Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Neurogenesis in the Chick Retina

Chick embryo retinas were labelled in ovo by single injections of [3H]thymidine at selected times between days 2 and 12 of incubation. Embryos were later removed, at different stages of development, and the retinas processed for autoradiography of either serial sections or dissociated cell preparations. Analysis of unlabelled cells shows that neurogenesis starts, on day 2 of incubation, in a dorsotemporal area of the central retina, close to the posterior pole and to the optic nerve head. A gradient of neurogenesis spreads from this central area to the periphery, where neurogenesis ends, shortly after day 12, when the last few bipolar cells withdraw from the cell cycle. Additional dorsal-to-ventral and temporal-to-nasal gradients can be discerned in our autoradiographs. In all retinal sectors, ganglion cells start first to withdraw from the cell cycle, followed, with substantial overlapping, by amacrine, horizontal, photoreceptor plus Müller, and bipolar neuroblasts. Ganglion cells are also the first to reach the 50% level of unlabelled cells, followed this time by horizontal, photoreceptor, amacrine, Müller and bipolar cells. Finally, 100% levels of unlabelled cell populations are attained simultaneously by ganglion, horizontal and photoreceptor cells, followed by amacrine, then by Müller, and last by bipolar cells. Although all classes of neurons, in varying proportions, are being produced most of the time, our results also demonstrate that, in any given retinal area, the first cells leaving the cycle are determined to become ganglion cells, and the last ones bipolar cells, and not other types.     

Enteric-Release Budesonide May Be Useful in the Management of Non-Responsive Celiac Disease

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - Non-responsive celiac disease (NRCD) has many aetiologies, including gluten exposure. Budesonide may be used for refractory celiac disease (RCD) and celiac crisis....     

Angiographic and intravascular ultrasound findings of the late catch-up phenomenon after intracoronary beta-radiation for the treatment of in-stent restenosis

We report one-year angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) outcomes of in-stent restenosis (ISR) patients treated with intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT). The benefit of IVBT for treating ISR is well documented. However, few data exist on significant angiographic and intravascular ultrasonic in-stent lumen deterioration beyond the habitual 6-month analysis after the index radiation procedure or so-called late catch-up process in the treatment of ISR. Twenty-five consecutive patients with ISR were treated with IVBT using the Beta-Cath System (a 40 mm 90 Sr per 90 gamma source). Quantitative angiographic and IVUS analysis was performed in all of them at 6 and 12 months. IVBT was successful in all patients. Four patients (16%) developed recurrent angiographic binary restenosis at 6-month follow-up, all located within the adjacent reference segments, with 2 being associated with geographical miss. An additional 4 patients (16%) presented with recurrent ISR at 12-month follow-up, all within the stented segment. Significant in-stent lumen loss (0.16 +/- 0.42 mm to 0.34 +/- 0.46 mm; p = 0.008) and in-stent intimal hyperplasia growth (+11.2 +/- 0.48 mm3; p = 0.03) was observed between 6 and 12 months. Intracoronary beta-radiation for the treatment of ISR was associated with significant luminal deterioration (late catch-up) within the stents between 6 and 12 months due to an important late progression of in-stent intimal hyperplasia.     

A strategy to improve treatment‐related mortality and abandonment of therapy for childhood ALL in a developing country reveals the impact of treatment delays

Background

Treatment‐related mortality and abandonment of therapy are major barriers to successful treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the developing world.

Procedure

A collaboration was undertaken between Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (Bogota, Colombia), which serves a poor patient population in an upper‐middle income country, and Dana‐Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (Boston, USA). Several interventions aimed at reducing toxic deaths and abandonment were implemented, including a reduced‐intensity treatment regimen and a psychosocial effort targeting abandonment. We performed a cohort study to assess impact.

