bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A French dental school programme appraisal by alumni of 5–9 years standing
Authors: Lévy Gérard , d'Ivernois Jean‐François , Brun Dominique , Gagnayre Rémi
Published: January 2011

The objective of this study was to analyse the perception of the practical value of their training experience for 4 groups of alumni graduated between 1986 and 1989 at the Faculty of Odontology, University Paris 5. The 240 participants (45% response rate) perceived their training to have been adequate with respect to procedural activities. On the other hand, the graduates expressed a desire for more emphasis in emergencies, interpersonal relationship, office management and such clinical topics as fixed prosthodontics, surgery and periodontics. Surveys aimed at alumni may be useful for the evaluation of programme results and to determine which items should be added or deleted according to either health criteria or the conditions of dental practice.
An investigation into the use of the FDI tooth notation system by dental schools in the UK
Authors: Blinkhorn Anthony S. , Choi Connie L. K. , Paget Helen E.
Published: January 2011

This study investigated the use of the FDI tooth notation system in UK Dental Schools. In addition, the notation system used by dentists referring patients to Manchester Dental Hospital was recorded. A questionnaire was sent to the Deans of all Dental Schools in the UK and letters of referral to Manchester Dental Hospitals Paediatric GA Service were monitored for 1 month. The results showed that only Manchester University Dental School used the FDI system but 6 other schools instructed students in its use. The Palmer system was used by all the other schools for recording clinical information. 136 referral letters were received, only one used the FDI notation, 15 used both FDI and Palmer and the remainder (120) requested extractions using the Palmer notation. The FDI notation system is not used in the majority of UK dental schools. Despite the fact the Dental School in Manchester has been teaching and using the FDI system for over 10 years, it has not been adopted by General Dental Practitioners referring patients into the hospital. The FDI should review the use of their system in other countries, to ascertain whether it has fulfilled its rôle as an international notation system.
Gender and research productivity in US and Canadian Schools of Dentistry: A preliminary investigation
Authors: Jones James E.
Published: January 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate individual faculty research productivity with respect to gender among clinical faculty in 66 United States and Canadian schools of dentistry. A comprehensive survey instrument was developed to collect information on factors associated with research productivity of individual faculty. The present investigation focused on time spent per week in various work related activities (teaching, administration, research, and private practice), external grant money obtained for research, and responses to 12 variables evaluating the subject's perceptions of their research background, work environment, attitude and outcome effects from publishing, and the use of colleagues in conducting research. The 833 respondents represented a response rate of 69.4% (833/1200) from a 50% stratified random sample of faculty who (1) had full‐time appointments and held at least the DMD or DDS degree or the foreign equivalent, (2) taught in a clinical department of the dental school, and (3) were not departmental chairpersons or administrators. The majority of subjects responding to the survey were male (705 males, 84.6%; 128 females, 15.4%). Respondents reported a mean of 10.3 years (males=10.8, females=7.5) in full‐time dental education and a mean of 10.1 career publications (males=11.6, females=6.5; P<0.001). Although there was no significant difference in weekly hours devoted to academic responsibilities between males and females, several factors did demonstrate significant gender differences (external grant money obtained for research purposes, P<0.03; feeling that the departmental chair did not emphasize research, P<0.05; feeling a lack of autonomy within their institution, P<0.007; and feeling a lack of available colleagues for research purposes, P<0.001). The implications of the findings are discussed concerning strategies for improving research productivity for females in academic dentistry.
Developing and implementing an OSCE in dentistry
Authors: Manogue Michael , Brown George
Published: January 2011

The processes of development, implementation and perceived usefulness of an objective structured clinical examination in restorative dentistry (OSCE(D)) are reported. An OSCE is a system of assessment. It consists of a set of standardised ‘stations’. At each station, a student is tested on a specific clinical task. Each student moves from one station to the next so that by the end of the OSCE, every student has completed every station. The primary purpose of this OSCE was to provide feedback to 49 4th year students on their performance in the clinical areas of conservative dentistry, periodontology and prosthetics. Individual profiles were provided to students and the overall results discussed by staff. There were no significant differences in overall performance between genders or between students in the morning and afternoon examinations. There was a significant difference between performance in prosthetics and the other areas and there were some significant differences among the skill clusters of clinical knowledge, procedures, clinical reasoning, history‐taking, techniques and communication. Students and staff perceived the OSCE(D) as a valuable tool for providing feedback. The development of the OSCE and the findings described in this paper will be of value to clinical staff who are developing OSCEs in all areas of dentistry.
Process and outcome of a visitation to a Central‐European dental school
Authors: Bánóczy Jolán , Ray Kenneth
Published: January 2011

