Metabolomics Insights in Early Childhood Caries.

Dental caries is characterized by a dysbiotic shift at the biofilm-tooth surface interface, yet comprehensive biochemical characterizations of the biofilm are scant. We used metabolomics to identify biochemical features of the supragingival biofilm associated with early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence and severity. The study's analytical sample comprised 289 children ages 3 to 5 (51% with ECC) who attended public preschools in North Carolina and were enrolled in a community-based cross-sectional study of early childhood oral health. Clinical examinations were conducted by calibrated examiners in community locations using International Caries Detection and Classification System (ICDAS) criteria. Supragingival plaque collected from the facial/buccal surfaces of all primary teeth in the upper-left quadrant was analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Associations between individual metabolites and 18 clinical traits (based on different ECC definitions and sets of tooth surfaces) were quantified using Brownian distance correlations (dCor) and linear regression modeling of log2-transformed values, applying a false discovery rate multiple testing correction. A tree-based pipeline optimization tool (TPOT)-machine learning process was used to identify the best-fitting ECC classification metabolite model. There were 503 named metabolites identified, including microbial, host, and exogenous biochemicals. Most significant ECC-metabolite associations were positive (i.e., upregulations/enrichments). The localized ECC case definition (ICDAS ≥1 caries experience within the surfaces from which plaque was collected) had the strongest correlation with the metabolome (dCor P = 8 × 10-3). Sixteen metabolites were significantly associated with ECC after multiple testing correction, including fucose (P = 3.0 × 10-6) and N-acetylneuraminate (p = 6.8 × 10-6) with higher ECC prevalence, as well as catechin (P = 4.7 × 10-6) and epicatechin (P = 2.9 × 10-6) with lower. Catechin, epicatechin, imidazole propionate, fucose, 9,10-DiHOME, and N-acetylneuraminate were among the top 15 metabolites in terms of ECC classification importance in the automated TPOT model. These supragingival biofilm metabolite findings provide novel insights in ECC biology and can serve as the basis for the development of measures of disease activity or risk assessment.

Ant stridulations and their synchronization with abdominal movement.

Two techniques for accurately correlating movements with vibrations produced by Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis show three characteristics of the stridulations: alternation of mean chirp intensity, higher frequencies during the upstroke, and interruption of chirps into distinct pulses. These pulses are produced by briefly stopping the gaster during a chirp.

Determining the digestible lysine requirement of 22- to 47-week-old Lohmann laying hens using an increasing protein titration methodology.

A laying hen trial was conducted from 22 to 47 wk of age to determine the digestible lysine (DLYS) requirement of laying hens by using an increasing CP titration method. A total of 896 Lohmann LSL-Lite caged layers (22 wk of age) were allotted to 8 dietary treatments and each treatment had 8 replications of 14 hens. The first 7 experimental diets initially contained DLYS levels increasing from 0.565 to 0.980% with respective protein levels increasing from 13.8 to 21.7%. Dietary treatment 8 was a control diet which was calculated to contain 18.6% CP and 0.807% DLYS. These DLYS levels were reduced from 0.468 to 0.845% for diets 1 to 7 (0.688% for diet 8) at week 12 so that greater differences in production parameters could be obtained. Increasing DLYS levels had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and feed efficiency. However, DLYS levels had no significant effect on egg component measurements such as percentage of yolk, white, and solids. Broken line regression, maximum of the quadratic polynomial (QP max) regression, and the intercept of the broken line and QP regressions were used to estimate the DLYS requirement. Broken line regression yielded the lowest requirement and QP max regression yielded the highest, with the intercept of the broken line and QP regressions yielding an intermediate requirement estimate. The DLYS requirements were consistently lower for egg production than for egg mass and feed efficiency. For egg mass and feed efficiency, DLYS requirements were 655 and 690, 817 and 866, and 706 and 778 mg/hen/d for the broken line, QP max, and the intercept of the broken line and QP regressions, respectively.

[70 years traumatotherapy in the Viennese University Departments (author's transl)]. / 70 Jahre Unfallchirurgie an den Wiener Kliniken.

On the 3rd of November, 1909 both Surgical Departments of Vienna University, each opened an emergency casually ward. It was the first time in Europe, indeed probably in the whole world, that a special position had been accorded to traumatotherapy. Eiselsberg and Hochenegg are honoured as the founders of accident surgery. Although space was extremely restricted remarkable therapeutic results were achieved, whilst teaching and scientific research flourished. The number of patients and the attendant organizational problems rose continuously. Special mention is made of the great number of patients with heart wounds who could be saved owing to the perfect organization of a "cardiac alarm" system introduced at this unit from the earliest days. After a survey of the conservative and operative treatment of fractures, the transformation of both emergency wards into independent departments in 1976 is described. Interdisciplinary teamwork of all surgical departments at Vienna University is emphasized as a special merit of the clinical traumatotherapy units.

[Pathological fractures of long medullary bones due to malignant tumours: indications for osteosynthesis (author's transl)]. / Pathologische Frakturen langer Röhrenknochen bei bösartigen Tumoren: Indikation zur Osteosynthese.

