Multiple Gingival Recession Defects Treated with Coronally Advanced Flap and Either the VISTA Technique Enhanced with GEM 21S or Periosteal Pedicle Graft: A 9-Month Clinical Study.

The objective of this study was to clinically evaluate and compare the efficacy of the vestibular incision subperiosteal tunnel access (VISTA) technique using Bio-Gide (Geistlich) membrane enhanced with GEM 21S (Osteohealth) with periosteal pedicle graft (PPG) using a coronally advanced flap. Multiple gingival recession sites in 15 individuals were randomly assigned either to experimental site A (VISTA) or experimental site B (PPG) in a split-mouth design. The clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and 9 months postoperatively.

Immune/Inflammatory Response and Hypocontractility of Rabbit Colonic Smooth Muscle After TNBS-Induced Colitis.

Background: The contractility of colonic smooth muscle is dysregulated due to immune/inflammatory responses in inflammatory bowel diseases. Inflammation in vitro induces up-regulation of regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) expression in colonic smooth muscle cells.

Aims: To characterize the immune/inflammatory responses and RGS4 expression pattern in colonic smooth muscle after induction of colitis.

Impact of dose rate on accuracy of intensity modulated radiation therapy plan delivery using the pretreatment portal dosimetry quality assurance and setting up the workflow at hospital levels.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of dose rate on accuracy of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan delivery by comparing the gamma agreement between the calculated and measured portal doses by pretreatment quality assurance (QA) using electronic portal imaging device dosimetry and creating a workflow for the pretreatment IMRT QA at hospital levels. As the improvement in gamma agreement leads to increase in the quality of IMRT treatment delivery, gamma evaluation was carried out for the calculated and the measured portal images for the criteria of 3% dose difference and 3 mm distance-to-agreement (DTA). Three gamma parameters: Maximum gamma, average gamma, and percentage of the field area with a gamma value>1.

Activation of Transmembrane Bile Acid Receptor TGR5 Modulates Pancreatic Islet α Cells to Promote Glucose Homeostasis.

The physiological role of the TGR5 receptor in the pancreas is not fully understood. We previously showed that activation of TGR5 in pancreatic β cells by bile acids induces insulin secretion. Glucagon released from pancreatic α cells and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) released from intestinal L cells regulate insulin secretion.

Study of formation of deep trapping mechanism by UV, beta and gamma irradiated Eu(3+) activated SrY2O4 and Y4Al2O9 phosphors.

This paper reports the thermoluminescence properties of Eu(3+) doped different host matrix phosphors (SrY2O4 and Y4Al2O9). The phosphor is prepared by high temperature solid state reaction method. The method is suitable for large scale production and fixed concentration of boric acid using as a flux.

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Virus Differed by Vaccine Type During 2013-2014 in the United States.

Background: The predominant strain during the 2013-2014 influenza season was 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus (A[H1N1]pdm09). This vaccine-component has remained unchanged from 2009.

Methods: The US Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network enrolled subjects aged ≥6 months with medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI), including cough, with illness onset ≤7 days before enrollment.

Seasonal Effectiveness of Live Attenuated and Inactivated Influenza Vaccine.

Background: Few observational studies have evaluated the relative effectiveness of live attenuated (LAIV) and inactivated (IIV) influenza vaccines against medically attended laboratory-confirmed influenza.

Methods: We analyzed US Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network data from participants aged 2 to 17 years during 4 seasons (2010-2011 through 2013-2014) to compare relative effectiveness of LAIV and IIV against influenza-associated illness. Vaccine receipt was confirmed via provider/electronic medical records or immunization registry.

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness for Fully and Partially Vaccinated Children 6 Months to 8 Years Old During 2011-2012 and 2012-2013: The Importance of Two Priming Doses.

Background: Few studies have examined the effectiveness of full versus partial vaccination with inactivated trivalent influenza vaccines (IIV3) as defined by the US CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Methods: Respiratory swabs were collected from outpatients aged 6 months to 8 years with acute cough for ≤7 days in clinics in 5 states during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 influenza seasons. Influenza was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay.

Real-Time Classification of Hand Motions Using Ultrasound Imaging of Forearm Muscles.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) has been the predominant method for sensing electrical activity for a number of applications involving muscle-computer interfaces, including myoelectric control of prostheses and rehabilitation robots. Ultrasound imaging for sensing mechanical deformation of functional muscle compartments can overcome several limitations of sEMG, including the inability to differentiate between deep contiguous muscle compartments, low signal-to-noise ratio, and lack of a robust graded signal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of real-time graded control using a computationally efficient method to differentiate between complex hand motions based on ultrasound imaging of forearm muscles.

Synthesis and Photoluminescence Studies of Eu(III), Er(III) Doped Strontium Gadolinium Tantalum Oxide.

The luminescence properties of Sr2GdTaO6 have been studied by keeping Eu(3+) as constant concentration and varying Er(3+) concentration. Sr2GdTaO6 phosphor doped with rare earth ions of Eu and Er having monoclinic phase of space group P21/n was synthesized, and their photoluminescence properties have been examined under UV excitation of wavelength 265 nm and 275 nm. PL emission exhibited around 468, 475, 580, 596, and 610 nm wavelength subsequently for various concentrations of Er(3+) for two different excitation wavelengths.

Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.