The Advisory Committee on the Training of Dental Practitioners of the EU (ACTDP) in order to ensure a comparably demanding standard in dental education, recommended in 1986 a self‐assessment system, and visitations to dental training establishments. After some visitations in EU member countries, a visit was organized to the Dental Faculty, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, at the request of the Hungarian institution. The completion of the self‐assessment questionnaire, and the organization of the visit occurred according to the general guidelines. The visit took place in September 1994, by a team consisting of 4 members. The results of the 3‐day visit, and recommendations of the visitation team were presented in a written report, approved by the leaders of the Hungarian Faculty. As a consequence, a curriculum reform was elaborated at the visited Dental School, following the guidelines given by the visitation team, approved by the Faculty in 1996. Summarizing the outcome of the visit, this seemed to be very useful for the visited Dental Faculty, and helped to overcome difficulties in establishing a new curriculum, with better harmonization to EU standards. However, benefits may also derive from these visits for EU countries as well, for convergence in oral health education is of mutual importance for both sides.
Basic science teaching in dentistry in Central/Eastern Europe. Towards harmonisation?
Authors: Zelles Tivadar , Varga Gábor , Bánóczy Jolán
Published: January 2011

The present study was carried out to examine basic science teaching in dentistry in Central/Eastern Europe, and compare the situation with the EU. In order to collect the necessary data, a questionnaire has been sent to 25 dental schools of the region and 14 schools from 8 countries responded. According to the data obtained, the number of hours devoted to basic sciences and medical clinical sciences together are 2206 in Central/Eastern Europe, and 1416 in the EU. In the case of dental clinical subjects, the difference in the number of hours is just the opposite, much higher in the EU. Thus, for the Central‐European region there are two real alternative ways of convergence to western Europe. One option is to decrease the level of basic science and medical science teaching and use the free capacity to increase the weight of dental clinical subjects in the curriculum. The other option is to leave the subjects that are at high levels as they are, and increase significantly the number of hours of the whole curriculum. It seems important to promote the convergence between Central/Eastern Europe and the EU. The EU has to define the trends of the next few decades and the Central/Eastern European countries should converge in this direction.
An assessment of the views held by recent graduates on their undergraduate course
Authors: Murray Felicity J. , Blinkhorn Anthony S. , Bulman John
Published: January 2011

The aim of this study was to ascertain the views of recent graduates on their undergraduate training. 53 Vocational Training scheme organisers were contacted and 37 (70%) responded. 391 new dentists on the schemes were sent postal questionnaires to record information on their views of the undergraduate dental curriculum. 247 questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 63%. 62% of the subjects reported that they had received sufficient practical experience in the provision of crowns, 32% for veneers and 19% for bridgework. 46% of respondents felt able to treat a simple orthodontic case with removable appliances. 63% considered they had insufficient experience in surgical extractions. 40% expressed the opinion that overall, they would like more practical clinical experience included in the undergraduate course particularly in crown/bridgework and surgical extractions. In conclusion, there are areas in which recent graduates consider their undergraduate course to have been lacking.
Introducing Adelaide dental students to a problem‐based learning curriculum
Authors: Greenwood Frances , Townsend Grant , Joseph Vivien , Wetherell John
Published: January 2011

A course designed to introduce new students to a problem‐based learning (PBL) curriculum in dentistry at the University of Adelaide is described. Australian students are admitted to the Adelaide dental course either directly from school (SL) or after one or more years of tertiary education (TT). The admissions process is designed to select academically able students who will flourish in a problem‐based environment. Some international students (INT) are also selected through a modified admissions process. A 9‐item questionnaire derived from frequently‐asked questions from previous years was administered to the new students at the beginning and at the end of the introductory course, and each individual's responses before and after the course were compared. There was an increased number of positive responses (significant at P<0.05 to 7 of the 9 items) after the course. Although the course appeared to be effective in familiarising new students with a PBL curriculum, many students were still uncertain about two items which commonly provoke anxiety, namely how to decide when to stop researching a topic, and how to balance group and solo learning.
Challenges and relevance of problem‐based learning in dental education
Authors: Lum‐Peng Lim , Ai‐Yen Chen
Published: January 2011

The rôle of PBL as an innovative approach in medical education has been well documented. There has been an emerging trend of incorporating PBL into the dental curriculum. The potential advantages of PBL as a mode of learning encompass the enhancement of an integrated approach in solving dental‐treatment‐related problems, the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills and the encouragement of independent life‐long learning. PBL was introduced into the dental curriculum as a pilot project in the Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore in summer 1996. An example of a case‐based study was illustrated and the learning objectives of the study were highlighted. Initial feedback from students indicated a positive attitude to this mode of learning in terms of cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills. Strategies to enhance learning in the PBL environment include time allocation for self‐study, availability of resource materials and use of appropriate assessment methods. Problems that remain to be resolved include the choice of appropriate outcome assessment measures to evaluate the effectiveness of PBL as a mode of learning in undergraduate dental education.
The need to introduce gene therapy to the dental curriculum
Authors: Baum Bruce J. , O'Connell Brian C.
Published: January 2011

