Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Autotransplantation Among the Practicing Pediatric Dentists in Chennai – A Questionnaire Study

Background: Autotransplantation is a minor surgical procedure which involves transplantation of teeth within the same oral cavity. For children, autotransplantation may be considered as a provisional measure with good survival probability. It offers a viable biological approach for replacing the missing teeth and also for orthodontic treatments in children. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of autotransplantation among pediatric dentists in Chennai, India. Methods: An 18?item questionnaire was developed, piloted, and distributed among 100 practicing pediatric dentists in Chennai, India. Descriptive statistical analysis was done using Chi?square test. Results: Seventy valid responses from the practicing pediatric dentists were obtained. Among them, 39.7% had an experience of 5–10 years, 47.1% practiced less than 5 years, and 13.2% had experience more than 10 years. Analysis of the responses showed that 76.5% of the pediatric dentists were aware of the procedure but have not observed autotransplantation being done. Among the respondents, 95.6% have not performed this technique and 40.6% of them were not sure of the prognosis. Atraumatic extraction of donor tooth was considered to be a major limitation in autotransplantation by 41.8% of the pediatric dentists. From the responses received, 95.6% were interested in gaining more information with majority opting for more hands on workshops on the technique of autotransplantation. Conclusion: Though most of the respondents were aware of autotransplantation procedure, they have not practiced it due to inadequate training

Inventory of Father Involvement and Fathers' Perceptions of Family Life / Inventário de Envolvimento Paterno e Percepções dos Pais sobre a Vida Familiar / Inventario de Participación Paterna y Percepciones de los Padres sobre la Vida Familiar

Cross-cultural comparisons of father involvement and related issues are still scarce, as are consolidated measures for its assessment. We examined relationships among father involvement and family-related variables, in Brazil, and then compared these results with findings from other countries. In total, 200 fathers with children aged 5 to 10 completed the Brazilian version of the Inventory of Father Involvement (IFI-BR), and measures of stress, marital satisfaction, parent-child relationship, children's social skills and their behavior problems. Correlations among these variables were between .32 and .58, providing new evidence of validity for the IFI-BR. When comparing Brazilian results with correlations observed in other countries, the majority did not differ in magnitude, indicating that father involvement systematically influences the fathers' well-being, family relationships, and their children's socioemotional development, in different countries. In addition to the psychometric evidence for the IFI-BR, these results also indicate the potential for using the IFI in different cultures. (AU)

Comparações transculturais do envolvimento paterno e questões relacionadas ainda são escassas, como são medidas consolidadas para sua avaliação. Examinou-se relações entre o envolvimento paterno e variáveis relacionadas à família, no Brasil, e comparou-se esses resultados com os de outros países. No total, 200 pais com filhos de 5 a 10 anos completaram a versão brasileira do Inventory of Father Involvement (IFI-BR), medidas de estresse, satisfação conjugal, relacionamento pai-filho, habilidades sociais das crianças e seus problemas de comportamento. Correlações entre essas variáveis variaram de 0,32 a 0,58, fornecendo novas evidências de validade para o IFI-BR. Comparando os resultados brasileiros com correlações de outros países, a maioria não diferiu em magnitude, indicando que o envolvimento paterno influencia sistematicamente o bem-estar paterno, as relações familiares e o desenvolvimento socioemocional infantil, em diferentes países. Além das evidências psicométricas para o IFI-BR, esses resultados também indicam o potencial de uso do IFI em diferentes culturas. (AU)

Las comparaciones transculturales de la participación del padre y temas relacionados aún son escasas, al igual que las medidas consolidadas para su evaluación. Examinamos las relaciones entre la participación del padre y las variables relacionadas con la familia en Brasil y comparamos estos resultados con los de otros países. En total, 200 padres de niños de 5 a 10 años completaron la versión brasileña del Inventory of Father Involvement (IFI-BR), medidas de estrés, satisfacción conyugal, relación padre-hijo, habilidades sociales de los niños y problemas de comportamiento infantil. Las correlaciones entre estas variables oscilaron entre .32 y .58, proporcionando nueva evidencia de validez para el IFI-BR. Al comparar los resultados brasileños con las correlaciones de otros países, la mayoría no difería en magnitud, lo que indica que la participación paterna influye sistemáticamente en el bienestar paterno, las relaciones familiares y el desarrollo socioemocional infantil en diferentes países. Además de la evidencia psicométrica do IFI-BR, estos resultados también indican el potencial de usar el IFI en diferentes culturas. (AU)

