Randomized clinical trial on the effect of intermittent vibrational force application during orthodontic treatment with aligners on RANKL and OPG concentrations in crevicular fluid.

Application of intermittent forces by vibration is proposed as an easy-to-use accelerator of dental movement. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of intermittent vibrational force application during orthodontic aligner treatment on receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) concentrations in crevicular fluid as markers of bone remodeling. This three-arm parallel randomized clinical trial included 45 candidates for malocclusion treatment with aligners, randomly assigned to: Group A (vibrational forces from onset of treatment); Group B (vibrational forces at 6 weeks after treatment onset); or Group C (no vibration). The frequency of aligner adjustment also differed among groups. At different time points, a paper tip was used to draw crevicular fluid samples from a moving lower incisor for RANKL and OPG analysis using ELISA kits. Mixed-model ANOVA found no significant differences in RANKL (A: p = 0.31, B: p = 0.8, C: p = 0.49) or OPG (A: p = 0.24, B: p = 0.58, C: p = 0.59) over time in any group or as a function of the application/non-application of vibration or the frequency of aligner adjustments. Application of this accelerator device did not significantly affect bone remodeling in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with aligners. However, a nonsignificant improvement in biomarker concentrations was observed when aligners were changed every 7 days and vibration was also applied. Further research is warranted to establish protocols for the application of vibration and the timing of aligner adjustments.

Evolución de primeros episodios psicóticos: relación entre neuroimagen funcional, clínica y neuropsicología / Evolution of first psychotic episodes: relationship between functional, clinical neuroimaging and neuropsychology

Una de las principales líneas de investigación en desarrollo sobre los primeros episodios psicóticos se centra en el estudio de biomarcadores con el objetivo de dar respuesta a cuestiones como la gran heterogeneidad clínica o el riesgo de recaídas. Sin embargo, los estudios de neuroimagen muestran resultados contradictorios y los estudios longitudinales son escasos. Por ello se ha realizado un seguimiento de entre 8 y 10 años a una cohorte de 30 pacientes con un primer episodio psicótico y un grupo equivalente de controles sanos, tanto a nivel de neuroimagen estructural como funcional durante la realización de una tarea de memoria de trabajo, la N-Back. En la evaluación inicial los PEP mostraron una reducción del volumen global y un fallo en desactivación en zonas frontales durante la realización de la N-Back, que fue más significativo en pacientes con un posterior diagnóstico de esquizofrenia. En la evaluación de seguimiento los resultados muestran un fallo en desactivación en el grupo de pacientes que se extiende a regiones parietales posteriores. Estas regiones forman la llamada red neuronal por defecto, una serie de regiones que se activan en reposo, pero que se desactivan durante la realización de tareas con una alta demanda cognitiva. Estos resultados apuntan a una disfunción progresiva de la red neural por defecto en primeros episodios, subyacentes a la progresión del trastorno, y proporcionan una mejor comprensión de la evolución de los factores fisiopatológicos que afectan a los PEP (AU)

A major developing area on first psychotic episodes (FEP) research focuses on the study of biomarkers with the aim of answering questions such as the great clinical heterogeneity or the risk of relapse. However, neuroimaging studies show contradictory results and longitudinal studies are scarce. Therefore, a cohort of 30 patients with a first psychotic episode and an equivalent group of healthy controls were followed up for 8 to 10 years, both at the structural and functional neuroimaging level during the performance of a working memory task, the N-Back. At baseline, the FEP group showed a reduced global volume and a failure to deactivate frontal areas during the N-Back task. This failure was more pronounced in patients with a later diagnosis of schizophrenia. At the follow-up assessment the results show a failure of deactivation in the patient group that extends to posterior parietal regions. These regions form the so-called default mode network, a series of regions that are activated at rest, but deactivated during the performance of cognitively demanding tasks. These results point to a progressive dysfunction of the default mode network in first episodes psychosis underlying the progression of the disorder and provide a better understanding of the evolution of pathophysiological factors affecting FEP (AU)

Deep ocean drivers better explain habitat preferences of sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus than beaked whales in the Bay of Biscay.

