Unsweetened ice popsicles impart a positive feeling and reduce self‐mutilation after paediatric dental treatment with local anaesthesia

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2010; 20: 382–388 Aim. The purpose of the current study was to assess whether an unsweetened ice‐popsicle imparts a positive feeling to children after dental treatment in which local anaesthesia is administered, and whether it reduces the tendency of children to self‐mutilate (bite the lip, cheek or tongue) after the administration of local anaesthesia. Design. Crossover study of 31 children aged 4–11 years old who needed similar dental treatments on both sides of the mandible or maxilla under local anaesthesia. At the end of each appointment the child received a toy or an ice‐popsicle especially made for this study. Patients and parents answered a questionnaire regarding the children’s behaviour and feeling immediately after the treatment, and 10 and 30 min after receiving the ice‐popsicle or toy. Results. Children who received ice‐popsicles after dental treatment under local anaesthesia felt less discomfort and suffered less soft tissue trauma than they did when they received a toy. Reduction in soft tissue trauma was evident 10 min after receiving the ice‐popsicles. Conclusion. Licking of an ice‐popsicle after dental treatment with local anaesthesia reduces the feeling of discomfort and the biting of soft tissue and self‐ mutilation.     

Sleep disturbances in asymptomatic BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: women at high risk for breast–ovarian cancer

This study investigated the association between positive genetic diagnosis for BRCA1/2 mutations and sleep quality in Ashkenazi asymptomatic women. Seventy‐three women, including 17 asymptomatic BRCA1/2 carriers and 20 non‐carriers from the oncogenetic clinic, and 36 community controls, participated in a cross‐sectional design. Women completed sociodemographic, clinical, general psychological distress, cancer‐related worry (CRW), fatigue and sleep questionnaires in their homes, and wore actigraphs for 5–7 nights. Impaired global subjective sleep quality was demonstrated in BRCA1/2 carriers compared to non‐carriers and controls [mean Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) total scores 7.29 ± 4.34; 3.94 ± 2.49; 4.21 ± 2.80, respectively, P = 0.021] and poor sleep quality (PSQI total score >5) was significantly higher in carriers (53%) compared to non‐carriers (20%) and controls (28%, P = 0.03). Based on actigraphic measures, sleep latency tended to be longer in carriers compared to counterparts, albeit not significantly. Increased sleep disturbance was related significantly to increased fatigue in the entire sample and in the control group; to psychological distress in the entire sample and in non‐carriers; and to CRW in the entire sample. In carriers, sleep disturbance was related strongly but non‐significantly to fatigue, psychological distress and CRW. Fatigue and carrier status were significant predictors of sleep quality, accounting for 15.7% of the variance. In conclusion, asymptomatic BRCA1/2 carriers experience poor sleep quality compared to non‐carriers and controls. Our study design is unique in that it offers insight regarding the nature of being an asymptomatic carrier, and affords the opportunity to examine factors that may contribute to the development of insomnia in women at risk for breast–ovarian cancer.     

Morphogenesis and Regulation of Bergmann Glial Processes During Purkinje Cell Dendritic Spine Ensheathment and Synaptogenesis

星形胶质细胞在突触形成中发挥重要作用,但星形胶质细胞突起如何在发育过程中与突触结构相联系还不是很清楚。本文分析在小脑突触发生过程中Bergmann胶质细胞(BG)突起生长的类型。本文发现在这个过程中,BG突起向外生长与树突棘增多的包被作用相关。此外,双光子时间分辩显像显示BG突起是高度动态的,在棘包被过程中突起趋于稳定。虽然突触活力依赖于肌动蛋白的聚合作用,但细胞骨架调节器Rac1和RhoG的活动在胶质细胞突起的动力或密度上并未发挥作用,而是对于保持突起长度起关键性作用。本文扩展这个发现,探查突起形态和包被之间的关系,发现缩短的突起导致棘覆盖的减少。本文进一步发现在BG表达dn-Rac1和低水平突触包被的区域,显示突触数量的增加。这些分析提示BG突起如何生长并包围突触结构,阐明BG突起结构对突触包被适当发育的重要性,并提示包被在突触形成中的作用。     

MONOZYGOTIC TWINS CONCORDANT FOR TRACHEO-ESOPHAGEAL FISTULA AND DISCORDANT FOR THE VATER ASSOCIATION

Abstract. Monozygotic female twins were concordant for tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF); and one twin also manifested other anomalies of the VATER association, including agenesis of the female reproductive tract. Review of the literature discloses a familial tendency for recurrence of TEF and a high concordance rate in monozygotic twins, indicating a significant genetic influence for the isolated anomaly. In the case of the VATER association, the sporadic occurrence of affected individuals and discordance in twins implicates the effect of non-genetic factors.