Techniques for bone assessment and characterization: porcine hard palate case study.

The hard palate plate has an important structural function that separates the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. Incomplete regeneration of palatal fistulae in children with a cleft palate deformity after primary palatoplasty is a relatively common complication. To date, the information about the physicochemical bone features of this region is deficient, due to the low availability of human samples. Swine and human bone share anatomical similarities. Specifically, pig bones are widely used as experimental animal models in dental, orthopedic, or surgical techniques. The aim of this study was to show different techniques to evaluate and characterize alternative properties of pig hard palate bone, compared to commercial hydroxyapatite, one of the most used biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration. Chemical analyses by Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) showed calcium and phosphate ions as the main constituents of bone, while magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, and zinc ions were minor constituents. The calcium phosphate molar ratio (Ca/P) in the bone was low (1.1 ± 0.2) due to the very young specimen sample used. The FTIR spectrum shows the presence of phosphates ions (PO4 3-) and the main characteristics of collagen type I. The XRD results showed that the hard palate bone has a mixture of calcium, octacalcium dihydrogen phosphate (OCP), and apatite, where OCP is the predominant phase. Besides, this research demonstrated that the young bone has low crystallinity and small crystal size compared with commercial hydroxyapatite (HA). The palatine process of maxilla density and porosity data reported, suggest that the palate bone is getting closer to the compact bone with a 52.78 ± 2.91% porosity and their mechanical properties depend on the preparation conditions and the area of the bone analyzed.

The Critical Roles of Early Development, Stress, and Environment in the Course of Psychosis.

Psychotic disorders are highly debilitating with poor prognoses and courses of chronic illness. In recent decades, conceptual models have shaped understanding, informed treatment, and guided research questions. However, these models have classically focused on the adolescent and early adulthood stages immediately preceding onset while conceptualizing early infancy through all of childhood as a unitary premorbid period. In addition, models have paid limited attention to differential effects of types of stress; contextual factors such as local, regional, and country-level characteristics or sociocultural contexts; and the timing of the stressor or environmental risk. This review discusses emerging research suggesting that (a) considering effects specific to neurodevelopmental stages prior to adolescence is highly informative, (b) understanding specific stressors and levels of environmental exposures (i.e., systemic or contextual features) is necessary, and (c) exploring the dynamic interplay between development, levels and types of stressors, and environments can shed new light, informing a specified neurodevelopmental and multifaceted diathesis-stress model.

Testing whether implicit emotion regulation mediates the association between discrimination and symptoms of psychopathology in late childhood: An RDoC perspective.

Discrimination has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes, though it is unclear how early in life this association becomes apparent. Implicit emotion regulation, developing during childhood, is a foundational skill tied to a range of outcomes. Implicit emotion regulation has yet to be tested as an associated process for mental illness symptoms that can often emerge during this sensitive developmental period. Youth aged 9-11 were recruited for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Associations between psychotic-like experiences, depressive symptoms, and total discrimination (due to race, ethnicity, nationality, weight, or sexual minority status) were tested, as well as associations with implicit emotion regulation measures (emotional updating working memory and inhibitory control). Analyses examined whether associations with symptoms were mediated by implicit emotion regulation. Discrimination related to decreased implicit emotion regulation performance, and increased endorsement of depressive symptoms and psychotic-like experiences. Emotional updating working memory performance partially mediated the association between discrimination and psychotic-like experiences, while emotional inhibitory control did not. Discrimination and implicit emotion regulation could serve as putative transdiagnostic markers of vulnerability. Results support the utility of using multiple units of analysis to improve understanding of complex emerging neurocognitive functions and developmentally sensitive periods.

Homologación lingüística al idioma español, en población chilena, de la herramienta Sunnybrook Facial Grading System para evaluar parálisis facial. Estudio piloto

Resumen Introducción: La parálisis facial es una patología muy común. La escala "Sunnybrook Facial Grading System" (SFGS) se ha posicionado como una herramienta útil y confiable para su evaluación y evolución. Objetivo: Homologar lingüísticamente desde el idioma inglés al español la escala SFGS en una muestra de población chilena. Material y Método: Tres kinesiólogos chilenos con dominio comprobado del idioma inglés tradujeron la escala SFGS al español. Un comité creó una primera versión de la SFGS en español. Posteriormente, un profesional del Instituto Chileno-Británico tradujo la primera versión nuevamente al inglés (retrotraducción). El comité definió la segunda versión de la SFGS. Finalmente, los investigadores llevaron a cabo los pilotajes. Resultados: En dos pruebas piloto, veinte sujetos respondieron correctamente el total de las expresiones solicitadas. Conclusión: Esta versión de la escala SFGS homologada lingüísticamente al español puede ser aplicada a la población chilena.

