Exposure to lead-free frangible firing emissions containing copper and ultrafine particulates leads to increased oxidative stress in firing range instructors.

Background: Since the introduction of copper based, lead-free frangible (LFF) ammunition to Air Force small arms firing ranges, instructors have reported symptoms including chest tightness, respiratory irritation, and metallic taste. These symptoms have been reported despite measurements determining that instructor exposure does not exceed established occupational exposure limits (OELs). The disconnect between reported symptoms and exposure limits may be due to a limited understanding of LFF firing byproducts and subsequent health effects.

Comprehensive characterization of firing byproducts generated from small arms firing of lead-free frangible ammunition.

Following the introduction of lead-free frangible ammunition in United States Air Force small arms firing ranges, Combat Arms instructors have routinely reported experiencing adverse health symptoms during live fire training exercises, including sore throat, cough, and headache. Previous studies have found that these symptoms occur despite occupational exposure limits not being exceeded. To better characterize the potential source and mechanisms for health symptoms, a comprehensive characterization of the physicochemical properties of gases and aerosols emitted during the firing of the M9 pistol and M4 rifle using lead-free frangible ammunition was completed.

Neuronal subtype-specific growth cone and soma purification from mammalian CNS via fractionation and fluorescent sorting for subcellular analyses and spatial mapping of local transcriptomes and proteomes.

During neuronal development, growth cones (GCs) of projection neurons navigate complex extracellular environments to reach distant targets, thereby generating extraordinarily complex circuitry. These dynamic structures located at the tips of axonal projections respond to substrate-bound as well as diffusible guidance cues in a neuronal subtype- and stage-specific manner to construct highly specific and functional circuitry. In vitro studies of the past decade indicate that subcellular localization of specific molecular machinery in GCs underlies the precise navigational control that occurs during circuit 'wiring'.

Subcellular transcriptomes and proteomes of developing axon projections in the cerebral cortex.

The development of neural circuits relies on axon projections establishing diverse, yet well-defined, connections between areas of the nervous system. Each projection is formed by growth cones-subcellular specializations at the tips of growing axons, encompassing sets of molecules that control projection-specific growth, guidance, and target selection. To investigate the set of molecules within native growth cones that form specific connections, here we developed growth cone sorting and subcellular RNA-proteome mapping, an approach that identifies and quantifies local transcriptomes and proteomes from labelled growth cones of single projections in vivo.

An Empirical Examination of Symptom Substitution Associated With Behavior Therapy for Tourette's Disorder.

Over the past six decades, behavior therapy has been a major contributor to the development of evidence-based psychotherapy treatments. However, a long-standing concern with behavior therapy among many nonbehavioral clinicians has been the potential risk for symptom substitution. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate symptom substitution in response to behavioral treatments, largely due to measurement and definitional challenges associated with treated psychiatric symptoms.

Evidence Supports No Relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Premolar Extraction: An Electronic Health Records Review.

Objective: A controversy exists concerning the relationship, if any, between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the anatomical position of the anterior teeth. Specifically, there has been speculation that extraction orthodontics and retraction of the anterior teeth contributes to OSA by crowding the tongue and decreasing airway space. This retrospective study utilized electronic medical and dental health records to examine the association between missing premolars and OSA.

Realizing chemical codoping in TiO2.

We demonstrate experimentally a chemical codoping approach that would simultaneously narrow the band gap and control the band edge positions of TiO2 semiconductors. It is shown that a sequential doping scheme with nitrogen (N) leading the way, followed by phosphorus (P), is crucial for the incorporation of both N and P into the anion sites. Various characterization techniques confirm the formation of the N-P bonds, and as a consequence of chemical codoping, the band gap of TiO2 is reduced from 3.

Spatiotemporal mapping of vascularization and innervation in the fetal murine intestine.

Background: In mice, the intestinal tube develops from the splanchopleure before embryonic day 9.5. Subsequent patterning of nerves and blood vessels is critical for normal digestive function.

Intermediate metallic phase in VO₂ observed with scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

This investigation focuses on the formation of nanoscale puddles of an intermediate metallic phase (IMP) in the metal-insulator transition (MIT) temperature regime of single-crystalline vanadium dioxide (VO2) nanowires. The electronic structure of VO2 nanowires was examined with scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The evolution of the local density of states of individual nanowires throughout the MIT regime is presented with differential tunneling conductance spectra and images measured as the temperature was increased.

