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Background: Depression is a chronic psychiatric disease of multifactorial etiology, and its pathophysiology is not fully understood. Stress and other chronic inflammatory pathologies are shared risk factors for psychiatric diseases, and comorbidities are features of major depression. Epidemiological evidence suggests that periodontitis, as a source of low-grade chronic systemic inflammation, may be associated with depression, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood., Methods: Periodontitis (P) was induced in Wistar: Han rats through oral gavage with the pathogenic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum for 12 weeks, followed by 3 weeks of chronic mild stress (CMS) to induce depressive-like behavior. The following four groups were established (n = 12 rats/group): periodontitis and CMS (P + CMS+), periodontitis without CMS, CMS without periodontitis, and control. The morphology and inflammatory phenotype of microglia in the frontal cortex (FC) were studied using immunofluorescence and bioinformatics tools. The endocannabinoid (EC) signaling and proteins related to synaptic plasticity were analyzed in FC samples using biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques., Results: Ultrastructural and fractal analyses of FC revealed a significant increase in the complexity and heterogeneity of Iba1 + parenchymal microglia in the combined experimental model (P + CMS+) and increased expression of the proinflammatory marker inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), while there were no changes in the expression of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). In the FC protein extracts of the P + CMS + animals, there was a decrease in the levels of the EC metabolic enzymes N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) compared to those in the controls, which extended to protein expression in neurons and in FC extracts of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and to the intracellular signaling molecules phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). The protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and synaptophysin were also lower in P + CMS + animals than in controls., Conclusions: The combined effects on microglial morphology and inflammatory phenotype, the EC signaling, and proteins related to synaptic plasticity in P + CMS + animals may represent relevant mechanisms explaining the association between periodontitis and depression. These findings highlight potential therapeutic targets that warrant further investigation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Monoclonal antibodies inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (iTNF-α) have revolutionized the therapeutic regimen of inflammatory bowel disease, but their main drawback is the parenteral route of administration they require. An alternative approach lies in the delivery of these molecules to the area involved in the inflammatory process by means of innovative formulations able to promote their localization in affected tissues while also decreasing the number of administrations required. This review describes the advantages deriving from the use of lipid- and polymer-based systems containing iTNF-α, focusing on their physicochemical and technological properties and discussing the preclinical results obtained in vivo using rodent models of colitis., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Shape morphing in bistable kirigami enables remarkable functionalities appealing to a diverse range of applications across the spectrum of length scale. At the core of their shape shifting lies the architecture of their repeating unit, where highly deformable slits and quasi-rigid rotating units often exhibit multiple symmetries that confer isotropic deployment obeying uniform scaling transformation. In this work, symmetry breaking in bistable kirigami is investigated to access geometric frustration and anisotropic morphing, enabling arbitrarily scaled deployment in planar and spatial bistable domains. With an analysis on their symmetry properties complemented by a systematic investigation integrating semi-analytical derivations, numerical simulations, and experiments on elastic kirigami sheets, this work unveils the fundamental relations between slit symmetry, geometric frustration, and anisotropic bistable deployment. Furthermore, asymmetric kirigami units are leveraged in planar and flat-to-3D demonstrations to showcase the pivotal role of shear deformation in achieving target shapes and functions so far unattainable with uniformly stretchable kirigami. The insights provided in this work unveil the role of slit symmetry breaking in controlling the anisotropic bistable deployment of soft kirigami metamaterials, enriching the range of achievable functionalities for applications spanning deployable space structures, wearable technologies, and soft machines., (© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Wound healing is a challenging clinical problem and efficient wound management is essential to prevent infection. This is best done by utilizing biocompatible materials in order to complete the healing in a rapid manner, with functional and esthetic outcomes. In this context, the zein protein fulfills the criteria of the ideal wound dressing which include non-toxicity and non-inflammatory stimulation. Zein gels containing rutin were prepared without any chemical refinement or addition of gelling agents in order to obtain a natural formulation characterized by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to be proposed for the treatment of burns and sores. In vitro scratch assay showed that the proposed gel formulations promoted cell migration and a rapid gap closure within 24 h (~90 %). In addition, the in vivo activities of rutin-loaded zein gel showed a greater therapeutic efficacy in Wistar rats, with a decrease of the wound area of about 90 % at day 10 with respect to the free form of the bioactive and to DuoDERM®. The evaluation of various markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of the proposed formulation. The results illustrate the feasibility of exploiting the peculiar features of rutin-loaded zein gels for wound-healing purposes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The current investigation emphasizes the use of fucoidan and sericin as dual-role biomaterials for obtaining novel nanohybrid systems for the delivery of diclofenac sodium (DS) and the potential treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. The innovative formulations containing 4 mg/ml of fucoidan and 3 mg/ml of sericin showed an average diameter of about 200 nm, a low polydispersity index (0.17) and a negative surface charge. The hybrid nanosystems demonstrated high stability at various pHs and temperatures, as well as in both saline and glucose solutions. The Rose Bengal assay evidenced that fucoidan is the primary modulator of relative surface hydrophobicity with a two-fold increase of this parameter when compared to sericin nanoparticles. The interaction between the drug and the nanohybrids was confirmed through FT-IR analysis. Moreover, the release profile of DS from the colloidal systems showed a prolonged and constant drug leakage over time both at pH 5 and 7. The DS-loaded nanohybrids (DIFUCOSIN) induced a significant decrease of IL-6 and IL-1β with respect to the active compound in human chondrocytes evidencing a synergistic action of the individual components of nanosystems and the drug and demonstrating the potential application of the proposed nanomedicine for the treatment of inflammation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Biases and gender disparities influence career pathways within medicine, and vascular surgery is no exception. Venous disease comprises an estimated 1% to 3% of total health care expenditures. However, its value among vascular surgeons is poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence vascular surgeons' current perceptions of superficial and deep venous disease treatments., Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed electronically to practicing vascular surgeons in December 2021. The respondents were stratified by gender and practice breakdown. A venous-heavy practice was defined as a practice with venous work comprising ≥25% of the total volume. Changes in practice patterns over the respondent's career were also explored. