Environmental impacts of shared mobility: a systematic literature review of life-cycle assessments focusing on car sharing, carpooling, bikesharing, scooters and moped sharing.

Evidence about the environmental impacts of shared mobility is fragmented and scattered. In this article a systematic literature review is presented. The review focuses on assessments that use Life-Cycle Assessment to quantify the environmental impacts of car sharing, carpooling, bikesharing, and scooter/moped sharing. The results of these assessments were analyzed, as well as the factors that influence these impacts. Business-to-consumer car sharing, peer-to-peer car sharing, carpooling, bikesharing, and scooter/moped sharing can all cause gains and losses in terms of changing the environmental impacts of passenger transportation. The findings presented here refute unconditional claims that shared mobility delivers environmental benefits. Factors that influence changes in environmental impacts from passenger transportation from shared mobility include travel behaviour, the design of shared mobility modes, and how such schemes are implemented, as well as the local context. Local governments and shared mobility organisations can benefit from the analysis presented here by deepening their understanding of these factors and considering the life-cycle phase where the greatest impacts are caused.

Agreement between an Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis Risk Calculator and the Colombian Clinical Practice Guideline in Three Tertiary-Care Centers in Bogotá, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) worldwide help steer the management of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS). These documents typically discourage the use of risk assessment tools. However, prior work has shown that the Kaiser Permanente calculator (Early-Onset Sepsis Calculator [EOScalc]) could be a useful tool in EONS risk assessment. This study aimed to determine the agreement between the recommendations of the Colombian EONS CPG and those of the EOSCalc tool in a cohort of newborns in Bogotá, Colombia. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective observational cohort study. We included newborns with a gestational age ≥ 34 weeks who were admitted to the neonatal care unit with a suspected diagnosis of EONS between 2017 and 2019. Agreement between the two tools was examined using Cohen's kappa under two scenarios (unequivocal and cautious). RESULTS: Of the 23.490 live births, 470 (1.71%) were admitted to the neonatal care unit with a presumptive diagnosis of EONS. This diagnosis was confirmed in seven patients by means of blood cultures, with group B streptococcus the most common organism (57%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.4-90.1). A single death occurred among the patients with confirmed EONS (lethality: 14.3%). The overall incidence of EONS was 0.298 per 1,000 live births. After splitting the recommendations into two scenarios regarding antibiotic use, unequivocal and cautious, the agreement between EOSCalc and the CPG was below 15% (6 and 14%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Recommendations from the Colombian EONS CPG show poor agreement with the EOSCalc, with the latter detecting all newborns with EONS. Although the use of EOSCalc is clinically and administratively advantageous, further prospective studies are warranted to determine the safety of its implementation. KEY POINTS: · Colombian EONS CPGs recommend that an outsized number of newborns be given antibiotics.. · The KP EOSCalc risk assessment calculator shows poor agreement with CPG recommendations.. · The Colombian CPGs should be updated to include the use of risk assessment calculators..

Trombosis venosa profunda posterior a cirugía ortognática bimaxilar. Reporte de caso / Deep vein thrombosis following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Case report

Introducción: la enfermedad trombótica venosa es una de las principales complicaciones mortales en pacientes internados y en pacientes operados. Tiene dos presentaciones: trombosis venosa profunda (TVP) y tromboembolia pulmonar (TEP). La TVP es una afección en la que se desarrolla un coágulo de sangre generalmente en las venas de las piernas. La incidencia del TVP en cirugía maxilofacial ha sido pobremente reportada y se considera poco común. Objetivo: describir caso de TVP en una paciente joven a quien se le realizó cirugía ortognática, con el fin de destacar el uso de anticonceptivos no orales como posible factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de esta inusual complicación posterior a una cirugía craneomaxilofacial. Caso clínico: paciente femenina de 24 años, con diagnóstico de anomalía dentofacial de clase II, sometida a cirugía ortognática bimaxilar + mentoplastia con antecedente de anticoncepción subcutánea con Etonogestrel 68 mg hace 3 años. El día 10 del postoperatorio asistió a la unidad de urgencias por dolor y edema en miembro inferior izquierdo; se sospecha TVP y se inicia anticoagulación con 1 mg/kg de heparina de bajo peso molecular subcutáneo (HBPM) cada 12 horas. El diagnóstico de TVP fue confirmado por medio de ecografía doppler de miembros inferiores. Posteriormente, a los 7 días del evento, medicina interna suspendió manejo con cumarínico y continuó anticoagulación con Rivaroxaban 20 mg VO cada 24 horas. Conclusión: el diagnóstico de TVP debe considerarse en mujeres a quienes se les practica cirugía ortognática y presentan antecedentes de tratamiento con anticonceptivos hormonales, incluidas las formas no orales.