Results

The Study Population comprised 99 children with ALL diagnosed between 2007 and 2010, and the Historic Cohort comprised 181 children treated prior to the study interventions (1995–2004). Significant improvements were achieved in the rate of deaths in complete remission (13% to 3%; P = 0.005), abandonment (32% to 9%; P < 0.001), and event‐free survival with abandonment considered an event (47% to 65% at 2 years; P = 0.016). However, relapse rate did not improve. Medically unnecessary treatment delays were common, and landmark analysis revealed that initiating the PIII phase of therapy ≥4 weeks delayed predicted markedly inferior disease‐free survival (P = 0.016). Conversely, patients who received therapy without excessive delays had outcomes approaching those achieved in high‐income countries.

Conclusions

Implementation of a twinning program was followed by reductions in abandonment and toxic deaths, but relapse rate did not improve. Inappropriate treatment delays were common and strongly predicted treatment failure. These findings highlight the importance of adherence to treatment schedule for effective therapy of ALL. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1395–1402. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Determinants and Reference Ranges of Serum Immunoglobulins in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals: a Population-Based Study

Purpose

In clinical practice, currently one reference range for serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, G, and M is applied to all adults, although various factors may influence Ig serum levels. Population-based data on determinants of IgA, IgG, and IgM and recommendations for subgroup specific reference ranges are lacking. We aimed to provide an overview of determinants of IgA, IgG, and IgM in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly individuals and explore determinants that influence Ig reference ranges.

Methods

Within the Rotterdam Study, we performed linear regression analyses for the association of demographic, lifestyle, and cardiovascular factors with serum IgA, IgG, and IgM. We furthermore calculated Ig reference ranges (based on percentiles), both overall and within relevant subgroups.

Results

We included 8768 participants (median age 62 years). IgA and IgG increased non-linearly with higher age (P?<?.0001 for both). Women had lower IgA (beta:???0.24; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]:???0.29;???0.20) and IgG (beta:???0.33; 95% CI:???0.44;???0.23), but higher IgM levels (beta: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.04;0.13) than men. Former and particularly current smoking were associated with lower IgA and IgG (betas between???0.07 and???1.03). Higher alcohol consumption was associated with lower IgG (beta for heavy drinking:???0.70; 95% CI:???0.91;???0.48). Corticosteroid use was associated with lower IgG (beta:???1.12; 95% CI:???1.58;???0.66). Associations with cardiovascular factors were heterogeneous and differed between sexes.

Conclusion

Age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, corticosteroid use, and cardiovascular factors are determinants that should be considered when interpreting serum Ig levels in middle-aged and elderly individuals and may require adjusted reference ranges.

     

Four-year clinical prospective follow-up of resin composite restoration after selective caries removal using Er:YAG laser

Clinical Oral Investigations - The aim of this study was to longitudinally evaluate, after a 4-year period, the clinical longevity of composite resin restoration compared to the baseline, after...     

Effects of chemical composition on the corrosion of dental alloys

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the oral environment on the corrosion of dental alloys with different compositions, using electrochemical methods. The corrosion rates were obtained from the current-potential curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The effect of artificial saliva on the corrosion of dental alloys was dependent on alloy composition. Dissolution of the ions occurred in all tested dental alloys and the results were strongly dependent on the general alloy composition. Regarding the alloys containing nickel, the Ni-Cr and Ni-Cr-Ti alloys released 0.62 mg/L of Ni on average, while the Co-Cr dental alloy released ions between 0.01 and 0.03 mg/L of Co and Cr, respectively.The open-circuit potential stabilized at a higher level with lower deviation (standard deviation: Ni-Cr-6Ti = 32 mV/SCE and Co-Cr = 54 mV/SCE). The potenciodynamic curves of the dental alloys showed that the Ni-based dental alloy with >70 wt% of Ni had a similar curve and the Co-Cr dental alloy showed a low current density and hence a high resistance to corrosion compared with the Ni-based dental alloys. Some changes in microstructure were observed and this fact influenced the corrosion behavior for the alloys. The lower corrosion resistance also led to greater release of nickel ions to the medium. The quantity of Co ions released from the Co-Cr-Mo alloy was relatively small in the solutions. In addition, the quantity of Cr ions released into the artificial saliva from the Co-Cr alloy was lower than Cr release from the Ni-based dental alloys.