bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of sFRP2‐like in amphioxus: insights into the evolutionary conservation of Wnt antagonizing function
Authors: Kong Weihua , Yang Yongjie , Zhang Tianxiao , Shi De‐Li , Zhang Yanjun
Published: April 2012

Wnt signaling plays a key role in embryonic patterning and morphogenetic movements. The secreted Frizzled‐related proteins (sFRPs) antagonize Wnt signaling, but their roles in development are poorly understood. To determine whether function of sFRPs is conserved between amphioxus and vertebrates, we characterized sFRP2‐like function in the amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense (B. belcheri). As in other species of Branchiostome, in B. belcheri, expression of sFRP2‐like is restricted to the mesendoderm during gastrulation and to the anterior mesoderm and endoderm during neurulation. Functional analyses in frog (Xenopus laevis) indicate that amphioxus sFRP2‐like potently inhibits both canonical and non‐canonical Wnts. Thus, sFRP‐2 probably functions in amphioxus embryos to inhibit Wnt signaling anteriorly. Moreover, dorsal overexpression of amphioxus sFRP2‐like in Xenopus embryos, like inhibition of Wnt11, blocks gastrulation movements. This implies that sFRP2‐like may also modulate Wnt signaling during gastrulation movements in amphioxus.
What Happens to the Old Headache Medicines?
Authors: Rapoport Alan M.
Published: April 2012

Old headache medicines never die; they either fade away or come back in disguise. The disguise is often a new route of administration, which may work better, faster, more completely, with fewer adverse events, and/or have certain other advantages. The clinical aspects of 3 of the oldest headache medicines (ergotamine tartrate, dihydroergotamine, and methysergide) will be discussed here. Sumatriptan will then be discussed as the prototype of the newest category of acute care therapy (triptans) for migraine. It will be compared with the older medications, and the new forms being developed will be briefly discussed. Diclofenac potassium for oral solution will be mentioned as the newest drug approved for migraine by the Food and Drug Administration, and a possible alternative to triptans in patients with frequent headaches or those with contraindications to vasoconstrictors.
Annual Scientific Meeting – American Headache Society Washington 2011 – Highlights
Authors: Purdy R. Allan
Published: April 2012

The 53rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society was held in Washington from June 2 to 5, 2011. Important clinical and basic science information was presented at this meeting. This is a review of the highlights of that meeting dealing in many areas of headache medicine. Once again, this meeting, which is the premier scientific meeting of the American Headache Society, provided lots of new and exciting information about multiple facets of migraine headache and other disorders.
Empowering sibship analyses with reference pedigrees
Authors: Wenk Robert E. , Shao Alison
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: In sibship analysis, the usual comparison of an alleged (test) sibling's short tandem repeat (STR) types with those of a reference sibling may prove inconclusive. Increasing the number of examined STR loci may not change sibship probabilities very much. We increased the number of verified reference siblings to resolve problematic cases of alleged sibship.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: (A) Ten paternity cases were chosen in which there were three highly probable children of each alleged father. Pairs of the alleged father's children were analyzed for full sibship. The test sib with the lowest likelihood of sibship was reanalyzed by a comparison with two reference siblings combined. (B) Five problematic sibship cases are presented to demonstrate how two‐person reference pedigrees can improve diagnosis over tests using one reference person.

RESULTS: (A) Two‐person pedigrees exponentially increased sibship probabilities of true siblings above those produced by one reference person. (B) In problem cases, reference pedigrees provided data that: 1) statistically verified some alleged sibships in which analyses using one reference person yielded inconclusive results, 2) allowed exclusion of some alleged sibships, or 3) suggested alternate blood relationships to the alleged one.

CONCLUSIONS: Use of reference pedigrees often resolves sibship questions left unsettled by tests using reference individuals. Adding reference relatives is a far more powerful analytical strategy than adding test loci. Whenever possible, verified blood relatives should be incorporated into a reference pedigree to retest an alleged sibling whose initial results were unclear.
Cost‐effectiveness of prion filtration of red blood cells to reduce the risk of transfusion‐transmitted variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Teljeur Conor , Flattery Martin , Harrington Patricia , O'Neill Michelle , Moran Patrick S. , Murphy Linda , Ryan Máirín
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: Variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (vCJD) is a rare, progressive fatal noninflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Ireland has the second highest rate of vCJD in the world with an ongoing risk of vCJD transmission through blood transfusion. Prion‐removing filters have been developed to reduce the risk of vCJD transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of implementing a policy of prion filtration of red blood cells (RBCs) in the Republic of Ireland.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A cost‐effectiveness model was developed to simulate the likelihood of RBC recipients developing clinical vCJD as a result of being transfused with infected RBCs. Model variables were collected from published literature and expert opinion. Costs were estimated based on the processing changes required to implement prion filtration.

RESULTS: In the absence of prion filtration, it is estimated that two individuals will develop clinical vCJD arising from RBC transfusions over a 10‐year time horizon. The discounted life‐years lost will be 18.5 years. With prion filtration, there will be no deaths or life‐years lost. The discounted cost of universal prion filtration is €68.2 million over 10 years with a corresponding incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of €3.7 million per life‐year gained. In 25.3% of simulations there were no deaths from vCJD infection through infected blood transfusions, irrespective of prion filtration.

