Diagnosing osteoporosis by using dental panoramic radiographs: the OSTEODENT project.

OBJECTIVES: Measurement of cortical thickness and subjective assessment of cortical porosity on panoramic radiographs are methods previously reported for diagnosing osteoporosis. The aims of this study were to determine the relative efficacy of the mandibular cortical index and cortical width in detecting osteoporosis, both alone and in combination, and to determine the optimal cortical width threshold for referral for additional osteoporosis investigation. STUDY DESIGN: Six hundred seventy-one postmenopausal women 45 to 70 years of age were recruited for this study. They received dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the left hip and lumbar spine (L1 to L4), and dental panoramic radiographic examinations of the teeth and jaws. Three observers separately assessed the mandibular cortical width and porosity in the mental foramen region of the mandible. Cortical width was corrected for magnification errors. Chi-squared automatic interaction detection analysis (CHAID) software was used (SPSS AnswerTree, version 3.1, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Chi-squared automatic interaction detection analysis showed that the cortical porosity was a poorer predictor of osteoporosis than mandibular cortical width. For the 3 observers, a mandibular cortical width of <3 mm provided diagnostic odds ratios of 6.51, 6.09, and 8.04. The test is therefore only recommended in triage screening of individuals by using radiographs made for purposes other than osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: When evaluating panoramic radiographs, only those patients with the thinnest mandibular cortices (i.e., <3 mm) should be referred for further osteoporosis investigation.     

Retinal degeneration associated with RDH12 mutations results from decreased 11-cis retinal synthesis due to disruption of the visual cycle

Human Molecular Genetics     

Cost comparison of methods for preparation of neonatal red cell aliquots.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the preparation costs of two common methods used for neonatal red blood cell transfusion aliquots. METHODS: Three months of data from a Level 2 and Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were used to determine the comparative cost for red cell aliquot transfusions using an eight bag aliquot/transfer system or the syringe set system. Using leuko-poor red blood cell blood collected in Adsol and containing approximately 320 ml of red blood cells and supernatant solution, the average cost of neonatal transfusion aliquots was determined using the Charter Medical syringe set and the Charter Medical eight bag aliquot/transfer system. RESULTS: A total of 126 red blood cell transfusion aliquots were used over the three month period. The amount transfused with each aliquot ranged from 5.0 ml - 55.0 ml with an average of 24.0 ml per aliquot. The cost per aliquot using the eight aliquot/transfer set was calculated as $36.25 and the cost per aliquot using the syringe set cost was calculated as $30.71. Additional benefits observed with the syringe set included decreased blood waste. CONCLUSION: When comparing Charter Medical multiple aliquot bag sets and the Charter Medical syringe aliquot system to provide neonatal transfusions, the use of the syringe system decreased blood waste and proved more cost effective.     

Measurement of Perceived Disruption During Rebuilding Following Hurricane Andrew

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a measure of perceived disruption during rebuilding following a disaster. Two eight-item scales, which measured intensity of disruption during the entire repair phase (Intensity-RP) and intensity of disruption during the past month (Intensity-PM) were developed and administered to 135 survivors of Hurricane Andrew. At 9 to 12 months postdisaster, Intensity-RP and Intensity-PM were both significantly associated with scores on the Global Severity Index of the SCL-90-R, and with scores on the Impact of Event-Intrusion Scale; Intensity-PM alone was significantly associated with PTSD scores. Regression analyses indicated that each scale contributed significant unique variance in predicting mental health symptoms, even after controlling for relevant demographic and initial disaster exposure variables.     

Behavioral effects of vehicles: DMSO, ethanol, Tween-20, Tween-80, and emulphor-620

Experimental drugs and compounds that do not easily dissolve in water or saline are frequently combined with vehicles like solvents, detergents, or vegetable oils. Yet very little has been reported on the behavioral effects of vehicles. In this study, we assessed the effects of a vegetable oil (emulphor-620), two detergents (Tween-20 and Tween-80), and two solvents [dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and ethanol] on the locomotor activity in CD2F1 male mice. Locomotor activity was monitored for 12 h after vehicle administration (IP). The concentrations for each vehicle were expressed as percent of vehicle in saline (v/v). Emulphor-620 did not affect locomotor activity at any concentration tested (2%, 4%, 8%, 16%, and 32%). Tween-20 significantly decreased locomotor activity at a concentration of 16% and Tween-80 at 32%. DMSO significantly decreased locomotor activity at concentrations of 32% and 64%. In contrast, ethanol produced a biphasic behavioral response: increased activity at a concentration of 16% and decreased activity at a concentration of 32%. These results will facilitate the selection and concentration of vehicles to be used in combination with experimental drugs or test agents.     

The effects of atrazine on microcosms developed from four natural plankton communities

Comparisons were made among Leffler microcosms developed from four different natural communities and exposed to 0, 20, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 g/L atrazine, a commonly used herbicide. Atrazine reduced net primary productivity, pH, and net productivity/respiration ratios in all four microcosm communities. In three of the four communities, the lowest observed (P < 0.05) effect concentration (LOEL) was 100 g/L. In the fourth community the LOEL was 200 g/L atrazine.The sensitivity and accuracy of bioassays with four different microcosm communities were evaluated by comparing results with values reported for acute and chronic single species bioassays, other types of microcosms, and experimental ponds exposed to similar concentrations of atrazine. The ranges of sensitivity noted in these experiments were less than the range reported for single species bioassays using common test organisms and similar to those reported for other microcosms. The similarity between Leffler microcosm results and the responses reported for the experimental ponds suggests that the Leffler microcosms accurately reflected concentrations causing ecosystem level changes in the experimental ponds.     

Association between TNF-alpha -308G>A polymorphism and the development of acute coronary syndromes in Greek subjects: the CARDIO2000-GENE Study.

PURPOSE: We investigated the association of a polymorphism within the promoter of TauNuF-alpha locus at the position -308 on the likelihood of having acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Greek adults. METHODS: We studied demographic, lifestyle, and clinical information in 237 hospitalized patients (185 males) with a first event of an ACS and 237 matched by age and sex (controls) without any clinical evidence of coronary heart disease. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies were in patients, 87% (n = 206), 12% (n = 29), and 1% (n = 2) for G/G, G/A, and A/A, and in controls, 96% (n = 227), 4% (n = 10), and 0% (n = 0) for G/G, G/A, and A/A, respectively (P = 0.04). After adjusting for age and sex, as well as various potential confounders, we observed that G/A or A/A genotypes were associated with 1.94-fold higher odds (95% CI 1.06 to 3.68) of ACS compared to G/G homozygotes. No gene to-gender or to-clinical syndrome interactions were observed. Further subgroup analysis showed that the distribution of TNF-alpha -308G>A polymorphism was associated with the presence of family history of CHD in patients, but not in controls. In particular, in G/A and A/A patients 17.2% reported family history of CHD, whereas in G/G patients, 34.5% reported family history (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may state a hypothesis of an association between the -308G>A TNF-alpha polymorphism the development of ACS and the presence of family history of CHD, in Greece.