution. Thus, an overall rhGH recovery higher than 40%, with a final concentration of E. coli proteins below 10 ppm is described for the first time. The accuracy of hGH and total protein quantification, especially in the early steps of the process, and the maximum elimination of hGH-related forms were also studied in detail. For these purposes size-exclusion and reversed-phase HPLC were found to be extremely valuable analytical tools.

Synthesis and characterization of recombinant, authentic human prolactin secreted into the periplasmic space of Escherichia coli

Recombinant, fully bioactive, authentic human prolactin (aut-hPRL) has been synthesized in transformed Escherichia coli HB2151 bacteria in a soluble, non-glycosylated form, which is secreted into the bacterial periplasm. Use was made of a bacterial expression vector, containing tac promoter-controlled sequences for the translation enhancer from bacteriophage T7 gene 10, and for a cellulase leader peptide from Cellulomonas fimi joined to sequences coding for aut-hPRL. This vector was derived from a previously described vector containing sequences of an hPRL variant, tag-hPRL (containing a 12-amino-acid peptide tag at the N-terminal end), using site-specific mutagenesis to delete the tag sequence. SDS/PAGE, partial N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis, Western blot analysis and Nb2 lymphoma cell in vitro bioassay indicated correct processing of the hormone. Periplasmic secretion of aut-hPRL, as measured by immunoassay, was relatively low (approx. 0.08 microgram/ml per A600 unit), in contrast to that of tag-hPRL which was approximately 8-fold higher, apparently a consequence of the tag sequence. This is the first report describing periplasmic secretion of biologically active, authentic hPRL.