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To date, there is no objective or reliable means of assessing the severity of degenerative joint disease (DJD) and need for joint replacement surgery. Hence, it is difficult to know when an individual with DJD has reached a point where total arthroplasty is indicated. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether serum levels of Alpha-2 HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) as well as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2, 4, 7) can be used to predict the presence of severe DJD of the hip and/or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) (specifically: joints that require replacement). A total of 30 patients scheduled for arthroplasty (diseased) (15 HIP, 15 TMJ) and 120 age-matched controls (healthy/non-diseased) were included. Blood samples were collected from all patients ≥8 weeks after the last arthroplasty. Concentrations of serum analytes were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and these were compared between the Diseased and Healthy groups, utilizing the Mann-Whitney U-test. Patients with disease had significantly higher levels of BMP-2 and BMP-4 and lower levels of AHSG in serum compared to non-diseased humans ( p < 0.01). Higher levels of BMP-2, 4 and reduced levels of AHSG appear to characterize patients who have DJD that is severe enough to require total joint replacement. Perhaps measurements of these proteins can be used to make objective decisions regarding the need for total arthroplasty as opposed to the current subjective approaches. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:44-52, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cuticular sensory receptors that are found on the apex of the labium of hemipterans play an important role in their feeding behavior. In this study we describe the ultrastructure, number, and distribution of sensilla on the labium apex of the chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus leucopterus. Each apical field of sensilla on the labium contains 11 uniporous peg sensilla and one sensillum chaeticum. The uniporous peg sensilla are innervated by 4–5 bipolar neurons that send dendrites in the lumen of each peg. Three neurons are associated with each sensillum chaeticum, two neurons have dendrites in the lumen of the sensillum, and the third dendrite ends in a tubular body at the base of the sensillum. Behavioral tests that involve chemical blockage of the sensory receptors show the importance of the labial sensilla in feeding behavior. Both morphological and behavioral evidence indicate that the labial sensilla have a chemosensitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The placement of grafting material in extraction sites for ridge preservation is an increasingly common practice among clinicians. This is a case report of a patient presenting with a symptomatic, foreign body granuloma following the placement of hard (issue replacement (HTR) in extraction sockets. The surgical specimen revealed numerous histiocytes and foreign body type giant cells. The grafting material was surgically removed and the patient's symptoms were alleviated. Although biocompatibility of HTR has previously been shown, specific applications may be contraindicated or some patients may exhibit sensitivity to this material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT IS TO DESCRIBE the management of gingival vitiligo in a black female. This patient was referred by her psychiatrist to the Mount Sinai Hospital Dental Department (Toronto) for assessment of progressive loss in gingival pigmentation. According to her psychiatrist this toss of pigmentation, which the patient indicated may be considered in Africa as a hallmark of HIV infection, was a significant exogenous factor in relation id the patient's ongoing clinical depression. After obtaining informed consent, a modification of a tattooing method used fur skin was applied to the patient's attached gingival tissues. Test sites were tattooed prior to performing full gingival tattooing under local anaesthesia. The results demonstrate that it was possible to restore this patient's gingival pigmentation in a highly esthetically acceptable manner. The resulting coloration was reminiscent of the patient's natural pigmentation that had been lost ostensibly because of her systemic disorder. Our findings also showed that the artificial pigmentation established via the tattoo method was stable 4 months postoperatively and continues to be stable, as expected. A profound improvement in the patient's mood was noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. The main morphological features of the cephalic region of the larva of Haematobia irritans (L.) are the oral grooves, tripartite labium and the antennomaxillary protuberances that have the dorsal, terminal and ventral sensory organs. The total number of sensilla that are found on the terminal organ differs from other cyclorrhaphous-fly larvae. The fan-shaped anterior spiracles usually consist of seven bulbous digits that are unequal in length. The creeping welts consist of notched, convex plates that split into two separate plates as they approach the midline of the venter. This characteristic has not been described previously for this species or other, higher, dipterous larvae. There are two posterior spiracles with an ecdysial scar, four fan-shaped and branching spiracular hairs and irregularly-shaped spiracular openings. The longitudinal anal opening is situated in the cuticular band that is known as the anal organ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]