The flexibility of titanium clasps compared with cobalt-chromium clasps.

Retention of a partial denture depends on the amount of undercut engaged on an abutment tooth and the flexibility of the clasp. Flexibility is influenced by clasp length and the denture base material. Titanium clasps are purported to have greater flexibility than cobalt-chromium cast clasps which should enable them to engage deeper undercuts or be used where shorter clasp arms are needed such as on premolar teeth. This study investigated the flexibility of cast titanium clasps with three commonly used cobalt-chromium clasps through comparative measurements of their tip deflections and yield strengths. The results showed that the titanium clasps were significantly (P < 0.05) more flexible than the cobalt-chromium clasps. However, all four materials were found to be flexible enough to engage an undercut of 0.25 mm without exceeding their yield strengths.     

Genetic risk factors in thrombotic primary antiphospholipid syndrome: A systematic review with bioinformatic analyses

Background

Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune multifactorial disorder. Genetics is believed to play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of APS, especially in thrombosis development and pregnancy morbidity. In the last 20 years, extensive research on genetic contribution on APS indicates that APS is a polygenic disorder, where a number of genes are involved in the development of its clinical manifestations.

Maternal cadmium exposure during pregnancy and size at birth: a prospective cohort study

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is an embryotoxic and teratogenic metal in a variety of animal species, but data from humans are limited.Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of maternal Cd exposure in pregnancy on size at birth.Methods: This prospective cohort study was nested in a population-based nutritional supplementation trial in pregnancy conducted in rural Bangladesh. We selected women recruited from February 2002 through January 2003 who had a singleton birth with measurements of size at birth and had donated a urine sample in early pregnancy for Cd analyses (n = 1,616). Urinary Cd was measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and adjusted for specific gravity.Results: Multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for sex and other potential confounders showed that maternal urinary Cd (median, 0.63 μg/L) was significantly negatively associated with birth weight [unstandardized regression coefficient B = –31.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): –59, –2.8] and head circumference (B = –0.15; 95% CI: –0.27, –0.026). However, associations appeared to be limited to girls, with little evidence of effects in boys. A 1-μg/L increase in Cd in maternal urine was associated with a 0.26-cm (95% CI: –0.43, –0.088 cm) and 0.24-cm (95% CI: –0.44, –0.030 cm) decrease in girls’ head and chest circumferences, respectively, and a 45-g (95% CI: –82.5, 7.3 g) decrease in birth weight. Quantile regression analyses indicated that associations with maternal Cd were similar for girls of smaller (25th percentile) and larger (50th and 75th percentiles) sizes at birth.Conclusion: We found evidence of a sex difference in the association between maternal Cd exposure and birth size, which was apparent only in girls. Results add support for the need to reduce Cd pollution to improve public health.     

The adequacy of micronutrient concentrations in manufactured complementary foods from low-income countries

Iron, zinc, and calcium in complementary foods (CFs) are defined as problem micronutrients by the World Health Organization (WHO), as their concentrations in CFs fall below the calculated requirements for breast-fed infants of micronutrients obtained from CFs. Consequently, manufacturers often fortify plant-based CFs with these three micronutrients. We have analyzed concentrations of iron, zinc, calcium, and phytic acid (as hexa- and penta-inositol phosphates) in 57 cereal-based CFs purchased in five countries each in Africa and Asia. Molar ratios of phytate:iron, phytate:zinc, and phytate:calcium were also calculated. Intakes of iron, zinc, and calcium from these CFs were then calculated assuming breast-fed infants aged 9-11 months consume the recommended daily ration size of CF (40 g/d; dry weight), and compared with WHO estimated needs from CFs. Even though manufacturers claimed to fortify 84% (48/57) of the CFs, 79%, 10% and 32% had molar ratios for phytate:iron, phytate:zinc, and phytate:calcium, respectively, above desirable levels. Despite fortification, only ∼4% of the CFs met the WHO estimated needs for breast-fed infants aged 9-11 months for iron, 2% for zinc, and ∼4% for calcium. Appropriate fortification of cereal-based CFs is necessary to ensure they meet WHO estimated needs for iron, zinc, and calcium for breast-fed infants.     

