White adipose tissue mitochondrial metabolism in health and in obesity

White adipose tissue is one of the largest organs of the body. It plays a key role in whole‐body energy status and metabolism; it not only stores excess energy but also secretes various hormones and metabolites to regulate body energy balance. Healthy adipose tissue capable of expanding is needed for metabolic well‐being and to prevent accumulation of triglycerides to other organs. Mitochondria govern several important functions in the adipose tissue. We review the derangements of mitochondrial function in white adipose tissue in the obese state. Downregulation of mitochondrial function or biogenesis in the white adipose tissue is a central driver for obesity‐associated metabolic diseases. Mitochondrial functions compromised in obesity include oxidative functions and renewal and enlargement of the adipose tissue through recruitment and differentiation of adipocyte progenitor cells. These changes adversely affect whole‐body metabolic health. Dysfunction of the white adipose tissue mitochondria in obesity has long‐term consequences for the metabolism of adipose tissue and the whole body. Understanding the pathways behind mitochondrial dysfunction may help reveal targets for pharmacological or nutritional interventions that enhance mitochondrial biogenesis or function in adipose tissue.     

Reversible switching between superhydrophobic states on a hierarchically structured surface

Nature offers exciting examples for functional wetting properties based on superhydrophobicity, such as the self-cleaning surfaces on plant leaves and trapped air on immersed insect surfaces allowing underwater breathing. They inspire biomimetic approaches in science and technology. Superhydrophobicity relies on the Cassie wetting state where air is trapped within the surface topography. Pressure can trigger an irreversible transition from the Cassie state to the Wenzel state with no trapped air--this transition is usually detrimental for nonwetting functionality and is to be avoided. Here we present a new type of reversible, localized and instantaneous transition between two Cassie wetting states, enabled by two-level (dual-scale) topography of a superhydrophobic surface, that allows writing, erasing, rewriting and storing of optically displayed information in plastrons related to different length scales.     

Dominant GDAP1 founder mutation is a common cause of axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in Finland

We describe a founder mutation in the gene encoding ganglioside-induced differentiation associated-protein 1 (GDAP1), leading to amino acid change p.H123R, as a common cause of autosomal dominant axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT2) neuropathy in Finland. The mutation explains up to 14 % of CMT2 in Finland, where most patients with axonal neuropathy have remained without molecular diagnosis. Only three families out of 28 were found to carry putative disease mutations in the MFN2 gene encoding mitofusin 2. In addition, the MFN2 variant p.V705I was commonly found in our patients, but we provide evidence that this previously described mutation is a common polymorphism and not pathogenic. GDAP1-associated polyneuropathy caused predominantly a mild and slowly progressive phenotype. Besides distal leg muscle weakness, most patients showed mild proximal weakness, often with asymmetry and pes cavus. Our findings broaden the understanding of GDAP1 mutations in CMT2 phenotypes and provide support for the use of whole-exome sequencing in CMT gene diagnostics.     

Evaluation of Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed for Postexposure Prophylaxis

Antimicrobials administered postexposure can reduce the incidence or progression of anthrax disease, but they do not protect against the disease resulting from the germination of spores that may remain in the body after cessation of the antimicrobial regimen. Such additional protection may be achieved by postexposure vaccination; however, no anthrax vaccine is licensed for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). In a rabbit PEP study, animals were subjected to lethal challenge with aerosolized Bacillus anthracis spores and then were treated with levofloxacin with or without concomitant intramuscular (i.m.) vaccination with anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) (BioThrax; Emergent BioDefense Operations Lansing LLC, Lansing, MI), administered twice, 1 week apart. A significant increase in survival rates was observed among vaccinated animals compared to those treated with antibiotic alone. In preexposure prophylaxis studies in rabbits and nonhuman primates (NHPs), animals received two i.m. vaccinations 1 month apart and were challenged with aerosolized anthrax spores at day 70. Prechallenge toxin-neutralizing antibody (TNA) titers correlated with animal survival postchallenge and provided the means for deriving an antibody titer associated with a specific probability of survival in animals. In a clinical immunogenicity study, 82% of the subjects met or exceeded the prechallenge TNA value that was associated with a 70% probability of survival in rabbits and 88% probability of survival in NHPs, which was estimated based on the results of animal preexposure prophylaxis studies. The animal data provide initial information on protective antibody levels for anthrax, as well as support previous findings regarding the ability of AVA to provide added protection to B. anthracis-infected animals compared to antimicrobial treatment alone.     

