Association of serum lipid indices and statin consumption with periodontal status.

PubMed

Sayar, F; Fallah, S; Akhondi, N; Jamshidi, S

2016-11-01

Periodontal and cardiovascular diseases share some common underlying mechanisms. Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study sought to assess the association of hyperlipidemia and statin consumption with periodontal status. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 participants including 50 individuals with normal lipid profile (group C), 50 hyperlipidemic patients without drug therapy (group N), and 50 hyperlipidemic patients on drug therapy for a minimum of 3 months (group S). Periodontal parameters including plaque index (PI), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), and pocket depth (PD) were measured for all teeth except for the third molars. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL, and triglycerides (TGs) were measured. The mean values of CAL and PD were significantly higher in the two hyperlipidemic groups compared with the C group (P < 0.005). Also, CAL and PD had significant associations with serum levels of TGs, LDL, and TC (P < 0.0001); PI in the group S was significantly lower than that in the other groups (P < 0.005). Hyperlipidemic patients showed higher values of periodontal parameters compared with the statin-treated and control groups. Lower PI in the group S may indicate the anti-inflammatory effect of statin. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Clinical changes in periodontium during pregnancy and post-partum.

PubMed

Gürsoy, Mervi; Pajukanta, Riitta; Sorsa, Timo; Könönen, Eija

2008-07-01

Pregnancy has been presented to increase susceptibility to gingival inflammation. It is unclear whether pregnancy gingivitis exposes or proceeds to periodontitis. We examined longitudinally the severity of periodontal changes during pregnancy and post-partum, and compared the findings with an age-matched group of non-pregnant women. Thirty generally healthy, non-smoking women at an early phase of their pregnancy and 24 non-pregnant women as controls were recruited. The pregnant group was examined three times during pregnancy and twice during post-partum, and the non-pregnant group three times, once per subsequent month. At each visit, visible plaque index (VPI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured from six sites per tooth. In the pregnant group, BOP and PPD increased simultaneously without relation to plaque between the first and second trimesters, and thereafter decreased during subsequent visits. No changes were detected in CAL during the study period. In the non-pregnant group, BOP stayed invariable during the follow-up and correlated with the amount of plaque. Neither periodontal pocket formation nor significant changes in attachment levels were observed. Based on this study, changes in clinical parameters during pregnancy are reversible, indicating that pregnancy gingivitis does not predispose or proceed to periodontitis.

Association between serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and chronic periodontitis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Primasari, A.; Sihombing, K. P.

2018-03-01

Serum concentration of [25(OH)D] in Indonesia is at low level although Indonesia is one of Asia country which has a tropical climate. Vitamin D as an immunomodulatory agent invitro and in animal studies. However, data from clinical studies involvement vitamin D to chronic periodontitis are still controversy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum concentration of [25(OH)D] and chronic periodontitis. Totally 45 chronic periodontitis patients were analyzed. Spearman correlation models adjusted for subject and parameter included periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) are analyzed. Totally 51.11% person have serum concentration of [25(OH)D] 21-50ng/mL were called insufficiency, and 15.56% is deficiency. Mean values of PPD >3mm indicating moderate criteria, CAL >4mm meaning severe criteria, and mean grade of BOP >2 degrees means the interdental papilla appears to be filled with little or much blood. Spearman correlation test results showed an inverse correlation between serum concentration of [25(OH)D] to the value of PPD, CAL, and BOP, however, was not statistically significant (r PPD -0.09; r CAL -0.118; r BOP 0.001, p>0.05). Insufficiency serum concentration of 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was not associated significantly with PPD, CAL, and BOP of chronic periodontitis.

Prevalence and predictors for clinical attachment loss in adolescents in Latin America: cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Morales, Alicia; Carvajal, Paola; Romanelli, Hugo; Gómez, Mariel; Loha, Cristina; Esper, María E; Musso, Graciela; Ardila, Carlos M; Duque, Andrés; Medina, Marco; Bueno, Luis; Andrade, Ernesto; Mendoza, Carolina; Gamonal, Jorge

2015-10-01

To describe the prevalence, severity and extension of clinical attachment loss (CAL) and to study the predictors in 15- to 19-year-old adolescents from high schools in the Latin America. A cross-sectional, epidemiological study was performed. The sample included 1070 high school adolescents 15-19 years of age from Santiago de Chile (Chile), Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay), Quito (Ecuador) and Medellín (Colombia). Calibrated examiners performed full mouth, six sites per tooth clinical examination. There was a response rate of 100%. The prevalence of CAL ≥3 mm in ≥1 site was 32.6%, probing pocket depth ≥4 mm was 59.3% and bleeding on probing (BoP) ≥25% was 28.6%. The logistic regression analysis adjusted for cities revealed that smoking (OR = 1.6), attending public school (OR = 2.3) and having a BoP ≥25% (OR = 4.2) were positively associated with CAL ≥3 mm in ≥ 1 site. Clinical attachment loss was prevalent in Latin America adolescents and it is associated with smoking, attendance public school and BoP. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparing clinical attachment level and pocket depth for predicting periodontal disease progression in healthy sites of patients with chronic periodontitis using multi-state Markov models

PubMed Central

Mdala, Ibrahimu; Olsen, Ingar; Haffajee, Anne D; Socransky, Sigmund S; Thoresen, Magne; de Blasio, Birgitte Freiesleben

2014-01-01

Aim To understand degeneration of healthy sites and identify factors associated with disease progression in patients with chronic periodontitis. Material and Methods Data on healthy sites from 163 American and Swedish subjects were analysed using two-three-state (health, gingivitis, chronic periodontitis) Markov models based on bleeding on probing (BOP), and either clinical attachment level (CAL) + BOP or pocket depth (PD) + BOP. Results In 2 years, 10% (CAL + BOP) and 3% (PD + BOP) of healthy sites developed chronic periodontitis. On average, healthy sites remained healthy for 32 months before transiting in both models. Most transitions (87–97%) from health were to the gingivitis state. The expected duration of the gingivitis lesion was 4–5 months and sites recovered with a high probability (96–98%). Disease severity as measured by number of sites with CAL/PD > 4 mm at baseline and smoking, were associated with fast progression from health to chronic periodontitis within 6 months as were gingival redness in the PD + BOP model only. With age, the rate of disease progression to gingivitis decreased. Conclusion Transition probabilities for gingivitis and chronic periodontitis were higher with CAL + BOP than with PD + BOP. Smoking and disease severity were significant predictors for fast progression. PMID:24888705

Periodontal status and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in polycystic ovary syndrome with and without medical treatment.

PubMed

Porwal, Surya; Tewari, Shikha; Sharma, Rajinder K; Singhal, Savita Rani; Narula, Satish C

2014-10-01

Recently, some studies have revealed the effect of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on gingival inflammation. This cross-sectional study attempts to assess the periodontal status and systemic inflammation of women receiving medical treatment for PCOS and women newly diagnosed with PCOS. A total of 126 participants comprising 41 newly diagnosed patients with PCOS (PCOS-N), 45 patients with PCOS on medical treatment (PCOS-MT), and 40 systemically healthy controls (control group [CG]) were examined. Periodontal parameters, anthropometric parameters, and serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were recorded. Women with newly diagnosed PCOS had increased sites with bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth, clinical attachment level (CAL), waist circumference (WC), hsCRP, and prevalence of periodontitis compared with control and PCOS-MT groups (P ≤0.05). On partial correlation analysis after controlling for confounders, BOP and CAL correlated positively and significantly with hsCRP (P = 0.01 and P = 0.005). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that BOP and CAL (dependent variable) (P = 0.009/R(2) = 0.05 and P = 0.005/R(2) = 0.07, respectively) had significant association with hsCRP. Furthermore, hsCRP, when considered as outcome, also exhibited association with CAL and WC (P = 0.002/R(2) = 0.07 and P = 0.04/R(2) = 0.106). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the PCOS-N group had 2.88 times increased likelihood of having moderate periodontitis (adjusted odds ratio 2.88, 95% confidence interval 1.18 to 6.98). Women with newly diagnosed PCOS may have increased prevalence and likelihood for periodontitis, with higher measures of periodontal inflammation and breakdown than those on medical treatment for PCOS and systemically healthy females. Furthermore, periodontal breakdown might depend on systemic inflammation and vice versa.

Tooth-related risk factors for periodontal disease in community-dwelling elderly people.

PubMed

Hirotomi, Toshinobu; Yoshihara, Akihiro; Ogawa, Hiroshi; Miyazaki, Hideo

2010-06-01

While most previous epidemiological studies have focused on subject-level risk factors for periodontal destruction, tooth-related factors have not been fully explored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both tooth-related and subject-related factors affecting periodontal disease progression using a two-level multilevel model. A longitudinal survey over a period of 10 years was carried out on 286 community-dwelling elderly subjects aged 70 years at baseline. Clinical attachment level (CAL) was measured at six sites per tooth on all teeth present and periodontal disease progression was defined as CAL> or =3 mm. Periodontal disease progression was found in 79% of the subjects and most frequently in maxillary molars. Multilevel logistic regressions revealed that subjects wearing removable dentures were significantly at risk for periodontal disease progression. Abutment teeth for removable/fixed dentures were also significantly more likely to suffer periodontal breakdown. Furthermore, the following tooth-related variables were found to be possible risk factors for periodontal disease progression: maxillary and multirooted teeth. Multirooted teeth and abutments for a fixed denture were possible risk factors for periodontal disease progression.

Factors Associated with Routine Dental Attendance among Aboriginal Australians.

PubMed

Amarasena, Najith; Kapellas, Kostas; Skilton, Michael R; Maple-Brown, Louise J; Brown, Alex; Bartold, Mark; O'Dea, Kerin; Celermajer, David; Jamieson, Lisa M

2016-01-01

To determine factors associated with routine dental attendance in Aboriginal Australians. Data of 271 Aboriginal adults residing in Australia's Northern Territory were used. Routine dental attendance was defined as last visiting a dentist less than one year ago or visiting a dentist for a check-up. Both bivariate and multivariable analytical techniques were used. While 27% visited a dentist in the past year, 29% of these visited for a check-up. In bivariate analysis, being female, low psychological distress, and low clinical attachment loss (CAL) were associated with visiting a dentist within last year. Being aged younger than 39 years, male, no oral health impairment, being caries-free, low CAL, and low apolipoprotein B were associated with visiting for a check-up. Clinical attachment loss remained associated with visiting a dentist less than one year ago while being younger than 39 years and having no oral health impairment remained associated with usually visiting for a check-up in multivariable analysis. Younger age, no oral health impairment, and low CAL were associated with routine dental attendance among Indigenous Australians.

Factors Associated with Routine Dental Attendance among Aboriginal Australians.

PubMed

Amarasena, Najith; Kapellas, Kostas; Skilton, Michael R; Maple-Brown, Louise J; Brown, Alex; Bartold, Mark; O'Dea, Kerin; Celermajer, David; Jamieson, Lisa M

2016-02-01

To determine factors associated with routine dental attendance in Aboriginal Australians. Data of 271 Aboriginal adults residing in Australia's Northern Territory were used. Routine dental attendance was defined as last visiting a dentist less than one year ago or visiting a dentist for a check-up. Both bivariate and multivariable analytical techniques were used. While 27% visited a dentist in the past year, 29% of these visited for a check-up. In bivariate analysis, being female, low psychological distress, and low clinical attachment loss (CAL) were associated with visiting a dentist within last year. Being aged younger than 39 years, male, no oral health impairment, being caries-free, low CAL, and low apolipoprotein B were associated with visiting for a check-up. Clinical attachment loss remained associated with visiting a dentist less than one year ago while being younger than 39 years and having no oral health impairment remained associated with usually visiting for a check-up in multivariable analysis. Younger age, no oral health impairment, and low CAL were associated with routine dental attendance among Indigenous Australians.

Changes in Periodontal Parameters and C-Reactive Protein After Pregnancy.

PubMed

Raga, Lucía Gil; Mínguez, Ignacio; Caffesse, Raul; Llambés, Fernando

2016-12-01

This study assesses hormonal, inflammatory, and periodontal changes in pregnant women and postpartum in the absence of periodontal treatment, and seeks to determine any correlations among these parameters. A longitudinal, observational study of 117 pregnant women (aged 23 to 42 years) was undertaken in a private gynecologic center between weeks 32 and 35 of pregnancy and 6 to 8 weeks after delivery. Levels of progesterone and C-reactive protein (CRP) in plasma were determined, as well as periodontal indices, including: 1) plaque index (PI); 2) bleeding on probing (BOP); 3) probing depth (PD); and 4) clinical attachment level (CAL). Postpartum progesterone and CRP declined sharply from 90.85 ± 42.51 ng/mL and 3.73 ± 4.01 mg/L to 0.77 ± 1.43 ng/mL and 1.43 ± 1.67 mg/L, respectively. There was also a significant improvement in all periodontal indices (P <0.05) with the exception of PI. During pregnancy mean BOP was 21.03%, mean PD 2.62 mm, and mean CAL 1.20 mm. After delivery mean BOP was 13.25%, mean PD 2.39 mm, and mean CAL 1.14 mm. Percentage of 1- to 3-mm pockets increased (P <0.05), while 4- to 5-mm pockets and pockets >6 mm decreased significantly (P <0.001). Reduction in CRP correlated significantly with decrease in BOP (P <0.001). Postpartum, there was a dramatic reduction in progesterone and CRP, together with an improvement in BOP, PD, and CAL in the absence of periodontal treatment. Decrease in CRP was related to an improvement in periodontal bleeding.

The effect of periodontal therapy on neopterin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels in chronic periodontitis patients with and without acute myocardial infarction: a case-control study.

PubMed

Turgut Çankaya, Zeynep; Bodur, Ayşen; Taçoy, Gülten; Ergüder, Imge; Aktuna, Derya; Çengel, Atiye

2018-04-05

The presence of neopterin in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) is a marker for local and acute immune activation, and the presence of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) in GCF is accepted as a marker for chronic vascular inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate effects of periodontal treatment on GCF levels of neopterin and VCAM-1 in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared with systemically healthy CP patients. Sixty subjects (20 CP patients with AMI, 20 healthy CP patients, and 20 healthy controls) were included. GCF samples were analyzed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months, and the probing pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing, gingival (GI) and plaque (PI) indices were recorded. We determined neopterin and VCAM-1 levels (concentration and total amount) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No significant differences were seen between the AMI+CP and CP groups for PI, GI, GCF levels of neopterin and VCAM-1 at baseline. The number of teeth with 5 mm≤CAL<7 mm and CAL≥7 mm were significantly increased in the AMI+CP group at baseline. There were no significant differences between the AMI+CP and CP for PI, CAL, GCF volumes, and the AMI+CP group had the highest clinical improvement in the number of teeth with 5 mm≤CAL<7 mm at the sixth month. There were significant positive correlations between clinical periodontal inflammation and the presence of neopterin and VCAM-1 in GCF prior to and following periodontal treatment, and between the GCF volume and clinical parameters. Data suggest that the total amount and concentration of neopterin and VCAM-1 in GCF seemed to be closely associated with periodontal disease severity in CP patients with AMI. Moreover, the results of our study demonstrate that the past periodontal status is potentially correlated between groups, with similar periodontal disease severity.

Clinical attachment loss: estimation by direct and indirect methods.

PubMed

Barbosa, Viviane Leal; Angst, Patricia D Melchiors; Finger Stadler, Amanda; Oppermann, Rui V; Gomes, Sabrina Carvalho

2016-06-01

This observational study aimed to compare the estimation of clinical attachment loss (CAL) as measured by direct (CALD ) and indirect (CALI ) methods. Periodontitis patients (n = 75; mean age: 50.9 ± 8.02 years; 72.2% women; 50.6% smokers) received a periodontal examination (six sites/tooth) to determine the presence of visible plaque and calculus, the gingival bleeding index (GBI), periodontal probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), CALD and gingival recession (GR). CALI values resulted from the sum of PPD and GR values. Statistical analysis considered only data from sites with visible GR (e.g. the gingival margin apical to the cemento-enamel junction; n = 4,757 sites) and determined the mean difference between CALI and CALD measurements. Based on the mean difference, univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed. Mean CALD and CALI values were 3.96 ± 2.07 mm and 4.47 ± 2.03 mm, respectively. The indirect method overestimated CAL compared with the direct method (mean difference: 0.51 ± 1.23 mm; P < 0.001). On uni- and multivariate analyses, absence of GBI and BOP, PPD and proximal site location had significant influences on the overestimation of CAL by the indirect method (all P ≤ 0.01). The indirect method increased the CAL value by 0.38 mm for each additional 1 mm in PPD. To decrease the number of probing errors in daily practice it is suggested that direct examination is more appropriate than the indirect method for estimating CAL. © 2016 FDI World Dental Federation.

Is there a relationship between periodontal disease and causes of death? A cross sectional study.

PubMed

Natto, Zuhair S; Aladmawy, Majdi; Alasqah, Mohammed; Papas, Athena

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is any correlation between periodontal disease and mortality contributing factors, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus in the elderly population. A dental evaluation was performed by a single examiner at Tufts University dental clinics for 284 patients. Periodontal assessments were performed by probing with a manual UNC-15 periodontal probe to measure pocket depth and clinical attachment level (CAL) at 6 sites. Causes of death abstracted from death certificate. Statistical analysis involved ANOVA, chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The demographics of the population sample indicated that, most were females (except for diabetes mellitus), white, married, completed 13 years of education and were 83 years old on average. CAL (continuous or dichotomous) and marital status attained statistical significance (p<0.05) in contingency table analysis (Chi-square for independence). Individuals with increased CAL were 2.16 times more likely (OR=2.16, 95% CI=1.47-3.17) to die due to CVD and this effect persisted even after control for age, marital status, gender, race, years of education (OR=2.03, 95% CI=1.35-3.03). CAL (continuous or dichotomous) was much higher among those who died due to diabetes mellitus or out of state of Massachusetts. However, these results were not statistically significant. The same pattern was observed with pocket depth (continuous or dichotomous), but these results were not statistically significant either. CAL seems to be more sensitive to chronic diseases than pocket depth. Among those conditions, cardiovascular disease has the strongest effect.

