The effects of Rhizoma Curculiginis and Rhizoma Drynariae extracts on bones

Background  

Rhizoma Curculiginis (Xianmao) and Rhizoma Drynariae (Gusuibu) are 'Yang-tonifying' traditional Chinese herbal medicines used to strengthen bones. This investigation aims to assess the systemic effect of extracts of Rhizoma Curculiginis and Rhizoma Drynariae on bone histomorphology and formation, and their local effect on bone healing.     

Molecular analysis of hepatitis B virus genomes isolated from black African patients with fulminant hepatitis B

To investigate further the possible role of mutant hepatitis B viruses in the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis B, the genomic sequence of hepatitis B virus isolates from 9 South African blacks with this disease, including 5 entire genomes, was analysed. Seven of the isolates were genotype A. The mutation most often reported in patients with fulminant hepatitis B, the G1896A precore stop-codon substitution, was, as expected, not present in the genotype A isolates with the exception of one in which it was accompanied by a compensatory C1858T substitution. G1896A was, however, present in the one genotype D isolate. No other precore-defective mutants were detected. The other mutation commonly found in patients with fulminant hepatitis B, the paired A1762T, G1764A substitution in the basic core promoter, was present in only one patient and G1764A in one other. The pre-surface initiation-codon mutation documented in a number of patients with fulminant hepatitis B was not found in our isolates. An 18-amino acid deletion present in the pre-surface region of one isolate has not previously been described in fulminant hepatitis B. Variations within the surface region were mainly genotype specific and not previously described. A relatively large number of mutations were present in the middle region of the core gene in those isolates without G1896A or A1762T, G1764A mutations, although the pattern was not consistent with those in published studies. Thus, as in other published series in which the entire genome of hepatitis B virus responsible for fulminant hepatitis was sequenced, we detected many mutations in different genes, but none was common to all the reported isolates.     

Hepatitis B virus DNA in serum of healthy black African adults positive for hepatitis B surface antibody alone: possible association with recombination between genotypes A and D

In some patients with chronic liver disease induced by hepatitis B virus, viral DNA is known to persist in low concentration in serum after seroconversion to hepatitis B surface antibody-positivity. This phenomenon has, however, not been documented in asymptomatic black African carriers of hepatitis B virus. Using nested amplification by the polymerase chain reaction, we detected low concentrations of hepatitis B virus DNA in the serum of 6 of 23 (26%) healthy black African adults with normal liver function and with hepatitis B virus surface antibody as the only serological marker of the virus. This finding offers one explanation for the earlier observation of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA in hepatocellular carcinomas in black Africans whose serum was positive for surface antibody alone. A number of genetic changes were found in the six isolates that might be responsible for evasion of the immune response and persistence of the virus. Isolated mutations were detected in the "a" determinant of the surface gene and in the encapsidation signal. In all five isolates sequenced in the core promoter, mutations were present in the upstream regulatory region. Recombination between genotypes A and D was present in three of the isolates, including both of those in which the entire genome was sequenced. This change in genotype also overlapped the amino end of the polymerase domain and may result in sufficiently low levels of replication to allow viral persistence. Topoisomerase 1 specific trinucleotides were concentrated in the vicinity of the recombination breakpoints.     

Early introduction of allergenic foods for the prevention of food allergy from an Asian perspective—An Asia Pacific Association of Pediatric Allergy,Respirology & Immunology (APAPARI) consensus statement

Emerging evidence for the early introduction of allergenic foods for the prevention of food allergies, such as peanut allergy in Western populations, has led to the recent publication of guidelines in the USA and Europe recommending early peanut introduction for high‐risk infants with severe eczema or egg allergy. Peanut allergy is, however, much less prevalent in Asia compared to the West. Varying patterns of food allergy are seen even within Asian countries—such as a predominance of wheat allergy in Japan and Thailand and shellfish allergy in Singapore and the Philippines. Customs and traditions, such as diet and infant feeding practices, also differ between Asian populations. Hence, there are unique challenges in adapting guidelines on early allergenic food introduction to the Asian setting. In this paper, we review the evidence and discuss the possible approaches to guide the timely introduction of allergenic food in high‐risk infants in Asia.     

Brain responses to stimuli mimicking dental treatment among non‐phobic individuals: A meta‐analysis

Numerous neuroimaging studies have attempted to identify how the brain responds to stimuli mimicking dental treatment in normal non‐phobic individuals. However, results were sometimes inconsistent due to small sample sizes and methodological variations. This meta‐analysis employs standardized procedures to summarize data from previous studies to identify brain regions that were consistently activated across studies, elicited by stimuli such as pictures, sounds, or audiovisual footage mimicking those encountered during dental treatments. A systematic literature search was carried out using PubMed and Scopus. The meta‐analysis analyzed data from 120 healthy subjects from seven neuroimaging studies. We assessed the risk of bias among the included studies with the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies. One study appeared to have a high risk of selection bias, whereas the others were considered to have a low risk of bias. Results revealed three clusters of activation with cluster sizes ranging from 768 mm³ to 1,424 mm³. Stimuli mimicking dental treatment consistently activated the bilateral anterior insula; right dorsal anterior cingulate, putamen, and medial prefrontal cortex; and left claustrum. This study confirmed that audio and/or visual stimuli mimicking dental treatment consistently activated the fear‐related brain regions among healthy subjects, mostly consistent with activations from general anxiety but without the involvement of the amygdala.     

Perceptions of normal and abnormal ejaculatory latency times: an observational study in Ghanaian males and females

Background

This cross-sectional study aimed at quantifying the perceptions of Ghanaian men and women on how long they thought sex should last, from intromission until ejaculation.

Method

A random sample of 568 heterosexual men and women within the Kumasi Metropolis was surveyed from December 2009 to February 2010. The question of primary interest in the present study includes perceived intravaginal ejaculatory latency (IELT), in minutes, for four different conditions: “adequate,” “desirable,” “too short,” and “too long” IELT.

Results

The interquartile range for the respondent’s judgment of an “adequate” length for IELT was from 7.0 to 20.3 min; “desirable” from 10.0 to 25.0 min; “too short” from 2.0 to 5.0 min; “too long” from 10.5 to 60.0 min. However, the “actual” IELT (i.e. what the respondents are capable of doing) as found in this study was from 6 to 15 min. Ghanaian perceptions about ejaculatory latencies were in part consistent with data from Germany and contrary to data from the USA on ejaculatory latency and were not affected by age or educational level.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the average Ghanaian believes that intercourse that lasts 7.0–25.0 min is normal. Dissemination of the present finding to the public may modify their expectations for IELT which will lead to a realistic replica of sexuality and hence help prevent sexual disappointments and dysfunctions. It will also be beneficial to couples who are being treated for sexual problems by normalizing their expectations.     

Developmental enamel defects in the primary dentition: aetiology and clinical management

Developmental enamel defects, presenting as enamel hypoplasia or opacities are caused by damage or disruption to the developing enamel organ as a result of inherited and acquired systemic conditions. The high prevalence of these defects in the primary dentition demonstrates the vulnerability of the teeth to changes in the pre‐ and postnatal environment. The presence of enamel hypoplasia increases the risk of primary teeth to early childhood caries and tooth wear as the defective enamel is thinner, more plaque retentive and less resistant to dissolution in acid compared to normal enamel. The purpose of this paper was to critically review the aetiology and clinical complications of developmental enamel defects in the primary dentition and propose recommendations for the clinical management of affected teeth.