ABSTRACT
X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare disease of elevated fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) production that leads to hypophosphatemia and impaired mineralization of bone and teeth. The clinical manifestations of XLH include a high prevalence of dental abscesses and periodontal disease, likely driven by poorly formed structures of the dentoalveolar complex, including the alveolar bone, cementum, dentin, and periodontal ligament. Our previous studies have demonstrated that sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) treatment improves phosphate homeostasis, and increases long bone mass, strength, and mineralization in the Hyp mouse model of XLH. In the current study, we investigated whether Scl-Ab impacts the dentoalveolar structures of Hyp mice. Male and female wild-type and Hyp littermates were injected with 25 mg·kg-1 of vehicle or Scl-Ab twice weekly beginning at 12 weeks of age and euthanized at 20 weeks of age. Scl-Ab increased alveolar bone mass in both male and female mice and alveolar tissue mineral density in the male mice. The positive effects of Scl-Ab were consistent with an increase in the fraction of active (nonphosphorylated) β-catenin, dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and osteopontin stained alveolar osteocytes. Scl-Ab had no effect on the mass and mineralization of dentin, enamel, acellular or cellular cementum. There was a nonsignificant trend toward increased periodontal ligament (PDL) attachment fraction within the Hyp mice. Additional PDL fiber structural parameters were not affected by Scl-Ab. The current study demonstrates that Scl-Ab can improve alveolar bone in adult Hyp mice.
Subject(s)
Mice , Male , Female , Animals , Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets/metabolism , Bone and Bones/metabolism , Tooth/metabolism , Periodontal Ligament/metabolismABSTRACT
A non-magnetic MEG compatible device has been developed that provides continuous force and velocity information. Combined with MEG, this device may find utility in characterizing brain regions associated with force and velocity relative to individual digits or movement pattern. 15 healthy right-handed participants were given visual cues to perform random finger movements on the prototype finger sensor for 21 s and then rest for 21 s (7 times). Respective finger flexion data were obtained, during 151-channel MEG brain scanning, by feeding the signal from finger sensor into four input Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) channels in the MEG hardware. The source activity was reconstructed in beta band using a Linearly Constrained Minimum Variance (LCMV) beamformer in the beta band. The ADC channels were used as regressors for a continuous time General Linear Model (GLM) and a Region of Interest (ROI) was identified to examine activity. MEG analysis showed bilateral activation in the primary motor cortex region. Because individual digits could be isolated in the ADC data, somatotopy of the fingers were observed consistent with the homunculus except pinky finger. The total span was calculated to be 5.5662 mm. The study confirms that the finger sensor is magnetically compatible with MEG measurements and may potentially provide a means to study complex sensorimotor functions. Improved isolation of individual digit information along with the use of machine learning algorithms can help retrieve more accurate results.
Subject(s)
Brain , Cues , Fingers , Linear Models , Machine Learning , Motor CortexABSTRACT
Amniotic fluid embolism (hereafter, AFE) is a uniformly devastating event that is both unpredictable and unpreventable. Despite having been first described nearly 80 years ago, it remains a significant cause of maternal mortality worldwide. AFE is characterized by the triad of sudden hypoxia and hypotension, followed in most cases by coagulopathy. The diagnosis of AFE is clinical and prompt recognition and multi-disciplinary intervention essential. This paper seeks to review the history, pathophysiology, potential risk factors, strategies for identification and management, and outcomes of this unfortunate and storied obstetric emergency.
La embolia de líquido amniótico (ELA) es una ocurrencia devastadora, impredecible y no prevenible. A pesar de haber sido descrita por primera vez hace casi 80 años, todavía es causa significativa de mortalidad materna en el mundo. La ELA se caracteriza por la triada consistente en hipoxia súbita e hipotensión, seguida en la mayoría de casos por coagulopatía. El diagnóstico de la ELA es clínico, y es esencial su pronto reconocimiento y la intervención multidisciplinaria. Este artículo trata de revisar la historia, fisiopatología, factores de riesgo potenciales, estrategias para su identificación y manejo, así como los resultados de esta desafortunada y antigua emergencia obstétrica.
ABSTRACT
Maintenance of large collections of bacterial cultures can be challenging, as individual species may necessitate specific storage techniques, and many important organisms are famously difficult to sustain in culture. We present a simple, cost-effective, reliable method for long-term storage of bacterial strains suitable for fastidious species.
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of morbidity in Trinidad and Tobago. Screening programmes are not incorporated in the health sector and the population at risk remains unaware of the benefits of screening. We investigated the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus in office workers with one risk factor. Participants were randomly selected from the urban corporate sector in Port of Spain. Fasting capillary blood glucose and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) questionnaire for major diabetes risk factors were used to assess risk. Student pharmacists approached 482 persons, of whom 317 consented to participate (66 response rate). There were 101 (32) men and 216 (68) women, 37 (39) were of African ancestry and 28 each were of East Indian and mixed ancestry. Family history was positive in 54. Thirty per cent (95) of the volunteers were at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus (41 men; 54 women). Based on the ADA questionnaire, 82 (78) of volunteers were at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The ADA risk test and Impaired Fasting Glucose were both positive in 13 (14) volunteers. In subjects at risk, Body Mass Index (BMI) was > 25 kg/m2 in 74 (78) and the waist/hip ratio was 0.85. Approximately 30 of office staff was at risk of developing diabetes mellitus. The ADA questionnaire is a useful non-invasive measure which pharmacists can use to assess risk for Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The glucometer can be used for risk assessment providing that it is associated with a quality assurance programme and that diagnosis is confirmed with laboratory testing