CONCLUSION: Prion filtration is considered not cost‐effective by traditional measures. Although numerous non–cost‐effective blood safety strategies have been implemented in the past, consideration should be given to the most efficient use of finite resources in transfusion medicine.
West Nile virus infection in blood donors in the New York City area during the 2010 seasonal epidemic
Authors: Francis Richard O. , Strauss Donna , Williams Joan Dunn , Whaley Shavonne , Shaz Beth H.
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: A uniform threshold strategy for converting from minipool (MP)‐nucleic acid testing (NAT) to individual donation (ID)‐NAT screening for acute West Nile virus (WNV) infection among blood donors is lacking. We report on WNV screening at the New York Blood Center during the 2010 seasonal WNV epidemic, the most severe epidemic in that state since the original outbreak in 1999.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Between July 1 and October 31, 2010, blood donations were screened by MP‐NAT or ID‐NAT and the presence of anti‐WNV immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG was evaluated among NAT‐positive donations.

RESULTS: Twenty presumed viremic donations were identified for a frequency of 0.0129% (1 in 7752 donations). Nine donations that could have been missed by MP‐NAT were identified. Two of these donations were both IgM and IgG negative, one of which would have been missed if more than one positive donation was required for initiating ID‐NAT. Retrospective ID‐NAT revealed two positive donations. The majority of the NAT‐positive donations in New York (16/19) were from donors who lived in counties that had the highest incidence of human WNV cases in the state.

CONCLUSION: Our data details the identification of WNV NAT‐positive blood donations during a severe seasonal epidemic in the New York area. By initiating ID‐NAT after one positive donation, using retrospective testing, and triggering ID‐NAT regionally, we were able to prevent the release of presumably infectious donations. The detection of NAT‐positive donations with retrospective testing, however, may indicate the need for changes in our trigger criteria.
Mortgage Delivery to the Secondary Market when Interest Rates are Falling
Authors: Heuson Andrea J. , Su Tie
Published: April 2012

A borrower whose loan is committed to the securitization process has the ability and incentive to switch lenders if market rates drop during the loan origination period, which creates significant exposure for primary lenders. A simple secondary market contract innovation we call a mortgage rate drop guarantee (MRDG) could shift this risk to the securitizers who represent portfolio investors. Our simulation results indicate this shifting would have improved the risk/return distribution faced by originators without damaging the risk/return position of securitizers during our 1977–2010 sample period. Assuming conservative loan lives and origination periods, and competitive lending markets, the risk reduction features of MRDGs could also have generated significant interest savings for borrowers.
The Corporate Governance Premium, Returns, and Mutual Funds
Authors: Chou Julia , Hardin III William G.
Published: April 2012

Mutual funds with a preference for strong corporate governance (CG) have performance similar to mutual funds with a preference for weak CG. We find a direct relation between overall mutual fund CG preference and the corporate governance premium (CGP). Furthermore, the investment preferences of mutual funds forecast the change in the CGP. We provide evidence that the investment activities of institutional investors can affect stock performance, and that shifts by institutional investors in CG preference impact the appearance of the CGP.
The Influence of a Credit Rating Change on Corporate Cash Holdings and Their Marginal Value
Authors: Khieu Hinh D. , Pyles Mark K.
Published: April 2012

We examine the influence of credit rating changes on corporate excess cash holdings. We find that downgraded firms increase excess cash holdings by approximately 3% of total noncash assets, compared to a matched sample of firms without a rating change. We largely observe no significant cash policy change following upgrades. While our findings support existing studies on the value of precautionary cash hoarding in the face of increased financial constraint, we find hoarding is value‐decreasing for shareholders. The marginal value of excess cash declines by at least 40% for downgraded firms and much more so when firms have histories of excess cash hoarding.
Agency Costs and the Short‐Run Stock Price Response to Capital Expenditures
Authors: Kim Sungsoo , Pilotte Eugene , Yang Joon Sun
Published: April 2012

We estimate the short‐run stock price response to unanticipated capital expenditures. We use association study methodology to avoid the self‐selection bias in event studies and to facilitate construction of a large sample of firm‐years likely to exhibit agency problems. We find that the average price response to routine capital expenditures is negative, and that commonly used agency cost measures explain fully the negative response. Subsample results support the conclusion that the market is skeptical of cash flow financed spending by low‐q firms and even capital spending by high‐q firms when the firm is large and q is only marginally high.
Stock Market Development and the Decline of the Portion of Dividend Payers throughout the World
Authors: Twu Mia
Published: April 2012

