Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm size at presentation and growth by diameter.

AIM: To investigate the hypothesis that lung cancer screening allows for earlier identification of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (aTAAs) and that growth rates for aTAAs are greatest at larger sizes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single referral centre retrospective study manually gathered computed tomography (CT) data from 732 patients presenting from July 2002 to August 2022. Five hundred and seventeen patients with aTAA >39 mm were identified to compare presenting diameter by year of presentation. Four hundred and thirty-two patients had CT examinations >3 months apart, allowing for growth analysis. Patients were separated by initial examination date (before or after 12/31/2013) for presenting size comparison. Patients were then divided into five groups based on aTAA diameter for growth rate analysis. RESULTS: At identification, patients had a median aTAA diameter of 44 mm (IQR 41-47 mm). Patients with aTAAs identified prior to December 2013 (n=129) had an average aTAA diameter 1.7 mm larger than those identified later (n=388; p=0.003). The growth analysis showed an average growth rate of 0.1 mm/year (p<0.001) across the entire cohort. Patients with an aTAA diameter of ≥55 mm (n=12) grew the fastest at 1.9 mm/year (p<0.001). In the <40 mm group (n=43), the aTAAs expanded at 0.2 mm/year, faster than the 0.1 mm/year of the slowest expanding 45-49 mm group (n=130; p=0.04). CONCLUSION: aTAA size at discovery was larger before lung cancer screening guidelines took effect in December 2013. The largest aTAAs expanded fastest, but growth rates were slowest in the medium-sized 45-49 mm diameter group.

The Impact of Oral Health Training on the Early Year's Workforce Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours in Delivering Oral Health Advice: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of training the early year's workforce on their knowledge, skills and/or behaviours in delivering oral health advice. METHODS: Four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus were searched to evaluate the effectiveness of oral health training on knowledge, skills and behaviour of the early year's workforce with a minimum of one-month follow-up. Randomised or quasi-randomised trials and before and after studies were included. RESULTS: All six included studies showed improved knowledge and one of the five studies showed significant changes in behaviours of participants post oral health training. None of the included studies addressed changes in skills as an outcome. CONCLUSION: This systematic review found evidence that oral health training of the early year's workforce is effective in improving their knowledge but not necessarily their behaviours delivering oral health advice. Although training of the wider workforce on oral health is recommended, high quality research is required with longitudinal follow-up to assess changes in behaviours and ultimately impacts on oral health.

The face of postural tachycardia syndrome - insights from a large cross-sectional online community-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) experience chronic symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. There are minimal data detailing the demographics, clinical features and clinical course of this condition. This online, community-based survey highlights patients' experience with POTS. It consists of the largest sample of POTS patients reported to date. OBJECTIVES: To describe the demographics, past medical history, medications, treatments and diagnostic journey for patients living with POTS. METHODS: Postural tachycardia syndrome patients completed an online, community-based, cross-sectional survey. Participants were excluded if they had not received a diagnosis of POTS from a physician. The questions focused on the patient experience and journey, rather than physiological responses. RESULTS: The final analysis included 4835 participants. POTS predominantly affects white (93%) females (94%) of childbearing age, with approximately half developing symptoms in adolescence (mode 14 years). POTS is a chronic multisystem disorder involving a broad array of symptoms, with many patients diagnosed with comorbidities in addition to POTS. POTS patients often experience lengthy delays [median (interquartile range) 24 (6-72) months] and misdiagnosis, but the diagnostic delay is improving. POTS patients can present with a myriad of symptoms most commonly including lightheadedness (99%), tachycardia (97%), presyncope (94%), headache (94%) and difficulty concentrating (94%). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide important insights into the background, clinical features and diagnostic journey of patients suffering from POTS. These data should serve as an essential step for moving forward with future studies aimed at early and accurate diagnoses of these patients leading to appropriate treatments for their symptoms.

