Peri‐implant mucosal aspects of ITI implants supporting overdentures. A five‐year longitudinal study.

Sixty‐six ITI implants placed in the mandible of 33 edentulous elderly patients (mean age: 69 years) were observed longitudinally for 5 years. The implants served as overdenture anchorage either by means of a connecting bar or single spherical attachments. During the study period, 2 implants failed (one because of a peri‐implant lesion and one because of a fracture) and had to be removed. At the beginning of the study, all implants were osseointegrated and had successfully been in function for 335 months. Oral hygiene practices and the peri‐implant mucosal status were assessed according to the criteria of conventional periodontal parameters. Approximately 50% of the implants had been installed into lining mucosa and hence were to surrounded by keratinized mucosa. The peri‐implant mucosal tissue was maintained healthy during the whole observation period, and no or only minimal loss of attachment was observed. The probing depths averaged approximately 3 mm. At the end of the study, orthopantomographic radiographs were obtained from all patients to assess the peri‐implant bony structures. Small local angular bony defects were detected on 16 implants (22%) in 12 patients. Slightly increased probing depths were observed when angular bony defects were present. Loss of attachment was significantly less frequent when the implants had been placed following a prolonged period of edentulousness (<5 years). This study demonstrated that advanced age, reduced dexterity of elderly patients and environmental conditions of overdentures do not represent a 1 higher risk for the development of peri‐implant lesions.     

Haemolytic activity in the blood clot of Aedes aegypti.

In the present study it was demonstrated that mosquito blood clots contain a haemolytic principle which achieves haemolysis of washed erythrocytes in an isotonic medium. Proteinases are thought to play a role in this process. No final proof could be given for the existence of phospholipase activity although some results suggest the presence of this group of enzymes.     

Long-term evaluation of non-submerged hollow cylinder implants. Clinical and radiographic results

From 1974 various types of hollow cylinder ITI-implants were placed before the new generation of Bonefit ITI-implants was developed in the mid-eighties. The aim of this study was the clinical and radiographic evaluation of hollow cylinder implants that were inserted during the time period of 1978-1987 in partially and completely edentulous patients to support overdentures, fixed partial prostheses and single crowns. Altogether, 71 patients with a total of 132 hollow cylinder ITI-implants still in situ had been followed regularly during the entire observation period of 11.4 to 19.7 years (mean 14.1). Thirteen implants had to be removed before an observation period of 10 years was completed, 4 additional implants were lost after being in function for over 10 years and two further implants were considered to be failures at the time of the examination. Thus 91.4% of the implants were still in situ after 10 years and the survival rate for a mean observation period of 14.1 years was 84.6%. Periimplant parameters were used to assess the clinical conditions of the implants. On the radiographs, horizontal bone loss or angular defects could be detected on 40% of all implants if compared to the base-line situation. The probing depths around these implants were significantly increased compared to implants with an unchanged bone level, however the mean probing depths did not exceed 3.5 mm and 2.8 mm respectively. From this clinical evaluation one may conclude that with the early generation of hollow cylinder ITI-implants favorable long-term results were achieved.     

Paspalum striate mosaic virus: an Australian mastrevirus from Paspalum dilatatum

Three monocot-infecting mastreviruses from Australia, all found primarily in pasture and naturalised grasses, have been characterised at the molecular level. Here, we present the full genome sequence of a fourth, Paspalum striate mosaic virus (PSMV), isolated from Paspalum dilatatum from south-east Queensland. The genome was 2816 nt long and had an organisation typical of other monocot-infecting mastreviruses. Its nearest relative is Bromus cartharticus striate mosaic virus (BCSMV), with which it shares an overall genome identity of 75%. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genome and each of the putative viral proteins places PSMV in a group with the other three Australian striate mosaic viruses. PSMV, BCSMV and Digitaria didactyla striate mosaic virus all contain a similar, small recombinant sequence in the small intergenic region.     

