Patterns of syntactic development in children with Williams syndrome and Down's syndrome: Evidence from passives and wh‐questions

This study investigates the syntactic abilities of ten individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) (mean chronological age: 8;9 years; mean mental age: 4;8 years) and Down's syndrome (DS) (mean chronological age: 8;7 years; mean mental age: 4;6 years), matched individually on chronological age, mental age and performance IQ. The syntactic components investigated include the comprehension of passives and the production, comprehension and repetition of wh‐questions. Performance is compared to ten younger typically developing (TD) controls matched individually to both experimental groups on mental age (mean chronological age: 4;4 years; mean mental age: 5;0 years). Participants were given a standardized measure of grammatical ability and non‐standardized tasks exploring the comprehension of active and passive sentences, and the production, comprehension and repetition of a range of wh‐question types: wh‐subject, wh‐object, which NP‐subject and which NP‐object. Participants with WS and DS performed similarly on the standardized measure of grammatical ability, as well as on the experimental tasks that tapped comprehension of passives, and production and comprehension of wh‐questions. Participants with DS performed significantly more poorly than both the WS cohort and TD controls on the repetition of wh‐questions. Both the WS and DS cohorts performed significantly more poorly on most of the syntactic tasks compared to the younger TD controls. Individuals with WS and DS experienced significant difficulties in tasks measuring aspects of syntactic ability and performed more poorly than mental age‐matched TD controls. Implications of these findings, with regards to the debates around language “intactness” in WS, as well as the similarities and differences in language abilities in WS and DS, dependent on age and developmental stages studied, are explored.     

Expression of ets-1 is not affected by N-ras or H-ras during oral oncogenesis

PURPOSE: To determine whether ras-activated cascades lead to activation of ets-1 expression in sequential histological stages of oral oncogenesis in an experimental animal model. METHODS: Thirty-seven Syrian golden hamsters were divided into three experimental groups (A, B, C) and one control group. The hamsters' buccal pouches in experimental groups were treated with 0.5% 9, 10-dimethyl-1, 2-benzanthracene (DMBA) for 14 weeks and were excised at 10, 14, 19 weeks, respectively. The biopsies were classified pathologically (normal mucosa, hyperkeratosis, hyperplasia, dysplasia, early invasion, well and moderately differentiated carcinoma) and studied immunohistochemically. The two-tailed Student's t test was performed for each animal group and for each histological category. RESULTS: The ets-1 expression increased in early stages of oral tumor formation and invasion. The expression of N-ras gradually decreased during oral oncogenesis, as previously observed with H-ras. CONCLUSIONS: Neither N-ras nor H-ras affects ets-1 expression in contrast to other types of cancer in which N-ras and ets-1 are implicated in the same signalling pathway. Therefore, the existing pathway implicating these proteins might be somehow altered in oral cancer. It seems that ets-1 is a good prognostic marker for invasiveness and progression of oral cancer.     

Strong association of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 polymorphism with an increased risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma in Europeans

The present study was performed in order to investigate the possible association of the -418 G/C polymorphism in the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) gene, which affects its expression, with the risk of developing oral cancer. PCR-based restriction analysis was performed in DNA samples from 158 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 168 healthy controls of equivalent sex, age and ethnicity (Greeks and Germans). Statistical analyses were performed with Fisher's exact test and the calculation of odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The frequency of the low C allele expression was ten times greater in the patients than the controls (31% vs 2.7%, respectively; P<0.001). The C/C and G/C genotypes were associated with an increased risk of developing OSCC (P<0.001, OR=40.88, 95% CI=2.24-744.40, and P<0.001, OR=21.31, 95%=9.82-46.21, respectively). The same pattern of significant differences with the controls was also observed in the subgroups of patients in regard to the initial or advanced stages of oral cancer, family history of any type of cancer or thrombosis, and smoking habits or alcohol abuse. These findings are consistent with the reduced levels of TIMP-2 in the presence of the low expression C allele, which are insufficient to inhibit the matrix metalloproteinase-driven degradation of the extracellular matrix (leading to cancer invasion) and mitogen-driven neoangiogenesis (leading to tumor growth and metastasis). In conclusion, the studied TIMP-2 polymorphism is strongly associated with an increased risk of OSCC in Europeans carrying the low C allele expression. These results indicate that this polymorphism could serve as a genetic marker for the susceptibility of cancer in the oral cavity.     