I contend that stock market development has substantially contributed to the decline of dividend payers worldwide. Using data from 31 countries, my research shows that stock market development makes firms in countries with a relatively high dependence on stock market financing less likely to pay dividends, to pay less, and more likely to omit. These results also are robust to the sample selection, the time‐varying firm characteristics, and the differences in legal systems, capital market scales, and country‐level information disclosure.
Substrate Modification by Pulmonary Vein Isolation and Left Atrial Linear Ablation in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Its Impact on Complex‐Fractionated Atrial Electrograms
Authors: MATSUO SEIICHIRO , YAMANE TEIICHI , DATE TARO , TOKUTAKE KEN‐ICHI , HIOKI MIKA , NARUI RYOHSUKE , ITO KEIICHI , TANIGAWA SHIN‐ICHI , YAMASHITA SEIGO , TOKUDA MICHIFUMI , INADA KEIICHI , ARASE SATOSHI , YAGI HIDENORI , SUGIMOTO KEN‐ICHI , YOSHIMURA MICHIHIRO
Published: April 2012

PV and Linear Ablation for CFAEs. Introduction: Linear ablations in the left atrium (LA), in addition to pulmonary vein (PV) isolation, have been demonstrated to be an effective ablation strategy in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF). This study investigated the impact of LA linear ablation on the complex‐fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) of PsAF patients.

Methods and Results: A total of 40 consecutive PsAF patients (age: 54 ± 10 years, 39 males) who underwent catheter ablation were enrolled in this study. Linear ablation of both roofline between the right and left superior PVs and the mitral isthmus line joining from the mitral annulus to the left inferior PV were performed following PV isolation during AF. High‐density automated CFAE mapping was performed using the NAVX, and maps were obtained 3 times during the procedure (prior to ablation, after PV isolation, and after linear ablations) and were compared. PsAF was terminated by ablation in 13 of 40 patients. The mean total LA surface area and baseline CFAEs area were 120.8 ± 23.6 and 88.0 ± 23.5 cm2 (74.2%), respectively. After PV isolation and linear ablations in the LA, the area of CFAEs area was reduced to 71.6 ± 22.6 cm2 (58.7%) (P < 0.001) and 44.9 ± 23.0 cm2 (39.2%) (P < 0.001), respectively. The LA linear ablations resulted in a significant reduction of the CFAEs area percentage in the region remote from ablation sites (from 56.3 ± 20.6 cm2 (59.6%) to 40.4 ± 16.5 cm2 (42.9%), P < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Both PV isolation and LA linear ablations diminished the CFAEs in PsAF patients, suggesting substrate modification by PV and linear ablations. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 962‐970, September 2012)
Atrioesophageal Fistula After Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation
Authors: STÖCKIGT FLORIAN , SCHRICKEL JAN W. , ANDRIÉ RENÉ , LICKFETT LARS
Published: April 2012

Atrioesophageal Fistula After Cryoballoon PV Isolation.  The risk of atrioesophageal fistula after cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation is thought to be much lower than after radiofrequency ablation, seeing that no data exist on this complication so far. We report for the first time on the occurrence of an atrioesophageal fistula 4 weeks after cryoballoon ablation at the site of the left inferior pulmonary vein. We suggest that even when using cryothermal ablation technique, an imaging modality to assess the proximity of esophagus and left atrium should be routinely performed to avoid this fatal complication. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1254–1257, November 2012)
Continuing Medical Education Activity in Echocardiography
Authors: Fan Pohoey , Kimura Koichi , Takenaka Katsu , Ebihara Aya , Okano Tomoko , Uno Kansei , Fukuda Nobuaki , Ando Jiro , Fujita Hideo , Morita Hiroyuki , Yatomi Yutaka , Nagai Ryozo
Published: April 2012

Article Title: Speckle Tracking Global Strain Rate E/E’ Predicts LV Filling Pressure More Accurately Than Traditional Tissue Doppler E/E’ (Echocardiography, 2012;29:403)
Regarding Protamine, ACT and Sheath Removal
Authors: WALKER STUART
Published: April 2012

(J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:313–314)
Comparative Public Policy: Using the Comparative Method to Advance Our Understanding of the Policy Process
Authors: Gupta Kuhika
Published: April 2012

Public policy scholars have stressed the importance and need for “comparing” since the 1970s—including comparing different policies, inputs, outputs, and outcomes across institutional settings. Broken down into three categories, this research note highlights recent work in comparative public policy. The first type of research is characterized by its use of the comparative method to answer two primary research questions: How do policies differ across countries, and why do they diverge? To do this, scholars in this category borrow from a myriad of literatures including economics, risk analysis, and cultural theory. The second and third categories of research add to this long‐existing stream of scholarly work by using the comparative method to advance our understanding of the policy process. To achieve this, research focusing on the theories of the policy process includes two emerging trends: comparing theories across institutional configurations (how differing institutional arrangements affect policies), and comparing theories to one another (how different theories of the policy process help explain certain issues). By highlighting these recent publications, the goal of this essay is to encourage scholars from all three categories to collaborate and provide a further impetus to the subfield of comparative public policy.
A New Normal? American Economic Policymaking After The Great Recession
Authors: Pump Barry
Published: April 2012

This essay reviews recent literature on American economic policymaking. It first asks, what light can contemporary research on economic policymaking shed on current circumstances? Second, where do policy process researchers go from here? This paper explores the extant literature under three broad themes. The first will deal with the extensive research into income inequality. The second will discuss the electoral implications of economic conditions. The third will analyze the institutional responses to economic developments. The final section will offer suggestions for future scholarship.
Beyond Path Dependence: Explaining Healthcare Reform and Its Consequences
Authors: Haeder Simon F.
Published: April 2012

