Instability of self-esteem and affective lability as determinants of self-reported oral health status and oral health-related behaviors

AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of the instability of self-esteem and affective lability on students' self-rated oral health and oral health-related behaviors. METHODS AND MATERIAL: The present study sample consisted of 178 first year medical students. A questionnaire was used to collect information about socio-demographic factors, behavioral factors, self-reported oral health status, the instability of self-esteem, and affective lability. RESULTS: Significant differences were found on the instability of self-esteem and affective lability on the following variables: gender, smoking, anxiety, depression, stress in everyday life, number of extracted teeth, and satisfaction with appearance of one's own teeth (Ps<0.05). The level of instability of self-esteem had a consistent association with the self-reported oral health status and satisfaction with appearance of teeth. The affective lability total score was a determinant of the number of extracted teeth, last toothache, self-rated gingival status, while anger was correlated with the number of current non-treated caries, extracted teeth, toothbrushing, and flossing frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate there is an increased risk for impaired dental health among subjects with instable self-esteem symptoms or symptoms of anger.     

Hepatitis delta virus super-infection in a co-infected patient with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and a surface antigen-negative hepatitis B virus variant

Human immunodeficiency virus infection has a major impact on the natural history of chronic hepatitis B and favours the emergence of viral mutants. We describe an acute hepatitis D virus superinfection in an HIV-1-infected patient under HAART treatment who was previously a chronic carrier of a surface negative HBV variant resistant to lamivudine.     

Counting hard-to-count populations: the network scale-up method for public health

Estimating sizes of hidden or hard-to-reach populations is an important problem in public health. For example, estimates of the sizes of populations at highest risk for HIV and AIDS are needed for designing, evaluating and allocating funding for treatment and prevention programmes. A promising approach to size estimation, relatively new to public health, is the network scale-up method (NSUM), involving two steps: estimating the personal network size of the members of a random sample of a total population and, with this information, estimating the number of members of a hidden subpopulation of the total population. We describe the method, including two approaches to estimating personal network sizes (summation and known population). We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and provide examples of international applications of the NSUM in public health. We conclude with recommendations for future research and evaluation.     

Optimal Nutrition Parameters for Neonates and Infants with Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart defects are known causes of malnutrition. Optimal nutritional management is paramount in improving short and long-term prognosis for neonates and infants with congenital heart malformations, as current strategies target preoperative and postoperative feeding requirements. Standardized enteral and/or parenteral feeding protocols, depending on the systemic implications of the cardiac defect, include the following common practices: diagnosing and managing feeding intolerance, choosing the right formula, and implementing a monitoring protocol. The latest guidelines from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, as well as a significant number of recent scientific studies, offer precious indications for establishing the best feeding parameters for neonates and infants with heart defects.     

Numerical design and experimental hydraulic testing of an axial flow ventricular assist device for infants and children

Mechanical circulatory support options for infants and children are very limited in the United States. Existing circulatory support systems have proven successful for short-term pediatric assist, but are not completely successful as a bridge-to-transplant or bridge-to-recovery. To address this substantial need for alternative pediatric mechanical assist, we are developing a novel, magnetically levitated, axial flow pediatric ventricular assist device (PVAD) intended for longer-term ventricular support. Three major numerical design and optimization phases have been completed. A prototype was built based on the latest numerical design (PVAD3) and hydraulically tested in a flow loop. The plastic PVAD prototype delivered 0.5-4 lpm, generating pressure rises of 50-115 mm Hg for operating speeds of 6,000-9,000 rpm. The experimental testing data and the numerical predictions correlated well. The error between these sets of data was found to be generally 7.8% with a maximum deviation of 24% at higher flow rates. The axial fluid forces for the numerical simulations ranged from 0.5 to 1 N and deviated from the experimental results by generally 8.5% with a maximum deviation of 12% at higher flow rates. These hydraulic results demonstrate the excellent performance of the PVAD3 and illustrate the achievement of the design objectives.     

Should mast cells be considered therapeutic targets in multiple sclerosis?

Mast cells are immune cells of the myeloid lineage that are found throughout the body, including the central nervous system. They perform many functions associated with innate and specific immunity, angiogenesis, and vascular homeostasis. Moreover, they have been implicated in a series of pathologies(e.g., hypersensitivity reactions, tumors, and inflammatory disorders). In this review, we propose that this cell could be a relevant therapeutic target in multiple sclerosis, which is a central nervous system degenerative disease. To support this proposition, we describe the general biological properties of mast cells, their contribution to innate and specific immunity, and the participation of mast cells in the various stages of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development. The final part of this review is dedicated to an overview of the available mast cells immunomodulatory drugs and their activity on multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, including our own experience related to the effect of ketotifen fumarate on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis evolution.     

