Early aggressive intervention for infantile atopic dermatitis to prevent development of food allergy: a multicenter, investigator-blinded, randomized, parallel group controlled trial (PACI Study)—protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Atopic dermatitis is the first clinical manifestation of the atopic march, with the highest incidence in the first year of life. Those affected often go on to develop other allergic diseases including food all...

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Evaluation of teriparatide effect on healing of autografted mandibular defects in rats

To evaluate the effects of short-term teriparatide administration on healing of autologous bone graft in mandibular critical-size defects.

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Measurement of exhaled nitric oxide in young children with NIOX VERO

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a direct marker of Type 2 (T2)-driven inflammation in the airways and aids in the diagnosis of asthma.1, 2 FeNO is reproducible and easy to use in the clinic setting.3 - 5 FeNO measurement technique is often easier for younger children to master than spirometry6 and much less invasive than sputum induction or bronchoscopy.7, 8

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Development of a Pediatric Asthma Predictive Index for Hospitalization

Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children in the United States.1 Currently 6.2 million children in the U.S. have asthma.1 In 2014, the number of emergency department (ED) visits for asthma exacerbation in children less than 15 years old was approximately 820,000.2 Recently, the total estimated cost of asthma to society was $82 billion.3 There is currently no standard protocol for asthma admissions in the ED. This often leads to wide variation in management and disparities in care.

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DRUG RASH WITH EOSINOPHILIA AND SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS (DRESS) SYNDROME HYPERSENSITIVITY MYOCARDITIS PRESENTING WITH CARDIOGENIC SHOCK

DRESS Syndrome can vary in presentation from mild to life threatening. We report a case of suspected DRESS myocarditis presenting with cardiogenic shock.

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Vocal Symptoms in University Professors: Their Association With Vocal Resources and With Work Environment

Investigating the association among vocal symptoms, vocal resources, and work environment in university professors.

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Yet another clean sweep by #DAMS students in #AIIMS #Nov2018 #damsrocks #Since2Decades Famous Radiology...

Yet another clean sweep by #DAMS students in #AIIMS #Nov2018 #damsrocks #Since2Decades

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Editorial Board

Publication date: March 2019

Source: Computer Speech & Language, Volume 54

Author(s):

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MNP triggers nasal allergy by modulating dendritic cell properties

Publication date: Available online 23 November 2018

Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Author(s): Xiao-Yu Liu, Yong-Jin Wu, Li-Juan Song, Xian-Hai Zeng, Shuai Wang, Jiang-Qi Liu, Li-Hua Mo, Xiao-Rui Geng, Li-Teng Yang, Rui-Di Xie, Xiao-Wen Zhang, Zhi-Gang Liu, Ping-Chang Yang

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IgE-class-specific immunosuppression in offspring by administration of anti-IgE to pregnant mice

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Author(s): Hideaki Morita, Masato Tamari, Masako Fujiwara, Kenichiro Motomura, Yasuhiko Koezuka, Go Ichien, Kenji Matsumoto, Kimishige Ishizaka, Hirohisa Saito

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Transcriptome profiling of refractory atopic keratoconjunctivitis by RNA sequencing

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Author(s): Akira Matsuda, Yosuke Asada, Naomasa Suita, Satoshi Iwamoto, Toshiaki Hirakata, Norihiko Yokoi, Yasuyuki Ohkawa, Yukinori Okada, Takehiko Yokomizo, Nobuyuki Ebihara

Summary

We found upregulation of 47 immunoglobulin genes and 22 S. aureus infection-related genes in refractory atopic keratoconjunctivitis tissue by RNA-seq analysis, suggesting that lymphoid neogenesis and stimuli from infection are essential components of the disorder.

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Vaccination of non-allergic individuals with recombinant hypoallergenic fragments of birch pollen allergen Bet v 1: Safety, effects and mechanisms

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Author(s): Raffaela Campana, Katharina Marth, Petra Zieglmayer, Milena Weber, Christian Lupinek, Yury Zhernov, Olga Elisyutina, Musa Khaitov, Eva Rigler, Kerstin Westritschnig, Uwe Berger, Martin Wolkersdorfer, Fritz Horak, Friedrich Horak, Rudolf Valenta

Summary

This is the first double-blind, placebo-controlled study showing that vaccination with recombinant hypoallergenic allergen-derivatives is safe and induces sustained allergen-specific IgG responses which block allergic patients IgE binding to the allergen.

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DAMS eQ Series : Myelography

Quick discussion on MCQ based on myelography in DAMS eQ series available on eMedicoz app.