This essay reviews recent developments in the field of health policy. It identifies a variety of frameworks brought forward to explain the enactment of health reform, including pivotal politics, path dependence, and multiple streams. It further identifies various challenges for the implementation of reform with a particular focus on state–federal relations and cost containment.
New Insights into the High‐Pressure Processing of Meat and Meat Products
Authors: Simonin H. , Duranton F. , de Lamballerie M.
Published: April 2012

Abstract:  For years, high‐pressure processing has been viewed as useful for pasteurizing food while maintaining the quality of fresh food. However, even at moderate pressure, this process is not without effects on food, especially on meat products. These effects are especially important because pressure greater than 400 MPa is generally necessary to achieve efficient microbial inactivation. In this review, recent advances in the understanding of the impacts of high pressure on the overall quality of raw and processed meat are discussed. Many factors, including meat product formulation and processing parameters, can influence the efficiency of high pressure in pasteurizing meat products. It appears that new strategies are applied either (i) to improve the microbial inactivation that results from high pressure while minimizing the adverse effects of high pressure on meat quality or (ii) to take advantage of changes in meat attributes under high pressure. Most of the time, multiple preservation factors or techniques are combined to produce safe, stable, and high‐quality food products. Among the new applications of high‐pressure techniques for meat and meat‐derivative products are their use in combination with temperature manipulation to texturize and pasteurize new meat products simultaneously.
High Pressure Treatment Effect on Physicochemical and Nutritional Properties of Fluid Foods During Storage: A Review
Authors: Barba Francisco J. , Esteve María J. , Frígola Ana
Published: April 2012

Abstract:  Consumers demand foods that are easy to consume and that are of high nutritional and sensory quality. Therefore, they appreciate the similarity of minimally processed products to fresh products. In recent years, the food industry has shown increased interest in nonthermal preservation technologies, because they provide products of proven quality and can be an alternative to traditional thermal methods, thus increasing added value. This review examines the effects of high pressure processing (HPP) on the nutritional and physicochemical parameters of fluid foods. While some general trends can be observed, the effects of HPP differ not only according to treatment intensity, but also according to the food matrix, suggesting that each matrix should be studied separately.
Atomizing Spray Systems for Application of Edible Coatings
Authors: Andrade Ricardo D. , Skurtys Olivier , Osorio Fernando A.
Published: April 2012

Abstract:  The use of edible coatings on fresh and processed food products as a means of extending shelf life by preventing or delaying spoilage, providing a partial barrier to moisture, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, improving the mechanical handling properties, and even as carriers of many functional ingredients, is rapidly growing. Edible coatings can be applied by different methods such as panning, fluidized bed, dipping, and spraying. This review presents and discusses some aspects of the application of edible coatings on food products using spraying, which is the most commonly used technique for applying food coatings and to obtain uniform layers.
Ichthyosporidium weissii n. sp. (Microsporidia) Infecting the Arrow Goby (Clevelandia ios)
Authors: Sanders Justin , Myers Mark S. , Tomanek Lars , Cali Ann , Takvorian Peter M. , Kent Michael L.
Published: April 2012

Gonadal infections by a novel microsporidium were discovered in 34% (13/38) of arrow gobies, Clevelandia ios, sampled over a 3‐yr period from Morro Bay Marina in Morro Bay, California. Gonadal tumors had been reported in arrow gobies from this geographic area. The infected gonads, found primarily in females, typically appeared grossly as large, white‐gray firm and lobulated masses. Histological examination revealed large, multilobate xenomas within the ovaries and no evidence of neoplasia. Typical of the genus Ichthyosporidium, the large xenomas were filled with developmental stages and pleomorphic spores. Wet mount preparations showed two general spore types: microspores with mean length of 6.2 (7.0–4.9, SD = 0.6, N = 20) μm and mean width of 4.3 (5.3–2.9, SD = 0.8) μm; and less numerous macrospores with mean length of 8.5 (10.1–7.1, SD = 1.0, N = 10) μm and mean width of 5.5 (6.2–4.8, SD = 0.5) μm. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated stages consistent with the genus and 35–50 turns of the polar filament. Small subunit rDNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the parasite from arrow gobies was most closely related to, but distinct from Ichthyosporidium sp. based on sequences available in GenBank. We conclude that this microsporidium represents a new species of Ichthyosporidium, the first species of this genus described from a member of the family Gobiidae and from the Pacific Ocean.
Scan Patterns Predict Sentence Production in the Cross‐Modal Processing of Visual Scenes
Authors: Coco Moreno I. , Keller Frank
Published: April 2012

