Genetic Variants in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor Type 23 Are Responsible for Mesiodens Formation.

A mesiodens is a supernumerary tooth located in the midline of the premaxilla. To investigate the genetic cause of mesiodens, clinical and radiographic examination were performed on 23 family members of a two-generation Hmong family. Whole exome sequencing (WES) or Sanger sequencing were performed in 22 family members and two unrelated Thai patients with mesiodens.

Evaluation of a disease risk index for adult patients undergoing umbilical cord blood transplantation for haematological malignancies.

A disease risk index (DRI) has been defined for stratifying heterogeneous cohorts of patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This index defines 4 distinct groups with different outcomes, dividing patients by disease type and status and considering cytogenetics for acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Recently, the DRI has been refined to include rare diseases and improve MDS stratification by blast percentage and response to prior therapy.

Case Presentations Demonstrating Periodontal Treatment Variation: PEARL Network.

Background: Variation in periodontal terminology can affect the diagnosis and treatment plan as assessed by practicing general dentists in the Practitioners Engaged in Applied Research and Learning (PEARL) Network. General dentists participating in the PEARL Network are highly screened, credentialed, and qualified and may not be representative of the general population of dentists.

Methods: Ten randomized case presentations ranging from periodontal health to gingivitis, to mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis were randomly presented to respondents.

Outcomes of implants and restorations placed in general dental practices: a retrospective study by the Practitioners Engaged in Applied Research and Learning (PEARL) Network.

Objectives: The authors conducted a study to determine the types, outcomes, risk factors and esthetic assessment of implants and their restorations placed in the general practices of a practice-based research network.

Methods: All patients who visited network practices three to five years previously and underwent placement of an implant and restoration within the practice were invited to enroll. Practitioner-investigators (P-Is) recorded the status of the implant and restoration, characteristics of the implant site and restoration, presence of peri-implant pathology and an esthetic assessment by the P-I and patient.

Chronic interstitial damage in proteinuria. Does complement mediate tubulointerstitial injury?

Tubulointerstitial injury is seen in some patients with glomerular proteinuria and when present is a poor prognostic indicator. However, the mechanism by which proteinuria results in tubular and interstitial damage is unknown. Activation of the complement system has been implicated in many forms of tissue injury, including immune-mediated renal disease.

An immunohistochemical study of palmar and plantar digital nerves.

We present a qualitative and semi-quantitative description of palmar and plantar digital nerves obtained from cadavers prepared for routine class dissection. The fingertips of the three most functionally important and sensitive digits, namely thumb, index and middle fingers, received more myelinated axons than those of the ring and little fingers. In both palmar and plantar nerves the numbers of myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive myelinated axons decreased proximodistally along each digit and also from thumb to little finger and hallux to little toe respectively.

Validation of a food frequency questionnaire for assessing dietary intake in a study of coronary heart disease risk factors in children.

A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was designed and validated for use in an epidemiological survey measuring coronary heart disease risk factors in British children. The questionnaire asked about the frequency of children's consumption of 35 food items over the previous month and was completed by parents/guardians. Food items represented a range of food groups from which children may eat, with emphasis on foods with a high fat and fibre content.

Arteriovenous fistulas complicating biopsy of renal allografts: treatment of bleeding with superselective embolization.

The use of superselective embolization was assessed as a treatment for bleeding from postbiopsy arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in renal transplants. AVFs commonly occur after biopsy procedures in renal transplants, but severe bleeding is rare. Transcatheter embolization can be used to control bleeding, but unless it is sufficiently selective, the procedure results in loss of significant amounts of renal parenchyma.

Adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to cell monolayers.

Adherence of four strains of Staphylococcus aureus to eukaryotic cell monolayers was assayed with [3H]-thymidine labelled bacterial cells and the results were analysed by non-parametric statistical tests. Adherence to primary (human mesothelial) and semi-continuous (human embryonic lung) cell monolayers was significantly better than to continuous cell lines (HEp2, HeLa and Vero). HEp2 cell monolayers provided the most reliable assay substrate of the continuous cell lines tested.

Effect of therapeutic ultrasound on the healing of full-thickness excised skin lesions.

The effect of therapeutic ultrasound on the healing of the dermis of full-thickness excised lesions made in the flank skin of adult rats was assessed quantitatively by means of differential cell counts made in sections of the wound bed five and seven days after injury. Wounds were either sham-treated (control group) or exposed to pulsed ultrasound (2 ms on, 8 ms off) at an intensity of 0.1 W cm-2 SATA (frequency either 0.

Variability in complete denture assessment.

This paper reports variation in complete denture assessment between three groups of examiners, viz. general dental practitioners (GDPs), teachers of prosthetic dentistry and undergraduate students. A panel of three patients was assembled; each member wore complete dentures with specific faults.

Comparison between blood and saline perfusion on the uptake of amino acids by choroid plexus of the sheep.

Uptake by the isolated perfused sheep choroid plexus of labelled naturally occurring amino acids, and the analogue MeAIB (methyl amino isobutyric acid) was measured using the single-pass, indicator dilution method. The uptake (Umax) of natural amino acids at the blood face of the choroid plexus, relative to the extracellular marker mannitol, ranged between 26 and 47% when using a saline perfusate. However, when the perfusion fluid was changes to one containing whole blood, uptake of the leucine, phenylalanine, proline, aspartate glutamate and lysine were significantly reduced with Umax now between -1.

The effect of the chewing side on parotid amylase secretion in conscious rabbits.

This study was conducted to investigate whether changes in amylase output accompany changes in salivary flow which occur during feeding. New Zealand White rabbits were trained to eat food offered to them in the laboratory. After chronic parotid duct cannulation, saliva was collected and flow rates recorded bilaterally while the animals fed on fresh carrots or pelleted food.

Potent and specific inhibition of IL-8-, IL-1 alpha- and IL-1 beta-induced in vitro human lymphocyte migration by calcium channel antagonists.

The role of calcium in interleukin- (IL) 8-, IL-1 alpha- and IL-1 beta-induced lymphocyte migration has been investigated by using the calcium channel antagonists, verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem (IL-8) and the optical isomers of the dihydropyridine analogue SDZ 202-791 (IL-8, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta). Potent inhibition of IL-8-induced migration was observed in response to nifedipine (IC50 = 10 nM), verapamil (IC50 = 60 nM) and diltiazem (IC50 = 10 nM). The (+)-isomer of SDZ 202-791 was without effect on any of the agonists tested, however, the (-)-isomer induced dose-related inhibition of stimulated migration, IC50 values being 0.

The validity of reported parental height in inner city areas in England.

The validity of self-reported height was assessed in a sample of Afro-Caribbean, Asian and Caucasian parents. Asian mothers overestimated their height (p less than 0.01) and Caucasian mothers overestimated that of their child's father.