bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rate of gestational weight gain, pre‐pregnancy body mass index and preterm birth subtypes: a retrospective cohort study from Peru
Authors: Carnero AM , Mejía CR , García PJ
Published: May 2012

Please cite this paper as: Carnero AM, Mejía CR, García PJ. Rate of gestational weight gain, pre‐pregnancy body mass index and preterm birth subtypes: a retrospective cohort study from Peru. BJOG 2012;119:924–935.

Objective  To examine the shape (functional form) of the association between the rate of gestational weight gain, pre‐pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and preterm birth and its subtypes.

Design  Retrospective cohort study.

Setting  National reference obstetric centre in Lima, Peru.

Population  Pregnant women who delivered singleton babies during the period 2006–2009, resident in Lima, and beginning prenatal care at ≤12 weeks of gestation (n = 8964).

Methods  Data were collected from the centre database. The main analyses consisted of logistic regression with fractional polynomial modelling.

Main outcome measures  Preterm birth and its subtypes.

Results  Preterm birth occurred in 12.2% of women, being mostly idiopathic (85.7%). The rate of gestational weight gain was independently associated with preterm birth, and the shape of this association varied by pre‐pregnancy BMI. In women who were underweight, the association was linear (per 0.1 kg/week increase) and protective (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.82–1.00). In women of normal weight or who were overweight, the association was U‐shaped: the odds of delivering preterm increased exponentially with rates <0.10 or >0.66 kg/week, and <0.04 or >0.50 kg/week, respectively. In women who were obese, the association was linear, but non‐significant (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.95–1.06). The association described for preterm birth closely resembled that of idiopathic preterm birth, although the latter was stronger. The rate of gestational weight gain was not associated with indicated preterm birth or preterm prelabour rupture of membranes.

Conclusions  In Peruvian pregnant women starting prenatal care at ≤12 weeks of gestation, the rate of gestational weight gain is independently associated with preterm birth, mainly because of its association with idiopathic preterm birth, and the shape of both associations varies by pre‐pregnancy BMI.
Rules of thumb for minimizing subsoil compaction
Authors: SCHJØNNING P. , LAMANDÉ M. , KELLER T. , PEDERSEN J. , STETTLER M.
Published: May 2012

Subsoil compaction is persistent and can affect important soil functions including soil productivity. The aim of this study was to develop recommendations on how to avoid subsoil compaction for soils exposed to traffic by machinery at field capacity. We measured the vertical stress in the tyre–soil contact area for two traction tyres at ca. 30‐ and 60‐kN wheel loads on a loamy sand at field capacity. Data on resulting stress distributions were combined with those from the literature for five implement tyres tested at a range of inflation pressures and wheel loads. The vertical stress in the soil profile was then predicted using the Söhne model for all tests in the combined data set. The predicted stress at 20 cm depth correlated with the maximum stress in the contact area, tyre inflation pressure, tyre–soil contact area and mean ground pressure. At 100 cm depth, the predicted vertical stress was primarily determined by wheel load, but an effect of the other factors was also detected. Based on published recommendations for allowable stresses in the soil profile, we propose the ‘50‐50 rule’: At water contents around field capacity, traffic on agricultural soil should not exert vertical stresses in excess of 50 kPa at depths >50 cm. Our combined data provide the basis for the ‘8‐8 rule’: The depth of the 50‐kPa stress isobar increases by 8 cm for each additional tonne increase in wheel load and by 8 cm for each doubling of the tyre inflation pressure. We suggest that farmers use this simple rule for evaluating the sustainability of any planned traffic over moist soil.
‘Faith in the system?’ State‐funded faith schools in England and the contested parameters of community cohesion
Authors: Dwyer Claire , Parutis Violetta
Published: May 2012

Within the wider context of interest in the relationships between faith and the state, this paper focuses on the case of state‐funded faith schools in England and how opposition to them has been mobilised and negotiated. Discussion focuses specifically on the role of community cohesion policy – a policy adopted to combat social and ethnic division after 2001 – and the contested parameters of this policy when introduced to monitor schools. Analysis suggests that faith school providers were able to interpret the policy in ways that challenged government articulations and reworked dominant meanings, revealing the political and spatial instabilities of the policy. However, our analysis suggests that these challenges to state meanings were less successful in shaping mechanisms to monitor admissions practices in faith schools – producing some unanticipated entanglements of state and religious authority with implications for the shaping of communal religious life. These findings both add to the wider critical policy analysis of community cohesion policy and contribute to debates about the role of religion in the public sphere.
The Korean Thermidor: on political space and conservative reactions
Authors: Doucette Jamie
Published: May 2012

