Skeletal and Dentoalveolar Changes in Growing Patients Treated with Rapid Maxillary Expansion Measured in 3D Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

The skeletal and dental effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) have been extensively studied, but high-quality research is still needed to determine the three-dimensional (3D) effects of RME. The aim of this study was to compare skeletal and dentoalveolar parameters through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) pre- (T1) and post-treatment (T2) with respect to RME. Twenty growing patients (mean age 10.7 years) were treated with a Hyrax-type expander. A 3D CBCT was performed at T1 and T2, measuring nasal width, maxillary width, palatal height, maxillary arch perimeter, angulation of the upper first molar, and intermolar width. The mean palatal suture opening was 2.85 ± 0.62 mm (p < 0.0001). Nasal width increased 1.28 ± 0.64 mm and maxillary width 2.79 ± 1.48 mm (p < 0.0001). In contrast, palatal height was reduced 0.65 ± 0.64 mm (p < 0.0001). Regarding arch perimeter, the radicular perimeter increased 2.89 ± 1.80 mm, while the coronal perimeter increased 3.42 ± 2.09 mm (p < 0.0001). Molar angulation increased 5.62 ± 3.20° for the right molar and 4.74 ± 2.22° for the left molar (p < 0.0001). Intermolar width increased 5.21 ± 1.55 mm (p < 0.0001). Treatment with Hyrax produced a significant opening in the mean palatal suture. Also, a significant increase in nasal width, maxillary width, arch perimeter, molar angulation, and intermolar width, and a decrease in palatal height, were observed.

A New Digital Method to Quantify the Effects Produced by Carriere Motion Appliance.

The aim of this study was to analyze a novel digital technique to quantify the distal tooth displacement and derotation angle produced by the Carriere Motion Appliance (CMA). Twenty-one patients with a class II molar and canine relationship underwent orthodontic treatment with CMA. All patients were exposed before (STL1) and after the CMA placement (STL2), submitted to a digital impression, and afterwards, data were uploaded to specific cephalometric software to allow automatic mesh network alignment of the STL digital files. Subsequently, the distal tooth displacement of the upper canines and first upper molars, as well as the derotation angle of the first upper molars were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient (ρ). Repeatability and reproducibility were analyzed using Gage R&R statistical analysis. An increase in canine displacement was correlated with an increase in contralateral canine displacement (ρ = 0.759; p < 0.000). An increase in canine displacement was correlated with an increase in molar displacement (ρ = 0.715; p < 0.001). An increase in upper first molar displacement was correlated with an increase in the contralateral upper first molar displacement (ρ = 0.609; p < 0.003) and the canine displacement (ρ = 0.728; p < 0.001). The distal tooth displacement showed a repeatability of 0.62% and reproducibility of 7.49%, and the derotation angle showed a repeatability of 0.30% and reproducibility of 0.12%. The novel digital measurement technique is a reproducible, repeatable, and accurate method for quantifying the distal tooth displacement of the upper canine and first upper molar, as well as the derotation angle of the first upper molars after using CMA.

Identification of Genes in a Partially Resistant Genotype of Avena sativa Expressed in Response to Puccinia coronata Infection.

Cultivated oat (Avena sativa), an important crop in many countries, can suffer significant losses through infection by the fungus Puccinia coronata, the causal agent of crown rust disease. Understanding the molecular basis of existing partial resistance to this disease might provide targets of interest for crop improvement programs. A suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) library was constructed using cDNA from the partially resistant oat genotype MN841801-1 after inoculation with the pathogen. A total of 929 genes returned a BLASTx hit and were annotated under different GO terms, including 139 genes previously described as participants in mechanisms related to the defense response and signal transduction. Among these were genes involved in pathogen recognition, cell-wall modification, oxidative burst/ROS scavenging, and abscisic acid biosynthesis, as well genes related to inducible defense responses mediated by salicylic and jasmonic acid (although none of which had been previously reported involved in strong responses). These findings support the hypothesis that basal defense mechanisms are the main systems operating in oat partial resistance to P. coronata. When the expression profiles of 20 selected genes were examined at different times following inoculation with the pathogen, the partially resistant genotype was much quicker in mounting a response than a susceptible genotype. Additionally, a number of genes not previously described in oat transcriptomes were identified in this work, increasing our molecular knowledge of this crop.

Effect of ammonia, glutamine, and serum on calcineurin, p38MAPK-diP, GADD153/CHOP10, and CNTF in primary rat astrocyte cultures.

Primary astrocyte cultures were subjected to different experimental schedules using several concentrations of ammonia (1, 3, and 5 mM ammonium chloride), serum (2.5%, 5%, and 12%), and glutamine (0.5, 1, and 3 mM) to analyze the involvement of calcineurin (CaN) in hyperammonemia and its relation with p38MAPK-diP and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). We demonstrated that exposure to ammonia affects CaN content, and confirmed the ammonia-induced reduction of CNTF expression; however, the involvement of CaN and p38MAPK-diP in CNTF reduction could not be confirmed. On the contrary, an inverse relationship between CaN and p38MAPK-diP contents was clearly demonstrated. GADD153/CHOP10 content was always higher under hyperammonemic conditions as well as under glutamine exposure, probably due to the osmotic stress provoked by glutamine accumulation, which was induced after exposure to ammonia. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant interactions of ammonia and serum for CaN, GADD153/CHOP10 and CNTF contents. The exposure to glutamine also induced changes in GADD153/CHOP10 and CaN; however, CNTF content was not affected. In conclusion, CaN content was affected by exposure to ammonia and glutamine; the serum content of the culture medium had a strong influence on the astroglial response to ammonium chloride, and glutamine exposure only reproduced some of the ammonia effects.

Efficacy and safety of two whole IgG polyvalent antivenoms, refined by caprylic acid fractionation with or without beta-propiolactone, in the treatment of Bothrops asper bites in Colombia.

The efficacy and safety of two whole IgG polyvalent antivenoms (A and B) were compared in a randomised, blinded clinical trial in 67 patients systemically envenomed by Bothrops asper in Colombia. Both antivenoms were fractionated by caprylic acid precipitation and had similar neutralising potencies, protein concentrations and aggregate contents. Antivenom B was additionally treated with beta-propiolactone to lower its anticomplementary activity. Analysing all treatment regimens together, there were no significant differences between the two antivenoms (A=34 patients; B=33 patients) in the time taken to reverse venom-induced bleeding and coagulopathy, to restore physiological fibrinogen concentrations and to clear serum venom antigenaemia. Blood coagulability was restored within 6-24 h in 97% of patients, all of whom had normal coagulation and plasma fibrinogen levels 48 h after the start of antivenom treatment. Two patients (3.0%) had recurrent coagulopathy and eight patients suffered recurrence of antigenaemia within 72 h of treatment. None of the dosage regimens of either antivenom used guaranteed resolution of venom-induced coagulopathy within 6 h, nor did they prevent recurrences. A further dose of antivenom at 6 h also did not guarantee resolution of coagulopathy within 12-24 h in all patients. The incidence of early adverse reactions (all mild) was similar for both antivenoms (15% and 24%; P>0.05).

Manual de viticultura

El cultivo de la vid ocupa el segundo lugar en superficie y producción de fruta de clima templado en Bolivia