Quality evaluation of oral health record-keeping for Finnish young adults

The objective of this study was to assess the quality of oral health record-keeping in public oral health care in relation to dentists' characteristics. A random computerized selection of 239 subjects, born in 1966-71 and clinically examined during 1994 in an administrative unit of the public oral health service in southern Finland, included 4-5 cases per dentist, the number of dentists being 50. Data concerning actual clinical examinations and treatment courses carried out in public dental clinics came from original oral health records. Criteria for assessment of oral health record entries were based on Finnish health legislation and detailed instructions of health authorities. The results showed that each patient's identity was available in 90% of documents. Recordings concerning continuity of comprehensive care were infrequent; a questionnaire concerning each patient's up-to-date health history was in only 26% of the oral health records. Notes concerning each patient's bite and function of the temporomandibular joint were in 37% of the records, notes about oral soft tissues were in 11%, and the check-up interval was recorded in 21%. Recording of indices on periodontal and dental status varied greatly; the community periodontal index of treatment need was found in 93% and the index of incipient lesions in 16% of the records. Female dentists and dentists younger than 37 years tended to record more information. Dentists should be encouraged to better utilize the options offered by oral health records for individual treatment schemes.     

Effects of different dentin thicknesses and air cooling on pulpal temperature rise during laser welding

The neodymium/yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Nd/YAG) laser has been suggested to repair broken prostheses in the mouth. This study investigated the effects of different dentin thicknesses and air cooling on pulpal temperature rise during laser welding. Three intact human maxillary molars were prepared for full-veneer crown. For each tooth, dentin thicknesses in mesiobuccal cusp was 2, 3, or 4 mm. Twenty dies were duplicated from each of the prepared teeth. For metal copings with 0.5-mm thickness, wax patterns were prepared with dip wax technique directly onto each of dies. All patterns were sprued and invested. The castings were made using a nickel–chromium alloy (Nicromed Premium, Neodontics). A hole with 0.5-mm diameter was prepared on the mesiobuccal cusp of each crown. The Nd/YAG laser (9.85 W; 1 Hz repetition rate; fluence, 1.230 J/cm²; Fidelis Plus 3, Fotona) was used for welding with or without air cooling (n?=?10). The temperature rise was measured in pulpal chamber with a J-type thermocouple wire that was connected to a data logger. Differences between start and highest temperature reading were taken, and temperature rise values were compared using two-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s honestly significant difference tests (α?=?.05). Pulpal temperature rise varied significantly depending on the dentin thickness and air cooling (p?<?0.05). The non-air cooling group induced significantly the highest temperature increases. There were no significant differences between 2- and 3-mm dentin thicknesses groups (p?>?0.05); however, pulpal temperature rise was the lowest for 4-mm dentin thickness group (p?<?0.05). The highest values of thermal increase were found in the pulp chamber (6.8°C) when no air cooling was used in 2-mm dentin thickness group. Laser welding on base metal castings with Nd/YAG laser can be applied with air cooling to avoid temperature rises known to adversely affect pulpal health when dentin thickness is 2 or 3 mm.     

Effect of the body mass index on outcomes of flexible ureterorenoscopy

The aim of the study to compare outcomes of flexible ureterorenoscopy in patients with different body mass index (BMI) scores and to explore whether the BMI has an effect on outcomes of RIRS. Five hundred and two patients who underwent flexible URS in 3 centers between 2008 and 2012 for the management of single upper urinary tract calculi were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized as normal weight BMI 18.5 to 24.99 kg/m², overweight 25 to 29.99 kg/m², obese 30 to 39.99 kg/m² and morbid obese >40 kg/m².The groups were assessed in terms of demographic parameters including age, gender, stone size, intraoperative and postoperative variables. The mean patient age was 41.3 ± 15.51 (18–81) years and with an average BMI 26.68 ± 5.2 kg/m² (16.64–55.15 kg/m²). Of the patients, 43.2 % had normal weight (NW), 32.2 % were overweight (OW), 21.9 % were obese (O) and 2.5 % were morbidly obese (MO). Stone-free rates after single procedure in NW, OW, O, MO groups were 60.8, 61.7, 73.6, 61.5 %, respectively (p = 0.079). Overall targeted stone-free rates were also similar in four groups (88.9, 90.1, 93.6, 90.4 %, p = 0.586). There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of complications and mean hospitalization time among the groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that flexible URS is a valuable option for the treatment of kidney stone in both obese and non-obese patients. BMI did not influence the postoperative outcomes.