Analogy between laryngeal gesture in Mongolian Long Song and supracricoid partial laryngectomy

This article reports the results of a multiparametrical analysis of Mongolian Long Song, characterised by multiple ornamentation and shows the similarities between the laryngeal behaviour observed during these ornamentations and the compensatory gesture produced by patients after supracricoid partial laryngectomy. This study includes (1) a physiological analysis of videofiberscopic laryngeal data from a healthy Mongolian singer and from three non-singer French-speaking clinical patients; and (2) an acoustical analysis (fundamental frequency and intensity). For the singer, the fiberoptic analysis showed two main laryngeal behaviours in producing ornamentations: (1) ‘lyrical’ vibratos mobilising the entire laryngeal block; (2) ‘Mongolian’ trills with essentially supraglottic movements, the arytenoids being mobilised independently of the rest of the laryngeal block. Patients demonstrated similar aryepiglottic trilling to fulfil a function of voicing. The acoustic analysis showed that the fundamental frequency and the intensity were in phase for vibrato, contrary to the ‘Mongolian’ trills which were in opposite phase, underlying a change of laryngeal vibratory mechanisms.     

2015—2018年湖北省全人群乙型病毒性肝炎免疫水平监测分析

目的 了解湖北省全人群乙型病毒性肝炎(简称乙肝)免疫水平,为制定乙肝的预防控制策略提供依据。 方法 采用多阶段分层随机抽样方法,于2015—2018年选取湖北省8个市(15个县、45个社区)开展全人群乙肝表面抗原(HBsAg)和乙肝表面抗体(HBsAb)水平监测。 结果 湖北省全人群HBsAg携带率为2.67%、HBsAb 阳性率为66.08%;HBsAg携带率和HBsAb 阳性率在地区(HBsAg: χ²=60.430,P=0.000; HBsAb: χ²=215.599,P=0.000)、年龄(HBsAg: χ²=109.341,P=0.000; HBsAb: χ²=265.578,P=0.000)、职业(HBsAg: χ²=70.919,P=0.000; HBsAb: χ²=480.782,P=0.000)、免疫史(HBsAg: χ²=36.725,P=0.000; HBsAb: χ²=27.653,P=0.000)之间差异均有统计学意义;20岁以上(≥5.64%)、工人(7.59%)、农民(5.99%)和服务人员(5.45%)人群HBsAg携带率偏高,7~14岁(57.06%)、农民(58.98%)、学生(60.71%)和工人(60.76%)HBsAb阳性率偏低。 结论 湖北省乙肝防控取得一定成绩,但仍需加大宣传教育力度,提高重点人群(20岁以上、工人、农民、服务人员和学生)乙肝疫苗接种率,开展补充免疫等,有利于降低乙肝感染风险。     

Natural Protection of Spring and Well Drinking Water Against Surface Microbial Contamination. II. Indicators and Monitoring. Parameters for Parasites

Abstract

Recent outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis and reports of other newly described para-sitic diseases associated with drinking water transmission prompted a reevaluation of source water monitoring criteria for public health protection. The field of microbial indicators was reviewed and each candidate sentinel evaluated in terms of its sensitivity, specificity, and technical feasibility. In addition, a clear distinction was made between source water monitoring and monitoring in the distribution system. Of all potential candidate microbial sentinels, Escherichia coli is deemed the most efficacious for public health protection. Based on a conservative estimate of its half-life in groundwater for 8 d. it is recommended that at least two samples be obtained during this half-life. In addition to E. coli, two water quality indicator sentinels, which are not necessarily direct public health threats, should also be monitored at the same frequency. These are the total coliform group and the enterococci. If E. coli is present in any source water sample, the borehole and any directly connected borehole should be embargoed. If either total coliforms or enterococci are detected, only that individual borehole should be taken off line and not used until the situation is remediated and the cause of the fecal contamination eliminated. Clostridium perfrigens spores serve as a useful long-lived indicator. However, their perseverance in a sample should not be considered a direct public health threat because spores may far outlive pathogens. As a parasite indicator, C. perfringens should have the same importance as a positive colifom or enterococcus analysis. Coliphages do not yet fulfill enough of the criteria to be routinely employed. Biological monitoring should be coupled with physicochemical monitoring to establish a long-term history of the source. Because all natural waters vary in the amounts of heterotrophic plate count bacteria, test methods should be employed that are refractory to them. A combination of rigorous source protection plus extraordinary source monitoring serve as sufficient multiple barriers for parasite protection.     

