Reliability of Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs in the Assessment of the Upper Airway in Children: A Retrospective study

ObjectivesTo test the reliability of Lateral cephalometric radiographs (LCRs) for use in the assessment of the upper airway, hyoid bone, soft palate, and tongue.Materials and MethodsThe records of 57 healthy Chinese children from a nonhospital population (mean age = 12.6 years, SD = 0.5, 28 males and 29 females) who received two consecutive LCRs in the natural head posture were retrospectively analyzed. Fifteen linear, angular, and area measurements were used to describe the airway, hyoid bone, soft palate, and tongue. The reliability between the two LCRs was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and F-test. Errors were estimated with the Dahlberg and Bland-Altman method, and intra- and inter-assessor agreements were determined.ResultsMeasurements of upper airway and hyoid bone had excellent method reliability, intra-assessor reliability, and inter-assessor reliability (ICC > 0.8). However, the method reliability and the inter-assessor reliability for soft palate and tongue was less favorable (ICC from 0.60 to 0.96). Soft palate area and thickness were the most critical parameters. Intra-assessor reliability was greater than both method reliability and inter-assessor reliability (which were similar).ConclusionsThe measurement of upper airway morphology, defined as the intramural space, and of the hyoid bone position were highly reliable on LCRs of children. However, the limited reliability in the assessment of tongue and soft palate area may compromise the diagnostic application of LCRs to these structures.     

Body weight impact on puberty: effects of high-calorie diet on puberty onset in female rhesus monkeys

Secular trends toward a declining age at puberty onset with correlated changes in body weight have been reported in economically advanced countries. This has been attributed to excess calorie intake along with reduced physical activity in children. However, because the timing of puberty in humans is also influenced by other factors, such as genetic traits, living conditions, geographical location, and environmental chemicals, it is difficult to distinguish the effect of diet and body size from other factors in a human population. Here we report that feeding juvenile female rhesus monkeys born and raised at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center with a high-calorie diet results in acceleration of body growth and precocious menarche. The monkeys fed a high-calorie diet also had an elevated body mass index. The most significant treatment effects on circulating hormones were increased leptin and IGF-I levels throughout the experiment. The findings of this study suggest the importance of close monitoring of juvenile feeding behaviors as an important intervention to reduce the prevalence of precocious development and metabolic diseases in adulthood.     

Cellular adaptation contributes to calorie restriction-induced preservation of skeletal muscle in aged rhesus monkeys

We have previously shown that a 30% reduced calorie intake diet delayed the onset of muscle mass loss in adult monkeys between ~16 and ~22 years of age and prevented multiple cellular phenotypes of aging. In the present study we show the impact of long term (~17 years) calorie restriction (CR) on muscle aging in very old monkeys (27-33 yrs) compared to age-matched Control monkeys fed ad libitum, and describe these data in the context of the whole longitudinal study. Muscle mass was preserved in very old calorie restricted (CR) monkeys compared to age-matched Controls. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed an age-associated increase in the proportion of Type I fibers in the VL from Control animals that was prevented with CR. The cross sectional area (CSA) of Type II fibers was reduced in old CR animals compared to earlier time points (16-22 years of age); however, the total loss in CSA was only 15% in CR animals compared to 36% in old Controls at ~27 years of age. Atrophy was not detected in Type I fibers from either group. Notably, Type I fiber CSA was ~1.6 fold greater in VL from CR animals compared to Control animals at ~27 years of age. The frequency of VL muscle fibers with defects in mitochondrial electron transport system enzymes (ETS(ab)), the absence of cytochrome c oxidase and hyper-reactive succinate dehydrogenase, were identical between Control and CR. We describe changes in ETS(ab) fiber CSA and determined that CR fibers respond differently to the challenge of mitochondrial deficiency. Fiber counts of intact rectus femoris muscles revealed that muscle fiber density was preserved in old CR animals. We suggest that muscle fibers from CR animals are better poised to endure and adapt to changes in muscle mass than those of Control animals.     

Cardiac risks and management of complications in pregnant women with congenital heart disease

There are a growing number of women with congenital heart disease reaching adulthood and contemplating and/or undergoing pregnancy. However, pregnancy imposes hemodynamic stress on the heart and this can result in maternal, fetal and neonatal complications. Most women with congenital heart disease do well during pregnancy, but some women with high-risk cardiac lesions will not tolerate the hemodynamic changes of pregnancy. Physicians must be aware of the potential risks for the mother both during and after pregnancy, the risks to the fetus and neonate, and the risks and benefits of medications and procedures used during pregnancy. For women with complex cardiac conditions, management during pregnancy benefits from multidisciplinary care involving cardiologists with expertise in pregnancy, obstetricians with expertise in maternal fetal medicine, neonatologists and obstetric anesthetists, among others. This review will focus on the cardiac risks faced by women with congenital heart disease; particularly those at high risk, and on management strategies to mitigate risk and address cardiac complications.     