Recombinant DNA technology is finding its way into many aspects of clinical medicine. No application currently is more dramatic than gene therapy. Proofs of principle have already been established for gene therapy targeted to oral tissues, and more are likely to be demonstrated in the near future. The dental curriculum must begin to include the biological basis of DNA‐based therapies and other related biomedical science progress.
A survey of the computer literacy of undergraduate dental students at a University Dental School in Ireland during the academic year 1997–98
Authors: Ray Noel J. , Hannigan Ailish
Published: January 2011

As dental practice management becomes more computer‐based, the efficient functioning of the dentist will become dependent on adequate computer literacy. A survey has been carried out into the computer literacy of a cohort of 140 undergraduate dental students at a University Dental School in Ireland (years 1–5), in the academic year 1997–98. Aspects investigated by anonymous questionnaire were: (1) keyboard skills; (2) computer skills; (3) access to computer facilities; (4) software competencies and (5) use of medical library computer facilities. The students are relatively unfamiliar with basic computer hardware and software: 51.1% considered their expertise with computers as “poor”; 34.3% had taken a formal typewriting or computer keyboarding course; 7.9% had taken a formal computer course at university level and 67.2% were without access to computer facilities at their term‐time residences. A majority of students had never used either word‐processing, spreadsheet, or graphics programs. Programs relating to “informatics” were more popular, such as literature searching, accessing the Internet and the use of e‐mail which represent the major use of the computers in the medical library. The lack of experience with computers may be addressed by including suitable computing courses at the secondary level (age 13–18 years) and/or tertiary level (FE/HE) education programmes. Such training may promote greater use of generic softwares, particularly in the library, with a more electronic‐based approach to data handling.
Education in periodontology A need for a new teaching model
Authors: Persson G. Rutger , Schlegel‐Bregenzer Bettina , Lang Niklaus P. , Attström Rolf
Published: January 2011

The objectives of the present work were to elucidate faculty perceptions and effects on traditional teaching and the supplement of a problem‐based learning model in periodontal education. Students and faculty members at one university were asked to respond to a battery of relevant questions in periodontology that had been previously discussed at two European academic workshops. Differences in responses were noticed both between faculty, students, and their responses as compared to responses given by participants at the European workshops. On several topics, faculty within the selected university held significantly different opinions. Thus lecture content and concepts may vary dependent on who gives the lecture and may not be consistent with the common interpretation of the scientific evidence. Responses given by those participating in the workshops indicated consensus. The study results suggest that students were able to extract appropriate conclusions from the scientific literature in that they were able to concede with an expert panel on specific issues studied. Students were however unable to convince other students, who had not participated in the specific activity, that their conclusions were consistent with the scientific evidence and different than what had been taught in class. In many cases, these conclusions differed from their previous perceptions obtained during traditional lectures. In conclusion, the present study suggests that problem‐based learning activities should be introduced early in the curriculum to avoid bias in understanding which may occur when students have been previously exposed to information presented in standard lectures. The use of interactive teaching via internet is discussed.
The validity and reliability of an OSCE in dentistry
Authors: Brown George , Manogue Michael , Martin Muir
Published: January 2011

The validity and reliability of a newly‐developed objective structured clinical examination for 4th year dental students (OSCE(D)) were estimated by a range of quantitative and qualitative methods. The OSCE(D) consisted of 17 stations in conservation, periodontology and prosthetics. A blueprint was used to match the OSCE stations to clinical subject areas and to 7 skill clusters of clinical competence. Repeat measures of skills were undertaken in the OSCE(D) to maximise its validity and reliability. The primary purposes of the OSCE(D) were to assess clinical competence and to provide feedback to students. The results indicate that the OSCE(D) was intrinsically valid and a better predictor of performance in the final examination than either a concurrent 4th‐year examination or Advanced‐level university entry grades. The OSCE(D) scored relatively highly on internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.68). Intra‐domain and inter‐domain correlations were high and inter‐examiner reliability was relatively high (η2 coefficients ranged from 0.00 to 0.10). There were no significant differences between performances in the morning and afternoon sessions of the examination so reproducibility is assumed to be high. Some improvement in individual stations and in inter‐examiner reliability are required. A set of recommendations based on the experience of designing and testing a dental OSCE are provided.
Thai dental students' knowledge of the betel quid chewing habit in Thailand
Authors: Reichart P. A. , Khongkhunthian P. , Scheifele C. , Lohsuwan P.
Published: January 2011