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Recruitment of the occipital cortex by arithmetic processing follows computational bias in the congenitally blind

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: NeuroImage

Author(s): Virginie Crollen, Latifa Lazzouni, Mohamed Rezk, Antoine Bellemare, Franco Lepore, Marie-Pascale Noël, Xavier Seron, Olivier Collignon

Abstract

Arithmetic reasoning activates the occipital cortex of congenitally blind people (CB). This activation of visual areas may highlight the functional flexibility of occipital regions deprived of their dominant inputs or relate to the intrinsic computational role of specific occipital regions. We contrasted these competing hypotheses by characterizing the brain activity of CB and sighted participants while performing subtraction, multiplication and a control letter task. In both groups, subtraction selectively activated a bilateral dorsal network commonly activated during spatial processing. Multiplication triggered activity in temporal regions thought to participate in memory retrieval. No between-group difference was observed for the multiplication task whereas subtraction induced enhanced activity in the right dorsal occipital cortex of the blind individuals only. As this area overlaps with regions showing selective tuning to auditory spatial processing and exhibits increased functional connectivity with a dorsal "spatial" network, our results suggest that the recruitment of occipital regions during high-level cognition in the blind actually relates to the intrinsic computational role of the activated regions.

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Cerebral blood flow changes after a day of wake, sleep, and sleep deprivation

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: NeuroImage

Author(s): Torbjørn Elvsåshagen, Henri JMM. Mutsaerts, Nathalia Zak, Linn B. Norbom, Sophia H. Quraishi, Per Ø. Pedersen, Ulrik F. Malt, Lars T. Westlye, Eus JW. van Someren, Atle Bjørnerud, Inge R. Groote

Abstract

Elucidating the neurobiological effects of sleep and wake is an important goal of the neurosciences. Whether and how human cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes during the sleep-wake cycle remain to be clarified. Based on the synaptic homeostasis hypothesis of sleep and wake, we hypothesized that a day of wake and a night of sleep deprivation would be associated with gray matter resting CBF (rCBF) increases and that sleep would be associated with rCBF decreases. Thirty-eight healthy adult males (age 22.1 ± 2.5 years) underwent arterial spin labeling perfusion magnetic resonance imaging at three time points: in the morning after a regular night's sleep, the evening of the same day, and the next morning, either after total sleep deprivation (n = 19) or a night of sleep (n = 19). All analyses were adjusted for hematocrit and head motion. rCBF increased from morning to evening and decreased after a night of sleep. These effects were most prominent in bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and in the occipital and sensorimotor cortices. Group × time interaction analyses for evening versus next morning revealed significant interaction in bilateral lateral and medial occipital cortices and in bilateral insula, driven by rCBF increases in the sleep deprived individuals and decreases in the sleepers, respectively. Furthermore, group × time interaction analyses for first morning versus next morning showed significant effects in medial and lateral occipital cortices, in anterior cingulate gyrus, and in the insula, in both hemispheres. These effects were mainly driven by CBF increases from TP1 to TP3 in the sleep deprived individuals. There were no associations between the rCBF changes and sleep characteristics, vigilant attention, or subjective sleepiness that remained significant after adjustments for multiple analyses. Altogether, these results encourage future studies to clarify mechanisms underlying sleep-related rCBF changes.

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Disease progression timeline estimation for Alzheimer's disease using discriminative event based modeling

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: NeuroImage

Author(s): Vikram Venkatraghavan, Esther E. Bron, Wiro J. Niessen, Stefan Klein, for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

Abstract

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by a cascade of biomarkers becoming abnormal, the pathophysiology of which is very complex and largely unknown. Event-based modeling (EBM) is a data-driven technique to estimate the sequence in which biomarkers for a disease become abnormal based on cross-sectional data. It can help in understanding the dynamics of disease progression and facilitate early diagnosis and prognosis by staging patients. In this work we propose a novel discriminative approach to EBM, which is shown to be more accurate than existing state-of-the-art EBM methods. The method first estimates for each subject an approximate ordering of events. Subsequently, the central ordering over all subjects is estimated by fitting a generalized Mallows model to these approximate subject-specific orderings based on a novel probabilistic Kendall's Tau distance. We also introduce the concept of relative distance between events which helps in creating a disease progression timeline. Subsequently, we propose a method to stage subjects by placing them on the estimated disease progression timeline. We evaluated the proposed method on Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data and compared the results with existing state-of-the-art EBM methods. We also performed extensive experiments on synthetic data simulating the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The event orderings obtained on ADNI data seem plausible and are in agreement with the current understanding of progression of AD. The proposed patient staging algorithm performed consistently better than that of state-of-the-art EBM methods. Event orderings obtained in simulation experiments were more accurate than those of other EBM methods and the estimated disease progression timeline was observed to correlate with the timeline of actual disease progression. The results of these experiments are encouraging and suggest that discriminative EBM is a promising approach to disease progression modeling.

