Self-perceived mental well-being amongst Malaysian dentists.

Purpose: To assess Malaysian dentists' perceptions of their mental well-being.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on a conceptual framework of mental health and well-being model. Two aspects were assessed, namely the physiological (two domains) and the psychological (six domains).

Endothelial, sympathetic, and cardiac function in inherited (6R)-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin deficiency.

Background: (6R)-5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-l-biopterin (BH4) is a cofactor for enzymes involved in catecholamine and nitric oxide generation whose synthesis is initiated by GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH-1), encoded by GCH1. In the absence of a potent, specific GTPCH-1 inhibitor, natural BH4 deficiency caused by mutations in GCH1 in the rare movement disorder, DOPA-responsive dystonia (OMIM DYT5), offers the opportunity to study the role of endogenous BH4 in humans.

Methods And Results: In 16 DOPA-responsive dystonia patients with mutations predicted to affect GTPCH-1 expression or function and in age- and sex-matched control subjects, we measured plasma biopterin and nitrogen oxides by high-performance liquid chromatography and the Griess reaction, respectively, endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), sympathetic function by measurement of plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, and heart rate and blood pressure in response.