Transcultural perception of maxillary midline diastema.

Purpose: Perception of maxillary midline diastema as an esthetic trait varies in relation to culture, age group, and racial background. Although midline diastema is accepted in Africa, there are few reports on interethnic perception of midline diastema among Nigerians.

Methods: Participants aged 19 to 45 years were selected from six geographical zones of Nigeria; one state was randomly selected from each zone, and a local government area (LGA) selected from each state.

Descriptors of permanent teeth with cariously exposed pulp in patients presenting at a Nigerian hospital.

Aim: To describe the pattern of presentation of carious permanent teeth with pulp exposure and to determine factors associated with choice of treatment for such teeth.

Materials And Methods: All patients presenting at the oral diagnosis clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital Dental centre between January 2009 and June 2009 were examined and those with carious lesion involving the pulp were included in the study. The history and character of pain from teeth, extent of tooth structure lost, proposed treatment and reason for proposed treatment was recorded.

Ocular anti-allergic compounds selectively inhibit human mast cell cytokines in vitro and conjunctival cell infiltration in vivo.

Background: Conjunctival mast cells (MCs) are important effector cells in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, via histamine and cytokine secretion. Several new anti-allergic eye drops stabilize MCs and block histamine receptors, but their anti-inflammatory effects are unclear.

Objective: Anti-allergic drugs were compared for their anti-inflammatory effects in an in vitro model of human MC activation and in an experimental murine model of allergic conjunctivitis.