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Focus of attention modulates the heartbeat evoked potential

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: NeuroImage

Author(s): Frederike H. Petzschner, Lilian A. Weber, Katharina V. Wellstein, Gina Paolini, Cao Tri Do, Klaas E. Stephan

Abstract

Theoretical frameworks such as predictive coding suggest that the perception of the body and world – interoception and exteroception – involve intertwined processes of inference, learning, and prediction. In this framework, attention is thought to gate the influence of sensory information on perception. In contrast to exteroception, there is limited evidence for purely attentional effects on interoception. Here, we empirically tested if attentional focus modulates cortical processing of single heartbeats, using a newly-developed experimental paradigm to probe purely attentional differences between exteroceptive and interoceptive conditions in the heartbeat evoked potential (HEP) using EEG recordings. We found that the HEP is significantly higher during interoceptive compared to exteroceptive attention, in a time window of 524–620 ms after the R-peak. Furthermore, this effect predicted self-report measures of autonomic system reactivity. Our study thus provides direct evidence that the HEP is modulated by pure attention and suggests that this effect may provide a clinically relevant readout for assessing interoception.

Graphical abstract

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MR fingerprinting enables quantitative measures of brain tissue relaxation times and myelin water fraction in the first five years of life

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: NeuroImage

Author(s): Yong Chen, Meng-Hsiang Chen, Kristine R. Baluyot, Taylor M. Potts, Jordan Jimenez, Weili Lin, for the UNC/UMN Baby Connectome Project Consortium

Abstract

Quantitative assessments of normative brain development using MRI are of critical importance to gain insights into healthy neurodevelopment. However, quantitative MR imaging poses significant technical challenges and requires prohibitively long acquisition times, making it impractical for pediatric imaging. This is particularly relevant for healthy subjects, where imaging under sedation is not clinically indicated. MR Fingerprinting (MRF), a novel MR imaging framework, provides rapid, efficient, and simultaneous quantification of multiple tissue properties. In this study, a 2D MR Fingerprinting method was developed that achieves a spatial resolution of 1 × 1 × 3 mm³ with rapid and simultaneous quantification of T₁, T₂ and myelin water fraction (MWF). Phantom experiments demonstrated that accurate measurements of T₁ and T₂ relaxation times were achieved over a wide range of T₁ and T₂ values. MRF images were acquired cross-sectionally from 28 typically developing children, 0 to five years old, who were enrolled in the UNC/UMN Baby Connectome Project. Differences associated with age of R1 (=1/T₁), R2 (=1/T₂) and MWF were obtained from several predefined white matter regions. Both R1 and R2 exhibit a marked increase until ∼20 months of age, followed by a slower increase for all WM regions. In contrast, the MWF remains at a negligible level until ∼6 months of age for all predefined ROIs and gradually increases afterwards. Depending on the brain region, rapid increases are observed between 6 and 12 months to 6–18 months, followed by a slower pace of increase in MWF. Neither relaxivities nor MWF were significantly different between the left and right hemispheres. However, regional differences in age-related R1 and MWF measures were observed across different white matter regions. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the MRF technique holds great potential for multi-parametric assessments of normative brain development in early childhood.

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Age-related differences in default-mode network connectivity in response to intermittent theta-burst stimulation and its relationships with maintained cognition and brain integrity in healthy aging

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: NeuroImage

Author(s): Kilian Abellaneda-Pérez, Lídia Vaqué-Alcázar, Dídac Vidal-Piñeiro, Ali Jannati, Elisabeth Solana, Nuria Bargalló, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, David Bartrés-Faz

Abstract

The default-mode network (DMN) is affected by advancing age, where particularly long-range connectivity has been consistently reported to be reduced as compared to young individuals. We examined whether there were any differences in the effects of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) in DMN connectivity between younger and older adults, its associations with cognition and brain integrity, as well as with long-term cognitive status. Twenty-four younger and 27 cognitively normal older adults were randomly assigned to receive real or sham iTBS over the left inferior parietal lobule between two resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) acquisitions. Three years later, those older adults who had received real iTBS underwent a cognitive follow-up assessment. Among the younger adults, functional connectivity increased following iTBS in distal DMN areas from the stimulation site. In contrast, older adults exhibited increases in connectivity following iTBS in proximal DMN regions. Moreover, older adults with functional responses to iTBS resembling those of the younger participants exhibited greater brain integrity and higher cognitive performance at baseline and at the 3-year follow-up, along with less cognitive decline. Finally, we observed that 'young-like' functional responses to iTBS were also related to the educational background attained amongst older adults. The present study reveals that functional responses of the DMN to iTBS are modulated by age. Furthermore, combining iTBS and rs-fMRI in older adults may allow characterizing distinctive cognitive profiles in aging and its progression, probably reflecting network plasticity systems that may entail a neurobiological substrate of cognitive reserve.

