Gingival esthetics and oral health-related quality of life in patients with cleft lip and palate.

While the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is known to be reduced in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP), its inter-dependency with the soft tissue characteristics of the CLP area remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the soft tissue characteristics in the treated cleft area in order to investigate whether gingival esthetics correlate with OHRQoL. Thirty-six patients with unilateral or bilateral CLP (46 cleft areas) were investigated after secondary/tertiary alveolar bone grafting and orthodontic/prosthetic implant treatment using an adapted score to rate gingival esthetics (clinical esthetic score, CES). The patient's OHRQoL was determined using the German short version of the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-G14). The results showed a significantly better rating in patients with their own teeth in situ (12.05±1.10) than in patients with implants (6.95±4.78) or prosthetics (4.00±3.58). The best OHRQoL values were achieved by patients with their own teeth integrated into the cleft area (1.32±2.31), followed by patients with implants (2.33±2.33) and prosthetics (3.75±5.87). A significant (P=0.017) correlation was found between OHIP-G14 and CES scores, suggesting an increased OHRQoL in cases with higher oral esthetics in the cleft area. The therapeutic strategy contributes to both gingival esthetics and OHRQoL. The patient's subjective perception of OHRQoL can be attributed to objective gingival esthetic ratings.

Classical and alternative NF-κB signaling cooperate in regulating adipocyte differentiation and function.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Inflammation of adipose tissue (AT) is a central mediator of insulin resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms triggered by inflammatory cells are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the metabolic functions of lymphotoxin-ß-receptor (LTßR)-mediated alternative NF-κB signaling in adipocytes and to reveal its effects on body weight and insulin sensitivity in vivo. METHODS: RelB(FatKO) mice and littermate controls were treated with LTßR agonistic antibody (α-LTßR) or a LTßR antagonist (LTßR:Ig fusion protein) after feeding a high-fat diet or standard diet. Mice were analyzed by insulin tolerance and glucose tolerance tests prior to analysis by necropsy and qRT-PCR of abdominal white adipose tissue. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts were used for differentiation and expression analysis after treatment with α-LTßR and differentiation to adipocytes. The molecular mechanism was elucidated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and combinatorial treatment with α-LTßR and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). RESULTS: RelB(FatKO) mice showed improved insulin sensitivity despite increased adiposity and adipocyte hypertrophy. LTßR-induced activation of p52-RelB in 3T3-L1 cells attenuated adipogenesis and modulated adipocyte functions via transcriptional downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). This LTßR-mediated pathway was synergistically regulated via a TNF-induced increase in p100 and RelB expression and nuclear translocation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data describe an anti-adipogenic action of LTßR signaling and a novel synergism of alternative and classical NF-κB signaling in the regulation of adipocytes. In conclusion, this strong synergism between the two NF-κB pathways shows a method to inhibit adipocyte differentiation and to improve insulin sensitivity and can be a potential target to treat metabolic disorders more efficiently than with other known drugs.

Factors influencing relative speech intelligibility in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective study using automatic, computer-based speech analysis.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its treatment impair speech intelligibility by alteration of the vocal tract. The aim of this study was to identify the factors of oral cancer treatment that influence speech intelligibility by means of an automatic, standardized speech-recognition system. The study group comprised 71 patients (mean age 59.89, range 35-82 years) with OSCC ranging from stage T1 to T4 (TNM staging). Tumours were located on the tongue (n=23), lower alveolar crest (n=27), and floor of the mouth (n=21). Reconstruction was conducted through local tissue plasty or microvascular transplants. Adjuvant radiotherapy was performed in 49 patients. Speech intelligibility was evaluated before, and at 3, 6, and 12 months after tumour resection, and compared to that of a healthy control group (n=40). Postoperatively, significant influences on speech intelligibility were tumour localization (P=0.010) and resection volume (P=0.019). Additionally, adjuvant radiotherapy (P=0.049) influenced intelligibility at 3 months after surgery. At 6 months after surgery, influences were resection volume (P=0.028) and adjuvant radiotherapy (P=0.034). The influence of tumour localization (P=0.001) and adjuvant radiotherapy (P=0.022) persisted after 12 months. Tumour localization, resection volume, and radiotherapy are crucial factors for speech intelligibility. Radiotherapy significantly impaired word recognition rate (WR) values with a progression of the impairment for up to 12 months after surgery.

Audio based surveillance forcognitive assistance using a CMT microphone within socially assistive technology.

