Radiographic estimation of the growth rate of initially underdiagnosed ameloblastomas.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the specific growth rate (SGR) of ameloblastoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: cases of ameloblastoma initially underdiagnosed (e.g. cases overlooked or diagnosed as reactive lesions) which had adequate radiographic documentation to evaluate their progression were retrospectively selected. Two panoramic radiographs were analyzed to determine the specific growth rate (SGR) of each tumor, defined as the logarithm of the ratio of final tumor area (when the diagnosis of ameloblastoma was made) to the initial tumor area (when the lesion was underdiagnosed), divided by the time interval between the radiographic images. The tumor area was measured using the software ImageJ. RESULTS: Twelve patients with mandibular ameloblastomas were selected, including 5 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 24.9 years (range: 14-61 years). In four cases, the lesion was associated with the crown of an impacted third molar. In three cases, it was initially diagnosed as a periapical lesion. Three cases were extrafollicular and were not noticed in the initial radiographs. Two cases were initially diagnosed as ameloblastoma, but the surgery was delayed for personal reasons. The mean interval of time between the two radiographic images was 4.3 years (range: 0.4-9 years). Based on our analysis, ameloblastoma grows in average 40.4% per year (range: 14.9-88.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Ameloblastoma is a progressively growing tumor, but its growth rate seems to be smaller than initially reported in the literature. Better understanding the radiographic progression of ameloblastoma might improve its early diagnosis, management, and prognosis.

Identification of the VERNALIZATION 4 gene reveals the origin of spring growth habit in ancient wheats from South Asia.

Wheat varieties with a winter growth habit require long exposures to low temperatures (vernalization) to accelerate flowering. Natural variation in four vernalization genes regulating this requirement has favored wheat adaptation to different environments. The first three genes (VRN1-VRN3) have been cloned and characterized before. Here we show that the fourth gene, VRN-D4, originated by the insertion of a ∼290-kb region from chromosome arm 5AL into the proximal region of chromosome arm 5DS. The inserted 5AL region includes a copy of VRN-A1 that carries distinctive mutations in its coding and regulatory regions. Three lines of evidence confirmed that this gene is VRN-D4: it cosegregated with VRN-D4 in a high-density mapping population; it was expressed earlier than other VRN1 genes in the absence of vernalization; and induced mutations in this gene resulted in delayed flowering. VRN-D4 was found in most accessions of the ancient subspecies Triticum aestivum ssp. sphaerococcum from South Asia. This subspecies showed a significant reduction of genetic diversity and increased genetic differentiation in the centromeric region of chromosome 5D, suggesting that VRN-D4 likely contributed to local adaptation and was favored by positive selection. Three adjacent SNPs in a regulatory region of the VRN-D4 first intron disrupt the binding of GLYCINE-RICH RNA-BINDING PROTEIN 2 (TaGRP2), a known repressor of VRN1 expression. The same SNPs were identified in VRN-A1 alleles previously associated with reduced vernalization requirement. These alleles can be used to modulate vernalization requirements and to develop wheat varieties better adapted to different or changing environments.

Antipyretic and antimalarial activities of Solenostemon monostachyus.

CONTEXT: Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (Lamiaceae) is an important herb used traditionally in the treatment of malaria, fever, and other diseases. OBJECTIVES: Antiplasmodial and antipyretic activities of S. monostachyus aerial extract were evaluated to ascertain the folkloric claim of its antimalarial and antipyretic activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract (75-225 mg/kg) and fractions (chloroform and aqueous; 150 mg/kg) of S. monostachyus were investigated for suppressive, prophylactic, and curative antiplasmodial activities against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in Swiss albino mice and for antipyretic activity against 2,4-dinitrophenol and yeast-induced pyrexia. Artesunate (5 mg/kg) and pyrimethamine (1.2 mg/kg) were used as positive controls for antiplasmodial models. Thin films made from tail blood of each mouse were used to assess the level of parasitaemia of the mice. RESULTS: The extract/fractions progressively reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine sensitive P. berghei infection in prophylactic (28.48-71.72%), suppressive (12.52-72.47%), and curative (22.4-82.34%) models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (p < 0.01-0.001). They also improved significantly (p < 0.01-0.001) the mean survival time (MST) from 12.26 to 25.63 d relative to control (11.36 d). The activities of extract/fractions were incomparable with that of the standard drugs used (artesunate and pyrimethamine). The extract exerted prominent inhibition of pyrexia on dinitrophenol (87.33-90.11%, 5 h) and yeast (56.22-65.33, 5 h) induced pyrexia. Inhibition was significant (p < 0.05-0.001) from 3 to 5 h post-administration of extract and in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSION: The plant may possess antiplasmodial and antipyretic effects which may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant.