In Metapolitics, French philosopher Alain Badiou uses the concept of a Thermidorean to denote a political subjectivity constituted through the termination of a political sequence. For Badiou, the actual Thermidor that followed the Jacobin insurrection of the French Revolution was not just a singular event but is a general type of political reaction. Badiou argues that a Thermidor is a reaction that is based on a corruption of political will and disarticulation of the political demands that inform a sequence of emancipatory politics. This article applies Badiou’s concept of Thermidorean politics to show how conservative forces in South Korea have targeted the political spaces of the Korean democracy movement. The afterlife of cold war representations of social space, the role of reform forces in the disarticulation of radical demands of the democracy movements, as well as the role of ‘renegade’ (formerly oppositional) intellectuals in the creation of a chimera of ‘pro‐North’ Left are analysed here as sources of a Korean Thermidor.
Perceived, not actual, similarity predicts initial attraction in a live romantic context: Evidence from the speed‐dating paradigm
Authors: Tidwell Natasha D. , Eastwick Paul W. , Finkel Eli J.
Published: May 2012

The “similarity‐attraction” effect stands as one of the most well‐known findings in social psychology. However, some research contends that perceived but not actual similarity influences attraction. The current study is the first to examine the effects of actual and perceived similarity simultaneously during a face‐to‐face initial romantic encounter. Participants attending a speed‐dating event interacted with ∼12 members of the opposite sex for 4 min each. Actual and perceived similarity for each pair were calculated from questionnaire responses assessed before the event and after each date. Data revealed that perceived, but not actual, similarity significantly predicted romantic liking in this speed‐dating context. Furthermore, perceived similarity was a far weaker predictor of attraction when assessed using specific traits rather than generally.
Lack of effect of chronic pre‐treatment with the FAAH inhibitor URB597 on inflammatory pain behaviour: evidence for plastic changes in the endocannabinoid system
Authors: Okine Bright N , Norris Leonie M , Woodhams Stephen , Burston James , Patel Annie , Alexander Stephen PH , Barrett David A , Kendall David A , Bennett Andrew J , Chapman Victoria
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Elevating levels of endocannabinoids with inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a major focus of pain research, purported to be a safer approach devoid of cannabinoid receptor‐mediated side effects. Here, we have determined the effects of sustained pharmacological inhibition of FAAH on inflammatory pain behaviour and if pharmacological inhibition of FAAH was as effective as genetic deletion of FAAH on pain behaviour.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effects of pre‐treatment with a single dose, versus 4 day repeated dosing with the selective FAAH inhibitor, URB597 (i.p. 0.3 mg·kg−1), on carrageenan‐induced inflammatory pain behaviour and spinal pro‐inflammatory gene induction were determined in rats. Effects of pain induction and of the drug treatments on levels of arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA), palmitoyl ethanolamide (PEA) and oleolyl ethanolamide (OEA) in the spinal cord were determined.

KEY RESULTS Single, but not repeated, URB597 treatment significantly attenuated the development of inflammatory hyperalgesia (P < 0.001, vs. vehicle‐treated animals). Neither mode of URB597 treatment altered levels of AEA, PEA and OEA in the hind paw, or carrageenan‐induced paw oedema. Single URB597 treatment produced larger increases in AEA, PEA and OEA in the spinal cord, compared with those after repeated administration. Single and repeated URB597 treatment decreased levels of immunoreactive N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE‐PLD) in the spinal cord and attenuated carrageenan‐induced spinal pro‐inflammatory gene induction.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Changes in the endocannabinoid system may contribute to the loss of analgesic effects following repeated administration of low dose URB597 in this model of inflammatory pain.
In vitro effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, masitinib mesylate, on canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines
Authors: Lyles S. E. , Milner R. J. , Kow K. , Salute M. E.
Published: May 2012

This study evaluated the in vitro activity of masitinib mesylate against canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) cell lines after treatment with increasing concentrations of masitinib mesylate (0.01–100 µM) for 24, 48 and 72 h. Results indicated that masitinib mesylate caused a dose‐ and time‐dependent decrease in HSA cell proliferation. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 72 h for three HSA cell lines (DEN, Fitz and SB) was found to be 8.56, 9.41 and 10.65 µM, respectively. Further investigation demonstrated that masitinib mesylate induced apoptosis in all HSA cell lines, including activation of caspase‐3/7. Measurement of VEGF levels in cell supernatant found a statistically significant increased VEGF in close proximity to the IC50 of each cell line followed by a decline back towards baseline. These findings indicate that masitinib mesylate causes dose‐dependent HSA cell death in vitro and supports future clinical trials of masitinib for canine HSA.
Photoreception in decapitated larvae of silkworm Bombyx mori
Authors: NOBATA Hiroyuki , OISHI Katsutaka , TAKEDA Makio , SAKAMOTO Katsuhiko
Published: May 2012

To investigate the photoreception that controls daily oscillations at the periphery in insects, we decapitated larvae of the silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) by ligature, and observed rhythms in their peripheral tissues under several light conditions. We measured the mRNA expression of period (per) and timeless (tim), which are homologues of Drosophila clock genes that function in the core oscillator of the circadian clock system. The expression of both per and tim significantly changed in the midgut, Malpighian tubules and silk glands of decapitated larvae exposed to photophase and scotophase that were reversed from the original daily light–dark cycle under which the larvae were housed. Under constant darkness, the daily expression of tim mRNA persisted for at least one cycle in the midgut and silk gland. In addition, an appropriate light stimulus under constant darkness induced a significant phase shift in the endogenous timing system (probably a circadian clock) that determined peak levels of tim mRNA expression in the midgut and silk glands of decapitated larvae. Since light regulated the gene expression rhythm in peripheral tissues of decapitated silkworm larvae, neither the brain nor eyes were essential for photoreception to control daily oscillations in these tissues. Thus, peripheral tissues in insects might directly use light even at the larval stage.
Transarticular Facet Screw Stabilization and Dorsal Laminectomy in 26 Dogs with Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis with Instability
Authors: Hankin Elyshia J. , Jerram Richard M. , Walker Alexander M. , King Michael D. , Warman Christopher G. A.
Published: May 2012

Objective

To describe outcome after transarticular facet screw stabilization and dorsal laminectomy for treatment of dynamic degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLS) in 26 dogs.

