Evaluating the relationship between acidogenicity and acid tolerance for oral streptococci from children with or without a history of caries.

: Dental caries etiology is attributed to a dysbiotic imbalance within the plaque microbiome leading to a dominance of strong acidogens. Some studies that investigate the link between acidogens and caries quantify the recovery of acid tolerant strains on acid agar as a measure of acidogenic potential. This methodology assumes that acidogenic potential and acid tolerance are directly related.

A Reconfigurable In Vitro Model for Studying the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Much of what is currently known about the role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in regulating the passage of chemicals from the blood stream to the central nervous system (CNS) comes from animal in vivo models (requiring extrapolation to human relevance) and 2D static in vitro systems, which fail to capture the rich cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions of the dynamic 3D in vivo tissue microenvironment. In this work we have developed a BBB platform that allows for a high degree of customization in cellular composition, cellular orientation, and physiologically-relevant fluid dynamics. The system characterized and presented in this study reproduces key characteristics of a BBB model (e.

Gold Aerogel Monoliths with Tunable Ultralow Densities.

Herein we report the fabrication of ultralight gold aerogel monoliths with tunable densities and pore structures. Gold nanowires are prepared at the gram scale by substrate-assisted growth with uniform size, ultrathin diameters, high purity, and a high aspect ratio. Freeze-casting of suspensions of these nanowires produces free-standing, monolithic aerogels with tunable densities from 6 to 23 mg/cm, which to the best of our knowledge represents the lowest density monolithic gold material.

Peripheral monocyte counts predict the clinical outcome for patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Monocytes originating from bone marrow play a key role in the inflammatory response. Divergent findings regarding the prognostic value of inflammatory factors like absolute monocyte count (AMC) in colorectal cancer (CRC) exist in the current literature. Thus, we sought to perform a systemic meta-analysis to comprehensively estimate whether the peripheral AMC affects the clinical outcome of CRC patients.

Expression and localization of the small proteoglycans decorin and biglycan in articular cartilage of Kashin-Beck disease and rats induced by T-2 toxin and selenium deficiency.

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic degenerative osteoarthropathy of uncertain etiology. Our study sought to identify a correlation between small proteoglycans decorin and biglycan expression and Kashin-Beck Disease. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the decorin and biglycan levels in cartilage specimens from both child KBD patients, and rats fed with T-2 toxin under a selenium-deficient condition.

The hypnotic effect of propofol involves inhibition of GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus.

Propofol is widely used for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, which causes a rapid loss of consciousness. So far the mechanisms underlying the effect of propofol are still largely unknown. Here, we found that microinjection of propofol in the lateral hypothalamus caused a significant decrease in wakefulness and an increase in the amount of non-rapid eye movement sleep and rapid eye movement sleep.

Predictors of Dental Students' Anticipated Willingness to Treat Underserved Populations Five Years After Graduation.

The aim of this study was to assess which variables were associated with dental students' anticipated willingness to treat 13 underserved populations as dentists five years after graduation. A questionnaire was distributed from 2008 to 2014 to all 240 first- through fourth-year dental students at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics. Only participants who completed surveys in each of their four years (n=132) were included in data analysis.

Effects of sulfanilamide on boar sperm quality, bacterial composition, and fertility during liquid storage at 17°C.

Sulfanilamide (SA) is an effective broad-spectrum antibacterial agent in human and veterinary medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of SA on boar sperm quality during liquid storage at 17°C and determine the optimal concentration of SA and its effects on bacterial growth, microbial composition, and maternal fertility. Boar ejaculates were diluted with a basic extender, containing different concentrations of SA, and stored in a 17°C incubator for 6 days.

A rapid and sensitive fluorescent probe for detecting hydrogen polysulfides in living cells and zebra fish.

Hydrogen polysulfides (HS, n>1) plays crucial roles in many biological processes, while it remains a challenge for rapid and selective detection of HS. We designed and synthesized a turn-on fluorescent probe (JCCF) for detecting HS based on a new julolidine-coumarinocoumarin scaffold. HS could trigger a dramatic fluorescence enhancement (52-fold) with a fast response time and a low detection limit of 98.

Removal and biotransformation pathway of antibiotic sulfamethoxazole from municipal wastewater treatment by anaerobic membrane bioreactor.

A lab-scale mesophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) was used to treat synthetic municipal wastewater with variable concentrations of antibiotic Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and bulk organics in this study. The removal and biotransformation pathway of SMX in the AnMBR were systematically investigated during a 170 d of operation under hydraulic retention time of 1 d. Average SMX removal was 97.

Management of initial carious lesions: Iowa survey.

Background: The authors explore Iowa dentists' agreement with the International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS) in the nonsurgical management of initial carious lesions in patients at low, moderate, and high caries risk and identify factors related to their agreement.

Methods: Electronic surveys were mailed to 916 actively practicing dentists who are alumni of the College of Dentistry at The University of Iowa. Questions included clinical scenarios that used text, clinical photographs, and radiographic images of initial carious lesions.

Electrochemical Roughening of Thin-Film Platinum Macro and Microelectrodes.

This protocol demonstrates a method for electrochemical roughening of thin-film platinum electrodes without preferential dissolution at grain boundaries of the metal. Using this method, a crack free, thin-film macroelectrode surface with up to 40 times increase in active surface area was obtained. The roughening is easy to do in a standard electrochemical characterization laboratory and incudes the application of voltage pulses followed by extended application of a reductive voltage in a perchloric acid solution.

Enhancement of MicroRNA-200c on Osteogenic Differentiation and Bone Regeneration by Targeting Sox2-Mediated Wnt Signaling and Klf4.