Most everyday tasks involve multiple modalities, which raises the question of how the processing of these modalities is coordinated by the cognitive system. In this paper, we focus on the coordination of visual attention and linguistic processing during speaking. Previous research has shown that objects in a visual scene are fixated before they are mentioned, leading us to hypothesize that the scan pattern of a participant can be used to predict what he or she will say. We test this hypothesis using a data set of cued scene descriptions of photo‐realistic scenes. We demonstrate that similar scan patterns are correlated with similar sentences, within and between visual scenes; and that this correlation holds for three phases of the language production process (target identification, sentence planning, and speaking). We also present a simple algorithm that uses scan patterns to accurately predict associated sentences by utilizing similarity‐based retrieval.
Agriculture in sixth‐century Petra and its hinterland, the evidence from the Petra papyri
Authors: Nasarat Mohammed , Danah Fawzi Abu , Naimat Slameh
Published: April 2012

Since their discovery in 1993 the Petra papyri have drawn the attention of both historians and archaeologists because of the amount of information they contain. They deal with the property of Theodoros, son of Obodianus, and his family in Petra and its vicinity in the period between AD 537 and 593.

This paper focuses on agriculture and its importance in Petra and the surrounding area in the sixth century AD, according to the information derived from the scrolls. It appears that agriculture played a major role in the economy of Petra and its hinterland at the time these documents were written. The papyri repeatedly mention agricultural lands throughout the region and in many cases specify their locations and toponyms. Some of the latter are significantly still in use. There is also information about springs, some of which are still active and contribute to local agriculture. Some papyri even contain information about the type of plants grown in the area. Finally, the authors present the current state of agriculture at selected places and compare it with the state of agriculture in the sixth century AD in the study area.
The Dilmun Bioarchaeology Project: a first look at the Peter B. Cornwall Collection at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
Authors: Porter Benjamin W. , Boutin Alexis T.
Published: April 2012

This article presents an overview of the Peter B. Cornwall collection in the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. Cornwall conducted an archaeological survey and excavation project in eastern Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in 1940 and 1941. At least twenty‐four burial features were excavated in Bahrain from five different tumuli fields, and surface survey and artefact collection took place on at least sixteen sites in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The skeletal evidence, objects and faunal remains were subsequently accessioned by the Hearst Museum. The authors recently formed the Dilmun Bioarchaeology Project to investigate this collection. This article provides background information on Cornwall’s expedition and an overview of the collection. Additionally, skeletal evidence and associated objects from two tumuli in Bahrain, D1 and G20, are presented to illustrate the collection’s potential contribution. Although the tumuli’s precise locations cannot be determined, associated objects help assign relative dates to these interments at the beginning of the second millennium BCE, the Early Dilmun Period.
A sequence of inland desert settlement in the Oman peninsula: 2008–2009 excavations at Saruq al‐Hadid, Dubai, UAE
Authors: Herrmann Jason T. , Casana Jesse , Qandil Hussein Suleiman
Published: April 2012

The 2008–2009 excavations conducted by the Dubai Desert Survey at Saruq al‐Hadid, Dubai, have transformed our interpretation of the site from an Iron Age bronze production centre to a site with multiple occupations over the course of more than three millennia; they underline the importance of this site for understanding land use and settlement patterns in the deserts of the Oman peninsula. Saruq al‐Hadid probably began as an oasis site where nomadic pastoralists during the Umm an‐Nar and Wadi Suq periods camped and took advantage of a relatively well‐watered landscape. In contrast, Iron Age remains at the site do not bear any definite signs of settlement per se; instead, the material culture suggests that Saruq al‐Hadid may have been one of several sites in south‐east Arabia that were dedicated to a snake cult. The site is capped by waste from an intensive metalworking operation that appears to have taken place during the later first millennium BC. Iron age and later remains from the site tie Saruq al‐Hadid to a regional network of settlement and trade centres and suggest that, like the mountain piedmont and coasts, the sandy desert expanses of the Oman peninsula held economic and ritual importance in the overall landscape.
Pearl fishing in the ancient world: 7500 BP
Authors: Charpentier Vincent , Phillips Carl S. , Méry Sophie
Published: April 2012

The oldest pearl in the world was found in the United Arab Emirates and dates from 7500 BP. Gemmologists and jewellers have popularised the idea that the oldest pearl in the world is the 5000‐year‐old Jomon pearl from Japan. Discoveries made on the shores of south‐eastern Arabia show this to be untrue, as the archaeological pearls that have been found are 2500 years older. In this region, pearls still hold an important place. Indeed, today they remain a central, identifying element. The discovery of archaeological pearls demonstrates an ancient fishing tradition that no longer exists today.
A note on the dating of the clay smoking pipes collected in the course of two archaeological surveys conducted in Saudi Arabia: the Comprehensive Survey of Saudi Arabia (1976–1981) and Michael Gilmore’s survey of the Darb al‐Hajj
Authors: Bouzigard Aimee C. , Saidel Benjamin Adam
Published: April 2012

Several clay smoking pipes (chibouks) were recovered during the course of two archaeological surveys conducted during the late 1970s and early 1980s in Saudi Arabia. At the time these projects took place, no published clay tobacco pipe typologies existed, forcing the participants to assign a cursory date of ‘Ottoman period’ to the pipes. Since then, considerable archaeological research has been done on the Ottoman clay pipe. The following concerns the refining of the dates of these tobacco pipes in light of new studies.
Initial results from the programme of petrographic analysis of Iron Age pottery from the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Benoist A. , Méry S.
Published: April 2012