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Animals

Dogs (n = 26) with dynamic DLS.

Methods

Medical records (2004–2009) of dogs treated with transarticular facet screw stabilization and dorsal laminectomy were reviewed. Dogs (n = 26) were available for immediate postoperative follow‐up, 21 dogs at 6 weeks, and 15 at greater than 6 months. Dogs were evaluated by radiographic assessment and owner questionnaire. Lumbosacral (LS) intervertebral disc (IVD) spaces were measured on pre and postoperative 6‐week and 6‐month radiographs.

Results

In 23 dogs, improvement in clinical signs occurred within 7 days of surgery. Overall postsurgical complication rate directly related to the surgical procedure was 15.4%. LS IVD space measurements taken immediately postoperatively, at 6 weeks, and ≥ 6 months were all significantly increased compared with preoperative measurements. All working dogs (4) returned to full work within 14 months. Most owners (85%) reported their dog was ambulating normally at 6 months with no perceptible lameness during normal activity. All owners perceived their dog's ability to walk, run, and jump after surgery to be improved.

Conclusions

Transarticular facet screw stabilization and dorsal laminectomy maintains distraction of the LS IVD space for medium‐to‐large breed dogs with dynamic DLS with a high degree of owner satisfaction, and is comparable to other reported surgical techniques for DLS.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Common But Often Unrecognized Condition
Authors: Shannon Maureen , Wang Yusharn
Published: May 2012

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age, with symptoms often presenting during adolescence and young adulthood. It is a condition characterized by 1) hyperandrogenism, 2) oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, and 3) polycystic ovaries. This syndrome is associated with significant endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular, reproductive, and psychiatric morbidities. Although the diagnosis of PCOS is based on the presence of at least 2 of the 3 criteria that characterize the condition, the syndrome has a broad spectrum of clinical features that may signal its presence. Evidence suggests that many women with clinical features of PCOS remain undiagnosed, placing them at an increased risk for developing complications associated with the syndrome. This review presents current information about the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and recommended treatments for PCOS.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding During the Reproductive Years
Authors: Davidson Bridget R. , DiPiero Christina M. , Govoni Kara D. , Littleton Susan S. , Neal Jeremy L.
Published: May 2012

Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the most common reasons that reproductive‐aged women seek health care. The causes are varied, depending in large part on the age and life stage of the woman. Thus, diagnosis requires a systematic approach that is driven by a thorough health history and review of presenting symptoms. In recent years, the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding has moved away from surgical procedures in favor of more conservative, yet effective, hormonal therapy such as combined contraceptives and the levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system. Clinicians must be knowledgeable about the various abnormal uterine bleeding treatment options and partner with women to develop appropriate, individualized treatment plans. The purpose of this article is to synthesize the current literature to describe the contributing etiologies, common presentations, diagnosis, evaluation, and management of abnormal uterine bleeding.
What's New in Sexually Transmitted Infection Management: Changes in the 2010 Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Authors: Mark Hayley , Jordan Elizabeth T. , Cruz Jomarie , Warren Nicole
Published: May 2012

Screening, treatment, and follow‐up of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are an important part of the role of women's health care providers. Keeping abreast of new and changing treatment guidelines is crucial to providing competent care. The Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, produced every 4 years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, summarize current evidence on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of STIs. The purpose of this article is to review the changes in the 2010 guidelines from the previous 2006 guidelines. These changes include new diagnostic tests for bacterial vaginosis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and human papillomavirus; new treatment recommendations for bacterial vaginosis, gonorrhea, and genital warts; the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial‐resistant N gonorrhoeae; new criteria for spinal fluid examination to evaluate for neurosyphilis; and the emergence of azithromycin‐resistant Treponema pallidum.
Influence of Bi2O3 Doping on Microstructure and Electrical Properties of ZnO–V2O5–MnO2–Nb2O5 Varistor Ceramics
Authors: Nahm Choon‐W.
Published: May 2012

This article is a report on the effect of Bi2O3 addition on microstructure and electrical properties of ZnO–V2O5–MnO2–Nb2O5 varistor ceramics. The average grain size increased from 5.6 to 7.2 μm as the Bi2O3 amount increased. Increasing the amount of Bi2O3 decreased the breakdown field from 4874 to 2205 V/cm. The ceramics doped with 0.025 mol% Bi2O3 exhibited a surprisingly high nonlinear coefficient (α = 60) and very low leakage current density (JL = 20 μA/cm2). In addition, when the Bi2O3 amount increased, the donor concentration increased in the range of 2.38 × 1017−8.17 × 1017 cm−3 and the barrier height exhibited the highest value (1.12 eV) at 0.025 mol% Bi2O3.
Electrical Fatigue‐Induced Cracking in Lead Zirconate Titanate Piezoelectric Ceramic and Its Influence Quantitatively Analyzed by Refatigue Method
Authors: Luo Zhenhua , Pojprapai Soodkhet , Glaum Julia , Hoffman Mark
Published: May 2012

