Inflammation response and liver stiffness: predictive model of regression of hepatic stiffness after sustained virological response in cirrhotics patients with chronic hepatitis C

Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C should be monitored for the evaluation of liver function and screening of hepatocellular carcinoma even after...     

Development of a model of soft tissue simulation using ballistic gelatin for CBCT acquisitions related to dentomaxillofacial radiology research

Objectives:To present the ballistic gelatin as a new material capable of simulating the soft tissues in cone-beam CT (CBCT) images.Methods:CBCT images of three piglet heads were acquired with their soft tissues intact (standard group). Subsequently, the piglet heads were fixed in a container using metallic pins and moulded with acrylic resin; the soft tissues were then removed and replaced by ballistic gelatin, with the same thickness of the original soft tissues. The images were evaluated by two oral radiologists, to check the adaptation on bone surfaces, thickness and density, penetration into large bone cavities and cancellous bone, and the presence of air bubbles using a 5-score scale. Additionally, an objective analysis was carried out by one oral radiologist. For each CBCT scan, three axial reconstructions were selected to represent the mandibular, occlusal, and maxillary levels. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of the grey values were calculated in four regions of interest determined on soft tissue areas and compared by two-way ANOVA.Results:The ballistic gelatin showed subjective scores ranging from good to excellent for all parameters evaluated. There was no significant difference in the mean and SD values of the grey values between ballistic gelatin and the gold standard groups for all levels (p > 0.05). Higher SD values were observed in the occlusal level for both groups (p < 0.05).Conclusions:Ballistic gelatin has visual and objective similarity with the gold standard. Thus, the ballistic gelatin is a promising material capable of simulating soft tissues in CBCT images.     

Longitudinal associations of physical fitness and body mass index with academic performance

No studies have analyzed the longitudinal associations of change in physical fitness components and obesity with academic performance. The aim of the study was to examine longitudinal associations of changes in physical fitness components and body mass index with academic performance among youth, and whether the physical fitness components are moderators of the longitudinal association between obesity and academic performance in youth. Longitudinal analyses (2 years) included 1802 youths. Physical fitness components were assessed following the ALPHA health‐related fitness test battery. Academic performance was assessed via school records. Youth in the persistently high cardiorespiratory fitness and motor ability categories (ie, fit at baseline and at 2‐year follow‐up) had higher academic performance at follow‐up than those in the persistently low category. Further, youth with normal weight at baseline and overweight/obesity at follow‐up had lower academic performance scores at follow‐up compared to those with normal weight. Also, cardiorespiratory fitness may ameliorate the negative influence of excess body mass index on academic performance at follow‐up. Promoting physical activity programs at school that include both aerobic exercise and motor tasks to improve physical fitness and reduce body mass index may not only improve physical health, but also contribute toward successful academic development.     

Doubly heterozygous LMNA and TTN mutations revealed by exome sequencing in a severe form of dilated cardiomyopathy

Familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heterogeneous disease; although 30 disease genes have been discovered, they explain only no more than half of all cases; in addition, the causes of intra-familial variability in DCM have remained largely unknown. In this study, we exploited the use of whole-exome sequencing (WES) to investigate the causes of clinical variability in an extended family with 14 affected subjects, four of whom showed particular severe manifestations of cardiomyopathy requiring heart transplantation in early adulthood. This analysis, followed by confirmative conventional sequencing, identified the mutation p.K219T in the lamin A/C gene in all 14 affected patients. An additional variant in the gene for titin, p.L4855F, was identified in the severely affected patients. The age for heart transplantation was substantially less for LMNA:p.K219T/TTN:p.L4855F double heterozygotes than that for LMNA:p.K219T single heterozygotes. Myocardial specimens of doubly heterozygote individuals showed increased nuclear length, sarcomeric disorganization, and myonuclear clustering compared with samples from single heterozygotes. In conclusion, our results show that WES can be used for the identification of causal and modifier variants in families with variable manifestations of DCM. In addition, they not only indicate that LMNA and TTN mutational status may be useful in this family for risk stratification in individuals at risk for DCM but also suggest titin as a modifier for DCM.     

Clinical outcome of bonded partial indirect posterior restorations on vital and non-vital teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical Oral Investigations - The survival rate of indirect partial adhesive restorations on vital versus endodontically treated teeth is still controversial. The hypothesis is that there may be a...     

Effect of green tea-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on leathery dentin microhardness

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a chitosan-based nanoformulation containing green tea on leathery (remaining) dentin subsurface microhardness. Size distribution, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (mV) of nanoformulations were previously determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Human dentin specimens were exposed to Streptococcus mutans for 14 d. Soft dentin were selectively removed by Er:YAG laser (n?=?30) or bur (n?=?30). Remaining dentin was biomodified with chitosan nanoparticles (Nchi, n?=?10) or green tea-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Gt?+?Nchi, n?=?10) for 1 min. Control group (n?=?10) did not receive any treatment. Subsurface microhardness (Knoop) was evaluated in hard (sound) and soft dentin, and then, in leathery dentin and after its biomodification, at depths of 30, 60 and 90 μm from the surface. Nchi reached an average size of?≤?300 nm, PDI varied between 0.311 and 0.422, and zeta potential around?+?30 mV. Gt?+?Nchi reached an average size of?≤?350 nm, PDI?<?0.45, and zeta potential around?+?40 mV. Soft dentin showed significantly reduced microhardness at all depths (p?>?0.05). The subsurface microhardness was independent of choice of excavation method (p?>?0.05). At 30 µm from the surface, Gt?+?Nchi increased the leathery dentin microhardness compared to untreated group (p?<?0.05). Nchi promoted intermediate values (p?>?0.05). Both nanoformulations showed an average size less than 350 nm with nanoparticles of different sizes and stability along the 90-day period evaluated. Subsurface microhardness of bur-treated and laser-irradiated dentin was similar. At 30 µm, the biomodification with Gt?+?Nchi improved the microhardness of leathery dentin, independently of caries excavation method used.

     

EGFR-Targeted Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Focus on EGFR Oncogenic Mutation

The two essential requirements for pathologic specimens in the era of personalized therapies for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) are accurate subtyping as adenocarcinoma (ADC) versus squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) and suitability for EGFR molecular testing, as well as for testing of other oncogenes such as EML4-ALK and KRAS. Actually, the value of EGFR expressed in patients with NSCLC in predicting a benefit in terms of survival from treatment with an epidermal growth factor receptor targeted therapy is still in debate, while there is a convincing evidence on the predictive role of the EGFR mutational status with regard to the response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).This is a literature overview on the state-of-the-art of EGFR oncogenic mutation in NSCLC. It is designed to highlight the preclinical rationale driving the molecular footprint assessment, the progressive development of a specific pharmacological treatment and the best method to identify those NSCLC who would most likely benefit from treatment with EGFR-targeted therapy. This is supported by the belief that a rationale for the prioritization of specific regimens based on patient-tailored therapy could be closer than commonly expected.