Prospective evaluation of high-dose methotrexate pharmacokinetics in adult patients with lymphoma using novel determinants of kidney function.

High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) pharmacokinetics (PKs), including the best estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation that reflects methotrexate (MTX) clearance, requires investigation. This prospective, observational, single-center study evaluated adult patients with lymphoma treated with HDMTX. Samples were collected at predefined time points up to 96 h postinfusion.

Toxicity and pharmacokinetics of actinomycin-D and vincristine in children and adolescents: Children's Oncology Group Study ADVL06B1.

Actinomycin-D and vincristine are cytotoxic drugs commonly used to treat cancers in children. This prospective study assessed pharmacokinetic variability and toxicity of these drugs in children. Blood samples were collected in 158 patients.

Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase 1 Enhances a Druggable Tumor Energy Shuttle Pathway.

How mitochondrial metabolism is altered by oncogenic tyrosine kinases to promote tumor growth is incompletely understood. Here, we show that oncogenic HER2 tyrosine kinase signaling induces phosphorylation of mitochondrial creatine kinase 1 (MtCK1) on tyrosine 153 (Y153) in an ABL-dependent manner in breast cancer cells. Y153 phosphorylation, which is commonly upregulated in HER2 breast cancers, stabilizes MtCK1 to increase the phosphocreatine energy shuttle and promote proliferation.

capsular polysaccharide is linked to peptidoglycan via a direct glycosidic bond to β-D--acetylglucosamine.

For many bacteria, including those important in pathogenesis, expression of a surface-localized capsular polysaccharide (CPS) can be critical for survival in host environments. In Gram-positive bacteria, CPS linkage is to either the cytoplasmic membrane or the cell wall. Despite the frequent occurrence and essentiality of these polymers, the exact nature of the cell wall linkage has not been described in any bacterial species.

Low Shrinkage Silorane Composites.

Polymerization shrinkage of methacrylate composites utilizing bisphenol-A glycidal methacylate or urethane dimethacrylate has typically been about 3-3.5% by volume. Though adjustments have been made to filler loading, filler size, filler particle distribution, and improved silanization, the polymerization contraction still creates some significant clinical problems.

Repair Versus Replacement of Restorations.

Dentists evaluate previously placed restorations every day to determine their acceptability. Many restorations have some defects associated with them. This article will review criteria useful to determine whether a restoration can be repaired, refurbished, or replaced.

Clinical Value of Natriuretic Peptides in Predicting Time to Dialysis in Stage 4 and 5 Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Background: Anticipating the time to renal replacement therapy (RRT) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is an important but challenging issue. Natriuretic peptides are biomarkers of ventricular dysfunction related to poor outcome in CKD. We comparatively investigated the value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as prognostic markers for the risk of RRT in stage 4 and 5 CKD patients, and in foretelling all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events within a 5-year follow-up period.

Amalgam Restorations: To Bond or Not.

This article will review the use of various liners used to eliminate microleakage in amalgam restorations. It will review the literature about whether amalgam restorations are improved by using a bonding process and if so specifically how it improves the patient outcome.

Using Multiple Bonding Strategies.

There are many ways to bond to tooth structure, some micro-mechanical some chemical, some a combination. Different dentin bonding materials have different bonding strengths to differently prepared surfaces, and because of differences in their nature, different areas of tooth structure present peculiar bonding challenges. This paper will review a variety of material types, elucidating their particular bonding strengths and commenting on improved bonding strategies to increase durability, strength, and favorable pulpal response.

The effect of occlusal forces on restorations.

This review will focus on the effect occlusal forces, both normal masticatory force and paranormal bruxing and clenching force, have on various restorative materials and their interaction with the teeth through a variety of bonding mechanisms. Salient physical properties of each of the materials will be reviewed, as well as the effect occlusal force has on restoration durability.

Enamel craze lines.

Enamel craze lines are a common clinical finding, especially in older patients and in patients who brux. These craze lines frequently are discolored and may present as clear in color, grey, or brown. The clinical question is, when do enamel craze lines need restoration and when should we leave them untreated? This review will look at enamel structure and the effects of occlusion, bruxing, temperature, and restorations on enamel structure.

Prevention of dental disease versus surgical treatment.

The members of the Minnesota legislature have debated methods by which access to dental care and treatment of dental disease can be improved at a cost lower than that of present delivery systems. This review sheds light on some significant aspects of what the dental profession has learned over the last century that has proven significantly beneficial to the overall health of the American populace. Recommendations are made in the use of cost-effective dental public health interventions that could be used to provide better access and improved dental health at lower cost.

Cementation: methods and materials. Part two.

This is a review of the literature of the last 21 years about cementing or luting indirect restorations to tooth structure. Recommendations are made as to the surface preparation of precious metals, non-precious metals, indirect composite materials, and all available porcelain materials including feldspathic, luecite reinforced, lithium di-silicate, slip cast aluminum oxide, densely sintered aluminum oxide, and zirconia prior to luting. Using data from a variety of sources, product categories of materials and various bonding materials and procedures are ranked according to their bond strength and durability.

Clinical uses of glutaraldehyde/2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (GLUMA).

Glutaraldehyde/2-Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (GLUMA) is a chemical frequenty used for desensitization of teeth and has other uses as suggested in the literature. Some newer recommendations have been made relative to its use during tooth preparation, as a disinfectant, rewetting during bonding, prior to cementation of crowns and bridges, and in dealing with pulpal exposures. This article will explore the science behind these and other applications for this chemical and its effect on the tooth structure and its local environment.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 11D has a bispecific glycosyltransferase and expresses two different capsular polysaccharide repeating units.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) expresses a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) that protects against host immunity and is synthesized by enzymes in the capsular polysaccharide synthesis (cps) locus. Serogroup 11 has six members (11A to -E) and the CPS structure of all members has been solved, except for serotype 11D. The cps loci of 11A and 11D differ by one codon (N112S) in wcrL, which putatively encodes a glycosyltransferase that adds the fourth sugar of the CPS repeating unit (RU).

The effect of occlusal forces on restorations.

This review will focus on the effect occlusal forces, both normal masticatory force and paranormal bruxing and clenching force, have on various restorative materials and their interaction with the teeth through a variety of bonding mechanisms. Salient physical properties of each of the materials will be reviewed, as well as the effect occlusal force has on restoration durability.

Biochemical, genetic, and serological characterization of two capsule subtypes among Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 20 strains: discovery of a new pneumococcal serotype.

The bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae expresses one of over 90 structurally distinct polysaccharide (PS) capsule serotypes. Prior PS structural analyses of the vaccine-associated serotype 20 do not agree with reports describing the genes that mediate capsule synthesis. Furthermore, using immunized human sera-based assays, serological differences were recently noted among strains typed as serotype 20.

Extension for prevention: margin placement.

This article will review the concept of extension for prevention popularized by G.V. Black around the early 1900s.

The clinical significance of marginal fit.

Clinical evaluation of restoration acceptability includes marginal adaptation, restoration and preservation of anatomic form, color match, cavosurface discoloration, and presence of marginal caries. This paper will review what is known about marginal fit of all materials relative to their acceptable fit. Some explanation will be given of how material properties affect marginal fit, what the expected longevity of different materials is relative to marginal fit, and how marginal fit affects development of secondary or marginal caries.