Clinical Evaluation of All Ceramic Zirconia Framework Resin Bonded Bridges.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical longevity of 58 adhesively bonded single unit yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) ceramic Resin Bonded Bridges (RBB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty six consecutive patients with at least one congenitally missing tooth in the maxilla or mandible were provided with 58 single unit Y-TZP RBBs. The cantilever RBBs were designed and milled using a CAD-CAM system to produce frameworks which were veneered using a glass-ceramic material and cemented with a self-etching dual-cure resin cement. RESULTS: Following a mean follow up period of 36.2 months (maximum 62.3 months, minimum 25.4 months), 48 restorations remain in service with a survival rate of 82.7%. One anterior retainer fracture was encountered and no fractures of the posterior framework or ceramic were noted within the time frame reported. CONCLUSIONS: All ceramic Y-TZP RBBs replacing maxillary and mandibular teeth in the anterior and posterior areas demonstrated an 82.7% Kaplan Meier survival rate over 3 years, which was comparable to previously published survival rates for the non-perforated metal framework RBBs. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Replacement of anterior or posterior teeth using single unit cantilevered RBBs using Y-TZP ceramics should be considered a viable restorative option with a high survival rate.

Oral bisphosphonate prescription and non-adherence at 12 months in patients with hip fractures treated in an acute geriatric unit.

A poorer functional status at the time of fracture is a predictor of non-adherence to oral bisphosphonates initiated after a hip fracture, and suggests further opportunities for optimization of secondary fracture prevention in this high-risk population. INTRODUCTION: Low adherence to treatment is a problem in post-fracture secondary prevention. We aimed to analyze the prognostic factors (related and predictive) associated with non-adherence to oral bisphosphonate prescription for hip fracture due to bone fragility (HFBF) 12 months after discharge from an acute geriatric unit. METHODS: Prospective study of bivariate data analyzing related and multivariate factors predicting non-adherence of oral bisphosphonates at 12 months after treatment for HFBF. The statistical study was performed with SPSS 19.0.0. RESULTS: We attended 368 patients with HFBF. At discharge, oral bisphosphonates were prescribed to 226 (61.42%) patients. At 12 months, we followed up 160 (70.7%) patients, 104 (65%) of whom had non-adherence to oral bisphosphonates. Bivariate analysis (adherent vs. non-adherent): age (83.79 ± 5.82 vs. 85.78 ± 5.80, p = .029); Lawton and Brody Index (4.29 ± 3.40 vs. 2.67 ± 3.31, p = .004); baseline Barthel Index (BI) (85.89 ± 21.99 vs. 74.18 ± 26.70) (p = .004); BI at admission (18.84 ± 10.00 vs. 14.47 ± 11.71, p = .004); BI at discharge (34.20 ± 15.40 vs. 27.45 ± 16.71, p = .011); baseline Functional Ambulation Classification (5.66 ± 0.98 vs. 5.43 ± 0.99, p = .025). Multivariate analysis: BI 0.980 (0.965-0.995, p = .007). Discriminatory capacity of the AUC model (± 95% CI): 0.634 (0.545-0.722). CONCLUSIONS: At 12 months, there was low adherence to treatment with oral bisphosphonates in our model. A lower BI prior to treatment is a predictive factor for non-adherence treatment with oral bisphosphonate.

