Effects of multisensory integration processes on response inhibition in adolescent autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: In everyday life it is often required to integrate multisensory input to successfully conduct response inhibition (RI) and thus major executive control processes. Both RI and multisensory processes have been suggested to be altered in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is, however, unclear which neurophysiological processes relate to changes in RI in ASD and in how far these processes are affected by possible multisensory integration deficits in ASD. METHOD: Combining high-density EEG recordings with source localization analyses, we examined a group of adolescent ASD patients (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20) using a novel RI task. RESULTS: Compared to controls, RI processes are generally compromised in adolescent ASD. This aggravation of RI processes is modulated by the content of multisensory information. The neurophysiological data suggest that deficits in ASD emerge in attentional selection and resource allocation processes related to occipito-parietal and middle frontal regions. Most importantly, conflict monitoring subprocesses during RI were specifically modulated by content of multisensory information in the superior frontal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: RI processes are overstrained in adolescent ASD, especially when conflicting multisensory information has to be integrated to perform RI. It seems that the content of multisensory input is important to consider in ASD and its effects on cognitive control processes.

Long-term exposure of human gingival fibroblasts to cigarette smoke condensate reduces cell growth by modulating Bax, caspase-3 and p53 expression.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of oral tissue damage leading to periodontal disease. Gingival fibroblasts, the predominant cell type inhabiting gingival connective tissue, play a critical role in remodeling and maintaining gingival structure. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term exposure to cigarette smoke on human gingival fibroblast survival/apoptosis and the molecular pathways involved in these cell responses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human gingival fibroblasts were extracted from healthy non-smokers and cultured in the presence of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC). At the end of each time point, cell growth was evaluated by means of MTT assay. Apoptotic and necrotic gene's expression was investigated by polymerase chain reaction array and by annexin V/propidium iodide staining and cell cycle assays. Western blot was used to investigate Bax and p53 proteins. These tests were supported by caspase 3 activity analyses. RESULTS: High levels of CSC decreased cell growth and deregulated cell cycle progression by increasing the G(0)/G(1) and reducing the S and G(2)/M phases of the gingival fibroblasts. Polymerase chain reaction arrays revealed the activation of several apoptotic genes by CSC, including TNF receptors, caspases, Bax and p53. This was supported by increases in the Bax and p53 protein levels as well as by an elevated activity of caspase-3 in the CSC-exposed cells. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that both Bax and caspase-3 displayed a cytosolic and mitochondrial distribution in the CSC-exposed gingival fibroblasts, compared to controls. The damaging effect of CSC on gingival fibroblast growth was also supported by the decrease in interleukin 6 and 8 secretion by the gingival fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CSC may contribute to deregulating fibroblast functions. This can compromise fibroblast-epithelial cell interactions, which ultimately increases the risk of gingival tissue damage and the onset of periodontitis.

Whole cigarette smoke promotes human gingival epithelial cell apoptosis and inhibits cell repair processes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of developing various types of human diseases, including cancers and periodontitis. As gingival epithelial cells are known to play an active role in innate immunity via the secretion of a wide variety of mediators, and as these cells are the first ones exposed to environmental stimuli such as cigarette smoke, we sought to investigate the effects of whole cigarette smoke on normal human gingival epithelial cells and tissue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human gingival epithelial cells were extracted from healthy nonsmokers and used either as a monolayer or as an engineered human oral mucosa to investigate the effect of whole cigarette smoke on cell growth, apoptosis and wound repair/migration. RESULTS: Our findings show that when gingival epithelial cells were exposed once to whole cigarette smoke, this resulted in a significant inhibition of cell growth through an apoptotic pathway, as confirmed by an increase of Bax and a decrease of Bcl-xL and caspase-3 activity. Cigarette smoke also inhibited epithelial cell migration. These effects may explain the disorganization of the engineered human oral mucosa tissue when exposed to whole cigarette smoke. CONCLUSION: Exposure to whole cigarette smoke markedly inhibits epithelial cell growth through an apoptosis/necrosis pathway that involves Bax and Bcl-xL proteins and caspase-3 activity. Cigarette smoke also disrupts epithelial cell migration, which may negatively affect periodontal wound healing.

[A combination of conventional single contrast arthrography with arthro-CT of the shoulder--an evaluation of 78 cases]. / Kombination von konventioneller Einfachkontrastarthrographie mit Arthro-CT der Schulter--Auswertung von 78 Untersuchungen.

For the diagnosis of traumatic shoulder lesions, 78 patients have been examined by conventional single contrast arthrography with subsequent CT. For 26 patients, it was possible to compare the radiological diagnosis with the arthroscopic or surgical findings. The combination of both diagnostic methods provided a high sensitivity (94%) and specificity (100%) for lesions of the ventral or dorsal limbus. Ruptures of the rotator cuff showed a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 89%. An unsatisfying sensitivity (60%) with high specificity (95.6%) was observed in the diagnosis of the ventral capsula. A retrospective screening of the roentgenography showed a good detectable leak of contrast medium, which was misinterpreted as being an artefact. All in all, the combination of conventional arthrography in mono-contrast and CT in daily routine should be recommended the diagnosis of traumatic shoulder lesions since it is easy to use, is of low inconvenience for the patient, and provides a high level of information.

Detecting ozone and demonstrating its phytotoxicity in forested areas of Poland: a pilot study.