Waste management under a life cycle approach as a tool for a circular economy in the canned anchovy industry.

The anchovy canning industry has high importance in the Cantabria Region (North Spain) from economic, social and touristic points of view. The Cantabrian canned anchovy is world-renowned owing to its handmade and traditional manufacture. The canning process generates huge amounts of several food wastes, whose suitable management can contribute to benefits for both the environment and the economy, closing the loop of the product life cycle. Life cycle assessment methodology was used in this work to assess the environmental performance of two waste management alternatives: Head and spine valorisation to produce fishmeal and fish oil; and anchovy meat valorisation to produce anchovy paste. Fuel oil production has been a hotspot of the valorisation of heads and spines, so several improvements should be applied. With respect to anchovy meat valorisation, the production of polypropylene and glass for packaging was the least environmentally friendly aspect of the process. Furthermore, the environmental characterisation of anchovy waste valorisation was compared with incineration and landfilling alternatives. In both cases, the valorisation management options were the best owing to the avoided burdens associated with the processes. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the circular economy in the Cantabrian canned anchovy industry.

Sequencing chromosome 5D of Aegilops tauschii and comparison with its allopolyploid descendant bread wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Flow cytometric sorting of individual chromosomes and chromosome-based sequencing reduces the complexity of large, repetitive Triticeae genomes. We flow-sorted chromosome 5D of Aegilops tauschii, the D genome donor of bread wheat and sequenced it by Roche 454 GS FLX platform to approximately 2.2x coverage. Repetitive sequences represent 81.09% of the survey sequences of this chromosome, and Class I retroelements are the prominent type, with a particular abundance of LTR/Gypsy superfamily. Nonrepetitive sequences were assembled to cover 17.76% of the total chromosome regions. Up to 6188 nonrepetitive gene loci were predicted to be encoded by the 5D chromosome. The numbers and chromosomal distribution patterns of tRNA genes suggest abundance in tRNA(L) (ys) and tRNA(M) (et) species, while the nonrepetitive assembly reveals tRNA(A) (la) species as the most abundant type. A comparative analysis of the genomic sequences of bread wheat and Aegilops chromosome 5D indicates conservation of gene content. Orthologous unique genes, matching Aegilops 5D sequences, numbered 3730 in barley, 5063 in Brachypodium, 4872 in sorghum and 4209 in rice. In this study, we provide a chromosome-specific view into the structure and organization of the 5D chromosome of Ae. tauschii, the D genome ancestor of bread wheat. This study contributes to our understanding of the chromosome-level evolution of the wheat genome and presents a valuable resource in wheat genomics due to the recent hybridization of Ae. tauschii genome with its tetraploid ancestor.

Observation of D0-D0 mixing in e+e- collisions.

We observe D(0)-D(0) mixing in the decay D(0) → K+π- using a data sample of integrated luminosity 976 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- asymmetric-energy collider. We measure the mixing parameters x'(2) = (0.09 ± 0.22) × 10(-3) and y'=(4.6 ± 3.4) × 10(-3) and the ratio of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed to Cabibbo-favored decay rates R(D) = (3.53 ± 0.13) × 10(-3), where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic combined. Our measurement excludes the no-mixing hypothesis at the 5.1 standard deviation level.

Measurement of the τ-lepton lifetime at Belle.

The lifetime of the τ lepton is measured using the process e+ e- → τ+ τ- , where both τ leptons decay to 3πν(τ). The result for the mean lifetime, based on 711 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the ϒ(4S) resonance and 60 MeV below, is τ=(290.17±0.53(stat)±0.33(syst))×10(-15) s. The first measurement of the lifetime difference between τ+ and τ- is performed. The upper limit on the relative lifetime difference between positive and negative τ leptons is |Δτ|/τ<7.0×10(-3) at 90% C.L.

Measurement of the branching fraction B(Λc+ → pK-π+).