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is one of the most commonly used piezoelectric ceramics. The major causes of its electrical fatigue are suggested to be domain pinning and cracking. However, their contributions to fatigue have never been quantitatively compared. This study focuses on the electrical fatigue‐induced microstructure damage in the near‐electrode regions of PZT and uses a refatigue method to determine quantitatively the contribution of the cracking mechanism to electrical fatigue. It is shown that during bipolar electrical cycling, a large number of cracks are initiated in the samples, and the cracking is particularly concentrated in the near‐electrode regions. So the loss of piezoelectric properties can be partially restored by removing such regions. For a particular fatigue stage, the cracking mechanism contributes significantly more to the electrical fatigue than the domain pinning mechanism.
Highly Transparent AlON Pressurelessly Sintered from Powder Synthesized by a Novel Carbothermal Nitridation Method
Authors: Jin Xihai , Gao Lian , Sun Jing , Liu Yangqiao , Gui Linhua
Published: May 2012

Transparent AlON was pressurelessly sintered from powders synthesized by a two‐step carbothermal nitridation method, using core‐shell structured Al2O3/C mixture derived from the pyrolysis of an Al2O3/ureaformaldehyde‐resin nanocomposite precursor as the starting material. It was found that the amorphous carbon layer on the Al2O3 particle surface could strongly retard the coalescence and growth of Al2O3 particles during the carbothermal nitridation process. As a result, the formation temperature and particle size of the AlON powder were significantly reduced. The AlON powder synthesized showed a bimodal particle size distribution at 0.2 and 0.7 μm and was well dispersed; its maximum particle size was below 0.9 μm. Under the aid of proper sintering additive, transparent AlON ceramics with an average in‐line transmittance above 80% at visible to infrared range were obtained through pressureless sintering.
Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Involving the Anterior Condylar Canal
Authors: Cyril Chivot , Ofélia Marabotto , Hervé Deramond
Published: May 2012

Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) of the anterior condylar canal is a rare subgroup of posterior fossa DAVF. Successful treatment of this DAVF requires an accurate image diagnosis and the knowledge of the anatomy of the anterior condylar confluent. We present the imaging features of angiography and MR angiography of a 54‐year‐old man, who presented progressive right synchronous tinnitus due to a DAVF of the anterior condylar confluent, successfully treated by transvenous embolization.
In vivo Detection of Cortical Microinfarcts on Ultrahigh‐Field MRI
Authors: Ii Yuichiro , Maeda Masayuki , Kida Hirotaka , Matsuo Ko , Shindo Akihiro , Taniguchi Akira , Tomimoto Hidekazu
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) are detected as small foci restricted to the cerebral cortex in autopsy brains. CMIs are thought to be caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in the elderly and may be a risk for dementia. We aimed to visualize CMIs, which remain invisible on conventional MRI, using double inversion recovery (DIR) and 3‐dimensional fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D‐FLAIR) on 3‐Tesla MRI.

METHODS

We prospectively performed DIR and 3D‐FLAIR images in 70 subjects with Alzheimer disease (AD; n = 47), mild cognitive impairment (n = 14), AD with cerebrovascular disease (CVD; n = 3), vascular dementia (VaD; n = 2), CAA‐associated intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH; n = 2) and one each of normal pressure hydrocephalus and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Susceptibility‐weighted imaging (SWI) was performed to detect cerebral microbleeds (CMBs).

RESULTS

Nine subjects (five of AD and one each of AD with CVD, ICH, VaD, and DLB) had small intracortical high signal lesions on both DIR and 3D‐FLAIR images. All the nine subjects accompanied multiple lobar CMBs. These intracortical lesions were located in close proximity to CMBs, and were suggested to be CMIs.

CONCLUSIONS

DIR and 3D‐FLAIR images may open a way to visualize CMIs.
Cerebral Microbleeds After Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Children
Authors: Liebeskind David S. , Sanossian Nerses , Sapo Monica L. , Saver Jeffrey L.
Published: May 2012

Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) on gradient‐recalled echo (GRE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are rarely seen in children, yet have been described following vascular procedures in adults. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been associated with vascular injury and neurological events in children, but there have been no reports to date of GRE MRI findings in children treated with ECMO. We reviewed MRI scans for all vascular neurology consultations in children treated with ECMO at an academic medical center over a 5‐year period. In 6 of 12 cases, GRE was acquired as others were unstable or had contraindications to MRI. All 6 of 6 (100%) GRE cases (mean age 2.1 years, 7 female, 5 male) demonstrated CMB. CMB were multiple (>3 lesions), situated in cortical or lobar regions, with a striking predominance (5/6 cases) for the right carotid distribution. Other than CMB, no cases demonstrated intracranial hemorrhage. CMB may be noted on GRE MRI after ECMO and may reflect vascular damage from gaseous emboli.
Pyrolysis Products of Linear Alkylbenzenes— Implications in Fire Debris Analysis*
Authors: Contreras Patricia A. , Houck Stephen S. , Davis William M. , Yu Jorn C.‐C.
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  In this case report, potential interferences from an improvised fire‐extinguishing agent, a dishwashing liquid, containing linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), was studied. The presence of linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) in the fire debris sample was identified from the summed ion profile (SIP) analysis. It was found that the LAS from dishwashing liquids produce LABs by thermal degradation. Direct pyrolysis of a LAS‐containing dishwashing liquid at 300°C yielded a distribution of LABs in the SIP. LABs began to break down at pyrolysis temperatures between 450 and 500°C and completely break down by 800°C. Observed pyrolysis breakdown products of LABs included toluene, ethylbenzene, meta‐, para‐, and ortho‐xylenes, propylbenzene, indane, naphthalene, and 1‐ and 2‐methylnaphthalenes. These data suggested the presence of LABs in fire debris evidence might complicate subsequent analysis because their breakdown products contained some of the target compounds common to ignitable liquid identification. Therefore, a positive determination of the presence of foreign ignitable liquids should be carefully evaluated when there is a presence of LABs in the SIP.
Er:YAG laser in the treatment of periodontal sites with recurring chronic inflammation: a 12‐month randomized, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Krohn‐Dale Ivar , Bøe Olav E. , Enersen Morten , Leknes Knut N.
Published: May 2012

Aim

The objective of this randomized, controlled clinical trial was to compare the clinical and microbiological effects of pocket debridement using erbium‐doped: yttrium, aluminium and garnet (Er:YAG) laser with conventional debridement in maintenance patients.

Material & Methods

Fifteen patients, all smokers, having at least four teeth with residual probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm were recruited. Two pockets in two jaw quadrants were randomly assigned to subgingival debridement using an Er:YAG laser (test) or ultrasonic scaler/curette (control) at 3‐month intervals. Relative attachment level (RAL), PD, bleeding on probing and dental plaque were recorded at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Microbiological subgingival samples were taken at the same time points and analysed using a checkerboard DNA‐DNA hybridization technique.

Results

A significant decrease in PD took place in both treatments from baseline to 12 months (p < 0.01). In the control, the mean initial PD decreased from 5.4 to 4.0 mm at 12 months. For the test, a similar decrease occurred. No significant between‐treatment differences were shown at any time point. The mean RAL showed no overall significant inter‐ or intra‐treatment differences (p > 0.05). No significant between‐treatment differences were observed in subgingival microbiological composition or total pathogens.

Conclusion

The results failed to support that an Er:YAG laser may be superior to conventional debridement in the treatment of smokers with recurring chronic inflammation. This appears to be the first time that repeated Er‐YAG laser instrumentation has been compared with mechanical instrumentation of periodontal sites with recurring chronic inflammation over a clinically relevant time period.
Salivary proteome modifications associated with periodontitis in obese patients
Authors: Rangé Hélène , Léger Thibaut , Huchon Clarisse , Ciangura Cécile , Diallo Devy , Poitou Christine , Meilhac Olivier , Bouchard Philippe , Chaussain Catherine
Published: May 2012

Aim

To identify changes in the salivary protein/peptide profiles by differential proteomics in obese patients with or without periodontitis.

Material and Methods

Periodontal examinations and whole saliva samples were obtained from 38 obese patients (mean age: 45.1 ± 7.3 years, mean BMI: 49.3 ± 9 kg/m2) including 13 periodontitis and 25 non‐periodontitis subjects, and 19 healthy controls (mean age: 44.2 ± 6.4 years, mean BMI: 21.5 ± 2.1 kg/m2). Surface‐enhanced laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (SELDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) was used to compare the whole saliva polypeptide profiles.

Results

The SELDI‐TOF‐MS analysis detected eight putative markers. Six of them were increased and identified in obese subjects versus controls (albumin, α and β haemoglobin chains, α‐defensins 1, 2 and 3). Alpha‐defensins were less abundant in saliva of periodontitis obese patients (36.47 ± 19.84 μA) versus non‐periodontitis obese patients (43.44 ± 30.34  μA), whereas α‐defensins were more abundant in obese patients (40.99 ± 26.66  μA) versus controls (27.1 ± 23.98  μA).

Conclusions

Periodontal status modifies the salivary proteome in obese patients. Alpha‐defensins may play a role in gingival inflammation, and be involved in the higher susceptibility of obese patients to periodontal diseases.
Probiotic effects of orally administered Lactobacillus reuteri‐containing tablets on the subgingival and salivary microbiota in patients with gingivitis. A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Iniesta Margarita , Herrera David , Montero Eduardo , Zurbriggen Milena , Matos Ana R. , Marín María J. , Sánchez‐Beltrán Mari C. , Llama‐Palacio Arancha , Sanz Mariano
Published: May 2012

Objective

To investigate the effects of an orally administered probiotic on the oral microbiota.