Advent of Novel Phosphatidylcholine-Associated Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs with Improved Gastrointestinal Safety

The mucosa of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract exhibits hydrophobic, nonwettable properties that protect the underlying epithelium from gastric acid and other luminal toxins. These biophysical characteristics appear to be attributable to the presence of an extracellular lining of surfactant-like phospholipids on the luminal aspects of the mucus gel layer. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) represents the most abundant and surface-active form of gastric phospholipids. PC protected experimental rats from a number of ulcerogenic agents and/or conditions including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are chemically associated with PC. Moreover, preassociating a number of the NSAIDs with exogenous PC prevented a decrease in the hydrophobic characteristics of the mucus gel layer and protected rats against the injurious GI side effects of NSAIDs while enhancing and/or maintaining their therapeutic activity. Bile plays an important role in the ability of NSAIDs to induce small intestinal injury. NSAIDs are rapidly absorbed from the GI tract and, in many cases, undergo enterohepatic circulation. Thus, NSAIDs with extensive enterohepatic cycling are more toxic to the GI tract and are capable of attenuating the surface hydrophobic properties of the mucosa of the lower GI tract. Biliary PC plays an essential role in the detoxification of bile salt micelles. NSAIDs that are secreted into the bile injure the intestinal mucosa via their ability to chemically associate with PC, which forms toxic mixed micelles and limits the concentration of biliary PC available to interact with and detoxify bile salts. We have worked to develop a family of PC-associated NSAIDs that appear to have improved GI safety profiles with equivalent or better therapeutic efficacy in both rodent model systems and pilot clinical trials.

Avaliação do risco cirúrgico em pacientes com DPOC / Evaluation of Surgical Risk in Patients with COPD

A DPOC é um dos mais importantes fatores de risco para complicações pulmonares pós-operatórias de cirurgias torácicas e extratorácicas. Esta revisão teve como objetivo apresentar os principais avanços na abordagem pré-operatória e nas medidas para prevenir a gravidade das complicações pulmonares pós-operatórias. Na prática clínica, valores mínimos previstos parao pós-operatório de 40%, tanto para VEF1quanto para DLCO, têm sido sugeridos na tomada da decisão cirúrgica. Entretanto, o desarranjo na arquitetura pulmonar causado pelo enfisema tem dificultado a avaliação do risco cirúrgico em portadores de DPOC, especialmente no que tange às diferenças regionais na ventilação e perfusão. A TC por emissão de fóton único e a TC de múltiplos detectores têm sido propostas para resolver essa questão. No estado atual, o teste de exercício cardiopulmonar permanece o método de escolha para avaliar o risco cirúrgico, sendo o consumo máximo de oxigênio maior que 35% considerado o maior definidor de operabilidade. Com o intuito de estimar o volume do enfisema, novas técnicas de imagem deverão ser incorporadas na avaliação pré-operatória de pacientes com DPOC e função pulmonar limítrofe

It is known that COPD is a major risk factor for postoperative pulmonary complications following thoracic or non-thoracic surgery. The aim of this review is to present the main advances in the pre-operative approach and measures to prevent theseverity of postoperative pulmonary complications.In clinical practice, predicted post-operative values of 40% for FEV 1 and 40% for DLCO have been proposed as the minimum values for surgical decision making. However, the destruction of the lung architecture caused by emphysema has hampered the assessment of surgical risk in COPD patients because of regional differences in ventilation and perfusion. The use of single-photon-emission CT and multidetector CT has been proposed as a means of addressing this issue. Currently, cardiopulmonary exercise testing remains the method of choice to evaluate surgical risk, maximal oxygen consumption greater than 35% being considered the best criterion of operability.To estimate the extent of emphysema, novel imaging techniques should be incorporated into the pre-operative evaluation of COPD patients with borderline pulmonary function.

