Papanicolaou test is a diagnostic test for uterine cervical cancer screening and routinely examined. It has limitations. A better technique is needed to identify true cervical malignancy process. Molecular cancer marker detection may have high the sensitivity and specificity in detecting cancer. Survivin, a marker candidate, is upregulated in many malignancy processes. Ninety women have joined in this cross sectional study by consecutive sampling. Survivin expression was examined by indirect immunoperoxidase method. It was predominantly found in metaplastic cells. Correlation between survivin expression and Papanicolaou test results was calculated by Fischer’s-exact test. Using Papanicolaou test result as an indicator for the presence of uterine cervical abnormalities, the performance indicators were calculated. Fischer’s-exact test showed that survivin expression was not significantly useful as cervical cancer molecular marker. Survivin expression of the uterine cervical exfoliative cells cannot be used as a diagnostic test for uterine cervical malignancy process.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were 1) to obtain information regarding the prescribing pattern of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the primary care setting at a Malaysian university, 2) to determine the prevalence and types of potential NSAID prescription related problems (PRPs), and 3) to identify patient characteristics associated with exposure to these potential PRPs.
METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from 1 academic year using the electronic medical records of patients in the University Sains Malaysia (USM) primary care system. The defined daily dose (DDD) methodology and the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) drug classification system were used in the analysis and comparison of the data. Statements representing potential NSAID PRPs were developed from authoritative drug information sources. Then, algorithms were developed to screen the databases for these potential PRPs. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to characterize DRPs.
RESULTS: During the study period, 12,470 NSAID prescriptions were prescribed for 6,509 patients (mean ± SD = 1.92 ± 1.83). This represented a prevalence of 35,944 per 100,000 patients, or 36%. Based on their DDDs, mefenamic acid and diclofenac were the most prescribed NSAIDs. 573 potential NSAID-related PRPs were observed in a cohort of 432 patients, representing a prevalence of 6,640 per 100,000 NSAIDs users, or 6.6% of all NSAID users. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with a Malay ethnic background (p < 0.001), members of the staff (p < 0.001), having 4 or more prescribers (p < 0.001) or having 2 - 3 prescribers (p = 0.02), and representing 4 or more long-term therapeutic groups (LTTGs) (p < 0.001) or 2 - 3 LTTGs (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with an increased chance of exposure to potential NSAID related PRPs.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in Malaysia that presents data on the prescribing pattern of NSAIDs and the characteristics of potential NSAID-related PRPs. The prevalence of potential NSAID-related PRPs is frequent in the primary care setting. Exposure to these PRPs is associated with specific sociodemographic and health status factors. These results should help to raise the awareness of clinicians and patients about serious NSAID PRPs.
Study site: University Sains Malaysia (USM) primary care system.
Penyerapan akar gigi apeks luaran (PAAL) adalah salah satu kesan negatif semasa rawatan ortodontik selain daripada gigi
yang mengalami trauma. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk melihat hubungan antara sejarah trauma dan kejadian PAAL serta
membandingkan tahap keterukan PAAL antara gigi trauma dan tanpa trauma selepas enam dan 12 bulan rawatan ortodontik.
Sampel kajian merupakan gigi insisor tengah maksila daripada 23 subjek (8 lelaki dan 15 wanita berumur 12 hingga 26
tahun) dengan 19 mempunyai trauma (tanpa penyerapan akar gigi) dan 27 tanpa trauma. Rawatan ortodontik dilakukan
dengan menggunakan dawai arkus NiTi 0.014”, 0.018” dan 0.018” × 0.025” pada enam bulan pertama. Selepas enam
bulan, rawatan ortodontik diteruskan dengan menggunakan dawai arkus keluli tahan karat saiz 0.019” × 0.025” sehingga
rawatan ortodontik mencapai satu tahun. PAAL gigi diukur melalui imej tomografi berkomputer pancaran-kon (CBCT) yang
diambil sebelum (X0
), selepas enam bulan (X6
) dan selepas 12 bulan (X12) rawatan ortodontik. Penyerapan akar dikira
dengan menolak panjang gigi pada X6
dan X12 dengan panjang gigi pada X0
. Kejadian PAAL dalam kumpulan trauma dan
tanpa trauma masing-masing adalah 89.5% dan 77.8% (penyerapan akar rendah dari 2 mm) selepas enam bulan rawatan
ortodontik. Selepas 12 bulan rawatan ortodontik, semua gigi menunjukkan PAAL. Kejadian PAAL antara gigi trauma dan
tanpa trauma tidak menunjukkan perbezaan yang signifikan (p>0.05). Dalam kajian ini, gigi yang mengalami trauma serta
tanpa trauma membentuk PAAL pada kadar yang sama selepas enam dan 12 bulan rawatan orthodontik. Oleh itu, adalah
selamat untuk melakukan rawatan ortodontik kepada pesakit yang mempunyai sejarah trauma pada gigi.