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed using STATA (StataCorp)., Results: A total of 315 practicing vascular surgeons responded, with 81.5% from the United States. Their mean age was 46.6 ± 9.6 years, and most identified as men (63.3%). The race and ethnicity breakdown was as follows: White (non-Hispanic), 63.0%; Asian or Asian Indian, 17.1%; Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish, 8.4%; Black, 1.6%; and unknown, 9.9%. The practice settings were academic for 47.0%, private practice for 26.5%, hospital employed for 23.3%, and other for 3.2%. The female respondents were significantly younger (P < .0001), with fewer years in practice (P < .0001) and were more likely to perceive a gender bias within a career encompassing venous disease compared with the male respondents (P = .02). Of the 315 participants, 143 (45.4%) had a venous-heavy practice. No differences were found in age or gender between the venous-heavy and venous-light practices. Those with a venous-heavy practice had significantly more years in practice statistically (P = .02), had sought more venous training after graduation (P < .0001), were more likely to be in private practice (P < .0001), and were more likely to desire a practice change (P = .001) compared with those with a venous-light practice. Overall, 74.3% of respondents indicated that venous work might be less "valued" than arterial work in the field of vascular surgery. On multivariable regression, the predictors for the perception of venous work being less valued were female gender (odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-4.03) and completion of a vascular surgery fellowship (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-3.57)., Conclusions: Vascular surgeons overwhelmingly perceived the management of venous disease to be of less value than that of arterial disease, particularly by women and fellowship-trained vascular surgeons. The prevalence of venous disease, as measured by its proportion of the U.S. healthcare budget, cannot be overstated. Thus, efforts to elevate the importance of chronic venous disease within the scope of vascular surgery practices are essential to ensure patients are provided with appropriate specialty care., (Copyright © 2023 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are found in up to 6% of men and 1.7% of women over the age of 65 years and are usually asymptomatic. The natural history of aortic aneurysms is continued dilation leading to rupture, which is associated with an overall 80% mortality. Of the patients with ruptured aneurysms that undergo intervention, half will not survive their hospitalization. Reduction in aneurysm mortality is therefore achieved by prophylactic repair during the asymptomatic period. On a population-based level, this is supported by abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programs. Approximately 60% of abdominal aortic aneurysms are confined to the infrarenal portion of the aorta and are amenable to repair with off-the-shelf endovascular devices. Endovascular techniques have now replaced open surgery as the primary modality for aneurysm repair., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hybrid nanoparticles made up of zein and various stabilizers were developed and characterized. In detail, a zein concentration of 2 mg/ml was blended with various amounts of different phospholipids or PEG-derivatives in order to obtain formulations with suitable physico-chemical properties for drug delivery purposes. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was used as a model of a hydrophilic compound and its entrapment efficiency, release profile and cytotoxic activity were investigated. Photon correlation spectroscopy showed that the best formulations were obtained using DMPG, DOTAP and DSPE-mPEG2000 as stabilizers of zein nanoparticles, which were characterized by an average diameter of ~100 nm, a narrow size distribution and a significant time- and temperature-dependent stability. The interaction between protein and stabilizers was confirmed through FT-IR analysis, while TEM analysis showed the presence of a shell-like structure around the zein core. The release profiles of the drug from the zein/DSPE-mPEG2000 nanosystems, evaluated at two pHs (5.5 and 7.4), showed a prolonged and constant leakage of the drug. The encapsulation of DOX within zein/DSPE-mPEG2000 nanosystems did not compromise its biological efficacy, demonstrating the potential application of these hybrid nanoparticles as drug carriers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To characterize the subgingival microbiome in subjects with different periodontal health statuses., Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, subgingival samples were harvested from Spanish subjects with different periodontal health statuses, based on the 2018 Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. Samples were processed using high-throughput sequencing technologies (Illumina MiSeq). Taxa differentially abundant were identified using Analysis of Compositions of Microbiomes with Bias Correction (ANCOM-BC). α- and β-diversity metrics were calculated using q2-diversity in QIIME2. The analyses were adjusted for age, gender and smoking status., Results: The identified subgingival microbiome showed statistically significant differences among subjects, categorized into periodontal health, gingivitis and stages I-II and III-IV periodontitis (p < .05). In patients with severe (stages III-IV) periodontitis, the genera Filifactor and Fretibacterium were detected 24 times more frequently than in periodontally healthy subjects. Similarly, the genera Porphyromonas, Prevotella and Tannerella were detected four times more frequently (p < .05). The genera Granulicatella, Streptococcus, Paracoccus, Pseudomonas, Haemophilus, Actinobacteria, Bergeyella and Capnocytophaga were significantly associated with healthier periodontal status (p < .05)., Conclusions: Significant differences were detected in the subgingival microbiome among periodontal health, gingivitis and stages I-II or III-IV periodontitis, suggesting overlapping, yet distinguishable microbial profiles., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: To answer the following PICO question: In systemically healthy humans with peri-implant mucositis, what is the efficacy of patient-performed or administered (by prescription) measures used adjunctively to submarginal instrumentation, as compared to submarginal instrumentation alone or combined with a negative control, in terms of reducing bleeding on probing (BOP), in randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with at least 3 months of follow-up?, Materials and Methods: Three databases were searched until April 2022. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and predictive intervals were calculated., Results: Sixteen parallel RCTs corresponding to 14 studies with low/moderate risk of bias were included. Test groups showed greater reductions in BOP (%) than control groups (n studies  = 16; n patients  = 650; WMD = 14.25%; 95% CI [9.06-19.45]; p < .001; I 2  = 98.7%). The greatest WMD in BOP reductions (%) were obtained by antiseptics (n s  = 5; n p  = 229; WMD = 22.72%; 95% CI [19.40-26.04]; p < 0.001; I 2  = 94.8%), followed by probiotics (n s  = 6; n p  = 260; WMD = 12.11%; 95% CI [3.20-21.03]; p = .008; I 2  = 93.3%) and systemic antibiotics (n s  = 3; n p  = 101; WMD = 5.97%; 95% CI [1.34-10.59]; p = .012; I 2  = 58.1%). Disease resolution was scarcely reported (n = 6)., Conclusions: Significant clinical improvements can be obtained when professional submarginal instrumentation is combined with patient-performed or administered (by prescription) adjunctive measures, although a complete disease resolution may not be achieved., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Periodontology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: To explore the potential mechanisms of neuroinflammation (microglia, blood-brain barrier [BBB] permeability, and the sphingosine-1-phosphate [S1P] pathways) resulting from the association between periodontitis and depression in rats., Materials and Methods: This pre-clinical in vivo experimental study used Wistar rats, in which experimental periodontitis (P) was induced by using oral gavages with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Then, a chronic mild stress (CMS) model was implemented to induce a depressive-like behaviour, resulting in four groups: P with CMS (P+CMS+), P without CMS (P+CMS-), CMS without P (P-CMS+), and control (P-CMS-). After harvesting brain samples, protein/mRNA expression analyses and fluorescence immunohistochemistry were performed in the frontal cortex (FC). Results were analysed by ANOVA., Results: CMS exposure increased the number of microglia (an indicator of neuroinflammation) in the FC. In the combined model (P+CMS+), there was a decrease in the expression of tight junction proteins (zonula occludens-1 [ZO-1], occludin) and an increase in intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), suggesting a more severe disruption of the BBB. The enzymes and receptors of S1P were also differentially regulated., Conclusions: Microglia, BBB permeability, and S1P pathways could be relevant mechanisms explaining the association between periodontitis and depression., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric matrix made up of poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) was used for the simultaneous delivery of rutin and the ( S )- N -(2-oxo-3-oxetanyl)biphenyl-4-carboxamide derivative (URB894). The goal was to exploit the well-known radical scavenging properties of rutin and the antioxidant features recently reported for the molecules belonging to the class of N -acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NAAA) inhibitors, such as URB894. The use of the compounds, both as single agents or in association promoted the development of negatively-charged nanosystems characterized by a narrow size distribution and an average diameter of ~200 nm when 0.2-0.6 mg/mL of rutin or URB894 were used. The obtained multidrug carriers evidenced an entrapment efficiency of ~50% and 40% when 0.4 and 0.6 mg/mL of rutin and URB894 were associated during the sample preparation, respectively. The multidrug formulation evidenced an improved in vitro dose-dependent protective effect against H 2 O 2 -related oxidative stress with respect to that of the nanosystems containing the active compounds as a single agent, confirming the rationale of using the co-encapsulation approach to obtain a novel antioxidant nanomedicine.

Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is a well-known antitumor drug used as first line treatment for many types of malignancies. Despite its clinical relevance, the administration of the compound is negatively affected by dose-dependent off-target toxicity phenomena. Nanotechnology has helped to overcome these important limitations by improving the therapeutic index of the bioactive and promoting the translation of novel nanomedicines into clinical practice. Herein, nanoparticles made up of wheat gliadin and stabilized by polyoxyethylene (2) oleyl ether were investigated for the first time as carriers of DOX. The encapsulation of the compound did not significantly affect the physico-chemical features of the gliadin nanoparticles (GNPs), which evidenced a mean diameter of ~180 nm, a polydispersity index < 0.2 and a negative surface charge. The nanosystems demonstrated great stability regarding temperature (25−50 °C) and were able to retain high amounts of drug, allowing its prolonged and sustained release for up to a week. In vitro viability assay performed against breast cancer cells demonstrated that the nanoencapsulation of DOX modulated the cytotoxicity of the bioactive as a function of the incubation time with respect to the free form of the drug. The results demonstrate the potential use of GNPs as carriers of hydrophilic antitumor compounds.

The manuscript describes the development of zein nanoparticles containing paclitaxel (PTX) and the bromo-and extra-terminal domain inhibitor (S)-tertbutyl2-(4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3,9-trimethyl-6H-thieno(3,2-f)(1,2,4)triazolo(4,3-a)(1,4)diazepin-6-yl)acetate (JQ1) together with their cytotoxicity on triple-negative breast cancer cells. The rationale of this association is that of exploiting different types of cancer cells as targets in order to obtain increased pharmacological activity with respect to that exerted by the single agents. Zein, a protein found in the endosperm of corn, was used as a biomaterial to obtain multidrug carriers characterized by mean sizes of ˂200 nm, a low polydispersity index (0.1-0.2) and a negative surface charge. An entrapment efficiency of ~35% of both the drugs was obtained when 0.3 mg/mL of the active compounds were used during the nanoprecipitation procedure. No adverse phenomena such as sedimentation, macro-aggregation or flocculation occurred when the nanosystems were heated to 37 °C. The multidrug nanoformulation demonstrated significant in vitro cytototoxic activity against MDA-MB-157 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells by MTT-test and adhesion assay which was stronger than that of the compounds encapsulated as single agents. The results evidence the potential application of zein nanoparticles containing PTX and JQ1 as a novel nanomedicine.

Background: Cancer is a common disease in dogs, with a growing incidence related to the age of the animal. Nanotechnology is being employed in the veterinary field in the same manner as in human therapy., Aim: This review focuses on the application of biocompatible nanocarriers for the treatment of canine cancer, paying attention to the experimental studies performed on dogs with spontaneously occurring cancer., Methods: The most important experimental investigations based on the use of lipid and non-lipid nanosystems proposed for the treatment of canine cancer, such as liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles containing doxorubicin, paclitaxel and cisplatin, are described and their in vivo fate and antitumor features discussed., Conclusions: Dogs affected by spontaneous cancers are useful models for evaluating the efficacy of drug delivery systems containing antitumor compounds.