The efficacy of proanthocyanidins and secnidazole in the treatment of chronic periodontitis after scaling and root planing therapy.

PubMed

Li, M; Li, R; Jin, Q; Pang, J; Xu, Z

2017-01-01

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effect of the systemic antibiotic therapy of proanthocyanidins and secnidazole on periodontitis. Seventy-five subjects with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into two treatment groups (secnidazole or proanthocyanidins) and one placebo control group (25 cases each). Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (BI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were carried out at baseline, post-treatment and 3 months after treatment. Microbial analysis was performed at baseline and post-treatment. The results show that the two treatment groups had greater mean reduction in BI, GI, and PPD evaluated at both post-treatment and 3 months after treatment compared to the control group (p less than 0.05), but there were no significant differences in those of PI and CAL (except CAL evaluated at post-treatment, p 0.05). After treatment, culturable bacteria counts significantly decreased. In conclusion, the adjunctive use of proanthocyanidins or secnidazole in combination with scaling and root planing in adults with periodontitis is effective in reducing the pathogenic flora and achieves significantly better clinical results to a certain degree.

A clinical investigation of demineralized bone matrix putty for treatment of periodontal bony defects in humans.

PubMed

Banjar, Arwa Ahmed; Mealey, Brian L

2013-01-01

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) putty, consisting of demineralized human bone allograft matrix in a carrier of bovine collagen and alginate, for the treatment of periodontal defects in humans. Twenty subjects with at least one site having a probing depth ≥ 6 mm and radiographic evidence of bony defect depth > 3 mm were included. The infrabony defects were grafted with DBM putty bone graft. The following clinical parameters were assessed at baseline and 6 months posttreatment: probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Bone fill was evaluated using transgingival probing and standardized radiographs taken at baseline and 6 months posttreatment. The 6-month evaluation showed a significant PD reduction of 3.27 ± 1.67 mm and clinical attachment gain of 2.27 ± 1.74 mm. Bone sounding measurements showed a mean clinical bone defect fill of 2.93 ± 1.87 mm and a mean radiographic bone fill of 2.55 ± 2.31 mm. The use of DBM putty was effective for treatment of periodontal bony defects in humans. Significant improvement in CAL, PD, and bone fill was observed at 6 months compared to baseline.

Alterations in plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation promoted by treatment with self-ligating and conventional orthodontic brackets

PubMed Central

Cardoso, Mauricio de Almeida; Saraiva, Patrícia Pinto; Maltagliati, Liliana Ávila; Rhoden, Fernando Kleinübing; Costa, Carla Cristina Alvarenga; Normando, David; Capelozza, Leopoldino

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate, comparatively, the periodontal response during orthodontic treatment performed with self-ligating and conventional brackets. METHODS: Sixteen Caucasian individuals of both sexes, aged between 12 and 16 years old and in permanent dentition were selected. Eight individuals were treated with conventional brackets installed on the lower dental arch and self-ligating brackets on the upper arch. Another eight individuals received self-ligating brackets in the lower arch and conventional brackets in the upper arch. The subjects received material and instructions for oral hygiene. Visible plaque index (VPI), gingival bleeding index (GBI) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated just after installation of orthodontic appliances, and 30, 60 and 180 days later. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare differences between groups (self-ligating and conventional), two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test was used to assess CAL at each site of each tooth. Significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: No significant changes were found with regard to the assessed parameters (VPI, GBI and CAL) in either one of the systems. CONCLUSION: No significant changes were found with regard to the periodontal response to orthodontic treatment for the variables assessed and between subjects receiving passive self-ligating and conventional brackets. All individuals had received oral hygiene instructions and had their periodontal conditions monitored. PMID:25992985

Oral health education and therapy reduces gingivitis during pregnancy.

PubMed

Geisinger, Maria L; Geurs, Nicolaas C; Bain, Jennifer L; Kaur, Maninder; Vassilopoulos, Philip J; Cliver, Suzanne P; Hauth, John C; Reddy, Michael S

2014-02-01

Pregnant women demonstrate increases in gingivitis despite similar plaque levels to non-pregnant counterparts. To evaluate an intensive protocol aimed at reducing gingivitis in pregnant women and provide pilot data for large-scale randomized controlled trials investigating oral hygiene measures to reduce pregnancy gingivitis and alter maternity outcomes. One hundred and twenty participants between 16 and 24 weeks gestation with Gingival Index (GI) scores ≥2 at ≥50% of tooth sites were enrolled. Plaque index (PI), gingival inflammation (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment levels (CAL) were recorded at baseline and 8 weeks. Dental prophylaxis was performed at baseline and oral hygiene instructions at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded at parturition. Mixed-model analysis of variance was used to compare clinical measurements at baseline and 8 weeks. Statistically significant reductions in PI, GI, PD, and CAL occurred over the study period. Mean whole mouth PI and GI scores decreased approximately 50% and the percentage of sites with PI and GI ≥2 decreased from 40% to 17% and 53% to 21.8%, respectively. Mean decreases in whole mouth PD and CAL of 0.45 and 0.24 mm, respectively, were seen. Intensive oral hygiene regimen decreased gingivitis in pregnant patients. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Alterations in plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation promoted by treatment with self-ligating and conventional orthodontic brackets.

PubMed

Cardoso, Mauricio de Almeida; Saraiva, Patrícia Pinto; Maltagliati, Liliana Ávila; Rhoden, Fernando Kleinübing; Costa, Carla Cristina Alvarenga; Normando, David; Capelozza Filho, Leopoldino

2015-01-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate, comparatively, the periodontal response during orthodontic treatment performed with self-ligating and conventional brackets. Sixteen Caucasian individuals of both sexes, aged between 12 and 16 years old and in permanent dentition were selected. Eight individuals were treated with conventional brackets installed on the lower dental arch and self-ligating brackets on the upper arch. Another eight individuals received self-ligating brackets in the lower arch and conventional brackets in the upper arch. The subjects received material and instructions for oral hygiene. Visible plaque index (VPI), gingival bleeding index (GBI) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated just after installation of orthodontic appliances, and 30, 60 and 180 days later. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare differences between groups (self-ligating and conventional), two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test was used to assess CAL at each site of each tooth. Significance level was set at 5%. No significant changes were found with regard to the assessed parameters (VPI, GBI and CAL) in either one of the systems. No significant changes were found with regard to the periodontal response to orthodontic treatment for the variables assessed and between subjects receiving passive self-ligating and conventional brackets. All individuals had received oral hygiene instructions and had their periodontal conditions monitored.

Comparing clinical attachment level and pocket depth for predicting periodontal disease progression in healthy sites of patients with chronic periodontitis using multi-state Markov models.

PubMed

Mdala, Ibrahimu; Olsen, Ingar; Haffajee, Anne D; Socransky, Sigmund S; Thoresen, Magne; de Blasio, Birgitte Freiesleben

2014-09-01

To understand degeneration of healthy sites and identify factors associated with disease progression in patients with chronic periodontitis. Data on healthy sites from 163 American and Swedish subjects were analysed using two-three-state (health, gingivitis, chronic periodontitis) Markov models based on bleeding on probing (BOP), and either clinical attachment level (CAL) + BOP or pocket depth (PD) + BOP. In 2 years, 10% (CAL + BOP) and 3% (PD + BOP) of healthy sites developed chronic periodontitis. On average, healthy sites remained healthy for 32 months before transiting in both models. Most transitions (87-97%) from health were to the gingivitis state. The expected duration of the gingivitis lesion was 4-5 months and sites recovered with a high probability (96-98%). Disease severity as measured by number of sites with CAL/PD > 4 mm at baseline and smoking, were associated with fast progression from health to chronic periodontitis within 6 months as were gingival redness in the PD + BOP model only. With age, the rate of disease progression to gingivitis decreased. Transition probabilities for gingivitis and chronic periodontitis were higher with CAL + BOP than with PD + BOP. Smoking and disease severity were significant predictors for fast progression. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Periodontology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Antibiotic therapy as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in smokers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Assem, Naida Zanini; Alves, Márcio Luiz Ferro; Lopes, Alessandra Barreto; Gualberto, Erivan Clementino; Garcia, Valdir Gouveia; Theodoro, Letícia Helena

2017-07-03

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effect of systemic antibiotics in the periodontal treatment of smokers. The selection criteria were as follows: controlled randomized clinical trials; studies published in English; studies with smoker patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis; patients without systemic diseases; studies that used systemic antibiotic therapy associated with periodontal treatment; studies that presented results for the test and control groups and assessments of clinical periodontal parameters, such as probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical attachment level (CAL). The differences in average weights were calculated with a confidence interval (CI) of 95% for PD reduction, CAL gain and BOP. The means of the periodontal clinical parameters were compared between the baseline and post-treatment periods between the test groups and the control groups. The heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q test (Q (df = 3), α = 5%). A total of 67 articles were found, and after the selection process, three randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicate that SRP associated with systemic antibiotics promoted additional benefits when compared to SRP alone, with a greater reduction of PD (p = 0.0359, CI = -0.42, -0.01) and a gain of CAL (p = 0.0161, CI = -0.39, -0.04). There was a modest PD reduction (PD, DM -0.21) and a modest CAL gain (CAL, DM -0.22). The results of our meta-analysis reveal the clinical benefits of systemic antibiotics as an adjunct to the non-surgical periodontal treatment of smokers. These clinical improvements, although statistically significant, appeared to be of little clinical relevance.

Efficacy of 1% Metformin Gel in Patients With Moderate and Severe Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Pradeep, A R; Patnaik, Kaushik; Nagpal, Kanika; Karvekar, Shruti; Guruprasad, C N; Kumaraswamy, K M

2017-10-01

The aim of this study is to investigate efficacy of metformin (MF) 1% gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of moderate and severe chronic periodontitis (CP). Seventy patients were categorized into two treatment groups: 1) SRP plus 1% MF and 2) SRP plus placebo. Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and 3, 6, and 9 months. They included plaque index (PI), modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Radiologic assessment of intrabony defects (IBDs) and percentage defect depth reduction (DDR%) was done at baseline and 6- and 9-month intervals using computer-aided software. PD, CAL, and DDR% were evaluated in two subgroups in both the placebo and MF group: 1) initial PD of 5 to 7 mm and 2) initial PD of >7 mm. Mean PD reduction and mean CAL gain was found to be greater in the MF group than the placebo group at all visits. Clinical parameters (PD, CAL) in both subgroups, with initial PDs of 5 to 7 and >7 mm, showed significant improvement in the 1% MF group compared with the placebo group. A significantly greater mean DDR% was found in the MF group than the placebo group at 6 and 9 months in both subgroups, 5 to 7 and >7 mm of initial PD. There was a greater decrease in PD and more CAL gain with significant IBD depth reduction at sites treated with SRP plus locally delivered MF in patients with CP in both initial PD = 5 to 7 and >7 mm subgroups compared with placebo.

Oral health status of dialysis patients based on their renal dialysis history in Kerman, Iran.

PubMed

Chamani, Goli; Zarei, Mohammad Reza; Radvar, Mehrdad; Rashidfarrokhi, Farin; Razazpour, Fateme

2009-01-01

Maintaining a high level of periodontal and oral health in patients undergoing renal dialysis is of paramount importance because of the inherent compromised host defence mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to determine the periodontal status and the level of dental caries in renal dialysis patients in Kerman, Iran. A cross-sectional study was conducted on two groups of patients: one including 68 renal dialysis patients (test) and the other including 30 healthy subjects (control). Half-mouth measurements of Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) as well as decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) index were recorded. The GI, BOP, PPD, CAL and GR were significantly greater among the test group as compared with the control group; however, the DMFT did not differ significantly among the groups. There was no relationship between the duration of the dialysis and the periodontal indices. It seems that patients with chronic renal failure have less favourable periodontal health than normal patients. The present study showed that oral home care practices were inadequate. Thus, preventive programmes to promote the oral health status of haemodialysis patients are needed.

Efficacy of statin delivery as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Akram, Zohaib; Vohra, Fahim; Javed, Fawad

2018-05-01

The action of statins in stimulating bone formation and having other pleiotropic effects, such as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, has justified their use as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of statin delivery as an adjunct to SRP in the treatment of CP. Electronic searches were conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, up until July 2017. The primary outcome was probing depth (PD), while the secondary outcomes were changes in clinical attachment level (CAL) and bone defect (BD) fill. Eleven studies were included, and all showed significant PD reduction, CAL gain, and BD fill with adjunctive statin delivery compared to SRP alone. The meta-analysis showed significant improvement in periodontal parameters for atorvastatin (PD: weighted mean difference [WMD] = -1.84, -2.56 to -1.12, P < .001; CAL: WMD = -2.31, -3.58 to -1.03, P < .001; BD fill: WMD = 2.66, -3.92 to -1.39, P < .001), simvastatin (PD: WMD = -1.91, -2.27 to -1.55, P < .001; CAL: WMD = -1.91, -2.27 to -1.55, P = .001; BD: WMD = -1.52, -2.20 to -0.85, P < .001), and rosuvastatin (PD: WMD = -0.94, -1.32 to -0.55, P < .001; CAL: WMD = -1.00, -1.41 to -0.60, P < .001; BD fill: WMD = -1.30, -1.80 to -0.79, P < .001). Adjunctive statin delivery appears to be effective in reducing PD, CAL gain, and BD fill in CP, and therefore, these drugs could be a promising therapeutic option for periodontal regeneration in future. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Long-Term Effect of Four Surgical Periodontal Therapies and One Non-Surgical Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Mailoa, James; Lin, Guo-Hao; Khoshkam, Vahid; MacEachern, Mark; Chan, Hsun-Liang; Wang, Hom-Lay

2015-10-01

The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the long term (≥ 2 years) effect of four surgical and non-surgical therapies in treating periodontal disease. An electronic search of four databases and a hand search of peer-reviewed journals for relevant articles were conducted. Prospective human controlled clinical trials were included that compared surgical therapy to non-surgical therapy in ≥ 10 patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis with a follow-up period of ≥ 2 years and that reported change in probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) after the therapy. Random effect meta-analysis was performed to compare the outcome of surgical and non-surgical therapy in shallow, moderate, and deep PD. Eight human prospective clinical trials were included. In 1- to 3-mm PD, scaling and root planing (SRP), modified Widman flap (MWF), and osseous surgery (OS) resulted in 23.2%, 39.4%, and 61.39% CAL loss, respectively; SRP, MWF, and OS resulted in increased mean PD of 2.5%, 3.3%, and 6.3%, respectively. In 4- to 6-mm PD, SRP, MWF, and OS resulted in 8.4%, 6.5%, and 5.22% CAL gain, respectively; SRP, MWF, and OS resulted in 18.7%, 25.4%, and 30.8% PD reduction, respectively. In PD ≥ 7 mm, SRP, MWF, and OS resulted in 9.8%, 14.2%, and 9.38% CAL gain, respectively; SRP, MWF, and OS resulted in mean PD reduction of 21.6%, 33.1%, and 42.8%, respectively. Surgical therapy had significantly more CAL loss than non-surgical therapy in shallow PD. In moderate PD, MWF had significantly more PD reduction than SRP, and there was significantly less CAL gain with surgical therapy. In deep PD, OS had significantly higher PD reduction than SRP.

Salivary Levels of IL-6 and IL-17 Could Be an Indicator of Disease Severity in Patients with Calculus Associated Chronic Periodontitis

PubMed Central

Batool, Husniah; Nadeem, Ahmed; Tahir, Romeeza

2018-01-01

Background/Purpose. Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of gums that causes loss of supporting structures of teeth, that is, gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone. Levels of various cytokines in the serum, gingival tissues, and gingival crevicular fluid in patients with chronic periodontitis have been studied, but limited data are available on the level of cytokines in saliva. Therefore, a study was designed to determine levels of salivary IL-6 and IL-17 in patients with calculus associated chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods. It was a comparative, cross-sectional study that is comprised of 41 healthy controls and 41 calculus associated chronic periodontitis patients (CP patients). According to the degree of attachment loss, CP patients were subcategorized as mild (CAL 1-2 mm), moderate (CAL 3-4 mm), and severe (CAL > 5 mm) forms of periodontitis. Salivary levels of IL-6 and IL-17 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results. Between healthy controls and CP patients (moderate and severe disease), a statistically significant difference was observed in the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-17. In CP patients, the highest mean ± SD of salivary IL-6 and IL-17 was observed in severe CP, followed by moderate and mild CP. Regarding level of IL-6, a statistically significant difference was observed between mild and severe disease and between moderate and severe subcategories of CP patients. Similarly, statistically significant difference was observed in the level of IL-17 between mild and moderate, mild and severe disease, and moderate and severe disease. Conclusion. The levels of salivary IL-6 and IL-17 were increased significantly in calculus associated CP patients as compared to healthy controls and these levels increased with the progression of CP. Clinical Significance. Salivary levels of IL-6 and IL-17 may help in the subcategorization of CP. PMID:29670909

Role of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in chronic periodontitis diagnosis.