This work proposes a system for Acoustic Event Detection and Classification (AEDC) using enhanced audio signal provided by a CMT (Coincidence Microphone Technology) microphone. The CMT microphone through signal processing algorithm provides an enhanced signal in several azimuths with a step of 15 degrees . The AEC module exploits this technology to increase classification performance. The automatic detection system based on DWT uses an adaptive threshold for a different energy level and sampling rate quality. The classification system is based on an unsupervised order estimation of Gaussian mixture model adapted to the variability of sound event acoustic information and the representation cost.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes decreases conducted vasoconstrictor response in mouse cremaster arterioles.

A conducted vasomotor response (CVR) is characterized by the spread of vasoconstriction or vasodilatation both up- and downstream from a local stimulation site in the microcirculation. It is believed to coordinate vasomotor responses within the microcirculation, and to contribute to the control of the major feed arteries to a given organ or tissue. Microvascular disease is a common and severe complication in diabetes, and we therefore studied CVR in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic mice to examine whether changes in CVR might have a role in the pathophysiology of microvascular dysfunction in diabetes. The mouse cremasteric arterioles were stimulated locally with KCl and the resulting local response as well as conducted responses at 500 microm and 1000 microm were measured in control and STZ treated mice. Diabetes (n=8) induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ in a dose of 100 mg/kg (mean blood glucose 16.8+/-2.1 mmol/l) decreased the conduction of vasoconstriction from 27.3+/-1.1% to 21.4+/-1.6% at 500 microm (p<0.01) and from 17.4+/-1.0% to 9.8+/-1.1% at 1000 microm (p<0.01) as compared with control (n=9). Treatment with either the protein kinase C beta II inhibitor (LY341684) or the oxygen radical scavenger tempol, did not improve the decreased conduction of vasoconstriction, but when administered together, the conduction of vasoconstriction was improved from 21.4+/-1.6% to 26.5+/-0.8% at 500 microm and 9.8+/-1.1% to 16.5+/-0.7% at 1000 microm (p<0.01). We conclude that STZ induced diabetes reduces conducted vasoconstriction to KCl in mouse cremasteric arterioles, and combined treatment with both an oxygen radical scavenger and a protein kinase C beta II inhibitor improves the reduced conducted vasoconstriction.

GER1, a GDSL motif-encoding gene from rice is a novel early light- and jasmonate-induced gene.

The reaction of the rice mutant HEBIBA differs from that of wild-type rice in that the mutant responds inversely to red light and is defective in the light-triggered biosynthesis of jasmonic acid (JA). Using the wild type and the HEBIBA mutant of rice in a differential display screen, we attempted to identify genes that act in or near the convergence point of light and JA signalling. We isolated specifically regulated DNA fragments from approximately 10 000 displayed bands, and identified a new early light- and JA-induced gene. This gene encodes an enzyme containing a GDSL motif, showing 38 % identity at the amino acid level to lipase Arab-1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. The GDSL CONTAINING ENZYME RICE 1 gene (GER1) is rapidly induced by both red (R) and far-red (FR) light and by JA. The results are discussed with respect to a possible role for GER1 as a negative regulator of coleoptile elongation in the context of recent findings on the impact of JA on light signalling.

Cytoskeletal responses during early development of the downy mildew of grapevine (Plasmopara viticola).

A host-free system was established to induce the early development of the obligate biotrophic pathogen Plasmopara viticola, the downy mildew of grapevine. This system was used to study cytoskeletal responses during encystation and germ tube formation. During these processes, both the actin and the tubulin cytoskeleton show a stage-specific pattern of distribution. Elimination of the cytoskeleton by the actin drug latrunculin B and the microtubule drug ethyl-N-phenyl-carbamate did not affect the release of mobile zoospores from the sporangia, nor the encystation process, but efficiently inhibited the formation of a germ tube. The data are discussed with respect to a role of both actin and microtubules for the establishment of the cell polarity guiding the emergence and the growth of the germ tube.

A role for actin-driven secretion in auxin-induced growth.

In epidermal cells of Zea mays coleoptiles, actin microfilaments are organized in fine strands during cell elongation, but are bundled in response to signals that inhibit growth. This bundling response is accompanied by an increased membrane association of extracted actin. Brefeldin A, an inhibitor of vesicle secretion, increases the membrane association of actin, causes a bundling of cortical actin microfilaments, and reduces the sensitivity of cell elongation to auxin. A model is proposed where auxin controls the dynamics of an actin subpopulation that guides vesicles loaded with components of the auxin-signaling machinery towards the cell poles.

