Assessment of Condylar Changes in Patients with Degenerative Joint Disease of the TMJ After Stabilizing Splint Therapy: A Retrospective CBCT Study.

Background/objectives: Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the TMJ can impact patients' quality of life and complicate orthodontic treatment. Stabilizing splints are a common conservative treatment in managing TMDs symptoms, although their long-term effects on condylar morphology are poorly studied. This study aimed to assess the impact of stabilizing splints on condyle morphology using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with various stages of DJD.

Arginine shortage induces replication stress and confers genotoxic resistance by inhibiting histone H4 translation and promoting PCNA ubiquitination.

The arginine dependency of cancer cells creates metabolic vulnerability. In this study, we examine the impact of arginine availability on DNA replication and genotoxicity resistance. Using DNA combing assays, we find that limiting extracellular arginine results in the arrest of cancer cells at S phase and a slowing or stalling of DNA replication.

Arginine shortage induces replication stress and confers genotoxic resistance by inhibiting histone H4 translation and promoting PCNA polyubiquitination.

The unique arginine dependencies of cancer cell proliferation and survival creates metabolic vulnerability. Here, we investigate the impact of extracellular arginine availability on DNA replication and genotoxic resistance. Using DNA combing assays, we find that when extracellular arginine is limited, cancer cells are arrested at S-phase and DNA replication forks slow or stall instantly until arginine is re-supplied.

Locations of Physical Activity: Where Are Children, Adolescents, and Adults Physically Active? A Systematic Review.

The aim of this systematic review was to examine where physical activity (PA) takes place and how much time children, adolescents and adults spend being physically active within the identified locations. A systematic literature search was carried out in five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PsycInfo, Scopus). For inclusion, primary studies had to identify locations of PA using device-based or self-report tools, whereas minutes of PA had to be examined using device-based tools only.

Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account.

Background: Individual health behavior is related to environmental and social structures. To promote physical activity (PA) effectively, it is necessary to consider structural influences. Previous research has shown the relevance of the built environment.

High inter-observer reliability in standardized ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue in children aged three to six years.

Background: A procedure to measure subcutaneous adipose (SAT) using brightness-mode ultrasound has recently been standardized and applied to various groups of adults including underweight, overweight and obese adults. High reliability of this procedure was found in each of the examined groups. The purpose of this study was to determine inter-observer reliability of the standardized brightness-mode ultrasound measurement of uncompressed SAT in three to six-year-old children.

Distinct roles of RAD52 and POLQ in chromosomal break repair and replication stress response.

Disrupting either the DNA annealing factor RAD52 or the A-family DNA polymerase POLQ can cause synthetic lethality with defects in BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are tumor suppressors important for homology-directed repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), and protection of stalled replication forks. A likely mechanism of this synthetic lethality is that RAD52 and/or POLQ are important for backup pathways for DSB repair and/or replication stress responses. The features of DSB repair events that require RAD52 vs.

In Vitro Assays for DNA Branch Migration.

Homologous recombination is a high-fidelity DNA double-strand break repair pathway that uses a homologous template to repair the break. Recombinases are the central enzymes that facilitate the strand invasion step of homologous recombination, which forms a DNA joint molecule. These DNA joint molecules can be moved through branch migration activity.

Predicting seizures in pregnant women with epilepsy: Development and external validation of a prognostic model.

Background: Seizures are the main cause of maternal death in women with epilepsy, but there are no tools for predicting seizures in pregnancy. We set out to develop and validate a prognostic model, using information collected during the antenatal booking visit, to predict seizure risk at any time in pregnancy and until 6 weeks postpartum in women with epilepsy on antiepileptic drugs.

Methods And Findings: We used datasets of a prospective cohort study (EMPiRE) of 527 pregnant women with epilepsy on medication recruited from 50 hospitals in the UK (4 November 2011-17 August 2014).

Effects of school-based interventions on motivation towards physical activity in children and adolescents: protocol for a systematic review.

Background: Recent studies have observed low levels of physical activity in children and adolescents worldwide. Physical activity interventions are increasingly carried out to counteract this development. The school environment is an ideal setting for such interventions to take place as large numbers of children and adolescents can be addressed.

Limited Phenotypic and Functional Plasticity of Influenza Virus-Specific Memory CD8 T Cells during Activation in an Alternative Cytokine Environment.

Naive CD8 T cells show phenotypic, functional, and epigenetic plasticity, enabling differentiation into distinct cellular states. However, whether memory CD8 T cells demonstrate similar flexibility upon recall is poorly understood. We investigated the potential of influenza A virus (IAV)-specific memory CD8 T cells from mice to alter their phenotype and function in response to reactivation in the presence of IL-4 and anti-IFN-γ Ab (type 2 conditions).

Ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness show sexual dimorphism in children of three to five years of age.

Aim: A standard approach to measure subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) using ultrasound has proved successful in adults, but has not been studied in children. This study addressed that gap in children aged three to five years.

Methods: In autumn 2016, 24 preschools in Southwest Germany, recruited via mail, agreed to take part in this study and 274 children (51.

Exposure of Human CD8 T Cells to Type-2 Cytokines Impairs Division and Differentiation and Induces Limited Polarization.

Effector CD8 T cells generally produce type-1 cytokines and mediators of the perforin/granzyme cytolytic pathway, yet type-2-polarized CD8 cells (Tc2) are detected in type-2 (T2) cytokine-driven diseases such as asthma. It is unclear whether T2 cytokine exposure during activation is sufficient to polarize human CD8 T cells. To address this question, a protocol was developed for high-efficiency activation of human CD8 T cells in which purified single cells or populations were stimulated with plate-bound anti-CD3 and anti-CD11a mAb for up to 8 days in T2 polarizing or neutral conditions, before functional analysis.

AntiEpileptic drug Monitoring in PREgnancy (EMPiRE): a double-blind randomised trial on effectiveness and acceptability of monitoring strategies.

Background: Pregnant women with epilepsy on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may experience a reduction in serum AED levels. This has the potential to worsen seizure control.

Objective: To determine if, in pregnant women with epilepsy on AEDs, additional therapeutic drug monitoring reduces seizure deterioration compared with clinical features monitoring after a reduction in serum AED levels.

No laughing matter: subacute degeneration of the spinal cord due to nitrous oxide inhalation.

Background: Whilst the dangers of 'legal highs' have been widely publicised in the media, very few cases of the neurological syndrome associated with the inhalation of nitrous oxide (NO) have been reported. Here we set out to raise awareness of subacute degeneration of the spinal cord arising from recreational NO use so that formal surveillance programs and public health interventions can be designed.

Methods: Case series documenting the clinical and investigational features of ten consecutive cases of subacute degeneration of the spinal cord presenting to a hospital with a tertiary neurosciences service in East London.

Cardio-metabolic and socio-environmental correlates of waist-to-height ratio in German primary schoolchildren: a cross-sectional exploration.

Background: Controversial messages of childhood obesity emerge: Levelling off in terms of body mass index (BMI) is foiled by increases in abdominal obesity. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) may be used as a screening tool for abdominal obesity in children. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical and socio-environmental correlates of abdominal obesity in primary schoolchildren.

Homologous Recombination in Protozoan Parasites and Recombinase Inhibitors.

Homologous recombination (HR) is a DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway that utilizes a homologous template to fully repair the damaged DNA. HR is critical to maintain genome stability and to ensure genetic diversity during meiosis. A specialized class of enzymes known as recombinases facilitate the exchange of genetic information between sister chromatids or homologous chromosomes with the help of numerous protein accessory factors.

Epilepsy and Pregnancy: For healthy pregnancies and happy outcomes. Suggestions for service improvements from the Multispecialty UK Epilepsy Mortality Group.

Between 2009 and 2012 there were 26 epilepsy-related deaths in the UK of women who were pregnant or in the first post-partum year. The number of pregnancy-related deaths in women with epilepsy (WWE) has been increasing. Expert assessment suggests that most epilepsy-related deaths in pregnancy were preventable and attributable to poor seizure control.

Design, Implementation, and Study Protocol of a Kindergarten-Based Health Promotion Intervention.

Inactivity and an unhealthy diet amongst others have led to an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity even in young children. Since most health behaviours develop during childhood health promotion has to start early. The setting kindergarten has been shown as ideal for such interventions.

Genetic biomarkers of posttraumatic epilepsy: A systematic review.

Introduction: Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is an important contributor to the overall social and economic burden of epilepsy. Epidemiological studies suggest that there is a genetic contribution to the development of PTE. Identification of clinically useful genetic biomarkers is important for advancements in diagnosis and treatment of PTE.

Assessment of subcutaneous adipose tissue using ultrasound in highly trained junior rowers.

Introduction: There is a large variety of body fat (BF) measurements, which differ in validity and reliability. The aim of this study was to measure subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) using ultrasound (US) in highly trained junior rowers in a field setting, establish fat patterning profiles, and compare the profiles between male and female athletes. Skinfold thickness (SKF) measurements were also taken and compared to US measurements.