PubMed

Gupta, Namita; Gupta, N D; Gupta, Akash; Khan, Saif; Bansal, Neha

2015-03-01

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the periodontium. Any imbalance between the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted by neutrophils and tissue inhibitors initiates the destruction of collagen in gum tissue, leading to chronic periodontitis. This study aimed to correlate salivary levels of MMP-8 and periodontal parameters of chronic periodontitis to establish MMP-8 as a noninvasive marker for the early diagnosis of chronic periodontitis. The study involved 40 subjects visiting the periodontic OPD of Dr. Ziauddin Ahmad Dental College and Hospital, located in Aligarh, U.P., India, from 2011 to 2012. The subjects were divided into two groups: group I consisted of 20 periodontally healthy subjects (controls) while group II consisted of 20 patients with chronic periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis was assessed on the basis of several periodontal parameters, including pocket probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI). Around 3ml of unstimulated and whole expectorated saliva was collected for MMP-8 estimation by ELISA using Quantikine human total MMP-8 immunoassay kits. Data were analyzed using STATISTICA (Windows version 6) software. Salivary MMP-8 levels of groups I and II were 190.91 ± 143.89 ng/ml and 348.26 ± 202.1 ng/ml, respectively. The MMP-8 levels and periodontal status (PPD, CAL, GI, and PI) of groups I and II showed positive and significant correlations (for PPD, r = 0.63, P < 0.001; for CAL, r = 0.54, P < 0.001; for GI, r = 0.49, P < 0.001; and for PI, r = 0.63, P < 0.001). The results of this study demonstrate elevated concentrations of MMP-8 in individuals with chronic periodontitis.

Sex Hormones Enhance Gingival Inflammation without Affecting IL-1β and TNF-α in Periodontally Healthy Women during Pregnancy

PubMed Central

Wu, Min; Chen, Shao-Wu; Su, Wei-Lan; Zhu, Hong-Ying; Ouyang, Shu-Yuan; Cao, Ya-Ting; Jiang, Shao-Yun

2016-01-01

Hormones (progesterone and estradiol) change greatly during pregnancy; however, the mechanism of hormonal changes on gingival inflammation is still unclear. This study is to evaluate the effects of hormonal changes during pregnancy on gingival inflammation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). 30 periodontally healthy pregnant women were evaluated in the first, second, and third trimesters. 20 periodontally healthy nonpregnant women were evaluated twice (once per subsequent month). Clinical parameters including probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding index (BI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment level (CAL), and plaque index (PLI) were recorded. GCF levels of IL-1β and TNF-α and serum levels of progesterone and estradiol were measured. From the data, despite low PLI, BI and GI increased significantly during pregnancy; however, no significant changes in PLI, CAL, IL-1β, or TNF-α GCF levels were observed. Although IL-1β, not TNF-α, was higher in pregnant group than in nonpregnant group, they showed no correlation with serum hormone levels during pregnancy. GI and BI showed significant positive correlation with serum hormone levels during pregnancy. This study suggests that sex hormone increase during pregnancy might have an effect on inflammatory status of gingiva, independent of IL-1β and TNF-α in GCF. PMID:27034591

Sex Hormones Enhance Gingival Inflammation without Affecting IL-1β and TNF-α in Periodontally Healthy Women during Pregnancy.

PubMed

Wu, Min; Chen, Shao-Wu; Su, Wei-Lan; Zhu, Hong-Ying; Ouyang, Shu-Yuan; Cao, Ya-Ting; Jiang, Shao-Yun

2016-01-01

Hormones (progesterone and estradiol) change greatly during pregnancy; however, the mechanism of hormonal changes on gingival inflammation is still unclear. This study is to evaluate the effects of hormonal changes during pregnancy on gingival inflammation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). 30 periodontally healthy pregnant women were evaluated in the first, second, and third trimesters. 20 periodontally healthy nonpregnant women were evaluated twice (once per subsequent month). Clinical parameters including probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding index (BI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment level (CAL), and plaque index (PLI) were recorded. GCF levels of IL-1β and TNF-α and serum levels of progesterone and estradiol were measured. From the data, despite low PLI, BI and GI increased significantly during pregnancy; however, no significant changes in PLI, CAL, IL-1β, or TNF-α GCF levels were observed. Although IL-1β, not TNF-α, was higher in pregnant group than in nonpregnant group, they showed no correlation with serum hormone levels during pregnancy. GI and BI showed significant positive correlation with serum hormone levels during pregnancy. This study suggests that sex hormone increase during pregnancy might have an effect on inflammatory status of gingiva, independent of IL-1β and TNF-α in GCF.

Peripheral Blood Leukocytes Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) Cytokine Hyper-Reactivity in Chronic Periodontitis.

PubMed

Sakalauskiene, Jurgina; Giedrimiene, Dalia; Gleiznys, Darius; Gleiznys, Alvydas; Gleizniene, Rymante; Vitkauskiene, Astra

2016-11-12

BACKGROUND Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β) released by peripheral blood leukocyte medium (PBLM), isolated from chronic periodontitis patients (P) before therapy and matched to controls, were determined in the presence or absence of non-opsonized Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this investigation, 26 patients with untreated, severe, generalized, chronic periodontitis and 26 healthy subjects (H) were enrolled. Periodontal status was assessed by measuring bleeding on probing (BOP), clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), and Ramfjord index (PDI). The levels of IL-1β (µg/ml) were assayed by a standard Immunoenzymetric Assay Diasource IL-1β ELISA kit in PBLM. RESULTS Our study showed that the values of IL-1β levels in PBLM of the P group (stimulated with non-opsonized E. coli and S. aureus) were significantly higher than in the analogous medium of H group subjects (P<0.001). All correlations between the cytokine levels of IL-1β in the samples of PBLM (stimulated with non-opsonized E. coli and S. aureus) and clinical parameters such as BOP, PPD, CAL, and PDI were significantly higher in the group of patients with periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS Levels of IL-1β secreted by leukocytes may help measure severe, generalized, chronic periodontitis, and can be predictive of future detrimental clinical sequelae associated with chronic periodontitis.

Efficacy of subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline against nitrosative stress in chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Pârvu, Alina Elena; Alb, Sandu Florin; Crăciun, Alexandra; Taulescu, Marian Aurel

2013-02-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline (SDD) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) treatment against the nitrosative stress of moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis. Adults with untreated chronic periodontitis (n=174) were randomly administered SRP+SDD (n=87) (20 mg of doxycycline twice daily) or SRP+placebo (n=87) treatment for 3 months. At baseline and after 3 months, the probing depths (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured, and a gingivomucosal biopsy was collected to assay the induction of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT), and blood was collected to assay for total nitrites and nitrates (NO(x)) and 3NT. Compared to baseline, at the completion of treatment, significant decreases in the levels of tissue iNOS and 3NT and serum NO(x) and 3NT were observed in both groups. SRP+SDD yielded a greater reduction in the gingivomucosal and serum nitrosative stress markers than did SRP+placebo. PD, BOP, and CAL reduction were correlated with the nitrosative stress parameters. On a short-term basis, SDD therapy may be used as an adjunct to SRP treatment against nitrosative stress in moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis.

Periodontal Disease Status in an Isolated Greek Adult Population

PubMed Central

Chrysanthakopoulos, N. A.

2012-01-01

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the periodontal condition of an adult population in three isolated regions in Greece and to determine the association of periodontal disease with several demographic, behavioral and environmental factors. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 640 individuals, aged 20 to 69 years from three isolated regions. The following indices were assessed: Pocket Depth (PD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Dental Plaque, Calculus and Bleeding on Probing (BOP). Statistical analysis was accomplished by multiple linear regression model which was used to assess the association between the mean clinical attachment loss and clinical, demographic and behavioral parameters. Results: The samples of the study showed high levels of dental plaque, dental calculus and BOP. The final multivariate model showed that age (p=0.000), gender (p=0.016) and presence of calculus (p=0.000) were associated with the mean clinical attachment loss. Age (p=0.000), gender (p=0.000) and dental plaque (p=0.027) were associated with gingival recession, while age (p=0.018) and gender (p=0.000) were associated with probing depth. Bleeding on probing, dental plaque, toothbrush frequency, level of education, tobacco consumption and reasons for dental visits were not associated with the mean clinical attachment loss. Conclusion: Periodontal disease consists of a complicated destructive condition of the Periodontal tissue with a. multi-factorial etiology. Oral hygiene instructions and a regular dental follow-up could play a significant role in the prevention of periodontal disease. PMID:23119128

Factors contributing to tooth loss among the elderly: A cross sectional study.

PubMed

Natto, Zuhair S; Aladmawy, Majdi; Alasqah, Mohammed; Papas, Athena

2014-12-01

The present study evaluates the influence of several demographic, health, personal, and clinical factors on the number of missing teeth in old age sample. The number of patients included was 259; they received a full mouth examination and answered a questionnaire provided by one examiner. All the variables related to teeth loss based on the literature were included. These variables focused on age, gender, race, marital status, clinical attachment level, pocket depth, year of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, number of medications, root decay, coronal decay, health status, and year of education. Statistical analysis involved stepwise multivariate linear regression. Teeth loss was statistically associated with clinical attachment level (CAL)(p value 0.0001), pocket depth (PD) (0.0007) and education level (0.0048). When smoking was included in the model, age was significantly associated with teeth loss (0.0037). At least one of these four factors was also related to teeth loss in several specific groups such as diabetes mellitus, male, and White. The multiple linear regressions for all the proposed variables showed that they contributed to teeth loss by about 23%. It can be concluded that less education or increased clinical attachment level loss may increase number of missing teeth. Additionally, age may cause teeth loss in the presence of smoking. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Promotes Periodontal Regeneration in Localized Osseous Defects: 36-Month Extension Results From a Randomized, Controlled, Double-Masked Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Nevins, Myron; Kao, Richard T.; McGuire, Michael K.; McClain, Pamela K.; Hinrichs, James E.; McAllister, Bradley S.; Reddy, Michael S.; Nevins, Marc L.; Genco, Robert J.; Lynch, Samuel E.; Giannobile, William V.

2017-01-01

Background Recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF) is safe and effective for the treatment of periodontal defects in short-term studies up to 6 months in duration. We now provide results from a 36-month extension study of a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluating the effect and long-term stability of PDGF-BB treatment in patients with localized severe periodontal osseous defects. Methods A total of 135 participants were enrolled fromsix clinical centers for an extension trial. Eighty-three individuals completed the study at 36 months and were included in the analysis. The study investigated the local application of β-tricalcium phosphate scaffold matrix with or without two different dose levels of PDGF (0.3 or 1.0 mg/mL PDGF-BB) in patients possessing one localized periodontal osseous defect. Composite analysis for clinical and radiographic evidence of treatment success was defined as percentage of cases with clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥2.7mmand linear bone growth (LBG) ≥1.1 mm. Results The participants exceeding this composite outcome benchmark in the 0.3 mg/mL rhPDGF-BB group went from 62.2% at 12 months, 75.9% at 24 months, to 87.0% at 36 months compared with 39.5%, 48.3%, and 53.8%, respectively, in the scaffold control group at these same time points (P <0.05). Although there were no significant increases in CAL and LBG at 36 months among all groups, there were continued increases in CAL gain, LBG, and percentage bone fill over time, suggesting overall stability of the regenerative response. Conclusion PDGF-BB in a synthetic scaffold matrix promotes long-term stable clinical and radiographic improvements as measured by composite outcomes for CAL gain and LBG for patients possessing localized periodontal defects (ClinicalTrials.gov no. CT01530126). PMID:22612364

Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with periodontal disease.

PubMed

Laky, Markus; Bertl, Kristina; Haririan, Hady; Andrukhov, Oleh; Seemann, Rudolf; Volf, Ivo; Assinger, Alice; Gruber, Reinhard; Moritz, Andreas; Rausch-Fan, Xiaohui

2017-06-01

Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone metabolism as well as in immunity. Hence, it might affect the development and extent of periodontal disease. The aim of this study was the assessment of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in periodontal disease. Twenty-nine patients with severe periodontal disease and 29 healthy volunteers were recruited in this case-control-study. Serum 25(OH)D levels, Periodontal Probing Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), Body Mass Index (BMI), and current smoking status and smoking history (packyears) were assessed in all participants. Serum 25(OH)D levels were compared between controls and cases. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for periodontal disease in 25(OH)D deficient probands. Patients with periodontal disease presented a significantly higher proportion of deficient 25(OH)D levels (i.e., <50 nmol/l) compared to healthy controls (48 vs. 14 % respectively). The adjusted OR for periodontal disease with vitamin D deficiency was 1.5 (95 % CI, 1.13-1.98). No correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and CAL, PPD, and BOP in the group with periodontal disease was found. In this case-control-study 25(OH)D deficiency is significantly associated with periodontal disease. The assessment of vitamin D levels in patients presenting with periodontal disease seems advisable, as vitamin D deficiency might be involved in the onset and progression of periodontal disease.

Adjunctive Systemic Antimicrobial Therapy vs Asepsis in Conjunction with Guided Tissue Regeneration: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Abu-Ta'a, Mahmoud

2016-01-01

This randomized clinical trial compares the usefulness of adjunctive antibiotics, while strict asepsis was followed during periodontal surgery involving guided tissue regeneration. Two groups of 20 consecutive patients each with advanced periodontal disease were randomly assigned to treatment. They displayed one angular defect each with an intrabony component ≥3 mm, probing pocket depth and probing attachment level (PAL) ≥7 mm. Test group included 13 males, mean age 60 years, treated with enamel matrix derivative (EMD) and demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft with modified papilla preservation technique, received oral amoxicillin 1 gm, 1 hour preoperatively and 2 gm for 2 days postoperatively. Control group included 10 males, mean age 57 years, treated with EMD and demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft with modified papilla preservation technique, received no antibiotics. Outcome measures were clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, residual periodontal pocket depth (res. PD), gingival recession (GR), bleeding on probing (BOP), adverse events and postoperative complications. Patients were followed up to 12 months after periodontal surgery involving guided tissue regeneration. There were no significant differences between both groups for CAL gain, res. PD, GR, BOP nor other clinical parameters, though patients' subjective perception of postoperative discomfort was significantly smaller in the group receiving antibiotics. Antibiotics do not provide significant advantages concerning clinical periodontal parameters nor concerning postoperative infections in case of proper asepsis. It does, on the contrary, reduce postoperative discomfort. Regarding the results of this study, adjunc-tive systemic antibiotics in combination with guided tissue regeneration may be useful in reducing postoperative discomfort but may not be helpful for improving periodontal regeneration outcomes.

Clinical efficacy of photodynamic therapy adjunctive to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Xue, Dong; Tang, Lu; Bai, Yuhao; Ding, Qian; Wang, Pengcheng; Zhao, Ying

2017-06-01

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with untreated chronic periodontitis based on up-to-date evidence. MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs), supplemented by a manual literature search. Mean differences (MD) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of probing depth (PD) reduction and clinical attachment level (CAL) gain were synthesized. The I 2 test and Q statistics were used to determine the inter-study heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis based on smoking status was performed. Eleven RCTs with a total of 243 subjects were included. Significant improvement in PD reduction (MD=0.13, CI:0.02-0.24, p=0.02) and marginal significant improvement in CAL gain (MD=0.18, CI:-0.005-0.363, p=0.056) were observed in favor of SRP+PDT at 3months. When evaluated at 6months after baseline, the association of PDT with SRP resulted in a significant benefit in PD reduction (MD=0.40, CI:0.05-0.74, p=0.03), but not in CAL gain (MD=0.37, CI:-0.18-0.93, p=0.18). Subgroup analysis revealed that the combined therapy produced no significant improvements in PD and CAL at neither 3months nor 6months for studies with smokers. No treatment-related adverse events or side effects had been reported by the included studies. Pooled analysis suggests a short-term benefit of PDT as an adjunct to SRP in clinical outcome variables. However, evidence regarding its long-term efficacy is still insufficient and no significant effect has been confirmed in terms of CAL gain at 6months. Future clinical trials of high methodological quality are needed to establish the optimal combination of photosensitizer and laser configuration. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Periodontal Disease on Preeclampsia

PubMed Central

Sayar, F; Hoseini, M Sadat; Abbaspour, S

2011-01-01

Background: A lot of studies have shown periodontal diseases as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The association between periodontitis and preeclampsia has been studied recently with controversy. Considering the importance of preventing preeclampsia as a dangerous and life-threatening disease in pregnant women, the present study was carried out. Methods: Two hundred and ten pregnant women participated in this case-control study (105 controls & 105 cases) during years 2007 and 2008. Preeclamptic cases were defined as blood pressure ≥140/90mmHg and proteinuria +1. Control group were pregnant women with normal blood pressure without proteinuria. Both groups were examined during 48 hours after child delivery. Plaque Index (PLI), Pocket Depth (PD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Bleeding On Probing (BOP), Gingival Recession (GR) were measured on all teeth except for third molars and recorded as periodontal examination. Data was analyzed using t-test, chi-square, and Mann-Whitney U statistical tests. Results: There was no significant difference between the two study groups for PD. CAL, GR, BOP significantly increased in the case group (P< 0.02). This study showed that preeclamptic cases were more likely to develop periodontal disease (P< 0.0001). Eighty three percent of the control group and 95% of the case group had periodontal disease (P< 0.005) which had shown that preeclamptic cases were 4.1 times more likely to have periodontal disease (OR= 4.1). Conclusion: Preeclamptic cases significantly had higher attachment loss and gingival recession than the control group. PMID:23113094

Periodontitis is related to lung volumes and airflow limitation: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Holtfreter, Birte; Richter, Stefanie; Kocher, Thomas; Dörr, Marcus; Völzke, Henry; Ittermann, Till; Obst, Anne; Schäper, Christoph; John, Ulrich; Meisel, Peter; Grotevendt, Anne; Felix, Stephan B; Ewert, Ralf; Gläser, Sven

2013-12-01

This study aimed to assess the potential association of periodontal diseases with lung volumes and airflow limitation in a general adult population. Based on a representative population sample of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), 1463 subjects aged 25-86 years were included. Periodontal status was assessed by clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth and number of missing teeth. Lung function was measured using spirometry, body plethysmography and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. Linear regression models using fractional polynomials were used to assess associations between periodontal disease and lung function. Fibrinogen and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were evaluated as potential intermediate factors. After full adjustment for potential confounders mean CAL was significantly associated with variables of mobile dynamic and static lung volumes, airflow limitation and hyperinflation (p<0.05). Including fibrinogen and hs-CRP did not change coefficients of mean CAL; associations remained statistically significant. Mean CAL was not associated with total lung capacity and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. Associations were confirmed for mean probing depth, extent measures of CAL/probing depth and number of missing teeth. Periodontal disease was significantly associated with reduced lung volumes and airflow limitation in this general adult population sample. Systemic inflammation did not provide a mechanism linking both diseases.

