Down syndrome: orofacial pain, masticatory muscle hypotonia, and sleep disorders.

The aim of the present study was to investigate orofacial pain in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and determine possible associations with masticatory muscle hypotonia (MMH), maximum mouth opening (MMO), and sleep disorders. Twenty-three individuals with DS underwent a standardized clinical examination using Axis I of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, for the diagnosis of pain in the masseter and temporal muscles and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). MMH was investigated using electromyography of the temporal and masseter muscles and the measurement of maximum bite force (MBF).

Against the mainstream: exceptional evolutionary stability of ZW sex chromosomes across the fish families Triportheidae and Gasteropelecidae (Teleostei: Characiformes).

Teleost fishes exhibit a breath-taking diversity of sex determination and differentiation mechanisms. They encompass at least nine sex chromosome systems with often low degree of differentiation, high rate of inter- and intra-specific variability, and frequent turnovers. Nevertheless, several mainly female heterogametic systems at an advanced stage of genetic differentiation and high evolutionary stability have been also found across teleosts, especially among Neotropical characiforms.

Visceral Obesity and High Systolic Blood Pressure as the Substrate of Endothelial Dysfunction in Obese Adolescents.

Background: Obesity affects adolescence and may lead to metabolic syndrome (MetS) and endothelial dysfunction, an early marker of cardiovascular risk. Albeit obesity is strongly associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it is not clear the role of OSA in endothelial function in adolescents with obesity.

Objective: To investigate whether obesity during adolescence leads to MetS and/or OSA; and causes endothelial dysfunction.

High Genetic Diversity despite Conserved Karyotype Organization in the Giant Trahiras from Genus (Characiformes, Erythrinidae).

In the fish genus , two major general groups can be found, one of which is formed by the "common trahiras" ( group) and the other by the "giant trahiras" ( group, in addition to ), which usually comprises specimens of larger body size. Previous investigations from the giant trahiras group recovered 2n = 50 meta/submetacentric chromosomes and no sex chromosome differentiation, indicating a probable conservative pattern for their karyotype organization. Here, we conducted comparative cytogenetic studies in six giant trahiras species, two of them for the first time.

Multiple Sex Chromosomes and Evolutionary Relationships in Amazonian Catfishes: The Outstanding Model of the Genus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae).

The armored catfishes present great species diversity and remarkable cytogenetic variation, including different sex chromosome systems. Here we analyzed three new species, , and , using both conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques (Giemsa-staining and C-banding), including the mapping of repetitive DNAs using fluorescence hybridization (FISH) and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) experiments. Both and have 2n = ♀56/♂55 chromosomes, and an XXXX /XXY sex chromosome system, while a proto or neo-XY system is proposed for (2n = 54♀♂).

Comparative cytogenetic of six species of Amazonian Peacock bass (, Cichlinae): intrachromosomal variations and genetic introgression among sympatric species.

Cytogenetic data for the genus Bloch et Schneider, 1801 are still very limited, with only four karyotype descriptions to date. The sum of the available cytogenetic information for species, points to a maintenance of the diploid number of 48 acrocentric chromosomes, considered a typical ancestral feature in cichlids. In the current study, we performed molecular and classical cytogenetic analyses of the karyotype organization of six species of , the earliest-diverging genus of Neotropical cichlids.

Evaluation of the masticatory biomechanical function in Down syndrome and its Influence on sleep disorders, body adiposity and salivary parameters.

Objective: To evaluate the phenotypic features of the masticatory biomechanics in atypical subjects with Down syndrome (DS). Its influence was analysed on sleep disorders, body adiposity and its risks, and some physicochemical properties of saliva.

Methods: Seventy subjects were enrolled to assess masticatory biomechanical function and divided into two groups: DS and control groups.

Centric Fusions behind the Karyotype Evolution of Neotropical Pencilfishes (Characiforme, Lebiasinidae): First Insights from a Molecular Cytogenetic Perspective.

Lebiasinidae is a Neotropical freshwater family widely distributed throughout South and Central America. Due to their often very small body size, Lebiasinidae species are cytogenetically challenging and hence largely underexplored. However, the available but limited karyotype data already suggested a high interspecific variability in the diploid chromosome number (2), which is pronounced in the speciose genus , a popular taxon in ornamental fish trade due to its remarkable body coloration.

Cytogenetics of the small-sized fish, Copeina guttata (Characiformes, Lebiasinidae): Novel insights into the karyotype differentiation of the family.