385 questionnaires submitted by volunteer That dental students on the betel quid chewing habit in Thailand were evaluated. Questions related to the composition of the betel quid, general and oral effects as well as sociological aspects. Only 62.6% considered the habit as typical for Thailand. Knowledge about the composition of the betel quid showed that 30% of the students were poorly informed. Only 58.4% thought slaked lime to be part of the quid. Similar results were obtained for some of the questions relating to physiological and oral effects and the percentage of “do not know” answers was about 30%. It was widely accepted that betel quid chewing is more common in the provinces (83.6%) and that it is a habit of older people (92.2%); particularly women (70.7%). 71.2% of the students did not know where to buy a betel quid. The decline of the habit was monitored by the fact that 96.1% of the students' parents did not indulge in chewing the betel quid compared to 38.7% of grandparents who did. 70% of the students were convinced that the habit will totally disappear. The knowledge of the betel quid chewing habit of Thai dental students indicated a number of deficits showing that these do not come in close contact with this habit anymore in their families or societies. Since elderly people still indulge in chewing betel quid, dental education still has to focus on oral and general effects and side‐effects such as oral precancer, oral cancer and oral submucous fibrosis.
An assessment of the influence of clinical demonstrations on the confidence of undergraduate dental students, when treating patients requiring removable partial dentures
Authors: Packer M. E. , Scott B. J. J. , Davis D. M.
Published: January 2011

Aim: This study was designed to assess the influence of clinical demonstrations, on the confidence of undergraduate dental students, when treating patients requiring removable partial dentures.

Method: The confidence of 45 undergraduate dental students treating their first patient requiring removable partial dentures was assessed using questionnaires. 23 students were given demonstrations prior to carrying out the treatment; the remainder did not receive a demonstration. Outcome was assessed by the time taken to complete the procedures to a clinically acceptable standard.

Results: All the students indicated high levels of agreement with a statement expressing their confidence in coping with the clinical procedures undertaken. The more confident students completed their clinical procedures more quickly than other students, irrespective as to whether they had received a demonstration or not. There was a higher proportion of more confident students in the groups who had received a clinical demonstration; it can therefore be concluded that these groups performed better, as measured by the time taken to achieve the required clinical standard. All the students who had received a demonstration believed they had benefited from it, whilst 67% of the students who had not received a demonstration believed they would have benefited from one. Analysis of the students' comments indicated that demonstrations facilitated confidence, communication skills, understanding and recall in the clinical situation. Students who did not perceive a benefit from the demonstrations believed that they had more time for one to one teaching.

Conclusion: This study showed that those students who had received a clinical demonstration immediately prior to treating their patients believed they were more confident and as a result their performance was improved. Clinical demonstrations are time consuming, but they would appear to be time well spent.
Introducing undergraduate dental students to the wider rôle of the primary care team
Authors: Ireland R. S. , Dawber S.
Published: January 2011

The development of interprofessional learning between different members of the primary care team can lead to a better understanding of the various rôles of the primary care team. It can also result in a more collaborative approach to achieving health care goals. A pilot project was carried out involving placing 6 final‐year dental students in general medical practices. Feedback from both dental students and medical practitioners suggested a number of educational benefits were achieved. The generally positive results have encouraged the extension of the pilot to include general medical practice placements for all final‐year dental students at Liverpool.
Organising the introduction of, and evaluating interviewing in, an admissions system
Authors: Hoad‐Reddick Gillian , Macfarlane Tatiana V.
Published: January 2011

This paper describes the admissions process, especially the organisation of an interviewing system. The method of application to Dental School is discussed and basic selection processes outlined. The introduction of a new interviewing system is explained and criteria for interview selection and marking defined. All interviewers received regular training; the content of training days is described together with the experience of those involved. Changes made to the interview marking system after 1 year are discussed. Criteria marked at interview were monitored against students' success in year 1 and 2 examinations. Results show that students who performed highly at interview for leadership were more likely to succeed in semester 2 of the course and in year 1 examinations overall.
Effects of genetic diversity of grass on insect species diversity at higher trophic levels are not due to cascading diversity effects
Authors: Jones Thomas S. , Allan Eric , Härri Simone A. , Krauss Jochen , Müller Christine B. , van Veen F. J. Frank
Published: January 2011

Genetic diversity in plant populations has been shown to affect the species diversity of insects. In grasses, infection with fungal endophytes can also have strong effects on insects, potentially modifying the effects of plant genetic diversity. We manipulated the genetic diversity and endophyte infection of a grass in a field experiment. We show that diversity of primary parasitoids (3rd trophic level) and, especially, secondary parasitoids (4th trophic level) increases with grass genetic diversity while there was no effect of endophyte infection. The increase in insect diversity appeared to be due to a complementarity effect rather than a sampling effect. The higher parasitoid diversity could not be explained by a cascading diversity effect because herbivore diversity was not affected and the same herbivore species were present in all treatments. The effects on the higher trophic levels must therefore be due to a direct response to plant traits or mediated by effects on traits at intermediate trophic levels.
Skin colorimetric parameters involved in skin age perception
Authors: Puccetti Germain , Nguyen Tung , Stroever Cristina
Published: January 2011

Background/purpose: Age perception is based on a number of facial attributes such as wrinkles, skin gravity effects, feature lines, and skin optical appearance. The colorimetric and optical diffusion properties of skin have been compared with the consumer interpretation of ‘skin age’ of cheek area pictures without wrinkles or feature lines.

