bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Descriptive Values for Dancers on Baseline Concussion Tools
Authors: McIntyre Lauren , Campo Marc
Published: November 2017

Context: 

Capturing baseline data before a concussion can be a valuable tool in individualized care. However, not all athletes, including dancers, have access to baseline testing. When baseline examinations were not performed, clinicians consult normative values. Dancers are unique athletes; therefore, describing values specific to dancers may assist those working with these athletes in making more informed decisions.

Objective: 

To describe values for key concussion measures of dancers. Our secondary aim was to examine whether differences existed between sexes and professional status. Finally, we explored factors that may affect dancers' scores.

Design: 

Cross-sectional study.

Setting: 

Professional dance companies and a collegiate dance conservatory.

Patients or Other Participants: 

A total of 238 dancers (university = 153, professional = 85; women = 171; men = 67; age = 21.1 ± 4.8 years).

Main Outcome Measure(s): 

We calculated the total symptom severity from the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–3rd edition; the Standardized Assessment of Concussion score; the modified Balance Error Scoring System score; and the King-Devick score for each participant. Group differences were analyzed with Mann-Whitney or t tests, depending on the data distribution. We used bivariate correlations to explore the effects of other potential influencing factors.

Results: 

Participants demonstrated the following baseline outcomes: symptom severity = 16.6 ± 12.8; Standardized Assessment of Concussion = 27.5 ± 1.8; modified Balance Error Scoring System = 3.2 ± 3.1 errors; and King-Devick = 41.5 ± 8.2 seconds. A Mann-Whitney test revealed differences in King-Devick scores between female (40.8 ± 8.0 seconds) and male (43.4 ± 8.4 seconds) dancers (P = .04). An independent-samples t test also demonstrated a difference in modified Balance Error Scoring System scores between female (2.95 ± 3.1 errors) and male (3.8 ± 3.1 errors) dancers (P = .02). Age, hours of sleep, height, and history of concussion, depression, or injury did not display moderate or strong associations with any of the outcome measures.

Conclusions: 

Dancers' symptom severity scores appeared to be higher than the values reported for other athletes. Additional studies are needed to establish normative values and develop a model for predicting baseline scores.
Initial Implementation of a Comparative Data Analysis Ontology
Authors: Prosdocimi Francisco , Chisham Brandon , Pontelli Enrico , Thompson Julie D. , Stoltzfus Arlin
Published: November 2017

Comparative analysis is used throughout biology. When entities under comparison (e.g. proteins, genomes, species) are related by descent, evolutionary theory provides a framework that, in principle, allows N-ary comparisons of entities, while controlling for non-independence due to relatedness. Powerful software tools exist for specialized applications of this approach, yet it remains under-utilized in the absence of a unifying informatics infrastructure. A key step in developing such an infrastructure is the definition of a formal ontology. The analysis of use cases and existing formalisms suggests that a significant component of evolutionary analysis involves a core problem of inferring a character history, relying on key concepts: “Operational Taxonomic Units” (OTUs), representing the entities to be compared; “character-state data” representing the observations compared among OTUs; “phylogenetic tree”, representing the historical path of evolution among the entities; and “transitions”, the inferred evolutionary changes in states of characters that account for observations. Using the Web Ontology Language (OWL), we have defined these and other fundamental concepts in a Comparative Data Analysis Ontology (CDAO). CDAO has been evaluated for its ability to represent token data sets and to support simple forms of reasoning. With further development, CDAO will provide a basis for tools (for semantic transformation, data retrieval, validation, integration, etc.) that make it easier for software developers and biomedical researchers to apply evolutionary methods of inference to diverse types of data, so as to integrate this powerful framework for reasoning into their research.
Evolution and Functional Diversification of the GLI Family of Transcription Factors in Vertebrates
Authors: Abbasi Amir Ali , Goode Debbie K. , Amir Saneela , Grzeschik Karl-Heinz
Published: November 2017

Background

In vertebrates the “SONIC HEDGEHOG” signalling pathway has been implicated in cell-fate determination, proliferation and the patterning of many different cell types and organs. As the GLI family members (GLI1, GLI2 and GLI3) are key mediators of hedgehog morphogenetic signals, over the past couple of decades they have been extensively scrutinized by genetic, molecular and biochemical means. Thus, a great deal of information is currently available about the functional aspects of GLI proteins in various vertebrate species. To address the roles of GLI genes in diversifying the repertoire of the Hh signalling and deploying them for the vertebrate specifications, in this study we have examined the evolutionary patterns of vertebrate GLI sequences within and between species.

