Sectional Impression Tray and Sectional Denture for a Microstomia Patient

Microstomia presents a unique challenge to the patient. Patients with microstomia who must wear removable dental prostheses often face the difficulty of being unable to insert or remove the prosthesis because of the constricted opening of the oral cavity. A completely edentulous patient, who developed microstomia along with Raynaud's phenomenon induced by scleroderma, is presented. This clinical report describes a quick and easy method for fabrication of a sectional custom impression tray connected by press button and a sectional complete denture retained by magnets. A sectional denture that provides ease in placement and removal can be successfully used in clinical practice for treatment of microstomia patients.     

Chitosan-based scaffolds for the support of smooth muscle constructs in intestinal tissue engineering

Intestinal tissue engineering is an emerging field due to a growing demand for intestinal lengthening and replacement procedures secondary to massive resections of the bowel. Here, we demonstrate the potential use of a chitosan/collagen scaffold as a 3D matrix to support the bioengineered circular muscle constructs maintain their physiological functionality. We investigated the biocompatibility of chitosan by growing rabbit colonic circular smooth muscle cells (RCSMCs) on chitosan-coated plates. The cells maintained their spindle-like morphology and preserved their smooth muscle phenotypic markers. We manufactured tubular scaffolds with central openings composed of chitosan and collagen in a 1:1 ratio. Concentrically aligned 3D circular muscle constructs were bioengineered using fibrin-based hydrogel seeded with RCSMCs. The constructs were placed around the scaffold for 2 weeks, after which they were taken off and tested for their physiological functionality. The muscle constructs contracted in response to acetylcholine (Ach) and potassium chloride (KCl) and they relaxed in response to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). These results demonstrate that chitosan is a biomaterial possibly suitable for intestinal tissue engineering applications.     

Effect of piperine in the regulation of obesity-induced dyslipidemia in high-fat diet rats

Objective:

The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of piperine in obesity-induced dyslipidemia.

Materials and Methods:

Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed high-fat diet (HFD) for the first eight weeks, to develop obesity-induced dyslipidemia. Later on piperine (40 mg / kg) and sibutramine (5 mg / kg) were administered for three weeks along with the continuation of HFD to two separate groups, which served as the test and standard groups, respectively. Body weight, food intake, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, and HDL were measured at the end of the fourth, eighth (before treatment), and eleventh (after treatment) week, while the fat mass was measured at the end of the eleventh week in the normal, HFD-control, test, and standard groups.

Results:

Supplementing piperine with HFD significantly reduced not only body weight, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, and fat mass, but also increased the HDL levels, with no change in food intake.

Conclusion:

The above results suggest that piperine possesses potential fat reducing and lipid lowering effects, without any change in food appetite, at a small dose of 40 mg / kg. The mechanism of action for such an activity needs to be determined. However, looking to structural similarity with the presently known Melanocortin-4 (MC-4) agonists, involvement of MC-4 receptors in its activity can be guessed.     

Exposure‐dependent increases in IL‐1β, substance P,CTGF, and tendinosis in flexor digitorum tendons with upper extremity repetitive strain injury

Upper extremity tendinopathies are associated with performance of forceful repetitive tasks. We used our rat model of repetitive strain injury to study changes induced in forelimb flexor digitorum tendons. Rats were trained to perform a high repetition high force (HRHF) handle‐pulling task (12 reaches/min at 60 ± 5% maximum pulling force [MPF]), or a low repetition negligible force (LRNF) reaching and food retrieval task (three reaches/min at 5 ± 5% MPF), for 2 h/day in 30 min sessions, 3 days/week for 3–12 weeks. Forelimb grip strength was tested. Flexor digitorum tendons were examined at midtendon at the level of the carpal tunnel for interleukin (IL)‐1β, neutrophil, and macrophage influx, Substance P, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and periostin‐like factor (PLF) immunoexpression, and histopathological changes. In HRHF rats, grip strength progressively decreased, while IL‐1β levels progressively increased in the flexor digitorum peritendon (para‐ and epitendon combined) and endotendon with task performance. Macrophage invasion was evident in week 6 and 12 HRHF peritendon but not endotendon. Also in HRHF rats, Substance P immunoexpression increased in week 12 peritendon as did CTGF‐ and PLF‐immunopositive fibroblasts, the increased fibroblasts contributing greatly to peritendon thickening. Endotendon collagen disorganization was evident in week 12 HRHF tendons. LRNF tendons did not differ from controls, even at 12 weeks. Thus, we observed exposure‐dependent changes in flexor digitorum tendons within the carpal tunnel, including increased inflammation, nociceptor‐related neuropeptide immunoexpression, and fibrotic histopathology, changes associated with grip strength decline. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:298–307, 2010     