Brucellosis remains a neglected disease in the developing world: a call for interdisciplinary action.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is an endemic zoonotic disease in most of the developing world that causes devastating losses to the livestock industry and small-scale livestock holders. Infected animals exhibit clinical signs that are of economic significance to stakeholders and include reduced fertility, abortion, poor weight gain, lost draught power, and a substantial decline in milk production. In humans, brucellosis typically manifests as a variety of non-specific clinical signs. Chronicity and recurring febrile conditions, as well as devastating complications in pregnant women are common sequelae. DISCUSSION: In regions where the disease is endemic, brucellosis has far-reaching and deleterious effects on humans and animals alike. Deeply entrenched social misconceptions and fear of government intervention contribute to this disease continuing to smolder unchecked in most of the developing world, thereby limiting economic growth and inhibiting access to international markets. The losses in livestock productivity compromise food security and lead to shifts in the cognitive competency of the working generation, influence the propagation of gender inequality, and cause profound emotional suffering in farmers whose herds are affected. The acute and chronic symptoms of the disease in humans can result in a significant loss of workdays and a decline in the socioeconomic status of infected persons and their families from the associated loss of income. The burden of the disease to society includes significant human healthcare costs for diagnosis and treatment, and non-healthcare costs such as public education efforts to reduce disease transmission. CONCLUSION: Brucellosis places significant burdens on the human healthcare system and limits the economic growth of individuals, communities, and nations where such development is especially important to diminish the prevalence of poverty. The implementation of public policy focused on mitigating the socioeconomic effects of brucellosis in human and animal populations is desperately needed. When developing a plan to mitigate the associated consequences, it is vital to consider both the abstract and quantifiable effects. This requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative, or One Health, approach that consists of public education, the development of an infrastructure for disease surveillance and reporting in both veterinary and medical fields, and campaigns for control in livestock and wildlife species.

Identification of Brucella spp. in feral swine (Sus scrofa) at abattoirs in Texas, USA.

Various tissues, nasal swabs, urine and blood samples were collected from 376 feral swine at two federally inspected abattoirs in Texas during six separate sampling periods in 2015. Samples were tested for Brucella spp. by culture and serology. Brucella spp. were cultured from 13.0% of feral swine, and antibodies were detected in 9.8%. Only 32.7% of culture-positive feral swine were also antibody positive, and 43.2% of antibody-positive feral swine were culture positive. Approximately, the same number of males (14.0%) and females (12.1%) were culture positive, and slightly more males (10.5%) than females (8.7%) were antibody positive. Our results indicate that serology likely underestimates the prevalence of feral swine infected, and that those who come in contact with feral swine should be aware of the symptoms of infection with Brucella spp. to ensure prompt treatment.

On the origin of stretched exponential (Kohlrausch) relaxation kinetics in the room temperature luminescence decay of colloidal quantum dots.

The non-exponential room temperature luminescence decay of colloidal quantum dots is often well described by a stretched exponential function. However, the physical meaning of the parameters of the function is not clear in the majority of cases reported in the literature. In this work, the room temperature stretched exponential luminescence decay of colloidal quantum dots is investigated theoretically in an attempt to identify the underlying physical mechanisms associated with the parameters of the function. Three classes of non-radiative transition processes between the excited and ground states of colloidal quantum dots are discussed: long-range resonance energy transfer, multiphonon relaxation, and contact quenching without diffusion. It is shown that multiphonon relaxation cannot explain a stretched exponential functional form of the luminescence decay while such dynamics of relaxation can be understood in terms of long-range resonance energy transfer to acceptors (molecules, quantum dots, or anharmonic molecular vibrations) in the environment of the quantum dots acting as energy-donors or by contact quenching by acceptors (surface traps or molecules) distributed statistically on the surface of the quantum dots. These non-radiative transition processes are assigned to different ranges of the stretching parameter ß.

First case of Nocardia amamiensis pulmonary infection in Mexico.

We report a case of Nocardia amamiensis pulmonary infection in a 43-year-old immunocompromised woman. The patient was treated with imipenem/cilastatin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and had a favourable outcome. It is important that laboratories perform species identification to understand the epidemiology and susceptibility patterns of the different Nocardia spp.

Low-energy vibrational spectra of flexible diphenyl molecules: biphenyl, diphenylmethane, bibenzyl and 2-, 3- and 4-phenyltoluene.

Gas phase absorption far-infrared (FIR) spectra of six flexible hydrocarbon molecules containing two phenyl groups -biphenyl, diphenylmethane, bibenzyl and 2-, 3-, 4-phenyltoluene- are reported for the first time, allowing an accurate determination of most of their active low-frequency vibrational modes. DFT calculations have been carried out at the harmonic and perturbative anharmonic levels to predict the vibrational spectra of these molecules and unambiguously assign observed vibrational modes.