Successful rituximab therapy in refractory autoimmune hepatitis and Evans syndrome / Tratamiento exitoso de hepatitis autoinmune y síndrome de Evans con rituximab

A 44-year-old woman was found to have elevated aminotransferases, twice the upper limit of normal. Liver biopsy demonstrated a mixed inflammatory process suggestive of both primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Prednisone and azathioprine were started, with normalization of aminotransferases. Six months later, she returned with worsening pruritus and re-evaluation demonstrated probable reactivation of AIH with acute elevation of liver injury tests. Repeat liver biopsy was suggestive of a flare of AIH which did not respond to prednisone, azathioprine, or mycophenolate mofetil. One month later the patient was hospitalized for sudden onset of anemia and thrombocytopenia, suggestive of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura consistent with Evans syndrome. Rituximab was initiated and mycophenolate mofetil discontinued. After one infusion of rituximab, liver injury tests significantly improved. Within four weeks of rituximab infusion (4 doses) the patient's Evans syndrome completely resolved with normal hemoglobin and platelet levels; aminotransferases also significantly improved to less than twice the upper limit of normal.

Expression of human FUS protein in Drosophila leads to progressive neurodegeneration

Mutations in the Fused in sarcoma/Translated in liposarcoma gene (FUS/TLS, FUS) have been identified among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). FUS protein aggregation is a major pathological hallmark of FUS proteinopathy, a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by FUS-immunoreactive inclusion bodies. We prepared transgenic Drosophila expressing either the wild type (Wt) or ALS-mutant human FUS protein (hFUS) using the UAS-Gal4 system. When expressing Wt, R524S or P525L mutant FUS in photoreceptors, mushroom bodies (MBs) or motor neurons (MNs), transgenic flies show age-dependent progressive neural damages, including axonal loss in MB neurons, morphological changes and functional impairment in MNs. The transgenic flies expressing the hFUS gene recapitulate key features of FUS proteinopathy, representing the first stable animal model for this group of devastating diseases.

Sociodemographic correlates of male chewable smokeless tobacco users in India: A preliminary report of analysis of national family health survey, 2005-2006.

Objective : To estimate the prevalence, the socioeconomic and demographic correlates of chewable smokeless tobacco consumption among males in India. Design : A cross-sectional, nationally representative population-based household survey. Subjects : 74,369 males aged 15-54 years who were sampled in the National Family Health Survey-3 (2005-2006). Data on tobacco consumption were elicited from male members in households selected for the study. Materials and Methods : The prevalence of various smokeless tobacco use currently was used as outcome measures. Simple and two-way cross tabulations and univariate logistic regression analysis were the main analytical methods. Results : Thirty-four percent of the study population (15 years or older) used chewable smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco consumption was significantly higher in poor, less educated, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribe populations. The prevalence of tobacco consumption showed variation with types. The prevalence of chewing also varied widely between different states and had a strong association with an individual's sociocultural characteristics. Conclusion : The findings of the study highlight that an agenda to improve the health outcomes among the poor in India must include effective interventions to control tobacco use. Failure to do so would most probably result in doubling the burden of diseases-both communicable and noncommunicable-among India's teeming poor. There is a need for periodical surveys using more consistent definitions of tobacco use and eliciting information on different types of tobacco consumed.

The splicing factor Prp31 is essential for photoreceptor development in Drosophila

Retinitis pigmentosa is a leading cause of blindness and a progressive retinal disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. This disease is characterized by photoreceptor degeneration, eventually leading to complete blindness. Autosomal dominant (adRP) has been associated with mutations in at least four ubiquitously expressed genes encoding pre-mRNA splicing factors-Prp3, Prp8, Prp31 and PAP1. Biological function of adRP-associated splicing factor genes and molecular mechanisms by which mutations in these genes cause cell-type specific photoreceptor degeneration in humans remain to be elucidated. To investigate the in vivo function of these adRP-associated splicing factor genes, we examined Drosophila in which expression of fly Prp31 homolog was down-regulated. Sequence analyses show that CG6876 is the likely candidate of Drosophila melanogaster Prp31 homolog (DmPrp31). Predicted peptide sequence for CG6876 shows 57% similarity to the Homo sapiens Prp31 protein (HsPrp31). Reduction of the endogenous Prp31 by RNAi-mediated knockdown specifically in the eye leads to reduction of eye size or complete absence of eyes with remarkable features of photoreceptor degeneration and recapitulates the bimodal expressivity of human Prp31 mutations in adRP patients. Such transgenic DmPrp31RNAi flies provide a useful tool for identifying genetic modifiers or interacting genes for Prp31. Expression of the human Prp31 in these animals leads to a partial rescue of the eye phenotype. Our results indicate that the Drosophila CG6876 is the fly ortholog of mammalian Prp31 gene.