Species Distribution Models are commonly used with surface dynamic environmental variables as proxies for prey distribution to characterise marine top predator habitats. For oceanic species that spend lot of time at depth, surface variables might not be relevant to predict deep-dwelling prey distributions. We hypothesised that descriptors of deep-water layers would better predict the deep-diving cetacean distributions than surface variables. We combined static variables and dynamic variables integrated over different depth classes of the water column into Generalised Additive Models to predict the distribution of sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus and beaked whales Ziphiidae in the Bay of Biscay, eastern North Atlantic. We identified which variables best predicted their distribution. Although the highest densities of both taxa were predicted near the continental slope and canyons, the most important variables for beaked whales appeared to be static variables and surface to subsurface dynamic variables, while for sperm whales only surface and deep-water variables were selected. This could suggest differences in foraging strategies and in the prey targeted between the two taxa. Increasing the use of variables describing the deep-water layers would provide a better understanding of the oceanic species distribution and better assist in the planning of human activities in these habitats.

Towards a better characterisation of deep-diving whales' distributions by using prey distribution model outputs?

In habitat modelling, environmental variables are assumed to be proxies of lower trophic levels distribution and by extension, of marine top predator distributions. More proximal variables, such as potential prey fields, could refine relationships between top predator distributions and their environment. In situ data on prey distributions are not available over large spatial scales but, a numerical model, the Spatial Ecosystem And POpulation DYnamics Model (SEAPODYM), provides simulations of the biomass and production of zooplankton and six functional groups of micronekton at the global scale. Here, we explored whether generalised additive models fitted to simulated prey distribution data better predicted deep-diver densities (here beaked whales Ziphiidae and sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus) than models fitted to environmental variables. We assessed whether the combination of environmental and prey distribution data would further improve model fit by comparing their explanatory power. For both taxa, results were suggestive of a preference for habitats associated with topographic features and thermal fronts but also for habitats with an extended euphotic zone and with large prey of the lower mesopelagic layer. For beaked whales, no SEAPODYM variable was selected in the best model that combined the two types of variables, possibly because SEAPODYM does not accurately simulate the organisms on which beaked whales feed on. For sperm whales, the increase model performance was only marginal. SEAPODYM outputs were at best weakly correlated with sightings of deep-diving cetaceans, suggesting SEAPODYM may not accurately predict the prey fields of these taxa. This study was a first investigation and mostly highlighted the importance of the physiographic variables to understand mechanisms that influence the distribution of deep-diving cetaceans. A more systematic use of SEAPODYM could allow to better define the limits of its use and a development of the model that would simulate larger prey beyond 1,000 m would probably better characterise the prey of deep-diving cetaceans.

Genetics, Host Range, and Molecular and Pathogenic Characterization of Verticillium dahliae From Sunflower Reveal Two Differentiated Groups in Europe.

Verticillium wilt and leaf mottle of sunflower, caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae (Vd) has become a major constraint to sunflower oil production in temperate European countries. Information about Vd from sunflower is very scarce despite genetics, molecular traits and pathogenic abilities of fungal strains affecting many other crops being widely known. Understanding and characterizing the diversity of Vd populations in those countries where sunflowers are frequent and severely affected by the fungus are essential for efficient breeding for resistance. In this study, we have analyzed genetic, molecular and pathogenic traits of Vd isolates affecting sunflower in European countries. When their genetics was investigated, almost all the isolates from France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, and Ukraine were assigned to vegetative compatibility group (VCG) 2B. In Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, and Ukraine, some isolates were assigned to VCG6, but some others could not be assigned to any VCG. Genotyping markers used for Vd affecting crops other than sunflower showed that all the isolates were molecularly identified as race 2 and that markers of defoliating (D) and non-defoliating (ND) pathotypes distinguished two well-differentiated clusters, one (E) grouping those isolates from Eastern Europe and the other (W) all those from the Western Europe and Argentina. All the isolates in cluster W were VCG2B, while the isolates in cluster E belonged to an unknown VCG or to VCG6. When the host range was investigated in the greenhouse, the fungus was highly pathogenic to artichoke, showing the importance of farming alternatives in the management of Verticillium attacks. Sunflower genotypes were inoculated with a selection of isolates in two experiments. Two groups were identified, one including the isolates from Western Europe, Argentina, and Ukraine, and the other including isolates from Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey. Three pathogenic races were differentiated: V1, V2-EE (Eastern Europe) and V2-WE (Western Europe). Similarly, three differentials are proposed for race identification: HA 458 (universal susceptible), HA 89 (resistant to V2-EE, susceptible to V2-WE) and INRA2603 (susceptible to V2-EE, resistant to V2-WE). The diversity found in Vd affecting sunflower must be taken into account in the search for resistance to the pathogen for European environments of sunflower production.

