Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Dourov.
The argyrophil (Ag+ NOR) staining for nucleolar organizer region (NORs) applied to a series of benign and malignant salivary tumours reveals some differences which can be useful for the prognosis of those tumours. This new technique may be of diagnostic help in equivocal small biopsies or in cytological samples.
Identification and numerations on electron microscopic samples of rat parotid glands revealed an unexpected high frequency of nuclear bodies in acini and in striated ducts. Three different morphological types of nuclear bodies were identified: type I corresponded to a circular outline of finely fibrillar or granular bodies. Type II exhibited an outer fibrillar cortex surrounding a central lucent core. Type III possessed a thick granular or fibrillar cortex surrounding dense granules. Type IV nuclear bodies appeared to be circumscribed by a thick lamellar cortex and contained dense and heavy stained granules. The biochemical content of the nuclear bodies mostly corresponds to proteins and it was possible to demonstrate slight quantities of RNA. Recent studies seem to confer to some of those nuclear bodies a possible role in RNA processing or transport. It is however peculiar to find nuclear bodies in striated ducts which are not involved in active protein synthesis as the acini.
The authors make a general survey of the immunopathological mechanisms involved in odontogenic cysts and granulomas. The dental pulp and the sound periapical tissues contain neither inflammatory nor immunoglobin-producing cells. Dental decay associated with bacterial aggression of the dental pulp and periapical tissues might induce a nonspecific inflammation which subsequently becomes more specific. Immunoglobulins are present in fluid aspirates from odontogenic cysts and granulomas. Several investigations have pointed out nonspecific inflammatory mediators (including the C3 complement components), T lymphocytes (helpers and suppressors), B lymphocytes, protein S-100 + cells (Langerhans cells). The presence of immunoglobulins, immunocompetent cells and C3 complement components confirms that all constituents of both humoral and cell-mediated immunological reactions might play an essential role in the pathogenesis of osteolysis.
In this review of the literature, it is emphasized that the published results about the transthoracic pulmonary needle biopsy (TPNB) cannot be readily evaluated due to the inconsistency of the reference tests, the methods and the investigated subjects. Gold-standards for evaluation of lung tumors have been described and are recalled. The limits of the TPNB are pointed out in the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules and benign lesions. In a bayesian approach, it is shown that the TPNB is only useful in confirming an a-priori diagnosis of cancer.
A patient with a multiloculated cystic lesion of the mandible, and clinical as well as biological features of hyperparathyroidism is presented. This association suggesting the diagnosis of brown tumor was actually due to an ameloblastoma of the mandible. Such a concomitant association of an ameloblastoma with symptomatic hyperparathyroidism has never been reported to our knowledge.
In order to weld cracks in tooth enamel, it is necessary to bring the surface of the tooth to the fusion temperature of the enamel (greater than 1,000 degrees C). The study investigated whether this increase in surface temperature can cause damage to the vitality of the tooth by recording, using a thermocouple, the temperature in the pulp chamber of teeth exposed to argon laser irradiation (power density after focusing: 4000 W/cm2; duration of continuous irradiation: 1-5 seconds). These pulp temperature increases were compared with those considered safe for the tooth, i.e., contact with a hot drink, drilling of cavities with air + water cooling. It was shown that punctual irradiations with an argon laser for periods of 2 or 4 seconds generated temperature increases in the pulp chamber which were less than inferior to those caused by contact with water at 54-55 degrees C for 1 or 2 seconds, and were of the same order as those caused by the drilling of class III or V cavities of 1 mm in depth and 1 mm in diameter. These results suggest that it is worth continuing research into applying the technique in the mouth.
Scanning electron microscopic observations of pulp calcifications in deciduous molars were correlated with microradiographic findings. Numerous spherical calcifications were found in appearance similar to those in the permanent dentition. In a second type, mineralization took the form of diffuse deposits of calcium. The discrete diffuse foci coalesced into large islands of mineralized connective tissue. A third type of calcification was observed in which rhombic crystals were associated in a spherulitic pattern. The exact cause of the crystal formation is unknown. Moreover, as we are aware, the spherulitic calcifications have never been previously reported in this location. The preliminary results indicated that mineralization in the pulp of deciduous molars, takes a variety of forms, suggesting that calcium deposition can occur by different processes.
Sham-operated (SO) and paraplegic rats were treated from the day of operation during a period of 4 or 6 weeks with salmon calcitonin 4 IU/kg/day or a diphosphonate (APD) 1mM/kg/day or indomethacin 2.5 mg/kg/day. The consequence of spinal cord section on the femur and tibia is a loss of mineral which affects predominantly trabecular bone (-24 and -13% in calcium content for the tibial metaphysis and the whole bone, respectively, when compared with the SO controls), a twofold increase in bone blood flow as measured by the technique of the microspheres trapping, a moderate decrease of the 72 hour 45Ca accretion rate in the bone shaft, and an increase in the number of metaphyseal osteoclasts in the tibia. In paraplegics, all three drugs inhibit bone loss to some degree, calcitonin and indomethacin being mostly effective on the cortical bone of the shaft, and APD tremendously increasing the trabecular network of the metaphysis. APD is the only drug to exhibit a significant effect on the calcium content of the bones of the SO controls, but some effect is apparent for calcitonin on X-rays and histological preparations. The increase in bone blood flow in paraplegics is unaffected, this point being discussed in view of the hypothesis of the resorptive action of prostaglandins produced by newly formed vessels. 45Ca accretion rate increases in the shaft of calcitonin-treated paraplegics, whereas it decreases in APD-treated controls and paraplegics. The number of osteoclasts decreases in paraplegics treated with calcitonin and indomethacin, and increases in both controls and paraplegics treated with APD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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We report an infant melanotic neuroectodermal tumor in the anterior part of the upper gingiva, which was associated with high urinary excretion of vanilmandelic acid. Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein were abnormally high (200 ng/ml). They returned to normal after removal of the tumor (10 ng/ml). The tumor was characterized histologically and ultrastructurally by the presence of melanocytic and astrocytic cells containing glial fibrillary protein. Intracellular alpha-fetoprotein was demonstrated by the immunoperoxidase method (PAP) in scattered foci of interstitial cells.
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An all line argon laser beam of initial power 2W (4000W/cm2-800 J/cm2, after focusing), was used to weld enamel cracks on extracted human teeth. The welding, observed with the naked eye, caused a small heightening in the welded area which was whiter in color than the rest of the enamel. Examinations were performed on the outer surface of the welding with an inverted metallurgical microscope and using a microdurometer. Sections were then made and studied, on the one hand with a light microscope, and on the other using microradiographical methods. The welding was seen to reach across half the enamel thickness. The possibilities for therapeutic applications of this work are discussed.
From a rare pathology and unknown etiology, the authors report a cranio-facial case without any other body symptoms. A literature review can be found after the case report.
A microradiographic study of 40 human deciduous teeth showed an unexpected high frequency (33%) of enamel pearls at the junctional interradicular line of the molars. An electron probe analysis showed that the composition of the pearls is similar to that of the coronal enamel. The pearls are located on normal dentine and are in contact with a hypermineralised layer separating cementum from dentine. It is hypothesised that the origin of this hyaline layer and the observed high frequency of pearls is not due to a possible differentiation of Hertwig sheath cells but results from variations of an usual biological process.
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