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Crestal bone loss around dental implants placed in head and neck cancer patients treated with different radiotherapy techniques: a prospective cohort study

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): P. Papi, E. Brauner, S. Di Carlo, D. Musio, M. Tombolini, F. De Angelis, V. Valentini, V. Tombolini, A. Polimeni, G. Pompa

Abstract

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate how the radiation technique can affect crestal bone loss and the implant survival rate in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. In this study, the type of radiotherapy treatment, i.e. three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), was the predictor variable. The primary outcome variable was crestal bone loss, recorded at implant placement and after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. A descriptive analysis and ANOVA test were performed; significance was set at P < 0.05. Thirty-two patients were enrolled and a total of 113 dental implants placed in irradiated residual bone. There was no statistically significant difference in crestal bone loss levels between the groups at any of the intervals (P > 0.05), except after 6 months (P = 0.028). The cumulative dental implant survival rate was 94.7%. After 24 months, the mean marginal bone loss was 0.83 ± 0.12 mm in the 3D-CRT group and 0.74 ± 0.15 mm in the IMRT group (P = 0.179). The data suggest that the different radiation techniques did not affect the outcomes of implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation, as related to crestal bone loss and implant survival. However, long-term follow-up studies are necessary to evaluate the real influence of the radiotherapy technique on dental implants.

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Dispersion in Tissue-Mimicking Gels Measured with Shear Wave Elastography and Torsional Vibration Rheometry

Publication date: Available online 23 November 2018

Source: Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology

Author(s): Sanjay S. Yengul, Paul E. Barbone, Bruno Madore

Abstract

Dispersion, or the frequency dependence of mechanical parameters, is a primary confounding factor in elastography comparisons. We present a study of dispersion in tissue-mimicking gels over a wide frequency band using a combination of ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE), and a novel torsional vibration rheometry which allows independent mechanical measurement of SWE samples. Frequency-dependent complex shear modulus was measured in homogeneous gelatin hydrogels of two different bloom strengths while controlling for confounding factors such as temperature, water content and material aging. Furthermore, both techniques measured the same physical samples, thereby eliminating possible variation caused by batch-to-batch gel variation, sample geometry differences and boundary artifacts. The wide-band measurement, from 1 to 1800 Hz, captured a 30%–50% increase in the storage modulus and a nearly linear increase with frequency of the loss modulus. The magnitude of the variation suggests that accounting for dispersion is essential for meaningful comparisons between SWE implementations.

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Quantitative Ultrasound Biomarkers Based on Backscattered Acoustic Power: Potential for Quantifying Remodeling of the Human Cervix during Pregnancy

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology

Author(s): Quinton W. Guerrero, Helen Feltovich, Ivan M. Rosado-Mendez, Lindsey C. Carlson, Timothy J. Hallcor

Abstract

As pregnancy progresses, the cervix remodels from a rigid structure to one pliable enough to allow delivery of a fetus, a process that involves progressive disorganization of cervical microstructure. Quantitative ultrasound biomarkers that may detect this process include those derived from the backscattered echo signal, namely, acoustic attenuation and backscattered power loss. We recently reported that attenuation and backscattered power loss are affected by tissue anisotropy and heterogeneity in the ex vivo cervix. In this study, we compared attenuation and backscattered power difference in a group of women in early pregnancy (first trimester) with those in a group in late pregnancy (third trimester). We observed a significant decrease in the backscattered power difference in late as compared with early pregnancy, suggesting decreased microstructural organization in late pregnancy, a finding that is consistent with animal models of cervical remodeling. In contrast, we found no difference in attenuation between the time points. These results suggest that the backscattered power difference, but perhaps not attenuation, may be a useful clinical biomarker of cervical remodeling.

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Does Rest Time before Ultrasonography Imaging Affect Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Thickness, Cross-Sectional Area and Echo Intensity Measurements?

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology

Author(s): Pedro Lopez, Matheus Daros Pinto, Ronei Silveira Pinto

Abstract

In the work described here, our aim was to determine, in an elderly population, changes in muscle thickness (MT), cross-sectional area (CSA) and echo intensity (EI) of the quadriceps muscles at four time points (0, 5, 10 and 15 min; i.e., T0, T5, T10 and T15, respectively) after changing from a standing to supine position. Twenty-one elderly participants (14 men: 68.1 ± 4.6 y; 8 women: 66.8 ± 4.1 y) were evaluated at four time points. Rectus femoris CSA (RF_CSA), MT and EI of the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscles were assessed. EI significantly increased from T0 to T5, T10 and T15 (p < 0.001), whereas no differences were observed between T5 and T15 in the rectus femoris (RF_EI), vastus intermedius (VI_EI) and quadriceps femoris (QF_EI). No differences were observed between any time points in the RF_CSA and MT of QF muscles. In summary, these results suggest that periods >5 min are not necessary to obtain consistent MT and EI measurements of quadriceps femoris muscles in the elderly population.

