Functional characterization of CEP250 variant identified in nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common manifestation of inherited retinal diseases with high degree of genetic, allelic, and phenotypic heterogeneity. CEP250 encodes the C‐Nap1 protein and has been associated with various retinal phenotypes. Here, we report the identification of a mutation (c.562C>T, p.R188*) in the CEP250 in a consanguineous family with nonsyndromic RP. To gain insights into the molecular pathomechanism underlying CEP250 defects and the functional relevance of CEP250 variants in humans, we conducted a functional characterization of CEP250 variant using a novel Cep250 knockin mouse line. Remarkably, the disruption of Cep250 resulted in severe impairment of retinal function and significant retinal morphological alterations. The homozygous knockin mice showed significantly reduced retinal thickness and ERG responses. This study not only broadens the spectrum of phenotypes associated with CEP250 mutations, but also, for the first time, elucidates the function of CEP250 in photoreceptors using a newly established animal model.     

An indoor air quality evaluation in a residential retrofit project using spray polyurethane foam

Understanding of indoor air quality (IAQ) during and after spray polyurethane foam (SPF) application is essential to protect the health of both workers and building occupants. Previous efforts such as field monitoring, micro-chamber/spray booth emission studies, and fate/transport modeling have been conducted to understand the chemical exposure of SPF and guide risk mitigation strategies. However, each type of research has its limitation and can only reveal partial information on the relationship between SPF and IAQ. A comprehensive study is truly needed to integrate the experimental design and analytical testing methods in the field/chamber studies with the mathematical tools employed in the modeling studies. This study aims to bridge this gap and provide a more comprehensive understanding on the impact of SPF to IAQ. The field sampling plan of this research aims to evaluate the airborne concentrations of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, tris(1-chlor-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP), trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (Solstice^TM), and airborne particles. Modifications to existing MDI sampling and analytical methods were made so that level of quantification was improved. In addition, key fate and transport modeling input parameters such as air changes per hour and airborne particle size distribution were measured. More importantly, TCPP accumulation onto materials was evaluated, which is important to study the fate and transport of semi-volatile organic compounds. The IAQ results showed that after spray application was completed in the entire building, airborne concentrations decreased for all chemicals monitored. However, it is our recommendation that during SPF application, no one should return to the application site without proper personal protection equipment as long as there are active spray activities in the building. The comparison between this field study and a recent chamber study proved surface sorption and particle deposition is an important factor in determining the fate of airborne TCPP. The study also suggests the need for further evaluation by employing mathematical models, proving the data generated in this work as informative to industry and the broader scientific community.     

Investigating social inequalities in older adults’ dentition and the role of dental service use in 14 European countries

Background

Oral disease, despite being largely preventable, remains the most common chronic disease worldwide and has a significant negative impact on quality of life, particularly among older adults.

Objective

This study is the first to comprehensively and at a large scale (14 European countries) measure the social inequalities in the number of natural teeth (an informative oral health marker) in the over 50-year-old population and to investigate the extent to which such inequalities are attributable to dental service use.

Methods

Using Wave 5 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, which included internationally harmonized information on over 50,000 individuals across 14 European countries, we calculated Gini and Concentration indices (CI) as well as the decompositions of CIs by socioeconomic factors.

Results

Sweden consistently performed the best with the lowest inequalities as measured by Gini (0.1078), CI by income (0.0392), CI by education (0.0407), and CI by wealth (0.0296). No country performed the worst in all inequality measures. However, unexpectedly, some wealthier countries (e.g., the Netherlands and Denmark) had higher degrees of inequalities than less-wealthy countries (e.g., Estonia and Slovenia). Decomposition analysis showed that income, education, and wealth contributed substantially to the inequalities, and dental service use was an important contributor even after controlling for income and wealth.

Conclusions

The study highlighted the importance of comprehensively investigating oral health inequalities. The results are informative to policymakers to derive country-specific health policy recommendations to reduce oral health inequalities in the older population and also have implications for oral health improvement of the future generations.

     

Assessment of the Remediation Effect of Nano-hydroxyapatite in Exogenous Pb-contaminated Soil Using Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure and Soil Enzyme Activities

This study assessed the level of Pb in soil and five wild plant species (Calotropis procera, Datura alba, Parthenium hysterophorus, Cenchrus ciliaris and Ricinus communis) during all the four seasons. Two busy roads varying in age and traffic volume were selected i.e., Faisalabad–Sargodha road (FSR) and Pindi Bhattian to Lillah (M-2) in the Punjab, Pakistan. Results showed raised levels of Pb in both plants and soil samples along both roads. The range of Pb concentration in plants was 0.08–3.98 and 1.95–4.74 mg kg^??1 for soil. Higher Pb contamination was recorded along FSR road as compared to M-2. Among seasons, the higher Pb concentration was found during summer, probably due to very high temperature. Among all the plants studied, Calotropis procera accumulated the highest level (3.98 mg kg^??1 dry wt.) of Pb; Thus, it can be used as good biomonitor/phytoremediator at Pb contaminated areas.     