Stress‐related predictors of optimism in breast cancer survivors

Optimism is a key variable for adjustment in aversive conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine whether optimism is predicted by two stress‐related variables which represent information about self and the environment (i.e. illness‐related stress and self‐efficacy), in a sample of breast cancer survivors. Ninety‐two women who had undergone a mastectomy participated in the study (minimum time elapsed since diagnosis = 3 years). Most participants (51 per cent) reported that at least one of four illness‐related concerns had been quite or very stressful in the past 6 months. Analyses showed that illness‐related stress exerted influence on optimism through coping, whereas self‐efficacy exerted influence both directly and through coping. Stress was predicted by two medical variables (time since diagnosis and time since mastectomy). These findings confirmed our hypothesis that knowledge about personal abilities, as well as about environment difficulties can predict the way a person evaluates future outcomes. This study has significant implications for clinical practice with patients. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diabetes does not influence oral oncogenesis through fibroblast growth factor receptors

BACKGROUND: Increased expression of fibroblast growth factors and their receptors (FGFRs) has recently been described in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, we have previously described a molecular basis for an association between oral cancer and diabetes. The expression of FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 investigated in an experimental model of chemically induced carcinogenesis in normal and diabetic (type I) rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue sections ranging from normal mucosa to moderately-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma were studied using monoclonal antibodies against FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 proteins. RESULTS: A similar pattern of elevated FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 expression was observed in the initial stages of oncogenesis for both diabetic and non-diabetic animals. In the last stages of oral oncogenesis, the expression of both proteins remained relatively stable. CONCLUSION: It seems that diabetes does not affect the FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 pattern of expression throughout the various stages of oral oncogenesis.     

Language abilities in Williams syndrome: Exploring comprehension,production and repetition skills

The present paper investigates the verbal and non-verbal abilities of a group of ten individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) in order to explore the debates surrounding the language functioning of this population and the controversial claims that the WS profile supports the dissociation between language and cognition as well as possible dissociations within the language module. A range of standardized and non-standardized measures was employed to assess WS individuals' language abilities with particular focus on two morphosyntactic phenomena, past tense and plural inflection. These morphosyntactic features were investigated through three assessment types: elicitation, comprehension and repetition. Performance was compared with chronological and cognitive age-matched Down's syndrome (DS) controls as well as with a younger cognitively age-matched typically developing (TD) cohort. Overall results for the WS group reveal significant linguistic impairments across most of the language measures with little evidence of the reported spared linguistic abilities in the WS population. Better performance was evident on standardized lexical versus grammatical tasks. A regularity advantage in the WS group with both past tense and plural elicitation was replicated in the TD group, and in the DS cohort with plurals. The relatively poor performance of the WS group on both past tense elicitation and comprehension, and the better performance on plurals reflect difficulties with the concept and understanding of past tense in the context of a better understanding of number.     

Attitudes towards Olive Oil Usage,Domestic Storage,and Knowledge of Quality: A Consumers’ Survey in Greece

Consumption of unbranded olive oil obtained in bulk has previously been reported to be very high in Greece, underlining the need to investigate knowledge regarding its health attributes and storage practices, two areas that can affect oil quality. This study aimed to investigate Greek consumers’ use and choice of olive oil, their knowledge about its quality, as well as domestic storage practices of olive oil. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a representative sample of 857 Greek households that consume olive oil, using a previously validated questionnaire. Most participating households use olive oil produced by themselves or by their extended family or friends (60.3%), and only 27.4% purchase branded olive oil, while 57% reported using extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Only 38.4% of the respondents reported optimal domestic storage practices to maintain olive oil quality, with a significant greater percentage of non-producers group compared to olive oil producers. In all areas of Greece, the higher the knowledge of olive oil quality, the higher the probability of consumers selecting EVOO and perceiving olive oil price as low. The present survey highlights the need to heighten consumers’ knowledge of olive oil attributes and correct storage practices and awareness about branded EVOO and its superior quality.     

A clinical evaluation of mineral trioxide aggregate for root-end closure of non-vital immature permanent incisors in children-a pilot study.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as an apexification material when used in non-vital immature permanent incisors in children. Fifteen children with a mean age of 11.7 years and 17 non-vital permanent incisors were ajudged suitable for inclusion. Standard endodontic procedures were followed and an apical plug of 3-4 mm was created by using MTA after a calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing had been applied for at least 1 week. Final obturation was completed by using thermoplastisized Gutta-Percha (Obtura II) at least 1 week following MTA placement. Subjects were reviewed clinically and radiographically at 3-month intervals. Mean follow-up time for MTA was 12.53 months (+/-2.94 SD). Of the total of 17 teeth treated, MTA placement was considered to be adequate in 13 teeth. The procedure showed clinical success in 94.1% of the cases, radiographic success was found to be 76.5% and in further three cases (17.6%) the outcome was considered to be uncertain. This is one of the very few studies that have reported the out coming of MTA as an apexification material in children with non-vital teeth and incomplete root development. However, larger clinical studies are required to evaluate the long-term success of this procedure.