Results

Phylogenetic tree analysis suggests that the vertebrate GLI1, GLI2 and GLI3 genes diverged after the separation of urochordates from vertebrates and before the tetrapods-bony fishes split. Lineage specific duplication events were also detected. Estimation of mode and strength of selection acting on GLI orthologs demonstrated that all members of the GLI gene family experienced more relaxed selection in teleost fish than in the mammalian lineage. Furthermore, the GLI1 gene appeared to have been exposed to different functional constraints in fish and tetrapod lineages, whilst a similar level of functional constraints on GLI2 and GLI3 was suggested by comparable average non-synonymous (Ka) substitutions across the lineages. A relative rate test suggested that the majority of the paralogous copies of the GLI family analyzed evolved with similar evolutionary rates except GLI1 which evolved at a significantly faster rate than its paralogous counterparts in tetrapods.

Conclusions

Our analysis shows that sequence evolutionary patterns of GLI family members are largely correlated with the reported similarities and differences in the functionality of GLI proteins within and between the various vertebrate species. We propose that duplication and divergence of GLI genes has increased in the complexity of vertebrate body plan by recruiting the hedgehog signalling for the novel developmental tasks.
PhyLIS: A Simple GNU/Linux Distribution for Phylogenetics and Phyloinformatics
Authors: Thomson Robert C.
Published: November 2017

PhyLIS is a free GNU/Linux distribution that is designed to provide a simple, standardized platform for phylogenetic and phyloinformatic analysis. The operating system incorporates most commonly used phylogenetic software, which has been pre-compiled and pre-configured, allowing for straightforward application of phylogenetic methods and development of phyloinformatic pipelines in a stable Linux environment. The software is distributed as a live CD and can be installed directly or run from the CD without making changes to the computer. PhyLIS is available for free at http://www.eve.ucdavis.edu/rcthomson/phylis/ .
Strategies for Reliable Exploitation of Evolutionary Concepts in High Throughput Biology
Authors: Levasseur Anthony , Pontarotti Pierre , Poch Olivier , Thompson Julie D.
Published: November 2017

The recent availability of the complete genome sequences of a large number of model organisms, together with the immense amount of data being produced by the new high-throughput technologies, means that we can now begin comparative analyses to understand the mechanisms involved in the evolution of the genome and their consequences in the study of biological systems. Phylogenetic approaches provide a unique conceptual framework for performing comparative analyses of all this data, for propagating information between different systems and for predicting or inferring new knowledge. As a result, phylogeny-based inference systems are now playing an increasingly important role in most areas of high throughput genomics, including studies of promoters (phylogenetic footprinting), interactomes (based on the presence and degree of conservation of interacting proteins), and in comparisons of transcriptomes or proteomes (phylogenetic proximity and co-regulation/co-expression). Here we review the recent developments aimed at making automatic, reliable phylogeny-based inference feasible in large-scale projects. We also discuss how evolutionary concepts and phylogeny-based inference strategies are now being exploited in order to understand the evolution and function of biological systems. Such advances will be fundamental for the success of the emerging disciplines of systems biology and synthetic biology, and will have wide-reaching effects in applied fields such as biotechnology, medicine and pharmacology.
Minimum Contradiction Matrices in Whole Genome Phylogenies
Authors: Thuillard Marc
Published: November 2017

Minimum contradiction matrices are a useful complement to distance-based phylogenies. A minimum contradiction matrix represents phylogenetic information under the form of an ordered distance matrix [Formula: see text]. A matrix element corresponds to the distance from a reference vertex n to the path ( i, j). For an X-tree or a split network, the minimum contradiction matrix is a Robinson matrix. It therefore fulfills all the inequalities defining perfect order: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], i ≤ j ≤ k < n. In real phylogenetic data, some taxa may contradict the inequalities for perfect order. Contradictions to perfect order correspond to deviations from a tree or from a split network topology. Efficient algorithms that search for the best order are presented and tested on whole genome phylogenies with 184 taxa including many Bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryota. After optimization, taxa are classified in their correct domain and phyla. Several significant deviations from perfect order correspond to well-documented evolutionary events.
Internal Migration and Mortality: The Case of Finland
Authors: Saarela Jan , Finnäs Fjalar
Published: November 2017

In light of possibilities and limitations of data from the Finnish population register, and the general demographic development of Finland, this paper illuminates the complex interrelation between internal migration and mortality. We explore the roles played by health selection, birth region, and migration as a potentially harmful event. A five per cent random sample from a longitudinal data file that contains deaths for a period of 24 years is used. The focus is on people aged 40-59 years living in Southern Finland, who are defined by birth region and time since immigration. We find some indications of a healthy-migrant effect, but also that migrants may have integration difficulties or that they are negatively selected with regard to health behaviours and lifestyles. In line with previous studies on Finland, birth region is found to be a very decisive mortality determinant.
Article Commentary: Environmental and Occupational Exposures in Immigrant Health
Authors: Eamranond Pracha P. , Hu Howard
Published: November 2017

