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A TEM study was made of the response to synthetic hydroxyapatite prepared in powder form and implanted for 6 and 12 months respectively in infrabony lesions in 2 adult patients with chronic periodontitis and tooth mobility. Round or oval-shaped crystal aggregates, ranging in diameter from 1 to 20 μm, were surrounded by connective tissue free of inflammatory cells. The aggregates were made up of loosely-packed individual synthetic hydroxyapatite crystals, with a mean diameter of 128.12± 14.57 nm, separated by an amorphous matrix containing few collagen fibrils. In the 6-month implants small apatite crystals, of a size similar to those found in adjacent alveolar bone and giving similar diffraction patterns, appeared in the center of the aggregates between the relatively large crystals of synthetic hydroxyapatite. These new apatite crystals filled the amorphous matrix progressively from the center to the periphery of the aggregate. The latter was surrounded either by fibroblasts or by osteoblasts and osteoid tissue. In the 12-month samples a calcified collagenous bone matrix enveloped the crystal aggregates. Typical osteoclasts, lacking a brush border, were evident around certain aggregates. Some osteoclasts contained large vacuoles filled with synthetic hydroxyapatite crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacological treatment of patients with haemophilia has evolved considerably over recent years. In the past, treatments were restrictive for patients and targeted only bleeding incidents. Nowadays, thanks to research, patients have access to prophylactic treatments which offer easier injection methods and are set to evolve further., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

ANISEED (www.aniseed.cnrs.fr) is the main model organism database for tunicates, the sister-group of vertebrates. This release gives access to annotated genomes, gene expression patterns, and anatomical descriptions for nine ascidian species. It provides increased integration with external molecular and taxonomy databases, better support for epigenomics datasets, in particular RNA-seq, ChIP-seq and SELEX-seq, and features novel interactive interfaces for existing and novel datatypes. In particular, the cross-species navigation and comparison is enhanced through a novel taxonomy section describing each represented species and through the implementation of interactive phylogenetic gene trees for 60% of tunicate genes. The gene expression section displays the results of RNA-seq experiments for the three major model species of solitary ascidians. Gene expression is controlled by the binding of transcription factors to cis-regulatory sequences. A high-resolution description of the DNA-binding specificity for 131 Ciona robusta (formerly C. intestinalis type A) transcription factors by SELEX-seq is provided and used to map candidate binding sites across the Ciona robusta and Phallusia mammillata genomes. Finally, use of a WashU Epigenome browser enhances genome navigation, while a Genomicus server was set up to explore microsynteny relationships within tunicates and with vertebrates, Amphioxus, echinoderms and hemichordates., (© The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Ascidians belong to the tunicates, the sister group of vertebrates and are recognized model organisms in the field of embryonic development, regeneration and stem cells. ANISEED is the main information system in the field of ascidian developmental biology. This article reports the development of the system since its initial publication in 2010. Over the past five years, we refactored the system from an initial custom schema to an extended version of the Chado schema and redesigned all user and back end interfaces. This new architecture was used to improve and enrich the description of Ciona intestinalis embryonic development, based on an improved genome assembly and gene model set, refined functional gene annotation, and anatomical ontologies, and a new collection of full ORF cDNAs. The genomes of nine ascidian species have been sequenced since the release of the C. intestinalis genome. In ANISEED 2015, all nine new ascidian species can be explored via dedicated genome browsers, and searched by Blast. In addition, ANISEED provides full functional gene annotation, anatomical ontologies and some gene expression data for the six species with highest quality genomes. ANISEED is publicly available at: http://www.aniseed.cnrs.fr., (© The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine whether neonatal respiratory distress is related to changes in water and ion transporter expression in lung epithelium., Methods: The study included 32 neonates on mechanical ventilation: 6 patients with normal lung X-rays (control group), eight with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), eight with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), 10 with abnormal lung X-rays (mixed group). The protein abundance of water channel AQP5, epithelial sodium channel (ENaC; alpha-, beta- and gamma-ENaC) and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase alpha1 were examined in tracheal aspirates using semiquantitative immunoblotting., Results: beta-ENaC level was significantly lower in RDS group compared with infants with TTN and infants in the control group. AQP5 expression was significantly higher in TTN compared with the infants with RDS and all other infants with abnormal lung X-rays., Conclusion: Neonatal respiratory distress is associated with changes in beta-ENaC and AQP5 expression. The lower beta-ENaC expression may be one of the factors that predispose to the development of RDS. The higher AQP5 expression may provide the possibility for reabsorption of postnatal lung liquid, which contributes to quick recovery of infants with TTN.