Abstract Introduction: Facial paralysis is a very common pathology. The Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) scale has positioned itself as a useful and reliable tool for its evaluation and follow up. Aim: To linguistically homologate the SFGS scale in a sample of the Chilean population from English to Spanish. Material and Method: Three Chilean kinesiologists with English proficiency translated the SFGS scale into Spanish. A committee developed a first version of the SFGS in Spanish. Subsequently, a professional from the Chilean-British Institute translated the first version back into English (back-translation). The committee defined the second version of the SFGS. Finally, the investigators carried out the pilots. Results: In two pilot tests, twenty subjects correctly answered the total of the expressions requested. Conclusion: This version of the SFGS scale linguistically homologated to Spanish can be applied to the Chilean population.

Relationship of Galectin-3 Expression in Canine Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas with Histopathological Grading and Proliferation Indices.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a frequent malignant neoplasm of the skin that usually arises from areas of solar dermatosis. It is characterized by local invasiveness and regional lymph node metastasis, mainly in poorly differentiated tumours. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a lectin that is expressed in the nucleus or cytoplasm and has been identified as a prognostic tool for human neoplasms. The purpose of this study was to characterize Gal-3 expression in canine cutaneous SCCs and to investigate its relationship with tumour differentiation and cell proliferation indices. Immunohistochemical analysis of 50 SCCs for Gal-3 revealed no correlation between the localization or intensity of immunolabelling, or number of immunopositive cells, with histological grade of tumour or proliferative activity. The results suggest that Gal-3 expression is not a reliable prognostic marker for cutaneous SCC in dogs.

Using search engine data to gauge public interest in mental health, politics and violence in the context of mass shootings.

Despite significant potential for providing insight to private perceptions and behaviors, search engine data has yet to be utilized as a means of gauging the U.S. public's interest and understanding of mental health in the context of gun violence and politics. An analysis of Google Trends revealed that Mental health searches increased in volume starting in the beginning of the current decade. Notably, both "mental health" and "gun(s)" were searched with greater frequency the week after the mass shooting events occurred. Related searches after the event also observed a significant increase in interest in mental health and gun regulation, legal reform, mass shootings, and gun(s). Results suggest that the American public's perception of mental illness increasingly incorporates associations with themes of violence and politics, which becomes more apparent surrounding mass shooting events. Future studies are needed to determine implications for stigmatization of vulnerable groups, and possible relations to media coverage.

Galectin-3 Expression Correlates with Post-surgical Survival in Canine Oral Melanomas.

Malignant melanomas (MMs) represent 7% of all malignant neoplasms in dogs. Oral melanocytic neoplasms are often malignant and associated with poor prognosis. There are no universally accepted prognostic markers for canine oral melanoma. Galectin (Gal)-3 is a prognostic marker for human neoplasms such as thyroid, gastric, colorectal and prostate cancers. The protein is related to processes that favour cancer progression, such as angiogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to characterize the immunohistochemical expression of Gal-3 in canine oral melanomas and to compare it with post-surgical survival, the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and other known prognostic tools. Twenty-seven samples of canine oral melanomas were evaluated for Gal-3, B-cell lymphoma (BCL) 2, caspase (CASP) 3 and Ki67 expression, mitotic index and degree of nuclear atypia. Gal-3 cytoplasmic positivity was correlated positively, while nuclear positivity was correlated negatively, with survival. The intensity of BCL2 labelling was also correlated positively with Gal-3 cytoplasmic positivity. Higher nuclear atypia was observed in dogs with melanoma that died due to the tumour, as well as in dogs that survived for <1 year after surgery. We have confirmed the importance of nuclear atypia for MMs and suggest that Gal-3 is a valuable prognostic indicator for this neoplasm. More in-depth studies are needed to unveil Gal-3 functions in canine MMs using larger sample sizes.

Multifocal Spinal Cord Nephroblastoma in a Dog.