Do Indonesians follow its Dietary Guidelines?: evidence related to food consumption, healthy lifestyle, and nutritional status within the period 2000-2010

Dietary Guidelines are sets of advisory statements that give dietary advice for population to promote nutritional well-being. They contain information on foods or behaviors that are encouraged and cautionary messages derived from scientific evidence-based reviews and specific local conditions. The Indonesian Dietary Guidelines consisting of 13 messages that were publicized by the Ministry of Health in 1995 and have not been reviewed afterward in relation to nutritional status and health outcome of the population. By reviewing studies on different age groups in the past 10 years and comparing the results with the recommended guidelines, this paper aims to identify if messages have been successfully applied and if there are relevant issues not yet covered in the guidelines. The reviews covered 29 out of 33 provinces, representing studies from sub-district or higher levels (district, provincial, national). Results showed that some messages have been better implemented than others; also that information for some messages was not available for which to conclude of its implementation. In addition, some practices were identified which are prevalent in several age groups and have important public health consequence, but not yet included in the 13-guidelines. These include: smoking, increased intakes of fruit and vegetables, limited intakes of salt and sugar, increased intakes of foods rich in zinc and calcium (besides iron), hand-washing before food preparation and eating, and weight-monitoring. For infants and young children, nutrient density, feeding responsiveness and stimulation should be specifically highlighted. Based on the results, several recommendations in revising the guidelines were given.     

An outline of anemia among adolescent girls in Bangladesh: findings from a cross-sectional study

Background

Anemia is a significant wide spread public health threat especially among the adolescent girls who are more vulnerable towards low level of hemoglobin particularly of low and middle income countries (LMICs). We investigated the prevalence of anemia among the adolescent girls (10–19 years) in Bangladesh and its socio-demographics distribution.

Methods

We collected data digitally in ODK platform from a sub-sample of a nationwide cross-sectional survey of 1314 adolescent girls in 2015. Capillary blood hemoglobin level was estimated using HemoCue®; anthropometric measurements through standardized procedure and details socio-demographic information were captured and analyzed. Malnutrition was defined as BMI-for-age Z-score below -2SD (BAZ < ?2SD), measured in WHO-AnthroPlus. Univariate analysis followed by multiple logistic regression were performed to examine the association between socio-demographic variables and anemia, while controlling the effect of potential confounding variables.

Results

Overall, 51.6% girls were suffering from any form of anemia (non-pregnant-Hb < 12 g/dl; pregnant-Hb < 11 g/dl) while 46% were mildly (non-pregnant-Hb: 10–11.9 g/dl; pregnant-Hb: 10–10.9 g/dl) and 5.4% were moderately (Hb: 7–9.9 g/dl) anemic while only 0.2% were severely anemic. After controlling for relevant covariates in multiple logistic regression model, malnutrition (AOR: 1.42, 95% CI = 1.0–2.10, p-value = 0.083), non-pregnancy (AOR: 6.10, 95% CI = 2.70–13.78, p-value <?0.001), and households with bottom wealth quintile (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI = 1.03–2.30, p-value = 0.037) were identified as significant risk factors of anemia among adolescent girls of Bangladesh.

Conclusions

Higher number of adolescent girls are still suffering from anemia in Bangladesh and non-pregnant adolescent girls contributed the most. Immediate, long term and sustainable public health intervention would require to combat the situation.