Introduction: Venous thrombotic disease is one of the main fatal complications in hospitalized patients and in operated patients. It has two presentations: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). DVT is a condition in which a blood clot usually develops in the veins of the legs. The incidence of DVT in maxillofacial surgery has been poorly reported and is considered uncommon. Objective: To describe a case of DVT in a young female patient undergoing orthognathic surgery in order to highlight the use of non-oral contraceptives as a possible risk factor for the development of this unusual complication in craneomaxilofacial surgery. Clinical case: 24-year-old female patient, diagnosed with class II dentofacial anomaly, underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery + mentoplasty with a history of subcutaneous contraception with Etonogestrel 68 mg 3 years ago. On postoperative day 10 she attended the emergency department for pain and edema in the left lower limb, DVT was suspected, and anticoagulation was started with 1 mg/kg of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) every 12 hours. The diagnosis of DVT was confirmed by lower limb Doppler ultrasound. Subsequently, 7 days after the event, Internal Medicine suspended management with coumarin and continued anticoagulation with Rivaroxaban 20 mg OV every 24 hours. Conclusion: Remember that the diagnosis of DVT should be considered in women with a history of recent orthognathic surgery in treatment with hormonal contraceptives, including non-oral forms.

Riesgo suicida y estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés en población campesina colombiana / Suicidal risk and strategies for coping with stress in Colombian rural population

Resumen Introducción: El comportamiento suicida hace referencia a las diversas conductas para dejar de vivir es un fenómeno multifactorial ampliamente estudiado en población urbana, sin embargo, la población campesina, especialmente agricultores y trabajadores agrícolas están entre los grupos de alto riesgo. Objetivo: Evaluar las relaciones entre el riesgo suicida y las estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés en una muestra de 76 campesinos entre los 18 y 79 años del municipio de El Santuario, Colombia, durante la emergencia sanitaria por Covid-19. Método: Para este estudio se utilizó un diseño descriptivo correlacional de corte transversal y se emplearon como instrumentos la Escala de Evaluación de Riesgo Suicida -ERS- y la Escala de Estilos y Estrategias de Afrontamiento (EEEAE). Resultados: Los resultados encontrados en la Escala ERS no indicaron niveles clínicos de riesgo suicida. Y respecto a la EEEAE casi siempre los participantes usaban las estrategias de Reevaluación positiva, Apoyo social, Desconexión cognitiva y Resolver el problema. Hubo correlaciones negativas entre todas las dimensiones de la escala ERS con EEEAE, menos entre las dimensiones Depresión/Desesperanza y Aislamiento/Soporte social (ERS) con la Desconexión cognitiva (EEEAE) y especialmente la estrategia de Reevaluación Positiva tuvo un peso significativo sobre riesgo suicida. Conclusiones: La Reevaluación Positiva es una estrategia de afrontamiento que puede proteger la salud mental ante situaciones de estrés asociados con el riesgo suicida de la población campesina, los agricultores y trabajadores agrícolas.

Abstract Introduction: Suicidal behavior refers to the various behaviors to stop living, it is a multifactorial phenomenon widely studied in the urban population, however, the rural population, especially farmers and agricultural workers, are among the high-risk groups. Objective: Evaluate the relationships between suicidal risk and stress coping strategies in a sample of 76 peasants between 18 and 79 years of age from the municipality of El Santuario, Colombia during the Covid-19 health emergency. Method: For this study, a cross-sectional correlational descriptive design was used. The Suicide Risk Assessment Scale -SRAS- and the Coping Styles and Strategies Scale were used as measurement instruments (CSSS). Results: The results found in the SRAS Scale did not indicate clinical levels of suicidal risk. And regarding the EEEAE, the participants almost always used the strategies of Positive Reappraisal, Social Support, Cognitive Disconnection and Problem-Solving skills. There were negative correlations between all the dimensions of the SRAS scale with CSSS, less between the dimensions Depression/Hopelessness and Isolation/social support (SRAS) with Cognitive Disconnection (CSSS) and especially the Positive Reappraisal had a significant weight on suicidal risk. Conclusions: Positive Reappraisal is a coping strategy that can protect mental health in situations of stress associated with suicidal risk of the rural population, farmers, and agricultural workers.