Citrus essential oils inhalation by mice: Behavioral testing, GCMS plasma analysis, corticosterone, and melatonin levels evaluation.

The use of orange essential oils (EOs) as a complementary treatment is very common in Brazilian popular culture. The levels of melatonin (MEL) and corticosterone (CORT) hormones were investigated simultaneously, by the Luminex™ immunoassay system in mice plasma, after Citrus aurantium and Citrus sinensis EOs inhalation for 30 min. The plasma was analyzed by headspace through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for investigation of the EO components. Mice were submitted to behavioral testing to research anxiolytic-like, sedative, and antidepressant-like effects. The inhalation of atmosphere obtained from vaporization of 10% solution of this Citrus EO separately did not affect MEL or CORT plasma levels; that is, the MEL and CORT levels did not present variation in function of the EO in the schedule used. On the other hand, the imipramine positive control used altered the level of MEL as expected. The EO constituents were detected in plasma at different ratios that is present in inhaled EO. Behavioral tests showed that the inhalation of 10% C. sinensis EO presents an anxiolytic-like and sedative effect. Thus, C. sinensis EO can be a valuable tool for treatment of the anxiety disturbs, apparently without interference with MEL and CORT physiological levels.

Use of Blue-Green Fluorescence and Thermal Imaging in the Early Detection of Sunflower Infection by the Root Parasitic Weed Orobanche cumana Wallr.

Although the impact of Orobanche cumana Wallr. on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) becomes evident with emergence of broomrape shoots aboveground, infection occurs early after sowing, the host physiology being altered during underground parasite stages. Genetic resistance is the most effective control method and one of the main goals of sunflower breeding programmes. Blue-green fluorescence (BGF) and thermal imaging allow non-destructive monitoring of plant diseases, since they are sensitive to physiological disorders in plants. We analyzed the BGF emission by leaves of healthy sunflower plantlets, and we implemented BGF and thermal imaging in the detection of the infection by O. cumana during underground parasite development. Increases in BGF emission were observed in leaf pairs of healthy sunflowers during their development. Lower BGF was consistently detected in parasitized plants throughout leaf expansion and low pigment concentration was detected at final time, supporting the interpretation of a decrease in secondary metabolites upon infection. Parasite-induced stomatal closure and transpiration reduction were suggested by warmer leaves of inoculated sunflowers throughout the experiment. BGF imaging and thermography could be implemented for fast screening of sunflower breeding material. Both techniques are valuable approaches to assess the processes by which O. cumana alters physiology (secondary metabolism and photosynthesis) of sunflower.

Fluorescence Imaging in the Red and Far-Red Region during Growth of Sunflower Plantlets. Diagnosis of the Early Infection by the Parasite Orobanche cumana.

Broomrape, caused by the root holoparasite Orobanche cumana, is the main biotic constraint to sunflower oil production worldwide. By the time broomrape emerges, most of the metabolic imbalance has been produced by O. cumana to sunflower plants. UV-induced multicolor fluorescence imaging (MCFI) provides information on the fluorescence emitted by chlorophyll (Chl) a of plants in the spectral bands with peaks near 680 nm (red, F680) and 740 nm (far-red, F740). In this work MCFI was extensively applied to sunflowers, either healthy or parasitized plants, for the first time. The distribution of red and far-red fluorescence was analyzed in healthy sunflower grown in pots under greenhouse conditions. Fluorescence patterns were analyzed across the leaf surface and throughout the plant by comparing the first four leaf pairs (LPs) between the second and fifth week of growth. Similar fluorescence patterns, with a delay of 3 or 4 days between them, were obtained for LPs of healthy sunflower, showing that red and far-red fluorescence varied with the developmental stage of the leaf. The use of F680 and F740 as indicators of sunflower infection by O. cumana during underground development stages of the parasite was also evaluated under similar experimental conditions. Early increases in F680 and F740 as well as decreases in F680/F740 were detected upon infection by O. cumana. Significant differences between inoculated and control plants depended on the LP that was considered at any time. Measurements of Chl contents and final total Chl content supported the results of MCFI, but they were less sensitive in differentiating healthy from inoculated plants. Sunflower infection was confirmed by the presence of broomrape nodules in the roots at the end of the experiment. The potential of MCFI in the red and far-red region for an early detection of O. cumana infection in sunflower was revealed. This technique might have a particular interest for early phenotyping in sunflower breeding programs. To our knowledge, this is the first work where the effect of a parasitic plant in its host is analyzed by means of fluorescence imaging in the red and far-red spectral regions.