A 1-year-old male American pit bull terrier was presented with a history of proprioceptive deficits and mild lameness of the right hindlimb, which progressed after 5 months to paraparesis, culminating in tetraparesis after 2 weeks. Necropsy findings were limited to the spinal cord and consisted of multiple, intradural, extramedullary, slightly red masses which produced segmental areas of medullary swelling located in the cervical intumescence, thoracolumbar column, sacral segment and cauda equina. Histological evaluation revealed a tumour, composed of epithelial, stromal and blastemal cells, with structures resembling tubules, acini and embryonic glomeruli. Immunohistochemical labelling for vimentin, cytokeratin and S100 was positive for the stromal, epithelial and blastemal cells, respectively. A final diagnosis of multifocal spinal cord nephroblastoma was established. This is the first report of such a tumour showing concomitant involvement of the cervicothoracic, thoracolumbar, sacral and cauda equina areas of the spinal cord.

Immunohistochemical Expression of the Pluripotency Factor OCT4 in Canine Mast Cell Tumours.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are related to malignancy and resistance to chemotherapy in several tumours. OCT4 is a 'pluripotency factor' that is expressed by these cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate OCT4 expression in canine cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs) by means of immunohistochemistry. Twenty-eight cases were evaluated and showed variable immunolabelling patterns. The dogs were treated by surgery alone and followed up for a minimum of 180 days. No significant difference was found between histopathological grades and similar results were obtained for mortality due to the disease and post-surgical survival. These preliminary results suggest that OCT4 expression is not a precise prognostic indicator for canine MCT.

Methyl-ß-Cyclodextrin Improves Sperm Capacitation Status Assessed by Flow Cytometry Analysis and Zona Pellucida-Binding Ability of Frozen/Thawed Bovine Spermatozoa.

Mammalian sperm undergo a series of biochemical transformations in the female reproductive tract that are collectively known as capacitation. Cyclodextrins added to the sperm culture medium have been described to induce in vitro sperm capacitation, enabling its use in protein-free media. However, the additive capacitating effect of methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (MßCD) in the medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) is unknown in the bovine species. In this study, we evaluated the effects of incubating frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa in a BSA-containing medium supplemented with MßCD on different sperm quality and functional parameters. Sperm viability decreased with the addition of MßCD in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05), and DNA damage could be observed but only with the highest concentration of MßCD. However, pre-incubation of spermatozoa in MßCD-supplemented medium improved the capacitation status as assessed by the increase in plasma membrane fluidity, intracellular calcium concentration, induced acrosome reactivity and zona pellucida (ZP)-binding ability (p < 0.05). Thus, we conclude that MßCD supplementation is able to enhance the capacitation status of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa cultured in capacitation medium containing BSA and could result in a valid strategy for its application on artificial reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Realidad sobre el recurso humano de médicos pediatras en Panamá

El pediatra es el médico más capacitado para la atención de la población menor de 15 años. Sin embargo surgen preguntas: ¿Cómo podemos saber cuál es el número adecuado de pediatras que se necesita para una adecuada atención de la población infantil?; o ¿Cuántos niños pueden o deben atender cada pediatra?; ¿Somos suficientes pediatras en Panamá? En vista de estas interrogantes surge este trabajo sobre averiguar la realidad del recurso humano de los médicos pediatras en Panamá. En Panamá, no hay estudios sobre el ratio ideal pediatra/ población. En este trabajo se investigó sobre esta fuerza laboral a nivel de instituciones públicas (MINSA, CSS, HISMA, H. del Niño) y se encontraron 458 pediatras en todo el país según las oficinas de recursos humanos de cada institución. Se encontró que para el 2013, según la población estimada menor de 15 años la relación niño/pediatra está muy lejos de la observada en otras latitudes

The pediatrician is the physician who is the most qualified to attend the population under 15 years of age. Although questions arise: How can we know what amount of pediatricians are needed for an adequate care of the pediatric population? or How many children should or could each pediatrician care for? Are we enough pediatricians in Panama? Due to these questions, this project emerges to discover the reality of the human resource of the pediatrician in Panama. In Panama there are no studies about the ideal ratio pediatrician/population. In this study I investigated the amount of pediatricians working for public institutions (MINSA, CSS, HISMA, HDN) and I found a total of 458 pediatricians in the whole country according to the human resource office of each institution. According to the estimated population less than 15 years of age, I found that for the year 2013 the relationship child/pediatrician was far from the observed in other latitudes.

MiRNA let-7g regulates skeletal myoblast motility via Pinch-2.

Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by RNA-binding proteins and by small non-coding RNAs plays an important role in cell biology. Our previous results show that in murine skeletal myoblasts, the expression of Pinch-2, a focal adhesion remodeling factor that regulates cell motility, is repressed by an RNA-binding protein IMP-2/Igf2bp2. We now show that the expression of Pinch-2 is also regulated by the miRNA let-7g. Let-7g and IMP-2 repress Pinch-2 expression independently of each other. A knock-down of let-7g leads to an increase in Pinch-2 expression, and to a decrease of cell motility, which can be reversed by a simultaneous knock-down of Pinch-2. We conclude that let-7g controls the motility of mouse myoblasts in cell culture by post-transcriptionally regulating the expression of Pinch-2.

Post-transcriptional regulation of cyclins D1, D3 and G1 and proliferation of human cancer cells depend on IMP-3 nuclear localization.

RNA-binding proteins of the IMP family (insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) mRNA-binding proteins 1-3) are important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Multiple studies have linked high expression of IMP proteins, and especially of IMP-3, to an unfavorable prognosis in numerous types of cancer. The specific importance of IMP-3 for cancer transformation remains poorly understood. We here show that all three IMPs can directly bind the mRNAs of cyclins D1, D3 and G1 (CCND1, D3 and G1) in vivo and in vitro, and yet only IMP-3 regulates the expression of these cyclins in a significant manner in six human cancer cell lines of different origins. In the absence of IMP-3, the levels of CCND1, D3 and G1 proteins fall dramatically, and the cells accumulate in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, leading to almost complete proliferation arrest. Our results show that, compared with IMP-1 and IMP-2, IMP-3 is enriched in the nucleus, where it binds the transcripts of CCND1, D3 and G1. The nuclear localization of IMP-3 depends on its protein partner HNRNPM and is indispensable for the post-transcriptional regulation of expression of the cyclins. Cytoplasmic retention of IMP-3 and HNRNPM in human cancer cells leads to significant drop in proliferation. In conclusion, a nuclear IMP-3-HNRNPM complex is important for the efficient synthesis of CCND1, D3 and G1 and for the proliferation of human cancer cells.

Antiproliferative effect of alkylglycerols as vehicles of butyric acid on colon cancer cells.

The anticarcinogenic activity of synthetic 1-O-octadecyl-2,3-dibutyroilglycerol (D-SCAKG) in tumor-cell line of colonocytes (SW620) was performed. The effect of the previously digested D-SCAKG under in vitro intestinal conditions was compared to the bioactivity of non-digested D-SCAKG. Antiproliferative activity of each individual product from digestion (1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol; 1-O-octadecyl glycerol; butyric acid) was also performed. The impact of solubilization of lipid products within micellar structures was also tested. The 1-O-octadecyl glycerol was the most active compound, followed by 1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol, D-SCAKG and butyric acid. The 1-O-octadecyl glycerol and butyric acid were the only molecules that showed antiproliferative effect in absence of micelles. Digested D-SCAKG was 4-fold more effective than non-digested D-SCAKG. A synergism between 1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol and 1-O-octadecyl glycerol was evidenced. As summary, the synthetic D-SCAKG seems to be an interesting antitumoral lipid against colonocytes, especially after previous intestinal digestion, and mainly due to the synergism of the major products, namely 1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol and 1-O-octadecyl glycerol. At the same time, 1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol would constitute a stable esterified form of butyric acid for its vehiculization.

Estudio de talla baja en preescolares de 2 a 5 años atendidos en consulta exterrna de pediatría en el hospital la paz / Short statue stuudy in 2 to 5 years old prechool patients of the pediatricc service of the la paz hospital

Objetivo: Determinar la incidencia de presentación de talla baja en preescolares de 2 a 5 años que acudieron a consulta externa del Servicio de Pediatría del Hospital La Paz Diseño Metodológico: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, cuantitativo y retrospectivo. Se tomó una muestra no probabilística bajo muestreo intencionado revisando historias clínicas de pacientes preescolares de 2 a 5 años, que acudieron a consulta externa de Pediatría del Hospital La Paz incluyendo las variables sexo, peso actual, talla actual, diagnósticos en consulta, diagnósticos nutricionales y tratamiento con zinc para talla baja. El diagnóstico de talla baja se basó en las tablas de referencia de talla para la edad de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y se consideró con talla baja a todo niño con talla en o debajo de - 2 desvíos estándar para su sexo y edad. Resultados: Se revisaron en total 400 historias clínicas. La incidencia global de universo de estudio para talla baja fue de 62 niños con talla baja (15,5%) y 338 84.5%) niños con talla normal para la edad. En cuanto a la frecuencia por sexo, encontramos mayor incidencia de talla baja en niños con 68%, y tan solo 32% de niñas con talla baja. Solo el 24% recibieron indicación de jarabe de zinc como indica la norma nacional de manejo de talla baja. Conclusiones: Se observó que los niños con talla baja superan a las niñas en una relación de 2/1 ó sea hay el doble de niños con talla baja en relación a las niñas, suponemos que los niños se encuentran en mayor riesgo de enfermedades concomitantes, siendo el grupo de edad más afectado el de dos años en ambos sexos. Se debe reforzar el cumplimiento de la norma nacional sobe el manejo de talla baja en niños menores de 5 años.