Immigrants comprise vulnerable populations that are frequently exposed to a multitude of environmental and occupational hazards. The historical context behind state and federal legislation has helped to foster an environment that is particularly hostile toward caring for immigrant health. Current hazards include toxic exposures, air and noise pollution, motor vehicle accidents, crowded living and work environments with inadequate ventilation, poor sanitation, mechanical injury, among many others. Immigrants lack the appropriate training, materials, health care access, and other resources to reduce their exposure to preventable environmental and occupational health risks. This dilemma is exacerbated by current anti-immigrant sentiments, miscommunication between native and immigrant populations, and legislation denying immigrants access to publicly funded medical care. Given that current health policy has failed to address immigrant health appropriately and political impetus is lacking, efforts should also focus on alternative solutions, including organized labor. Labor unions that serve to educate workers, survey work environments, and defend worker rights will greatly alleviate and prevent the burden of disease incurred by immigrants. The nation's health will benefit from improved regulation of living and workplace environments to improve the health of immigrants, regardless of legal status.
A QSAR/QSTR Study on the Environmental Health Impact by the Rocket Fuel 1,1-Dimethyl Hydrazine and its Transformation Products
Authors: Carlsen Lars , Kenessov Bulat N. , Batyrbekova Svetlana Ye.
Published: November 2017

QSAR/QSTR modelling constitutes an attractive approach to preliminary assessment of the impact on environmental health by a primary pollutant and the suite of transformation products that may be persistent in and toxic to the environment. The present paper studies the impact on environmental health by residuals of the rocket fuel 1,1-dimethyl hydrazine (heptyl) and its transformation products. The transformation products, comprising a variety of nitrogen containing compounds are suggested all to possess a significant migration potential. In all cases the compounds were found being rapidly biodegradable. However, unexpected low microbial activity may cause significant changes. None of the studied compounds appear to be bioaccumulating.

Apart from substances with an intact hydrazine structure or hydrazone structure the transformation products in general display rather low environmental toxicities. Thus, it is concluded that apparently further attention should be given to tri- and tetramethyl hydrazine and 1-formyl 2,2-dimethyl hydrazine as well as to the hydrazones of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde as these five compounds may contribute to the overall environmental toxicity of residual rocket fuel and its transformation products.
Environmental Health Research Involving Human Subjects: Ethical Issues
Authors: Resnik David B.
Published: November 2017

This article reviews some of the ethical issues that arise in environmental health research with human subjects, such as minimizing risks to subjects, balancing benefits and risks in research, intentional exposure studies with human subjects, protecting third parties in research, informing subjects about environmental hazards, communicating health information to subjects, and protecting privacy and confidentiality.
Systems Biology and Cancer Prevention: All Options on the Table
Authors: Rosenfeld Simon , Kapetanovic Izet
Published: November 2017

In this paper, we outline the status quo and approaches to further development of the systems biology concepts with focus on applications in cancer prevention science. We discuss the biological aspects of cancer research that are of primary importance in cancer prevention, motivations for their mathematical modeling and some recent advances in computational oncology. We also make an attempt to outline in big conceptual terms the contours of future work aimed at creation of large-scale computational and informational infrastructure for using as a routine tool in cancer prevention science and decision making.
Safety and in vivo Expression of a GNE-Transgene: A Novel Treatment Approach for Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy-2
Authors: Phadke Anagha P. , Jay Chris , Chen Salina J. , Haddock Courtney , Wang Zhaohui , Yu Yang , Nemunaitis Derek , Nemunaitis Gregory , Templeton Nancy S. , Senzer Neil , Maples Phillip B. , Tong Alex W. , Nemunaitis John
Published: November 2017

Hereditary inclusion body myopathy-2 (HIBM2) is an adult-onset, muscular disease caused by mutations in the GNE gene. HIBM2-associated GNE mutations causing hyposialyation have been proposed to contribute to reduced muscle function in patients with HIBM2, though the exact cause of this disease is unknown. In the current studies we examined pre-clinical in vivo toxicity, and expression of the plasmid-based, CMV driven wild-type GNE plasmid vector. The plasmid vector was injected intramuscularly (IM) or systemically (IV) into BALB/c mice, following encapsulation in a cationic liposome (DOTAP: Cholesterol). Single IM injections of the GNE-lipoplex at 40 µg did not produce overt toxicity or deaths, indicating that the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) dose for IM injection was > 40 µg. Single intravenous (IV) infusion of GNE-lipoplex was lethal in 33% of animals at 100 µg dose, with a small proportion of animals in the 40 µg cohort demonstrating transient toxicity. Thus the NOAEL dose by the IV route was greater than 10 µg and less than or equal to 40 µg. Real-time RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated recombinant human GNE mRNA expression in 100% of muscle tissues that received IM injection of 40 µg GNE-lipoplex, at 2 weeks. These results indicate that GNE-lipoplex gene transfer is safe and can produce durable transgene expression in treated muscles. Our findings support future exploration of the clinical efficacy of GNE-lipoplex for experimental gene therapy of HIBM2.
Letter to the Editor: Does Dicer Expression Affect shRNA Processing?
Authors: Senzer Neil , Rao Donald , Nemunaitis John
Published: November 2017