Ambient concentrations of ozone (O(3)) were measured and O(3) phytotoxicity to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) was demonstrated in several forest locations in Poland during a pilot study from July-October, 1991. At southern and central locations in Poland, the 24-hour average O(3) concentrations measured with a UV absorption photometer were in the range of 32-55 ppb, and the corresponding 1-hour maxima in the range of 39-83 ppb. At these locations longer period (four to fifteen days) average concentrations were determined using O(3) passive samplers (DGA, Inc.) and were reaching 60 ppb, while at Bialowieza in eastern Poland O(3) concentrations averaged less than 40 ppb. In Szarow, near the Niepolomice Forest in southern Poland, 1-hour O(3) maxima estimated from the data obtained using passive samplers were about 105 ppb in early September. At several locations in southern and central Poland, extensive O(3) injury was determined on O(3)-sensitive Bel W-3 tobacco plants; such injury did not occur in the Bialowieza Forest of eastern Poland. The results of this pilot study indicate that O(3) is present at phytotoxic levels in southern and central Poland.

The influence of the type of contraction on the masseter muscle EMG power spectrum.

Different behaviours of the EMG power spectrum across increasing force levels have been reported for the masseter muscle. A factor that could explain these different behaviours may be the type of contraction used, as was recently shown for certain upper limb muscles(5). The purpose of this study was to compare, between two types of isometric contractions, the behaviour of EMG power spectrum statistics (median frequency (MF) and mean power frequency (MPF)) obtained across increasing force levels. Ten women exerted, while biting in the intercuspal position, three 5 s ramp contractions that increased linearly from 0 to 100% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). They also completed three step contractions (constant EMG amplitude) at each of the following levels: 20, 40, 60 and 80% MVC. EMG signals from the masseter muscle were recorded with miniature surface electrodes. The RMS, as well as the MPF and MF of the power spectrum were calculated at 20, 40, 60 and 80% MVC for each type of contraction. As expected, the RMS values showed similar increases with increasing levels of effort for both types of contractions. Different behaviours for both MPF (contraction(∗)force interaction, ANOVA, P<0.05) and MF (contraction(∗)force interaction, ANOVA, P>0.05) across increasing levels of effort were found between the two types of contraction. The use of step contractions gave rise to a decrease of both MPF and MF with increasing force, while the use of ramp contractions gave rise to an increase in both statistics up to at least 40% MVC followed by a decrease at higher force levels. These findings suggest that the type of contraction used does influence the behaviour of the spectral statistics across increasing force levels and that this could explain the differences obtained in previous studies for the masseter muscle.

[Biological observations of allergenic mites Suidasia nesbitti (Acarida, Saproglyphidae)]. / Obserwacje biologiczne alergogennego roztocza Suidasia nesbitti (Acarida, Saproglyphidae).

Suidasia nesbitti specimens for laboratory cultures and for biological studies were isolated from infested fish meal. Rearing conditions: temperature +25 degrees C, relative humidity 85%, food - dried baker's yeast. One day old females and males were paired and placed into separate rearing cages and observations of longevity and oviposition of mites were conducted. Fresh laid eggs were observed and mite development cycle was examined. Mean longevity of male (preimaginal + imaginal periods) amount 84.4 days, female in average 67.0 days. Average egg production of female per its whole life was 172.9. Life history took in average 14.4 days and natural mortality of various instars was 25%. Frequency of females was slightly higher than frequency of males.

[Mites (Acarida) of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) in Poland]. / Roztocze (Acarida) pszczoly miodnej (Apis mellifera L.) w Polsce.

400 samples of natural winter debris collected from bee hives, 150 samples of stored honey and 100 samples of pollen collected by bees were examined; full of food and empty honey combs, brood and adult bees were also observed. 100% of samples of debris, 90% of pollen and almost 24% of honey samples contained mites; they were found also on honey combs and on died and living bees (brood, imagines). 33 mite species were found. Besides of parasite Varroa jacobsoni Oud. numerous mites belonging to Acaridae, Ameroseiidae, Tarsonemidae and Tydeidae were frequent. They are often accompanied by predatory mites from families Cheyletidae, Aceosejidae, Laelapidae, Bdellidae and Cunaxidae. 3 stated species--Acotyledon paradoxa Oud., Lasioacarus nidicolus Kadz. et Sev. and Thyreophagus odyneri Fain are new for Poland.

Oral exposure to a nickel-containing dental alloy of persons with hypersensitive skin reactions to nickel.

In 10 partially dentate subjects, all with long histories of skin reactions to nickel, prosthetic treatments were performed with fixed prosthetic appliances manufactured in a dental alloy containing 66% nickel. During time periods varying from 12 to over 40 months, these subjects were controlled using a variety of dental and medical methods. Neither adverse general nor oral clinical nor histological reactions were noted during the observation.

Experimental investigations on sensitivity to nickel present in alloys used in dentistry carried out on guinea pigs previously sensitized to this metal.

Experimental investigation on sensitivity to nickel present in dental alloys has been carried out on guinea pigs previously sensitized to this metal. The metal plates containing nickel have been sutured to the oral mucosa in such a way that condition of alloys contact with mucosa were possible similar to those present in the mouth of the patient wearing fixed prosthesis. The results of macro and micro examination has not shown any morphological differences between experimental and control material.