Cannabis Smoking and Periodontal Disease Among Young Adults

PubMed Central

Thomson, W. Murray; Poulton, Richie; Broadbent, Jonathan M.; Moffitt, Terrie E.; Caspi, Avshalom; Beck, James D.; Welch, David; Hancox, Robert J.

2010-01-01

Context Tobacco smoking is a recognized behavioral risk factor for periodontal disease (through its systemic effects), and cannabis smoking may contribute in a similar way. Objective To determine whether cannabis smoking is a risk factor for periodontal disease. Design and Setting Prospective cohort study of the general population, with cannabis use determined at ages 18, 21, 26, and 32 years and dental examinations conducted at ages 26 and 32 years. The most recent data collection (at age 32 years) was completed in June 2005. Participants A complete birth cohort born in 1972 and 1973 in Dunedin, New Zealand, and assessed periodically (with a 96% follow-up rate of the 1015 participants who survived to age 32 years). Complete data for this analysis were available from 903 participants (comprising 89.0% of the surviving birth cohort). Main Outcome Measure Periodontal disease status at age 32 years (and changes from ages 26 to 32 years) determined from periodontal combined attachment loss (CAL) measured at 3 sites per tooth. Results Three cannabis exposure groups were determined: no exposure (293 individuals, or 32.3%), some exposure (428; 47.4%), and high exposure (182; 20.2%). At age 32 years, 265 participants (29.3%) had 1 or more sites with 4 mm or greater CAL, and 111 participants (12.3%) had 1 or more sites with 5 mm or greater CAL. Incident attachment loss between the ages of 26 and 32 years in the none, some, and high cannabis exposure groups was 6.5%, 11.2%, and 23.6%, respectively. After controlling for tobacco smoking (measured in pack-years), sex, irregular use of dental services, and dental plaque, the relative risk estimates for the highest cannabis exposure group were as follows: 1.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–2.2) for having 1 or more sites with 4 mm or greater CAL; 3.1 (95% CI, 1.5–6.4) for having 1 or more sites with 5 mm or greater CAL; and 2.2 (95% CI, 1.2–3.9) for having incident attachment loss (in comparison with those who had never smoked cannabis). Tobacco smoking was strongly associated with periodontal disease experience, but there was no interaction between cannabis use and tobacco smoking in predicting the condition’s occurrence. Conclusion Cannabis smoking may be a risk factor for periodontal disease that is independent of the use of tobacco. PMID:18252882

Short-term clinical outcomes of laser supported periodontal treatment concept using Er,Cr:YSGG (2780nm) and diode (940 nm): a pilot study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odor, Alin A.; Violant, Deborah; Badea, Victoria; Gutknecht, Norbert

2016-03-01

Backgrounds: Er,Cr:YSGG (2780nm) and diode (940 nm) lasers can be used adjacent to the conventional periodontal treatment as minimally invasive non-surgical devices. Aim: To describe the short-term clinical outcomes by combining Er,Cr:YSGG (2780nm) and diode 940 nm lasers in non-surgical periodontal treatment. Materials and methods: A total of 10 patients with periodontal disease (mild, moderate, severe) - 233 teeth and 677 periodontal pockets ranging from 4 mm to 12 mm - were treated with Er,Cr:YSGG (2780nm) and diode (940 nm) lasers in adjunct to manual and piezoelectric scaling and root planning (SRP). Periodontal parameters such as mean probing depth (PD), mean clinical attachment level (CAL) and mean bleeding on probing (BOP) were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after the laser treatment using an electronic periodontal chart. Results: At baseline, the mean PD was 4.06 ± 1.06 mm, mean CAL was 4.56 ± 1.43 mm, and mean BOP was 43.8 ± 23.84 %. At 6 months after the laser supported periodontal treatments the mean PD was 2.6 ± 0.58 mm (p <0.001), mean CAL was 3.36 ± 1.24 mm (p <0.001) and mean BOP was 17 ± 9.34 % (p <0.001). Also 3 patients showed radiographic signs of bone regeneration. Conclusion: The combination of two laser wavelengths in adjunct to SRP offers significant improvements of periodontal clinical parameters such as PD, CAL and BOP. Keywords: Laser supported periodontal treatment concept, Er,Cr:YSGG and diode 940nm lasers, Scaling and root planning, Minimally invasive non-surgical device

A 4-year prospective study of the progression of periodontal disease in a rural Chinese population.

PubMed

Pei, Xiyan; Ouyang, Xiangying; He, Lu; Cao, Caifang; Luan, Qingxian; Suda, Reiko

2015-02-01

The natural progression of periodontitis in the Chinese population is not well researched. We investigated the progression of periodontal disease over 4 years in 15-44-year-old Chinese villagers with no access to regular dental care. In 1992, 486 villagers were enrolled, and in 1996, 413 villagers were re-examined. Probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were examined at six sites per tooth. Sites with ΔCAL ≥3 mm were defined as active sites. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed using means and percentile plots. The mean CAL increased by 0.26 mm over 4 years. The incidence of periodontitis (at least one site with CAL ≥3 mm) was 8%. The incidence of periodontitis among those with no periodontal disease at baseline was 44.9%. Seventy-eight percent of the subjects had at least one active site. In the 15-24-year group, 244 of 401 active sites had gingival recession, while only 51 active sites had both gingival recession and deeper pockets. In the 25-34-year and 35-44-year groups, almost one-third of the active sites (329/1087) and more than one-third of the active sites (580/1312) respectively had a combination of gingival recession and deeper pockets. In this study, we demonstrated that in Chinese population without regular dental care, both the initiation of periodontitis and progression of previously existed periodontitis contributed to the natural progression of periodontitis and periodontal pocketing played a greater role with age increasing. This rare study reports the natural progression of periodontal disease in a group of Chinese villagers (15-44 years) with virtually no access to regular dental care. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Christodoulides, Nicos; Nikolidakis, Dimitris; Chondros, Panagiotis; Becker, Jürgen; Schwarz, Frank; Rössler, Ralf; Sculean, Anton

2008-09-01

Recent preclinical and clinical data have suggested a potential benefit of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of periodontitis. However, there are very limited data from controlled clinical trials evaluating the effect of PDT in the treatment of periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiologic effects of the adjunctive use of PDT to non-surgical periodontal treatment. Twenty-four subjects with chronic periodontitis were randomly treated with scaling and root planing followed by a single episode of PDT (test) or scaling and root planing alone (control). Full-mouth plaque score (FMPS), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS), probing depth (PD), gingival recession, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured at baseline and 3 and 6 months after therapy. Primary outcome variables were changes in PD and CAL. Microbiologic evaluation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans), Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia (previously T. forsythensis), Treponema denticola, Parvimonas micra (previously Peptostreptococcus micros or Micromonas micros), Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Eubacterium nodatum, Eikenella corrodens, and Capnocytophaga spp. was performed at baseline and 3 and 6 months following therapy by using a commercially available polymerase chain reaction test. At 3 and 6 months after treatment, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to CAL, PD, FMPS, or microbiologic changes. At 3 and 6 months, a statistically significantly greater improvement in FMBS was found in the test group. The additional application of a single episode of PDT to scaling and root planing failed to result in an additional improvement in terms of PD reduction and CAL gain, but it resulted in a significantly higher reduction in bleeding scores compared to scaling and root planing alone.

Effect of smoking on the results of a chlorhexidine digluconate treatment extended up to 3 months after scaling and root planing-a pilot study.

PubMed

Stratul, Stefan-Ioan; Sculean, Anton; Rusu, Darian; Didilescu, Andreea; Kasaj, Adrian; Jentsch, Holger

2011-01-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of smoking on a prolongated chlorhexidine digluconate regimen after scaling and root planing. Forty-two smokers (test group) and 85 nonsmoking patients (control group) with generalized chronic periodontitis were examined for clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BoP), and Plaque Index (Pl) at baseline and after 1 and 3 months. During scaling and root planing, a 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate solution and a 1% chlorhexidine digluconate gel were used. The subjects used a 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate solution twice daily for 3 months. The Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis. There were significant improvements of all studied variables after 1 and 3 months in both groups. After 3 months, the mean improvement in the test group was 1.62 mm for CAL, 2.85 mm for PD, and 48% for BoP; in the control group, the values were 2.18 mm for CAL, 2.81 mm for PD, and 47% for BoP. Only the maximum changes of CAL between 1 and 3 months (test group, 0.32 mm vs 0.69 mm in the control group) and PD (test group, 0.47 mm vs 0.76 mm in the control group) were significantly different between the groups (P < .05 and P = .05, respectively). The present data appear to suggest that the use of chlorhexidine digluconate twice daily during a period of 3 months following nonsurgical periodontal therapy may result in significant clinical improvements in smokers and nonsmokers.

L-type calcium channels refine the neural population code of sound level

PubMed Central

Grimsley, Calum Alex; Green, David Brian

2016-01-01

The coding of sound level by ensembles of neurons improves the accuracy with which listeners identify how loud a sound is. In the auditory system, the rate at which neurons fire in response to changes in sound level is shaped by local networks. Voltage-gated conductances alter local output by regulating neuronal firing, but their role in modulating responses to sound level is unclear. We tested the effects of L-type calcium channels (CaL: CaV1.1–1.4) on sound-level coding in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC) in the auditory midbrain. We characterized the contribution of CaL to the total calcium current in brain slices and then examined its effects on rate-level functions (RLFs) in vivo using single-unit recordings in awake mice. CaL is a high-threshold current and comprises ∼50% of the total calcium current in ICC neurons. In vivo, CaL activates at sound levels that evoke high firing rates. In RLFs that increase monotonically with sound level, CaL boosts spike rates at high sound levels and increases the maximum firing rate achieved. In different populations of RLFs that change nonmonotonically with sound level, CaL either suppresses or enhances firing at sound levels that evoke maximum firing. CaL multiplies the gain of monotonic RLFs with dynamic range and divides the gain of nonmonotonic RLFs with the width of the RLF. These results suggest that a single broad class of calcium channels activates enhancing and suppressing local circuits to regulate the sensitivity of neuronal populations to sound level. PMID:27605536

Effect of Periodontal Therapy on Crevicular Fluid Interleukin-18 Level in Periodontal Health and Disease in Central Maharashtra (India) Population.

PubMed

Mahajani, Monica J; Jadhao, Varsha A; Wankhade, Pooja S; Samson, Emmanuel; Acharya, Vishwas D; Tekale, Pawankumar D

2017-11-01

The incidence and progression of the periodontal disease depend on periodontal microflora and the multifaceted response of the host, and these interactions are mediated by cytokines and chemokines. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine of the IL-1 superfamily. The aim of the present study was the assessment of the periodontal therapy in IL-18 level in periodontal disease and health. Based on clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI) patients were divided into three groups: Group I with healthy patients, group II with chronic periodontitis, and group III with posttreatment patients having periodontitis. Mean PI, PPD, CAL, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume were significantly higher in groups II and III compared with group I. However, there were no significant differences between GI in groups I, II, and III. The total amount of IL-18 in GCF was significantly higher in group II when compared with groups I and III (p < 0.05). The present study confirmed that the IL-18 level in GCF was lower in healthy patients, higher in periodontally involved patients, and reduced at baseline, 3 and 6 weeks after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. The IL-18 might be hypothetically beneficial in distinguishing health from disease and monitoring periodontal disease activity.

Late quaternary changes in lakes, vegetation, and climate in the Bonneville Basin reconstructed from sediment cores from Great Salt Lake: Chapter 11

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thompson, Robert S.; Oviatt, Charles G.; Honke, Jeffrey S.; McGeehin, John

2016-01-01

Sediment cores from Great Salt Lake (GSL) provide the basis for reconstructing changes in lakes, vegetation, and climate for the last ~ 40 cal ka. Initially, the coring site was covered by a shallow saline lake and surrounded by Artemisia steppe or steppe-tundra under a cold and dry climate. As Lake Bonneville began to rise (from ~ 30 to 28 cal ka), Pinus and subalpine conifer pollen percentages increased and Artemisia declined, suggesting the onset of wetter conditions. Lake Bonneville oscillated near the Stansbury shoreline between ~ 26 and ~ 24 cal ka, rose to the Bonneville shoreline by ~ 18 cal ka, and then fell to the Provo shoreline, which it occupied until ~ 15 cal ka. Vegetation changed during this time span, albeit not always with the same direction or amplitude as the lake. The pollen percentages of Pinus and subalpine conifers were high from ~ 25 to 21.5 cal ka, indicating cool and moist conditions during the Stansbury oscillation and for much of the rise toward the Bonneville shoreline. Pinus percentages then decreased and Artemisia became codominant, suggesting drier and perhaps colder conditions from ~ 21 to ~ 15 cal ka, when Lake Bonneville was at or near its highest levels.Lake Bonneville declined to a low level by ~ 13 cal ka, while Pinus pollen percentages increased, indicating that conditions remained cooler and moister than today. During the Younger Dryas interval, the brief Gilbert episode rise in lake level was followed by a shallow lake with a stratified water column. This lake rise occurred as Pinus pollen percentages were declining and those of Artemisia were rising (reflecting increasingly dry conditions), after which Artemisia pollen was at very high levels (suggesting cold and dry conditions) for a brief period.Since ~ 10.6 cal ka lacustrine conditions have resembled those of present-day GSL. Pollen spectra for the period from ~ 10.6 to 7.2 cal ka have low levels of conifer pollen and high (for the Holocene) levels of desert and steppe taxa, suggesting generally dry conditions with maximum aridity occurring prior to the deposition of the Mazama tephra (~ 7.6 cal ka). After ~ 10.6 cal ka, Juniperus pollen percentages began to increase and by ~ 7.2 cal ka juniper woodlands were well established on lower mountain slopes. From ~ 7 to 4 cal ka, pollen percentages fluctuated near their mean values for the entire Holocene. The neopluvial (~ 4 to 2 cal ka) was the wettest part of the Holocene, with higher levels of Juniperus pollen and lower levels for steppe and desert taxa than in older Holocene sediments. Pollen percentages for the last ~ 2 cal ka are variable, but generally indicate a return to drier conditions.

The Role of Smoking and Gingival Crevicular Fluid Markers on Coronally Advanced Flap Outcomes

PubMed Central

Kaval, Başak; Renaud, Diane E.; Scott, David A.; Buduneli, Nurcan

2015-01-01

Background This study evaluates possible effects of smoking on the following: 1) biochemical content in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples from sites of gingival recession and saliva; and 2) clinical outcomes of coronally advanced flap (CAF) for root coverage. Methods Eighteen defects in 15 patients were included in each of the smoker and non-smoker groups. Baseline cotinine, basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor-α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, MMP-9, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were determined in GCF and saliva samples. CAF with microsurgery technique was applied. Plaque index, papilla bleeding index, recession depth (RD), recession width (RW), and root surface area were evaluated at baseline and postoperative months 1, 3, and 6. Probing depth, clinical attachment level (CAL), and keratinized gingival width (KGW) was recorded at baseline and month 6. Percentage of root coverage and complete root coverage were calculated at postoperative months 1, 3, and 6. Results All biochemical parameters were similar in the two groups apart from the definite difference in salivary cotinine concentrations (P = 0.000). Compared with the baseline values, RD, RW, CAL, and root surface area decreased, and KGW increased, with no significant difference between the study groups. CAL gain, percentage of root coverage, and complete root-coverage rates were similar in the study groups. Conclusion Similar baseline biochemical data and comparably high success rates of root coverage with CAF in systemically and periodontally healthy smokers versus non-smokers suggest lack of adverse effects of smoking on clinical outcomes. PMID:23725027

Levels of salivary immunoglobulins and periodontal evaluation in smoking patients.