Aim: To answer these PICO questions: #1: In adult patients with malocclusion, what are the effects of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) on clinical attachment level (CAL) changes in treated periodontitis patients with a healthy but reduced periodontium compared to non-periodontitis patients? #2: In adult patients with treated periodontitis and malocclusion, which is the efficacy of skeletal anchorage devices compared to conventional systems in terms of orthodontic treatment outcomes?, Material and Methods: Seven databases were searched until June 2020 looking for randomized, non-randomized trials and case series. Mean effects (ME) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated., Results: Twenty-six studies with high risk of bias were included. PICO#1: In 26 patients without periodontitis and in 69 treated periodontitis patients, minimal changes in periodontal outcomes were reported after orthodontic therapy (p > 0.05). A significant CAL gain (mm) (ME = 3.523; 95% CI [2.353; 4.693]; p < 0.001) was observed in 214 patients when periodontal outcomes were retrieved before a combined periodontal and orthodontic therapy. PICO#2: Orthodontic variables were scarcely reported, and objective assessment of the results on orthodontic therapy was missing., Conclusions: Based on a small number of low-quality studies, in non-periodontitis and in stable treated periodontitis patients, OTM had no significant impact on periodontal outcomes., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Highly expressed in the enterohepatic system, pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2) is a well-characterized nuclear receptor (NR) that regulates the expression of genes in the liver and intestines that encode key drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporter proteins in mammals. The net effect of PXR activation is to increase metabolism and clear drugs and xenobiotics from the body, producing a protective effect and mediating clinically significant drug interaction in patients on combination therapy. The complete understanding of PXR biology is thus important for the development of safe and effective therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, PXR activation is now known to specifically transrepress the inflammatory- and nutrient-signaling pathways of gene expression, thereby providing a mechanism for linking these signaling pathways together with enzymatic drug biotransformation pathways in the liver and intestines. Recent research efforts highlight numerous post-translational modifications (PTMs) which significantly influence the biological function of PXR. However, this thrust of research is still in its infancy. In the context of gene-environment interactions, we present a review of the recent literature that implicates PXR PTMs in regulating its clinically relevant biology. We also provide a discussion of how these PTMs likely interface with each other to respond to extracellular cues to appropriately modify PXR activity.

The OPERA experiment was designed to discover the v τ appearance in a v μ beam, due to neutrino oscillations. The detector, located in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory, consisted of a nuclear photographic emulsion/lead target with a mass of about 1.25 kt, complemented by electronic detectors. It was exposed from 2008 to 2012 to the CNGS beam: an almost pure v μ beam with a baseline of 730 km, collecting a total of 1.8·10 20 protons on target. The OPERA Collaboration eventually assessed the discovery of v μ →v τ oscillations with a statistical significance of 6.1 σ by observing ten v τ CC interaction candidates. These events have been published on the Open Data Portal at CERN. This paper provides a detailed description of the v τ data sample to make it usable by the whole community., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Complex endovascular aortic interventions in patients with excessive tortuosity or difficult gantry angles can be challenging. Although fusion imaging can help navigate these issues, it is based on preoperative imaging studies, which becomes skewed after introduction of stiff wires and large devices into the aorta. The subtraction spin protocol performs two cone-beam computed tomography scans to create a subtracted image of the contrast-filled vessels after wire and device placement to accommodate vessel distortion. We have reported a complex fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair case with a highly angulated neck to highlight the advantages of the subtraction spin protocol in anatomically hostile endovascular repairs., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Aim: To analyse, through a pre-clinical in vivo model, the possible mechanisms linking depression and periodontitis at behavioural, microbiological and molecular levels., Materials and Methods: Periodontitis (P) was induced in Wistar:Han rats (oral gavages with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum) during 12 weeks, followed by a 3-week period of Chronic Mild Stress (CMS) induction. Four groups (n = 12 rats/group) were obtained: periodontitis and CMS (P+CMS+); periodontitis without CMS; CMS without periodontitis; and control. Periodontal clinical variables, alveolar bone levels (ABL), depressive-like behaviour, microbial counts and expression of inflammatory mediators in plasma and brain frontal cortex (FC), were measured. ANOVA tests were applied., Results: The highest values for ABL occurred in the P+CMS+ group, which also presented the highest expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β and NF-kB) in frontal cortex, related to the lipoprotein APOA1-mediated transport of bacterial lipopolysaccharide to the brain and the detection of F. nucleatum in the brain parenchyma. A dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress axis, reflected by the increase in plasma corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor levels in FC, was also found in this group., Conclusions: Neuroinflammation induced by F. nucleatum (through a leaky mouth) might act as the linking mechanism between periodontal diseases and depression., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal Na + channels that are activated by a drop in pH. Their established physiological and pathological roles, involving fear behaviors, learning, pain sensation, and neurodegeneration after stroke, make them promising targets for future drugs. Currently, the ASIC activation mechanism is not understood. Here, we used voltage-clamp fluorometry (VCF) combined with fluorophore-quencher pairing to determine the kinetics and direction of movements. We show that conformational changes with the speed of channel activation occur close to the gate and in more distant extracellular sites, where they may be driven by local protonation events. Further, we provide evidence for fast conformational changes in a pathway linking protonation sites to the channel pore, in which an extracellular interdomain loop interacts via aromatic residue interactions with the upper end of a transmembrane helix and would thereby open the gate., Competing Interests: SV, NA, JK, OB, SK No competing interests declared, (© 2021, Vullo et al.)

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) act as pH sensors in neurons. ASICs contribute to pain sensation, learning, fear behavior and to neuronal death after ischemic stroke. Extracellular acidification induces a transient activation and subsequent desensitization of these Na + -selective channels. ASICs are trimeric channels made of identical or homologous subunits. We have previously shown that mutation of the highly conserved Gly212 residue of human ASIC1a to Asp affects the channel function. Gly212 is located in the proximity of a predicted Cl - binding site at a subunit interface. Here, we have measured the function of a series of Gly212 mutants. We show that substitution of Gly212 affects the ASIC1a pH dependence and current decay kinetics. Intriguingly, the mutations to the acidic residues Asp and Glu have opposing effects on the pH dependence and the current decay kinetics. Analysis of molecular dynamics simulation trajectories started with the coordinates of the closed conformation indicates that the immediate environment of residue 212 in G212E, which shifts the pH dependence to more alkaline values, adopts a conformation closer to the open state. The G212D and G212E mutants have a different pattern of intersubunit salt bridges, that, in the case of G212E, leads to an approaching of neighboring subunits. Based on the comparison of crystal structures, the conformational changes in this zone appear to be smaller during the open-desensitized transition. Nevertheless, MD simulations highlight differences between mutants, suggesting that the changed function upon substitution of residue 212 is due to differences in intra- and intersubunit interactions in its proximity., (Copyright © 2020 Bignucolo, Vullo, Ambrosio, Gautschi and Kellenberger.)

Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants were irradiated with different doses (0.3, 10, 50 and 100 Gy) of X-rays in order to obtain a reference curve of response to ionizing radiations for this species. Growth analysis, gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements were performed to estimate the radio-resistance of bean plants. Specifically, there was a negative influence of X-rays on the net photosynthesis rate at 50 and 100 Gy, already on the day of irradiation. Experimental data showed a recovery over time in the gas exchange while the theoretical maximum photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was fairly constant throughout the period of measurements (20 days) and for all the experimental conditions. On the other hand, the quantum yield of PSII linear electron transport (Φ PSII ) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were deeply influenced over time by X-ray dose, suggesting a decrease in the functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus at the highest radiation doses. The growth was affected only at the highest doses of radiation with a significant and severe reduction of leaf expansion and number of leaves per plant. Despite the arrest in growth, X-ray exposure seems to trigger an increased photochemical activity probably signifying that P. vulgaris plants have a fairly elevated resistance to this kind of ionizing radiation. Our current results will provide a complete analysis of the photosystem II (PSII) response of P. vulgaris to different doses (0.3, 10, 50 and 100 Gy) of X-rays, providing sound references for both space-oriented and radioecology questions.

Objective: To validate a multiplex real time qPCR (m-qPCR) assay for the simultaneous detection and quantification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia in subgingival samples, when compared with anaerobic culture., Material and Methods: Subgingival plaque samples were obtained from patients seeking periodontal treatment. Samples were processed in parallel by anaerobic culturing and by m-qPCR directed to the target bacterial species. Counts and frequency of detection were calculated and analyzed by Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests, respectively. Contingency tables were constructed, and sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and Lin's correlation coefficients were calculated., Results: Fifty-nine samples were included in the study. A good concordance was achieved between m-qPCR and culture for A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis (net agreement, 94.92% and 91.53%, respectively). For T. forsythia, m-qPCR showed statistically significant higher counts than culture (p < 0.005), and low specificity (3.12%) and concordance (47.46%). High sensitivity (above 96.22%) was attained for the three target bacteria with m-qPCR., Conclusion: Compared to culture, the tested m-qPCR assay for subgingival plaque samples showed high degree of sensitivity in the simultaneous quantification of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and T. forsythia., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Muography consists in observing the differential absorption of muons - elementary particles produced through cosmic-ray interactions in the Earth atmosphere - going through the volcano and can attain a spatial resolution of tens of meters. We present here the first experiment of nuclear emulsion muography at the Stromboli volcano. Muons have been recorded during a period of five months by a detector of 0.96 m 2 area. The emulsion films were prepared at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory and were analyzed at Napoli, Salerno and Tokyo scanning laboratories. Our results highlight a significant low-density zone at the summit of the volcano with density contrast of 30-40% with respect to bedrock. The structural setting of this part of the volcanic edifice controls the eruptive dynamics and the stability of the "Sciara del Fuoco" slope, which is affected by recurrent tsunamigenic landslides. Periodical imaging of the summit of the Stromboli volcano such as that provided by muography can become a useful method for studying the evolution of the internal structure of the volcanic edifice.

Several studies have tried to associate the presence of different pathogens with the onset and progression ofperiodontitis, reporting a wide variety of results from different populations and environments. The aim of this study was to determine the main periodontal pathogens present in the subgingival biofilm of Dominican patients with periodontitis, by using specific microbiological culturing techniques. Periodontitis patients were selected after a full-mouth periodontal evaluation, and assigned to different periodontitis groups based on percentage of affected locations. Subgingival samples were collected and analyzed by means of specific culture techniques. Anaerobic counts, frequency of detection and proportions of target pathogens were calculated. Variables were analyzed by means of Student's T-test or chi-square test. Twenty-nine subjects were recruited, of whom 17 were diagnosed with generalized periodontitis (GenP) and 12 with localized periodontitis (LocP). The most prevalent bacterial species in both groups was Prevotella intermedia (94.1% in GenP and 91.7% in LocP), followed by Porphyromonas gingivalis (88.2% in GenP and 83.3% in LocP). Total microbiota in subgingival samples was 1.3 x107 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL (standard deviation, SD=1.5 x107) and 9.6x10s CFU/mL (SD=1.1 x107) in GenP and LocP subjects, respectively, though differences were not statistically significant (p=0.222). The highest counts were observed for P gingivalis in both groups, with mean concentration 2.5x10s CFU/mL (6.1x10s) in GenP and 2.9x10s CFU/mL (5x10s) in LocP, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.879). These results suggest that relevant periodontal pathogens are found with diversity and abundance in the subgingival microbiota of adult Dominican patients with periodontitis., (Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Odontológica.)