Lebiasinidae is a small fish family composed by miniature to small-sized fishes with few cytogenetic data (most of them limited to descriptions of diploid chromosome numbers), thus preventing any evolutionary comparative studies at the chromosomal level. In the present study, we are providing, the first cytogenetic data for the red spotted tetra, Copeina guttata, including the standard karyotype, C-banding, repetitive DNA mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), providing chromosomal patterns and novel insights into the karyotype differentiation of the family. Males and females share diploid chromosome number 2n = 42 and karyotype composed of 2 metacentric (m), 4 submetacentric (sm) and 36 subtelocentric to acrocentric (st-a) chromosomes.

Interspecific Genetic Differences and Historical Demography in South American Arowanas (Osteoglossiformes, Osteoglossidae, ).

The South American arowanas (Osteoglossiformes, Osteoglossidae, ) are emblematic species widely distributed in the Amazon and surrounding basins. Arowana species are under strong anthropogenic pressure as they are extensively exploited for ornamental and food purposes. Until now, limited genetic and cytogenetic information has been available, with only a few studies reporting to their genetic diversity and population structure.

Deciphering the Evolutionary History of Arowana Fishes (Teleostei, Osteoglossiformes, Osteoglossidae): Insight from Comparative Cytogenomics.

Arowanas (Osteoglossinae) are charismatic freshwater fishes with six species and two genera ( and ) distributed in South America, Asia, and Australia. In an attempt to provide a better assessment of the processes shaping their evolution, we employed a set of cytogenetic and genomic approaches, including i) molecular cytogenetic analyses using C- and CMA/DAPI staining, repetitive DNA mapping, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and Zoo-FISH, along with ii) the genotypic analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated by diversity array technology sequencing (DArTseq). We observed diploid chromosome numbers of 2 = 56 and 54 in and , respectively, and 2 = 50 in while and presented 2 = 48 and 44, respectively.

Comparative Cytogenetics and Neo-Y Formation in Small-Sized Fish Species of the Genus Pyrrhulina (Characiformes, Lebiasinidae).

Although fishes have traditionally been the subject of comparative evolutionary studies, few reports have concentrated on the application of multipronged modern molecular cytogenetic techniques (such as comparative genomic hybridization = CGH and whole chromosome painting = WCP) to analyze deeper the karyotype evolution of specific groups, especially the historically neglected small-sized ones. Representatives of the family Lebiasinidae (Characiformes) are a notable example, where only a few cytogenetic investigations have been conducted thus far. Here, we aim to elucidate the evolutionary processes behind the karyotype differentiation of species on a finer-scale cytogenetic level.

Deciphering the Origin and Evolution of the XXY System in Two Closely-Related Species (Oplegnathidae and Centrarchiformes).

and . (Teleostei: Centrarchiformes: Oplegnathidae), are commercially important rocky reef fishes, endemic to East Asia. Both species present an XXY sex chromosome system.

Cytogenetics and DNA barcode reveal an undescribed Apareiodon species (Characiformes: Parodontidae).

Parodontidae is a small group of fish and some species are particularly difficult to identify due to the lack of sufficiently consistent morphological traits. Cytogenetically, the species possess 2n = 54 chromosomes and are either sex-homomorphic or sex-heteromorphic (regarding its chromosomes). We evaluated data on color, tooth morphology, cytogenetics, and mitochondrial markers (COI) in Apareiodon specimens from the Aripuanã River (Amazon basin) and the results were compared to other congeneric taxa.

Chromosomal Evolution and Evolutionary Relationships of Species (Characiformes, Lebiasinidae).

We present the first cytogenetic data for and with the aim of (1) investigating evolutionary events within and their relationships with other Lebiasinidae genera and (2) checking the evolutionary relationships between Lebiasinidae and Ctenoluciidae. Both species have a diploid number 2n = 36 with similar karyotypes and microsatellite distribution patterns but present contrasting C-positive heterochromatin and CMA banding patterns. The remarkable interstitial series of C-positive heterochromatin occurring in is absent in .

Evaluation of the masticatory muscle function, physiological sleep variables, and salivary parameters after electromechanical therapeutic approaches in adult patients with Down syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: There are many comorbidities associated with Down syndrome (DS), including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and masticatory muscle alteration. Muscular hypotonia, in particular, of the masticatory and oropharyngeal muscles is one of the main characteristics of individuals with DS, resulting in impairments of speech, swallowing, and mastication in these individuals. In addition, total or partial obstruction of the airways during sleep can occur due to pharyngeal hypotonia, leading to snoring and to OSA.

