Immunocytochemical identification of serotonin axonal contacts on characterized neurons in laminae I and II of the cat dorsal horn

Serotonergic pathways from brainstem to spinal cord play an important role in the modulation of pain perception. To establish where that modulation occurs, we examined serotonin-immunoreactive axonal contacts on individually characterized laminae I and II dorsal horn neurons intracellularly filled with horseradish peroxidase. We found serotonin axonal contacts on marginal, stalked, and islet cells. Contacts preferentially occurred on dendritic shafts rather than on spines. Marginal and stalked cells received the heaviest innervation.     

CD4 T cells mediate axonal damage and spinal cord motor neuron apoptosis in murine p0106-125-induced experimental autoimmune neuritis

The pathogenesis of inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the peripheral nervous system, leading to demyelination and/or axonal damage, remains incompletely understood. In particular, it is controversial regarding the extent to which (i) autoimmune-mediated destruction of peripheral nerves results in secondary damage of the central nervous system, and (ii) CD4 and CD8 T cells contribute to disease. To address these issues, we applied the murine model of P0(106-125)-induced experimental autoimmune neuritis. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with P0(106-125) resulted in severe axonal damage and mild demyelination. Importantly, these mice developed a "dying-back" axonopathy with apoptosis of a large fraction of neurons in the anterior horn of the lumbar and thoracic spinal cord and a progressive neurogenic muscular atrophy. T cell-depletion experiments identified CD4, but not CD8, T cells as important mediators of experimental autoimmune neuritis. CD4 T cells represented the major cellular source of antigen-specific interferon-gamma and interleukin-17 production, regulated the number of tumor necrosis factor-positive and inducible nitric oxide synthase-positive macrophages in the diseased sciatic nerve, and mediated axonal damage and subsequent neuronal apoptosis and neurogenic muscular atrophy. In contrast, the demyelination of peripheral nerves was only slightly ameliorated in CD4 T cell-depleted mice. In conclusion, P0(106-125)-induced experimental autoimmune neuritis is a CD4 T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that affects both the peripheral and central nervous systems.     

Active versus passive microleakage of Resilon/Epiphany and gutta-percha/AH Plus

The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the active versus passive dye microleakage and apical sealing ability of laterally condensed gutta-percha/AH Plus versus Resilon/Epiphany. One hundred and twenty teeth were instrumented and divided into experimental, positive and negative control groups. In group 1, the teeth were obturated with gutta-percha/AH Plus and in group 2 the teeth were obturated with Resilon/Epiphany. The apical seal was evaluated with a passive and active dye penetration test. Absorbance of the extracted dye was determined with a spectrophotometer. Resilon/Epiphany showed less dye penetration in comparison with the gutta-percha/AH Plus group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the passive and active dye penetration tests (P > 0.05). In this in vitro study, canals obturated with Resilon/Epiphany showed less apical leakage than those obturated with gutta-percha/AH Plus, regardless of the type of dye penetration test used.     

Fundamental Movement Skills Development under the Influence of a Gymnastics Program and Everyday Physical Activity in Seven-Year-Old Children

Objective

The objectives of this study were: a) to examine the influence of an 18-week basic artistic gymnastics program on fundamental movement skills (FMS) development in seven-year-old children; b) to determine correlations between children’s daily activities and successful performance of FMS and basic artistic gymnastics skills.

Methods

Seventy five first grade primary school children took part in this study. A physical education teacher specialized in artistic gymnastics conducted a gymnastics program for 18 weeks, three times a week. The level of gymnastics skills and FMS were identified at the beginning and at the end of the program. The level of gymnastics skills was evaluated by performance of eight artistic gymnastics skills, while FMS were evaluated by the use of FMS-polygon. Physical activity and inactivity was evaluated by using a proxy-questionnaire “Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire˝ (NPAQ).

Findings

According to the dependent samples t test, significant differences were found in the FMS-polygon and all gymnastics skills before and after the 18-week gymnastics program. Increasing correlations were established over time between gymnastics skills and the FMS-polygon. Unorganized daily activity of children significantly correlated with their mastering of gymnastics skills and FMS. The presented findings confirm: (1) the thesis that basic artistic gymnastics skills and FMS could be developed simultaneously, (2) the theory of positive transfer of similar skills between FMS and artistic gymnastic skills.

Conclusion

Mastering basic artistic gymnastics skills will provoke improvement of FMS and finally become a prerequisite for successful introduction of learning more complex gymnastics skills. The obtained results imply that an increase of children’s unorganized daily activities can improve the mastering of basic gymnastics skills and simultaneously the development of FMS.     

Micro-Raman spectroscopic analysis of the degree of conversion of composite resins containing different initiators cured by polywave or monowave LED units

Objectives

To determine the degree of conversion (DC) over 48 h post-curing of resin mixtures containing trimethylbenzoyl-diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) initiator cured by a polywave or a monowave LED light-curing unit (LCU).

Methods

In resin mixtures based on equal weight percent (wt%) of BisGMA and TEGDMA the following initiators were added: 0.2 wt% camphorquinone (CQ) + 0.8 wt% ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDMAB) (Group 1); 1 wt% TPO (Group 2) and 0.1 wt% CQ + 0.4 wt% EDMAB + 0.5 wt% TPO (Group 3). Half of the samples in each group (n = 5) were cured using a polywave (bluephase^® G2, Ivoclar Vivadent) or a monowave LED LCU (bluephase^®, Ivoclar Vivadent). The DC was measured using micro-Raman spectroscopy within 5 min and then 1, 3, 6, 24 and 48 h post-irradiation. The data were analysed using general linear model and two-way ANOVA for the factors ‘time’, ‘material’, ‘surface’ and ‘LCU’ at α = 0.05.

Results

The initial DC values obtained upon light curing remained similar over a 48 h period. bluephase^® G2 produced the highest DC in Group 2 followed by Group 3, and Group 1. bluephase^® resulted in the highest DC in Group 1, followed by Group 2 and Group 3 (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Unfilled resin materials containing both TPO– and CQ–amine initiators are effectively cured using bluephase^® G2. Resin mixture with the same wt% of initiators is better cured when TPO is the only initiator, compared to CQ–amine only or combined TPO and CQ–amine system. After initial light cure, no additional conversion of uncured monomers was detected in an unfilled resin material over 48 h at 37 °C.     

Dental and skeletal maturity in adoptive children: assessments at arrival and after one year in the admitting country

Seventy-one adoptive children from Asian countries, mainly Korea, were adopted by Danish parents. Height and weight were measured and dental and skeletal maturity assessed immediately after arrival and one year later. Increase in dental age was in complete concordance with the time interval between the two examinations. With regard to skeletal age, the majority of children showed an increased maturation rate although some of the youngest children seemed to be further retarded in maturation rate during their first year in Denmark. Comparison between two methods for assessing skeletal maturity revealed that the 'catch up' observed for children above one year of age was significantly more pronounced when assessed by the TW-2 method than when applying the G-P method. For the Korean children height and weight measurements increased more than the average values for the Danish population.