Effects on the foetus of exercise in pregnancy.

Maternal training during pregnancy has been the subject for numerous investigations lately, which are presented in this survey. No studies in human beings have shown any negative effect of training on the embryogenesis. During physical training a small rise in foetal heart rate of 5-25 bpm is a common finding. This could be due to a reduction in oxygen delivery or more likely stimulation from maternal vasoactive hormones or training-induced uterine contractions. Foetal growth seems to be influenced by maternal activity, as some investigations have found significantly bigger babies born by moderately trained females compared to non-trained or heavily trained women. In the latter group the reduction could be explained by a reduced neonatal fat mass. Increased maternal temperature during training has not been found to lead to any foetal abnormalities. The results indicate that moderate training during pregnancy can be recommended with observance of simple directives.

Steam pasteurization of commercially slaughtered beef carcasses: evaluation of bacterial populations at five anatomical locations.

A steam pasteurization process (patent pending) has been shown to effectively reduce pathogenic bacterial populations on beef tissue and to significantly reduce naturally occurring bacterial populations on commercially slaughtered beef carcasses. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the steam pasteurization treatment for reducing bacterial populations at several anatomical locations on commerically slaughtered carcasses. Before and after pasteurization treatment (82.2 degrees C, 6.5-s exposure time), a sterile sponge was used to sample 300 cm2 at one of five locations (inside round, loin, midline, brisket, or neck). Eighty carcasses (40 before treatment and 40 after treatment) were sampled per anatomical location over 2 processing days. Before treatment, aerobic plate counts (APCs) were found to be highest (P < or = 0.01) at the midline (4.5 log10 CFU/100 cm2), intermediate at the inside round, brisket, and neck (ca. 3.8 log10 CFU/100 cm2), and lowest at the loin (3.4 log10 CFU/100 cm2). After treatment, APCs at all locations were reduced significantly (P < or = 0.01). The inside round, loin, and brisket had the lowest (P < or = 0.01) APCs (ca. 2.6 log10 CFU/100 cm2), whereas the midline and neck had APCs of 3.1 and 3.3 log10 CFU/100 cm2, respectively. The lower reduction in APCs at the neck area indicated that the treatment may not be as effective there, possibly because of the design of the pasteurization equipment. Generic Escherichia coli populations were low at all locations before treatment, with populations on 32% of all carcasses sampled being less than the detection limit of the study (5.0 CFU/100 cm2). After treatment, E. coli populations were significantly lower (P < or = 0.01) than populations before treatment and 85% of all carcasses sampled had E. coli populations below the detection limit. The maximum E. coli population detected after treatment was 25 CFU/100 cm2. For enteric bacterial populations, no differences were observed in the effectiveness of the treatment among the five carcass locations.

[Effects of maternal physical training on the fetus]. / Føtale effekter af maternel traening.

The latest results of influences of physical training during pregnancy on the foetus are presented. In humane, no pathological effects on the embryogenesis have been demonstrated. During exercise, a modest increase (5-25 bpm) in foetal heart rate is a common finding. This might be caused by reduced oxygen supply to the foetus, but could more likely be due to stimuli from vasoactive hormones or training-induced uterine contractions. Foetal growth seems to be influenced by maternal training, as moderate training has resulted in significantly bigger babies compared to both inactivity and hard training. In one study it was shown that low body weight in babies from hard-training mothers was due to reduced neonatal fat mass. Pathological sequelae due to increased maternal temperature during training have not been found in humans. The results strongly suggest that moderate training during pregnancy can be recommended if simple precautions are taken.

Evaluation of a Steam Pasteurization Process in a Commercial Beef Processing Facility.