Methods: Controlled lighting images of skin were taken with the Visia CR. Skin sections from the cheek area were selected without eye region wrinkles or naso‐labial lines for consumer interpretation. These same skin sections were analyzed for optical roughness and colorimetric parameters in the LCH color space, by distinguishing several roughness parameters according to their physical scale.

Results: Three main optical parameters of skin were found to influence the consumer's interpretation of skin ‘visual age’: the chroma (color saturation), lightness, and the local light‐diffusing ability of skin. For the chroma and lightness, mainly large‐scale inhomogeneities in the 0.8–2 cm−1 range are taken into account by the consumer. Surprisingly, variations in the skin hue show a total absence of correlation with the consumer grading.
Comparative diagnostic accuracy in virtual dermatopathology
Authors: Mooney Ellen , Hood Antoinette F. , Lampros James , Kempf Werner , Jemec Gregor B. E.
Published: January 2011

Background: Virtual microscopy can be used to teach histology and pathology and for in‐training and certification examinations. A few online consultation websites already utilize virtual microscopy, thereby expanding the role of telemedicine in dermatopathology. There are, however, relatively few studies comparing the diagnostic accuracy and acceptability of virtual slides compared to traditional glass slides.

Methods: Ten Nordic dermatopathologists and pathologists were given a randomized combination of 20 virtual and glass slides and asked to identify the diagnoses. They were then asked to give their impressions about the virtual images. Descriptive data analysis and comparison of groups using Fisher's exact test were performed.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic ability of dermatopathologists and pathologists in two image formats: the traditional (glass) microscopic slides, and whole mount digitized images, and to elucidate their assessment of virtual microscopy in dermatopathology.

Results: Dermatopathologists and pathologists performed similarly in diagnosing dermatopathological disorders using virtual slides vs. glass slides, virtual 0.85 and glass 0.81, P=0.286. The order of administration of virtual or glass slides did not affect the percentage of questions answered correctly. Seven of nine participants completing the questionnaire, felt virtual microscopy is useful for both learning and testing.

Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the participants' diagnostic ability using virtual slides compared with glass slides. Most participants agreed that virtual microscopy is a useful tool for learning and testing.
High‐intensity phototherapy for the treatment of severe nonhaemolytic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
Authors: de Carvalho Manoel , Mochdece Christieny Chaipp , Sá Cynthia Amaral Moura , Moreira Maria Elisabeth Lopes
Published: January 2011

Aim:  To describe the clinical approach to term and near‐term newborn infants with severe hyperbilirubinaemia and to analyse the effect of high‐intensity phototherapy on total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels.

Methods:  We analysed a cohort of 116 newborn infants with severe nonhaemolytic hyperbilirubinaemia (TSB ≥ 20 mg/dL/342 μmol/L). All patients were treated with high‐intensity phototherapy. The main outcomes were reduction in TSB levels in the first 24 h of phototherapy, incidence of exchange transfusion, pathological brainstem auditory evoked responses and pathological findings on neurological examination at discharge.

Results:  The mean birth weight and gestational age were 3161 ± 466 g and 37.8 ± 1.6 weeks. Mean initial TSB concentration was 22.4 ± 2.4 mg/dL. Per cent decreases in TSB after 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of phototherapy were 9.4%, 16%, 23%, 40%, 44% and 50%, respectively. No infant was treated with exchange transfusion. Brainstem evoked response audiometry (BAER) was performed in 100% of the patients, and in three of them, this examination was altered. However, when repeated 3 months later, these BAER examinations were normal. Neurological examination was normal in all patients.

Conclusions:  High‐intensity phototherapy significantly reduces TSB in nonhaemolytic severe hyperbilirubinaemia and decreases the need for exchange transfusion.
Effective efficiency in water resources management using efficiency elasticity index
Authors: Haie Naim , Machado Gaspar J. B. Q. A. , Pereira Rui M. , Keller Andrew A.
Published: January 2011

Effective efficiency (EE) is a water use performance indicator of a system, integrating net evapotranspiration, volumes of water in and out of the system (including reused water) and their qualities. In order to analyse the nature of management and its options in promoting efficiencies, an efficiency elasticity index (EEI) is developed using EE. The maximum value of EEI for a given net evapotranspiration sets a threshold value for EE under which the management of the system should be improved. This makes it possible to evaluate how good the management of a system is and allows the decision makers to analyse efficiency targets using a graphical approach (assuming that interventions have the same costs). Hypothetical examples and real irrigation cases from United States and Egypt show the practical utility of EE and the methodology developed through the use of EEI. It is also shown that classical efficiency should be used with caution.
Integrated Genomic Profiling Identifies Loss of Chromosome 11p Impacting Transcriptomic Activity in Aggressive Pituitary PRL Tumors
Authors: Wierinckx Anne , Roche Magali , Raverot Gérald , Legras‐Lachuer Catherine , Croze Séverine , Nazaret Nicolas , Rey Catherine , Auger Carole , Jouanneau Emmanuel , Chanson Philippe , Trouillas Jacqueline , Lachuer Joël
Published: January 2011