Elevated Dicer and Drosha mRNA levels have been documented across a range of tumor types (including ovarian carcinoma) by a number of investigators without any demonstrable correlation with patient survival nor evidence of interference with shRNA processing. A recent publication by Merritt et al. (NEJM 359(25):2641-50, 2008) reporting their findings in patients with ovarian carcinoma reach opposite conclusions. Further study will be needed to resolve this issue.
The Goldfish SG2NA Gene Encodes Two α-Type Regulatory Subunits for PP-2A and Displays Distinct Developmental Expression Pattern
Authors: Ma Hai-Li , Peng Yun-Lei , Gong Lili , Liu Wen-Bin , Sun Shuming , Liu Jiao , Zheng Chun-Bing , Fu Hu , Yuan Dan , Zhao Junqiong , Chen Pei-Chao , Xie Si-si , Zeng Xiao-Ming , Xiao Ya-Mei , Liu Yun , Li David Wan-Cheng
Published: November 2017

SG2NA is a member of the striatin protein family. In human and mouse, the SG2NA gene encodes two major protein isoforms: SG2NAα and SG2NAβ. The functions of these proteins, except for acting as the regulatory subunits for PP-2A, remain largely unknown. To explore the possible functions of SG2NA in lower vertebrates, we have isolated two SG2NA cDNAs from goldfish, Carassius auratus. Our results reveal that the first cDNA contains an ORF of 2118 bp encoding a deduced protein with 705 amino acids, and the second one 2148 bp coding for a deduced protein of 715 amino acids. Comparative analysis reveals that both isoforms belong to the α-type, and are named SG2NAα and SG2NAα+. RT-PCR and western blot analysis reveal that the SG2NA gene is differentially expressed in 9 tissues examined. During goldfish development, while the SG2NA mRNAs remain relatively constant in the first 3 stages and then become decreased and fluctuated from gastrula to larval hatching, the SG2NA proteins are fluctuated, displaying a peak every 3 to 4 stages. Each later peak is higher than the earlier one and the protein expression level becomes maximal at hatching stage. Together, our results reveal that SG2NA may play an important role during goldfish development and also in homeostasis of most adult tissues.
Evolution and Origin of HRS, a Protein Interacting with Merlin, the Neurofibromatosis 2 Gene Product
Authors: Omelyanchuk Leonid V. , Pertseva Julia A. , Burns Sarah S. , Chang Long-Sheng
Published: November 2017

Hepatocyte growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase substrate (HRS) is an endosomal protein required for trafficking receptor tyrosine kinases from the early endosome to the lysosome. HRS interacts with Merlin, the Neurofibromatosis 2 ( NF2) gene product, and this interaction may be important for Merlin's tumor suppressor activity. Understanding the evolution, origin, and structure of HRS may provide new insight into Merlin function. We show that HRS homologs are present across a wide range of Metazoa with the yeast Vps27 protein as their most distant ancestor. The phylogenetic tree of the HRS family coincides with species evolution and divergence, suggesting a unique function for HRS. Sequence alignment shows that various protein domains of HRS, including the VHS domain, the FYVE domain, the UIM domain, and the clathrin-binding domain, are conserved from yeast to multicellular organisms. The evolutionary transition from unicellular to multicellular organisms was accompanied by the appearance of a binding site for Merlin, which emerges in the early Metazoa after its separation from flatworms. In addition to the region responsible for growth suppression, the Merlin-binding and STAM-binding domains of HRS are conserved among multicellular organisms. The residue equivalent to tyrosine-377, which is phosphorylated in the human HRS protein, is highly conserved throughout the HRS family. Three additional conserved boxes lacking assigned functions are found in the HRS proteins of Metazoa. While boxes 1 and 3 may constitute the Eps-15- and Snx1-binding sites, respectively, box 2, containing the residue equivalent to tyrosine-377, is likely to be important for HRS phosphorylation. While several functional domains are conserved throughout the HRS family, the STAM-binding, Merlin-binding, and growth suppression domains evolved in the early Metazoa around the time the Merlin protein emerged. As these domains appear during the transition to multicellularity, their functional roles may be related to cell-cell interaction.
Current Status of Monocyte Differentiation-Inducing (MDI) Factors Derived from Human Fetal Membrane Chorion Cells Undergoing Apoptosis after Influenza Virus Infection
Authors: Uchide Noboru , Toyoda Hiroo
Published: November 2017