Impulsivity in children and adolescents with mood disorders and unaffected offspring of bipolar parents.

Objective: Increased impulsivity seems to be present across all phases of bipolar disorder (BD). Impulsivity may therefore represent an endophenotype for BD, if it is also found among normal individuals at high genetic risk for mood disorders. In this study, we assessed impulsivity across four different groups of children and adolescents: patients with BD, major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, unaffected offspring of bipolar parents (UO), and healthy controls (HC).

A longitudinal study of fronto-limbic brain structures in patients with bipolar I disorder during lithium treatment.

In order to assess the association between therapeutic response to lithium treatment and fronto-limbic brain structures' volumes in bipolar I patients (BPI) 24 BPI and 11 healthy comparisons underwent MRI scans at baseline and 4 weeks later. The BPIs received lithium during the 4 week period with a goal of achieving therapeutic blood levels of >0.5 mEq/L (mean level 0.

Effectiveness of a sealant compared with no sealant in preventing enamel demineralization in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances: a prospective clinical trial.

Introduction: In this study, we tested the efficacy of a tooth sealant polish (Biscover LV; Bisco, Schaumberg, Ill) to prevent enamel demineralization (white spot lesions) for the full duration of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. The trial design was an alternating-tooth split-mouth design.

Methods: Patients starting treatment with bonded appliances in a private practice were enrolled.

Coronary veins determine the pattern of sympathetic innervation in the developing heart.

Anatomical congruence of peripheral nerves and blood vessels is well recognized in a variety of tissues. Their physical proximity and similar branching patterns suggest that the development of these networks might be a coordinated process. Here we show that large diameter coronary veins serve as an intermediate template for distal sympathetic axon extension in the subepicardial layer of the dorsal ventricular wall of the developing mouse heart.

Temperament and character traits in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder: a case-control study.

Objectives: To evaluate temperament and character traits using the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI) in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) in comparison with healthy control subjects (HC), and to verify if comorbidity with disruptive behavioral disorders and being currently depressed influence JTCI scores.

Methods: A case-control study comprising 41 MDD children/adolescents matched to 40 HC by gender and age (8-17years). All participants were assessed diagnostically with the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia - Present and Lifetime (K-SADS-PL).

Trait impulsivity is increased in bipolar disorder patients with comorbid alcohol use disorders.

Background: Up to 60% of bipolar disorder (BD) patients develop alcohol use disorders (AUD) at some point in their lives. The causes of this highly prevalent comorbidity are unknown. High trait impulsivity characterizes both isolated BD and AUD and may be a link to explain the association between BD and AUD.

Does anxiety increase impulsivity in patients with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder?

The objective of this study was to examine whether anxiety increases impulsivity among patients with bipolar disorder (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Subjects comprised 205 BPD (mean age ± SD 36.6 ± 11.

Does the repressor coping style predict lower posttraumatic stress symptoms?

We tested whether a continuous measure of repressor coping style predicted lower posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in 122 health care professionals serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Zero-order correlational analyses indicated that predeployment repressor coping scores negatively predicted postdeployment PTSD symptoms, r(s) = -0.29, p = 0.

Association between prior alcohol use disorders and decreased prefrontal gray matter volumes in bipolar I disorder patients.

Up to 50% of bipolar disorder (BD) patients present a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol use disorders (AUD). BD patients with comorbid AUD, even when in remission from the AUD, have a poorer outcome and functional impairment than patients with BD alone. The neurobiological abnormalities that potentially characterize this severe subgroup of BD patients are unknown.

Lifetime psychopathology among the offspring of Bipolar I parents.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated high rates of psychopathology in the offspring of parents with bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to identify psychiatric diagnoses in a sample of children of bipolar parents.

Method: This case series comprised 35 children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years, with a mean age of 12.

Teaching evidence-based practice at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio dental school.

The overarching goal of the Evidence-Based Practice Program at San Antonio is to provide our graduates with life-long learning skills that will enable them to keep up-to-date and equip them with the best possible patient care skills during their 30-40 years of practice. Students are taught to (1) ask focused clinical questions, (2) search the biomedical research literature (PubMed) for the most recent and highest level of evidence, (3) critically evaluate the evidence, and (4) make clinical judgments about the applicability of the evidence for their patients. Students must demonstrate competency with these "just-in-time" learning skills through writing concise one-page Critically Appraised Topics (CATs) on focused clinical questions.