Vitiligo is a multifactorial skin disease with established role of genetics and autoimmunity in its pathogenesis. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms have been suggested to correlate with risk of vitiligo in some ethnic populations. On the other hand, cathelicidin, one of the innate immune system components, has a role in development of some chronic skin diseases and VDR regulates the expression of cathelicidin. We aimed to determine the plasma level of cathelicidin and its association with the VDR gene polymorphisms as well as plasma vitamin D level in patients with vitiligo. Ninety vitiligo patients and 90 non-vitiligo controls participated in this study. Blood levels of 25(OH) vitamin D and cathelicidin were determined with ELISA. Genotyping for VDR polymorphisms (ApaI, TaqI, FokI and BsmI) was done with RFLP-PCR method. Mean blood level of cathelicidin was significantly higher in vitiligo patients as compared to controls (P less then .0001). Mean blood level of vitamin D was significantly lower in patients than controls (P = .01). Statistically significant differences were not observed for both genotype and allele frequencies of BsmI, ApaI and TaqI polymorphisms. There was a borderline increased risk of vitiligo in over-dominant model of FokI polymorphism with OR = 1.8 and P = .051. Our findings was suggestive of the potential role of cathelicidin in the pathogenesis of vitiligo; however, future evaluations are needed to determine its precise mechanism.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ver155008.html  Genetic study of VDR gene polymorphism was suggestive of increased risk of vitiligo in association with a FokI polymorphism in Iranian population.
  This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy of a two-stage crown lengthening intervention (SCL) in the aesthetic zone compared with a one-stage crown lengthening procedure (CCL).
 
  Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to either SCL (n=15) or CCL (n=15) groups. SCL consisted of full-thickness flaps followed by bone recontouring and gingivectomy 4months postoperatively, if required. In CCL, osseous recontouring after submarginal incisions was performed, followed by flap repositioning. Records were obtained at baseline, 4months (only in SCL), 6months and 12months. Primary outcome was the precision in achieving a pre-determined gingival margin position. Other outcomes considered were changes in the gingival margin position and keratinized tissue width (KTW) at 12months, and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs).
 
  Surgical precision was comparable between groups (0.2±0.4mm in the CCL group and -0.2±0.5mm in the SCL group). Four patients in the SCL group (27.7%) did not require a second-stage surgery. KTW was significantly higher in the SCL group (6.3±1.4mm versus 5.0±1.4mm, p=0.017). SCL resulted in a lower impact on quality of life when compared to the CCL group.
 
  Both approaches were highly accurate obtaining the desired crown length. SCL was associated with a lower reduction in KTW and more favourable oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14).
 Both approaches were highly accurate obtaining the desired crown length. SCL was associated with a lower reduction in KTW and more favourable oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14).
  To date, investigations of quality of life (QoL) in children with Down syndrome (DS) are rather limited. The purpose of this study was twofold to examine QoL in children with DS and to explore possible differences in the QoL by age and gender.
 
  A cross-sectional study of 211 parents of children with DS was conducted using an online survey that included a consent form, a demographic questionnaire and the English version of KidsLife, which is a measure of children's QoL.
 
  Our results demonstrated moderate or favourable levels of QoL except for the emotional well-being domain among children with DS. The children's QoL showed no variance by gender. However, emotional and material well-being, interpersonal relations and social inclusion varied by age.
 
  The current findings provide important evidence that will help healthcare, educational and social services professionals to understand the multiple aspects of QoL in children with DS and support parents in their efforts to ensure the child's QoL. The results also point to the need to develop interventions aimed at improving QoL in those areas where children with DS are at increased risk for poorer QoL.
 The current findings provide important evidence that will help healthcare, educational and social services professionals to understand the multiple aspects of QoL in children with DS and support parents in their efforts to ensure the child's QoL. The results also point to the need to develop interventions aimed at improving QoL in those areas where children with DS are at increased risk for poorer QoL.
  To evaluate spinal stabilization with tension band stabilization (TS) in cats compared to screw and polymethylmethacrylate fixation (SP).
 
  Ex vivo study.
 
  Sixteen feline thoracolumbar spinal specimens.
 
  The intact specimens were mounted in a six-degree-of-freedom biaxial testing machine for nondestructive testing to obtain the neutral zones (NZ) and range of motion (ROM) in flexion and extension. Thereafter, nondestructive testing was consecutively performed after destabilization by disc fenestration and partial L1 corpectomy and after treatment with either TS or SP. Load to failure was compared after surgical treatment in flexion. Significance was assessed by Student's t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
 
  Range of motion was 26.4° ± 2.2° in TS constructs and 13.4° ± 2.1° in SP constructs (P = .0005). When flexion and extension were analyzed separately, no difference was found for ROM in flexion (SP, 7.0° ± 3.7°; TS, 8.3° ± 2.1°; P = .38). In extension, the mean displacement was 6.4° ± 2.7° and 18.1° ± 5.1° in SP and TS constructs, respectively (P = .0001). Neutral zone was 2.9° ± 0.6° and 7.5° ± 0.8° for the SP and TS groups, respectively (P = .0003). Screw and polymethylmethacrylate fixation constructs were two times stiffer (P = .045).
 
  Tension band stabilization provided stability comparable to SP in flexion. In extension, ROM of SP constructs was half that of TS constructs. The mode of failure of TS was related to the limited dorsal bone stock of feline lumbar vertebrae.
 
  Surgeons should be aware of the limited stability in extension provided by TS when it is used to stabilize thoracolumbar spinal injuries. Our results provide evidence to justify additional studies to clarify the type of fractures amenable to TS.
 Surgeons should be aware of the limited stability in extension provided by TS when it is used to stabilize thoracolumbar spinal injuries. Our results provide evidence to justify additional studies to clarify the type of fractures amenable to TS.