Repair strength of dental amalgams

This study tested the hypothesis that newly triturated amalgam condensed vertically on old amalgam was essential for establishing a bond between the new and old amalgams. Twelve rectangular bars were prepared with Dispersalloy and Tytin to establish their baseline flexure strength values. An additional 12 specimens were made and separated into 24 equal halves. All fracture surfaces were abraded with a flat end fissure bur. Twelve surfaces were paired with the original amalgam, and the remaining 12 surfaces were repaired with a different amalgam. At first, freshly triturated amalgam was condensed vertically on the floor of the specimen mold (Group A). The majority of specimens repaired with Group A failed to establish bond at the repair interface. All repair surfaces were abraded again and prepared by a second method. A metal spacer was used to create a four-wall cavity to facilitate vertical condensation directly on the repair surface (Group B). The specimens were stored in ambient air for seven days prior to flexure testing. The strength of specimens repaired with Group B ranged from 26% to 54% of the baseline specimens. ANOVA showed that amalgams repaired with a different amalgam yielded higher strength values than those repaired with the original amalgam, and the baseline specimens exhibited significantly higher strength values than all the repaired specimens.     

Skeletal effects of bite jumping therapy on the mandible - removable vs. fixed functional appliances

AUTHORS: Shen G, Hagg U, Darendeliler MA. OBJECTIVE: Based on an extensive review of the literature, the aim of this study was to explore the mainstream consensus on the controversial topic of whether the bite jumping treatment could enhance mandibular growth. DESIGN: The data for removable and fixed functional appliances were respectively comprehended and analyzed with regard to their attributes in mandibular growth modification. Furthermore, numerous reported findings were assessed by relating them to some important factors influencing the effects of bite jumping, such as treatment timing, treatment duration and post-treatment follow-up, to allow for a more objective and accurate evaluation. RESULTS: The key differences between removable and fixed appliances are working hours (intermittent vs. continuous), length of treatment time (long vs. short), optimal treatment timing (before puberty growth vs. at or after puberty spurt), and mode of bite-jumping (considerable vertical opening vs. limited vertical opening). These different features lead to different treatment effects on mandibular and TMJ growth, such as the intensity of possibly increased growth (clinically less significant vs. significant), the direction of enhanced growth (vertical vs. horizontal), and the stability of treatment changes (unstable vs. stable). The short-term or long-term post-treatment relapse mainly relates to the rebound of dental position. CONCLUSION: The immediate effects of bite jumping functional appliances on the mandibular growth enhancement are convincing during actual treatment. This extra gain of growth might be sustainable during the short-term and long-term post-treatment period.     

Bacterial and yeast flora of root surface caries in elderly,ethnic Chinese

OBJECTIVES: Root caries is emerging as a significant problem in the middle aged and elderly. As little data is available on the microbiology of root caries in Chinese cohorts, we evaluated 30 such lesions in elderly, institutionalized, ethnic Chinese. METHODS: Samples of carious dentine were aseptically taken from root caries lesions of 18 subjects (five males and 13 females, mean age 79.67 +/- 8.57). The cultivable bacteria, both aerobic and anaerobic, were isolated and identified using standard methods and commercial identification kits. The yeasts were isolated on Sabouraud's agar and identified using the API system. RESULTS: The main findings were: (1) of the total isolates, 91.09% were Gram-positive and 8.91% were Gram-negative microorganisms; (2) the proportions of cocci and rods were 36.68 and 63.31%, respectively; (3) the predominant groups of organisms isolated were Streptococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Actinomyces spp. with isolation frequencies of 100, 90.00, 73.33 and 63.33%, respectively; (4) the isolation frequency of yeasts belonging to Candida spp. (63.33%) was notably high although the proportion of yeasts within each sample was low (0.01%). Candida dubliniensis, a newly identified yeast species particularly prevalent in HIV infection, comprised 14.29% of yeasts. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides baseline information on the microbiologic features of root caries in the elderly, ethnic Chinese. Whilst our data on the most predominant bacteria isolated in root caries concur with those from other regions of the world the isolation of C. dubliniensis from these lesions has not been documented before.     

倾斜种植体在上颌后牙区骨量不足患者中的应用

目的:探讨倾斜种植体作为一种避免上颌窦植骨的方法,应用于上颌骨后牙区骨量不足患者种植修复的可靠性。方法:2005年1月—2007年12月间,21例患者共27个固定桥修复上颌后牙缺失,分别使用ITI和Br覽nemark 2种种植系统共植入78颗种植体,其中34颗种植体采用倾斜植入,44颗轴向植入。所有患者均为上颌后牙区骨量不足无法直接接受常规种植体植入。种植体植入后常规愈合3个月,除1颗种植体失败外,其余种植体均功能性负载支持固定义齿修复,修复方式为黏结固位和螺丝固位。每例患者均于负载后12、24和36个月接受临床和放射学随访检查。采用SPSS11.0软件包对数据进行统计学处理。结果:上颌有1颗轴向种植体在术后2个月时失败,倾斜种植体无失败。随访时间为36个月。上颌轴向种植体的累积存活率为97.72%,倾斜种植体的累积存活率为100%,修复成功率为100%。随访期间,种植体周围软组织保持稳定,平均探诊深度和附着水平无明显变化。结论:倾斜种植体作为一种上颌骨后牙区骨量不足患者的治疗方法是可靠的,能有效避免植骨手术,并节约治疗时间。     

复方甲硝唑缓释膜剂的研制及应用

本文研制了治疗牙周炎的复方甲硝唑缓释膜剂.为证实其对牙周病的治疗作用,进行了体外抑菌试验和临床应用.结果表明,该缓释膜剂对牙周病优势菌有明显抑制效果;经临床观察使用该药膜一周后,菌斑指数(PLI)、牙龈指数(GI)、龈沟出血指数(SBI)及牙周袋深度(PD)均显著降低,证明复方甲硝唑缓释膜剂治疗牙周病有广阔前景.