Pediatric-inspired chemotherapy incorporating pegaspargase is safe and results in high rates of minimal residual disease negativity in adults up to the age of 60 years with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Administration of pediatric-inspired chemotherapy to adults up to age 60 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is challenging in part due to toxicities of asparaginase as well as myelosuppression. We conducted a multi-center phase II clinical trial (clinicaltrials gov. Identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01920737","term_id":"NCT01920737"}}NCT01920737) investigating a pediatric-inspired regimen, based on the augmented arm of the Children’s Cancer Group 1882 protocol, incorporating six doses of pegaspargase 2,000 IU/m2, rationally synchronized to avoid overlapping toxicity with other agents. We treated 39 adults aged 20-60 years (median age 38 years) with newly-diagnosed ALL (n=31) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (n=8). Grade 3-4 hyperbilirubinemia occurred frequently and at higher rates in patients aged 40-60 years (n=18) versus 18-39 years (n=21) (44% vs. 10%, P=0.025). However, eight of nine patients rechallenged with pegaspargase did not experience recurrent grade 3-4 hyperbilirubinemia. Grade 3-4 hypertriglyceridemia and hypofibrinogenemia were common (each 59%). Asparaginase activity at 7 days post-infusion reflected levels associated with adequate asparagine depletion, even among those with antibodies to pegaspargase. Complete response (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery was observed post-induction in 38 of 39 (97%) patients. Among patients with ALL, rates of minimal residual disease negativity by multi-parameter flow cytometry were 33% and 83% following induction phase I and phase II, respectively. Event-free and overall survival at 3 years (67.8% and 76.4%) compare favorably to outcomes observed in other series. These results demonstrate pegaspargase can be administered in the context of intensive multi-agent chemotherapy to adults aged ≤60 years with manageable toxicity. This regimen may serve as an effective backbone into which novel agents may be incorporated in future frontline studies. Trial registration: https://clinicaltrials. gov/ct2/show/{"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01920737","term_id":"NCT01920737"}}NCT01920737     

Associations between paternal depression and behaviour problems in children of 4–6 years

Maternal depression is associated with adverse child development, however little is known about paternal depression and child outcome. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of paternal depression and assess its association with abnormal child behaviours among 4-6 year olds. Parents of 4-6 years olds were recruited via general practices and completed measures on child behaviour (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), and other covariates. The association of major and other paternal depressive syndrome with mother reported child behaviour was analysed. Eight percent (29/365) of fathers had depression (3.3 and 4.77% a major and other depressive syndrome, respectively). Major but not other paternal depressive syndrome was associated with an 8 and 36 times greater likelihood of child prosocial behaviour problems and peer problems respectively.     

An interview study to explore applied psychologists' experiences of implementing health psychology in global health partnerships: The Change Exchange

Introduction

Health partnerships in global health aim to build capacity by strengthening training and education. Health psychology has an important role to play, as traditionally health partnerships focus upon increasing capability such as increasing knowledge but do not tackle opportunity and motivation. The Change Exchange recruits applied psychologist volunteers to utilize health psychology in global health partnerships, which is a novel approach. This study aimed to understand the experiences of applied psychologist volunteers working in health partnerships and how such interventions were implemented.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were carried out. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis to explore the translation and implementation of health psychology in health partnerships. A deductive approach was then taken using the higher level constructs of the Normalization Process Theory to inform and interpret the themes into recommendations.

Results

Fifteen applied psychologists, all of whom were from the UK and had volunteered in health partnerships between the UK and low- to middle-income countries participated. Key themes and sub-themes were identified: (1) The challenges of the application of behavioural science within the health partnerships, (2) Building relationships within the health partnership, (3) Exploring the communal and individual effort carried out within the health partnership and (4) Reflecting on the work carried out within the health partnership.

Discussion

Barriers exist in regards to the implementation of health psychology in health partnerships but capacity building is possible. Recommendations suggest, future work should establish clear roles for applied psychologists in health partnerships and critical evaluation of current psychological models, methods and measures for use outside of Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic societies.