Influenza virus infection induces apoptosis and the expression of a set of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, such as interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-β and IFN-γ, in cultured human fetal membrane chorion cells. Monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) activity in culture supernatants is simultaneously increased by the virus infection. The MDI activity is predominantly influenced by IL-6 molecule in culture supernatants, and partly by TNF-α and IFN-β, but not IFN-γ, molecules. The MDI factors are able to induce the mRNA expression of macrophage class A scavenger receptor (SR-A), which is one of adhesion and apoptotic cell-recognizing molecules, and gp91phox, which is a catalytic subunit of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase enzyme complex, on monocytic cells. As a result, monocytes are initiated to differentiate into well-matured macrophages capable of adhering and producing superoxide through NADPH oxidase. The matured macrophages, obtained from human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells by the treatment with MDI factors, phagocytose apoptotic chorion cell debris resulting from the virus infection. Subsequent to phagocytosis, an abrupt increase of superoxide production by macrophages may occur. In this article, we summarize recent knowledge about the MDI factors derived from human fetal membrane chorion cells undergoing apoptosis after influenza virus infection, and discuss their possible pathological roles during pregnancy.
Prostate Cancer Epigenetics: A Review on Gene Regulation
Authors: Diaw Lena , Woodson Karen , Gillespie John W.
Published: November 2017

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in western countries, and its incidence is increasing steadily worldwide. Molecular changes including both genetic and epigenetic events underlying the development and progression of this disease are still not well understood. Epigenetic events are involved in gene regulation and occur through different mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. Both DNA methylation and histone modifications affect gene regulation and play important roles either independently or by interaction in tumor initiation and progression. This review will discuss the genes associated with epigenetic alterations in prostate cancer progression: their regulation and importance as possible markers for the disease.
Oxygen and Cell Fate Decisions
Authors: Lin Qun , Kim Yuri , Alarcon Rodolfo M. , Yun Zhong
Published: November 2017

Molecular oxygen has been known to play a critical role in a wide range of biological processes including glycolysis, mitochondrial respiration, angiogenesis, pulmonary functions, and cardiovascular activities. An emerging theme has developed in recent years that oxygen has significant impact on embryonic development, maintenance of stem cells, and cellular differentiation or cell fate decisions. Among the notable observations, early embryonic development takes place in a hypoxic microenvironment. Hematopoietic stem cells appear to be located in hypoxic regions within the bone marrow. Majority of the current observations have shown that hypoxia seems to prevent cellular differentiation and to maintain pluripotency of stem/progenitor cells. Genetic studies have demonstrated a critical role of hypoxia-inducible factors 1α and 2α in embryonic development. These intriguing observations demonstrate an important role of molecular oxygen in such fundamental biological processes as stem cell maintenance and regulation of cell fate decisions. Herein, we describe some of the latest advances in the biology of molecular oxygen and provide our perspectives on the potential impact of these interesting findings.
Molecular Mechanisms of Uterine Leiomyosarcomas: Involvement of Defect in LMP2 Expression
Authors: Hayashi Takuma , Shimamura Yuto , Saegusa Taro , Horiuchi Akiko , Kobayashi Yukihiro , Hiraoka Nobuyoshi , Kanai Yae , Aburatani Hiroyuki , Sano Kenji , Konishi Ikuo
Published: November 2017

Patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) typically present with vaginal bleeding, pain, and a pelvic mass. Typical presentations with hypercalcemia or eosinophilia have been reported. Radiographic evaluation with combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography may assist in the diagnosis and surveillance of women with uterine LMS. A recently developed risk-assessment index is highly predictive of disease-specific survival. Ovarian preservation does not appear to negatively impact outcome, and the addition of adjuvant therapy after surgical treatment does not seem to improve survival. It is noteworthy that LMP2-deficient mice exhibit spontaneous development of uterine LMS with a disease prevalence of ~37% by 12 months of age. The LMP2 gene is transcribed from a promoter containing an interferon (IFN)-γ-response factor element; thus, the IFN-γ-signal strongly induces LMP2 expression. Furthermore, a recent report demonstrated the loss of ability to induce LMP2 expression, which is an interferon (IFN)-γ-inducible factor, in human uterine LMS tissues and cell lines. Analysis of human uterine LMS shows somatic mutations in the IFN-γ signalling pathway, thus the loss of LMP2 induction is attributable to a defect in the earliest steps of the IFN-γ signalling pathway. The discovery of an impaired key cell-signalling pathway may provide new targets for diagnostic approaches and therapeutic intervention.
Reconstructing a Network of Stress-Response Regulators via Dynamic System Modeling of Gene Regulation
Authors: Wu Wei-Sheng , Li Wen-Hsiung , Chen Bor-Sen
Published: November 2017

Unicellular organisms such as yeasts have evolved mechanisms to respond to environmental stresses by rapidly reorganizing the gene expression program. Although many stress-response genes in yeast have been discovered by DNA microarrays, the stress-response transcription factors (TFs) that regulate these stress-response genes remain to be investigated. In this study, we use a dynamic system model of gene regulation to describe the mechanism of how TFs may control a gene's expression. Then, based on the dynamic system model, we develop the Stress Regulator Identification Algorithm (SRIA) to identify stress-response TFs for six kinds of stresses. We identified some general stress-response TFs that respond to various stresses and some specific stress-response TFs that respond to one specific stress. The biological significance of our findings is validated by the literature. We found that a small number of TFs is probably sufficient to control a wide variety of expression patterns in yeast under different stresses. Two implications can be inferred from this observation. First, the response mechanisms to different stresses may have a bow-tie structure. Second, there may be regulatory cross-talks among different stress responses. In conclusion, this study proposes a network of stress-response regulators and the details of their actions.
Level of Expression of the Nonmutant Ferrochelatase Allele is a Determinant of Biochemical Phenotype in a Mouse Model of Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
Authors: Bloomer Joseph , Wang Yongming , Chen Dongquan
Published: November 2017