Effect of habitual arecanut chewing on resting whole mouth salivary flow rate and pH.

BACKGROUND: Resting whole mouth salivary flow rate (SFR) and pH play a significant role in pathogenesis of various oral diseases and conditions. AIM: To observe the effect of habitual use of arecanut and various arecanut containing products (AN) on SFR and pH. DESIGN: Cross sectional. SETTING: Outpatient Department of Dental College. PARTICIPANTS: AN chewers and non-chewers attending Dental college. MEASUREMENTS: SFR and pH. VARIABLES: Type, frequency, duration and exposure time of AN, Smoking and Alcohol habit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects study was divided into chewers (n=110) and non- chewers (n=50). The SFR (expressed in mL/10min) and pH measured. RESULTS: The difference between the mean SFR for chewers and non-chewers was not statistically significant. The difference between mean pH of chewers and non-chewers was statistically significant. (P=0.02). Difference in pH was statistically significant among the different types of AN chewers (P=0.024). With chewing raw AN, an increase in frequency and exposure time increased SFR and pH respectively. In processed AN chewers, increase in duration and frequency of consumption increased SFR and decreased pH respectively. For chewers with betel quid with tobacco, increase in duration was significantly associated with decrease in salivary pH. CONCLUSION: SFR and pH are altered in AN chewers, rendering the oral mucosa vulnerable to the toxic effects of AN.

Calidad de vida de cuidadores informales: agrupación alzheimer Concepción / Quality of life of informal caretakers: alzheimer association of Concepción

En nuestro país existe un mayor incremento de la población adulto mayor en comparación con otros grupos etáreos. Esta situación trae como consecuencia una mayor preocupación por las enfermedades propias de la tercera edad, así como también sus cuidadores, quienes que por dedicarse la mayor parte del tiempo a la labor de cuidado ven menoscabada su calidad de vida. Investigación de tipo descriptivo, de enfoque cuantitativo, transversal, de diseño no experimental; la muestra fue de corte no probabilístico, determinándola de acuerdo a los siguientes criterios: a) cuidador principal informal, b) diagnóstico clínico de enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) del paciente, y c) perteneciente a la agrupación Alzheimer-Concepción. La recolección de datos se efectuó mediante la autoadministración del Cuestionario de Calidad de Vida en Salud SF-36, Test de AGPAR Familiar de Smilkstein y un cuestionario referido a temas de la agrupación, este último elaborado por el equipo investigador para conocer la situación de los cuidadores principales informales en orden a determinar si su participación en esta institución influye en su calidad de vida. La muestra estuvo constituida por 18 personas quienes presentaron un perfil preferentemente integrado de mujeres, con estado civil de casados (as), e hijos del paciente, como relación de parentesco. Además los encuestados se encuentran en el rango de 51 a 60 años de edad, beneficiarios de FONASA (Fondo Nacional de Salud), son dueñasde casa, tienen un ingreso familiar que se sitúa en el rango de $115.001.- y $650.001.-, se han dedicado a la labor de cuidado entre 1 a 5 años y viven en la comuna de Concepción. Respecto a la calidad de vida en salud ésta se presenta favorable, siendo las áreas más afectadas por la labor de cuidado las dimensiones vitalidad y dolor corporal. En cuanto a la visión que tienen los cuidadores principales informales que pertenecen a la agrupación respecto de la influencia de ésta en su calidad de vida se aprecia una tendencia favorable.

Cell Processing: Current Status and Future Directions

Specialized clinical cell processing began in the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the National Institutes of Health in 1984. The number and complexity of procedures performed increased quickly and in 1997 a highly specialized cell processing laboratory was opened. The laboratory has approximately 3,000 square feet, specialized air handing, a highly trained staff, and written laboratory procedures. In addition to standard laboratory equipment, the laboratory has numerous cell isolation instruments, flow cytometers, and automated cell counting instruments. The laboratory supports blood and bone marrow transplant protocols by isolating CD34+ stem cells, removing T lymphocytes, culturing lymphocytes to eliminate donor lymphocytes that are reactive with recipient alloantigens, and stimulating lymphocytes to induce Th2 type cells to reduce graft versus host disease. The laboratory has also been preparing dendritic cells to support protocols using immune therapy to treat cancer. In addition, pancreatic islet cells are isolated from organ donors for transplantation to treat type I diabetes mellitus.