Patterns of Antinuclear Antibodies in a New Variant of Endemic Pemphigus in El Bagre, Colombia, Colocalizing with Antigens against MIZAP, ARVCF, p0071, and Desmoplakins I and II.

BACKGROUND: A new variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF) has been documented, El Bagre-EPF. We aimed to study antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in these patients. METHODS: We performed a case-control study, testing 57 patients affected by this disease and 57 controls from the endemic area matched by work activity and demographics. The participants were evaluated clinically as well as by detection of ANAs utilizing HEp-2 cells. We utilized Triton-induced partial permeabilization of the cell membranes, allowing for the visualization of intracellular and intranuclear antigens. We also immunoadsorbed the ANAs using synthetic peptides to elucidate the nature of the ANA. RESULTS: We detected the presence of a new pattern of ANAs. The new pattern of ANAs was seen in 24% of the El Bagre-EPF patients, compared to our controls (P < 0.001). The new ANA pattern consisted of a thin nuclear and nucleolar rim, finely speckled nucleolar, nuclear membrane pores stains, and a positive intranuclear stain directed against small nuclear components, as well as cytoplasmic deposits of autoantibodies were also observed. The new ANAs pattern perfectly colocalized with commercial antibodies to miocardium-enriched zonula occlusans-1 associated protein (MIZAP), armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome (ARVCF), p0071 and desmoplakins I-II (all from Progen Biotechnik). Additionally in 14% of patients with El Bagre-EPF forme fruste and hyperpigmented clinical presentations, a classic homogeneous ANA pattern was observed with autoantibodies specific for Ro, La, Sm, and double-stranded DNA antigens. Immunoadsorption with peptide-based sequences from MIZAP, ARVCF, p0071 and desmoplakins I-II removed the new ANA pattern. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a new pattern of ANAs in El Bagre-EPF, colocalizing with autoantibodies directed against MIZAP, ARVCF, p0071, and desmoplakins I-II.

Extrusion of pilosebaceous units into blisters of patients affected by a new variant of endemic pemphigus in El Bagre, Colombia, South America.

BACKGROUND: A new variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus is present in El Bagre, Colombia, and surrounding municipalities (El Bagre-EPF) that affects the skin and in some presentations affects other organs with autoantibodies directed against cell junctions. METHODS: We studied 200 El Bagre-EPF patient perilesional skin biopsies, as well as 200 skin biopsies from normal controls in the endemic area. RESULTS: We observed blister extrusions of sebaceous glands or entire pilosebaceous units via the isthmus in 23% of the patients and not in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The extrusion of hair follicular unit contents is consistent with our previous pathologic findings of autoreactivity to these units, and their observed clinical decrease in patients affected by El Bagre-EPF.

Membrane attack complex (C5b-9 complex or Mac), is strongly present in lesional skin from patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus in El Bagre, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: El Bagre endemic pemphigus foliaceus (El Bagre-EPF) is a new variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus present in the El Bagre area of Colombia, South America. Here, we investigate the presence of complement/C5-b9 in lesional skin of patients and matched controls from the endemic area. We also aim to compare the patient's autoantibody levels using indirect immunofluorescent titers (IIF) and correlate with the lesional presence of complement/C5b-9. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out by testing for the presence of complement/C5b-9 in lesional skin in 43 patients affected by El Bagre-EPF, as well as 43 matched, healthy controls from the endemic area. Skin biopsies were obtained and evaluated via hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The presence of complement/C5b-9 was observed in all cases of the patients affected by El Bagre-EPF and was not observed in the controls from the endemic area (P < 0.001). The patients' autoantibody titers utilizing IIF for IgG and IgM showed correlation between higher autoantibody titers and stronger intensity of staining with complement/C5-b9 staining (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients affected by El Bagre-EPF have lesional deposition of complement/C5b, which correlates with disease severity and previously established serologies.

Involvement of the Areae Compositae of the Heart in Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceus.