Ferrochelatase (FECH) activity is decreased in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), causing increased production and excretion of protoporphyrin. This study examined whether the level of expression of the nonmutant FECH allele is a determinant of phenotype in a mouse model of EPP that carries a heterozygous deletion of exon 10 in FECH. Two mice strains that had a two-fold difference in FECH mRNA levels in bone marrow and liver (low expressing C3H/HeJ and high expressing CBA/J) were used to establish congenic strains containing the mutation. Erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels in C3H/HeJ heterozygous mice were significantly higher than in their wildtype littermates, whereas levels in CBA/J heterozygous mice did not differ significantly from their wildtype littermates. Biliary excretion of protoporphyrin was also significantly higher in C3H/HeJ heterozygous mice. The levels of normal FECH mRNA in bone marrow measured by real time PCR were 138 +/– 30 copies per ug total RNA in C3H/HeJ +/– mice, 320 +/– 59 in C3H/HeJ +/+ mice and 634 +/– 38 in CBA/J +/+ mice. Levels in liver tissue of the mice differed significantly in the same pattern. Thus, the level of expression of the nonmutant FECH allele is a determinant of phenotype in a mouse model of EPP as has been demonstrated in human EPP.
Centrality Analysis Methods for Biological Networks and Their Application to Gene Regulatory Networks
Authors: Koschützki Dirk , Schreiber Falk
Published: November 2017

The structural analysis of biological networks includes the ranking of the vertices based on the connection structure of a network. To support this analysis we discuss centrality measures which indicate the importance of vertices, and demonstrate their applicability on a gene regulatory network. We show that common centrality measures result in different valuations of the vertices and that novel measures tailored to specific biological investigations are useful for the analysis of biological networks, in particular gene regulatory networks.
The MAPK Signaling Cascade is a Central Hub in the Regulation of Cell Cycle, Apoptosis and Cytoskeleton Remodeling by Tripeptidyl-Peptidase II
Authors: Sompallae Ramakrishna , Stavropoulou Vaia , Houde Mathieu , Masucci Maria G.
Published: November 2017

Tripeptidyl-peptidase II (TPPII) is a serine peptidase highly expressed in malignant Burkitt's lymphoma cells (BL). We have previously shown that overexpression of TPPII correlates with chromosomal instability, centrosomal and mitotic spindle abnormalities and resistance to apoptosis induced by spindle poisons. Furthermore, TPPII knockdown by RNAi was associated with endoreplication and the accumulation of polynucleated cells that failed to complete cell division, indicating a role of TPPII in the cell cycle. Here we have applied a global approach of gene expression analysis to gain insights on the mechanism by which TPPII regulates this phenotype. mRNA profiling of control and TPPII knockdown BL cells identified one hundred and eighty five differentially expressed genes. Functional categorization of these genes highlighted major physiological functions such as apoptosis, cell cycle progression, cytoskeleton remodeling, proteolysis, and signal transduction. Pathways and protein interactome analysis revealed a significant enrichment in components of MAP kinases signaling. These findings suggest that TPPII influences a wide network of signaling pathways that are regulated by MAPKs and exerts thereby a pleiotropic effect on biological processes associated with cell survival, proliferation and genomic instability.
Is the Pen really Mightier than the Scalpel?
Authors: Choudhary Nilookumari
Published: November 2017

How to cite this article

Sarode GS, Choudhary N, Sarode SC, Patil S. Is the Pen really Mightier than the Scalpel? J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(11):987-988.
Prevalence of Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Status among Juvenile Prisoners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alkhadra Thamer
Published: November 2017

Aim

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries and oral hygiene status among juvenile prisoners in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods

A total of 105 prisoners aged between 12 and 17 years of age from the Juvenile Detention Center were included in the study. Any prisoner with systemic illness and being noncooperative were excluded from the study. Clinical examinations were performed under an artificial light source using a disposable mouth mirror and explorer while seated on a portable chair. The dental caries experience was measured as the number of decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT) using DMFT score. The oral hygiene index (OHI) was assessed by the Greene and Vermillion method. The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.

Results

The mean age of the sample was 16.33 years, with 74.3% of the prisoners in the 16 to 17-year-old group. The dental caries index measured by calculating the mean DMFT of the juvenile prisoners increased with age. The DMFT scores of 9.09 (4.388) for 78 juvenile prisoners aged 16 to 17 years followed by 9.00 (2.925) for 19 prisoners aged 14 to 15 years and 7.13 (1.808) for 8 prisoners aged 12 to 13 years were observed. The oral hygiene status of the prisoners showed that more than half of the juvenile prisoners included in the study had poor (53.3%) oral hygiene and less than half had fair (45.7%) oral hygiene and only one participant demonstrated good oral hygiene.