The effectiveness of a steam pasteurization process for reducing naturally occurring bacterial populations on freshly slaughtered beef sides was evaluated in a large commercial facility. Over a period of 10 days, 140 randomly chosen beef sides were microbiologically analyzed. Each side was sampled immediately before, immediately after, and 24 h after steam pasteurization treatment. Total aerobic bacteria (APC), Escherichia coli (generic), coliform, and Enterobacteriaceae populations were enumerated. The process significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced mean APCs from 2.19 log CFU/cm2 before treatment to 0.84 log CFU/cm2 immediately after and 0.94 log CFU/cm2 24 h after treatment. Before pasteurization (8 s steam exposure), 16.4% of carcasses were positive for generic E. coli (level of 0.60 to 1.53 log CFU/cm2), 37.9% were positive for coliforms (level of 0.60 to 2.26 log CFU/cm2), and 46.4% were positive for Enterobacteriaceae (level of 0.60 to 2.25 log CFU/cm2). After pasteurization, 0% of carcasses were positive for E. coli , 1.4% were positive for coliforms (level of 0.60 to 1.53 log CFU/cm2), and 2.9% were positive for Enterobacteriaceae (level of 0.60 to 1.99 log CFU/cm2). Of the 140 carcasses evaluated, one carcass was positive for Salmonella spp. before treatment (0.7% incidence rate); all carcasses were negative after steam treatment. This study indicates that steam pasteurization is very effective in a commercial setting for reducing overall bacterial populations on freshly slaughtered beef carcasses. The system may effectively serve as an important critical control point for HACCP systems at the slaughter phase of beef processing. In conjunction with other antimicrobial interventions (mandated by USDA to achieve zero tolerance standards for visible contamination) and good manufacturing practices, this process can play an important role in reducing the risk of pathogenic bacteria in raw meat and meat products.

Comparison of Steam Pasteurization and Other Methods for Reduction of Pathogens on Surfaces of Freshly Slaughtered Beef.

The effectiveness of a recently invented "steam pasteurization" (S) process in reducing pathogenic bacterial populations on surfaces of freshly slaughtered beef was determined and compared with that of other standard commercial methods including knife trimming (T), water washing (35°C; W), hot water/steam vacuum spot cleaning (V), and spraying with 2% vol/vol lactic acid (54°C, pH 2.25; L). These decontamination treatments were tested individually and in combinations. Cutaneus trunci muscles from freshly slaughtered steers were inoculated with feces containing Listeria monocytogenes Scott A, Escherichia coli OI57:H7, and Salmonella typhimurium over a predesignated meat surface area, resulting in initial populations of ca. 5 log CFU/cm2 of each pathogen. Tissue samples were excised from each portion before and after decontamination treatments, and mean population reductions were determined. Treatment combinations evaluated were the following (treatment designations within the abbreviations indicate the order of application): TW, TWS, WS, VW, VWS, TWLS, and VWLS. These combinations resulted in reductions ranging from 3.5 to 5.3 log CFU/cm2 in all three pathogen populations. The TW, TWS, WS, TWLS, and VWLS combinations were equally effective (P > 0.05), resulting in reductions ranging from 4.2 to 5.3 log CFU/cm2. When used individually, T, V, and S resulted in pathogen reductions ranging from 2.5 to 3.7 log CFU/cm2 Steam pasteurization consistently provided numerically greater pathogen reductions than T or V. Treatments T, V, and S were all more effective than W (which gave a reduction on the order of 1.0 log CFU/cm2). Steam pasteurization is an effective method for reducing pathogenic bacterial populations on surfaces of freshly slaughtered beef, with multiple decontamination procedures providing greatest overall reductions.

Prediction of live and carcass characteristics of market hogs by use of a single longitudinal ultrasonic scan.

Live animal and carcass data were collected from market barrows and gilts (n = 119) to determine the accuracy and precision of using a single longitudinal scan, parallel to midline, in estimating body and carcass composition. Data from test pigs (n = 96) were used to develop prediction equations. Best results were obtained in predicting weight of boneless cuts (ham, loin, and shoulder), weight of lean cuts (bone-in ham, loin, and shoulder), and weight of fat-standardized carcass lean. Less accuracy was obtained in predicting ratios of all estimates on a live basis. Independent variables analyzed for the live models were live weight, sex, and ultrasonic fat depth and muscle depth at the 10th rib. Independent variables for the carcass models were the same as on the live animal; the estimators for boneless cuts (ham, loin, and shoulder) were most precise. Equations were tested against an independent set of experimental pigs (n = 23). Equations for predicting weight of boneless cuts, weight of ham and loin, and percentage of fat-standardized lean using both live and carcass measurements were most accurate, with R2 values between .78 and .87 and RSD values between 1.30 and 1.92 kg. The results of this study reinforce the potential of assessing carcass composition and value by using a single longitudinal B-mode scan on both live pigs and carcass; live weight, sex of pig, and fat depth at the 10th rib were the greatest contributors to variation.