Integrative genomics approaches associating DNA structure and transcriptomic analysis should allow the identification of cascades of events relating to tumor aggressiveness. While different genome alterations have been identified in pituitary tumors, none have ever been correlated with the aggressiveness. This study focused on one subtype of pituitary tumor, the prolactin (PRL) pituitary tumors, to identify molecular events associated with the aggressive and malignant phenotypes. We combined a comparative genomic hybridization and transcriptomic analysis of 13 PRL tumors classified as nonaggressive or aggressive. Allelic loss within the p arm region of chromosome 11 was detected in five of the aggressive tumors. Allelic loss in the 11q arm was observed in three of these five tumors, all three of which were considered as malignant based on the occurrence of metastases. Comparison of genomic and transcriptomic data showed that allelic loss impacted upon the expression of genes located in the imbalanced region. Data filtering allowed us to highlight five deregulated genes (DGKZ, CD44, TSG101, GTF2H1, HTATIP2), within the missing 11p region, potentially responsible for triggering the aggressive and malignant phenotypes of PRL tumors. Our combined genomic and transcriptomic analysis underlines the importance of chromosome allelic loss in determining the aggressiveness and malignancy of tumors.
Vacuum Frying as a Route to Produce Novel Snacks with Desired Quality Attributes According to New Health Trends
Authors: Dueik V. , Bouchon P.
Published: January 2011

Abstract:  Consumers look for products that contribute to their wellness and health, however, even health‐conscious consumers are not willing to sacrifice organoleptic properties, and intense full‐flavor snacks remain an important trend. The objective of this study was to examine most important quality parameters of vacuum (1.92 inHg) and atmospheric‐fried carrot, potato, and apple slices to determine specific advantages of vacuum technology. Slices were fried using equivalent thermal driving forces, maintaining a constant difference between oil temperature and the boiling point of water at the working pressure (ΔT = 60 and 80 °C). This resulted in frying temperatures of 160 and 180 °C, and 98 and 118 °C, for atmospheric and vacuum frying, respectively. Vacuum‐fried carrot and potato chips absorbed about 50% less oil than atmospheric‐fried chips, whereas vacuum‐fried apple chips reduced oil absorption by 25%. Total carotenoids and ascorbic acid (AA) were greatly preserved during vacuum frying. Carrot chips vacuum fried at 98 °C retained about 90% of total carotenoids, whereas potato and apple slices vacuum fried at 98 °C, preserved around 95% of their initial AA content. Interestingly, results showed that the antioxidant capacity of chips may be related to both the presence of natural antioxidants and brown pigments developed at elevated temperatures.

Practical Application:  A way to reduce detrimental effects of deep‐fat frying is through operating‐pressure reduction, the essence behind vacuum deep‐fat frying. In this way, it is possible to remove product moisture at a low temperature in a low‐oxygen environment. The objective of this research was to study the effect of oil temperature reduction when vacuum frying traditional (potatoes) and nontraditional products (carrots and apples) on most important quality attributes (vitamins, color, and oil uptake). Results are promising and show that vacuum frying can be an alternative to produce nutritious and novel snacks with desired quality attributes, since vitamins and color were greatly preserved and oil absorption could be substantially reduced.
Effect of unvaccinated Merino wether lambs on shedding of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in flocks vaccinating for ovine Johne's disease
Authors: Eppleston J , Windsor P , Whittington R
Published: January 2011

Objective  To determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Mptb) shedding by unvaccinated wethers compared with vaccinated ewes.

Methods  Six self‐replacing, ovine Johne's disease (OJD)‐infected Merino flocks that had been vaccinating lambs with GudairTM for at least 5 years, but had not vaccinated their last two drops of wethers were studied. Faecal samples were collected in pools of 50 from 350 vaccinated ewes (1–2 years old) and from 350 unvaccinated wethers of the same age and were cultured to determine the presence of viable Mptb.

Results  The estimated prevalence of shedding sheep among the unvaccinated wethers was 6‐fold greater than among the vaccinated female siblings (0.21% vs 1.27%), with faecal pools collected from unvaccinated wethers being 19‐fold more likely to be positive than those from the vaccinated ewes.