Conclusion

The juvenile prisoners had high prevalence of dental caries and fair-to-bad oral hygiene, indicating poor oral health status. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the need for special attention from the concerned health authorities, voluntary organizations, and surrounding dental colleges in meeting the oral health needs of this group.

Clinical significance

The study provides an important database for decision makers to take on the challenge of reducing dental caries among juvenile prisoners.

How to cite this article

Alkhadra T. Prevalence of Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Status among Juvenile Prisoners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(11):991-995.
In situ Effect of Nanohydroxyapatite Paste in Enamel Teeth Bleaching
Authors: Silva Cecy Martins , de Lima Gomes Yasmin SB , Alexandrino Larissa D , de M Alencar Cristiane , Alves Eliane B , Faial Kelson CF
Published: November 2017

Aim

Evaluatein situthe effect of nanohydroxyapatite paste (nano-HAP) before bleaching with hydrogen peroxide 35% (HP35%) by ion chromatography (IC) Knoop hardness number (KHN) and tristimulus colorimetry (TC).

Materials and methods

A total of 60 fragments were obtained from third molars included (3 mm × 3 mm × 3 mm) and the specimens were divided into three groups (n = 20): Gas chromatography (CG) (negative control group) = no bleaching; HP35% (positive control group) = HP35% whitening (whiteness HP35%); nano-HAP = application for 10 minutes before bleaching treatment + HP35%. The specimens were fixed to the volunteers’ molars. The KHN and TC were measured before and after bleaching. For IC, the dentin layer was removed, leaving the enamel that was crushed, and autoclaved for chemical quantification (calcium, fluorine, and phosphorus). The results of KHN and TC were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey test (p < 0.05).

Results

The HP35% group showed reduction of the Ca, F, and P ions. The initial and final KHN mean of the CG and nano-HAP did not differ statistically; however, the group of HP35% did differ statistically. The mean ∆E of the HP35% and nano-HAP groups did not differ statistically from each other. However, they differed from the CG.

Conclusion

The nano-HAP paste preserved the KHN, promoted the lower loss of Ca and P ions and an increase of F ions when compared with the CG, but did not influence the effectiveness of the bleaching treatment.

Clinical significance

Nano-HA is a biomaterial that has shown positive results in the prevention of deleterious effects on the enamel by the action of the office bleaching treatment.

How to cite this article

Gomes YSBL, Alexandrino LD, Alencar CDM, Alves EB, Faial KCF, Silva CM.In situEffect of Nanohydroxyapatite Paste in Enamel Teeth Bleaching. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(11):996-1003.
Antimicrobial Effect of Ginger, Garlic, Honey, and Lemon Extracts on Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Aravind A , Mathai Kiran , Anand Swathy , Dinatius Praveen , Krishnan Anandhu V , Mathai Meera
Published: November 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lemon, ginger, garlic, and honey extracts onStreptococcus mutans.

Materials and methods

Commercially obtained honey, ginger, garlic, and lemon were included in the study to evaluate its efficacy in isolation and in combination againstS. mutans. The efficacies of extracts were tested using well diffusion method, and its effect was evaluated by measuring the zone of inhibition around the well. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was carried out individually and compared considering triplicates of all the extracts.

Results

When individual comparison of the extracts was made, garlic showed greatest antimicrobial activity with a mean zone of inhibition (34.9 ± 0.58 mm) and honey showed least antimicrobial activity (0.5 ± 0.6 mm). When combinations of extracts were tested againstS. mutans, lemon and garlic combination showed the greatest zone of inhibition (27.6 ± 0.43 mm) compared with other combinations, and ginger + lemon combinations showed the least zone of inhibition (12.6 ± 0.43 mm).

Conclusion

This study concluded that garlic showed a greatest antimicrobial effect againstS. mutanswhen compared with preparations individually and garlic and lemon showed greatest zone of inhibition in combination than other preparations.

Clinical significance

Antibiotics and other chemical agents are mainly used to treat the common dental infections. However, due to the excessive use, it can result in antibiotic resistance. Hence, herbal medicines with medicinal values should be replaced with conventional methods.

How to cite this article

Mathai K, Anand S, Aravind A, Dinatius P, Krishnan AV, Mathai M. Antimicrobial Effect of Ginger, Garlic, Honey, and Lemon Extracts onStreptococcus mutans. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(11):1004-1008.
A Cross-sectional Study to assess the Perception of Psychosocial Elements among Pediatric Patients visiting Dental Clinics
Authors: Rajasekaran UB , Singh Madhavi , Goutam Manish , Bhalla Ashish , Grover Nikhil , Galav Ashok
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Children with high dental fear and perception usually encounter high prevalence of dental caries. Data showed that individuals with dental fear will probably defer dental appointments which may result in the formation of a setup of an endless loop of dental fear. Present study was aimed to assess different psychosocial parameters among pediatric patients visiting dental clinics.