Cytogenetics, genomics and biodiversity of the South American and African Arapaimidae fish family (Teleostei, Osteoglossiformes).

Osteoglossiformes represents one of the most ancestral teleost lineages, currently widespread over almost all continents, except for Antarctica. However, data involving advanced molecular cytogenetics or comparative genomics are yet largely limited for this fish group. Therefore, the present investigations focus on the osteoglossiform family Arapaimidae, studying a unique fish model group with advanced molecular cytogenetic genomic tools.

Karyotype diversity and evolutionary trends in the Asian swamp eel Monopterus albus (Synbranchiformes, Synbranchidae): a case of chromosomal speciation?

Background: Synbranchidae or swamp eels are fishes belonging to the order Synbranchiformes that occur in both freshwater and occasionally in brackish. They are worldwide distributed in tropical and subtropical rivers of four different continents. A large degree of chromosomal variation has been found in this family, mainly through the use of conventional cytogenetic investigations.

Emerging patterns of genome organization in Notopteridae species (Teleostei, Osteoglossiformes) as revealed by Zoo-FISH and Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH).

Notopteridae (Teleostei, Osteoglossiformes) represents an old fish lineage with ten currently recognized species distributed in African and Southeastern Asian rivers. Their karyotype structures and diploid numbers remained conserved over long evolutionary periods, since African and Asian lineages diverged approximately 120 Mya. However, a significant genetic diversity was already identified for these species using molecular data.

Effect of a home-based exercise program on functional mobility and quality of life in elderly people: protocol of a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Elderly people have high rates of functional decline, which compromises independence, self-confidence, and quality of life (QoL). Physical exercise leads to significant improvements in strength, balance, functional mobility, and QoL, but there is still reduced access to this therapeutic strategy due to difficulties in locomotion to training centers or lack of adaptation to the exercise environment.

Methods/design: The purpose of this clinical trial will be to verify the effect of a progressive and semi-supervised, home-based exercise program on the functional mobility, and in the QoL of sedentary elderly people.

Chromosomes of Asian cyprinid fishes: cytogenetic analysis of two representatives of small paleotetraploid tribe Probarbini.

Background: Polyploidy, although still poorly explored, represents an important evolutionary event in several cyprinid clades. Herein, and - representatives of the paleotetraploid tribe Probarbini, were characterized both by conventional and molecular cytogenetic methods.

Results: Alike most other paleotetraploid cyprinids (with 2n = 100), both species studied here shared 2n = 98 but differed in karyotypes: displayed 18m + 34sm + 46st/a; NF = 150, while exhibited 26m + 14sm + 58st/a; NF = 138.

Sex Chromosome Evolution and Genomic Divergence in the Fish (Characiformes, Erythrinidae).

The Erythrinidae family (Teleostei: Characiformes) is a small Neotropical fish group with a wide distribution throughout South America, where corresponds to the most widespread and cytogenetically studied taxon. This species possesses significant genetic variation, as well as huge karyotype diversity among populations, as reflected by its seven major karyotype forms (i.e.

First Chromosomal Analysis in Hepsetidae (Actinopterygii, Characiformes): Insights into Relationship between African and Neotropical Fish Groups.

Hepsetidae is a small fish family with only the genus , with six described species distributed throughout the South, Central and Western regions of Africa, showing a close relationship with the Alestidae and some Neotropical fish families. However, no cytogenetic information is available for both Hepsetidae and Alestidae species, thus preventing any evolutionary comparative studies at the chromosomal level. In the present study, we are providing new cytogenetic data for , including the standard karyotype, C-banding, repetitive DNAs mapping, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and whole chromosome painting (WCP), providing chromosomal patterns and subsidies for comparative cytogenetics with other characiform families.

Tracking the evolutionary pathway of sex chromosomes among fishes: characterizing the unique XX/XYY system in Hoplias malabaricus (Teleostei, Characiformes).

The Neotropical fish, Hoplias malabaricus, is one of the most cytogenetically studied fish taxon with seven distinct karyomorphs (A-G) comprising varying degrees of sex chromosome differentiation, ranging from homomorphic to highly differentiated simple and multiple sex chromosomes. Therefore, this fish offers a unique opportunity to track evolutionary mechanisms standing behind the sex chromosome evolution and differentiation. Here, we focused on a high-resolution cytogenetic characterization of the unique XX/XYY multiple sex chromosome system found in one of its karyomorphs (G).