PubMed

Giuca, Maria Rita; Pasini, Marco; Tecco, Simona; Giuca, Giacomo; Marzo, Giuseppe

2014-02-06

The aim of this study was to assess the level of salivary immunoglobulins and periodontal status in smokers and non-smokers. Unstimulated saliva of 30 subjects (mean age 24.2 ± 3.5 years) who were smokers (test group) and of 30 subjects (mean age 25.3 ± 3.8 years) who were non-smokers (control group) was collected and centrifugated; IgA, IgG, and IgM were measured with the colorimetric immunoenzymatic method. Moreover, the following periodontal clinical parameters were recorded for each subject: plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). A significantly (p< 0.05) lower Ig level was observed in smoking patients (IgA: 20.0 ± 1.2 mg/dl; IgM: 19.5 ± 1.6 mg/dl; IgG: 8.1 ± 1.4 mg/dl) compared to levels in the non-smoking control group (IgA: 234.1 ± 65.2 mg/dl; IgM: 121.0 ± 31.7 mg/dl; IgG: 1049.4 ± 102 mg/dl). In the test group, PI (2.2 ± 0.3), GI (2.4 ± 0.5), PD (49.3 ± 9.2%), and CAL (49.3 ± 4.6%) were higher (p< 0.05) than those observed in the control group (PI: 0.8 ± 0.4; GI: 0.7 ± 0.3; PD: 10.6 ± 2.4%; CAL: 3.1 ± 0.8%). Smoking subjects showed lower levels of salivary IgA, IgG, and IgM and a worse periodontal condition than non-smoking subjects. On the base of our study, as smoking subjects also had lower levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM in their saliva than non-smoking subjects, despite the fact that there is little evidence that the salivary Igs have a protective action against periodontitis and that the whole saliva does not result in whole from the salivary glands, it can be concluded that the deteriorated periodontal health conditions of these patients can be attributed in part to a lowering of the host's defense due to a decrease in the quantity of Igs in salivary fluid.

Effects of platelet-rich fibrin on healing of intra-bony defects treated with anorganic bovine bone mineral.

PubMed

Sezgin, Yasemin; Uraz, Ahu; Taner, I Levent; Çulhaoğlu, Rana

2017-01-26

Anorganic bovine bone mineral (ABBM) is extensively used in the treatment of intra-bony defects. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a new-generation platelet concentrate with a simplified technique. Although certain studies have reported the use of PRF in the treatment of intra-bony defects, to date, none of them have evaluated its additive effects with ABBM. Therefore, a randomised, split-mouth clinical trial was conducted to compare healing of intra-bony defects treated with an ABBM-PRF combination with healing of those treated with ABBM alone. By using a split-mouth design, 15 paired intra-bony defects were randomly treated with either ABBM alone (control group) or ABBM-PRF combination (test group). Following clinical parameters and radiographical measurements were recorded at baseline and 6 months after treatment: plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), clinical attachment level (CAL), vertical bone loss, depth of defect and defect angle. Preoperative clinical and radiographical measurements were similar for the test and control groups. Statistically significant reductions in GI, PD, CAL, vertical bone loss, depth of intra-bony defect and widening of defect angle were detected after treatment in both groups. With respect to inter-group analysis, gain in CAL was significantly greater in the test group than in the control group, whereas no inter-group differences were observed in any other parameter. The results of this study indicate that both therapies are effective in the treatment of intra-bony defects.

Clinical efficacy of subgingivally delivered simvastatin gel in chronic periodontitis patients.

PubMed

Agarwal, Swati; Chaubey, Krishna Kumar; Chaubey, Abhinav; Agarwal, Vikas; Madan, Ellora; Agarwal, Manvi Chandra

2016-01-01

Simvastatin (SMV), a new locally delivered drug of class statins, is a specific competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase. Statins, besides having lipid-lowering abilities, also have pleiotropic effects like host modulation and bone regeneration. The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of SMV, 1.2 mg, in an indigenously prepared biodegradable controlled-release gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP). A total of 60 sites, with pocket depth ≥5 mm, two from each of 30 patients after SRP, were categorized into two treatment groups, for subgingival placement of placebo (Gp 1) or SMV (Gp 2). Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months comprising plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The osseous changes were evaluated radiographically by measuring vertical gain, INFRA 1 and angle of the defect, INFRA 2 from baseline to 6 months. All subjects tolerated the drug, without any post-application complication. The treatment improved the periodontal condition in both the groups but significant reductions in PPD (p= 0.04), and INFRA 1 (p= 0.000), along with gain in CAL (p= 0.02) and INFRA 2 (p= 0.000) were observed in Gp 2. In one site, an unexpected 5 mm decrease in INFRA 1 was found. Local drug delivery of SMV enhanced the beneficial effect of SRP, in pocket reduction, gain in CAL and bone fill.

Association Among Periodontitis and the Use of Crack Cocaine and Other Illicit Drugs.

PubMed

Antoniazzi, Raquel P; Zanatta, Fabricio B; Rösing, Cassiano K; Feldens, Carlos Alberto

2016-12-01

Crack cocaine can alter functions related to the immune system and exert a negative influence on progression and severity of periodontitis. The aim of this study is to compare periodontal status between crack cocaine users and crack cocaine non-users and investigate the association between crack cocaine and periodontitis after adjustments for confounding variables. This cross-sectional study evaluated 106 individuals exposed to crack cocaine and 106 never exposed, matched for age, sex, and tobacco use. An examiner determined visible plaque index (VPI), marginal bleeding index, supragingival dental calculus, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Logistic regression was used to model associations between crack cocaine and periodontitis (at least three sites with CAL >4 mm and at least two sites with PD >3 mm, not in the same site or tooth). Prevalence of periodontitis among crack non-users and crack users was 20.8% and 43.4%, respectively. Crack users had greater VPI, BOP, PD ≥3 mm, and CAL ≥4 mm than crack non-users. Periodontitis was associated with age >24 years, schooling ≤8 years, smoking, moderate/heavy alcohol use, and plaque rate ≥41%. Crack users had an approximately three-fold greater chance (odds ratio: 3.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.51 to 7.86) of periodontitis than non-users. Occurrence of periodontitis, visible plaque, and gingival bleeding was significantly higher among crack users, and crack use was associated with occurrence of periodontitis.

Clinical efficacy of subgingivally delivered simvastatin gel in chronic periodontitis patients

PubMed Central

Agarwal, Swati; Chaubey, Krishna Kumar; Chaubey, Abhinav; Agarwal, Vikas; Madan, Ellora; Agarwal, Manvi Chandra

2016-01-01

Background: Simvastatin (SMV), a new locally delivered drug of class statins, is a specific competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase. Statins, besides having lipid-lowering abilities, also have pleiotropic effects like host modulation and bone regeneration. The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of SMV, 1.2 mg, in an indigenously prepared biodegradable controlled-release gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP). Materials and Methods: A total of 60 sites, with pocket depth ≥5 mm, two from each of 30 patients after SRP, were categorized into two treatment groups, for subgingival placement of placebo (Gp 1) or SMV (Gp 2). Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months comprising plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The osseous changes were evaluated radiographically by measuring vertical gain, INFRA 1 and angle of the defect, INFRA 2 from baseline to 6 months. Results: All subjects tolerated the drug, without any post-application complication. The treatment improved the periodontal condition in both the groups but significant reductions in PPD (p= 0.04), and INFRA 1 (p= 0.000), along with gain in CAL (p= 0.02) and INFRA 2 (p= 0.000) were observed in Gp 2. In one site, an unexpected 5 mm decrease in INFRA 1 was found. Conclusion: Local drug delivery of SMV enhanced the beneficial effect of SRP, in pocket reduction, gain in CAL and bone fill. PMID:28298823

Use of autologous platelet rich plasma to treat gingival recession in esthetic periodontal surgery

PubMed Central

Naik, Archana R.; Ramesh, Alampalli V.; Dwarkanath, C. D.; Naik, Madhukeshwara S.; Chinnappa, A. B.

2013-01-01

Background: Multiple approaches have been used to replace lost, damaged or diseased gingival tissues. Coronally advanced flap (CAF) and the use of guided tissue regeneration are among the successfully used surgical techniques to treat gingival recession. Platelet rich plasma (PRP), containing autologous growth factors, has been shown to promote soft-tissue healing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRP in combination with CAF in the treatment of gingival recession. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 systemically healthy patients with buccal Miller's class I and class II gingival recession in cuspids or premolars participated in the study. CAF procedure was performed and PRP with collagen sponge was placed over the defect. Clinical parameters such as recession depth, recession width, surface area, width of keratinized gingival (KG), clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth, plaque index and gingival index were evaluated at 3, 6 and 9 months post-surgery. The percentage of root coverage was calculated. Results: The results of this study suggest that the CAF procedure provides a predictable and simple technique in the treatment of localized Class I and Class II gingival recession. The additional application of PRP does significantly increase the width of KG and gain in clinical attachment. Conclusion: CAF procedure is a predictable and simple technique in the treatment of gingival recession and the additional application of PRP does significantly increase the width of KG and gain in CAL. The long-term benefits following surgical treatment of such defects needs to be determined further. PMID:24049336

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes as cytocompatible material for enhanced adhesion and proliferation of osteoblast-like cells.

PubMed

Giannona, Suna; Firkowska, Izabela; Rojas-Chapana, José; Giersig, Michael

2007-01-01

In this study, we describe the spatial organization of CAL-72 osteoblast-like cells on arrays of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (VACNTs). It was observed that, unlike cell growth on non-patterned surfaces, the cell attachment and spreading process on VACNTs was significantly enhanced. Additionally, since carbon nanotubes are known to possess resilient mechanical properties and are chemically stable, the effect of periodic arrays of VACNTs on CAL-72 osteoblast-like cells was also studied. The periodicity and alignment of VACNTs considerably influenced growth, shape and orientation of the cells by steering toward the nanopattern. This situation is of great interest for the potential application of VACNTs in bone bioenginnering. This data provides evidence that CAL-72 osteoblast-like cells can sense physical features at the nanoscale. These results give a fascinating insight into the ways in which cell growth can be influenced by man-made nanostructures and could provide a framework for achieving controlled cell guidance with controlled organization and special physical properties.

Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Salivary Periostin Levels in Non-Smoker Subjects With Chronic and Aggressive Periodontitis : Periostin Levels in Chronic and Aggressive Periodontitis.

PubMed

Aral, Cüneyt A; Köseoğlu, Serhat; Sağlam, Mehmet; Pekbağrıyanık, Tuğba; Savran, Levent

2016-06-01

Periostin, an extracellular matrix protein functioning as an important structural mediator and adhesion molecule, has been shown to be an important regulator of connective tissue integrity. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of periostin in chronic periodontitis (CP) and aggressive periodontitis (AgP) compared to non-periodontitis (NP). Individuals were submitted to gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva sampling. Periodontal examination consisted of plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical attachment level (CAL) measurements. Assays for periostin were performed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Periodontitis patients presented more severe clinical indices compared to the NP group (p < 0.001). The mean GCF level of periostin was lowest in the AgP group as compared to the other groups and was lower in the CP group as compared to the NP group (p < 0.001). Increased levels of periostin were observed in the saliva of patients with AgP as compared to the CP and NP groups (p < 0.05). There was a negative relationship between GCF periostin levels and clinical parameters (p < 0.01), whereas a positive correlation was observed between salivary periostin levels and full-mouth GI and CAL scores (p < 0.01). To our knowledge, this is the first report investigating periostin levels in GCF and saliva in aggressive periodontitis. The results suggest that subjects with CP and AgP exhibit a different periostin profile. Periostin in GCF may have a protective role against periodontal disease. Furthermore, salivary periostin concentrations may have a promising diagnostic potential for the aggressive forms of periodontal disease.

Periodontal therapy reduces plasma levels of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen in patients with severe periodontitis and refractory arterial hypertension.

PubMed

Vidal, Fábio; Figueredo, Carlos Marcelo S; Cordovil, Ivan; Fischer, Ricardo G

2009-05-01

Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that inflammation is the link between periodontal diseases and cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on plasma levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-6, C-reactive protein [CRP], and fibrinogen) in patients with severe periodontitis and refractory arterial hypertension. Twenty-two patients were examined and randomly divided into two groups. The test group was composed of 11 patients (mean age, 48.9 +/- 3.9 years) who received periodontal treatment, whereas the control group had 11 patients (mean age, 49.7 +/- 6.0 years) whose treatment was delayed for 3 months. Demographic and clinical periodontal data were collected, and blood tests were performed to measure the levels of IL-6, CRP, and fibrinogen at baseline and 3 months later. The clinical results showed that the mean percentages of sites with bleeding on probing, probing depth (PD) 4 to 5 mm, PD > or =6 mm, clinical attachment loss (CAL) 4 to 5 mm, and CAL > or =6 mm were significantly reduced in the test group 3 months after periodontal treatment. There were no significant differences between the data at baseline and 3 months in the control group. Periodontal treatment significantly reduced the blood levels of fibrinogen, CRP, and IL-6 in the test group. Non-surgical periodontal therapy was effective in improving periodontal clinical data and in reducing the plasma levels of IL-6, CRP, and fibrinogen in hypertensive patients with severe periodontitis.

The Role of Calgranulin Overexpression in Breast Cancer Progression

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-09-01

transfected cells. As shown in Figure 4, exposure of MCF-7 cells to 25ng/ml OSM for 24 hours caused a very significant increase in Cal A levels . Interestingly...Cal A expression was not observed in the parental or vector alone cells, but the transfected cells showed an elevation in Cal A levels . The

A Randomized Comparative Study of Two Techniques to Optimize the Root Coverage Using a Porcine Collagen Matrix.

PubMed

Reino, Danilo Maeda; Maia, Luciana Prado; Fernandes, Patrícia Garani; Souza, Sergio Luis Scombatti de; Taba Junior, Mario; Palioto, Daniela Bazan; Grisi, Marcio Fermandes de Moraes; Novaes, Arthur Belém

2015-10-01

The aim of this randomized controlled clinical study was to compare the extended flap technique (EFT) with the coronally advanced flap technique (CAF) using a porcine collagen matrix (PCM) for root coverage. Twenty patients with two bilateral gingival recessions, Miller class I or II on non-molar teeth were treated with CAF+PCM (control group) or EFT+PCM (test group). Clinical measurements of probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), recession height (RH), keratinized tissue height (KTH), keratinized mucosa thickness (KMT) were determined at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-surgery. At 6 months, the mean root coverage for test group was 81.89%, and for control group it was 62.80% (p<0.01). The change of recession depth from baseline was statistically significant between test and control groups, with an mean of 2.21 mm gained at the control sites and 2.84 mm gained at the test sites (p=0.02). There were no statistically significant differences for KTH, PPD or CAL comparing the two therapies. The extended flap technique presented better root coverage than the coronally advanced flap technique when PCM was used.

Adjunctive Non-Surgical Therapy of Inflamed Periodontal Pockets During Maintenance Therapy Using Diode Laser: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Nguyen, Naomi-Trang; Byarlay, Matthew R; Reinhardt, Richard A; Marx, David B; Meinberg, Trudy A; Kaldahl, Wayne B

2015-10-01

Numerous studies have documented the clinical outcomes of laser therapy for untreated periodontitis, but very few have reported on lasers treating inflamed pockets during maintenance therapy. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of scaling and root planing (SRP) plus the adjunctive use of diode laser therapy to SRP alone on changes in the clinical parameters of disease and on the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) inflammatory mediator interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in patients receiving regular periodontal maintenance therapy. This single-masked and randomized, controlled, prospective study includes 22 patients receiving regular periodontal maintenance therapy who had one or more periodontal sites with a probing depth (PD) ≥ 5 mm with bleeding on probing (BOP). Fifty-six sites were treated with SRP and adjunctive laser therapy (SRP + L). Fifty-eight sites were treated with SRP alone. Clinical parameters, including PD, clinical attachment level (CAL), and BOP, and GCF IL-1β levels were measured immediately before treatment (baseline) and 3 months after treatment. Sites treated with SRP + L and SRP alone resulted in statistically significant reductions in PD and BOP and gains in CAL. These changes were not significantly different between the two therapies. Similarly, differences in GCF IL-1β levels between SRP + L and SRP alone were not statistically significant. In periodontal maintenance patients, SRP + L did not enhance clinical outcomes compared to SRP alone in the treatment of inflamed sites with ≥ 5 mm PD.

Detection of toxic elements using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in smokers' and nonsmokers' teeth and investigation of periodontal parameters.

PubMed

Alhasmi, Abdul M; Gondal, Mohammed A; Nasr, Mohamed M; Shafik, Sami; Habibullah, Yusuf B

2015-08-20

A laser-induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) was built and optimized to detect levels of toxic elements such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic present in the roots of extracted teeth of smokers and nonsmokers. Sixty extracted teeth from patients having a history of chronic periodontitis were divided into two groups of 30 teeth each for smoker and nonsmoker patients and, as controls, a third group of 30 patients who did not have a history of chronic periodontitis. The respective elemental concentration (Pb, Cd, and As) 23-29, 0.26-0. 31, and 0.64-11 ppm are for nonsmokers, 35-55, 0.33-0.51, and 0.91-1.5 ppm are for smokers, and lastly 0.17-0.31, 0.01-0.05, and 0.05-0.09 ppm are for control group. In order to test the validity of the results achieved using our LIBS system, a standard inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technique was also applied for the analysis of the same teeth samples, and ICP results were found to be in excellent agreement with our LIBS results. In addition to this, the gingival index, plaque index, clinical attachment loss (CAL) and probing pocket depth were also recorded. Our LIBS spectroscopic analysis showed high levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic concentration on root surfaces of teeth, which may be due to CAL.

Nonsurgical treatment of peri-implantitis using an air-abrasive device or mechanical debridement and local application of chlorhexidine. Twelve-month follow-up of a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study.

