Adolescent patients' experience with the Carriere distalizer appliance.

AIM: To examine adolescent patients' experience with the Carriere Distalizer Appliance (CDA) and compare it with that of the Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FFRD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was administered to 42 patients treated with the CDA and 70 patients treated with the FFRD. Amount of time required to become accustomed to the appliance, how many patients experienced side effects as well as the degree of discomfort were explored. RESULTS: The overall experience with the device was significantly better for the CDA group than for the FFRD group. Both groups felt that delivery and removal of the appliance was quick and easy, the appliance was noticeable to some extent, and the majority became accustomed to it within two weeks with a maximum of one month. In general, associated discomfort and effects on daily life and activities were less for the CDA group than for the FFRD group. Side effects decreased over time for both groups, often more so for the CDA group. The major side effects experienced by the CDA group were difficulty eating and sore teeth, and these improved significantly over time. Soreness from the appliance rubbing on the cheek or lip was significantly less for the CDA group. CONCLUSION: The CDA appears to be more comfortable, offers a more positive overall experience, and has fewer negative comfort-related side effects compared to FFRD.

Relationship between mandibular symphysis dimensions and skeletal pattern in adults.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of dimensions of the symphysis is important for morphological and orthodontic studies. This research evaluates the association between mandibular symphysis dimensions and anteroposterior and vertical skeletal patterns in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional cephalometric study included 90 lateral cephalograms of untreated subjects presenting for orthodontic treatment. The inclusion criteria were adults with lateral cephalograms showing the symphyseal region and anterior cranial base. One investigator traced and analysed all cephalograms. Symphyseal height, thickness, and ratio between height and thickness were measured in relation to seven anteroposterior and vertical skeletal measurements in females and males. RESULTS: Symphyseal measurements were associated with SNAo (anteroposterior) in females and Gonial angle (vertical) in males. When analysed by anteroposterior skeletal classification (ANBo), no significant differences in symphyseal dimensions were found. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that Gonion-Nerve (mm) and Gonial angle were significantly associated with symphyseal height. Gonion-Nerve (mm), basal bone width (mm), and alveolar bone height (mm) were associated with symphyseal thickness. Basal bone width (mm) and alveolar bone height (mm) were associated with symphyseal ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Symphyseal dimensions were significantly associated with vertical but not anteroposterior skeletal patterns. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the Gonion-Nerve measurements concerning the symphysis in relation to vertical and anteroposterior skeletal patterns.

In vivo gene transfer to the brain cortex using a single injection of HSV-1 vector into the medial septum.

This study shows that an ICP4-replication-deficient herpes simplex virus containing the Moloney murine leukaemia virus LTR fused with the coding sequence for the beta-galactosidase gene can be used as a very effective vector for delivering the beta-galactosidase reporter gene into the rat brain septum. F344 rats received bilateral stereotaxic injections into the nucleus of the diagonal band and into the medial septum. The X-gal stain was used to detect the activity of the expressed beta-galactosidase enzyme. The delivered reporter gene was expressed successfully not only in the neuronal cells of the injected areas but also in cells that project to the injection area such as cortex cells about 6 mm away from the injection sites. Expression was visible at 1, 3 and 9 weeks following injection. We conclude that this vector can effectively deliver genes into different regions of the mature mammalian brain and also to areas distant from the injection site.

The number of granule cells and spine density on Purkinje cells in aged, ethanol-fed rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether chronic intake of ethanol by aged F344 rats was associated with a reduction in parallel fiber input to cerebellar Purkinje neurons (PN). Previous results from this laboratory provided direct evidence that synaptic density in PN dendritic arbors was significantly decreased and indirect evidence that terminal dendritic segments of PN were deleted during chronic ethanol treatment. From these results, it was hypothesized that an ethanol-related deletion of PN terminal dendritic segments might result from 1) a reduction in parallel fiber input to PN from cerebellar granule neurons or 2) a reduction in dendritic spines, the postsynaptic sites for parallel fiber input to PN dendrites. Measurements of the total number of cerebellar granule neurons (GN) and the volume of the GN layer, and measurements of the density of spines on PN terminal dendritic segments were made in separate groups of aged, ethanol-treated and control rats. There were no significant ethanol-related changes in these parameters after 40-48 weeks of ethanol treatment.

Gene transfer into the central nervous system using herpes simplex virus-1 vectors.

Manipulation of gene expression in developing or in mature central nervous systems (CNS) holds a promise for the resolution of many compelling neurobiological questions, including the feasibility of gene therapy to treat diseases of the brain. In this context, a number of viral vectors have been used in recent years to introduce and express genes into the CNS. This article discusses a gene transfer system based on the Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1). We describe here the use of non-replicating, non-toxic HSV-1 vector, 8117/43, in a series of studies carried in our joint program. This vector proves further the utility of HSV-1 as a delivery vehicle to a number of distinct sites within the CNS.