Methods

A placebo‐controlled, parallel study was conducted in 40 gingivitis subjects during 8 weeks. Treatment consisted on the administration of a daily tablet, either containing Lactobacillus reuteri or placebo. Unstimulated saliva and subgingival samples were collected and analysed by culture and PCR. Clinical and microbiological outcome variables were compared between and within groups.

Results

There were no significant changes between and within the groups in the clinical variables. In saliva, total anaerobic counts after 4 weeks (p = 0.021) and counts of Prevotella intermedia after 8 weeks (p = 0.030), showed reductions in the test group. In subgingival samples, significant reductions in the changes baseline to 4 weeks were observed for P. gingivalis counts (p = 0.008). With PCR, L. reuteri ATCC‐PTA‐5289 was more frequently detected than L. reuteri DSM‐17938.

Conclusions

The effect of L. reuteri administered in tablets resulted in a reduction in the number of selected periodontal pathogens in the subgingival microbiota, without an associated clinical impact.
Treatment planning in dentistry using an electronic health record: implications for undergraduate education
Authors: Tokede O. , Walji M. , Ramoni R. , White J. M. , Schoonheim‐Klein M. , Kimmes N. S. , Vaderhobli R. , Stark P. C. , Patel V. L. , Kalenderian E.
Published: May 2012

Objective

Treatment planning, an essential component of clinical practice, has received little attention in the dental literature and there appears to be no consistent format being followed in the teaching and development of treatment plans within dental school curricula. No investigation, to our knowledge, has been carried out to explore the subject of treatment planning since the advent of electronic health record (EHR) use in dentistry. It is therefore important to examine the topic of treatment planning in the context of EHRs.

Methods

This paper reports on how 25 predoctoral dental students from two U.S. schools performed when asked to complete diagnosis and treatment planning exercises for two clinical scenarios in an EHR. Three calibrated clinical teaching faculty scored diagnosis entry, diagnosis‐treatment (procedure) pairing, and sequencing of treatment according to criteria taught in their curriculum. Scores were then converted to percent correct and reported as means (with standard deviations).

Results

Overall, the participants earned 48.2% of the possible points. Participants at School 2 earned a mean of 54.3% compared with participants at School 1, who earned 41.9%. Students fared better selecting the appropriate treatment (59.8%) compared with choosing the correct diagnoses (41.9%) but performed least favorably when organizing the sequence of their treatment plans (41.7%).

Conclusion

Our results highlight the need to improve the current process by which treatment planning is taught and also to consider the impact of technology on the fundamental skills of diagnosis and treatment planning within the modern educational setting.
Functional responses in the habitat selection of a generalist mega‐herbivore, the African savannah elephant
Authors: Roever C. L. , van Aarde R. J. , Leggett K.
Published: May 2012

Resource selection function (RSF) models are commonly used to quantify species/habitat associations and predict species occurrence on the landscape. However, these models are sensitive to changes in resource availability and can result in a functional response to resource abundance, where preferences change as a function of availability. For generalist species, which utilize a wide range of habitats and resources, quantifying habitat selection is particularly challenging. Spatial and temporal changes in resource abundance can result in changes in selection preference affecting the robustness of habitat selection models. We examined selection preference across a wide range of ecological conditions for a generalist mega‐herbivore, the African savanna elephant Loxodonta africana, to quantify general patterns in selection and to illustrate the importance of functional responses in elephant habitat selection. We found a functional response in habitat selection across both space and time for tree cover, with tree cover being unimportant to habitat selection in the mesic, eastern populations during the wet season. A temporal functional response for water was also evident, with greater variability in selection during the wet season. Selection for low slopes, high tree cover, and far distance from people was consistent across populations; however, variability in selection coefficients changed as a function of the abundance of a given resource within the home range. This variability of selection coefficients could be used to improve confidence estimations for inferences drawn from habitat selection models. Quantifying functional responses in habitat selection is one way to better predict how wildlife will respond to an ever‐changing environment, and they provide promising insights into the habitat selection of generalist species.
What's on the horizon for macroecology?
Authors: Beck Jan , Ballesteros‐Mejia Liliana , Buchmann Carsten M. , Dengler Jürgen , Fritz Susanne A. , Gruber Bernd , Hof Christian , Jansen Florian , Knapp Sonja , Kreft Holger , Schneider Anne‐Kathrin , Winter Marten , Dormann Carsten F.
Published: May 2012