Background: The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study 2013 (GBD 2013) is the first of a series of annual updates of the GBD. Risk factor quantification, particularly of modifiable risk factors, can help to identify emerging threats to population health and opportunities for prevention. The GBD 2013 provides a timely opportunity to update the comparative risk assessment with new data for exposure, relative risks, and evidence on the appropriate counterfactual risk distribution.

Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) Shares Features of Both Pathogenic and Non-pathogenic Lentiviral Infections.

The virus-host relationship in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infected chimpanzees is thought to be different from that found in other SIV infected African primates. However, studies of captive SIVcpz infected chimpanzees are limited. Previously, the natural SIVcpz infection of one chimpanzee, and the experimental infection of six chimpanzees was reported, with limited follow-up.

Factors associated with real-time RT-PCR cycle threshold values among medically attended influenza episodes.

We evaluated the cycle threshold (CT) values of 1,160 influenza A positive and 806 influenza B positive specimens from two seasons of the US Flu VE Network to identify factors associated with CT values. Low CT values (high genomic load) were associated with shorter intervals between illness onset and specimen collection, young age (ages 3-8 years old), and self-rated illness severity for both influenza A and B. Low CT values were also associated with reported fever/feverishness and age ≥65 years for influenza A.

Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 306 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 188 countries, 1990-2013: quantifying the epidemiological transition.

Background: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) aims to bring together all available epidemiological data using a coherent measurement framework, standardised estimation methods, and transparent data sources to enable comparisons of health loss over time and across causes, age-sex groups, and countries. The GBD can be used to generate summary measures such as disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and healthy life expectancy (HALE) that make possible comparative assessments of broad epidemiological patterns across countries and time. These summary measures can also be used to quantify the component of variation in epidemiology that is related to sociodemographic development.

Epigenetic mechanisms, T-cell activation, and CCR5 genetics interact to regulate T-cell expression of CCR5, the major HIV-1 coreceptor.

T-cell expression levels of CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) are a critical determinant of HIV/AIDS susceptibility, and manifest wide variations (i) between T-cell subsets and among individuals and (ii) in T-cell activation-induced increases in expression levels. We demonstrate that a unifying mechanism for this variation is differences in constitutive and T-cell activation-induced DNA methylation status of CCR5 cis-regulatory regions (cis-regions). Commencing at an evolutionarily conserved CpG (CpG -41), CCR5 cis-regions manifest lower vs.

Reexamination of the mean-field phase diagram of biaxial nematic liquid crystals: Insights from Monte Carlo studies.

Investigations of the phase diagram of biaxial liquid-crystal systems through analyses of general Hamiltonian models within the simplifications of mean-field theory (MFT), as well as by computer simulations based on microscopic models, are directed toward an appreciation of the role of the underlying molecular-level interactions to facilitate its spontaneous condensation into a nematic phase with biaxial symmetry. Continuing experimental challenges in realizing such a system unambiguously, despite encouraging predictions from MFT, for example, are requiring more versatile simulational methodologies capable of providing insights into possible hindering barriers within the system, typically gleaned through its free-energy dependences on relevant observables as the system is driven through the transitions. The recent paper from this group [Kamala Latha et al.

Incidence of medically attended influenza infection and cases averted by vaccination, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 influenza seasons.

Background: We estimated the burden of outpatient influenza and cases prevented by vaccination during the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 influenza seasons using data from the United States Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness (US Flu VE) Network.

Methods: We defined source populations of persons who could seek care for acute respiratory illness (ARI) at each of the five US Flu VE Network sites. We identified all members of the source population who were tested for influenza during US Flu VE influenza surveillance.

The Global Burden of Cancer 2013.

Importance: Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Current estimates of cancer burden in individual countries and regions are necessary to inform local cancer control strategies.

Objective: To estimate mortality, incidence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 28 cancers in 188 countries by sex from 1990 to 2013.

Racial/ethnic differences in weekend delivery after induction of labor.

Objective: To determine whether the frequency induction of labor (IOL) varies by day of the week based on maternal race/ethnicity.

Study Design: Gravid women in the US from 2007 to 2010 were stratified into <34, 34 to 36, 37 to 38 and ⩾39 weeks. Multivariable analyses estimated the association between weekend delivery, race/ethnicity (categorized as non-Hispanic white, Hispanic white, black and 'other') and their interaction with induction.

Case Report - Pyknodysostosis.

Pyknodysostosis is an extremely rare lysosomal storage disease of the bone. Osteosclerosis of the skeleton is due to a decrease of the bone turnover. A plethora of clinical and radiological findings are observed.

Optimization of pneumatic sheet extrusion of whole wheat flour poory dough using response surface methodology.

Pneumatic extrusion of whole wheat flour dough is a challenge in the preparation of Poory. In the present study, the pneumatic extrusion process variables (pneumatic pressure, rate of extrusion) and quality of deep fried product (oil uptake, frying time, puffed height) was evaluated to get Poory of maximum overall sensory quality, minimum shear and minimum oil uptake. These parameters depend on the moisture content of wheat dough.

Stimulation of synthesis and release of brain-derived neurotropic factor from intestinal smooth muscle cells by substance P and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin present in the intestine where it participates in survival and growth of enteric neurons, augmentation of enteric circuits, and stimulation of intestinal peristalsis and propulsion. Previous studies largely focused on the role of neural and mucosal BDNF. The expression and release of BDNF from intestinal smooth muscle and the interaction with enteric neuropeptides has not been studied in gut.