Surgical management of impacted incisors in associate with supernumerary teeth: a combine case report of spontaneous eruption and orthodontic extrusion

Maxillary permanent incisors impaction is not a frequent case in dental practice, but its treatment is challenging because of its importance to facial esthetics. Supernumerary teeth are the main cause of impaction of upper incisors. Supernumerary teeth when present can cause both esthetic and pathologic problems. Early detection of such teeth is most important if complications are to be avoided. In this reported case, the orthopantamogram of a 9-year-old boy revealed two impacted supernumerary teeth in the maxillary anterior region, which was interfering with the eruption of the permanent central incisors. The impacted supernumerary teeth were surgically removed, 11 was repositioned in the arch as it was situated very high in the arch, close to the nasal floor. Twenty-one erupted spontaneously but orthodontic force was applied over 11 to bring it into the occlusion and alignment was achieved with 0.014 mm NiTi wire.

A compendium of gene expression in normal human tissues

This study creates a compendium of gene expression in normal human tissues suitable as a reference for defining basic organ systems biology. Using oligonucleotide microarrays, we analyze 59 samples representing 19 distinct tissue types. Of approximately 7,000 genes analyzed, 451 genes are expressed in all tissue types and designated as housekeeping genes. These genes display significant variation in expression levels among tissues and are sufficient for discerning tissue-specific expression signatures, indicative of fundamental differences in biochemical processes. In addition, subsets of tissue-selective genes are identified that define key biological processes characterizing each organ. This compendium highlights similarities and differences among organ systems and different individuals and also provides a publicly available resource (Human Gene Expression Index, the HuGE Index, http://www.hugeindex.org) for future studies of pathophysiology.

Association of proinsulin and insulin resistance with coronary artery disease in non-diabetic south Indian men

AIMS

To evaluate the association of plasma proinsulin and insulin resistance (IR) with coronary artery disease (CAD) in non-diabetic subjects.

METHODS

In this case control study, 41 normoglycaemic men with angiographic evidence of CAD were compared with 41 control men matched for age and glycaemia and with no history or evidence of cardiac diseases. Estimations of plasma glucose, lipids, fasting plasma specific insulin (SI) and proinsulin (PI) were performed. IR was calculated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) method. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association of the variables with the prevalence of CAD.

RESULTS

Subjects with CAD had a higher body mass index (BMI) (25.4 +/- 4.3 vs. 22.9 +/- 3.2 kg/m2, P = 0.003) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) (0.95 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.89 +/- 0.09, P = 0.001) and a lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level (0.97 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.2 mmol/l, P = 0.002). They also had higher mean SI values (107.5 vs. 62.3 pmol/l, P = 0.002), PI values (19.3 vs. 5.7 pmol/l, P < 0.0001), PI/SI ratios (21.4 vs. 10.3, P < 0.0001) and HOMA IR (4.2 vs. 2.4, P = 0.004) compared with non-CAD subjects. These variables were associated with CAD in the unadjusted multiple regression analysis. In the multiple regression with the forward entry of the variables, WHR and PI only showed independent association with CAD.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects with CAD had higher levels of obesity and WHR. CAD showed an association with low HDL cholesterol, circulating PI, PI/SI ratios and IR.

Risk variables for coronary artery disease in Asian Indians

No large study from India has addressed the association of risk variables with coronary artery disease (CAD) in angiographically proved cases. In this study, we analyzed the association of anthropometric variables, lipoproteins, and coagulation parameters with CAD in those cases proved by coronary angiography. A cross-sectional study of 447 men > or = 25 years old, classified as with CAD or without CAD, was performed. Men treated with aspirin or lipid-lowering agents, and those with renal, hepatic, or thyroid diseases were excluded. Associations of these variables with CAD were evaluated by univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. The effect of diabetes on the CAD profile was also analyzed. Prevalences of diabetes and hypertension were significantly higher among those with CAD (p <0.001 for both). Lipid profile abnormalities, except lipoprotein (Lp(a)), were associated with CAD. Antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein was higher in patients with CAD. Fibrinogen levels were higher in CAD, but plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 did not show an association with CAD. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, age, body mass index, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and fibrinogen showed significant independent association with CAD. Several lipid abnormalities were associated with CAD in Asian Indians, but no significant association was seen with Lp(a) levels.