Peripheral neuroblastomas in dogs: a case series.

The peripheral neuroblastic tumours (PNTs) include neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma and ganglioneuromas. These subtypes reflect a spectrum of differentiation of progenitor cells of the sympathetic nervous system from tumours with predominant undifferentiated neuroblasts to those consisting of neuronal cell bodies that are well differentiated. Peripheral neuroblastoma is a tumour composed of neuroblastic cells with no or limited neuronal differentiation. In dogs, peripheral neuroblastoma is rare. The present report documents nine cases of canine peripheral neuroblastoma, the majority occurring as large masses in the craniodorsal abdominal cavity of young dogs (mean age of 3 years at diagnosis). Microscopically, all of the masses consisted of round to oval cells with a scant cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei. Homer-Wright rosettes and pseudorosettes were evident in three of the nine cases. Neoplastic cells were immunoreactive in varying degrees to S100, neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, chromogranin A, tyrosine hydroxylase (one case) and were negative for vimentin, cytokeratin, CD3 and CD79a, indicating a neurogenic nature. Four of the nine cases occurred in Labrador retrievers (44%) and two (22%) in boxers, suggesting a possible breed predisposition.

Senior dentists' perceptions of dental therapists' roles and education needs in Malaysia.

UNLABELLED: To describe the perceptions of senior dental officers (SDOs) on the roles of dental therapists (DTs) and their education needs in Malaysia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered postal questionnaire targeting all 112 SDOs in the Malaysian Ministry of Health. The SDOs were asked about their perceptions of DT's roles in relation to clinical tasks, oral health promotion, administration and the dental team and their perceptions of DT's future education needs. Data were analysed using spss software, version 17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The response rate was 60%. A majority of SDOs were women (68%) with a mean age of 44.9 (SD: 8.04). Generally, the majority of SDOs perceived the current roles of DT in non-complex clinical tasks such as examination and diagnosis, preventive treatment, extraction of deciduous teeth and oral health promotion as very important. Fewer than half of SDOs perceived DT's role in the extraction of permanent teeth as important. Most SDOs perceived the need to train DT in 'scaling and polishing for adults' (80.5%), 'delivering inferior alveolar nerve block' (57.3%) and 'pulp therapy' (59.2%). They also had positive perceptions of providing education for DT up to degree level (70.8%). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Malaysian SDOs have positive perceptions of the current roles of DT and of the expansion of some of their clinical tasks to include broader client groups through further training and education. These findings indicate a need to revise the current curriculum and legislation pertaining to DT's education and scope of practice in Malaysia.

Prevalence of oral diseases and oral-health-related quality of life in people with severe mental illness undertaking community-based psychiatric care.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of oral diseases and their impact on oral-health-related quality of life in people with severe mental illness undertaking community-based psychiatric care. METHODS: A survey was conducted at eight outpatient psychiatric care clinics in Tower Hamlets, London, UK. One hundred and twelve consecutive patients with mental illness were invited to participate in this study. They were clinically examined and asked to complete the oral health impact profile (OHIP) questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 79% (n = 89); 57 (64%) males and 58 persons over 45 years of age (65%) participated in this survey. Overall OHIP score was 25.4 (95% CI 23.3, 27.4), 70 (78%) were smokers and 45 (51%) had been to the dentist in the last two years. Forty-seven (53%) respondents had caries in at least one tooth, 60 (67%) had 21 teeth and more, and 14 (16%) used dentures. Advanced periodontal treatment was indicated in 42 (55%) of patients and 52.8% (n = 47) patients reported current pain. CONCLUSION: Overall, this survey found that oral health has a great impact on patients with severe mental illness being treated in the community setting and their oral health is poorer than the national adult general population. Future research should consider the causes that relate to the poorer oral health in this population and potential health promotion mechanisms in this population to encourage an upstream approach to health.

