Update on biomarkers in neuromyelitis optica.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) (and NMO spectrum disorder) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the CNS primarily affecting spinal cord and optic nerves. Reliable and sensitive biomarkers for onset, relapse, and progression in NMO are urgently needed because of the heterogeneous clinical presentation, severity of neurologic disability following relapses, and variability of therapeutic response. Detecting aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies (AQP4-IgG or NMO-IgG) in serum supports the diagnosis of seropositive NMO.

Biologic Foundation Restoration: A Natural Post And Core For Management.

Complicated crown fractures are a common outcome of dental trauma. Various treatment options are available for consideration. The preferred choice of treatment though, is determined by multiple factors associated with the nature of trauma itself.

Stimuli responsive hydrogels derived from a renewable resource: synthesis, self-assembly in water and application in drug delivery.

We designed and synthesised coumarin-tris derivatives from a renewable resource and well characterized them using different spectral techniques. The self-assembly of coumarin-tris amphiphiles into hydrogels was examined relative to the molecular structure of the amphiphiles. The reversible morphological transition from nanofibers to vesicles and nanotubes has been observed, upon pH variation.

Epidemiology of biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis in Queensland adults.

Aim: There is a paucity of data pertaining to the incidence of biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis (GN) in Australia. This retrospective study aims to review the data from all adult native renal biopsies performed in the state of Queensland from 2002 to 2011--comparing results with centres from across the world.

Methods: Pathology reports of 3697 adult native kidney biopsies were reviewed, of which 2048 had GN diagnoses.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography Assisted Endodontic Management of a Rare Case of Mandibular First Premolar with Three Roots.

Understanding the morphological anatomy of the root and root canal systems of the teeth increases the success rate of endodontic therapy. Advanced diagnostic imaging techniques like cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) are an essential aid in understanding the anatomy of teeth especially in mandibular premolars. Most commonly mandibular first and second premolars have a single root and a single canal.

How Does Leaf Anatomy Influence Water Transport outside the Xylem?

Leaves are arguably the most complex and important physicobiological systems in the ecosphere. Yet, water transport outside the leaf xylem remains poorly understood, despite its impacts on stomatal function and photosynthesis. We applied anatomical measurements from 14 diverse species to a novel model of water flow in an areole (the smallest region bounded by minor veins) to predict the impact of anatomical variation across species on outside-xylem hydraulic conductance (Kox).

Cost-utility in medical intensive care patients. Rationalizing ongoing care and timing of discharge from intensive care.

Rationale: Intensive care unit (ICU) treatment costs pose special challenges in developing countries.

Objectives: To determine the prognostic value of the "utility" score and evaluate the relationship of willingness to pay assessment to utility score during ICU admission.

Methods: We performed a prospective study spanning 12 months in a 24-bed medical ICU in India.

Use of Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Brain parenchymal lesions are frequently observed on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum disorder, but the specific morphological and temporal patterns distinguishing them unequivocally from lesions caused by other disorders have not been identified. This literature review summarizes the literature on advanced quantitative imaging measures reported for patients with NMO spectrum disorder, including proton MR spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetization transfer imaging, quantitative MR volumetry, and ultrahigh-field strength MRI. It was undertaken to consider the advanced MRI techniques used for patients with NMO by different specialists in the field.

Delayed Gastric Emptying (DGE) Following Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Auto Transplantation in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis.

Background: The prevalence and factors associated with delayed gastric emptying (DGE) in patients undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet auto transplantation (TP-IAT) for chronic pancreatitis are unknown.

Methods: A retrospective study of all patients who underwent TP-IAT at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) from August 2011 to November 2014 was performed. The International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) clinical grading of DGE was used in this study.

Clinical performance of two-piece zirconia implants in the posterior mandible and maxilla: a prospective cohort study over 2 years.

Objectives: To assess the clinical performance of two-piece zirconium implants over a period of up to 2 years.

Material & Methods: A total of 52 patients with single-tooth gaps in the posterior mandible or maxilla received the same type of a two-piece zirconium implant system with customized heights of the transmucosal aspect. Fibreglass abutments were cemented and restored with fixed all-ceramic single crowns using a conventional loading protocol.

Non-classical azoreductase secretion in Clostridium perfringens in response to sulfonated azo dye exposure.

Clostridium perfringens, a strictly anaerobic microorganism and inhabitant of the human intestine, has been shown to produce an azoreductase enzyme (AzoC), an NADH-dependent flavin oxidoreductase. This enzyme reduces azo dyes into aromatic amines, which can be carcinogenic. A significant amount of work has been completed on the activity of AzoC.

Integrating building information modeling and health and safety for onsite construction.

Background: Health and safety (H&S) on a construction site can either make or break a contractor, if not properly managed. The usage of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for H&S on construction execution has the potential to augment practitioner understanding of their sites, and by so doing reduce the probability of accidents. This research explores BIM usage within the construction industry in relation to H&S communication.