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Obesity, but not metabolic syndrome, as a risk factor for late-onset asthma in Japanese women

Publication date: Available online 23 November 2018

Source: Allergology International

Author(s): Yasuhiro Tomita, Yuma Fukutomi, Mari Irie, Kazuhiro Azekawa, Hiroaki Hayashi, Yosuke Kamide, Kiyoshi Sekiya, Yoichi Nakamura, Chiharu Okada, Terufumi Shimoda, Yoshinori Hasegawa, Masami Taniguchi

Abstract

Background

Several cross-sectional studies have suggested an association between obesity and asthma. However, few studies have investigated this relationship longitudinally, especially in middle-aged subjects. Although metabolic syndrome is a well-known risk factor for many non-communicable diseases, its contribution to asthma remains controversial.

Methods

From 2008, specific health checkups for metabolic syndrome have been conducted throughout Japan. To seek relationships of obesity and metabolic syndrome with late-onset asthma in Japan, we analyzed data collected from health insurance claims and specific health checkups for metabolic syndrome at three large health insurance societies. Among subjects aged 40–64 years (n = 9888), multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationships of obesity and metabolic syndrome in fiscal year 2012 (from April 2012 to March 2013) with the incidence of late-onset asthma in the following two years (from April 2013 to March 2015).

Results

In women, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m² or ≥30 kg/m², waist circumference ≥90 cm, and waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5 were shown to be significant risk factors for asthma, with adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) of 1.92 (1.35–2.75), 2.24 (1.23–4.09), 1.89 (1.30–2.75), and 1.53 (1.15–2.03), respectively. Significance was retained even after adjustment for metabolic syndrome, and there were no significant relationships between metabolic syndrome itself and the incidence of asthma in men or women.

Conclusions

Only the obesity measures, not metabolic syndrome, were shown to be significant risk factors for the incidence of late-onset asthma but only in middle-aged Japanese women, and not in men.

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Airway innate lymphoid cells in the induction and regulation of allergy

Publication date: Available online 23 November 2018

Source: Allergology International

Author(s): Taylor A. Doherty, David H. Broide

Abstract

The recent discovery of innate lymphoid cells has revolutionized our understanding of the pathogenesis of immune diseases including allergy and asthma. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a heterogeneous collection of lymphocytes that lack antigen-specificity (non-T, non-B cells) and potently produce characteristic cytokines of T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17). ILCs are divided into group 1 (ILC1s), group 2 (ILC2s), or group 3 (ILC3s). Similar to Th2 cells, ILC2s produce IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, among others, and are present in increased numbers in samples from patients with many allergic disorders including asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Animal models have identified that ILC2s contribute to eosinophilic tissue infiltration, airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus production, as well as coordinate adaptive immune responses. Finally, recent studies support regulation of ILC2s by neuro-immune mechanisms as well as demonstrate a significant degree of plasticity between ILC subsets that may impact the immune responses in asthma and allergic airway diseases. Here, we review the current literature on ILC2s in human asthma and allergic airway diseases, as well as highlight some recent mechanistic insights into ILC2 function from in vitro studies and in vivo animal models.

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Critical role of platelets in the production of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine in children: A case series study

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Allergology International

Author(s): Yuka Okura, Yutaka Takahashi, Ichiro Kobayashi

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Vocal Symptoms in University Professors: Their Association With Vocal Resources and With Work Environment

Publication date: Available online 23 November 2018

Source: Journal of Voice

Author(s): Nayara Ribeiro Gomes, Letícia Caldas Teixeira, Adriane Mesquita de Medeiros

Summary

Aim

Investigating the association among vocal symptoms, vocal resources, and work environment in university professors.

Methods

Online questionnaire answered by 334 professors from a federal public university in Belo Horizonte County, Brazil. The questionnaire addressed sociodemographic data, self-perception about one's voice, vocal resources and work environment, and included the Vocal Signs and Symptoms Questionnaire. Professors presenting five or more vocal symptoms were compared to those who reported fewer symptoms. The association between the number of symptoms and the other variables was assessed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

The mean of symptoms reported by the herein investigated professors was 3.1 (SD ± 2.75); 24% (n = 82) of them reported five or more vocal symptoms. Factors such as female sex, incidence of noise, high speaking rate, as well as high fundamental frequency and loud voice, were associated with the incidence of five or more vocal symptoms.