We present the first model-independent measurement of the absolute branching fraction of the Λ(c)(+) → pK(-)π(+) decay using a data sample of 978 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The number of Λ(c)(+) baryons is determined by reconstructing the recoiling D((*)-) pπ(+) system in events of the type e(+)e(-) → D((*)-) pπ(+)Λ(c)(+). The branching fraction is measured to be B(Λ(c)(+) → pK(-)π(+)) = (6.84 ± 0.24(-0.27)(+0.21))%, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

Life cycle assessment modelling of waste-to-energy incineration in Spain and Portugal.

In recent years, waste management systems have been evaluated using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. A main shortcoming of prior studies was the focus on a mixture of waste with different characteristics. The estimation of emissions and consumptions associated with each waste fraction in these studies presented allocation problems. Waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration is a clear example in which municipal solid waste (MSW), comprising many types of materials, is processed to produce several outputs. This paper investigates an approach to better understand incineration processes in Spain and Portugal by applying a multi-input/output allocation model. The application of this model enabled predictions of WTE inputs and outputs, including the consumption of ancillary materials and combustibles, air emissions, solid wastes, and the energy produced during the combustion of each waste fraction.

Search for bottomonium states in exclusive radiative Υ(2S) decays.

We search for bottomonium states in Υ(2S) → (bb)γ decays with an integrated luminosity of 24.7 fb(-1) recorded at the Υ(2S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEK, containing (157.8±3.6)×10(6) Υ(2S) events. The (bb) system is reconstructed in 26 exclusive hadronic final states composed of charged pions, kaons, protons, and K(S)(0) mesons. We find no evidence for the state recently observed around 9975 MeV (X(bb)) in an analysis based on a data sample of 9.3×10(6) Υ(2S) events collected with the CLEO III detector. We set a 90% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction B[Υ(2S) → X(bb)γ] × ∑(i)B[X(bb) → h(i)] < 4.9×10(-6), summed over the exclusive hadronic final states employed in our analysis. This result is an order of magnitude smaller than the measurement reported with CLEO data. We also set an upper limit for the ηb(1S) state of B[Υ(2S) → ηb(1S)γ] × ∑(i)B[ηb(1S) → h(i)] < 3.7×10(-6).

Evidence of a new narrow resonance decaying to χ(c1)γ in B→χ(c1)γK.

We report measurements of B→χ(c1)γK and χ(c2)γK decays using 772×10(6) BB[over ¯] events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. Evidence of a new resonance in the χ(c1)γ final state is found with a statistical significance of 3.8σ. This state has a mass of 3823.1±1.8(stat)±0.7(syst) MeV/c(2), a value that is consistent with theoretical expectations for the previously unseen 1(3)D(2) cc[over ¯] meson. We find no other narrow resonance and set upper limits on the branching fractions of the X(3872)→χ(c1)γ and χ(c2)γ decays.

Study of e+ e- → π+ π- J/ψ and observation of a charged charmoniumlike state at Belle.

The cross section for ee+ e- → π+ π- J/ψ between 3.8 and 5.5 GeV is measured with a 967 fb(-1) data sample collected by the Belle detector at or near the Υ(nS) (n = 1,2,…,5) resonances. The Y(4260) state is observed, and its resonance parameters are determined. In addition, an excess of π+ π- J/ψ production around 4 GeV is observed. This feature can be described by a Breit-Wigner parametrization with properties that are consistent with the Y(4008) state that was previously reported by Belle. In a study of Y(4260) → π+ π- J/ψ decays, a structure is observed in the M(π(±)J/ψ) mass spectrum with 5.2σ significance, with mass M = (3894.5 ± 6.6 ± 4.5) MeV/c2 and width Γ = (63 ± 24 ± 26) MeV/c2, where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. This structure can be interpreted as a new charged charmoniumlike state.

Rowell's syndrome: presenting features of systemic lupus erythematosus.

A subset of patients with lupus erythematosus develops erythema multiforme-like skin lesions with speckled pattern of antinuclear antibodies, positive rheumatoid factor, anti-Ro (SS-A), and anti-La antibodies (SS-B), which known as Rowell's syndrome. We report an adolescent boy presented with erythema multiforme-like skin lesions and pericardial effusion; he fulfilled criteria of both Rowell's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Such initial presentation of SLE is rarely reported in literature.

[Acute allergy in practice of military physician].

