In vivo measurement of strain in the periodontal space of pig (Sus scrofa) incisors using in-fiber Bragg sensors.

The incisor teeth in pigs, Sus scrofa, function in association with a disc-shaped snout to explore the environment for potential food. Understanding how mechanical loading applied to the tooth deforms the periodontal ligament (PDL) is important to determining the role of periodontal mechanoreceptors during food exploration and feeding. The objective of this study was to use fiber Bragg (FBG) sensors to measure strain in vivo within the PDL space of pig incisors.

Cyclic loading failed to promote growth in a pig model of midfacial hypoplasia.

Yucatan miniature pigs, often used as large animal models in clinical research, are distinguished by a breed-specific midfacial hypoplasia with anterior crossbite. Although this deformity can be corrected by distraction osteogenesis, a less invasive method is desirable. We chose a mechanical cyclic stimulation protocol that has been successful in enhancing sutural growth in small animals and in a pilot study on standard pigs.

Medication Abortion and Abortion Pill Reversal: An Exploratory Analysis on the Influence of Others in Women's Decision-Making.

Introduction As medication abortion accounts for a growing share of abortions in the United States, an increasing number of women are seeking abortion pill reversal (APR). These decisions are typically not made in isolation. However, little research exists on women's APR decision-making and the role played by people close to them.

Understanding Women's Communication with Their Providers During Medication Abortion and Abortion Pill Reversal: An Exploratory Analysis.

Medication abortion is a common experience for women in the United States, now totaling over 50% of all abortions. The purpose of this exploratory analysis is to understand women's medication abortion and abortion pill reversal decision-making experiences, with a particular focus on their communication with their medical providers. We surveyed women who contacted Heartbeat International to inquire about abortion pill reversal.

The Effects of Abortion Decision Rightness and Decision Type on Women's Satisfaction and Mental Health.

Background A case series report based on the Turnaway Study has previously concluded that 99% of women with a history of abortion will continue to affirm satisfaction with their decisions to abort. Those findings have been called into question due to a low participation rate (31%) and reliance on a single yes/no assessment of decision satisfaction. Aim To utilize more sensitive scales in assessing decision satisfaction and the associated mental health outcomes women attribute to their abortions.

Bilateral treatment of the masseter with botulinum toxin: Consequences for mastication, muscle force and the mandibular condyle.

Background: Clinical use of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) in masticatory muscles is usually bilateral, but most studies on the functional consequences of BoNT treatment have used unilaterally treated animals.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that bilateral BoNT treatment of the rabbit masseter hampers mastication and to assess its effects on bone density of the mandibular condyles.

Methods: Ten 5-month-old female rabbits received injections of BoNT into both masseter muscles and nine sham animals received saline.

Smartphone-based immunochemical sensor exploiting peroxidase-like activity of ligand-capped gold nanostars: A proof-of-concept detection of Mycobacterium bovis.

Bacterial pathogens represent a safety concern in the food industry, and this is amplified by the lack of sensing devices that can be applied on-site by non-trained personnel. In this study, peroxidase-mimicking activity of gold nanostars was exploited to develop a user-friendly colourimetric sensor. A smartphone was exploited as an image reader and analyser, empowered with a novel App developed in-house.

Color Alignment for Relative Color Constancy via Non-Standard References.

Relative colour constancy is an essential requirement for many scientific imaging applications. However, most digital cameras differ in their image formations and native sensor output is usually inaccessible, e.g.

Repeated botulinum treatment of rabbit masseter causes cumulative tissue damage.

Objective: Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are used in masticatory muscles for pain relief, unloading of the mandible, and cosmetic facial contouring. Treatment is often repeated every few months as function returns. This study assessed masticatory function and musculoskeletal structure after multiple BoNT treatment of the rabbit masseter.

Cranial suture morphometry and mechanical response to loading: 2D vs. 3D assumptions and characterization.

Cranial sutures are complex soft tissue structures whose mechanics are often studied due to their link with bone growth in the skull. Researchers will often use a cross-sectional two-dimensional slice to define suture geometry when studying morphometry and/or mechanical response to loading. However, using a single cross section neglects the full suture complexity and may introduce significant errors when defining their form.

Severe Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Solid-Organ Transplant Confirmed by Chimerism Studies and Cytogenetic Analyses.

Graft-versus-host disease is an uncommon complication of solid-organ transplant and is associated with a high rate of mortality. Here, we describe a female patient with primary biliary cholangitis who developed graft-versus-host disease following an orthotopic liver and renal allotransplant from a deceased male donor. Systemic donor lymphoid chimerism is one of several important findings to confirm a diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease after solid-organ transplant, along with clinical and histologic findings.

Erratum: Orofacial overgrowth with peripheral nerve enlargement and perineuriomatous pseudo-onion bulb proliferations is part of the -related overgrowth spectrum.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.

Botulinum toxin in the masseter muscle: Lingering effects of denervation.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are paralytic agents used to treat a variety of conditions in jaw muscles. Although their effect is considered temporary, there are reports of persistent functional changes. Using rabbits that received BoNT injection in one masseter muscle, the recovery of neuromuscular connection was investigated using nerve stimulation to evoke an electromyographic (EMG) response, and the recovery of muscle fibers was investigated using histological morphometry and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry.

