Living with Marfan syndrome II. Medication adherence and physical activity modification

We investigated the perceptions of and adherence to medication and physical activity guidelines in 174 adults with Marfan syndrome. Over 80% of those prescribed beta- and Ca2+-channel blockade reportedly adhere well to their medication regimen. The presence of cardiovascular symptoms and fatigue were positively correlated with the medication use. Medication-takers reported that they are psychologically receptive to the use of medication for prophylactic treatment of their cardiovascular problems. However, all do not view their medication as essential for their health. Duration of the medication regimen, type of medication, and perception of controllability of the condition were each independently associated with respondents' perceptions of the necessity of taking beta- or Ca2+-channel blockers. Over 80% of the respondents reported that they choose their physical activities with their diagnosis in mind. Modifying exercise activities was significantly correlated with an increased perception of Marfan syndrome as having negative consequences on the respondents' lives. Genetic counseling should address beliefs about medication use and physical activity restrictions, as perceptions of these health behaviors may have significant impact on how adults with Marfan syndrome adhere to these recommendations and cope with their condition.     

An embedded four‐channel receive‐only RF coil array for fMRI experiments of the somatosensory pathway in conscious awake marmosets

fMRI has established itself as the main research tool in neuroscience and brain cognitive research. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a non‐human primate model of increasing interest in biomedical research. However, commercial MRI coils for marmosets are not generally available. The present work describes the design and construction of a four‐channel receive‐only surface RF coil array with excellent signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) specifically optimized for fMRI experiments in awake marmosets in response to somatosensory stimulation. The array was designed as part of a helmet‐based head restraint system used to prevent motion during the scans. High SNR was obtained by building the coil array using a thin and flexible substrate glued to the inner surface of the restraint helmet, so as to minimize the distance between the array elements and the somatosensory cortex. Decoupling between coil elements was achieved by partial geometrical overlapping and by connecting them to home‐built low‐input‐impedance preamplifiers. In vivo images show excellent coverage of the brain cortical surface with high sensitivity near the somatosensory cortex. Embedding the coil elements within the restraint helmet allowed fMRI data in response to somatosensory stimulation to be collected with high sensitivity and reproducibility in conscious, awake marmosets. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Age-related changes in renal expression of oxidant and antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers in male SHR and WKY rats

Oxidative stress has been hypothesized to play a role in aging and age-related disorders, such as hypertension. This study compared levels of oxidative stress and renal expression of oxidant and antioxidant enzymes in male normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at different ages (3 and 12 months). In the renal cortex of 3-month old SHR increases in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were accompanied by augmented expression of NADPH oxidase subunit Nox4 and decreased expression of antioxidant enzymes SOD1 and SOD3. A further increase in renal H₂O₂ production and urinary TBARS was observed in 12-month old WKY and SHR as compared with 3-month old rats. Similarly, expressions of NADPH oxidase subunit p22^phox, SOD2 and SOD3 were markedly elevated with age in both strains. When compared with age-matched WKY, catalase expression was increased in 3-month old SHR, but unchanged in 12-month old SHR. Body weight increased with aging in both rat strains, but this increase was more pronounced in WKY. In conclusion, renal oxidative stress in 12-month old SHR is an exaggeration of the process already observed in the 3-month old SHR, whereas the occurrence of obesity in 12-month old normotensive rats may partially be responsible for the age-related increase in oxidative stress.     

Newcastle Disease Viruses Causing Recent Outbreaks Worldwide Show Unexpectedly High Genetic Similarity to Historical Virulent Isolates from the 1940s

Virulent strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) cause Newcastle disease (ND), a devastating disease of poultry and wild birds. Phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguish historical isolates (obtained prior to 1960) from currently circulating viruses of class II genotypes V, VI, VII, and XII through XVIII. Here, partial and complete genomic sequences of recent virulent isolates of genotypes II and IX from China, Egypt, and India were found to be nearly identical to those of historical viruses isolated in the 1940s. Phylogenetic analysis, nucleotide distances, and rates of change demonstrate that these recent isolates have not evolved significantly from the most closely related ancestors from the 1940s. The low rates of change for these virulent viruses (7.05 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.05 × 10⁻⁵ per year, respectively) and the minimal genetic distances existing between these and historical viruses (0.3 to 1.2%) of the same genotypes indicate an unnatural origin. As with any other RNA virus, Newcastle disease virus is expected to evolve naturally; thus, these findings suggest that some recent field isolates should be excluded from evolutionary studies. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses show that these recent virulent isolates are more closely related to virulent strains isolated during the 1940s, which have been and continue to be used in laboratory and experimental challenge studies. Since the preservation of viable viruses in the environment for over 6 decades is highly unlikely, it is possible that the source of some of the recent virulent viruses isolated from poultry and wild birds might be laboratory viruses.     

Evaluation of implant osseointegration with different regeneration techniques in the treatment of bone defects around implants: an experimental study in a rabbit model

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the osseointegration of implants placed in areas with artificially created bone defects, using three bone regeneration techniques. Material and methods: The experimental model was the rabbit femur (16), where bone defects were created and implants were placed. The peri‐implant bone defects were filled with a deproteinized bovine bone mineral, NuOss^? (N), NuOss^? combined with plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) (N+PRGF), NuOss^? covered by an RCM⁶ membrane (N+M), or remained unfilled (control group [C]). After 4 and 8 weeks, the animals were euthanized and bone tissue blocks with the implants and the surrounding bone tissue were removed and processed according to a histological protocol for hard tissues on non‐decalcified ground sections. The samples were studied by light and electron scanning microscopy, histometric analysis was performed to assess the percentage of bone in direct contact with the implant surface and a statistical analysis of the results was performed. Results: In the samples analyzed 4 weeks after implantation, the percentage of bone tissue in direct contact with the implant surface for the four groups were 57.66±24.39% (N), 58.62±20.37% (N+PRGF), 70.82±20.34 % (N+M) and 33.07±5.49% (C). In the samples with 8 weeks of implantation time, the percentage of bone in direct contact was 63.35±27.69% (N), 58.42±24.77% (N+PRGF), 78.02±15.13% (N+M) and 40.28±27.32% (C). In terms of the percentage of bone contact, groups N and N+M presented statistically significant differences from group C in the 4‐week trial test (P<0.05; ANOVA). For the 8‐week results, only group N+M showed statistically significant differences when compared with group C (P<0.05; ANOVA). Conclusion: In conclusion, the NuOss^? granules/RCM⁶ membrane combination presented a percentage of bone contact with the implant surface statistically greater than in the other groups. To cite this article:
Guerra I, Branco FM, Vasconcelos M, Afonso A, Figueiral H, Zita R. Evaluation of implant osseointegration with different regeneration techniques in the treatment of bone defects around implants: an experimental study in a rabbit model.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 22 , 2011; 314–322.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.02002.x