This article presents the results of petrographic analyses of a collection of sixty potsherds from various sites of the Iron Age period in south‐eastern Arabia. Several macroscopic groups were identified during previous research. The fine red painted ware and the sandy buff ware appear to be homogeneous in composition and might represent two groups of production. Compositionally, fine red painted ware recalls Bronze Age pottery groups in Oman. Sandy buff ware could have been produced in the oasis of Al Ain, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Both groups are represented at several sites, which indicates regional exchange. One sherd from Rumeilah could be related to Mesopotamian ceramics and is probably a Mesopotamian import.
Impact of donor site for bone graft harvesting for dental implants on health‐related and oral health‐related quality of life
Authors: Reissmann Daniel R. , Dietze Björn , Vogeler Michael , Schmelzeisen Rainer , Heydecke Guido
Published: April 2012

Objectives

To assess and compare changes in health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) after bone graft harvesting for dental implants with respect to the donor site.

Material and methods

Autologous bone grafts were harvested in a consecutive sample of 23 patients (mean age: 46.1 years; 52% female) either from an intra‐oral (IO; N = 8; chin, ascending ramus, buttress region) or an extra‐oral (EO; N = 15; anterior iliac crest) donor site, followed by implant placements. HRQoL was self‐administered by the patients using the Short‐Form 36 (SF‐36) and OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐49) preoperatively, 3 days and 4 weeks after surgery. Impact of donor site on changes in both concepts of QoL was determined in multiple linear regression analyses.

Results

Patients with extra‐oral donor sites reported a substantial deterioration in the physical component (PC) of HRQoL indicated by an increase in the PC score of the SF‐36 (P < 0.001), whereas this score did not significantly change in patients with intra‐oral donor sites. The mental health component (MC) of HRQoL (MC score of the SF‐36) remained virtually identical in both groups. OHRQoL deteriorated from baseline (67.7 OHIP points) to first follow‐up (76.6 OHIP points) in both groups, however, changes were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

In clinical decision‐making regarding donor site for bone graft harvesting, patients and clinicians should be aware of the expected decrease in HRQoL if deciding to use extra‐oral donor sites. Whenever possible, intra‐oral donor sites should be preferred.
MMP‐8 polymorphism is genetic marker to tendinopathy primary posterior tibial tendon
Authors: Godoy‐Santos A. , Ortiz R. T. , Junior R. Mattar , Fernandes T. D. , Santos M. C. L. G.
Published: April 2012

Posterior tibial tendon is particularly vulnerable and is responsible for much morbidity in sportspersons. Some patients have a predisposition without a clinically recognized cause, suggesting that individual characteristics, inclusive genetic inheritance, play an important role in tendinopathy. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐8 is a proteinase capable of degrading a large amount of extracellular proteins, and influence degradation and remodeling of collagen. To determine whether the −799 polymorphism in the promoter of MMP‐8 gene is associated with tendinopathy in posterior tibial tendon, 50 patients undergoing surgical procedures and anatomopathological diagnosis of degenerative lesions of the posterior tibial tendon and 100 control patients with posterior tibial tendon integrity and without signs of degeneration in magnetic resonance imaging were evaluated for the −799 MMP‐8 polymorphism. There was a significant difference in the presence of the different alleles (P = 0.001) and genotype (P = 0.003) between the control group and the test group for the MMP‐8 gene. The polymorphism at position −799 of the gene for MMP‐8 is associated with tendinopathy primary posterior tibial tendon in the population studied. The results suggest that individuals with the T allele are at greater risk of developing tendinopathy.
A Novel Approach for Intracellular 3D Immuno‐Labeling for Electron Tomography
Authors: Jiménez Nuria , Post Jan Andries
Published: April 2012

Electron tomography (ET) is an indispensable high‐resolution tool for three dimensional (3D) imaging in cell biology. When applied to immuno‐labeled cells, ET can provide essential insights in both the cellular architecture and the dynamics. Current protocols for 3D immuno‐labeling of intracellular antigens include permeabilization steps that cause random, extensive cell membrane disruption. This permeabilization results in a poor cell ultrastructure, limiting the usefulness of the specimens for high‐resolution studies. Here we describe a novel method, based on a well‐controlled permeabilization by targeted laser cell perforation, that allows for the 3D immuno‐localization of cytoplasmic antigens in cultured cells. The approach is unique since it is applicable to both chemically and cryo‐fixed cells and leads to a superior ultrastructural preservation for electron microscopy and tomography.
Economics of facial fracture reductions in the United States over 12 months
Authors: Nalliah Romesh P. , Allareddy Veeratrishul , Kim Min Kyeong , Venugopalan Shankar R. , Gajendrareddy Praveenkumar , Allareddy Veerasathpurush
Published: April 2012