Identification of viral and non-viral reverse transcribing elements in pineapple (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ananas comosus</Emphasis>), including members of two new badnavirus species

A previously published partial sequence of pineapple bacilliform virus was shown to be from a retrotransposon (family Metaviridae) and not from a badnavirus as previously thought. Two newly discovered sequence groups isolated from pineapple were associated with bacilliform virions and were transmitted by mealybugs. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that they were members of new badnavirus species. A third caulimovirid sequence was also amplified from pineapple, but available evidence suggests that this DNA is not encapsidated, but more likely derived from an endogenous virus.     

Class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinases are obligate p85-p110 heterodimers

Class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) signal downstream of tyrosine kinases and Ras and control a wide variety of biological responses. In mammals, these heterodimeric PI3Ks consist of a p110 catalytic subunit (p110alpha, p110beta, or p110delta) bound to any of five distinct regulatory subunits (p85alpha, p85beta, p55gamma, p55alpha, and p50alpha, collectively referred to as "p85s"). The relative expression levels of p85 and p110 have been invoked to explain key features of PI3K signaling. For example, free (i.e., non-p110-bound) p85alpha has been proposed to negatively regulate PI3K signaling by competition with p85/p110 for recruitment to phosphotyrosine docking sites. Using affinity and ion exchange chromatography and quantitative mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that the p85 and p110 subunits are present in equimolar amounts in mammalian cell lines and tissues. No evidence for free p85 or p110 subunits could be obtained. Cell lines contain 10,000-15,000 p85/p110 complexes per cell, with p110beta and p110delta being the most prevalent catalytic subunits in nonleukocytes and leukocytes, respectively. These results argue against a role of free p85 in PI3K signaling and provide insights into the nonredundant functions of the different class IA PI3K isoforms.     

Australian monocot-infecting mastrevirus diversity rivals that in Africa

Monocotyledonous plant infecting mastreviruses (family Geminiviridae) have been found in the Old World. The greatest diversity of these viruses has been found in Africa but this may simply reflect the more extensive sampling that has been done there. To provide a better understanding of mastrevirus diversity in Australia, we have sequenced the genomes of 41 virus isolates found in naturalised and native grasses and identified four new species in addition to the four previously characterised species. Two of these species, which were recovered from a single Sporobolus plant, are highly divergent and are most closely related to the African streak viruses. This, coupled with the discovery of divergent dicotyledonous plant infecting mastreviruses in Australia brings into question the hypothesis that mastreviruses may have originated in Africa. We found that the patterns of inter- and intra-species recombination and the recombination hotspots mirror those found in both their African monocot-infecting counterparts and dicot-infecting mastrevirus.     

Functional expression of the amiloride-sensitive sodium channel in Xenopus oocytes.

Expression of the amiloride-sensitive sodium channel was examined in Xenopus oocytes that were microinjected with A6 cell mRNA. Amiloride-inhibitable 22Na flux could be measured in intact oocytes 2-3 days after injection with 25 ng of poly(A)+ RNA isolated from aldosterone-treated A6 cells. The rate of 22Na uptake was approximately 15-fold greater in oocytes microinjected with 25 ng of poly(A)+ RNA than in water-injected control oocytes. An increase in 22Na uptake by mRNA-injected oocytes occurred whether the mRNA was isolated from A6 cells grown on a porous or nonporous support. In the presence of 4 mM NaCl, amiloride caused dose-dependent inhibition of 22Na uptake in mRNA-injected oocytes, which was half-maximal at 6 x 10(-8) M. Both 1 microM amiloride and 0.1 microM benzamil inhibited 22Na uptake in mRNA-injected oocytes by greater than 95%, whereas less than 50% inhibition occurred with 1 microM 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride. When A6 cell mRNA was size fractionated by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation, amiloride-sensitive 22Na uptake was expressed predominantly by oocytes injected with mRNA from two contiguous fractions.     

Identification of African swine fever viral antigens in the hemolymph of soft ticks (Argasidae: Ornithodoros) by the immunodot blot test

The immunodot blot test was used to identify African swine fever virus (ASFV) antigens in the hemolymph from soft ticks (Ornithodoros coriaceus) fed on ASFV-infected pigs. The immunodot blot test was sensitive and specific for ASFV antigens and has potential field application. Hemolymph from field-collected ticks can be screened for ASFV and a variety of other tick-borne pathogens using this test.