Conclusions

University professors belonging to the female sex, who perceive the noise in the work environment as unsatisfactory, speak fast, or present high fundamental frequency and loud voice reported the largest number of vocal symptoms. It is recommended developing education programs focused on raising professors' awareness about voice-related risk factors and about the importance of improving their communicative performance.

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Reproducibility of Voice Parameters: The Effect of Room Acoustics and Microphones

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Journal of Voice

Author(s): Pasquale Bottalico, Juliana Codino, Lady Catherine Cantor-Cutiva, Katherine Marks, Charles J. Nudelman, Jean Skeffington, Rahul Shrivastav, Maria Cristina Jackson-Menaldi, Eric J. Hunter, Adam D. Rubin

Abstract

Introduction

Computer analysis of voice recordings is an integral part of the evaluation and management of voice disorders. In many practices, voice samples are taken in rooms that are not sound attenuated and/or sound-proofed; further, the technology used is rarely consistent. This will likely affect the recordings, and therefore, their analyses.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to compare various acoustic outcome measures taken from samples recorded in a sound-proofed booth to those recorded in more common clinic environments. Further, the effects from six different commonly used microphones will be compared.

Methods

Thirty-six speakers were recorded while reading a text and producing sustained vowels in a controlled acoustic environment. The collected samples were reproduced by a Head and Torso Simulator and recorded in three clinical rooms and in a sound booth using six different microphones. Newer measures (eg, Pitch Strength, cepstral peak prominence, Acoustic Voice Quality Index), as well as more traditional measures (eg Jitter, Shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio and Spectrum Tilt), were calculated from the samples collected with each microphone and within each room.

Results

The measures which are more robust to room acoustic differences, background noise, and microphone quality include Jitter and smooth cepstral peak prominence, followed by Shimmer, Acoustic Voice Quality Index, harmonics-to-noise ratio, Pitch Strength, and Spectrum Tilt.

Conclusions

The effect of room acoustics and background noise on voice parameters appears to be stronger than the type of microphone used for the recording. Consequently, an appropriate acoustical clinical space may be more important than the quality of the microphone.

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How Much Loading Does Water Resistance Voice Therapy Impose on the Vocal Folds? An Experimental Human Study

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Journal of Voice

Author(s): Anne-Maria Laukkanen, Ahmed Geneid, Vítězslav Bula, Vojtěch Radolf, Jaromír Horáček, Tero Ikävalko, Tarja Kukkonen, Elina Kankare, Jaana Tyrmi

Abstract

Objectives

Water resistance voice therapy applies phonation into water through a tube. This study investigates how strenuous this therapy can be for the vocal folds in terms of impact stress (IS). It further examines whether it is possible to estimate the IS using the contact quotient (CQ) and maximum derivative from an electroglottogram (EGG).

Study design

Experimental study.

Methods

A male participant sustained a rounded back vowel [u:] or [o:] at a comfortable speaking pitch and loudness, and phonated into a silicone "Lax Vox" tube submerged 2 cm in water. High-speed videolaryngoscopy was performed with a rigid scope. Oral air pressure (P_oral) was registered in a mouthpiece through which an endoscope was inserted into the larynx. An EGG was recorded.

Results

The CQ_EGG from the EGG and the closed quotient from the glottal width (CQ_area) increased, while the maximum glottal amplitude and absolute value of derivative minimum (d_min) and also the derivative maximum from the EGG decreased for phonation into water. Normalized amplitude quotient from the glottal width variation also decreased but the change was not significant.

Conclusions

Based on the glottal area findings, water resistance therapy does not seem to increase vocal fold loading (in terms of increased IS) even if the increase of CQ_area, and CQ_EGG suggest so. CQ_EGG may qualitatively correspond to that of area, but the reliability of CQ (from the glottal area or the EGG) and the maximum derivative from the EGG as estimates of IS in semiocclusion exercises warrant further studies.

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Corrigendum to “MMP-3 and MMP-8 in rat mandibular condylar cartilage associated with dietary loading, estrogen level, and aging” [Arch. Oral Biol. 97 (2019) 238–244]

Publication date: February 2019

Source: Archives of Oral Biology, Volume 98

Author(s): Jia Yu, Eerika Mursu, Matleena Typpö, Sakari Laaksonen, Hanna-Marja Voipio, Paula Pesonen, Aune Raustia, Pertti Pirttiniemi

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The effect of unilateral lingual nerve injury on the kinematics of mastication in pigs

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Author(s): Stéphane J. Montuelle, Rachel A. Olson, Hannah Curtis, JoAnna V. Sidote, Susan H. Williams

Abstract

Objective

This study evaluates the effect of unilateral lingual sensory loss on the spatial and temporal dynamics of jaw movements during pig chewing.