MicroRNA (miR)-200c functions in antitumorigenesis and mediates inflammation and osteogenic differentiation. In this study, we discovered that was upregulated in human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs) during osteogenic differentiation. Inhibition of endogenous resulted in downregulated osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs and reduced bone volume in the maxilla and mandible of a transgenic mouse model.

MicroRNA-200c Attenuates Periodontitis by Modulating Proinflammatory and Osteoclastogenic Mediators.

This study tested whether microRNA can attenuate the inflammation and alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis by using an in vitro and a rat model. Polyethylenimine (PEI) was used to facilitate the transfection of plasmid DNA encoding into primary human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and gingival tissues of rats. We first analyzed how proinflammatory and osteoclastogenic mediators in HGFs with overexpression of responded to lipopolysaccharide (LPS-PG) challenge in vitro.

Doping-Induced Hydrogen-Bond Engineering in Polymeric Carbon Nitride To Significantly Boost the Photocatalytic H Evolution Performance.

Unlike graphene, graphitic carbon nitride (CN) polymer contains a weak hydrogen bond and van der Waals (vdWs) interactions besides a strong covalent bond, which controls its final morphology and functionality. Herein, we propose a novel strategy, hydrogen-bond engineering, to tune hydrogen bonds in polymeric CN through nonmetal codoping. Incorporation of B and P dopants breaks partial hydrogen bonds within the layers and simultaneously weakens the vdWs interaction between neighboring layers, resulting in ultrathin codoped CN nanosheets.

Novel non-synonymous mutations of PAX8 in a cohort of Chinese with congenital hypothyroidism.

Background: The transcription factor paired box 8 (PAX8) was associated with type 2 congenital non-goitrous hypothyroidism (CHNG2), a clinical phenotype of congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Though studied in a few regions with different ethnicities, the incidence of PAX8 mutations varied, even among Chinese cohorts in different regions. This study aimed to identify and characterize PAX8 mutations and explore the prevalence of its mutations in another cohort of CH.

Impact of Alkaline Pretreatment to Enhance Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs) Production from Rice Husk.

This study explores the use of alkaline pretreatments to improve the hydrolyzation of rice husks to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The study investigated the effects of reagent concentration and pretreatment time on protein, carbohydrates, and dissolved chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) dissolution after the pretreatment. The optimum alkaline pretreatment conditions were 0.

Lycium barbarum and Laminaria japonica polysaccharides improve Cashmere goat sperm quality and fertility rate after cryopreservation.

Cashmere goat is known for the highest cashmere yield and best fiber quality. Here, the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) and Laminaria japonica polysaccharide (LJP) on goat sperm quality were investigated. Results showed that the sperm motility, mitochondrial activity, and membrane and acrosome integrity were significantly higher with 4.

Direct Writing of Tunable Living Inks for Bioprocess Intensification.

Critical to the success of three-dimensional (3D) printing of living materials with high performance is the development of new ink materials and 3D geometries that favor long-term cell functionality. Here we report the use of freeze-dried live cells as the solid filler to enable a new living material system for direct ink writing of catalytically active microorganisms with tunable densities and various self-supporting porous 3D geometries. Baker's yeast was used as an exemplary live whole-cell biocatalyst, and the printed structures displayed high resolution, large scale, high catalytic activity and long-term viability.

Diagnostic value of the acute angle between the prestenotic and poststenotic duodenum in neonatal annular pancreas.

Objectives: To analyze the ability of upper gastrointestinal (GI) saline-contrast ultrasound (US) to detect neonatal annular pancreas.

Methods: Sixty-two neonates, who presented duodenal obstruction and were examined by upper GI saline-contrast US before treatment, were retrospectively analyzed and categorized into four groups according to their final diagnosis: group A, annular pancreas (n = 28); group B, duodenal atresia (n = 2); group C, descending duodenal septum (n = 25); and group D, normal (n = 7). The ultrasonic characteristics were analyzed that especially focused on whether the angle between the prestenotic and poststenotic descending duodenum (at or below a derived cutoff) could identify neonatal annular pancreas.

Mechanical properties of whey protein concentrate based film improved by the coexistence of nanocrystalline cellulose and transglutaminase.

Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) has been researched as food packaging materials in recent years. However, WPC films own the drawbacks on the barrier ability to water vapor and mechanical properties. In the presented work, Transglutaminase (TGase) and different concentrations of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) (0-15% wt.

Periodontal treatment needs in the Medicaid patient population: a retrospective study in a US dental school.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to use electronic health records (EHRs) from a US dental school clinic to retrospectively investigate associations between periodontal treatment needs and insurance type in a newly insured adult Medicaid population. We hypothesized that newly insured Medicaid patients, covered by the Iowa Dental Wellness Plan (DWP), would display greater need for treatment than patients with other sources of financing.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of EHRs of patients at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics (UI COD) from 2014 to 2016 was completed.

Aggregated SOD1 causes selective death of cultured human motor neurons.

Most human neurodegenerative diseases share a phenotype of neuronal protein aggregation. In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the abundant protein superoxide dismutase (SOD1) or the TAR-DNA binding protein TDP-43 can aggregate in motor neurons. Recently, numerous studies have highlighted the ability of aggregates to spread from neuron to neuron in a prion-like fashion.

Fetal Lymphangioma: Prenatal diagnosis on ultrasound, treatment, and prognosis.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of fetal lymphangioma, including their location, imaging features, prenatal and differential diagnoses, treatment, and prognosis.

Study Design: Imaging data of 79 patients with fetal lymphangioma treated at our hospital were obtained. Imaging modalities included prenatal and post-natal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), prenatal and post-natal color Doppler ultrasound, and post-natal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).