BACKGROUND: A new variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus in El Bagre (El Bagre-EPF), Colombia, South America, shares features with Senear-Usher syndrome and occurs in an endemic fashion. Patients affected by El Bagre-EPF have heterogeneous antigenic reactivity not only to the skin but to other organs, including the heart. Here we test for autoantibodies to the areae compositae of the heart (structure consisting of typical desmosomal amalgamated fascia adherens molecules) and evaluate any possible clinical correlation. METHODS: A case-control study comparing 45 patients and 45 controls from the endemic area, matched by demographics including age, gender, weight, work activities, and comorbidities, was performed. Direct and indirect immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopic studies, and echocardiogram studies were completed. RESULTS: The main clinical abnormally seen in the El Bagre-EPF patients was left ventricular hypertrophy in 15/45 patients, compared with no such findings in the control population (P < 0.1). Seventy percent of El Bagre-EPF patients and none of the controls displayed polyclonal autoreactivity using different immunoglobulins and complement to the areae compositae of the heart using different methods and antibodies (P < 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Patients affected by El Bagre-EPF demonstrated autoantibodies to the areae compositae of the heart. This finding was associated with left ventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The areae compositae may play a role in cell junction tension and the El Bagre-EPF patients' autoantibodies possibly disrupting these junctions and thereby contributing to the left ventricular hypertrophy.

Evaluation of reference genes for real-time quantitative PCR analysis in southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Barber).

Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is one of the most efficient, reliable and widely used techniques to quantify gene expression. In this study, we evaluated the performance of six southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Barber), housekeeping genes (HKG), ß-actin (Actin), ß-tubulin (Tubulin), elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α), glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), 40 S ribosomal protein S9 (RpS9) and ubiquitin-conjugating protein (Ubi), under different experimental conditions such as developmental stage, exposure of neonate and adults to dsRNA, exposure of adults to different temperatures, different 3rd instar larva tissues, and neonate starvation. The HKGs were analyzed with four algorithms, including geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and delta-CT. Although the six HKGs showed a relatively stable expression pattern among different treatments, some variability was observed. Among the six genes, EF1α exhibited the lowest Ct values for all treatments while Ubi exhibited the highest. Among life stages and across treatments, Ubi exhibited the least stable expression pattern. GAPDH, Actin, and EF1α were among the most stable HKGs in the majority of the treatments. This research provides HKG for accurate normalization of RT-qPCR data in the southern corn rootworm. Furthermore, this information can contribute to future genomic and functional genomic research in Diabrotica species.

Subclinical oral involvement in patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus.

BACKGROUND: We have described a variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF) in El Bagre area known as pemphigus Abreu-Manu. Our previous study suggested that Colombian EPF seemed to react with various plakin family proteins, such as desmoplakins, envoplakin, periplakin BP230, MYZAP, ARVCF, p0071 as well as desmoglein 1. OBJECTIVES: To explore whether patients affected by a new variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus (El Bagre-EPF) demonstrated oral involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was done by searching for oral changes in 45 patients affected by El Bagre-EPF, as well as 45 epidemiologically matched controls from the endemic area matched by demographics, oral hygiene habits, comorbidities, smoking habits, place of residence, age, sex, and work activity. Oral biopsies were taken and evaluated via hematoxylin and eosin staining, direct immunofluorescence, indirect immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Radicular pieces and loss of teeth were seen in in 43 of the 45 El Bagre-EPF patients and 20 of the 45 controls (P < 0.001) (confidence interval [CI] 98%). Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed 23 of 45 El Bagre-EPF patients had corneal/subcorneal blistering and lymphohistiocytic infiltrates under the basement membrane zone and around the salivary glands, the periodontal ligament, and the neurovascular bundles in all cell junction structures in the oral cavity; these findings were not seen in the controls (P < 0.001) (CI 98%). The direct immunofluorescence, indirect immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and microarray staining displayed autoantibodies to the salivary glands, including their serous acini and the excretory duct cell junctions, the periodontal ligament, the neurovascular bundles and their cell junctions, striated muscle and their cell junctions, neuroreceptors, and connective tissue cell junctions. The autoantibodies were polyclonal. IgA autoantibodies were found in neuroreceptors in the glands and were positive in 41 of 45 patients and 3 of 45 controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients affected by El Bagre-EPF have some oral anomalies and an immune response, primarily to cell junctions. The intrinsic oral mucosal immune system, including IgA and secretory IgA, play an important role in this autoimmunity. Our data contradict the hypothesis that pemphigus foliaceus does not affect the oral mucosa due to the desmoglein 1-desmoglein 3 compensation.