Sclerosing cholangitis in baboons (Papio spp) resembling primary sclerosing cholangitis of humans.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic and progressive cholestatic liver disease that has been extensively documented in the human literature. Although it shares many features in common with chronic lymphocytic cholangitis in cats, primary sclerosing cholangitis has never been reported in a nonhuman primate. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is characterized by the presence of intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic inflammation and concentric fibrosis of bile ducts, eventually leading to cirrhosis and hepatic failure. The pathogenesis and cause remain unknown, but the disease likely involves a multifactorial mechanism with genetic- and immune-mediated components. The authors report 2 cases that histologically resemble the condition in humans; they consist of 2 adult male baboons with a clinical history of chronic elevated liver enzymes. In both cases, the liver was histologically characterized by thick bands of fibrosis and mild lymphoplasmacytic periportal cholangiohepatitis with concentric periductal fibrosis, resulting in atrophy and loss of bile ducts. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed positivity of hepatocytes to cytokeratin 7. Masson stain demonstrated marked biliary fibrosis. This is the first report that resembles sclerosing cholangitis in a nonhuman primate, and it suggests that the baboon may provide a useful animal model for this condition in humans.

Extended safety and efficacy studies of the attenuated Brucella vaccine candidates 16 M(Delta)vjbR and S19(Delta)vjbR in the immunocompromised IRF-1-/- mouse model.

The global distribution of brucellosis and high incidence in certain areas of the world warrant the development of a safer and efficacious vaccine. For the past 10 years, we have focused our attention on the development of a safer, but still highly protective, live attenuated vaccine for human and animal use. We have demonstrated the safety and protective efficacy of the vaccine candidates 16 MΔvjbR and S19ΔvjbR against homologous and heterologous challenge in multiple immunocompetent animal models, including mice and deer. In the present study, we conducted a series of experiments to determine the safety of the vaccine candidates in interferon regulatory factor-1-knockout (IRF-1(-/-)) mice. IRF-1(-/-) mice infected with either wild-type Brucella melitensis 16 M or the vaccine strain Brucella abortus S19 succumb to the disease within the first 3 weeks of infection, which is characterized by a marked granulomatous and neutrophilic inflammatory response that principally targets the spleen and liver. In contrast, IRF-1(-/-) mice inoculated with either the 16 MΔvjbR or S19ΔvjbR vaccine do not show any clinical or major pathological changes associated with vaccination. Additionally, when 16 MΔvjbR- or S19ΔvjbR-vaccinated mice are challenged with wild-type Brucella melitensis 16M, the degree of colonization in multiple organs, along with associated pathological changes, is significantly reduced. These findings not only demonstrate the safety and protective efficacy of the vjbR mutant in an immunocompromised mouse model but also suggest the participation of lesser-known mechanisms in protective immunity against brucellosis.

Protective efficacy and safety of Brucella melitensis 16MΔmucR against intraperitoneal and aerosol challenge in BALB/c mice.

Brucellosis is a zoonosis of nearly worldwide distribution. Vaccination against this pathogen is an important control strategy to prevent the disease. Currently licensed vaccine strains used in animals are unacceptable for human use due to undesirable side effects and modest protection. Substantial progress has been made during the past 10 years toward the development of improved vaccines for brucellosis. In part, this has been achieved by the identification and characterization of live attenuated mutants that are safer in the host but still can stimulate an adequate immune response. In the present study, the identification and characterization of the mucR mutant (BMEI 1364) as a vaccine candidate for brucellosis was conducted. BALB/c mice were vaccinated intraperitoneally at a dose of 10(5) CFU with the mutant to evaluate safety and protective efficacy against intraperitoneal and aerosol challenge. All animals vaccinated with the vaccine candidate demonstrated a statistically significant degree of protection against both intraperitoneal and aerosol challenge. Safety was revealed by the absence of Brucella associated pathological changes, including splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, or granulomatous disease. These results suggest that the 16MΔmucR vaccine is safe, elicits a strong protective immunity, and should be considered as a promising vaccine candidate for human use.

Epithelioid haemangiosarcoma in the ocular tissue of horses.