Talon cusp in the deciduous dentition: a case report

Talon cusp is a type of developmental anomaly affecting coronal portion of tooth in cingulum region, rarely found in the deciduous dentition.

"Talon cusp-heredity origin"--a case report

Talon cusp is a very unusual anomalous structure of tooth. The etiology is still unknown. It may be due to mal-interaction between ecto and mesoderm of epithelial bulgings present on premaxillary region at the time of complex odontogenesis. Genetics may have some role in the formation of Talon cusp. Talon cusp may cause clinical complications.

Monitoring of auto exhaust pollution by roadside plants

The changing levels of SO2 and Pb in the air and vegetation, along ten road transections of Lucknow city (having varying traffic densities) have been investigated, with a view to authenticate a possible correlation between SO2 and Pb concentration in air and sulphate and lead accumulation in the foliage of avenue trees. The study showed that the road transection at Alambagh (traffic density 4835 for 2 h) revealed the highest level of pollutants (SO2, 202 µg m(-3); SPM, 1080 µg m(-3); and lead, 2.96 µg m(-3), 2 h average) in air, as well as in the foliage of plants, whereas the road stretches with less traffic density correspondingly showed lower levels of pollutants. Pb and sulphate in leaves were found to be positively correlated with Pb and SO2 pollution in the air. Results suggest that Dalbergia sissoo and Calotropis procera are the ideal plant species to monitor as indications of Pb and SO2, respectively, in the air.

Use of homologous platelet factors in achieving total healing of recalcitrant skin ulcers

We used homologous platelet-derived wound healing factors (HPDWHF) to achieve complete healing of recalcitrant ulcers of diverse cause. Twenty-three patients with 27 skin ulcers who had been receiving conventional wound care with no evidence of healing for an average period of 25 weeks (range, 12 to 156 weeks) were studied. The patients were first subjected to controlled wound care for 3 months, with saline solution and silver sulfadiazine dressings used in all cases. At the end of this period, persistent nonhealing ulcers were treated by topical use of HPDWHF and silver sulfadiazine. Ulcer parameters were recorded on the first day and every week during therapy until complete epithelization was achieved in either group. Each ulcer acted as its own control. In the controlled wound care group, only three ulcers in three patients achieved complete healing; the remaining 24 ulcers in 20 patients failed to achieve even 50% healing in the stipulated 3-month period. However, when subjected to HPDWHF applications, these ulcers healed completely, 100% healing occurring in 9.67 +/- 4.9 weeks (range, 3 to 19 weeks), which is highly significant (p less than 0.01). The healing response to HPDWHF applications was of uniform progression over the weeks. Only the basic cause of the ulcer determined the healing rates in this group. The shortest and the longest time to achieve 100% healing occurred in patients with diabetes (6.88 +/- 2.97 weeks) and in the venous stasis group (14.00 +/- 7.07 weeks). Age, sex, location of ulcer, ulcer duration, and ulcer measurements had no influence on the HPDWHF-stimulated healing rates. This is the earliest report of HPDWHF-stimulated repair in chronic nonhealing skin ulcers.

Platelet 5-hydroxy-tryptamine in thrombotic and non-thrombotic diseases

It is generally accepted that platelets from the main constituent of a thrombus. Experimental work has shown that 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5 HT) in a concentration of 0.06 mg/ml produces clumping of the platelets. In view of this it was decided to estimate platelet 5 HT in thrombotic and non-thrombotic diseases. Thirty-five patients were investigated. Estimations of 5 HT were made on washed platelets rather than platelet-rich plasma which has been used in previous studies. Three groups were recognized on the basis of platelet 5 HT values. The first group consisted of five subjects who were clinically asymptomatic at the time of investigation but died 24 to 48 hours later and were shown at autopsy to have deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; they had the highest level of platelet 5 HT. The second group comprised eight patients with cerebral thrombosis whose platelet 5 HT ranged between 1529 and 2183 ng/10-9. There were 22 subjects in the third group (11 apparently normal and 11 with different pathologies). Their platelet 5 HT ranged from 611 to 877 ng/10-9 and did not vary in the different pathological conditions studied. Since the highest level of platelet 5 HT was observed in patients prior to the formation or embolization of a thrombus, it is suggested that this may have some role in initiating thrombus formation.