51 cases of pathological fracture, mostly due to metastatic malignant tumours, are reviewed in respect to the methods and results of operative treatment. These results are compared with those of other authors. It is found that resection of the tumour and osteosynthesis combined with the use of bone cement is the best way of treatment to relieve the patients of pain, mobilize them as soon as possible and improve the quality of their short, remaining lifespan. Despite the positive approach towards operative treatment there are some limiting findings which indicate that an operation should not be undertaken in those patients whose estimated survival time is less than the time of recovery and mobilization.

[Qualitative analysis of the binding of fibrin in organic tissue (author's transl)]. / Qualitative Analyse der Bindung von Fibrin in organischem Gewebe.

The binding energy (EB) of oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen was determined in highly concentrated fibrin, collagen, liver parenchyma and muscle tissue using photoelectron spectrometry. Fibrin was mixed with the collagen, liver or muscle homogenisate, with or without substitution of clotting factor XIII or additional inhibiton of fibrinolysis and the EB was determined again. Changes in the binding energy arise from an alteration in chemical binding. The present investigation showed that fibrin builds up new linkages in liver parenchyma and in collagen using nitrogen bonds and, additionally via a sulphur bond. After addition of fibrin stabilizing factor a new chemical link appeared between fibrin and collagen again through a nitrogen bond and, additionally via a sulphur bond. The inhibition of fibrinolysis produced a new oxygen linkage in all the examined substances (fibrin-tissue).

[Heterologous fibrinogen for tissue adhesion. immunological and histological investigations (author's transl)]. / Immunologische und histologische Untersuchungen bei der Gewebeklebung mit heterologem hochkonzentriertem Fibrinogen

The immunological reactions of heterologous fibrin were investigated in a sensitive experimental system. In 10 rabbits autologous full-thickness skin grafts were glued with bovine fibrinogen cryoprecipitate. 5 of these animals had been immunized against this adhesive before transplantation. In a control group the graft was fixed with homologous fibrinogen cryoprecipitate. Examination of the sera of the animals for antibodies against fibrinogen was performed before immunization, 1 day prior to and 14 days after skin grafting. 14 days after skin adhesion all grafted areas were examined by histological methods. In the group without preoperative immunization antibodies were found against fibrinogen. The skin graft healed in this series in the same manner as in the sham group. In the series with preoperative immunization the glued skin graft was discharged early and the healing procedure of the defect was retarded.

Medical outreach after hurricane Marilyn.

INTRODUCTION: Many geographical areas are subject to devastating disasters that leave the citizens not only without homes, but also without their local medical systems. Now medical-aid stations consisting of personnel, supplies, and equipment quickly can be deployed when needed to such areas under the aegis of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). Such teams can provide emergent medical care as well as daily medical care. However, these aid stations are of no help for the home-bound or nursing home patients too infirm to reach them. Thus, these citizens only can obtain medical care if medical teams make planned outreach excursions to reach them. OBJECTIVE: To describe a planned outreach program that was implemented for such patients on St. Thomas Island after it was devastated by Hurricane Marilyn in 1995. RESULTS: Over a five-day period, the outreach team provided medical care for 67 patients ranging in age from 11 days to 90 years. Play and art therapy was provided for non-injured children. The most common needs in the elderly were anti-hypertensive medications and insulin-loaded syringes. CONCLUSIONS: For outreach efforts of this nature, membership of the team should include a registered nurse, a paramedic, a respiratory therapist, a public health specialist, and a local authority familiar both with the area and its inhabitants. A physician does not need to be assigned to the team, but should be available by radio.

[Results of the fixation of pertrochanteric fractures by condyle nails using Ender's and Simon-Weidner methods]. / Ergebnisse der Fixierung pertrochanterer Frakturen mit Kondylennägeln nach Ender und Simon-Weidner

2 year-results are reported after intramedullary fixation of pertrochenteric fractures with the so-called "feather nails" of Ender and Simon-Weidner. The procedure is discussed with special references to possible complications. This method performed with the necessary experience represents a real progress in the treatment of pertrochenteric fractures.

[Tissue adhesion and local haemostasis using fibrinogen, thrombin and clotting factor xiii. (experimental investigations--clinical experience) (author's transl)]. / Gewebeklebung und lokale Blutstillung mit Fibrinogen, Thrombin und Blutgerinnungsfaktor XIII (Experimentelle Untersuchungen und klinische Erfahrungen)

A report is given on experimental investigations and clinical experience in the use of a biological adhesive system. This system consists of highly-concentrated native fibrinogen, thrombin and clotting factor XIII. Experimental tissue adhesion was successfully performed in numerous experiments and with various organs. Local haemostasis was obtained even in cases when other methods failed by sealing off bleeding surfaces with a fibrin layer. The satisfactory results obtained in these experimental investigations were confirmed by the excellent outcome of a clinical trial. Fibrin represents a biological system which is completely absorbable, contrary to the commonly-used synthetic adhesives. Further advantages are its highly adhesive properties, elasticity of consistency and good tissue compatibility.