Conclusion  Leaving wethers unvaccinated is likely to considerably increase pasture contamination with Mptb and potentially jeopardise disease control.
Congenital peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in an alpaca
Authors: Foster DM , Chinnadurai SK , Nutt JN , Pandiri A , Linder KE , Alley ML , Smith GW
Published: January 2011

An adult alpaca was presented because of abdominal pain and was diagnosed with an intestinal obstruction. The putative diagnosis at surgery was an intestinal obstruction caused by peritonitis and intra‐abdominal adhesions. The cause of the inflammation was not determined at that time. The alpaca died soon after surgery from post‐surgical complications and a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia that was not diagnosed until necropsy.
Gammaherpesvirus infection in a free‐ranging eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
Authors: Wilcox RS , Vaz P , Ficorilli NP , Whiteley PL , Wilks CR , Devlin JM
Published: January 2011

A gammaherpesvirus was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in ocular, nasal and oropharyngeal swab samples collected from an adult free‐ranging male eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) with clinical signs of severe respiratory disease. This is the first time a gammaherpesvirus has been detected in a free‐ranging macropod in Australia. The nucleotide sequence of a conserved region of the DNA polymerase gene of the detected virus showed a high degree of identity to a gammaherpesvirus recently detected in a zoological collection of eastern grey kangaroos in North America. The detection of this gammaherpesvirus in a free‐ranging, native eastern grey kangaroo provides evidence that this species is a natural host.
Sequential opportunistic infections in two German Shepherd dogs
Authors: Krockenberger MB , Swinney G , Martin P , Rothwell TRL , Malik R
Published: January 2011

Two German Shepherd dogs with sequential opportunistic infections are described. The first was a 2‐year‐old male with cryptococcal rhinitis that spread to involve the optic nerves and brain. It was successfully treated with combination therapy utilising amphotericin B administered for 2 years, but the dog developed a disseminatedAspergillus deflectusinfection 5 years later and was euthanased. The second case was a 4‐year‐old male that presented for a severe, deep‐seated infection of the right antebrachium, with gradual extension to contiguous tissues.Neosartorya fischeri(anamorph;Aspergillus fischerianus) was isolated in pure culture and detected in histological sections. The infection was refractory to itraconazole, but resolved after amputation of the affected limb. Five months later, the dog developed a localised cutaneous lesion on the proximal pelvic limb, from whichPythium insidiosumwas isolated and then visualised in tissue sections, together with a structure thought to be grass seed. This lesion was treated by wide surgical resection, although it was reported that the dog died of disseminated disease some months later. These cases provide further circumstantial evidence that young adult German Shepherd dogs have a predilection to developing invasive infections with fungi and other saprophytic pathogens.
In this issue – January/February 2011
Authors: Jackson AE
Published: January 2011

The life of veterinarian Ernest Arthur Kendall · Sequential opportunistic infections in German Shepherd dogs · Small intestinal ganglioneuromatosis in a dog · Options for preventing flystrike in Merino lambs · Wound healing after mulesing and other options · Vaccination and ovine Johne's disease · Risk factors for subclinical mastitis on dairy farms · Parasites in tawny frogmouths · Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in an alpaca · Gammaherpesvirus infection in a kangaroo
Electron Transfer Interaction of Dihydroxyquinones with Amine Quenchers: Dependence of the Quenching Kinetics on the Aliphatic and Aromatic Nature of the Amine Donors¶
Authors: Kumbhakar M. , Nath S. , Rath M. C. , Mukherjee T. , Pal H.
Published: January 2011

Studies on the electron transfer (ET) interaction of 1, 4‐dihydroxy‐9, 10‐anthraquinone and 6, 11‐dihydroxy‐5, 12‐naphthacenequinone with aliphatic and aromatic amine (AlA and ArA, respectively) donors have been investigated in acetonitrile solutions. Steady‐state (SS) measurements show quenching of the quinone fluorescence by amines, without indicating any change in the shape of the fluorescence spectra. No significant change in the absorption spectra of the quinones is also observed in the presence of the amines. For all the quinonamine pairs, the bimolecular quenching constants (kq) estimated from SS and time‐resolved measurements are found to be similar. Variation in the kq values with the oxidation potentials of the amines indicates the involvement of the ET mechanism for the quenching process. A reasonably good correlation between the kq values and the free energy changes (ΔG0) for the ET reactions following Marcus’ outer‐sphere ET theory also supports this mechanism. It is seen that for both the quinone‐ArA and quinone‐AlA systems, the kq values initially increase and then get saturated at some diffusion‐controlled limiting values (kqDC) as ΔG0 values gradually become more negative. Interestingly, however, it is seen that the kqDC value for the quinone‐AlA systems is substantially lower than that for quinone‐ArA systems. Such a large difference in the kqDC values between quinone‐AlA and quinone‐ArA systems is quite unusual. Present results have been rationalized based on the assumption that an orientational restriction is imposed for the encounter complexes in quinone‐AlA systems to undergo ET reactions, which arises because of the localized (at amino nitrogen) shapes of the highest‐occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) of AlA in comparison to the π‐like HOMO of the ArA.
Fluorescence Polarization Studies of B‐Phycoerythrin Oriented in Polymer Film¶
Authors: Frackowiak Danuta , Ptak Arkadiusz , Gryczynski Zygmunt , Gryczynski Ignacy , Targowski Piotr , Zelent Bogumil
Published: January 2011