PubMed

John, Gordon; Sahm, Narja; Becker, Jürgen; Schwarz, Frank

2015-11-01

The purpose of this prospective, parallel group-designed, randomized controlled clinical study was the evaluation of the effectiveness of an air-abrasive device (AAD) for nonsurgical treatment of peri-implantitis. Twenty five patients, showing at least one implant with initial to moderate peri-implantitis, underwent an oral hygiene programme and were randomly treated using either (1) AAD (amino acid glycine powder) or (2) mechanical debridement using carbon curettes and antiseptic therapy with chlorhexidine digluconate (mechanical debridement (MDA)). Clinical parameters were measured at baseline and 12 months after treatment (e.g. bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL)). At 12 months, the AAD group revealed significantly higher (p < 0.05; unpaired t test) decrease in mean BOP scores when compared with MDA-treated sites (41.2 ± 29.5 vs. 16.6 ± 33.4%). Both groups exhibited comparable PD reductions (AAD = 0.5 ± 0.9 mm vs. MDA = 0.4 ± 0.9 mm) and CAL gains (AAD = 0.6 ± 1.3 mm vs. MDA = 0.5 ± 1.1 mm) (p > 0.05; Mann-Whitney test, respectively). Within its limitations, the present study has indicated that both treatment procedures resulted in comparable but limited CAL gains at 12 months. Furthermore, it could be detected that AAD was associated with significantly higher BOP decrease than MDA. The present results have indicated that nonsurgical therapy of peri-implantitis using both AAD and MDA resulted in comparable PD reductions and CAL gains after 12 months of healing. The BOP reductions were significantly higher in the AAD in comparison to the MDA group. So, AAD may be more effective for nonsurgical therapy of peri-implantitis than MDA.

Accuracy of cotinine serum test to detect the smoking habit and its association with periodontal disease in a multicenter study.

PubMed

Duque, A; Martínez, P-J; Giraldo, A; Gualtero, D-F; Ardila, C-M; Contreras, A; Duarte, S; Lafaurie, G-I

2017-07-01

The validity of the surveys on self-reported smoking status is often questioned because smokers underestimate cigarette use and deny the habit. It has been suggested that self-report should be accompanied by cotinine test. This report evaluates the usefulness of serum cotinine test to assess the association between smoking and periodontal status in a study with a large sample population to be used in studies with other serum markers in epidemiologic and periodontal medicine researches. 578 patients who were part of a multicenter study on blood biomarkers were evaluated about smoking and its relation to periodontal disease. Severity of periodontal disease was determinate using clinical attachment loss (CAL). Smoking was assessed by a questionnaire and a blood sample drawn for serum cotinine determination. The optimal cut-off point for serum cotinine was 10 ng/ml. Serum cotinine showed greater association with severity of CAL than self-report for mild-moderate CAL [OR 2.03 (CI95% 1.16-3.53) vs. OR 1.08 (CI95% 0.62-1.87) ] advanced periodontitis [OR 2.36 (CI95% 1.30- 4.31) vs. OR 2.06 (CI95% 0.97-4.38) ] and extension of CAL > 3 mm [ OR 1.78 (CI95% 1.16-1.71) vs. 1.37 (CI95% 0.89-2.11)]. When the two tests were evaluated together were not shown to be better than serum cotinine test. Self-reported smoking and serum cotinine test ≥ 10ng/ml are accurate ,complementary and more reliable methods to assess the patient's smoking status and could be used in studies evaluating serum samples in large population and multicenter studies. The serum cotinine level is more reliable to make associations with the patient's periodontal status than self-report questionnaire and could be used in multicenter and periodontal medicine studies.

Accuracy of cotinine serum test to detect the smoking habit and its association with periodontal disease in a multicenter study

PubMed Central

Duque, Andrés; Martínez, Paula-Juliana; Giraldo, Astrid; Gualtero, Diego F.; Ardila, Carlos-Martín; Contreras, Adolfo; Duarte, Silvia

2017-01-01

Background The validity of the surveys on self-reported smoking status is often questioned because smokers underestimate cigarette use and deny the habit. It has been suggested that self-report should be accompanied by cotinine test. This report evaluates the usefulness of serum cotinine test to assess the association between smoking and periodontal status in a study with a large sample population to be used in studies with other serum markers in epidemiologic and periodontal medicine researches. Material and Methods 578 patients who were part of a multicenter study on blood biomarkers were evaluated about smoking and its relation to periodontal disease. Severity of periodontal disease was determinate using clinical attachment loss (CAL). Smoking was assessed by a questionnaire and a blood sample drawn for serum cotinine determination. Results The optimal cut-off point for serum cotinine was 10 ng/ml. Serum cotinine showed greater association with severity of CAL than self-report for mild-moderate CAL [OR 2.03 (CI95% 1.16-3.53) vs. OR 1.08 (CI95% 0.62-1.87) ] advanced periodontitis [OR 2.36 (CI95% 1.30- 4.31) vs. OR 2.06 (CI95% 0.97-4.38) ] and extension of CAL > 3 mm [ OR 1.78 (CI95% 1.16-1.71) vs. 1.37 (CI95% 0.89-2.11)]. When the two tests were evaluated together were not shown to be better than serum cotinine test. Conclusions Self-reported smoking and serum cotinine test ≥ 10ng/ml are accurate, complementary and more reliable methods to assess the patient’s smoking status and could be used in studies evaluating serum samples in large population and multicenter studies. Clinical Relevance: The serum cotinine level is more reliable to make associations with the patient’s periodontal status than self-report questionnaire and could be used in multicenter and periodontal medicine studies. Key words:Biological markers, serum, cotinine, periodontitis, smoking. PMID:28578367

Comparison of ADM and Connective Tissue Graft as the Membrane in Class II Furcation Defect Regeneration: A Randomized Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Esfahanian, Vahid; Farhad, Shirin; Sadighi Shamami, Mehrnaz

2014-01-01

Background and aims. Furcally-involved teeth present unique challenges to the success of periodontal therapy and influence treatment outcomes. This study aimed to assess to compare use of ADM and connective tissue membrane in class II furcation defect regeneration. Materials and methods. 10 patient with 2 bilaterally class II furcation defects in first and/or second maxilla or man-dibular molar without interproximal furcation involvement, were selected. Four weeks after initial phase of treatment, before and thorough the surgery pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level to stent (CAL-S), free gingival margin to stent(FGM-S) , crestal bone to stent (Crest-S), horizontal defect depth to stent (HDD-S) and vertical defect depth to stent (VDD-S) and crestal bone to defect depth measured from stent margin. Thereafter, one side randomly treated using connective tissue and DFDBA (study group) and opposite side received ADM and DFDBA (control group). After 6 months, soft and hard tissue parameters measured again in re-entry. Results. Both groups presented improvements after therapies (P & 0.05). No inter-group differences were seen in PD re-duction (P = 0.275), CAL gain (P = 0.156), free gingival margin (P = 0.146), crest of the bone (P = 0.248), reduction in horizontal defects depth (P = 0.139) and reduction in vertical defects depth (P = 0.149). Conclusion. Both treatments modalities have potential of regeneration without any adverse effect on healing process. Connective tissue grafts did not have significant higher bone fill compared to that of ADM. PMID:25093054

Efficacy of Local and Systemic Antimicrobials in the Non-Surgical Treatment of Smokers With Chronic Periodontitis: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Chambrone, Leandro; Vargas, Miguel; Arboleda, Silie; Serna, Maritza; Guerrero, Marcela; de Sousa, Jose; Lafaurie, Gloria Inés

2016-11-01

The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate whether use of local or systemic antimicrobials would improve clinical results of non-surgical periodontal therapy for smokers with chronic periodontitis (CP). Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Excerpta Medica Database, and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to and including March 2016. Randomized clinical trials of duration of at least 6 months were included if they reported on treatment of smokers (≥10 cigarettes per day for minimum 12 months) with CP with non-surgical periodontal therapy either alone or associated with local or systemic antimicrobials. Random-effects meta-analyses were undertaken to evaluate mean differences in probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Of 108 potentially eligible articles, seven were included. Most individual studies (75%) testing locally delivered antibiotics reported that smokers benefited from this treatment approach. Pooled estimates found additional PD reduction of 0.81 mm (P = 0.01) and CAL gain of 0.91 mm (P = 0.01) at sites with baseline PD ≥5 mm. Conversely, meta-analysis on systemic use of antimicrobials failed to detect significant differences in mean changes from baseline, and only one trial supported their use. In smokers with CP, adjunctive use of local antimicrobials improved efficacy of non-surgical periodontal therapy in reducing PD and improving CAL at sites presenting PD ≥5 mm before treatment. Current evidence does not demonstrate similar gains when scaling and root planing plus systemic antimicrobial/antibiotics were associated with therapy.

Clinical effectiveness of diode laser therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment: a randomized clinical study.

PubMed

Dukić, Walter; Bago, Ivona; Aurer, Andrej; Roguljić, Marija

2013-08-01

The aim of this randomized clinical study is to evaluate the effect of a 980-nm diode laser as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) treatment. Thirty-five patients with chronic periodontitis were selected for the split-mouth clinical study. SRP was performed using a sonic device and hand instruments. Quadrants were equally divided between the right and left sides. Teeth were treated with SRP in two control quadrants (control groups [CG]), and the diode laser was used adjunctively with SRP in contralateral quadrants (laser groups [LG]). Diode laser therapy was applied to periodontal pockets on days 1, 3, and 7 after SRP. Baseline data, including approximal plaque index (API), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL), were recorded before the treatment and 6 and 18 weeks after treatment. Changes in PD and CAL were analyzed separately for initially moderate (4 to 6 mm) and deep (7 to 10 mm) pockets. The results were similar for both groups in terms of API, BOP, PD in deep pockets, and CAL. The laser group showed only significant PD gain in moderate pockets during the baseline to 18-week (P <0.05) and 6- to 18- week (P <0.05) periods, whereas no difference was found between LG and CG in the remaining clinical parameters (P >0.05). The present study indicates that, compared to SRP alone, multiple adjunctive applications of a 980-nm diode laser with SRP showed PD improvements only in moderate periodontal pockets (4 to 6 mm).

Nonsurgical treatment of moderate and advanced periimplantitis lesions: a controlled clinical study.

PubMed

Schwarz, Frank; Bieling, Katrin; Bonsmann, Martin; Latz, Thilo; Becker, Jürgen

2006-12-01

The aim of this controlled, parallel design clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an Er:YAG (erbium-doped:yttrium, aluminum, and garnet) laser for nonsurgical treatment of periimplantitis lesions. Twenty patients, each of whom displayed at least one implant with (a) moderate and (b) advanced periimplantitis (n=40 implants; IMZ, ITI, Spline Twist, ZL-Duraplant, Camlog), were randomly instrumented nonsurgically using either (1) an Er:YAG laser (100 mJ/pulse, 10 Hz) device (LAS) or (2) mechanical debridement using plastic curettes and antiseptic therapy with chlorhexidine digluconate (0.2%) (C). The following clinical parameters were measured at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment: plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth, gingival recession, and clinical attachment level (CAL). Mean BOP improved significantly in both groups at 3, 6, and 12 months (a- lesions: P<0.001 and b- lesions: P<0.01, respectively). After 3 and 6 months, the mean reduction of BOP was significantly higher in the LAS group when compared to the C group (a- and b- lesions: P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). At 3 and 6 months, both groups revealed significant CAL gains at a- and b- lesions (P<0.01, respectively). In both groups, however, the mean CAL at a- and b- lesions was not significantly different from the respective baseline values at 12 months (P>0.05, respectively). Although treatment of periimplantitis lesions with LAS resulted in a significantly higher BOP reduction than C, its effectiveness seemed to be limited to a period of 6 months, particularly at b- lesions.

Comparison of salivary levels of mucin and amylase and their relation with clinical parameters obtained from patients with aggressive and chronic periodontal disease

PubMed Central

ACQUIER, Andrea Beatriz; PITA, Alejandra Karina De Couto; BUSCH, Lucila; SÁNCHEZ, Gabriel Antonio

2015-01-01

Objective Salivary mucin and amylase levels are increased in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). Due to the fact that aggressive periodontitis (AgP) not only differs from chronic periodontitis in terms of its clinical manifestation, the aim of this study was to compare salivary mucin and amylase levels and their relation to the clinical parameters of patients with aggressive periodontitis with that of patients with chronic periodontitis. Material and Methods Eighty subjects were divided into two groups: 20 patients with AgP and their 20 matched controls and 20 patients with CP and their 20 matched controls, based on clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Whole unstimulated saliva was obtained and mucin, amylase and protein were determined by colorimetric methods. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between salivary mucin, amylase and protein levels and the clinical parameters. Results Salivary mucin, amylase and protein levels were increased in patients with AgP and CP but there were no differences between them or between control groups. Pearson’s correlation analysis, determined in the entire subjects studied, showed a positive and significant correlation of mucin, amylase and proteins with CAL and PPD and a negative correlation with the flow rate. When Pearson’s correlation analysis was carried out in each group separately, Fisher’s z transformation showed no significant difference between both groups. Conclusion Comparison of the salivary levels of mucin, amylase and protein and their relationship with clinical parameters of AgP patients with that of CP patients revealed no differences between both groups. PMID:26221923

Levels of salivary immunoglobulins and periodontal evaluation in smoking patients

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the level of salivary immunoglobulins and periodontal status in smokers and non-smokers. Materials and methods Unstimulated saliva of 30 subjects (mean age 24.2 ± 3.5 years) who were smokers (test group) and of 30 subjects (mean age 25.3 ± 3.8 years) who were non-smokers (control group) was collected and centrifugated; IgA, IgG, and IgM were measured with the colorimetric immunoenzymatic method. Moreover, the following periodontal clinical parameters were recorded for each subject: plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Results A significantly (p< 0.05) lower Ig level was observed in smoking patients (IgA: 20.0 ± 1.2 mg/dl; IgM: 19.5 ± 1.6 mg/dl; IgG: 8.1 ± 1.4 mg/dl) compared to levels in the non-smoking control group (IgA: 234.1 ± 65.2 mg/dl; IgM: 121.0 ± 31.7 mg/dl; IgG: 1049.4 ± 102 mg/dl). In the test group, PI (2.2 ± 0.3), GI (2.4 ±0.5), PD (49.3 ± 9.2%), and CAL (49.3 ± 4.6%) were higher (p< 0.05) than those observed in the control group (PI: 0.8 ± 0.4; GI: 0.7 ± 0.3; PD: 10.6 ± 2.4%; CAL: 3.1 ± 0.8%). Conclusion Smoking subjects showed lower levels of salivary IgA, IgG, and IgM and a worse periodontal condition than non-smoking subjects. On the base of our study, as smoking subjects also had lower levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM in their saliva than non-smoking subjects, despite the fact that there is little evidence that the salivary Igs have a protective action against periodontitis and that the whole saliva does not result in whole from the salivary glands, it can be concluded that the deteriorated periodontal health conditions of these patients can be attributed in part to a lowering of the host’s defense due to a decrease in the quantity of Igs in salivary fluid. PMID:24502245

Holocene relative sea-level change in Hiroshima Bay, Japan: A semi-quantitative reconstruction based on ostracodes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yasuhara, Moriaki; Seto, Koji

2006-01-01

Holocene relative sea-level changes in Hiroshima Bay were reconstructed from fossil ostracodes from a core, using a semi-quantitative method. In Hiroshima Bay, relative sea level rose rapidly (about 25 m) between ca. 9000 cal yr BP and ca. 5800 cal yr BP, after which it gradually fell (about 5 m) to its present level. The peak in relative sea level occurred at ca. 5800 cal yr BP. The sea-level curve for Hiroshima Bay is similar to curves for tectonically stable areas of Japan (e.g., Osaka Bay). ?? by the Palaeontological Society of Japan.

Changes of ns-soot mixing states and shapes in an urban area during CalNex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adachi, Kouji; Buseck, Peter R.

2013-05-01

Aerosol particles from megacities influence the regional and global climate as well as the health of their occupants. We used transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) to study aerosol particles collected from the Los Angeles area during the 2010 CalNex campaign. We detected major amounts of ns-soot, defined as consisting of carbon nanospheres, sulfate, sea salt, and organic aerosol (OA) and lesser amounts of brochosome particles from leaf hoppers. Ns-soot-particle shapes, mixing states, and abundances varied significantly with sampling times and days. Within plumes having high CO2 concentrations, much ns-soot was compacted and contained a relatively large number of carbon nanospheres. Ns-soot particles from both CalNex samples and Mexico City, the latter collected in 2006, had a wide range of shapes when mixed with other aerosol particles, but neither sets showed spherical ns-soot nor the core-shell configuration that is commonly used in optical calculations. Our TEM observations and light-absorption calculations of modeled particles indicate that, in contrast to ns-soot particles that are embedded within other materials or have the hypothesized core-shell configurations, those attached to other aerosol particles hardly enhance their light absorption. We conclude that the ways in which ns-soot mixes with other particles explain the observations of smaller light amplification by ns-soot coatings than model calculations during the CalNex campaign and presumably in other areas.

Clinical and Immunoinflammatory Evaluation of One-Stage Full-Mouth Ultrasonic Debridement as a Therapeutic Approach for Smokers With Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis: A Short-Term Follow-Up Study.