Abstract –  Objective: The face is a complex architectural structure in the body and is a high‐risk site for fractures. Hospitalization is necessary for adequate treatment. The objective of this study is to examine hospitalization outcomes associated with reduction in facial fractures in the United States. Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the health care cost and utilization project for 2008 was used. This database provides weighted estimates of all hospitalizations in the United States, which approximates 39.88 million admissions in the entire United States. Hospital discharges with primary procedure ICD‐9‐CM codes for reduction in facial fractures were selected. Outcomes examined included hospitalization charges, length of stay, and causes of injuries. All estimates obtained from the sample were projected to national levels. Results: Reduction in facial fractures was performed as primary procedure in 21 244 hospitalizations. The total hospitalization charges were about $1.06 billion, and total hospitalization days was 93 808. About 80% of all hospitalizations occurred among men. The frequently occurring external causes of injuries leading to hospitalization for reduction in facial fractures include assault (36.5% of all hospitalizations), motor vehicle traffic accidents (16%), falls (15%), and other transportation accidents (3.5%). The frequently performed procedures were open reduction in mandibular fractures (52.2%), open reduction in facial fractures including those of orbital rim or wall (14.7%), closed reduction in mandibular fractures (12.1%), and open reduction in malar and zygomatic fractures (11.8%). Conclusions: National hospitalization outcomes related to reduction in facial fractures indicate an extensive consumption of hospital resources. If hospital emergency room protocols and inpatient protocols relating to the most expensive fractures and longest hospital stays that we have identified can improve, this may lead to improved outcomes and a reduction in hospital charges for facial fractures.
Role of lipocalin 2 and its complex with matrix metalloproteinase‐9 in oral cancer
Authors: Lin C‐W , Tseng S‐W , Yang S‐F , Ko C‐P , Lin C‐H , Wei L‐H , Chien M‐H , Hsieh Y‐S
Published: April 2012

Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 734–740

Objectives:  Recent evidence demonstrated that lipocalin (LCN)2 is induced in many types of human cancer, while the detection of its complex with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9 is correlated with the cancer disease status. We attempted to evaluate plasma expressions of LCN2, MMP‐9, and their complex (LCN2/MMP‐9) during the diagnostic work‐up of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and investigated their correlations with disease progression.

Methods:  In total, 195 patients with OSCC and 81 healthy controls were recruited. Expression levels of LCN2, MMP‐9, and LCN2/MMP‐9 were determined with immunoenzymatic assays.

Results:  Patients with OSCC exhibited significantly higher levels of LCN2, MMP‐9, and LCN2/MMP‐9 compared with healthy controls (LCN2: P < 0.001; MMP‐9: P < 0.001; LCN2/MMP‐9: P < 0.01). Plasma levels of LCN2, MMP‐9, and LCN2/MMP‐9 in patients with OSCC were significantly correlated with each other and were associated with more‐advanced clinical stages (P < 0.05) and/or a larger tumor size (P < 0.05), but were not associated with positive lymph‐node metastasis or distal metastasis.

Conclusion:  Our results suggest that plasma levels of LCN2 and the LCN2/MMP‐9 complex may be useful in non‐invasively monitoring OSCC progression, while supporting their potential role as biomarkers of oral cancer disease status.
Oral health status in elders from South Brazil: a population‐based study
Authors: Gaio Eduardo J. , Haas Alex N. , Carrard Vinícius C. , Oppermann Rui V. , Albandar Jasim , Susin Cristiano
Published: April 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00617.x

Oral health status in elders from South Brazil: a population‐based study

Objective:  To assess the oral health status of community‐dwelling adults aged 60 years and older from southern Brazil and to determine demographics, socioeconomic, behavioural and dental risk indicators.

Materials and methods:  This cross‐sectional study used a multistage, probability sampling method to draw a representative sample of the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. A subsample of 217 subjects was included in this analysis. Oral mucosal lesions, dental caries, tooth loss and periodontal status (full‐mouth, six sites per tooth exam) were assessed by calibrated examiners.

Results:  Prevalence of edentulism was 39.5%, and mean tooth loss was 20.2 (SE = 0.6). Older individuals [Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.2], women (OR = 2.3), white people (OR = 5.9), individuals of lower socioeconomic status (OR = 5.6) and smokers (OR = 3.5) had higher likelihood of being edentulous. Approximately 36% of dentate individuals had caries and/or restoration affecting, in average, 5.0 teeth. Periodontitis affected 79% of subjects, and it was associated with older age (OR = 4.0), men (OR = 3.4) and large amounts of supragingival plaque (OR = 3.0).

Conclusion:  Poor oral health was observed in this elderly population from South Brazil. Sociodemographic disparities accounted for most of the burden of disease and treatment needs.
Dental implications of bisphophonate‐related osteonecrosis
Authors: Saldanha Sharon , Shenoy Vidya K. , Eachampati Prashanti , Uppal Nakul
Published: April 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00622.x
 
Dental implications of bisphophonate‐related osteonecrosis

Objectives:  The aim is to explore the current theories about clinical , pathological and dental management of bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaws. Also discussed are the actions of bisphosphonates, pathogenesis related to the susceptibility of jaws, the predisposing risk factors for the development of bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) and diagnostic criteria based on the literature review.