Polarized steady‐state fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra as well as time‐resolved fluorescence for B‐phycoerythrin (B‐PE) from red algae,Porphyridium cruentum, embedded in polyvinyl stretched films were measured. The lifetimes of polarized fluorescence were analyzed using exponential components and fractal models. The interactions between various chromophores of the pigment‐protein complexes investigated were discussed. The anisotropy of fluorescence excitation spectra differs from the anisotropy of absorption spectra and depends on the wavelength of observation. This shows that differently oriented chromophores take part in various paths of excitation energy transfer (ET) or change their excitation into heat with various efficiencies (or both). Also, analysis of time‐resolved fluorescence measured in various spectral regions gives different polarized components of emission. Fractal analysis of lifetimes, done under supposition of the Foerster resonance ET mechanism, suggests different arrangements of energy donors and acceptors for molecules absorbing in different spectral regions. It shows that several fractions of differently oriented “forms” of chromophores exhibiting different spectral properties occur in B‐PE complexes. Small changes in the orientation of the chromophores can be followed by modification of the path of excitation energy migration. Based on the results obtained a new reorientational mechanism of the State 1 → State 2 transition was proposed: Even small conformational modifications of biliproteins, which could be causedin vivoby the change in the conditions of preillumination of bacteria, are able to modify the path of excitation ET. Such a reorientation may be responsible for the change in the partition of biliprotein excitation energy between photosystem II (PSII) and PSI (State 1 → State 2 transition). The proposed mechanism needs further verification by the investigation of whole bacteria cells.
Assessment of Cellular Response to Thermal Laser Injury Through Bioluminescence Imaging of Heat Shock Protein 70¶†
Authors: Beckham Joshua T. , Mackanos Mark A. , Crooke Cornelia , Takahashl Takamune , O'Connell‐Rodwell Caitlin , Contag Christopher H. , Jansen E. Duco
Published: January 2011

Assessment of laser‐induced tissue damage is not complete without an investigation into the resulting cellular and molecular changes. In the past, tissue damage was quantified macroscopically by visual effects such as tissue mass removal, carbonization and melting. Microscopically, assessment of tissue damage has been typically limited to histological analysis of excised tissue samples. In this research, we used heat shock protein (hsp70) transcription to track cellular response to laser‐induced injury. A stable cell line (NIH‐3T3) was generated containing the firefly luciferase (luc) reporter gene attached to the hsp promoter (murine hsp70a1). After thermal injury with a pulsed holmium‐yttrium aluminum garnet laser (λ = 2.1 μm, τp = 250 μs, 30 pulses, 3 Hz), luciferase is produced on hsp70 activation and emits broadspectrum bioluminescence over a range of 500–700 nm, with a peak at 563 nm. The onset of bioluminescence can be seen as early as 2 h after treatment and usually peaks at 8–12 h depending on the severity of heat shock. The luminescence was quantified in live cells using bioluminescence imaging. A minimum pulse energy (65 mJ/pulse [total energy 1.95 J; total radiant exposure = 6 J/cm2]) was needed to activate the hsp70 response, and a higher energy (103 mJ/pulse [total energy 3.09 J; total radiant exposure = 9.6 J/cm2]) was associated with a reduction in hsp70 response and cell death. Bioluminescence levels correlated well with actual hsp70 protein concentrations as determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Photon counts were normalized to the percentage of live cells by means of a flow cytometry cell viability assay. Within a relatively small range between a lower activation threshold and an upper threshold that leads to cell death, the hsp70 response followed an Arrhenius relationship when constant‐temperature water bath and laser experiments were carried out.
Squaraine Dyes for Photodynamic Therapy: Mechanism of Cytotoxicity and DNA Damage Induced by Halogenated Squaraine Dyes Plus Light (>600 nm)¶
Authors: Ramaiah Danaboyina , Eckert Inge , Arun Kalliat T. , Weidenfeller Lydia , Epe Bernd
Published: January 2011

Halogenated squaraine dyes 1 and 2 possess favorable photophysical and in vitro photobiological properties that make these new class of molecules interesting for photodynamic therapeutic applications. For a better understanding of the mechanism of their photobiological activity, we have analyzed the DNA damage and the cytotoxicity induced by these photosensitizers in mammalian cells and cell‐free systems in the presence and absence of various additives and scavengers. Both photoactivated squaraines were found to be similar efficient in inducing single‐strand breaks (SSB) in cell‐free DNA when compared with the cellular DNA. Superoxide dismutase and catalase did not show any influence. However, the presence of tert‐butanol and glutathione inhibited the formation of the DNA SSB, indicating an indirect (possibly squaraine radical mediated) mechanism under cell‐free conditions. Replacing H2O in the buffer by D2O resulted in a five‐ to six‐fold increase in the number of the SSB in cell‐free DNA and a significant enhancement of the photocytotoxicity in mouse lymphoma cells. The results demonstrate that singlet oxygen is the major reactive species under cell‐free and cellular conditions and confirm that squaraine‐based sensitizers 1 and 2 can have potential applications in photodynamic therapy.