Over the last two decades, macroecology – the analysis of large‐scale, multi‐species ecological patterns and processes – has established itself as a major line of biological research. Analyses of statistical links between environmental variables and biotic responses have long and successfully been employed as a main approach, but new developments are due to be utilized. Scanning the horizon of macroecology, we identified four challenges that will probably play a major role in the future. We support our claims by examples and bibliographic analyses. 1) Integrating the past into macroecological analyses, e.g. by using paleontological or phylogenetic information or by applying methods from historical biogeography, will sharpen our understanding of the underlying reasons for contemporary patterns. 2) Explicit consideration of the local processes that lead to the observed larger‐scale patterns is necessary to understand the fine‐grain variability found in nature, and will enable better prediction of future patterns (e.g. under environmental change conditions). 3) Macroecology is dependent on large‐scale, high quality data from a broad spectrum of taxa and regions. More available data sources need to be tapped and new, small‐grain large‐extent data need to be collected. 4) Although macroecology already lead to mainstreaming cutting‐edge statistical analysis techniques, we find that more sophisticated methods are needed to account for the biases inherent to sampling at large scale. Bayesian methods may be particularly suitable to address these challenges. To continue the vigorous development of the macroecological research agenda, it is time to address these challenges and to avoid becoming too complacent with current achievements.
Spatial segregation of sympatric marten and fishers: the influence of landscapes and species‐scapes
Authors: Fisher Jason T. , Anholt Brad , Bradbury Steve , Wheatley Matthew , Volpe John P.
Published: May 2012

Co‐occurring species are rarely considered as a factor influencing habitat selection. However, niche theory predicts that sharing resources, predators, and other interspecific interactions can limit the environmental conditions under which a species may exist. How does the spatial distribution of one species affect that of another within shared landscapes? We tested whether sympatric marten Martes americana and fishers M. pennanti in a mountain landscape in Alberta, Canada exhibit local‐scale spatial segregation, beyond differential habitat selection. We modelled marten and fisher distribution in relation to remotely‐sensed habitat data and species co‐occurrence, using generalized linear models and information‐theoretic model selection. Marten and fishers selected different habitat types and showed different responses to habitat fragmentation. Even after accounting for these differences, the absence of one species significantly explained the occurrence of the other. We conclude that the spatial distribution of marten and fishers influences habitat selection by each other at landscape scales, and hypothesize that this pattern may result from competition in a spatially heterogeneous environment. Species‐habitat models that consider only resources may fail to capture key predictors of species’ occurrence. Reliable prediction and inference requires that ecologists expand from landscapes to also include species‐scapes: a spatial plane of species interactions that combines with resources to drive species’ distributions.
The roles of shifting and filtering in generating community‐level flowering phenology
Authors: Craine Joseph M. , Wolkovich Elizabeth M. , Towne E. Gene
Published: May 2012

Plant phenologies are key components of community assembly and ecosystem function, yet we know little about how phenological patterns differ among ecosystems. Community‐level phenological patterns may be driven by the filtering of species into communities based on their phenology or by intraspecific responses to local conditions that shift when species flower. To understand the relative roles of filtering and shifting on community‐level phenological patterns we compared patterns of first flowering dates (FFD) for herbaceous species at Konza Prairie, KS, USA with those from the colder Fargo, ND, USA area and from Chinnor, England, which has a less continental climate. Comparing patterns of FFD supports that Konza's flowering patterns are potentially influenced both by filtering species that flower early in the growing season and by phenological shifting. Konza species flowering dates were earlier in the spring and later in the fall compared to Fargo, but were not shifted compared to Chinnor, which had a unique suite of early‐flowering species. In all, comparing flowering phenology among three sites reveals that intraspecific responses to climate can generate phenological shifts that compress or stretch community‐level phenological patterns, while novel niches in phenological space can also alter community‐level patterns. Community flowering patterns related to climate suggest that climatic warming has the potential to further distribute flowering of the Konza flora over a longer period, but also could further open it to introductions of non‐native species that have evolved to flower early in the season.
Identification and validation of reference genes for expression studies in human keratinocyte cell lines treated with and without interferon‐γ – a method for qRT‐PCR reference gene determination
Authors: Riemer Angelika B. , Keskin Derin B. , Reinherz Ellis L.
Published: May 2012

Based on the exquisite sensitivity, reproducibility and wide dynamic range of quantitative reverse‐transcription real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), it is currently the gold standard for gene expression studies. Target gene expression is calculated relative to a stably expressed reference gene. An ideal reference should be uniformly expressed during all experimental conditions within the given experimental system. However, no commonly applicable ‘best’ reference gene has been identified. Thus, endogenous controls must be determined for every experimental system. As no appropriate reference genes have been reported for immunological studies in keratinocytes, we aimed at identifying and validating a set of endogenous controls for these settings. An extensive validation of sixteen possible endogenous controls in a panel of 8 normal and transformed keratinocyte cell lines in experimental conditions with and without interferon‐γ was performed. RNA and cDNA quality was stringently controlled. Candidate reference genes were assessed by TaqMan® qRT‐PCR. Two different statistical algorithms were used to determine the most stably and reproducibly expressed housekeeping genes. mRNA abundance was compared and reference genes with widely different ranges of expression than possible target genes were excluded. Subsequent geNorm and NormFinder analyses identified GAPDH, PGK1, IPO8 and PPIA as the most stably expressed genes in the keratinocyte panel under the given experimental conditions. We conclude that the geometric means of expression values of these four genes represents a robust normalization factor for qRT‐PCR analyses in interferon‐γ‐dependent gene expression studies in keratinocytes. The methodology and results herein may help other researchers by facilitating their choice of reference genes.
The antimicrobial peptide pheromone Plantaricin A increases antioxidant defenses of human keratinocytes and modulates the expression of filaggrin, involucrin, β‐defensin 2 and tumor necrosis factor‐α genes
Authors: Marzani Barbara , Pinto Daniela , Minervini Fabio , Calasso Maria , Di Cagno Raffaella , Giuliani Giammaria , Gobbetti Marco , De Angelis Maria
Published: May 2012

