Application of Dual-Energy Computed Tomography for Breast Cancer Diagnosis

The present study aimed to investigate the possibility of using dual-energy computed tomography (CT) before therapy to discriminate between normal breast tissue and tumor tissue in patients with breast cancer, without the need to use a contrast medium. The following patient data were extracted by interview and from the hospital’s radiology information system: height, weight, age, menstrual cycle, CT images of normal tissue and tumors with or without contrast medium, and the histopathological diagnosis of the aspiration biopsy. The median age of the 43 participants was 56 years (range, 30 - 80 years). The CT values were evaluated using a clinical analytical program based on the three-material decomposition technique. Breast cancer was classified into ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, fibromatosis-like metaplastic carcinoma, and apocrine carcinoma. In all conditions, regardless of contrast medium, the CT values of tumor tissues were higher than those of normal breast tissue, indicating the effectiveness of dual-energy CT (DE-CT) in the diagnosis of breast cancer. By contrast, DE-CT showed limited potential for distinguishing ductal carcinoma in situ from invasive ductal carcinoma. There have only been a few reports regarding CT examination of breast cancer, and it is expected this study encourage the development of DE-CT imaging to improve tumor detection in patients with breast cancer.

TNF-<i>α</i>and RANKL facilitates the development of orthodontically-induced inflammatory root resorption

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in patients with severe root resorption after orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: Ten patients who had been receiving orthodontic treatment (5-control subjects and 5-severe root resorption subjects) participated in this study. GCF was collected from all patients. Subjects with severe root resorption (>1/3 of the original root length) were identified. Control group subjects with no loss of the root structure undergoing orthodontic treatment were also identified. The GCF was collected non-invasively from the mesial and distal sides of each of the upper central and lateral incisors using filter paper strips. The eluted GCF was used for a Western blot analysis with Antibodies against TNF-α and soluble RANKL (sRANKL). Ten male 6-week-old Wistar rats were subjected to orthodontic force of 50 g to induce a mesially tipping movement of the upper first molars for 7 days. The expression levels of TNF-α and RANKL proteins were determined in periodontal ligament (PDL) by immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The Western blot analysis showed that the TNF-α and sRANKL expressions were significantly higher in the severe root resorption group than in the control group. In the experimental tooth movement in vivo, resorption lacunae with multinucleated cells were observed in 50 g group. The immunoreactivity for TNF-α and RANKL was detected in PDL tissue subjected to the orthodontic force on day 7. Conclusion: These results suggest that TNF-α and RANKL play important roles in inducing or facilitating the development of orthodontically-induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR).

External apical root resorption and the release of interleukin-6 in the gingival crevucular fluid induced by a self-ligating system

The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of external apical root resorption (EARR) and the release of interleukin (IL)-6 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in subjects treated with a low-force low-friction system. Sixty patients were assigned to two groups of thirty patients for each: one group received treatment with self-ligating brackets and the other with conventional ligated edgewise brackets. All patients were treated with extraction of the maxillary first premolars. The EARR of the maxillary central incisors was evaluated on the periapical radiographs and cephalograms, taken before and after orthodontic treatment. The GCF was also collected non-invasively from the mesial and distal sides of central incisors by using filter paper strips before and after orthodontic treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to determine the IL-6 levels in the GCF samples. A significant difference was found in the amount of EARR between the patients with self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets. The mean amount of EARR was significantly lower for self-ligating brackets than conventional brackets (p < 0.05). The GCF levels of IL-6 for the patients with self-ligating brackets appliance were significantly lower than for those with the conventional brackets (p < 0.05). These results show that the mean amount of EARR and the GCF levels of IL-6 were significantly lower in the patients treated using low-force low-friction appliances than conventional brackets. Therefore, self-ligating brackets may be a useful system for reducing inflammation and EARR.

Immunohistochemical Localization of Versican, Link Protein and Hyaluronic Acid Binding Protein in the Human Periodontal Ligament

The purpose of the present study was to histopathologically and immunohistochemically investigate the distribution of proteoglycans in human periodontal ligament (PDL). Specimens from osteotomy and tooth extraction having healthy PDL were studied. Histologically, PDL consisted of fibrous tissues, involving a compact arrangement area and edematous or myxoid area. Immuno-histochemically, versican binding region (12C5), versican link protein (8A4) and biotinylated hyaluronic acid binding protein (B-HABP) were distributed in PDL. In addition, positive immunore-activity for 12C5 and 8A4 was stronger in the compact arrangement area than in the edematous or myxoid area. Reactivity for B-HABP was stronger in the edematous or myxoid area than in the compact fibrous area. These results suggest that versican and link protein are associated with fibrous tissues, whereas hyaluronic acid is related to the formation of edematous and/or myxoid tissue in human PDL. These substances may play a role in periodontal homeostasis by protecting against mechanical stress.