Objective: This study was aimed to compare the presence and amounts of bacteremia induced by interdental brushing in periodontally healthy (H) and periodontitis (P) individuals using culture based (direct culture [DC]) and molecular based techniques (real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR]) in a cross-sectional study model., Materials and Methods: After a full mouth periodontal evaluation, blood samples were taken before and 1 min after professionally-administered interdental brushing. These samples were analyzed by DC and qPCR, targeting Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Subgingival samples were also collected and analyzed. Student t-test, chi-squar tests and correlations were used for analyzing the data., Results: Thirty individuals per group were included. P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans were detected with qPCR methods, but not with DC. At baseline, bacteremia was observed in 5 P patients (16.7%) and in 2 H individuals (6.6%) (p = 0.421). After interdental brushing, bacteremia was only observed in 2 P patients (6.6%) (p = 0.901). A positive correlation between subgingival and blood levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans was observed (r = 0.3; p = 0.013)., Conclusion: Bacteremia related to A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis did not significantly increase after a single session of use of interdental brushes., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The OPERA experiment was designed to study ν&#95;{μ}→ν&#95;{τ} oscillations in the appearance mode in the CERN to Gran Sasso Neutrino beam (CNGS). In this Letter, we report the final analysis of the full data sample collected between 2008 and 2012, corresponding to 17.97×10^{19} protons on target. Selection criteria looser than in previous analyses have produced ten ν&#95;{τ} candidate events, thus reducing the statistical uncertainty in the measurement of the oscillation parameters and of ν&#95;{τ} properties. A multivariate approach for event identification has been applied to the candidate events and the discovery of ν&#95;{τ} appearance is confirmed with an improved significance level of 6.1σ. |Δm&#95;{32}^{2}| has been measured, in appearance mode, with an accuracy of 20%. The measurement of the ν&#95;{τ} charged-current cross section, for the first time with a negligible contamination from ν[over ¯]&#95;{τ}, and the first direct evidence for the ν&#95;{τ} lepton number are also reported.

Objective: To validate a multiplex qPCR (m-qPCR) assay for the simultaneous identification and quantification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival samples., Material and Methods: In vitro samples: DNA combinations of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis in similar or different concentrations were prepared. qPCR and m-qPCR were performed using the same primers and hydrolysis probes specific for 16SrRNA genes. Results were analyzed using intra-class (ICCs) and Lin's correlation coefficients (r) based on quantification cycle (Cq) values. Subgingival plaque samples: a cross-sectional study analyzing subgingival plaque samples harvested from periodontally-healthy and chronic periodontitis patients. Samples were processed by either qPCR or m-qPCR targeting both bacteria. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and Lińs correlation coefficients (r) were calculated using CFU/mL as primary outcome., Results: In vitro samples: m-qPCR yielded a good reproducibility (coefficients of variation around 1% and ICCs > 0.99) for both bacterial species. m-qPCR achieved detection limits and specificity similar to qPCR. An excellent concordance (r = 0.99) was observed between m-qPCR and qPCR for A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis without statistical significant differences between both methods Subgingival plaque samples: a high sensitivity (above 80%) and specificity (100%) was obtained with the m-qPCR for both bacteria. The m-qPCR yielded a good concordance in Cq values, showing a good level of agreement between qPCR and m-qPCR., Conclusion: The tested m-qPCR method was successful in the simultaneous quantification of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis, with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity on subgingival plaque samples., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present paper we report the development of the Continuous Motion scanning technique and its implementation for a new generation of scanning systems. The same hardware setup has demonstrated a significant boost in the scanning speed, reaching 190 cm 2 /h. The implementation of the Continuous Motion technique in the LASSO framework, as well as a number of new corrections introduced are described in details. The performance of the system, the results of an efficiency measurement and potential applications of the technique are discussed.

Background: Culture-based methods (culture broth bottles or lysis methods) have been the standard for detecting bacteremia. More recently, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was proposed as a more sensitive and specific test although none of them has been validated for the identification of periodontal pathogens (fastidious growing bacteria) in blood samples., Objective: To compare the ability to detect and quantify Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus oralis (alone or in combination) in blood samples with three culture techniques [direct anaerobic culturing (DAC), haemo-culture (BACTEC), and lysis-centrifugation (LC)] and a non-culture dependent approach (qPCR) in an in vitro study., Material and Methods: Blood samples from 12 periodontally healthy volunteers were contaminated with three concentrations [10 4 ,10 2 and 10 1 colony forming units (CFU)/mL] of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and S. oralis, alone or in combination. Samples were analysed by DAC, BACTEC, LC and qPCR. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, kappa index and Lińs correlation coefficients were calculated., Results: DAC, LC and qPCR were able to detect the three target species at all concentrations. An excellent concordance (correlation coefficient r: 0.92-1) was observed between DAC and the reference standard (sensitivity raging 93.33-100% and specificity 88.89-100%) values. BACTEC was not able to identify P. gingivalis in any of the performed experiments. qPCR provided false negative results for S.oralis., Conclusions: DAC showed the best results for the proper identification and quantification of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and S. oralis, alone or in combination, in blood samples., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The kinetic characterization of the photosynthetic activity in autotrophic microalgae plays a key role in the design of optimized photobioreactors. This paper presents a procedure to assess kinetic parameters of a three-state photosynthetic reaction centres model. Four kinetic parameters of the model were assessed by processing the time-series measurements of pulse-amplitude modulation fluorimetry. The kinetic parameters were assessed for several microalgal strains (Stichococcus bacillaris, Scenedesmus vacuolatus, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella vulgaris) growth in vertical and inclined bubble columns and irradiated by white-light or red/blue light. The procedure was successfully applied to the investigated strains. The assessed parameters allow identifying the irradiance range under which: the photochemical process is controlled by the photons capture; the photoinhibition competes with the photochemical quenching. The analysis of the time-scale of the photosynthetic reaction centres as a function of the irradiance allows interpreting the performances of photobioreactors characterized by non-homogeneous irradiance., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The OPERA experiment was designed to search for ν&#95;{μ}→ν&#95;{τ} oscillations in appearance mode, i.e., by detecting the τ leptons produced in charged current ν&#95;{τ} interactions. The experiment took data from 2008 to 2012 in the CERN Neutrinos to Gran Sasso beam. The observation of the ν&#95;{μ}→ν&#95;{τ} appearance, achieved with four candidate events in a subsample of the data, was previously reported. In this Letter, a fifth ν&#95;{τ} candidate event, found in an enlarged data sample, is described. Together with a further reduction of the expected background, the candidate events detected so far allow us to assess the discovery of ν&#95;{μ}→ν&#95;{τ} oscillations in appearance mode with a significance larger than 5σ.