Discussion:  Osteoporosis is a disease that generally affects the mineral status of both cortical and trabecular bone in post menopausal women. Bisphosphonates are a group of drugs that preserve and increase bone mass. Bisphosphonate drugs are classified according to use and method of delivery. The bisphosphonates used for the treatment of osteoporosis are taken orally. Little is known about the side effects and dangers of the long‐term use of therapeutic doses of Bisphosphonates. A recent complication reported is osteonecrosis of jaws. The use of IV bisphosphonates for multiple myeloma and metastatic bone diseases suggests that dosage, length of treatment, and route of administration, as well as cofactors such as use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents, and dental surgery, could all be related to the incidence of BRONJ. This review provides an update on current knowledge about clinical, pathological and management aspects of BRONJ.

Conclusions:  Little evidence exists to direct the prosthodontic management of patients with a history of bisphosphonate use. Patients with active osteonecrosis related to bisphosphonate use have reduced tissue tolerance to function with removable prostheses and decreased potential for osseointegration of dental implants. Decisions should be based on clinical judgment tempered by the presenting conditions, medical profile, and patient needs. A better understanding would help in a dental setting to prevent any complication and help to improve the prognosis for those being treated for osteoradionecrosis.Until further evidence emerges regarding management of patients with active bisphosphonate‐ related osteonecrosis, conservative prosthodontic treatment is reasonable and prudent.
Effects of the peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite on the colour stability and surface roughness of the denture base acrylic resins polymerised by microwave and water bath methods
Authors: Fernandes Flavio H. C. N. , Orsi Iara A. , Villabona Camilo A.
Published: April 2012

Objective:  This study evaluated the surface roughness (Ra) and color stability of acrylic resin colors (Lucitone 550, QC‐20 and Vipi‐Wave) used for fabricating bases for complete, removable dentures, overdentures and prosthetic protocol after immersion in chemical disinfectants (1% sodium hypochlorite and 2% peracetic acid) for 30 and 60 minutes.

Material and Methods:  Sixty specimens were made of each commercial brand of resin composite, and divided into 2 groups according to the chemical disinfectants. Specimens had undergone the finishing and polishing procedures, the initial color and roughness measurements were taken (t=0), and after this, ten test specimens of each commercial brand of resin composite were immersed in sodium hypochlorite and ten in peracetic acid, for 30 and 60 minutes, with measurements being taken after each immersion period. These data were submitted to statistical analysis.

Results:  There was evidence of an increase in Ra after 30 minutes immersion in the disinfectants in all the resins, with QC‐20 presenting the highest Ra values, and Vipi‐Wave the lowest. After 60 minutes immersion in the disinfectants all the resins presented statistically significant color alteration.

Conclusions:  Disinfection with 1% sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid altered the properties of roughness and color of the resins.
A chemical method for investigating disulfide‐coupled peptide and protein folding
Authors: Okumura Masaki , Shimamoto Shigeru , Hidaka Yuji
Published: April 2012

Investigations of protein folding have largely involved studies using disulfide‐containing proteins, as disulfide‐coupled folding of proteins permits the folding intermediates to be trapped and their conformations determined. Over the last decade, a combination of new biotechnical and chemical methodology has resulted in a remarkable acceleration in our understanding of the mechanism of disulfide‐coupled protein folding. In particular, expressed protein ligation, a combination of native chemical ligation and an intein‐based approach, permits specifically labeled proteins to be easily produced for studies of protein folding using biophysical methods, such as NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. A method for regio‐selective formation of disulfide bonds using chemical procedures has also been established. This strategy is particularly relevant for the study of disulfide‐coupled protein folding, and provides us not only with the native conformation, but also the kinetically trapped topological isomer with native disulfide bonds. Here we review recent developments and applications of biotechnical and chemical methods to investigations of disulfide‐coupled peptide and protein folding. Chemical additives designed to accelerate correct protein folding and to avoid non‐specific aggregation are also discussed.
A S‐adenosylmethionine methyltransferase‐like domain within the essential, Fe‐S‐containing yeast protein Dre2
Authors: Soler Nicolas , Craescu Constantin T. , Gallay Jacques , Frapart Yves‐Michel , Mansuy Daniel , Raynal Bertrand , Baldacci Giuseppe , Pastore Annalisa , Huang Meng‐Er , Vernis Laurence
Published: April 2012

Yeast Dre2 is an essential Fe‐S cluster‐containing protein that has been implicated in cytosolic Fe‐S protein biogenesis and in cell death regulation in response to oxidative stress. Its absence in yeast can be complemented by the human homologous antiapoptotic protein cytokine‐induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (also known as anamorsin), suggesting at least one common function. Using complementary techniques, we have investigated the biochemical and biophysical properties of Dre2. We show that it contains an N‐terminal domain whose structure in solution consists of a stable well‐structured monomer with an overall typical S‐adenosylmethionine methyltransferase fold lacking two α‐helices and a β‐strand. The highly conserved C‐terminus of Dre2, containing two Fe‐S clusters, influences the flexibility of the N‐terminal domain. We discuss the hypotheses that the activity of the N‐terminal domain could be modulated by the redox activity of Fe‐S clusters containing the C‐terminus domain in vivo.

Database
 Structural data have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession number 2KM1.