Increasing number of patients with allergy observed in recent years is accompanied with increasing number of health encounters due to acute allergy. The sudden beginning and unpredictable course characterize acute allergy. These factors can be fatal for patient and must be treated immediately. Allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, acute urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis refer to diseases based on acute allergy. The most dangerous diseases, characterized by fatal conditions, are generalised urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis. Knowledge of first aid principles is the most important factor of effective treatment because quickness of allergy progression requires prompt decisions. Use of the whole complex of modern therapeutic possibilities is the most important and durable. Modern methods of first aid for acute allergy, based on recommendations from foreign and domestic publications, are given in the article.

Anatomy of the occipital lobe using lateral and posterior approaches: a neuroanatomical study with a neurosurgical perspective on intraoperative brain mapping.

BACKGROUND: A major concern of occipital lobe surgery is the risk of visual field deficits. Extending anatomical occipital lobectomy to the functional requires awake conditions because the anterior resection border comprises language-, motor- and visuospatial function-related areas within the temporal and parietal lobes. This study investigated the lateral and posterior perspectives of the occipital lobe anatomy when approaching intraaxial occipital lobe lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten adult cadaveric cerebral hemispheres were dissected after being prepared following the concept described by Klingler for the first time. RESULTS: The occipital lobe was located posteriorly to the parietotemporal line. Within the occipital lobe, the occipital horn of the lateral ventricle represented the only anatomical landmark. Laterally, optic radiation was identified as a part of the sagittal stratum. None of the intraoperatively identifiable tracts was found medial to the occipital horn. Language- and motor-related areas were identified anteriorly and should be actively identified when lobectomy based on function is planned. Subcortically, from a posterior perspective, the anterolateral border constituted the arcuate fascicle/superior longitudinal fascicle complex and was anteromedial to the thalamocortical tract. Remaining posterior to the line connecting the preoccipital notch with the superior Rolandic point avoided the cortical and white matter tracts related to language, motor and visuospatial function. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of occipital lobe anatomy and surrounding structures is essential to preoperatively assess the risk of the procedure and proper consultation of a patient in terms of the extent of resection, primarily concerning visual field deficits.

[Contact dermatitis: an approach used by a medical officer].

The article deals with contact dermatitis issues, that are of interest not only for dermatologists and specialists in professional pathology, but as well as for general practitioners. Issues of contact dermatitis classification, pathogenic peculiarities of the disease main forms and their basic causes are discussed. Clinical manifestations of irritative and allergic contact dermatitis are described in detail, aspects of differential diagnostics analysed. A detailed consideration is given to allergic diagnostics of contact dermatitis using application test-systems with the most common contact allergens. Main principles of contact dermatitis treatment are outlined in the article. The necessity of a complex approach to this disease therapy that requires not only external therapy, but the compliance with an appropriate treatment regimen, diet as well as application of a particular system therapy is shown. Recommendations for contact dermatitis prophylaxis are given.

Capturing Wheat Phenotypes at the Genome Level.

Recent technological advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have dramatically reduced the cost of DNA sequencing, allowing species with large and complex genomes to be sequenced. Although bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the world's most important food crops, efficient exploitation of molecular marker-assisted breeding approaches has lagged behind that achieved in other crop species, due to its large polyploid genome. However, an international public-private effort spanning 9 years reported over 65% draft genome of bread wheat in 2014, and finally, after more than a decade culminated in the release of a gold-standard, fully annotated reference wheat-genome assembly in 2018. Shortly thereafter, in 2020, the genome of assemblies of additional 15 global wheat accessions was released. As a result, wheat has now entered into the pan-genomic era, where basic resources can be efficiently exploited. Wheat genotyping with a few hundred markers has been replaced by genotyping arrays, capable of characterizing hundreds of wheat lines, using thousands of markers, providing fast, relatively inexpensive, and reliable data for exploitation in wheat breeding. These advances have opened up new opportunities for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) in wheat. Herein, we review the advances and perspectives in wheat genetics and genomics, with a focus on key traits, including grain yield, yield-related traits, end-use quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. We also focus on reported candidate genes cloned and linked to traits of interest. Furthermore, we report on the improvement in the aforementioned quantitative traits, through the use of (i) clustered regularly interspaced short-palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated gene-editing and (ii) positional cloning methods, and of genomic selection. Finally, we examine the utilization of genomics for the next-generation wheat breeding, providing a practical example of using in silico bioinformatics tools that are based on the wheat reference-genome sequence.