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) inhibits agglomeration and macrophage uptake of toxic amine modified nanoparticles

Abstract

The lung provides the main route for nanomaterial exposure. Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is an important respiratory innate immune molecule with the ability to bind or opsonise pathogens to enhance phagocytic removal from the airways. We hypothesised that SP-A, like surfactant protein D, may interact with inhaled nanoparticulates, and that this interaction will be affected by nanoparticle (NP) surface characteristics. In this study, we characterise the interaction of SP-A with unmodified (U-PS) and amine-modified (A-PS) polystyrene particles of varying size and zeta potential using dynamic light scatter analysis. SP-A associated with both 100?nm U-PS and A-PS in a calcium-independent manner. SP-A induced significant calcium-dependent agglomeration of 100?nm U-PS NPs but resulted in calcium-independent inhibition of A-PS self agglomeration. SP-A enhanced uptake of 100?nm U-PS into macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner but in contrast inhibited A-PS uptake. Reduced association of A-PS particles in RAW264.7 cells following pre-incubation of SP-A was also observed with coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy. Consistent with these findings, alveolar macrophages (AMs) from SP-A^?/? mice were more efficient at uptake of 100?nm A-PS compared with wild type C57Bl/6 macrophages. No difference in uptake was observed with 500?nm U-PS or A-PS particles. Pre-incubation with SP-A resulted in a significant decrease in uptake of 100?nm A-PS in macrophages isolated from both groups of mice. In contrast, increased uptake by AMs of U-PS was observed after pre-incubation with SP-A. Thus we have demonstrated that SP-A promotes uptake of non-toxic U-PS particles but inhibits the clearance of potentially toxic A-PS particles by blocking uptake into macrophages.     

表面封闭剂应用于复合树脂修复楔状缺损的临床疗效观察

目的：观察表面封闭剂用于楔状缺损充填的临床效果。方法：门诊选择138例楔状缺损病例,随机分为二组,用可乐丽菲露进行充填,试验组69例充填后用表面封闭剂封闭充填体及边缘,另69例为空白对照组,分别于1年及2年后对充填体进行临床评价。结果：使用表面封闭剂组1年成功率为96.7%,2年成功率为92.9%,未使用组1年成功率为93.2%,2年成功率为87.6%。结论：楔状缺损在树脂充填后使用表面封闭剂可获得较好的边缘封闭性。     

Influence of the surgical technique and surface roughness on the primary stability of an implant in artificial bone with a density equivalent to maxillary bone: a laboratory study

Objective: The aim of this biomechanical study was to assess the effect of surgical technique and surface roughness on primary implant stability in low-density bone.
Material and methods: Eighty screw-shaped (Biocomp^®) implants with machined or etched surface topography were inserted into a low-density bone equivalent. Solid rigid polyurethane blocks (Sawbones^®) with two different bone densities (group A=0.32 g/cm³; group B=0.48 g/cm³) were used that are very similar to the density of the maxilla. The implant sites were prepared either by a press-fit or by an undersized technique. Peak insertion and removal torques were measured using a Digital^® torque gauge instrument.
Results: Independent of the surgical technique used, both implant types showed an increased mean insertion and removal torque value with increasing bone density. Insertion and removal torque values were 54.3±5.3 and 43.5±6.5 N cm for group A and 89.3±7.6 and 55±9.1 for group B, respectively. For group A and B, both implant types showed statistically higher insertion and removal torque mean values for the undersized compared with the press-fit technique ( P <0.01). In addition, etched implants showed statistically higher insertion and removal torque mean values compared with machined implants ( P <0.01).
Conclusion: The placement of etched implants in synthetic bone models using an undersized preparation technique resulted in enhanced primary implant stability; further, a correlation was found between primary stability and bone density of the synthetic bone, implying that in case of an implant site with low bone density, by changing the surgical technique and choosing an implant with an optimal surface roughness, the primary stability can be enhanced significantly.     

Mapping the human face: biophysical properties

Background: Facial skin exhibits unique biophysical properties that are distinct from skin belonging to other areas of the body. Small to large regional differences in biophysical properties between facial sites are observed. Technological advances in dermatological research allow a quantitative study of the biophysical qualities of the face and its relation to skin elsewhere. However, comprehensive studies examining inter‐regional variations using each of the six standard biophysical parameters have been few. We summarize findings on the biophysical parameters used to explore the human face as well as regional differences in skin reactivity to chemical irritants. Methods: We performed a literature search using Pubmed, Embase, Science Citations Index, and the UCSF's dermatological library on biophysical parameters and skin physiology pertaining to the human face. Results: Distinct regional differences in transepidermal water loss (TEWL), capacitance, blood flow, sebum, pH, and temperature were demonstrated in facial skin. However, studies cannot be compared with each other because each uses different anatomical sites, skin conditions, and measurement techniques. Intraregional differences in TEWL, sebum, and temperatures were observed on the cheeks and appeared to follow characteristic distribution patterns. Higher blood flow levels and skin temperatures were generally observed in areas with dense networks of blood vessels such as the nose and perioral region. Areas such as the forehead, nose, and chin consistently showed higher sebum casual levels, but variability in sebum levels between sites was also observed. The susceptibility of the face to hexyl nicotinate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and benzoic acid differed depending on location and age. Conclusion: Establishing a standardized biophysical profile of the human face will help to improve therapeutics, and further our understanding of differences in chemical reactivity and disease distribution. Future research necessitates standardization of the anatomical sites studied, sample size, and experimental protocols.