Plantaricin A (PlnA) is a peptide with antimicrobial and pheromone activities. PlnA was synthesized chemically and used as a pure peptide or synthesized biologically using Lactobacillus plantarum DC400 co‐cultured with Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis DPPMA174. Cell‐free supernatant (CFS) was used as a crude PlnA preparation. As estimated using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide and the 2’,7’–dichlorofluorescein diacetate assays, both PlnA preparations increased the antioxidant defenses of human NCTC 2544 keratinocytes. PlnA (10 μg/ml) had a higher activity than hyaluronic acid or 125 μg/ml α‐tocopherol. Effects on the transcriptional regulation of filaggrin (FLG), involucrin (IVL), hyaluronan synthase (HAS2), human β‐defensin‐2 (HBD‐2) and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) genes were assayed. Compared with the control, expression of the FLG gene in NCTC 2544 cells increased in cells treated with hyaluronic acid, 1 or 10 μg/ml PlnA. Compared with the control, the level of IVL gene expression increased in NCTC 2544 cells treated with 10 μg/ml PlnA. No significant difference was found between the level of the HAS2 gene expressed by control cells and cells treated with PlnA. Compared with chemically synthesized PlnA, the up‐regulation of the HBD‐2 gene by CFS was higher. Compared with the control, expression of TNF‐α decreased in NCTC 2544 cells after treatment with 1 or 10 μg/ml of chemically synthesized PlnA. In contrast, the level of TNF‐α was highest in the presence of 10 μg/ml CFS‐PlnA. These findings suggest that the PlnA was positively sensed by human keratinocytes, promoting antioxidant defenses, barrier functions and antimicrobial activity of the skin.
Cone beam computed tomography evaluations of marginal alveolar bone before and after orthodontic treatment combined with premolar extractions
Authors: Lund Henrik , Gröndahl Kerstin , Gröndahl Hans‐Göran
Published: May 2012

Using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) we investigated the distance between the cemento–enamel junction (CEJ) and the marginal bone crest (MBC) at buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal surfaces of incisors to first molars in adolescents before (baseline) and after extractive orthodontic treatment (study end point). Patients with Class I malocclusion, crowding and an overjet of ≤5 mm were examined with a CBCT unit using a 60 × 60‐mm field of view and a 0.125‐mm voxel size. Large differences in marginal bone height were found at baseline, particularly between tooth surfaces. There was a slight correlation between age and CEJ–MBC distance. From baseline to the study end point, large bone‐height changes among teeth and tooth surfaces could be seen. Lingual surfaces, followed by buccal surfaces, showed the largest changes. Eighty‐four per cent of lingual surfaces of mandibular central incisors exhibited a bone‐height decrease of >2 mm. The bone‐height decrease was larger at lingual surfaces in the mandible than in the maxilla, and larger in girls (mean = 1.8 mm) than in boys (mean = 1.5 mm). Fewer than 1% of proximal surfaces exhibited changes of >2 mm. It is unknown whether the changes in marginal bone height are transitory. A high‐quality CBCT technique may help to determine this by providing a deeper insight into the long‐term side effects of orthodontic treatment.
Tracking Sphingosine Metabolism and Transport in Sphingolipidoses: NPC1 Deficiency as a Test Case
Authors: Blom Tomas , Li Zaiguo , Bittman Robert , Somerharju Pentti , Ikonen Elina
Published: May 2012

The late endosomal/lysosomal compartment (LE/LY) plays a key role in sphingolipid breakdown, with the last degradative step catalyzed by acid ceramidase. The released sphingosine can be converted to ceramide in the ER and transported by ceramide transfer protein (CERT) to the Golgi for conversion to sphingomyelin. The mechanism by which sphingosine exits LE/LY is unknown but Niemann–Pick C1 protein (NPC1) has been suggested to be involved. Here, we used sphingomyelin, ceramide and sphingosine labeled with [3H] in carbon‐3 of the sphingosine backbone and targeted them to LE/LY in low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. These probes traced LE/LY sphingolipid degradation and recycling as suggested by (1) accumulation of [3H]‐sphingomyelin‐derived [3H]‐ceramide and depletion of [3H]‐sphingosine upon acid ceramidase depletion, and (2) accumulation of [3H]‐sphingosine‐derived [3H]‐ceramide and attenuation of [3H]‐sphingomyelin synthesis upon CERT depletion. NPC1 silencing did not result in the accumulation of [3H]‐sphingosine derived from [3H]‐sphingomyelin/LDL or [3H]‐ceramide/LDL. Additional evidence against NPC1 playing a significant role in LE/LY sphingosine export was obtained in experiments using the [3H]‐sphingolipids or a fluorescent sphingosine derivative in NPC1 knock‐out cells. Instead, NPC1‐deficient cells displayed an increased affinity for sphingosine independently of protein‐mediated lipid transport. This likely contributes to the increased sphingosine content of NPC1 cells.