Tratamiento de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en hospitalización a domicilio: resultado clínico en casos con diferente nivel de gravedad / Efficacy of hospital at home (HaH) in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with different degrees of severity

Fundamento y objetivo: Diferentes sociedades científicas proponen el uso de escalas de severidad más otros criterios adicionales para determinar el lugar de tratamiento de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad. El objetivo de este estudio es correlacionar el riesgo según 3 reglas de predicción clínica (PSI, CURB-65 y PSCURXO-80) y criterios adicionales con la efectividad de la hospitalización a domicilio (HaD).Pacientes y método: Revisión de los casos de neumonía adquirida en la comunidad remitidos por el servicio de urgencias a HaD entre enero de 2000 y mayo de 2008. Se clasifican según 3 escalas de riesgo y presencia de criterios adicionales y se analiza su asociación con la inefectividad de HaD durante el tratamiento.Resultados: Se admitieron 146 mujeres y 181 hombres (edad media=60,3 años). La media de estancia en HaD fue de 8,6 días. Dos pacientes murieron, 25 (7,7%) fueron reenviados a hospitalización convencional, 219 fueron dados de alta sin incidencias y 81 tras superar complicaciones. La HaD fue efectiva en el 92,3% de los pacientes. El porcentaje fue del 85% para PSI=IV o V sin o con CA, del 80% para CURB-65=2 y del 77,5% para valores entre 10–19 de PSCURXO-80. La eficacia de HaD se relaciona inversamente con la severidad.Conclusiones: La eficacia de HaD en el tratamiento de neumonía adquirida en la comunidad es menor en los pacientes con mayor gravedad definida por medio de diferentes escalas de predicción clínica, pero es eficaz en un elevado porcentaje de casos en los que está indicado el ingreso hospitalario (AU)

Background and objective: Different scientific societies propose the use of scales of severity and additional criteria (AC) in order to determine the setting for the treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP).The objective of this study is to correlate the risk regarding three clinical prediction rules (PSI, CURB-65 and PSCRUXO-80) and AC with the effectiveness of hospital at home (HaH). Patients and method: Evaluation of cases of CAP referred from the Emergency Unit to HaH between January 2000 and May 2008. They were classified regarding three risk scales and presence of AC and its association with the effectiveness of HaH during the treatment was analysed. Results: 146 women and 181 men were admitted, (mean age, 60.3 years). The average stay in HaH was 8.6 days. Two patients died, 25 (7.7%) were admitted to hospital, 219 progressed favourably throughout and 81 after overcoming complications. Hospital at Home was effective in 92.3% of total patients. The rate was 85% for those in PSI=IV or V with or without additional criteria; 80% for CURB-65=2 and 77.5% for a PSCURXO-80 score of 10–19. The effectiveness of HaH is inversely related to severity (AU)ConclusionsHospital a Home (HaD) is an effective and safe care option for many cases of CAP in which hospital admission is normally recommended on the basis of prediction rule scores or additional admission criteria

[Efficacy of hospital at home (HaH) in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with different degrees of severity]. / Tratamiento de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en hospitalización a domicilio: resultado clínico en casos con diferente nivel de gravedad.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Different scientific societies propose the use of scales of severity and additional criteria (AC) in order to determine the setting for the treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP).The objective of this study is to correlate the risk regarding three clinical prediction rules (PSI, CURB-65 and PSCRUXO-80) and AC with the effectiveness of hospital at home (HaH). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Evaluation of cases of CAP referred from the Emergency Unit to HaH between January 2000 and May 2008. They were classified regarding three risk scales and presence of AC and its association with the effectiveness of HaH during the treatment was analysed. RESULTS: 146 women and 181 men were admitted, (mean age, 60.3 years). The average stay in HaH was 8.6 days. Two patients died, 25 (7.7%) were admitted to hospital, 219 progressed favourably throughout and 81 after overcoming complications. Hospital at Home was effective in 92.3% of total patients. The rate was 85% for those in PSI=IV or V with or without additional criteria; 80% for CURB-65=2 and 77.5% for a PSCURXO-80 score of 10-19. The effectiveness of HaH is inversely related to severity. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital a Home (HaD) is an effective and safe care option for many cases of CAP in which hospital admission is normally recommended on the basis of prediction rule scores or additional admission criteria.