Computational design and experimental testing of a novel axial flow LVAD

Thousands of cardiac failure patients per year in the United States could benefit from long-term mechanical circulatory support as destination therapy. To provide an improvement over currently available devices, we have designed a fully implantable axial-flow ventricular assist device with a magnetically levitated impeller (LEV-VAD). In contrast to currently available devices, the LEV-VAD has an unobstructed blood flow path and no secondary flow regions, generating substantially less retrograde and stagnant flow. The pump design included the extensive use of conventional pump design equations and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling for predicting pressure-flow curves, hydraulic efficiencies, scalar fluid stress levels, exposure times to such stress, and axial fluid forces exerted on the impeller for the suspension design. Flow performance testing was completed on a plastic prototype of the LEV-VAD for comparison with the CFD predictions. Animal fit trials were completed to determine optimum pump location and cannulae configuration for future acute and long-term animal implantations, providing additional insight into the LEV-VAD configuration and implantability. Per the CFD results, the LEV-VAD produces 6 l/min and 100 mm Hg at a rotational speed of approximately 6300 rpm for steady flow conditions. The pressure-flow performance predictions demonstrated the VAD's ability to deliver adequate flow over physiologic pressures for reasonable rotational speeds with best efficiency points ranging from 25% to 30%. The CFD numerical estimations generally agree within 10% of the experimental measurements over the entire range of rotational speeds tested. Animal fit trials revealed that the LEV-VAD's size and configuration were adequate, requiring no alterations to cannulae configurations for future animal testing. These acceptable performance results for LEV-VAD design support proceeding with manufacturing of a prototype for extensive mock loop and initial acute animal testing.     

Vitamin D and estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms and the risk of colorectal cancer in Bulgaria

Background and aims Different epidemiological studies report the protective effect on colorectal cancer (CRC) exerted by vitamin D₃ intake, estrogen replacement therapy, and increase of the risk of microsatellite instability (MSI) in CRC by withdrawal of estrogens. The aim of our study was to search for association between CRC and polymorphisms in estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) and Vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes. Materials and methods We analyzed the PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms from the ER-α gene and the BsmI polymorphism of the VDR gene in 140 patients with CRC (subsequently divided according to their MSI status) and 94 controls. Results We have demonstrated that the presence of the PvuII pp genotype increased the risk of developing MSI(+) tumors about three times compared to MSI(−) tumors [odds ratio (OR)=3.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88–10.91]. The effect of the XbaI xx genotype was similar (OR=2.08, 95% CI 0.49–8.81). Our results for the VDR BsmI polymorphism showed an increased risk for CRC in bb carriers (OR=1.8, 95% CI 0.81–4.05). Conclusion We conclude that PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms in the ER-α gene were associated with the risk of developing MSI in CRC patients. The BsmI polymorphism in the VDR gene was linked to the risk of developing CRC.     

Cytotoxic Effects on Gingival Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Root Surface Modifications Induced by Some Local Antimicrobial Products Used in Periodontitis Treatment

(1) Background: this study aims to test the cytotoxicity of three antimicrobial products used in periodontitis treatment on gingival mesenchymal stem cells (gMSCs) and their influence on root surfaces and gMSC adhesion. We tested the null hypothesis that the effects of the antimicrobials did not differ. (2) Methods: the commercial products based on sulphonic/sulphuric acids, sodium hypochlorite and silver nanoparticles, in five different concentrations, were added to culture medium for growing gMSCs. Cell proliferation capacity was tested using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and their viability was determined by succinate dehydrogenase activity (MTT) assay. Scanning electron microscopy evaluated the adhesion of gMSCs on root samples treated mechanically and with commercial products. (3) Results: the products induced a dose-dependent cytotoxicity in terms of reduced proliferation and viability of gMSCs, as well as cell shape modifications. Significant differences in CCK8 values between the different commercial products were observed. Based on proliferation tests, the null hypothesis was rejected. When MTT values of the three products were compared with each other, no significant differences were observed for any of the five concentrations (p = 0.065, p = 0.067, p = 0.172, p = 0.256, p = 0.060). (4) Conclusions: the three antimicrobials had a certain degree of cytotoxicity on gMSCs. gMSCs repopulated treated root surfaces.