Patients affected by endemic pemphigus foliaceus in Colombia, South America exhibit autoantibodies to optic nerve sheath envelope cell junctions.

BACKGROUND: The majority of the patients affected by a new variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus in El Bagre, Colombia (El Bagre EPF or pemphigus Abreu-Manu), have experienced vision problems; we have previously reported several ocular abnormalities. METHODS: Here, we aimed to investigate reactivity to optic nerves in these patients. We utilized bovine, rat and mouse optic nerves, and performed immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy to test for optical nerve autoreactivity. We tested 45 patients affected by this disease and 45 controls from the endemic area matched by age, sex and work activity. RESULTS: Overall, 37 of the 45 patient sera reacted to the optic nerve envelope that is composed of leptomeninges; the reactivity was polyclonal and present mostly at the cell junctions (P < 0.001). The immune response was directed against optic nerve sheath cell junctions and the vessels inside it, as well as other molecules inside the nerve. No control cases were positive. Of interest, all the patient autoantibodies co-localized with commercial antibodies to desmoplakins I-II, myocardium-enriched zonula occludens-1- associated protein (MYZAP), armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome (ARVCF), and plakophilin-4 (p0071) from Progen Biotechnik (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the majority of the patients affected by pemphigus Abreu-Manu have autoantibodies to optic nerve sheath envelope cell junctions. These antibodies also co-localize with armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome, p0071 and desmoplakins I-II. The clinical significance of our findings remains unknown.

Cardiac rhythm and pacemaking abnormalities in patients affected by endemic pemphigus in Colombia may be the result of deposition of autoantibodies, complement, fibrinogen, and other molecules.

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that one-third of patients affected by endemic pemphigus foliaceus in El Bagre, Colombia (El Bagre-EPF), display autoreactivity to the heart. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate rhythm disturbances with the presence of autoantibodies and correlate them with ECG changes in these patients. METHODS: We performed a study comparing 30 patients and 30 controls from the endemic area, matched by demographics, including age, sex, weight, work activities, and comorbidities. ECG as well as direct and indirect immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopic studies focusing on cardiac node abnormalities were performed. Autopsies of 7 patients also were reviewed. RESULTS: The main ECG abnormalities seen in the El Bagre-EPF patients were sinus bradycardia (in one-half), followed by left bundle branch block, left posterior fascicular block, and left anterior fascicular block compared with the controls. One-third of the patients displayed polyclonal autoantibodies against the sinoatrial and/or AV nodes and the His bundle correlating with rhythm anomalies and delays in the cardiac conduction system (P <.01). The patient antibodies colocalized with commercial antibodies to desmoplakins I and II, p0071, armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome (ARVCF), and myocardium-enriched zonula occludens-1-associated protein (MYZAP; Progen Biotechnik) (P <.01). CONCLUSION: One-third of the patients affected by El Bagre-EPF have rhythm abnormalities that slow the conduction of impulses in cardiac nodes and the cardiac conduction system. These abnormalities likely occur as a result of deposition of autoantibodies, complement, and other inflammatory molecules. We show for the first time that MYZAP is present in cardiac nodes.

Cell junction protein armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome is expressed in the skin and colocalizes with autoantibodies of patients affected by a new variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: We previously described a new variant of endemic pemphigus foliaceus in El Bagre, Colombia, South America (El Bagre-EPF, or pemphigus Abreu-Manu). El Bagre-EPF differs from other types of EPF clinically, epidemiologically, immunologically and in its target antigens. We reported the presence of patient autoantibodies colocalizing with armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome (ARVCF), a catenin cell junction protein colocalizing with El Bagre-EPF autoantibodies in the heart and within pilosebaceous units along their neurovascular supply routes. Here we investigate the presence of ARVCF in skin and its possibility as a cutaneous El Bagre-EPF antigen. METHODS: We used a case-control study, testing sera of 45 patients and 45 controls via direct and indirect immunofluorescence (DIF/IIF), confocal microscopy, immunoelectron microscopy and immunoblotting for the presence of ARVCF and its relationship with El Bagre-EPF autoantibodies in the skin. We also immunoadsorbed samples with desmoglein 1 (Dsg1) ectodomain (El Bagre-EPF antigen) by incubating with the positive ARVCF samples from DIF and IIF. RESULTS: ARVCF was expressed in all the samples from the cases and controls. Immunoadsorption with Dsg1 on positive ARVCF immunofluorescence DIF/IIF cases showed that the immune response was present against non-desmoglein 1 antigen(s). Overall, 40/45 patients showed colocalization of their autoantibodies with ARVCF in the epidermis; no controls from the endemic area displayed colocalization. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that ARVCF is expressed in many areas of human skin, and colocalizes with the majority of El Bagre-EPF autoantibodies as a putative antigen.