Introduction: Nowadays, aesthetic appearance is receiving more and more attention from clinicians and patients. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for the surgeon to maintain or to improve the quality and the stability of the soft tissue-implant interface. The scientific literature supports the idea that the immediate placement and provisionalization of endosseus implants and abutments can indeed offer additional clinical control over the peri-implant tissue architecture. On this basis, this prospective study aims to evaluate the changes in soft tissues around immediately loaded dental implants in full-arch rehabilitations, over a period of 3 months., Materials and Methods: Fifteen subjects were treated for immediate full-arch rehabilitations. Following implant placement, provisional rehabilitations made of bisphenol-A-glycidyldimethacrylate (BIS-GMA) and resin were placed. All records were made using a periodontal probe. The facial soft-tissue level was measured evaluating the distance between the soft-tissue margin and the incisal edge of the crown. Moreover, papilla levels were measured at the mesial and distal sites from a reference line connecting the occlusal edge of the crowns., Results: The average value at the mesial site was -0.035 mm (±1, median 0 mm), while at the midfacial site, it was 0 mm (±0.76, median 0 mm) and at the distal site, -0.05 mm (±0.92, median 0 mm). The plaque score index showed a reduction during the follow-up period., Discussion: Our data indicate that no differences at the midfacial point were detectable over the observation period. This is in agreement with several studies; it is plausible that these results are linked to a correct position of the implant in the alveolar socket. Moreover, comparing our results with what has been reported by other authors, it is surprising that while other studies highlight that papilla loss at the mesial and distal aspect is an expected consequence of immediate implant restorations, our data do not show any changes. The explanation of these results remains unclear. Further studies are needed to support our data and to clarify what mechanisms are involved in the maintenance of soft tissue., (© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

In highlight stress conditions, the mechanism of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of chlorophyll fluorescence is triggered at the chloroplast level. This process allows thermal quenching of the excessive excitation energy and it is strictly related to the efficiency of the xanthophyll cycle. Nowadays, the utilization of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provides a powerful complementary way for the identification and quantitative analysis of plant metabolites either in vivo or in tissue extracts. Seeing that the oxidative damage caused by light stress in plants and the consequent involvement of pigments are widely studied, NMR spectroscopy can be utilized to compare crude leaf extract at different levels of light stress, allowing an analysis of these compounds. In this paper, the identification of possible relationships between light stress and ¹H NMR signal variations is discussed. The analysis of the ¹H NMR (1D) spectra of two agronomic species (Spinacia oleracea and Beta vulgaris) exposed to different light intensities is presented. In particular, change in carotenoids and xanthophylls signals are analyzed.

Background: Anaemia is a risk factor for death, adverse cardiovascular outcomes and poor quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESA) are the most used treatment option. In observational studies, higher haemoglobin (Hb) levels (around 11-13 g/dL) are associated with improved survival and quality of life compared to Hb levels around 9-10 g/dL. Randomized studies found that targeting higher Hb levels with ESA causes an increased risk of death, mainly due to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. It is possible that this is mediated by ESA dose rather than haemoglobin concentration, although this hypothesis has never been formally tested., Methods: We present the protocol of the Clinical Evaluation of the Dose of Erythropoietins (C.E. DOSE) trial, which will assess the benefits and harms of a high versus a low ESA dose therapeutic strategy for the management of anaemia of end stage kidney disease (ESKD). This is a randomized, prospective open label blinded end-point (PROBE) design trial due to enroll 900 haemodialysis patients. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to 4000 UI/week i. v. versus 18000 UI/week i. v. of epoetin alfa, beta or any other epoetin in equivalent doses. The primary outcome of the trial is a composite of cardiovascular events. In addition, quality of life and costs of these two strategies will be assessed. The study has been approved and funded by the Italian Agency of Drugs (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA)) within the 2006 funding plan for independent research on drugs (registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00827021)).

The hallmark radiological finding in metastatic brain disease is multiple enhancing lesions. We report a case of metastatic lung cancer to the brain with a lack of contrast enhancement. We believe that this unusual finding is due to inadvertent "treatment" of the metastases with the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab (Avastin)., (Copyright © 2009 by the American Society of Neuroimaging.)

Osteochondromas are the most common benign bone tumor, most commonly found in the ends of long bones; however, they rarely involve facial bones, particularly the mandible. Osteochondromas involving the coronoid process have rarely been reported in the literature but pose a diagnostic dilemma. When large enough, osteochondromas of the mandibular coronoid process can form a joint with the zygomatic arch (Jacob's disease). This pseudoarticulation results in restricted jaw motion, which can clinically be mistaken for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. We report a case of a 39-year-old man with chronic restricted jaw motion undiagnosed for several years., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although neuroblastoma is a common childhood malignancy, which frequently metastasizes, involvement of the facial bones and paranasal sinuses are uncommonly reported in the literature. However, over the last several years, we have encountered an increasing number of cases of metastatic neuroblastoma to the central nervous system and head and neck. This article will review the common and uncommon imaging manifestations of metastatic neuroblastoma, with emphasis on the orbits, maxillofacial bones, and paranasal sinuses.

Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is a complex and still unclear mechanism essential for higher plants. The intensive research on this subject has highlighted three main components of NPQ: energy-dependent process (qE); state transitions to balance the excitation of PSII and PSI (qT); and photoinhibitory processes (qI). Recently, these components have been resolved as quantum yields according to the energy partitioning approach that takes into account the rate constants of every process involved in the quenching mechanisms of excited chlorophylls. In this study a fully extended quantum yield approach and the introduction of novel equations to assess the yields of each NPQ component are presented. Furthermore, a complete analysis of the yield of NPQ in Beta vulgaris exposed to different irradiances has been carried out. In agreement with experimental results here it is shown that the previous approach may amplify the yield of qE component and flatten the quantitative results of fluorescence analysis. Moreover, the significance of taking into account the physiological variability of NPQ for a correct assessment of energy partitioning is demonstrated.