PubMed

De Genaro Modanese, Danielle; Tiosso-Tamburi, Renato; Furletti de Goes, Vivian Fernandes; de Cássia Bergamaschi, Cristiane; Martinez, Elizabeth Ferreira; Napimoga, Marcelo Henrique; Peruzzo, Daiane Cristina

2016-09-01

This study aims to evaluate the effect of one-stage full-mouth ultrasonic debridement (OSFMUD) on clinical and immunoinflammatory parameters in smokers with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP). Fourteen smoking and 14 non-smoking patients with GAgP were selected. After initial supragingival therapy, patients were treated by OSFMUD. Full-mouth parameters evaluated were: 1) plaque index (PI); 2) bleeding scores (BS); 3) probing depth (PD); and 4) clinical attachment level (CAL). Clinical evaluation was performed, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected for selected sites (ss) at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months. GCF was analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for: 1) receptor activator of nuclear factor-κ B ligand (RANKL); 2) osteoprotegerin (OPG); 3) interleukin (IL)-6; and 4) tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, whereas secreted osteoclastogenic factor of activated T-cells (SOFAT) was evaluated by Western blotting. Significant reduction (P <0.05) was observed between baseline and 6 months for: 1) PI; 2) BS; and 3) PD, with no difference between smoking and non-smoking patients (P >0.05). Regarding CAL, only non-smoking patients showed a significant decrease (P <0.05). Significant reduction (P <0.05) was observed in both groups for: 1) PIss; 2) PDss; 3) bleeding on probing; and 4) relative CAL. Smoking and non-smoking patients presented significantly decreased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α over time (P <0.05); however, no difference was observed between groups (P >0.05). RANKL was significantly different (P <0.05) only for non-smokers at 6 months, whereas OPG was not significant (P >0.05). SOFAT expression was significantly lower (P <0.05) after OSFMUD for non-smokers only. Considering the clinical and immunoinflammatory parameters evaluated in this short-term follow-up study, it can be concluded that OSFMUD can be used as an alternative treatment for smokers with GAgP.

Use of anorganic bovine-derived hydroxyapatite matrix/cell-binding peptide (P-15) in the treatment isolated Class I gingival recession of defects: a pilot study.

PubMed

Nazareth, Carlos A; Cury, Patricia R

2011-05-01

This study clinically evaluates the treatment outcome of coronally positioned flap (CPF) associated with anorganic bone mineral/peptide-15 (ABM/P-15) in terms of root coverage and gain in clinical attachment level (CAL) and bone height (BH) in isolated Class I gingival recession (GR) defects. Fifteen healthy subjects with bilateral and comparable Miller Class I GR defects were selected. The defects were randomly assigned either to the test group (CPF with ABM/P-15) or to the control group (CPF only). Six months after surgery, a reduction in GR was observed in the test and control groups (2.20 ± 0.54 and 2.40 ± 0.80 mm, respectively; P <0.001) with no intergroup difference (P = 0.33). Complete root coverage was obtained in 10 and 11 defects in the test and control groups, respectively. In the test group 85.56% ± 21.69% and in the control group 90.00% ± 18.42% of the exposed root was covered. Although not clinically significant, a statistically greater increase in the gingival thickness was observed in the test group (0.03 mm; P = 0.01). CAL gain was significant in both groups (test group, 1.93 ± 0.44 mm; control group, 2.13 ± 1.15 mm; P <0.001) with no intergroup difference (P = 0.42). Intergroup and intragroup differences in width of keratinized tissue and BH were not significant (P ≥0.16). In the test group, a positive correlation was observed between BH at baseline and the reduction in GR (r = 0.56; P = 0.03). In isolated Class I GR defects, CPF associated with ABM/P-15 provided no significant difference in root coverage and CAL gain compared to CPF alone. In the ABM/P-15 group, a greater reduction in GR was associated with higher bone level at baseline.

Stable isotope ratios in swale sequences of Lake Superior as indicators of climate and lake level fluctuations during the Late Holocene

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sharma, Shruti; Mora, G.; Johnston, J.W.; Thompson, T.A.

2005-01-01

Beach ridges along the coastline of Lake Superior provide a long-term and detailed record of lake level fluctuations for the past 4000 cal BP. Although climate change has been invoked to explain these fluctuations, its role is still in debate. Here, we reconstruct water balance by employing peat samples collected from swale deposits present between beach ridge sequences at two locations along the coastline of Lake Superior. Carbon isotope ratios for Sphagnum remains from these peat deposits are used as a proxy for water balance because the presence or absence of water films on Sphagnum controls the overall isotope discrimination effects. Consequently, increased average water content in Sphagnum produces elevated ??13C values. Two maxima of Sphagnum ??13C values interpreted to reflect wetter conditions prevailed from 3400 to 2400 cal BP and from about 1900 to 1400 cal BP. There are two relatively short drier periods as inferred from low Sphagnum ??13C values: one is centered at about 2300 cal BP, and one begins at 1400 cal BP. A good covariance was found between Sphagnum ??13C values and reconstructed lake-levels for Lake Michigan in which elevated carbon isotope values correlate well with higher lake levels. Based on this covariance, we conclude that climate exerts a strong influence on lake levels in Lake Superior for the past 4000 cal BP. ?? 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical and microbiological benefits of strict supragingival plaque control as part of the active phase of periodontal therapy.

PubMed

Feres, Magda; Gursky, Lauren Christine; Faveri, Marcelo; Tsuzuki, Claudia Ota; Figueiredo, Luciene Cristina

2009-10-01

To compare the clinical and microbiological effects of scaling and root planing (SRP) alone or combined with mechanical [professional plaque control (PPC)] or chemical [chlorhexidine rinsing (CHX)] control of supragingival plaque in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Sixty subjects were randomly assigned to receive SRP alone or combined with PPC (twice a week) or with CHX rinsing (twice a day). The adjunctive treatments began with SRP and were continued for 42 days. Clinical and microbiological examinations were performed at baseline, 2 and 6 months post-therapy. Subgingival plaque samples were analysed for 38 bacterial species by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. The two test treatments were more effective in improving probing depth and clinical attachment level (CAL) than SRP alone, even in intermediate and deep sites. CAL gain was better maintained in the CHX group. The most beneficial microbiological changes were observed in CHX-treated subjects, who showed a significant reduction in the proportions of red and orange complexes, as well as an increase in the proportions of the host-compatible bacterial species. Strict plaque control performed during and after SRP improves periodontal treatment outcomes. The greatest microbiological and clinical benefits were observed with the use of CHX rinsing.

Evaluation of efficacy of photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal therapy in treatment of chronic periodontitis patients: A clinico-microbiological study.

PubMed

Raj, K Ravi; Musalaiah, Svvs; Nagasri, M; Kumar, P Aravind; Reddy, P Indeevar; Greeshma, M

2016-01-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a local noninvasive treatment modality without side effects caused by antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive use of PDT with scaling and root planing as compared with SRP alone in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Twenty participants with chronic periodontitis having probing pocket depths (PDs) of ≥5 mm were selected for the study. Patients were randomly divided into control group and test group with ten patients in each group. Full-mouth SRP was performed in both the groups, followed by PDT in test group. Assessment of plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), PD, and clinical attachment level (CAL) was done at baseline and after 3 months. Microbiological assessment of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline and 3 months after the therapy. There was a significant reduction in PI, GI, PD, CAL, and microbiologic parameters in test group, following SRP and PDT, when compared with SRP alone in control group. PDT in conjunction with SRP has shown additional improvement in periodontal parameters when compared to SRP alone and has a beneficial effect in chronic periodontitis patients.

Standards for reporting chronic periodontitis prevalence and severity in epidemiologic studies: Proposed standards from the Joint EU/USA Periodontal Epidemiology Working Group.

PubMed

Holtfreter, Birte; Albandar, Jasim M; Dietrich, Thomas; Dye, Bruce A; Eaton, Kenneth A; Eke, Paul I; Papapanou, Panos N; Kocher, Thomas

2015-05-01

Periodontal diseases are common and their prevalence varies in different populations. However, prevalence estimates are influenced by the methodology used, including measurement techniques, case definitions, and periodontal examination protocols, as well as differences in oral health status. As a consequence, comparisons between populations are severely hampered and inferences regarding the global variation in prevalence can hardly be drawn. To overcome these limitations, the authors suggest standardized principles for the reporting of the prevalence and severity of periodontal diseases in future epidemiological studies. These principles include the comprehensive reporting of the study design, the recording protocol, and specific subject-related and oral data. Further, a range of periodontal data should be reported in the total population and within specific age groups. Periodontal data include the prevalence and extent of clinical attachment loss (CAL) and probing depth (PD) on site and tooth level according to specific thresholds, mean CAL/PD, the CDC/AAP case definition, and bleeding on probing. Consistent implementation of these standards in future studies will ensure improved reporting quality, permit meaningful comparisons of the prevalence of periodontal diseases across populations, and provide better insights into the determinants of such variation. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Efficacy of locally-delivered 1% metformin gel in the treatment of intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Pradeep, Avani R; Patnaik, Kaushik; Nagpal, Kanika; Karvekar, Shruti; Ramamurthy, Bhaskar L; Naik, Savitha B; Suke, Deepak; Singh, Priyanka; Raju, Arjun

2016-08-01

Metformin (MF), used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, has shown to possess properties favoring osteoblastic proliferation. The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of MF 1% gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis. The study comprised 65 individuals divided into two groups: 1% MF with SRP and placebo gel with SRP. Clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months; they included plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index, probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Intrabony defect depth (IBD) was evaluated at the end of 6 months using computer-aided software. The mean PD reduction, CAL gain, and IBD depth reduction were found to be greater in the MF group than in the placebo group at all visits. The percentage of defect depth reduction was significantly greater in the MF group (26.8 ± 5.52%) than in the placebo sites (4.79 ± 2.30%, P < 0.001). One percent MF was found to significantly improve clinical and radiographic parameters in intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis. © 2015 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Long-term effect of periodontal surgery on oral health and metabolic control of diabetics.

PubMed

Pranckeviciene, Alma; Siudikiene, Jolanta; Ostrauskas, Rytas; Machiulskiene, Vita

2017-04-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate impact of periodontal surgery on periodontal health and on glycaemia control of type 1 and type 2 (T1DM; T2DM) diabetics with severe periodontitis, during 12 months follow-up, in comparison with non-diabetic controls. A total of 23 T1DM and 10 T2DM patients with respective number of matched non-diabetics were examined prior to, and 3, 6 and 12 months after periodontal surgery. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) reflected control of DM. Periodontal parameters were oral debris (DI-S), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Periodontal status in all diabetics improved after 3 months and remained so during follow-up: mean (SD) DI-S > 1 (T1DM 1.1(0.5)/0.9(0.7); T2DM 1.2(0.4)/0.8(0.4)), PPD >5 mm (T1DM 35.1(32.2)/5.1(7.8); T2DM 46.3(24.2)/13.0(10.9)), CAL ≥6 mm (T1DM 44.4(37.0)/24.52(27.2)); mean % BOP >50 % (T1DM 57.1(25.1)/22.8(20.8)), T2DM 59.4(20.8)/18.9(15.7)), p < 0.05. Mean HbA1c values decreased in T2DM patients after 3 months and remained stable during follow-up. No improvement of glycaemia control was observed in T1DM patients. Positive correlation between mean HbA1c and CAL changes was observed (r = 0.842, p < 0.05). Mean changes of periodontal parameters did not differ between diabetics and controls. Periodontal surgery improved significantly periodontal status of all patients and metabolic control of T2DM patients. Research findings concerning long-term effect of periodontal surgery among patients with diabetes mellitus are scarce. We found that surgical periodontal treatment positively affects periodontal health of all diabetics and improves metabolic control of type 2 DM. There is a positive correlation between clinical attachment loss and glycosylated haemoglobin levels.

Periodontal treatment with an Er:YAG laser compared to ultrasonic instrumentation: a pilot study.

PubMed

Sculean, Anton; Schwarz, Frank; Berakdar, Mohammad; Romanos, George E; Arweiler, Nicole B; Becker, Jürgen

2004-07-01

The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of an Er:YAG laser to that of ultrasonic scaling for non-surgical periodontal treatment. Twenty patients with moderate to advanced periodontal disease were randomly treated in a split-mouth design with a single episode of subgingival debridement using either an Er:YAG laser device (160 mJ/pulse, 10 Hz) combined with a calculus detection system with fluorescence induced by 655 nm InGaAsP diode laser radiation (ERL), or an ultrasonic instrument (UI). Clinical assessments of full-mouth plaque score (FMPS), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were made at baseline and at 3 and 6 months following therapy. No differences in any of the investigated parameters were observed at baseline between the two groups. The mean value of BOP decreased in the ERL group from 40% at baseline to 17% after 6 months (P<0.0001) and in the UI group from 46% at baseline to 15% after 6 months (P<0.0001). The sites treated with ERL demonstrated mean CAL gain of 1.48 +/- 0.73 mm (P<0.001) and of 1.11 +/- 0.59 mm (P<0.001) at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The sites treated with UI demonstrated mean CAL gain of 1.53 +/- 0.67 mm (P<0.001) and of 1.11 +/- 0.46 mm (P<0.001) at 3 and 6 months, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups (P>0.05). Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that both therapies led to significant improvements of the investigated clinical parameters.

Sub-epithelial connective tissue graft for root coverage in nonsmokers and smokers: A pilot comparative clinical study

PubMed Central

Dwarakanath, Chini Doraswamy; Divya, Bheemavarapu; Sruthima, Gottumukkala Naga Venkata Satya; Penmetsa, Gautami Subadra

2016-01-01

Background: Gingival recession is a common condition and is more prevalent in smokers. It is widely believed that root coverage procedures in smokers result in less desirable outcome compared to nonsmokers', and there are few controlled studies in literature to support this finding. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the outcome of root coverage with sub-epithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) in nonsmokers and smokers. Materials and Methods: A sample of twenty subjects, 10 nonsmokers and 10 smokers were selected each with at least 1 Miller's Class I or II recession on a single rooted tooth. Clinical measurements of probing depth, clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession total surface area (GRTSA), depth of recession (RD), width of recession (RW), and width of keratinized tissue were determined at baseline, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Results: The treatment of gingival recession with SCTG and coronally advanced flap showed a decrease in the GRTSA, RD, RW, and an increase in CAL and width of keratinized gingiva in both the groups. However, the intergroup comparison of the clinical parameters showed no statistical significance. About 6 out of 10 nonsmokers (60%) and 3 smokers (30%) showed complete root coverage. The mean percentage of root coverage of 71.2% in nonsmokers and 38% in smokers was observed. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that smoking may negatively influence gingival recession reduction and CAL gain. In addition, smokers may exhibit fewer chances of complete root coverage. Overall, nonsmokers showed better improvements in all the parameters compared to smokers at the end of 6 months. PMID:28298827

Is the Treatment with Biological or Non-biological DMARDS a Modifier of Periodontal Condition in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis?

PubMed

Romero-Sanchez, Consuelo; Rodríguez, C; Santos-Moreno, P; Mesa, A M; Lafaurie, G I; Giraldo-Q, S; De-Avila, J; Castillo, D M; Duran, M; Chalem, P Ch; Bello Gualtero, J M; Valle-Oñate, R

2017-01-01

Experimental models suggest the use of different therapy protocols in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as modulators on periodontal condition. This study evaluated the effects of conventional drug treatment and anti-TNF therapy in patients with RA on microbiological and periodontal condition, establishing the association of markers of periodontal infection with indexes of rheumatic activity. One hundred seventy nine individuals with RA were evaluated (62 with anti-TNF-. and 115 with only DMARDs). The periodontal evaluation included plaque and gingival indexes, bleeding on probing (BOP), clinical attachment loss (CAL), pocket depth (PD) and subgingival plaque samples for microbiological analysis. Rheumatologic evaluations included a clinical examination, rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies against cyclic-citrullinated peptides (ACPAs), and activity markers (DAS28-ERS), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Anti-TNF-alpha therapy influenced periodontal microbiota with a higher frequency of T. denticola (p=0.01). Methotrexate combined with leflunomide exhibited a higher extension of CAL (p=0.005), and anti-TNF-alpha therapy with methotrexate was associated with a lower extension of CAL (p=0.05). The use of corticosteroids exerted a protective effect on the number of teeth (p=0.027). The type of DMARD affected P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and E. nodatum presence. Elevated ACPAs titers were associated with the presence of red complex periodontal pathogens (p=0.025). Bleeding on probing was associated with elevated CPR levels (p=0.05), and ESR was associated with a greater PD (p=0.044) and presence of red complex (p=0.030). Different pharmacological treatments for RA affect the clinical condition and subgingival microbiota. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Multiple Gingival Recession Coverage Treated with Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access Approach with or without Platelet-Rich Fibrin - A Case Series

PubMed Central

Garg, Surbhi; Arora, Sachit Anand; Chhina, Shivjot; Singh, Padam

2017-01-01

Background: Gingival recession involves both soft tissue and hard tissue loss. In this evolutionary era of dentistry, newer techniques have evolved for complete coverage of isolated recession defects. Since 2012, vestibular incision subperiosteal tunnel access (VISTA) technique was used with various regenerative membranes to treat multiple recession defects (MRDs). Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane, a pool of growth factors but have any added advantage to recession coverage techniques is controversial. Thus, in this case series, we compare the effect of VISTA with or without PRF-membrane for the treatment of Classes I and III MRDs. Subjects and Methods: Four patients between of age 30 and 40 years (two patients having bilateral Class I and another two having bilateral Class III MRDs) were selected from the Department of Periodontics, ITS Dental College, Greater Noida and designated as Case I–IV simultaneously. Recession defects at antagonist sites in each patient were corrected by VISTA approach with or without PRF-membrane. Recorded clinical parameters included recession depth, recession width, pocket probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL) at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Patients having Class I recession defects showed almost complete root coverage with VISTA technique alone and reflected no added advantage of PRF-membrane. However, patients with Class III recession defects treated with VISTA + PRF-membrane showed more reduction in recession depth and gain in CAL as compared to sites treated with VISTA only. Conclusion: VISTA alone is a convenient technique for treatment of Class I MRDs. Addition of PRF-membrane for Class III recession defects give better outcome in term of reduction of recession depth and gain in CAL 6 month postoperatively. PMID:29042736