Design

X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) was used to reconstruct the 3-dimensional jaw movements of 6 pigs during chewing before and after complete unilateral lingual nerve transection. The effect of the transection were evaluated at the temporal and spatial level using Multiple Analysis of Variance. Temporal variables include gape cycle and phase durations, and the corresponding relative phase durations. Spatial variables include the amplitude of jaw opening, jaw yaw, and of mandibular retraction-protraction.

Results

The temporal and spatial dynamics of jaw movements did not differ when chewing ipsi-versus contralateral to the transection. When compared to pre-transection data, 4 of the 6 animals showed significant changes in temporal characteristics of the gape cycle following the transection, irrespective of chewing side, but the specific response to the lesion was highly dependent on the animal. On the other hand, in affected individuals the amplitude of jaw movements was altered similarly in all 3 dimensions: jaw opening and protraction-retraction increased whereas jaw yaw decreased.

Conclusion

The variable impact of this injury in this animal model suggests that individuals use different compensatory strategies to adjust or maintain the temporal dynamics of the gape cycle. Because the amplitude of jaw movements are more adversely affected than their timing, results suggest that maintaining the tongue-jaw coordination is critical and this can come at the expense of bolus handling and masticatory performance.

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Screening of hydrogel-based scaffolds for dental pulp regeneration—A systematic review

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Author(s): K.A. Fukushima, M.M. Marques, T.K. Tedesco, G.L. de Carvalho, F. Gonçalves, H. Caballero-Flores, S. Morimoto, M.S. Moreira

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the most appropriate hydrogel scaffold type (natural, synthetic or hybrid) to be applied with stem cells for dental pulp regeneration. The findings should help clinicians make an informed choice about the appropriate scaffold to be applied for this approach.

Design

Three electronic databases were searched (Medline, Web of Science and Scopus). The review was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA).

Results

From 4,990 potentially relevant studies initially identified, 18 papers fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were considered for this review. Natural scaffolds were applied in most studies. Collagen was the most studied scaffold. In 5 of 10 studies, only growth factors were added to the constructs. Even without growth factors, these scaffolds containing stem cells were able to support the formation of dentin. The synthetic scaffolds were the least studied. Only 4 studies were selected, and in 3 of them, the same scaffold (Puramatrix) was evaluated. Puramatrix by itself was unable to form dental pulp when dental pulp stem cells were not present. Synthetic and hybrid hydrogels were unable to attract stem cells from the host. The presence of growth factors in these constructs seems to be of relevance since dental pulp tissue formation was achieved only when the hybrid scaffold was applied with growth factors.

Conclusion

All types of hydrogel-based scaffolds, when containing mesenchymal stem cells, are able to form connective tissue with different degrees of similarity to dental pulp. However, current data is too heterogeneous to compare and identify the advantages of any specific scaffold.

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Molecular docking and in silico studies of the physicochemical properties of potential inhibitors for the phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus mutans

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Author(s): Wbeimar Andrey Rivera-Péreza, Andrés Felipe Yépes-Pérez, Maria Cecilia Martínez-Pabóna

Abstract

This study identified potential inhibitory compounds of the phosphoenolpyruvate-sugar

Phosphotransferase system of S. mutans, specifically enzyme II mannose transporter (EII^Man) in its subunits IIA, IIB and IIC by means of a selection protocol and in silico molecular analysis.

Intervening the phosphotransferase system would compromise the physiological behavior and the pathogenic expression of S. mutans, and possibly other acidogenic bacteria that use phosphotransferases in their metabolism—making the phosphotransferase system a therapeutic target for the selective control of acidogenic microorganisms in caries control.

Several computational techniques were used to evaluate molecular, physicochemical, and toxicological aspects of various compounds. Molecular docking was used to calculate the binding potential (ΔG) between receptor protein subunits and more than 836,000 different chemical compounds from the ZINC database. Physicochemical parameters related to the compounds' pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic indicators were evaluated, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), and chemical analysis characterized the compounds structures.

Thirteen compounds with EII binding potential of the phosphotransferase system of S. mutans and favorable ADMET properties were identified. Six spirooxindoles and three pyrrolidones stand out from the found compounds; unique structural characteristics of spirooxindoles and pyrrolidones associated with various reported biological activities like anti-microbial, antiinflammatory, anticancer, nootropic, neuroprotective and antiepileptic effects, among other pharmacological effects with surprising differences in terms of mechanisms of action.

Following studies will provide more evidence of the action of these compounds on the phosphotransferase system of S. mutans, and its possible applications.