A randomized controlled trial of home tooth-whitening products

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of two marketed home tooth-whitening products. METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical trial involving 87 adults who were randomly allocated into one of three groups: (1) 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening strips, (2) 18% carbamide peroxide whitening gel, and (3) a placebo (fluoride toothpaste) control group. Subjects were instructed individually and then used the given product daily for 2 consecutive weeks. Color was determined in brightness (L*), yellowness (b*) and redness (a*) [color space] at baseline and 8 weeks after dispensing the product by employing a high resolution digital camera (Fuji HC1000 CCD) to image the subject's anterior maxillary teeth under standard polarized lighting conditions. The subjects also completed a questionnaire on self-satisfaction with the treatment outcome. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA (Bonferroni test) demonstrated significant differences in color between the three groups with changes in brightness (L*, P< 0.001), yellowness (b*, P< 0.001) and redness (a*, P < 0.001). Changes in L* a* b* was greatest among those who used the 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening strips. Subjects in the whitening strip group also rated that product significantly (P < 0.01) more favorably than other groups with respect to the amount of whiteness improvement, as well as whitening satisfaction and overall impression while there is no significant difference between the whitening gel and the placebo groups.     

Proximal Femoral Replacement in the Management of Acute Periprosthetic Fractures of the Hip: A Competing Risks Survival Analysis

To examine the mortality and implant survivorship of proximal femoral replacement (PFR), revision total hip arthroplasty (REV) and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) in the treatment of acute periprosthetic fractures of the proximal femur, we retrospectively reviewed 97 consecutive acute periprosthetic proximal femoral fractures from 2000 to 2010. Three groups were defined: PFR (n = 21), REV (n = 19), and ORIF (n = 57). Outcome measures were all-cause mortality, implant failure, and reoperation. Competing Risks survival analysis of overall mortality during the mean 35-month follow-up showed no statistical difference between the three groups (P = 0.65; 12 and 60 month mortality for PFR: 37%, 45%; REV: 16%, 46%; ORIF: 14%, 100%). Implant survival was worse for the PFR group (P = 0.03, 12 and 60-month implant failure rate for PFR: 5%, 39%; REV: 7%, 7%; ORIF 2%, 2%). We conclude that PFR as compared with REV or ORIF may have worse medium-term implant survival, primarily due to instability and dislocation.     

In vivo release and turnover of secreted platelet antiheparin proteins in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Human and rhesus monkey platelets secrete at least two antiheparin proteins: platelet factor 4 (PF4) and low affinity platelet factor 4 (LA-PF4). Neither of these proteins showed species-related antigenic differences. As determined by radioimmunoassay, the levels of PF4 and LA-PF4 antigen per 10(9) monkey platelets amounted to 10.7 and 20.3 microgram, respectively. One milliliter of monkey plasma prepared from blood collected into an anticoagulant composed of EDTA, prostaglandin E1, and theophylline solution contained 22.4 ng LA-PF4 and 8.0 ng PF4. Concentrations of these two platelet-specific proteins in monkeys closely resembled levels found in human platelets and plasma. Infusion of prostacyclin (PGI2) (100 or 300 ng/kg/min) into monkeys for 15 min resulted in a significant decrease of plasma levels of LA-PF4 antigen and of PF4 by 40%--60% (p < 0.0001). This decrease was related to the inhibitory effect of PGI2 on the secretion of platelets stimulated by a catheter or by venipuncture. Longer infusion of PGI2 did not produce further significant change. The supernate obtained after aggregation of human platelets stimulated by thrombin was injected into monkeys receiving PGI2 infusion. The disappearance of LA-PF4 antigen in monkey plasma followed a biphasic exponential curve with half-lives for the fast and slow components of 8.4 and 63 min. PF4 disappeared faster but followed the same pattern (half-lives for the fast and slow component of 2.1 and 70 min). Analysis of the experimental data suggests that the low levels of secreted platelet proteins in monkey plasma are related to their minimal in vivo release and to their rapid clearance.     

Structure-Guided Rescaffolding of Selective Antagonists of BCL-XL

相似文献