Trisomy 21-associated increases in chromosomal instability are unmasked by comparing isogenic trisomic/disomic leukocytes from people with mosaic Down syndrome.

Down syndrome, which results from a trisomic imbalance for chromosome 21, has been associated with 80+ phenotypic traits. However, the cellular changes that arise in somatic cells due to this aneuploid condition are not fully understood. The primary aim of this study was to determine if germline trisomy 21 is associated with an increase in spontaneous somatic cell chromosomal instability frequencies (SCINF).

Mothers' Support Preferences With Their Chronically Ill Child's Health Care Team.

Children living with medical complexities are a growing population in the United States. Supportive pediatric health care team members are arguably the single most important factor in helping mothers manage their child's multifaceted condition. To better understand what constitutes helpful support from health care team members, we interviewed 17 mothers affiliated with a pediatric palliative care program at a large Midwestern U.

Comprehensive health assessment and blood analyte reference intervals of gopher tortoises () in southeastern FL, USA.

The gopher tortoise (), a keystone species, is declining throughout its geographic range. Lack of knowledge with respect to the potential infectious diseases present within wild populations creates a dilemma for wildlife biologists, conservationists and public policy makers. The objective of this study was to conduct a health assessment of two previously unstudied gopher tortoise aggregations located at two sites in southeastern FL.

Orofacial overgrowth with peripheral nerve enlargement and perineuriomatous pseudo-onion bulb proliferations is part of the -related overgrowth spectrum.

Individuals with orofacial asymmetry due to mucosal overgrowths, ipsilateral bone and dental aberrations with perineurial hyperplasia and/or perineuriomatous pseudo-onion bulb proliferations, comprise a recognizable clinical entity. In this article, we describe three individuals with this clinical entity and mosaic variants c.3140A>G (p.

When Facing Hopeful and Hopeless Experiences: Using Snyder's Hope Theory to Understand Parents' Caregiving Experiences for Their Medically Complex Child.

Introduction: An emerging subpopulation within pediatric chronic illness is children living with complex chronic conditions. Managing a child's complex chronic conditions can be emotionally taxing for parents. Many parents regard hope as a "life-sustaining and essential" process for them.

Early Directed Oritavancin Therapy in the Emergency Department May Lead to Hospital Avoidance Compared to Standard Treatment for Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis.

Objectives: Acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (ABSSSIs) are a leading cause of presentation to the emergency department (ED). This study aimed to determine the potential impact of utilizing oritavancin in the ED or observation unit (OBS) on hospital inpatient admission.

Methods: A single-center community teaching hospital developed a pharmacy-led pilot to evaluate the use of oritavancin as a measure to avoid hospital admissions/readmissions in appropriate patients with ABSSSIs.

Segmental Ipsilateral Odontognathic Dysplasia (Mandibular Involvement in Segmental Odontomaxillary Dysplasia?) and Identification of PIK3CA Somatic Variant in Lesional Mandibular Gingival Tissue.

Segmental odontomaxillary dysplasia (SOD) is a developmental condition of the middle and posterior maxilla featuring dysplastic bone overgrowth, dental abnormalities and, occasionally, various homolateral cutaneous manifestations. Herein, we describe an individual with maxillary abnormality akin to SOD and associated ipsilateral segmental odontomandibular dysplasia. Also, the result of the evaluation of lesional mandibular gingival tissue for overgrowth-related gene variants is reported.

: A Case Study to Understand the Communicative Tensions in Women's Medication Abortion Narratives.

One out of four women in the United States will have an abortion by age 45. While abortion rates are steadily declining in the United States, the rate of medication abortions continues to increase, with 39% of all abortions being medication abortions. Our study is one of the first to analyze women's narratives after having had a medication abortion.

A Randomized Combined Channel Approach for the Quantification of Color- and Intensity-Based Assays with Smartphones.

Quantification of colorimetric assays with smartphones is being increasingly reported. However, a complete characterization of the performance of existing color spaces and single-color channels for optimum color/intensity change quantification is absent. Moreover, it has not been ascertained if it is necessary to utilize existing color spaces to reach optimal assay quantification.

Global FKRP Registry: observations in more than 300 patients with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy R9.

Objective: The Global FKRP Registry is a database for individuals with conditions caused by mutations in the Fukutin-Related Protein (FKRP) gene: limb girdle muscular dystrophy R9 (LGMDR9, formerly LGMD2I) and congenital muscular dystrophies MDC1C, Muscle-Eye-Brain Disease and Walker-Warburg Syndrome. The registry seeks to further understand the natural history and prevalence of FKRP-related conditions; aid the rapid identification of eligible patients for clinical studies; and provide a source of information to clinical and academic communities.

Methods: Registration is patient-initiated through a secure online portal.

The Efficiency of Color Space Channels to Quantify Color and Color Intensity Change in Liquids, pH Strips, and Lateral Flow Assays with Smartphones.

Bottom-up, end-user based feed, and food analysis through smartphone quantification of lateral flow assays (LFA) has the potential to cause a paradigm shift in testing capabilities. However, most developed devices do not test the presence of and implications of inter-phone variation. Much discussion remains regarding optimum color space for smartphone colorimetric analyses and, an in-depth comparison of color space performance is missing.