Haemangiosarcomas (HSAs) are malignant tumours of endothelial cell origin. Epithelioid HSA is a variant of the histologically conventional HSA that has little or no morphological evidence of a vascular origin and has been reported rarely in domestic animals. The following report documents six cases of equine epithelioid HSA occurring in the ocular tissues of horses with a mean age of 19.8 years at the time of diagnosis. Microscopically, all of the lesions consisted of solid sheets or cords of epithelioid cells with rare narrow clefts or small spaces containing erythrocytes that were often the only feature indicating a vascular origin. On immunohistochemistry, the neoplastic cells expressed vimentin, CD31 and factor VIII-related antigen, but not cytokeratin, indicating an endothelial nature.

Relative bioavailability study with two oral formulations of topiramate using a validated UPLC-MS/MS method.

Changes in bioavailability of anticonvulsant drugs such as topiramate may cause loss of or worsened seizure control. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate, in a double-blind crossover design, the bioavailability between two oral formulations of topiramate in healthy volunteers after a single dose. The protocol, approved by the Institutional Committee of Ethics, consisted of administration of 1 tablet of 100 mg of topiramate of each formulation (Toprel and Topamax), to 20 healthy volunteers after a 12 h overnight fast, using an open, two-period, randomized, crossover and double-blind design. Thus, the plasma concentrations (Cp) of topiramate were measured at predetermined intervals of time, from 0 to 24 h, using a validated UPLC-MS/MS method. Based on plasma concentration-time profiles we obtained the following pharmacokinetic parameters: AUC(0-inf) 63,418.31 +/- 22,141.69 and 67,094.70 +/- 22,487.2 ngh/ml; AUC0-24: 30,421.02 +/- 9,964.0 and 30,489.35 +/- 9,407.17, ng x h/ml; tmax: 2.77 +/- 1.76 and 1.95 +/- 1.89 h; C(max): 2,143.33 +/- 724.26 and 2,262.51 +/- 751.12 ng/ml, for A (Toprel) and B (Topamax), respectively. All these differences were not statically significant with 90% confidence interval. The test of bioequivalence showed that Cmax, AUC(0-24) and AUC(0-inf) parameters are found within the range of 0.8 - 1.25 recommended by the FDA with a probability of bioequivalence of 100%. In accordance with these results, we can conclude that Toprel 100 mg, A (Test), is a bioequivalent generic and interchangeable with Topamax 100 mg, B (Reference).

The Brucella abortus S19 DeltavjbR live vaccine candidate is safer than S19 and confers protection against wild-type challenge in BALB/c mice when delivered in a sustained-release vehicle.

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease of nearly worldwide distribution. Despite the availability of live vaccine strains for bovine (S19, RB51) and small ruminants (Rev-1), these vaccines have several drawbacks, including residual virulence for animals and humans. Safe and efficacious immunization systems are therefore needed to overcome these disadvantages. A vjbR knockout was generated in the S19 vaccine and investigated for its potential use as an improved vaccine candidate. Vaccination with a sustained-release vehicle to enhance vaccination efficacy was evaluated utilizing the live S19 DeltavjbR::Kan in encapsulated alginate microspheres containing a nonimmunogenic eggshell precursor protein of the parasite Fasciola hepatica (vitelline protein B). BALB/c mice were immunized intraperitoneally with either encapsulated or nonencapsulated S19 DeltavjbR::Kan at a dose of 1 x 10(5) CFU per animal to evaluate immunogenicity, safety, and protective efficacy. Humoral responses postvaccination indicate that the vaccine candidate was able to elicit an anti-Brucella-specific immunoglobulin G response even when the vaccine was administered in an encapsulated format. The safety was revealed by the absence of splenomegaly in mice that were inoculated with the mutant. Finally, a single dose with the encapsulated mutant conferred higher levels of protection compared to the nonencapsulated vaccine. These results suggest that S19 DeltavjbR::Kan is safer than S19, induces protection in mice, and should be considered as a vaccine candidate when administered in a sustained-release manner.