[Haemarthros of the upper ankle joint (author's transl)]. / Hämarthros des oberen Sprunggelenkes.

34 patients with isolated, non-dislocated fractures of the medial malleolus and consecutive haemarthros of the upper ankle joint were followed up at an average of 8 years after the trauma. Special attention was given to arthrotic deformities and complaints. The results of this study seem to point to the conclusion that postraumatic haemarthros itself is of no special importance in the development of arthrotic changes of the upper ankle joint in man. This was judged from the pathophysiological reactions of articular cartilage due to haemarthros as shown in animal experiments.

[The traumatology of the articular disc of the wrist (author's transl)]. / Zur Traumatologie des Discus Articularis des Handgelenks. 2. Teil: Operative Behandlung und Ergebnisse

At 89 Patients with painfull wrist and clinical symptoms like a lesion of the triangular disc, arthrography of the radiocarpal joint was performed. In 18 cases with corresponding arthrographical findings removal of the disc results in clear recovery respectively painlessness. That simple operation seems to be an alternative to the resection of the ulna and a replaceable method if symptomatology and arthrography are accordingly. The described proceeding becomes important because no recovery was seen by conservative treatment.

Behavioral response to ultrasound by the tiger beetle Cicindela marutha dow combines aerodynamic changes and sound production.

Tethered flying tiger beetles, Cicindela marutha, respond to trains of bat-like ultrasonic pulses with a short-latency, multi-component behavior. The head rolls to one side, the metathoracic legs kick to the opposite side, the elytra swing backwards towards the hindwings and pronate, the hindwings increase their stroke excursion and frequency, and the plane of the hindwing motion tilts forward. In addition, the beetles produce trains of ultrasonic clicks typically containing 100-200 clicks in response to a 1 s stimulus. The clicks average 85-90 dB SPL at 2 cm. The latencies for hindwing changes and elytra swing in response to stimuli more than 10 dB over threshold are 90-110 ms; the latency to clicking is 120-150 ms. Neither the head roll nor the leg kick appears to be directional relative to the sound source. The behavioral response is broadly tuned with greatest sensitivity at 30-60 kHz and mean behavioral thresholds of 75-80 dB SPL. Physiological audiograms from the auditory afferents show substantially greater sensitivity and sharper tuning than the behavioral response, which suggests that tiger beetles may use their hearing in other contexts as well as during flight. The combination of aerodynamic components and arctiid-month-like clicking may provide these insects with a powerful defense against attack by echolocating bats.

Characterization of auditory afferents in the tiger beetle, Cicindela marutha Dow.

We have identified a nerve carrying auditory afferents and characterized their physiological responses in the tiger beetle, Cicindela marutha. 1. The tympana are located at the lateral margins of the first abdominal tergum. The nerve carrying the tympanal afferents is a branch of the dorsal root from the first abdominal ganglion. 2. Both male and female auditory afferent responses are sharply tuned to 30 kHz with sensitivities of 50-55 dB SPL. 3. The auditory afferents show little adaptation and accurately code the temporal characteristics of the stimulus with the limit of a resolution of 6-10 ms. 4. The difference in threshold between contralateral and ipsilateral afferents for lateral stimuli is greatest at 30 kHz and is at least 10-15 dB. 5. Ablation studies indicate that the floppy membrane in the anterolateral corner of the tympanum is crucial for transduction while the medial portion of the tympanum is less important. 6. The tiger beetle and acridid (locust and grasshopper) ears have evolved independently from homologous peripheral structures. The neural precursor of the tympanal organs in both animals is likely the pleural chordotonal organ of the first abdominal segment.

[Closed intramedullary nailing of femur shaft fractures - experiences in 245 cases (author's transl)]. / Erfahrungen bei 245 geschlossenen Marknagelungen des Oberschenkels.

A follow-up study is given of 245 femoral shaft fractures, treated 1961-1975 with closed reduction and intramedullary nailing. 141 patients were examined personally 19-5 years after operation. The results were excellent in 75,9%, fair in 20,6%, and poor in 3,5%. Deep infections occurred in 2,4%. The number of patients was also subdivided in regard to indication, concomitant injuries, postoperative fatalities, pathologic fractures etc.

Activity of asynchronous flight muscle from two bee families during sonication (buzzing).

The indirect flight muscles of bees are used to produce a variety of actions in addition to flight, including sonication, which has a higher frequency than flight. We observed the dynamic movement of the scutum during sonication and the transition from tethered flight to sonication. During sonication, the scutum oscillated above its rest position, indicating that the conformation of the structural components of the thorax had been altered. Sonication vibrations of the thorax occurred by deformation of the scutum rather than by opening of the scutal fissure and are smaller than vibrations associated with flight. During tethered flight, the ratio of muscle activity (recorded via electromyograms) between the dorsal longitudinal muscles and the dorsoventral muscles approached 1, but during sonication the ratio was significantly higher (up to 4.0). This increase may cause the dorsal longitudinal muscles to contract further than the dorsoventral muscles and close the scutal fissure during sonication, so limiting the displacement of the wings and 'decoupling' them from the indirect flight muscles.