Objective: The goal was to determine the incidence of low height in preschool children, between 2 to 5 years old, patients oí the Pediatric Service of the La Paz Hospital. Methods: It was a descriptive, quantitative and retrospective study. We took an intentional sample from Clinical files of preschool patients from 2 to 5 years, which carne to external Pediatríc consultancy in La Paz Hospital, were reviewed. Including sex, current weight, current height, diagnosis in consultancy, nutritional diagnosis and treatment with zinc for low height, as variables. The diagnosis was made using the WHO age/height curves for sex and age. Low height was consider when the cut point was lower than -2 standard deviation for each child. Results: About sex frequency it was a higher incidence of short stature in boys (68%) and only (32%) in girls. The global incidence of short stature was of 62 (15.5%) children versus 338 (84.5%) nonshort stature children. The zinc prescription was suitable in only 24 % of all children with low height. COMENTS: Short stature boys overcome girls in a 2/1 relation, it means that there is twice low height boys in relation to girls, we suppose that boys children are in major risk of concomitant diseases, being the two year old group in both sexes, the most affected. Zinc prescription must be reinforced in the outpatient follow-up in order to guides correct application.

[Management of bleeding esophageal varices in public and private institutions in Chile]. / Diagnóstico y tratamiento de las várices esófago gástricas en Chile: Realidad nacional.

BACKGROUND: The better treatment modalities for bleeding esophageal varices have improved the prognosis of cirrhosis. AIM: To inquire about diagnostic and treatment modalities for esophageal bleeding in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An enquiry about diagnosis and treatment of esophageal bleeding was designed and electronically sent to public and private health institutions that could admit patients and were located in cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. RESULTS: The enquiry was answered by 31 of 35 public and 17 of 19 private health institutions that were consulted. Emergency endoscopy was available in 6 of 27 public and in the 16 private institutions that had an emergency room. Rubber band was available in 16 public (52%) and in all private institutions. Cyanoacrylate injections were done in 10 public (32%) and 11 (65%) private institutions. No public institution installed transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts, but 8 had occasional access to this technique. This procedure was done in 7 (41%) private institutions and all had access to it. Surgical treatment was feasible in 20 public (65%) and all private institutions. Primary prophylaxis was done in 18 public (58%) and 14 private (82%) institutions. Secondary prophylaxis was carried out in 26 public (84%) and 16 private (94%) institutions. CONCLUSIONS: Public health institutions have poor access to adequate diagnostic and treatment methods for esophageal bleeding. The primary and secondary prophylaxis of esophageal varices must be improved in both types of institutions.

Diagnóstico y tratamiento de las várices esófago gástricas en Chile: realidad nacional / Management of bleeding esophageal varices in public and private institutions in Chile

Background: The better treatment modalities for bleeding esophageal varices have improved the prognosis of cirrhosis. Aim: To inquire about diagnostic and treatment modalities for esophageal bleeding in Chile. Material and methods: An enquiry about diagnosis and treatment of esophageal bleeding was designed and electronically sent to public and private health institutions that could admit patients and were located in cides with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Results: The enquiry was answered by 31 of 35 public and 17 of 19 private health institutionis that were consulted. Emergency endoscopy was available in 6 of 27 public and in the 16 private institutionis that had an emergency room. Rubber band ligation was available in 16 public (52 percent) and in all private institutions. Cyanoacrylate injections were done in 10 public (32 percent) and 11 (65 percent) private institutions. No public institution installed transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts, but 8 had occasional access to this technique. This procedure was done in 7 (41 percent) private institutions and all had access to it. Surgical treatment was feasible in 20 public (65 percent) and all private institutions. Primary prophylaxis was done in 18 public (58 percent) and 14 private (82 percent) institutions. Secondary prophylaxis was carried out in 26 public (84 percent) and 16 private (94 percent) institutions. Conclusions: Public health institutions have poor access to adequate diagnostic and treatment methods for esophageal bleeding. The primary and secondary prophylaxis of esophageal varices must be improved in both types of institutions.