Implantes cigomáticos en pacientes con edentulismo maxilar y reabsorción ósea severa / Zygomatic implants in patients with maxillary edentulism and severe bone resorption

El tratamiento con implantes convencionales no puede hacer parte de la rehabilitación implantosoportada en maxilares edéntulos totales en algunos pacientes, debido a la resorción ósea avanzada o por neumatización del seno maxilar, lo que conduce a cantidades inadecuadas de tejido óseo para el anclaje de los implantes. Durante más de tres décadas, técnicas quirúrgicas para colocación de injertos óseos antes o simultáneamente con la colocación del implante se ha convertido en la rutina en rehabilitación oral. Diversas técnicas de aumento óseo, como la elevación de seno maxilar o injerto óseo, se han descrito con el objetivo común de aumentar el volumen de hueso de soporte. Actualmente con el desarrollo de la técnica en implantes cigomáticos se pueden evitar estas técnicas de injertos óseos devolviendo a los pacientes mejor calidad de vida y estética adecuada con un trauma menor y facilitando el tratamiento y el pronóstico del mismo.

Treatment with conventional implants can not be part of the implant rehabilitation in edentulous jaws in some patients due to advanced bone resorption or sinus neumatization, which leads to inadequate amounts of bone to anchor the implants. For over three decades, surgical placement of bone prior to or simultaneously with implant placement grafting techniques has become routine in oral rehabilitation. Several bone augmentation techniques such as sinus lift or bone graft, have been reported with the common goal of increasing the volume of load bearing bone. Now with the development of technology in zygomatic implants can prevent these bone graft techniques returning patients better quality of life and appropriate aesthetics. With less trauma and facilitating the treatment and prognosis of it.

Knockdown of RNA Interference Pathway Genes in Western Corn Rootworms (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte) Demonstrates a Possible Mechanism of Resistance to Lethal dsRNA.

RNA interference (RNAi) is being developed as a potential tool for insect pest management. Increased understanding of the RNAi pathway in target insect pests will provide information to use this technology effectively and to inform decisions related to resistant management strategies for RNAi based traits. Dicer 2 (Dcr2), an endonuclease responsible for formation of small interfering RNA's and Argonaute 2 (Ago2), an essential catalytic component of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) have both been associated with the RNAi pathway in a number of different insect species including the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). We identified both genes from a transcriptome library generated from different tissues and developmental stages of the western corn rootworm, an important target pest for transgenic plants expressing dsRNA targeting essential genes. The expression of these genes was suppressed by more than 90% after injecting gene specific dsRNA into adult rootworms. The injected beetles were then fed vATPase A dsRNA which has previously been demonstrated to cause mortality in western corn rootworm adults. The suppression of both RNAi pathway genes resulted in reduced mortality after subsequent exposure to lethal concentrations of vATPase A dsRNA as well as increased vATPase A expression relative to control treatments. Injections with dsRNA for a non-lethal target sequence (Laccase 2) did not affect mortality or expression caused by vATPase A dsRNA indicating that the results observed with Argo and Dicer dsRNA were not caused by simple competition among different dsRNA's. These results confirm that both genes play an important role in the RNAi pathway for western corn rootworms and indicate that selection pressures that potentially affect the expression of these genes may provide a basis for future studies to understand potential mechanisms of resistance.

RNAi induced knockdown of a cadherin-like protein (EF531715) does not affect toxicity of Cry34/35Ab1 or Cry3Aa to Diabrotica virgifera virgifera larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is an important maize pest throughout most of the U.S. Corn Belt. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins including modified Cry3Aa and Cry34/35Ab1 have been expressed in transgenic maize to protect against WCR feeding damage. To date, there is limited information regarding the WCR midgut target sites for these proteins. In this study, we examined whether a cadherin-like gene from Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (DvvCad; GenBank accession # EF531715) associated with WCR larval midgut tissue is necessary for Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 toxicity. Experiments were designed to examine the sensitivity of WCR to trypsin activated Cry3Aa and Cry34/35Ab1 after oral feeding of the DvvCad dsRNA to knockdown gene expression. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that DvvCad mRNA transcript levels were reduced in larvae treated with cadherin dsRNA. Relative cadherin expression by immunoblot analysis and nano-liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS) of WCR neonate brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) preparations exposed to DvvCad dsRNA confirmed reduced cadherin expression when compared to BBMV from untreated larvae. However, the larval mortality and growth inhibition of WCR neonates exposed to cadherin dsRNA for two days followed by feeding exposure to either Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 for four days was not significantly different to that observed in insects exposed to either Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 alone. In combination, these results suggest that cadherin is unlikely to be involved in the toxicity of Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 to WCR.