Materials and methods

In the present cross-sectional study, the data of 200 schoolchildren were collected and analyzed by means of a questionnaire. Evaluation of the oral health status was done by experienced pedodontists. All the answers were recorded and analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

Results

Nearly 120 were regular attendees while remaining 80 were found to be irregular attendees. Significant difference was observed while comparing the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index, decayed teeth, dental fear, cognitive vulnerability, and dental prevention belief between the regular and irregular group. Significant correlation was observed between higher number of decayed teeth and increasing level of dental fear.

Conclusion

Various psychosocial parameters, by affecting the dental visits, are associated with outcome of oral health measures.

Clinical significance

Special attention should be paid to the pediatric patients with such kind of behavior so that their psychosocial attitude could be modified in favor of dental treatment.

How to cite this article

Bhalla A, Rajasekaran UB, Singh M, Goutam M, Grover N, Galav A. A Cross-sectional Study to assess the Perception of Psychosocial Elements among Pediatric Patients visiting Dental Clinics. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(11):1021-1024.
Evaluation and Comparison between Formocresol and Sodium Hypochlorite as Pulpotomy Medicament: A Randomized Study
Authors: Gupta Mukesh , Ahmed Hina , Chauhan Shikhar P , Sharma Dheeraj , Chugh Bhanu
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Pulpotomy is the most common treatment to preserve vitality of cariously exposed molars. Various pulpotomy medicaments used should be antimicrobial, should help in healing without damaging surrounding tissue, and should not affect eruption of permanent teeth. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate and compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of formocresol (FC) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in primary molars. The aim of this randomized study was to compare the clinical and radiographic success rate of FC and 5% NaOCl as a pulpotomy medicament in primary molars.

Materials and methods

Forty children aged 4 to 9 years with primary carious molar were selected and randomly assigned into two groups: FC and NaOCl. Pulpotomy procedure was then performed followed by restoration with stainless steel crowns. Clinical and radiographic evaluation was done at an interval of 3 to 6 months.

Results

Clinical success rate at 3 and 6 months was 100% for both groups. Radiographic success rate for FC was 95% at 3 months and 90% at 6 months, whereas for NaOCl, it was 90% at 3 months and 85% at 6 months.

Conclusion

Based on this study, result of 5% NaOCl and FC showed no significant difference in their success rate. Hence, NaOCl can be used as pulpotomy medicament; however, further clinical trials with long follow-up period are required.

Clinical significance

Sodium hypochlorite is a potential clinical substitute of FC for vital pulpotomy treatment in primary teeth because of its exceptional biological compatibility and to evade carcinogenic effect of FC.

How to cite this article

Chauhan SP, Gupta M, Ahmed H, Tongya R, Sharma D, Chugh B. Evaluation and Comparison between Formocresol and Sodium Hypochlorite as Pulpotomy Medicament: A Randomized Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(11):1029-1033.
Effect of Interimplant Distance and Cyclic Loading on the Retention of Overdenture Attachments
Authors: Shayegh Seyed S , Hakimaneh Seyed MR , Baghani Mohammad T , Shidfar Shireen , Kashi Farinaz K , Zamanian Amirhosein , Arezoobakhsh Ali
Published: November 2017

Aim

The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of interimplant distance and cyclic loading on the retention of two locator attachment systems.

Materials and methods

A total of 72 acrylic resin blocks were fabricated and divided into six groups of six pairs each. Locators of DIO and 3i implant systems were positioned on analogs in three different interimplant distances (19, 23, and 29 mm). The blocks were attached to a universal testing machine, and 1,440 dislodging cycles by the force of 136 N were applied. After 0, 120, 360, 720, and 1,440 cycles, the retention was recorded. Three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for differences in retention between the various combinations of the locator, interimplant distance, and cyclic loadings.

Results

Interimplant distance was significantly associated with retention, independent of the locator system used, and dislodgement force cycles. Mean retention was significantly higher under the 3i system relative to the DIO system (p < 0.0001). This association varied with both interimplant distance (p > 0.0001) and dislodgement force (p < 0.0001) as well as across the various combinations of distance and cycle (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Interimplant distances could affect the initial retention of locator attachments. There was little difference in retention between distances of 23 and 29 mm across all cycles when both locator systems were combined. Distance of 23mm was associated with superior retention in the DIO system. With regard to the speed of retention decrease, the 23 mm distance was associated with better performance.

Clinical significance

Interimplant distance could play a significant role in overdenture retention with locator attachments.

How to cite this article

Shayegh SS, Hakimaneh SMR, Baghani MT, Shidfar S, Kashi FK, Zamanian A, Arezoobakhsh A. Effect of Interimplant Distance and Cyclic Loading on the Retention of Overdenture Attachments. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(11):1078-1084.