Environmental assessment of the food packaging waste management system in Spain: Understanding the present to improve the future.

One-way packaging can represent up to half the environmental impacts of the food value chain and thus optimising its management is essential. Collective selective waste collection managed by authorised organisations (Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR), with or without Deposit-Refund Systems (DRS) are alternatives implemented at European level to handle this problem. Since there is no single simple formula that can be applied to every waste management system, this case study is focused on the entire Spanish model of one-way food packaging waste management, from collection of each fraction in specific containers to final treatment, considering eight different materials. For the analysis, six different impact categories were considered: abiotic depletion potential, global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, ozone depletion potential and photochemical ozone formation. Results reveal that the recycling stage is the main stage contributing to the environmental impacts, but the environmental savings related to the recovery of materials in this stage compensates these loads and the system must be considered advantageous for the environment. By contrast, sorting plants present the lowest contributions and is the least significant stage. Significant environmental improvements (close to 10%) would be achieved by addressing the total bulk collection flow to mechanical-biological treatment and increasing the selective collection of light and glass packaging waste. This study can serve to identify common drivers that contribute significantly to the development of an integrated approach to waste packaging management and as baseline for comparison studies with alternative waste recovery technologies and systems.

Environmental impact assessment of the implementation of a Deposit-Refund System for packaging waste in Spain: A solution or an additional problem?

Food and beverage packaging represent a relevant fraction of municipal solid waste, and its adequate management is critical. Selective waste collection by an authorized organization according to an Extended Producer Responsibility System (EPRS) is the current option implemented in Spain for packaging. Other European countries have selected an alternative or a complement: a Deposit-Refund System (DRS) for certain type of beverage packaging. The selection of an EPRS or a DRS is a complex task and this work developed a universal methodology for the evaluation of optimal waste packaging management systems, focused on food and beverage. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach was applied to compare the current EPRS vs the implementation of a new system, with the coexistence of a DRS and a reduced EPRS. Although the environmental savings of the new system are superior to its impacts, even if the DRS would reach a value of 90% for the package return index, the current EPRS obtains significantly better environmental results. All impact categories are favorable to the current EPRS, except ADP, where the potentially higher DRS recycling rate is manifested. The impact associated to the flow of specific DRS packages in the new system is clearly higher than that linked to the flow of DRS excluded packages and it is even higher that the impact of the total joint flow in the current EPRS for all categories except ADP. The fundamental cause of this high impact is the backhauling stage to transport the recovered packages to the counting plants without compacting. A sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the preference of the current EPRS over the combination of a DRS and a reduced EPRS. The developed approach supposes a methodological advance that can be extended to previously realized studies about the implementation of waste management systems in other contexts.

Food waste management during the COVID-19 outbreak: a holistic climate, economic and nutritional approach.

Improving the food supply chain efficiency has been identified as an essential means to enhance food security, while reducing pressure on natural resources. Adequate food loss and waste (FLW) management has been proposed as an approach to meet these objectives. The main hypothesis of this study is to consider that the "strong fluctuations and short-term changes" on eating habits may have major consequences on potential FLW generation and management, as well as on GHG emissions, all taking into account the nutritional and the economic cost. Due to the exceptional lockdown measures imposed by the Spanish government, as a consequence of the emerging coronavirus disease, COVID-19, food production and consumption systems have undergone significant changes, which must be properly studied in order to propose strategies from the lessons learned. Taking Spain as a case study, the methodological approach included a deep analysis of the inputs and outputs of the Spanish food basket, the supply chain by means of a Material Flow Analysis, as well as an economic and comprehensive nutritional assessment, all under a life cycle thinking approach. The results reveal that during the first weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown, there was no significant adjustment in overall FLW generation, but a partial reallocation from extra-domestic consumption to households occurred (12% increase in household FLW). Moreover, the economic impact (+11%), GHG emissions (+10%), and the nutritional content (-8%) complete the multivariable impact profile that the COVID-19 outbreak had on FLW generation and management. Accordingly, this study once again highlights that measures aimed at reducing FLW, particularly in the household sector, are critical to make better use of food surpluses and FLW prevention and control, allowing us to confront future unforeseen scenarios.