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were studied as biomarkers of canine movement. Root resorption was also evaluated in canines subjected to the orthodontic forces. Nineteen subjects randomly received 100 and 150 g force using self-ligating brackets (SLB) either on the right or left site of maxillary arch. Gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected at distal sites of canines for five consecutive weeks. The activities of ALP, TRAP and AST were assayed and measured spectrophotometrically. Canine movement was measured for five consecutive weeks while root resorption was monitored at baseline, week 0 and week 5 using periapical radiographs. In 100 g group, TRAP activity significantly increased in week 3-5 when compared to TRAP baseline activity. However, ALP and AST activities slightly increased. In 150 g group, ALP and TRAP activities slightly increased when compared with their baseline activities. However, AST significantly increased in week 5. Canine movement and root resorption were not significantly different (p<0.05) in both groups. A force of 100 and 150 g slightly increased the bone modeling process and resulted in similar canine movement and root resorption. Therefore, 100 g force could be an optimum force for canine retraction and is preferable (compared with 150 g force) in canine retraction using SLB.
Tooth movement induced by orthodontic treatment can cause sequential reactions involving the periodontal tissue and alveolar bone, resulting in the release of numerous substances from the dental tissues and surrounding structures. To better understand the biological processes involved in orthodontic treatment, improve treatment, and reduce adverse side effects, several of these substances have been proposed as biomarkers. Potential biological markers can be collected from different tissue samples, and suitable sampling is important to accurately reflect biological processes. This paper covers the tissue changes that are involved during orthodontic tooth movement such as at compression region (involving osteoblasts), tension region (involving osteoclasts), dental root, and pulp tissues. Besides, the involvement of stem cells and their development towards osteoblasts and osteoclasts during orthodontic treatment have also been explained. Several possible biomarkers representing these biological changes during specific phenomenon, that is, bone remodelling (formation and resorption), inflammation, and root resorption have also been proposed. The knowledge of these biomarkers could be used in accelerating orthodontic treatment.
Dental pulp tissue contains dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Dental pulp cells (also known as dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells) are capable of differentiating into multilineage cells including neuron-like cells. The aim of this study was to examine the capability of DPSCs to differentiate into neuron-like cells without using any reagents or growth factors. DPSCs were isolated from teeth extracted from 6- to 8-week-old mice and maintained in complete medium. The cells from the fourth passage were induced to differentiate by culturing in medium without serum or growth factors. RT-PCR molecular analysis showed characteristics of Cd146(+) , Cd166(+) , and Cd31(-) in DPSCs, indicating that these cells are mesenchymal stem cells rather than hematopoietic stem cells. After 5 days of neuronal differentiation, the cells showed neuron-like morphological changes and expressed MAP2 protein. The activation of Nestin was observed at low level prior to differentiation and increased after 5 days of culture in differentiation medium, whereas Tub3 was activated only after 5 days of neuronal differentiation. The proliferation of the differentiated cells decreased in comparison to that of the control cells. Dental pulp stem cells are induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells when cultured in serum- and growth factor-free medium.
Purpose. This study is aimed to compare the effects of two different orthodontic forces on crevicular alkaline phosphatase activity, rate of tooth movement, and root resorption. Materials and Methods. Twelve female subjects of class II division 1 malocclusion participated. Maxillary canines with bonded fixed appliances acted as the tested teeth, while their antagonists with no appliances acted as the controls. Canine retraction was performed using nickel titanium coil spring that delivered forces of 100 gm or 150 gm to either side. Crevicular fluid was analyzed for ALP activity, and study models were casted to measure tooth movements. Root resorption was assessed using periapical radiographs before and after the force application. Results. ALP activity at the mesial sites peaked at week 1 for 150 gm group with significant differences when compared with the 100 gm group. Cumulative canine movements were significantly greater in the 150 gm force (2.10 ± 0.50 mm) than in the 100 gm force (1.57 ± 0.44 mm). No root resorption was in the maxillary canines after retraction. Conclusions. A force of 150 gm produced faster tooth movements and higher ALP activity compared with the 100 gm group and had no detrimental effects such as root resorption.