     

Effects of prenatal food and micronutrient supplementation on infant development: a randomized trial from the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions, Matlab (MINIMat) study

BACKGROUND: Few data exist for the effects of multiple micronutrient (MM) or food supplementation to undernourished pregnant women on their offsprings' development. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the effects on infant development of early (8-10 wk gestation) or usual ( approximately 17 wk gestation) supplementation with food and MM, 30 mg Fe + 400 microg folate, or 60 mg Fe + 400 microg folate. DESIGN: A large, randomized, controlled trial of pregnancy supplementation was conducted in Bangladesh. A subsample of infants (n = 2853) were assessed on 2 problem-solving tests (support and cover tests), the motor index of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, and Wolke's behavior ratings at 7 mo of age. RESULTS: There were no significant effects of any intervention in the group as a whole. However, infants of undernourished mothers [body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) < 18.5] who received early food supplementation performed slightly but significantly (P = 0.035) better on the support test than did infants of mothers who received usual food supplementation (z score: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.33). There were no benefits in infants of higher-BMI mothers (P = 0.024 for BMI x food interaction). Children of low-BMI mothers who received MMs had slightly better motor scores (z score: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.48) and activity ratings (z score: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.037, 0.45) than did those who received 30 mg Fe + 400 microg folate, whereas other children did not benefit (P = 0.05 for both motor scores and BMI x micronutrients and for activity and BMI x micronutrients). CONCLUSIONS: Small benefits from early food and MM supplementation were found in infants of low-BMI but not of high-BMI mothers. However, the benefits were of doubtful functional importance, and longer follow-up is required to determine programmatic implications.     

Dishevelled-1 DIX and PDZ domain lysine residues regulate oncogenic Wnt signaling

DVL proteins are central mediators of the Wnt pathway and relay complex input signals into different branches of the Wnt signaling network. However, molecular mechanism(s) that regulate DVL-mediated relay of Wnt signals still remains unclear. Here, for the first time, we elucidate the functional significance of three DVL-1 lysines (K/Lys) which are subject to post-translational acetylation. We demonstrate that K34 Lys residue in the DIX domain regulates subcellular localization of β-catenin, thereby influencing downstream Wnt target gene expression. Additionally, we show that K69 (DIX domain) and K285 (PDZ domain) regulate binding of DVL-1 to Wnt target gene promoters and modulate expression of Wnt target genes including CMYC, OCT4, NANOG, and CCND1, in cell line models and xenograft tumors. Finally, we report that conserved DVL-1 lysines modulate various oncogenic functions such as cell migration, proliferation, cell-cycle progression, 3D-spheroid formation and in-vivo tumor growth in breast cancer models. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of DVL-1 domain-specific lysines which were recently shown to be acetylated and characterize their influence on Wnt signaling. These site-specific modifications may be subject to regulation by therapeutics already in clinical use (lysine deacetylase inhibitors such as Panobinostat and Vorinostat) or may possibly have prognostic utility in translational efforts that seek to modulate dysfunctional Wnt signaling.     

Analysis of low and high grade B-cell lymphoma subtypes using semi-nested PCR and two primer sets

Abstract: Immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in B-cell lymphoma subtypes may not always be detected by PCR if only one primer set is applied. We therefore analysed a range of low and high grade B-cell lymphoma subtypes for monoclonality using PCR, to determine appropriate primer selection strategies for routine diagnostic use. Semi-nested PCR was performed on 70 unequivocal B-cell lymphoma cases using paraffin-embedded tissue (PET). Consensus primers directed at the framework 3 (Fr3) and framework 2 (Fr2) regions of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene were used to detect monoclonality. Monoclonality was found in 77% of cases using primer Fr3, 58% using Fr2, and in 93% of cases when data were combined for both primers. In 89% of the 38 low grade and 97% of the 31 high grade B-cell lymphomas monoclonality could be detected when combining both primers. Fr3 gave superior results in most of the lymphoma subtypes analysed. We conclude that both Fr3 and Fr2 are useful, in a routine histopathology laboratory, for detecting monoclonality in most B-cell lymphoma subtypes. Certain subtypes, however, are sometimes not targeted by these primers and therefore require additional analyses.