Objective: Although neuroblastoma is a common childhood malignancy, which frequently metastasizes, involvement of the CNS is rarely reported in the literature. However, over the past several years, we have encountered an increasing number of cases of metastatic neuroblastoma to the CNS. This metastatic potential and changing metastatic pattern may, in part, be due to advances in medical treatment, leading to prolonged survival. This article will review the common and uncommon manifestations of metastatic neuroblastoma with an emphasis on the skull, dura, brain, ventricles, and leptomeninges., Conclusion: Neuroblastoma has diverse manifestations including masquerading as primary neurologic disease. This disease must be considered in a child with any unexplained neurologic disorder. Realizing that neuroblastoma may represent the cause of neurologic disease in a child will lead to earlier diagnosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the craniofacial and intracranial clinical and radiologic manifestations of patients diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). This report will compare the frequency of the various manifestations found in our series with those reported in the medical literature., Conclusion: In LCH, involvement of the calvaria, skull base, maxillofacial bones, and hypothalamic-pituitary axis is fairly common. The precise location of these lesions contributes to the variety of clinical manifestations of LCH, which includes scalp and/or facial swelling, seizures, hearing loss, recurrent otitis media, gingival bleeding, proptosis, diabetes insipidus, and cranial nerve palsies.

Background: The accurate measurement of total body water (TBW) requires isotopic dilution techniques that are not easily applicable to the clinical setting. Therefore, indirect methods of estimating TBW are commonly employed, such as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry. In the human body, >90% of the measured impedance is composed of resistance (R)., Methods: The aim of the present study was to compare TBW estimated by means of two anthropometric equations (by Watson and Hume) with TBW obtained by BIA (equations proposed by Sun et al.) in a group of white disease-free individuals (n = 3625, 1860 men and 1765 women) and white haemodialysis (HD) patients (n = 688, 443 men and 245 women). They underwent one single-frequency BIA measurement, on the nondominant side of the body, injecting an 800-muA and 50-kHz alternating sinusoidal current with a standard tetrapolar technique. The BIA variable measured was R., Results: Among them, a selection of disease-free individuals (n = 481) and HD patients (n = 270), pair-matched by age, body weight and height, after stratification by gender, was made. When comparing the four pair-matched groups, it was found that (1) TBW was not different (disease-free men versus HD men; disease-free women versus HD women) when using anthropometric equations, which utilize quite identical parameters (age, body weight and height); (2) R was statistically significantly different in the four groups (511 +/- 58 SD Omega in disease-free men versus 558 +/- 80 in HD men, P < 0.0001; 593 +/- 70 Omega in disease-free women versus 615 +/- 100 in HD women, P < 0.02) and (3) therefore, TBW was statistically significantly different only when applying BIA equations (P < 0.0001 and 0.05, respectively)., Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that anthropometric equations for the estimation of TBW can be used only within a specific population in order to assess individual differences; they cannot be used in order to compare two different populations.

Background: Accurate assessment of hydration status and specification of dry weight (DW) are major problems in the clinical treatment of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been recognized as a noninvasive and simple technique for the determination of DW in HD patients., Design, Setting, Participants, and Measurements: This study was designed to develop and validate BIA prediction equations for DW in HD patients. It included white adults (1540 disease-free adults with normal body mass index [BMI] and 456 prevalent and 27 incident HD patients). All participants underwent at least one single-frequency BIA measurement (800 muA and 50 kHz alternating sinusoidal current with a standard tetrapolar technique). The BIA variable measured was resistance (R). Data of 1463 (95% of the cohort) disease-free individuals with normal BMI (prediction sample) were used to establish best-fitting BIA prediction equations of body weight. The latter were cross-validated in the residual 5% subset (77 individuals) of the same cohort (validation sample)., Results: Multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship among body weight, R, age, and height in 739 men (R(2) = 0.82, P < 0.0001) and among body weight, R, and height in 724 women (R(2) = 0.68, P < 0.0001) in the prediction sample. The Bland Altman analysis showed a mean difference between predicted and measured body weight of 0.3 +/- 1.0 kg (95% confidence interval +/- 2.0 kg) in the validation sample. The BIA prediction equations that were obtained in disease-free individuals with normal BMI were applied to a cohort of 456 prevalent HD patients: The mean difference between achieved and estimated DW was 0.1 +/- 1.0 kg (P = 0.53) in men and -0.3 +/- 1.0 (P = 0.76) in women. Finally, BIA prediction equations were tested in a cohort of 27 incident HD patients. The mean difference between predicted and achieved DW was -0.6 +/- 1.0 kg (P = 0.76) in men and 0.6 +/- 1.0 (P = 0.50) in women., Conclusions: This study was able to develop and validate BIA prediction equations for DW in HD patients. They seem to be a promising tool; however, they still need external validation.

Objective: Our objective was to describe the CT features of spontaneous isolated celiac artery dissection in a series of six otherwise healthy patients with acute abdominal pain., Conclusion: Although once believed rare, isolated spontaneous celiac artery dissection should be considered in the diagnosis of acute abdominal pain, especially in middle-aged adults.

A new sensitive and reproducible method was used to assess LDL oxidative status in Type 2 diabetic patients and control subjects, and the relationships between LDL oxidation and atherosclerosis or nephropathy were determined. LDL oxidation was measured in 35 patients with Type 2 diabetes and 15 control subjects 40 to 60 years of age. Atherosclerosis was assessed by clinical examination, vascular ultrasound, and measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT). Twenty-four hour urinary albumin excretion measurements were performed. Although no differences in lipid values were found between the 22 diabetic patients with atherosclerosis (ATS+) and the 13 without (ATS-), LDL oxidation was significantly higher in ATS+ than ATS- patients (p = 0.009) or control subjects (p = 0.007). LDL oxidation was also increased in the 15 patients with nephropathy (p = 0.003). Oxidation was correlated with IMT in patients with normal to moderately increased IMT ( < or = 1.05 mm). Determination of LDL oxidative status could thus be very helpful in assessing cardiovascular risk, especially in high-risk subjects such as patients with diabetes mellitus.