Correlation between gingival crevicular fluid dipeptidyl peptidase II and IV activity and periodontal attachment loss. A 2–year longitudinal study in chronic periodontitis patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) II or IV levels, total activity (TA) and concentration (EC), predict progressive attachment loss (AL). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy five patients with moderate periodontitis were recruited. GCF was first collected from 16 molar and premolar mesiobuccal sites and then probing attachment level (PAL) and probing pocket depth (PPD) were measured with an electronic probe. Finally, gingival index, gingival bleeding and plaque indices were scored. Patients were given basic periodontal treatment prior to baseline after which the above procedures were repeated. Patients were seen 3 monthly for 2 years and the procedures were repeated. Carefully localised radiographs were taken of the test teeth annually. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty AL sites, 88 rapid AL (RAL) and 32 gradual AL (GrAL), in 48 patients were detected. DPP It and IV levels (TA and EC) at RAL sites were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0001) than paired control sites at the attachment loss time (ALT) and prediction time (PT). Mean levels over the study period of both proteases (TA and EC) at GrAL sites were significantly higher (P≤ 0.0001) than paired control sites. The GCF levels of DPP IV were always slightly higher than those of DPP II. Critical values (CV) of 5 μU per 30 s (TA) and 25 μU μPI^-1 (EC) for both proteases showed high sensitivity and specificity values for TA and EC and these were the same at both ALT and PT. The positive predictive values were slightly higher for DPP II. Mean site DPP II and IV levels (TA and EC) in intra-patient comparisons were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0001) at RAL and GrAL sites than non-attachment loss (NAL) sites in AL patients and mean patient levels were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0001) in AL patients than NAL patients in inter-patient comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that both GCF DPP II and IV may be predictors of periodontal attachment loss.     

借助伸腱装置动力结构变化的肌腱移植矫正钮扣状畸形

目的:介绍一种矫正纽扣状畸形方法,认识该术式特点。方法:选择1995-01/2005-12在北华大学第一临床医学院手外科进行指背腱膜中央束重建的患者20例,男15例,女5例;年龄18~46岁。将伤指的外侧腱沿其纵轴分为两部分,其中背侧半(内侧束)在中节以远切断,掌侧半(外侧束)在近指根部水平切断。移位外侧腱的外侧束通过Cleland's韧带及部分屈肌腱鞘在远侧指间关节伸直条件下缝合固定。采用掌长肌腱之一半腱束游离移植。在中节指骨基底偏背侧用克氏针横行钻一骨孔,使掌长肌腱通过,移植腱在背侧交叉后,将移植腱与中央腱及两侧束编织缝合,使侧束、中央束及移植腱三者融为一体重建近侧指间关节的伸指功能。采用Caroli评定标准评估疗效,分3级:优、良、可。采用外侧腱外侧束的腱固定术来维持远侧指间关节关节的伸直位,在中央腱止点利用移植腱与中央腱、侧束近端缝合重建近侧指间关节的伸指功能。结果:本组共20例,按Caroli评定标准,优15例,良4例,可1例,优良率为95%。结论:该术式的最大特点是将伸腱装置复杂的动力结构变得简单化,易于掌握,是肌腱组织移植矫正创伤后钮扣状畸形的一种有效方法。     

Autism spectrum disorder in the genetics clinic: a review

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders affecting social communication, language and behavior. The underlying cause(s) in a given individual is often elusive, with the exception of clinically recognizable genetic syndromes with readily available molecular diagnosis, such as fragile X syndrome. Clinical geneticists approach patients with ASDs by ruling out known genetic and genomic syndromes, leaving more than 80% of families without a definitive diagnosis and an uncertain risk of recurrence. Advances in microarray technology and next‐generation sequencing are revealing rare variants in genes with important roles in synapse formation, function and maintenance. This review will focus on the clinical approach to ASDs, given the current state of knowledge about their complex genetic architecture.     

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) overexpression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma correlates with poor survival

Background  

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a lethal disease with a 5-year survival rate of 4% and typically presents in an advanced stage. In this setting, prognostic markers identifying the more agrressive tumors could aid in managment decisions. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3, also known as IMP3 or KOC) is an oncofetal RNA-binding protein that regulates targets such as insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) and ACTB (beta-actin).     

Embodying the mind: movement as a container for destructive aggression

Violent, nonmentalizing individuals who act out aggression do not usually respond to verbal therapeutic approaches alone. We suggest the movement in physically oriented therapies, such as yoga and martial arts, combined with psychodynamic psychotherapy are critical in reaching these individuals. We also suggest embodiment as a direct link to the kinesthetic core of easily disturbed attachment experiences. This process embodying the mind requires a safe, containing context found in the therapist. Clinical vignettes show how this might be done in both individual and social contexts. These vignettes also show a way to think about such a combination of techniques and theories.     

Teachers who bully students: a hidden trauma

OBJECTIVE: The study examined teachers' perceptions of bullying by other teachers to see what causes and characteristics were attributed to such bullying teachers, and how often teachers were themselves bullied by students. METHOD: 116 teachers from seven elementary schools completed an anonymous questionnaire reflecting their feelings and perceptions about their own experiences of bullying, and how they perceive colleagues over the years. RESULTS: Results confirmed that teachers who experienced bullying themselves when young are more likely to both bully students and experience bullying by students both in classrooms and outside the classroom. Factor analysis revealed two types of bullying teacher: a sadistic bully type and a bully-victim type. CONCLUSIONS: The implications for the mental health of children and for effective teaching are discussed, in the light of widespread recognition of the traumatic effects of bullying on childhood development.     

Laboratory diagnosis of syphilis: A survey to examine the range of tests used in Canada

Laboratory diagnosis of syphilis has undergone major changes in the past decade with the introduction of immunoassays and recombinant Treponema pallidum antigens as screening tools for syphilis infection. To address this change in laboratory practice, a national syphilis laboratory working group was established with members from the Public Health Agency of Canada, provincial public health laboratories across the country as well as sexually transmitted infection researchers, clinicians and epidemiologists. This working group aims to examine how the use of newer immunoassays will affect syphilis diagnosis, surveillance and disease management. To provide a baseline for this work, an e-mail survey was conducted in the fall of 2009 to determine current laboratory practices for syphilis diagnosis in Canada. The most commonly used tests were rapid plasma reagin, enzyme immunoassay, T pallidum passive particle agglutination, venereal disease research laboratory, fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption, line immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction with 92%, 36%, 32%, 20%, 12%, 12% and 12% of the responding laboratories reporting using these tests, respectively. The ultimate goal of this working group will be to update laboratory guidelines for the diagnosis of syphilis, and to identify syphilis surveillance and research priorities in Canada.