Periodic Acid-Schiff Staining Parallels the Immunoreactivity Seen By Direct Immunofluorescence in Autoimmune Skin Diseases.

BACKGROUND: In many countries and laboratories, techniques such as direct immunofluorescence (DIF) are not available for the diagnosis of skin diseases. Thus, these laboratories are limited in the full diagnoses of autoimmune skin diseases, vasculitis, and rheumatologic diseases. In our experience with these diseases and the patient's skin biopsies, we have noted a positive correlation between periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and immunofluorescence patterns; however, these were just empiric observations. In the current study, we aim to confirm these observations, given the concept that the majority of autoantibodies are glycoproteins and should thus be recognized by PAS staining. AIMS: To compare direct immunofluorescent and PAS staining, in multiple autoimmune diseases that are known to exhibit specific direct immunofluorescent patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied multiple autoimmune skin diseases: Five cases of bullous pemphigoid, five cases of pemphigus vulgaris, ten cases of cutaneous lupus, ten cases of autoimmune vasculitis, ten cases of lichen planus (LP), and five cases of cutaneous drug reactions (including one case of erythema multiforme). In addition, we utilized 45 normal skin control specimens from plastic surgery reductions. RESULTS: We found a 98% positive correlation between DIF and PAS staining patterns over all the disease samples. CONCLUSION: We recommend that laboratories without access to DIF always perform PAS staining in addition to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, for a review of the reactivity pattern.

Developing an in vivo toxicity assay for RNAi risk assessment in honey bees, Apis mellifera L.

Maize plants expressing dsRNA for the management of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are likely to be commercially available by the end of this decade. Honey bees, Apis mellifera, can potentially be exposed to pollen from transformed maize expressing dsRNA. Consequently, evaluation of the biological impacts of RNAi in honey bees is a fundamental component for ecological risk assessment. The insecticidal activity of a known lethal dsRNA target for D. v. virgifera, the vATPase subunit A, was evaluated in larval and adult honey bees. Activity of both D. v. virgifera (Dvv)- and A. mellifera (Am)-specific dsRNA was tested by dietary exposure to dsRNA. Larval development, survival, adult eclosion, adult life span and relative gene expression were evaluated. The results of these tests indicated that Dvv vATPase-A dsRNA has limited effects on larval and adult honey bee survival. Importantly, no effects were observed upon exposure of Am vATPase-A dsRNA suggesting that the lack of response involves factors other than sequence specificity. The results from this study provide guidance for future RNAi risk analyses and for the development of a risk assessment framework that incorporates similar hazard assessments.

Immunofluorescence Patterns in Selected Dermatoses, Including Blistering Skin Diseases Utilizing Multiple Fluorochromes.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune vesiculobullous disorders represent a heterogeneous group of dermatoses whose diagnosis is made based on clinical history, histologic features, and immunopathologic features. The most commonly used techniques for the diagnosis of these diseases are direct and indirect immunofluorescence (DIF and IIF), including salt-split processing. NaCl split skin is used to determine the level of blister formation, and the localization of autoantibodies relative to the split. Classically, immunofluorescence has been performed with one fluorochrome in the diagnosis of autoimmune bullous skin diseases. AIMS: To compare DIF and IIF of the skin, using a single fluorochrome versus multiple fluorochromes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 20 autoimmune skin disease cases using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) alone, in comparison to multiple fluorochromes (with or without DNA counterstaining). RESULTS: The use of multiple fluorochromes helped to simultaneously visualize reactivity in multiple skin areas, in contrast to using FITC alone. CONCLUSIONS: Using multiple fluorochromes allows simultaneous labeling of two or more antigens within the same cell/or tissue section, assists in colocalization of unknown antigens with known molecules, and helps in ruling out "background" staining.