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Background: As abnormalities of circulating gut regulatory peptides may have pathogenetic relevance in chronic idiopathic slow-transit constipation, we measured fasting and postprandial levels of plasma pancreatic polypeptide, motilin, cholecystokinin, neurotensin, and somatostatin in women with the disease. Results were compared with those of women with normal bowel habits. Methods: Eight women with slow-transit constipation and 10 healthy women were studied. Blood samples were taken at regular intervals in fasting conditions and for 3 h after a standard solid-liquid meal (550 kcal). Gut peptide plasma levels were measured with a radioimmunoassay. Results: Fasting gut peptide levels and postprandial pancreatic polypeptide responses were normal in constipated patients, in whom, however, motilin levels did not increase after the meal, and postprandial concentration-time curves of cholecystokinin, neurotensin, and somatostatin were delayed. Mean ± standard error of the mean peak times in patients and in controls were, respectively, 99 ± 14.7 and 46 ± 4.1 min (P < 0.01, Mann-Whitney test) for cholecystokinin, 135 ± 9.8 and 60 ± 3.9 min (P < 0.01) for neurotensin, and 111 ± 17.7 and 51 ± 6.0 min (P < 0.05) for somatostatin. Conclusions: Patients with slow-transit constipation have abnormal postprandial patterns of motilin, cholecystokinin, neurotensin, and somatostatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine if botulinum injections in masseters could be an option to avoid surgery and prolonged treatment with occlusal splints and/or drugs to care for both painful bruxism and cosmetic improvement in a patient with a square jaw, bruxism, and orofacial pain., Background: Masseter muscle hypertrophy (MMH) is a benign, unilateral, or bilateral, painless enlargement in the lower face. It presents as a symmetrical or asymmetrical increase in the masseter muscle. Masseter muscle hypertrophy (MMH) sometimes can be related to bruxism symptoms like muscle and/or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain., Case Description: A 38-year-old woman complained of bilateral pain at palpation in the masseter body. She also complained about esthetics because of the prominent masseter muscle in the face and square face shape. A diagnosis of bruxism-related myalgia was performed, and treatment with botulinum injections into the masseter muscles was opted for. An oral electromyography was performed to detect the electrical muscular activity of masseter muscles over time., Conclusion: After a drastic reduction in the mean electrical activity immediately after the botulinum injections, a progressive increase in strength over time was noted, testifying about the decrease in the effect of botulinum over time. The pain disappeared for 5 months after the injections of botulinum. The reduction of the masseter muscle mass led to a softening of the face shape., Clinical Significance: This case report shows that treatment with botulinum can lead, in the short term, to a reduction in orofacial pain due to a decrease in muscle electrical activity.

A method for the expression of recombinant DNA products in mammalian cells based on in vitro amplification of gene units is described. Gene cassettes containing either a selectable marker or the gene of interest are mixed at different molar ratios, and linear polymers are formed using forced head-to-tail ligation. After introduction of the polymers into mammalian cells, transformants with various amounts of the amplified gene unit are obtained. For a first characterization of the system, the gene coding for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) has been used to produce polymers containing a single neomycin-resistance gene ligated to different numbers of CAT gene units and used for transfection into HeLa cells. All isolated G418 (gentamycin)-resistant cell transformants which received in vitro amplified DNA were found to express high levels of CAT activity in a stable manner. Southern-blot analysis of individual clones revealed multiple copies of the gene integrated head-to-tail in the genome. This system allowed us to express the gene coding for human prepro-endothelin-1 in A617 human vascular-smooth-muscle cells. The recombinant protein was shown to be correctly processed and biologically active endothelin-1.

Patients affected by acute leukemia under radiotherapy and chemotherapy, less than 12 years old were investigated about DMFT index. Patients were in total remission. All erupted permanent teeth, with attention to an eventual oligodontia of non erupted teeth also, excluding third molars, were investigated by clinical and X-Ray examination. Authors concluded that there is no difference between these patients and normal subjects for this index.