The transcriptional mechanisms underlying lineage specification and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells remain elusive. Oct-3/4 (POU5f1) is one of the earliest transcription factors expressed in the embryo. Both the pluripotency and the fate of ES cells depend upon a tight control of Oct-3/4 expression. We report that transgene- or TGFbeta-induced increase in Oct-3/4 mRNA and protein levels in undifferentiated ES cells and at early stages of differentiation triggers expression of mesodermal and cardiac specific genes through Smad2/4. cDNA antisense- and siRNA-mediated inhibition of upregulation of Oct-3/4 in ES cells prevent their specification toward the mesoderm and their differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Similarly, Oct-3/4 siRNA injected in the inner cell mass of blastocysts impairs cardiogenesis in early embryos. Thus, quantitative Oct-3/4 expression is regulated by a morphogen, pointing to a pivotal and physiological function of the POU factor in mesodermal and cardiac commitments of ES cells and of the epiblast.

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) using bioabsorbable barrier membranes has shown promising and somewhat predictable clinical results. However, limited information is available on the stages of histologic healing when these types of barriers are used. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare three currently available bioabsorbable GTR barriers (type 1 collagen, polylactide/polyglycolide copolymer, and citric acid copolymer) for the treatment of surgically created periodontal dehiscences in dogs. Eight three-walled periodontal dehiscences were surgically created in the mandibles of six beagle dogs (four on each side of the jaw). The periodontal dehiscences were randomly assigned to receive one of the three barriers. One defect was left untreated to serve as a control. Histomorphometric analyses were conducted at 4 and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using the Student-Fisher test. The membrane-treated group had a statistically significant increase in new bone formation and connective tissue attachment compared to the nontreated control sites. However, no statistical difference was noted among the various membranes. In addition, no difference was found between test and control sites when new cementum was examined. Sites treated with barrier membranes achieved greater bone regeneration than nontreated control sites in the canine model.

Background: Cardiac tamponade is a rare and sometimes severe complication of umbilical venous catheterization., Case Report: A premature newborn (gestational age: 30 weeks, birth weight: 1,215 g) required assisted ventilation and umbilical venous catheterization for respiratory distress. Subsequent chest X-ray showed the ascending tip of the catheter lying in the left atrium, inside the auricle. At the age of 16 hours, the infant presented with episodes of bradycardia. Despite a second endotracheal intubation, a sudden vascular collapse necessitated cardiac massage plus sodium bicarbonate and epinephrine. An ultrasound examination was performed because of the persistence of the vascular collapse; it showed a clear echo-free space between the epicardium and pericardium, suggesting pericardial effusion. The patient responded dramatically to pericardial aspiration, providing hemorrhagic fluid containing 20 g per liter glucose., Discussion: Cardiac tamponade probably occurred in this patient as a result of perforation of the atrial wall. Ultrasonography showed no local thrombus, but confirmed the cardiac compression by pericardial fluid and the localization of the tip of catheter in contact with the atrial wall. This case led us to review the mechanical complications of umbilical venous and/or percutaneous catheterization and the rules for their use., Conclusion: This complication must be suspected in all patients having a central venous catheter that present with vascular collapse.

Periodontal diseases are bacteria associated diseases. The host response to these bacteria is critical. Non specific defense mechanisms are mainly mediated by the polymorphonuclear neutrophil which out numbers the others crevicular leucocytes. This paper reviews the beneficial and possible detrimental aspect of the neutrophil functions.