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Evaluation of teriparatide effect on healing of autografted mandibular defects in rats

Publication date: Available online 23 November 2018

Source: Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): Mohammad Zandi, Arash Dehghan, Faezeh Gheysari, Leila Rezaeian, Naser Mohammad Gholi Mezerji

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effects of short-term teriparatide administration on healing of autologous bone graft in mandibular critical-size defects.

Subjects

and methods: A 5-mm mandibular bone defect was created and iliac bone graft was harvested in 135 rats. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of negative control (NC), control (C), and study (S). In groups S and C, iliac graft was placed in defect and 2 μg/kg/day teriparatide or saline, respectively, was administered for 20 days. In group NC, iliac graft was not transferred to the defect and saline was injected for 20 days. Twenty, 40, and 60 days after surgery, 15 rats in each group were euthanized and the healing process was histologically evaluated and scored using a grading system (1 to 6).

Results

In group NC, defects did not heal or were predominantly filled with fibrous tissue. At day 20, bone defects in both C and S groups contained a large area of graft particles, numerous collagen fibers and some areas of new trabeculae. At the day 40, defects in group S showed a larger bone graft area, more new bone formation, smaller connective tissue area, and a higher healing score compared to group C (P<0.05). At day 60, most of the defect in group S was filled with graft particles and mature bone while in group C, new trabecular bone formation was still underway (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Teriparatide therapy improves healing of bone defects reconstructed with autograft by reducing bone graft resorption and enhancing new bone formation and maturation.

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The limited role of elective neck dissection in patients with cN0 salivary gland carcinoma

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): Kai Qian, Kai Guo, Xiaoke Zheng, Wenyu Sun, Tuanqi Sun, Lili Chen, Ding Ma, Yi Wu, Qinghai Ji, Zhuoying Wang

Summary

Purpose

To evaluate whether elective neck dissection (END) was beneficial for cN0 patients with salivary gland carcinoma.

Materials and methods

The rates of regional failure-free survival and disease-free survival were calculated using Kaplan–Meier methods and Cox models. The risk factors for occult lymph node metastasis (OLNM) in cN0 patients undergoing END was analyzed using logistic regression. A nomogram was formulated to calculate the estimated probability of OLNM.

Results

Neck dissection was performed in 84 patients (43.3%). OLNM was detected in eight of the patients who underwent END. During the follow-up period, regional recurrences involving cervical lymph nodes were found in 10 patients. Cox model analysis revealed that neck dissection was not related to regional failure-free survival and disease-free survival. Logistic regression analysis revealed that older age, neural symptoms, and positive adjacent lymph nodes were associated with OLNM. A nomogram comprising age, neural symptoms, and adjacent lymph nodes was developed to predict the risk of OLNM.

Conclusion

The incidence of OLNM was low in cN0 patients after detailed preoperative evaluations. There was no strong evidence supporting END as a conventional therapy in cN0 patients with salivary cancers. Our nomogram is a simple and practical instrument for strengthening the prediction of OLNM.

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The Effects of Le Fort I Osteotomy on Velopharyngeal Function in Cleft Patients

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): Suvi Alaluusua, Leena Turunen, Anne Saarikko, Ahmed Geneid, Junnu Leikola, Arja Heliövaara

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Repeatability of Regional Lung Ventilation Quantification Using Fluorinated (19F) Gas Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Academic Radiology

Author(s): Marcel Gutberlet, Till F. Kaireit, Andreas Voskrebenzev, Agilo L. Kern, Arnd Obert, Frank Wacker, Jens M. Hohlfeld, Jens Vogel-Claussen

Rationale and Objectives

To assess the repeatability of global and regional lung ventilation quantification in both healthy subjects and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using fluorinated (¹⁹F) gas washout magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in free breathing.

Material and Methods

In this prospective institutional review board-approved study, 12 healthy nonsmokers and eight COPD patients were examined with ¹⁹F dynamic gas washout MR imaging in free breathing and with lung function testing. Measurements were repeated within 2 weeks. Lung ventilation was quantified using ¹⁹F gas washout time. Repeatability was analyzed for the total lung and on a regional basis using the coefficient of variation (COV) and Bland–Altman plots.

Results

In healthy subjects and COPD patients, a good repeatability was found for lung ventilation quantification using dynamic ¹⁹F gas washout MR imaging on a global (COV < 8%) and regional (COV < 15%) level. Gas washout time was significantly increased in the COPD group compared to the healthy subjects.

Conclusion

¹⁹F gas washout MR imaging provides a good repeatability of lung ventilation quantification and appears to be sensitive to early changes of regional lung function alterations such as normal aging.

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Editorial Board

Publication date: November 2018

Source: Journal of Phonetics, Volume 71

Author(s):

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