Germinoma of the basal ganglia: a case report and review of literature.

Germs cell tumors of extrapineal region are extremely uncommon. The clinicopathological features of germinoma in the basal ganglia, in a 21 year old male are presented in this report. Post-operative radiotherapy is advocated, in view of the good radiosensitivity of these tumors.

Mixed tumour of schwannoma and meningioma in a patient with neurofibromatosis-2 : a case report.

The co-existence of schwannoma and meningioma as a mixed intracranial tumour is uncommon and so far only eight cases have been published in the literature. Because of rarity, we report a unique case of mixed tumour having schwann cell and meningeal components, in a patient with neurofibromatosis type -2 (NF-2). The possible mechanisms for the occurrence of these mixed tumours are discussed.

Fulminant cerebral infarction in a patient with nephrotic syndrome.

Fulminant cerebral infarction secondary to arterial thrombosis in adults with nephrotic syndrome is rare. We report a 42 year old male with fulminant right anterior cerebral and middle cerebral artery infarction. Minimal change disease of the kidney was documented by renal biopsy. The possible pathogenesis is discussed and pertinent literature reviewed.

Antissépticos e desinfetantes: estudo sobre condiçöes dos recipientes, sua manipulaçäo e o tempo de permanência dos líquidos nos recipientes / Antiseptics and desinfectants: study about recipient conditions, their manipulation and the time of permanence of the liquids

O presente estudo sobre antissépticos e desinfetantes teve como objetivo verificar a contaminaçäo dos mesmos, relacionados às condiçöes dos recipientes, tempo de permanência e a manipulaçäo. Utilizou-se o método experimental, submetendo 362 amostras destes líquidos à cultura microbiológica. A partir da análise e discussäo dos resultados, as autoras destacam alguns procedimentos visando a manutençäo dos antissépticos e desinfetantes livres de contaminaçäo através da utilizaçäo de recipientes adequados, tempo de permanência dos líquidos nos recipientes e a manipulaçäo dos mesmos.

Estudo da estabilidade da vacina contra raiva, tipo fuenzalida & palacios, uso humano, após processo de filtraçäo / Stability of the fuenzalida & palacios type antirabies vaccine (human use) after filtration process

Eighteen out of 27 lots of fuenzalida & palacios type antirabies vaccine for human use produced at the Butanta, were filteres through two different Millipore systems, i.e., couple of cartridges (pre-filter & cart ridge of 0.55 aem porosity) or sandwich of membranes (pre-filter & membranes of 5.0 & 1.2 aem porosity). Afterwards, a study on the stability of the lots carried out during 18 months of storage at 2-8§C has demonstrated that filtration: a) reduced the protein contents of the vaccine, b) decreased the number of ampoules discarded due to the formation of clumps, c) didn`t interfere with the stability of the vaccine. It was also shown that combination of membranes was more suitable than cartridges for the filtration of vaccine lots and did not turn production costlier

Pulmonary cavitatory tuberculosis in children.

This study was undertaken to analyse children with pulmonary cavitatory tuberculosis which is a rare and infectious condition. The pretreatment characteristics, course and response to three different anti-tuberculous regimes in 27 children with cavitary pulmonary lesions registered at the TB Clinic, Institute of Child Health, are described. Male:Female ratio was 1.2:4. Thirty per cent of affected children were below 3 years of age and had predominant lower lobe involvement whereas in older children the upper lobes were affected. Eighty five per cent of children had definite history of contact with an adult with tuberculosis. Tuberculin test was positive in 70% of children. Cavitary lesion were observed in the right lung in 66% of cases. Follow up and surveillance was carried out in 23 children who completed the anti tuberculous treatment. Regimes with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and streptomycin were given to different groups. Response and compliance was also monitored. Eleven out of 23 children had persistence of radiological lesions even after completion of 9 months of therapy. Inclusion of streptomycin with 2 or 3 bactericidal drugs in the intensive phase showed a better response.