Astrocytic TYMP and VEGFA drive blood-brain barrier opening in inflammatory central nervous system lesions.

In inflammatory central nervous system conditions such as multiple sclerosis, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier is a key event in lesion pathogenesis, predisposing to oedema, excitotoxicity, and ingress of plasma proteins and inflammatory cells. Recently, we showed that reactive astrocytes drive blood-brain barrier opening, via production of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Here, we now identify thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP; previously known as endothelial cell growth factor 1, ECGF1) as a second key astrocyte-derived permeability factor, which interacts with VEGFA to induce blood-brain barrier disruption.

Bio-inspired surfactants capable of generating plant volatiles.

Plants are able to synthesize, store and release lipophilic organic molecules known as plant volatiles (PVs) utilizing specific biological pathways and different enzymes which play vital roles in the plant's defence and in dealing with biotic and abiotic stress situations. The process of generation, storage and release of PVs by plants acquired during the course of evolution is a very complex phenomenon. Bio-inspired molecular design of farnesol-based surfactants facilitates similar production, storage and release of PVs.

Investigation of 2 models to set and evaluate quality targets for hb a1c: biological variation and sigma-metrics.

Background: A major objective of the IFCC Task Force on Implementation of HbA1c Standardization is to develop a model to define quality targets for glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1c).

Methods: Two generic models, biological variation and sigma-metrics, are investigated. We selected variables in the models for Hb A1c and used data of external quality assurance/proficiency testing programs to evaluate the suitability of the models to set and evaluate quality targets within and between laboratories.

Toward Microbioreactor Arrays: A Slow-Responding Oxygen Sensor for Monitoring of Microbial Cultures in Standard 96-Well Plates.

In this study, a slow-responding chemo-optical sensor for dissolved oxygen (DO) integrated into a 96-well plate was developed. The slow response time ensures that the measured oxygen value does not change much during plate transport to the microplate reader. The sensor therefore permits at-line DO measurement of microbial cultures.

Design and baseline characteristics of participants in the TRial of Economic Incentives to Promote Physical Activity (TRIPPA): a randomized controlled trial of a six month pedometer program with financial incentives.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are emerging as the predominant global health challenge of this century. Physical inactivity is one of the primary risk factors for NCDs. Therefore, increasing physical activity levels is a public health imperative.

Nonsurgical treatment of peri-implantitis using an air-abrasive device or mechanical debridement and local application of chlorhexidine. Twelve-month follow-up of a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study.

Objectives: The purpose of this prospective, parallel group-designed, randomized controlled clinical study was the evaluation of the effectiveness of an air-abrasive device (AAD) for nonsurgical treatment of peri-implantitis.

Material And Methods: Twenty five patients, showing at least one implant with initial to moderate peri-implantitis, underwent an oral hygiene programme and were randomly treated using either (1) AAD (amino acid glycine powder) or (2) mechanical debridement using carbon curettes and antiseptic therapy with chlorhexidine digluconate (mechanical debridement (MDA)). Clinical parameters were measured at baseline and 12 months after treatment (e.

Pressure-controlled versus volume-controlled ventilation for acute respiratory failure due to acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) account for one-quarter of cases of acute respiratory failure in intensive care units (ICUs). A third to half of patients will die in the ICU, in hospital or during follow-up. Mechanical ventilation of people with ALI/ARDS allows time for the lungs to heal, but ventilation is invasive and can result in lung injury.

Fundamentals of cone beam computed tomography for a prosthodontist.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT, also referred to as C-arm computed tomography [CT], cone beam volume CT, or flat panel CT) is a medical imaging technique of X-ray CT where the X-rays are divergent, forming a cone.[1] CBCT systems have been designed for imaging hard tissues of the maxillofacial region. CBCT is capable of providing sub-millimeter resolution in images of high diagnostic quality, with short scanning times (10-70 s) and radiation dosages reportedly up to 15-100 times lower than those of conventional CT scans.

Overview of computational vaccinology: vaccine development through information technology.

Pathogenic organisms, causes of various infectious diseases, possess a rich repository of antigenic proteins that engender an immune response in a host. These types of diseases are usually treated with the use of pharmaceuticals; unfortunately, many of these also have a potential to induce fatal side effects, especially allergic responses in the diseased host. In addition, many pathogens evolve (by selective survival) single or multi-drug resistance (MDR).

Current concepts in C3 glomerulopathy.

Complement component 3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a recently defined entity comprising of dense deposit disease and C3 glomerulonephritis. The key histological feature is the presence of isolated C3 deposits without immunoglobulins. Often masqueradng as some of the common glomerulonephritides this is a prototype disorder occurring from dysregulated alternate complement pathway with recently identified genetic defects and autoantibodies.