METHODS: Six makes, three each monocrystalline (M) and polycrystalline (P) were used; PureSapphire (M), SPA Aesthetic (M), Ghost (M), Mist (P), Reflections (P), and Dual Ceramic (P). The Ortholux™ Light Curing Unit (LCU) was used to cure the orthodontic adhesive Transbond™XT. The LCU's tip irradiance was measured and TLE transmitted through the ceramic bracket was obtained, then adhesive added to the bracket, and transmitted TLE measured through bracket-plus-adhesive samples. The LCU was set at five seconds as recommended for curing adhesive through ceramic brackets.
RESULTS: Mean tip irradiance was 1859.2±16.2mW/cm2. The TLE transmitted through brackets alone ranged 1.7 to 3.9J/cm2, in the descending order: Ghost>Pure Sapphire>Reflections>Mist>SPA Aesthetics>Dual Ceramic. The TLE transmitted through bracket-plus-adhesive samples ranged 1.6 to 3.7J/cm2, in the descending order: Ghost>Mist>Reflections>Pure Sapphire>SPA Aesthetics>Dual Ceramic. TLE was reduced with the addition of adhesive (range -0.1 to -0.7J/cm2). There was a significant difference for Pure Sapphire, Reflections, and Mist (P<0.05), but not for SPA Aesthetics, Ghost, and Dual Ceramic. There was no overall significant difference between the monocrystalline and polycrystalline makes. The two best makes were of the monocrystalline type, concerning TLE transmission, but with the exception of polycrystalline Dual Ceramic; the next worst make was a monocrystalline bracket, SPA Aesthetics.
CONCLUSION: Light energy attenuation through ceramic orthodontic brackets is make-dependent, with no overall difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline brackets. Light energy is further attenuated with the addition of resin-based orthodontic adhesive.
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study involved 105 apparently healthy adults. Interview questionnaire was used to collect personal information. Participants were excluded if they suffered from acute or chronic inflammatory diseases, or continued using medicines, which might affect the biomedical results.
RESULTS: In association with increased Body Mass Index (BMI), the obese group displayed significant higher markers including: interleukin 6 (IL-6), high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), total cholesterol (TC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Obese group in association with increased waist circumference (WC) was higher significantly in inflammatory markers (IL-6, hs-CRP), lipid profile (TC) and triglyceride (TG), and blood pressure (SBP, DBP). A tertile of a feature of systemic inflammation (hs-CRP) was created, by Ordinal Logistic Regression, after adjusting for the age, gender, smoking habits, physical activity pattern, father and mother's health history; risk factors were the increased BMI [OR: 1.24] (95% CI: 1.005-1.548, P=0.050), IL-6 [OR: 3.35] (95% CI: 1.341-8.398, P=0.010), DBP [OR: 1.19] (95% CI: 1.034-1.367, P=0.015), and reduced Adiponectin [OR: 0.59] (95% CI: 0.435-0.820, P=0.001). Finally, BMI correlated with IL-6 and hs-CRP (r=0.326, P=0.005; r=0.347, P<0.001; respectively), and hs-CRP correlated with IL-6 (r=0.303, P=0.010), and inversely with Adiponectin (r=-0.342, P=0.001).
CONCLUSION: The increased level of IL-6 and reduced Adiponectin, which strongly associated with obesity, indicated that having high BMI is a useful marker in association with IL-6 and further developed systemic inflammation.
METHODS: S100A4 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using commercially available tissue microarray containing malignant and normal breast tissue cores from 216 patients.
RESULTS: S100A4 was absent in normal breast tissues while positive in 45.1% of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) node negative and 48.8% of infiltrating lobular carcinoma node negative. In paired samples, S100A4 protein was expressed in 13.5% of IDC node positive cases and 35.1% of matched lymph node metastasis.
CONCLUSION: S100A4 protein expression appears widely expressed in early and advanced breast cancer stages compared with normal breast. Our study suggests S100A4 may play a role in breast cancer progression and may prove to be an independent marker of breast cancer which appears to be down regulated in more advanced stages of breast cancer.