Comparison of the efficacy of chlorhexidine varnish and chip in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

PubMed Central

Jagadish Pai, B. S.; Rajan, Smitha Anitha; Srinivas, M.; Padma, R.; Suragimath, Girish; Walvekar, Amit; Goel, Saakshi; Kamath, Vinesh

2013-01-01

Background: The purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate the benefits of sub gingival chlorhexidine (CHX) varnish and biodegradable CHX chip application used as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) as combined therapy and also to compare the effect of combined therapy with SRP alone. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with at least three sites with a probing pocket depth (PPD) of 5-8 mm were considered. Following baseline evaluation, all three sites were subjected for SRP. After completing SRP, each site was randomly subjected for CHX varnish, CHX chip application and the 3rd site was left without any medication as a control. Clinical parameters such as sulcus bleeding index, plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP), PPD, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline, 1 month and 3 months post-operatively. Results: All three groups presented with an improvement in clinical parameters compared to baseline. The mean reduction in PPD was 2.4 mm in SRP sites, 2.5 mm in SRP + CHX varnish sites and 2.8 mm in SRP + CHX chip sites. The mean gain in CAL was 2.4 mm in SRP sites, 2.3 mm in SRP + CHX varnish sites and 2.8 mm SRP + CHX chip sites. Interpretation and Conclusion: The present study indicated that application of CHX varnish and placement of CHX chip as an adjunct to SRP produced a clinically significant reduction in the PPD, BOP and a gain in CAL at 30th day and 90th day from baseline when compared to SRP alone. The results though were not statistically significant. PMID:24015002

The Effect of Periodontal Treatment on Hemoglobin A1c Levels of Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

Wang, Xingxing; Han, Xu; Guo, Xiaojing; Luo, Xiaolong; Wang, Dalin

2014-01-01

Background There is growing evidence that periodontal treatment may affect glycemic control in diabetic patients. And several systematic reviews have been conducted to assess the effect of periodontal treatment on diabetes outcomes. Researches of this aspect are widely concerned, and several new controlled trials have been published. The aim of this study was to update the account for recent findings. Methods A literature search (until the end of January 2014) was carried out using various databases with language restriction to English. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was selected if it investigated periodontal therapy for diabetic subjects compared with a control group received no periodontal treatment for at least 3 months of the follow-up period. The primary outcome was hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and secondary outcomes were periodontal parameters included probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Results Ten trials of 1135 patients were included in the analysis. After the follow-up of 3 months, treatment substantially lowered HbA1c compared with no treatment after periodontal therapy (–0.36%, 95%CI, −0.52% to −0.19%, P<0.0001). Clinically substantial and statistically significant reduction of PPD and CAL were found between subjects with and without treatment after periodontal therapy (PPD −0.42 mm, 95%CI: −0.60 to −0.23, P<0.00001; CAL −0.34 mm, 95%CI: −0.52 to −0.16, P = 0.0002). And there is no significant change of the level of HbA1c at the 6-month comparing with no treatment (–0.30%, 95%CI, −0.69% to 0.09%, P = 0.13). Conclusions Periodontal treatment leads to the modest reduction in HbA1c along with the improvement of periodontal status in diabetic patients for 3 months, and this result is consistent with previous systematic reviews. And the effect of periodontal treatment on HbA1c cannot be observed at 6-month after treatment. PMID:25255331

Improve efficacy of topical ALA-PDT by calcipotriol through up-regulation of coproporphyrinogen oxidase.

PubMed

Yang, Deng-Fu; Chen, Jia-Haur; Chiang, Chun-Pin; Huang, Zheng; Lee, Jeng-Woei; Liu, Chung-Ji; Chang, Junn-Liang; Hsu, Yih-Chih

2014-09-01

Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (topical ALA-PDT) is effective for treating oral precancerous lesions. The aim of this in vivo and in vitro study was to examine whether the efficacy of topical ALA-PDT could be further improved by calcipotriol (CAL). Precancerous lesions in the buccal pouch of hamsters were induced by dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Lesions were treated with multiple topical ALA-PDT with or without CAL pretreatment. ALA-induced protoporphyrine IX (PpIX) was monitored by in situ fluorescence measurement. The effect of CAL on heme-related enzymes (CPOX, PPOX, and FECH) were examined in an in vitro model using human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells (SCC4, SAS) using Western blots. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that PpIX reached its peak level in precancerous epithelial cells of buccal pouch at 2.5 or 3.5h without or with CAL pretreatment, respectively. Both treatment regimens showed similar response rates, but the complete response was achieved after 5 times of ALA-PDT and 3 times of CAL-ALA-PDT (p<0.001). Pretreatment of SCC cells with 10(-8) or 10(-7)M CAL could result in a significant cell death (p<0.05) and an elevation of CPOX protein level. Topical CAL can improve the efficacy of ALA-PDT in treating precancerous lesions, likely through the increase in CPOX level and in PpIX production. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

EVALUATION OF CLINICAL PERIODONTAL CONDITIONS IN SMOKERS AND NON-SMOKERS

PubMed Central

Luzzi, Lucinara Ignez Tavares; Greghi, Sebastião Luiz Aguiar; Passanezi, Euloir; Sant'ana, Adriana Campos Passanezi; Lauris, José Roberto Pereira; Cestari, Tânia Mary

2007-01-01

Given that tobacco smoking habit is a risk factor for periodontal diseases, the aim of this study was to compare clinical periodontal aspects between smokers and non-smokers. The clinical status were assessed in 55 patients, 29 smokers and 26 non-smokers, aged 30 to 50 years, with mean age of 40. The clinical parameters used were: probing depth (PD), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) for arches (upper and lower) and teeth (anterior and posterior). Tooth loss was also evaluated in both groups. Multiple regression analysis showed: tendency of greater probing depth and clinical attachment level means for smokers; greater amount of plaque in smokers in all regions; greater gingival index means for non-smokers with clinical significance (p<0.05) in all regions. Although, without statistical significance, the analysis showed greater gingival bleeding index means almost always for non-smokers; similar gingival recession means in both groups and tendency of upper tooth loss in smokers and lower tooth loss in non-smokers. The findings of this study showed that clinical periodontal parameters may be different in smokers when compared to non-smokers and that masking of some periodontal signs can be a result of nicotine's vasoconstrictor effect. PMID:19089190

The utilization of a diode laser in the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis. A randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Papadopoulos, Christos A; Vouros, Ioannis; Menexes, Georgios; Konstantinidis, Antonis

2015-11-01

A comparison of different treatment modalities of peri-implantitis can lead to the development and application of more effective and efficient methods of therapy in clinical practice. This study compares the effectiveness of open flap debridement used alone, with an approach employing the additional use of a diode laser for the treatment of peri-implantitis. Nineteen patients were divided into two groups and treated for peri-implantitis. In the control group (C group), the therapy utilized access flaps, plastic curettes, and sterilized gauzes soaked in saline. The test group (L group) was treated similarly but with additional irradiation using a diode laser. The parameters studied were pocket depth (PD) as the primary outcome variable, clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque index (PI) as secondary variables. Measurements were performed at three different time points, baseline (BSL), 3 months, and 6 months after treatment. Three months after treatment, a mean PD reduction of 1.19 mm for the control group and 1.38 mm for the laser group was recorded. The corresponding BOP changes were 72.9 and 66.7%, respectively. These changes were significant and remained at the same levels at the 6-month examination (p < 0.05). CAL was reduced significantly only in group L from 5.25 mm at baseline to 4.54 mm at 3 months, remaining at this level at 6 months (p < 0.05). PI was reduced significantly in group C at 3 months from 37.5 to 6.3%. The 6-month data showed no statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the 3-month measurements. The two methods of therapy for peri-implantitis examined seemed to be equally efficient in the reduction of the PD and BOP 3 months after surgery, with the results sustained at the same levels after 6 months. CAL significantly improved only in the test group after 3 months. PI was reduced and maintained at low levels in both groups. Surgical treatment of peri-implantitis by access flaps leads to improvement of all clinical parameters studied while the additional use of diode laser does not seem to have an extra beneficiary effect. The additional use of a diode laser in the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis offers a limited clinical benefit.

Effect of Nadir CD4+ T Cell Count on Clinical Measures of Periodontal Disease in HIV+ Adults before and during Immune Reconstitution on HAART

PubMed Central

Vernon, Lance T.; Demko, Catherine A.; Babineau, Denise C.; Wang, Xuelei; Toossi, Zahra; Weinberg, Aaron; Rodriguez, Benigno

2013-01-01

Background The contribution of HIV-infection to periodontal disease (PD) is poorly understood.  We proposed that immunological markers would be associated with improved clinical measures of PD. Methods We performed a longitudinal cohort study of HIV-infected adults who had started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) <2 years. PD was characterized clinically as the percent of teeth with ≥1 site with periodontal probing depth (PPD) ≥5.0mm, recession (REC) >0mm, clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥4.0mm, and bleeding on probing (BOP) at ≥4 sites/tooth and microbiologically as specific periodontopathogen concentration. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between immune function and PD. Results Forty (40) subjects with median 2.7 months on HAART and median nadir CD4+ T-cell count of 212 cells/μl completed a median 3 visits. Over 24 months, CD4+ T-cell count increased by a mean 173 cells/µl (p<0.001) and HIV RNA decreased by 0.5 log10 copies/ml (p<0.001); concurrently, PPD, CAL and BOP decreased by a mean 11.7%, 12.1%, and 14.7% respectively (all p<0.001). Lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with worse baseline REC (-6.72%; p=0.04) and CAL (9.06%; p<0.001). Further, lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with a greater relative longitudinal improvement in PPD in subjects with higher baseline levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis (p=0.027), and BOP in subjects with higher baseline levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis or Treponema denticola (p=0.001 and p=0.006 respectively). Longitudinal changes from baseline in CD4+ T-cell count and level of HIV RNA were not independently associated with longitudinal changes in any clinical markers of PD. Conclusion Degree of immunosuppression was associated with baseline gingival recession. After HAART initiation, measures of active PD improved most in those with lower nadir CD4+ T-cell counts and higher baseline levels of specific periodontopathogens. Nadir CD4+ T-cell count differentially influences periodontal disease both before and after HAART in HIV-infected adults. PMID:24146949

Photodynamic therapy for chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Herrera, David

2011-01-01

Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, CENTRAL, UK National Research Register, ISI Proceedings, hand search of relevant journals for 2000-2008. References from selected articles and contact with authors. Randomised controlled trials in any language comparing scaling and root planing (SRP) alone and SRP with PDT in patients with chronic periodontitis, with a mean follow up of at least 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change in clinical attachment loss (CAL). Secondary outcomes were changes in probing depth (PD) and gingival recession (GR). Data were extracted by a single reviewer using a standard extraction form. Quality was assessed using both the Jadad scale and the allocation concealment component of the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using the random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the chi-squared-based Q statistic method and Higgins' I(2) test. Four trials with 101 participants were included. The risk of bias of these trials was considered to be moderate. The mean difference in CAL at 12 weeks was 0.29 mm (95% CI 0.08-0.50, p=0.007). Heterogeneity was high using both the Chi(2) and I(2) tests. The review suggests there may be a minor improvement in clinical attachment loss at 12 weeks. It is unclear whether this is a clinically meaningful improvement.

Late Pleistocene to Holocene lake levels of Lake Warner, Oregon (USA) and their effect on archaeological site distribution patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wriston, T.; Smith, G. M.

2017-12-01

Few chronological controls are available for the rise and fall of small pluvial lake systems in the Northwestern Great Basin. Within Warner Basin this control was necessary for interpretation of known archaeological sites and for predicting where evidence of its earliest inhabitants might be expected. We trenched along relic beach ridges of Lake Warner, surveyed a stratified sample of the area for archaeological sites, and excavated some sites and a nearby rockshelter. These efforts produced new ages that we used to construct a lake level curve for Lake Warner. We found that the lake filled the valley floor between ca. 30,000 cal yr BP and ca. 10,300 cal yr BP. In nearby basins, several oscillations are evident before ca. 21,100 cal yr BP, but a steep rise to the LGM maximum occurred between 21,000 and 20,000 cal yr BP. Lake Warner likely mirrored these changes, dropped to the valley floor ca. 18,340 cal yr BP, and then rose to its maximum highstand when its waters briefly reached 1454 m asl. After this highstand the lake receded to moderately high levels. Following ca. 14,385 cal yr BP, the lake oscillated between moderate to moderately-high levels through the Bolling-Allerod interstadials and into the Younger Dryas stadial. The basin's first occupants arrived along its shore around this time, while the lake still filled the valley floor. These earliest people carried either Western Stemmed or Clovis projectile points, both of which are found along the lake margin. The lake receded into the valley floor ca. 10,300 cal yr BP and dune development began, ringing wetlands and small lakes that persisted in the footprint of the once large lake. By the time Mazama tephra fell 7,600 cal yr BP it blanketed pre-existing dunes and marsh peats. Our Lake Warner lake level curve facilitates interdisciplinary testing and refinement of it and similar curves throughout the region while helping us understand the history of lake and the people who lived along its shores.

Design and validation of a computer-aided learning program to enhance students' ability to recognize lameness in the horse.

PubMed

Barstow, Amy; Pfau, Thilo; Bolt, David M; Smith, Roger K; Weller, Renate

2014-01-01

The ability to recognize lameness in the horse is an important skill for veterinary graduates; however, opportunities to develop this skill at the undergraduate level are limited. Computer-aided learning programs (CALs) have been successful in supplementing practical skills teaching. The aim of this study was to design and validate a CAL for the teaching of equine lameness recognition (CAL1). A control CAL was designed to simulate learning by experience (CAL2). Student volunteers were randomly assigned to either CAL and tested to establish their current ability to recognize lameness. Retesting occurred both immediately following exposure and 1 week later. At each test point, the number of correct responses for forelimb and hind limb cases was determined. Student confidence was assessed before and after CAL exposure, with previous opportunities to recognize lameness taken into account. Immediately following exposure, the number of correct responses was significantly higher for CAL1 than for CAL2, both overall and for forelimb cases but not for hind limb cases. After 1 week, the CAL1 group performed significantly better overall compared to the CAL2 group, with no significant difference between forelimb and hind limb cases. Student confidence and ability to recognize lameness were significantly improved following exposure to CAL1. When considered as one category, students in years 4 and 5 performed significantly better than year 3 students. Gender did not significantly affect performance. CAL1 could be used to supplement current lameness recognition opportunities. CAL1 is, however, limited in its ability to improve lameness recognition, especially in relation to hind limb lameness where it was unable to attain a significant difference from CAL2.

The reduction methods of operator's radiation dose for portable dental X-ray machines.

PubMed

Cho, Jeong-Yeon; Han, Won-Jeong

2012-08-01

This study was aimed to investigate the methods to reduce operator's radiation dose when taking intraoral radiographs with portable dental X-ray machines. Two kinds of portable dental X-ray machines (DX3000, Dexcowin and Rextar, Posdion) were used. Operator's radiation dose was measured with an 1,800 cc ionization chamber (RadCal Corp.) at the hand level of X-ray tubehead and at the operator's chest and waist levels with and without the backscatter shield. The operator's radiation dose at the hand level was measured with and without lead gloves and with long and short cones. The backscatter shield reduced operator's radiation dose at the hand level of X-ray tubehead to 23 - 32%, the lead gloves to 26 - 31%, and long cone to 48 - 52%. And the backscatter shield reduced operator's radiation dose at the operator's chest and waist levels to 0.1 - 37%. When portable dental X-ray systems are used, it is recommended to select X-ray machine attached with a backscatter shield and a long cone and to wear the lead gloves.

Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and Fibrinogen in Patients with Chronic and Aggressive Periodontitis: A Clinico-Biochemical Study.

PubMed

Chandy, Swaroop; Joseph, Kiran; Sankaranarayanan, Anila; Issac, Annie; Babu, George; Wilson, Bobby; Joseph, Jumol

2017-03-01

Periodontal disease is characterised by chronic infection and inflammation in periodontal tissues leading to destruction of alveolar bone with subsequent tooth loss. Periodontal infections are the result of an interaction between tooth associated microbial biofilms and the host defences. Periodontal pathogens can affect local and systemic immune and inflammatory responses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP), plasma fibrinogen and peripheral blood levels in healthy subjects, chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients. A total of 55 subjects, 27 males and 28 females were selected for the study. Blood samples were taken from healthy controls (n=20) and patients with chronic periodontitis (n=20) and aggressive periodontitis (n=15). The periodontal status of each patient was assessed by recording Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), Bleeding Index (BI), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD) and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL). The levels of serum CRP were measured using high sensitivity Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and levels of plasma fibrinogen were measured using Quantitative Immunoturbidimetric assay. Data description was done in the form of mean and standard deviation and analysis of data was done using one way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Students t-test to test the statistical significance between groups. The levels of serum CRP and plasma fibrinogen was increased in patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis when compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). A positive correlation was found to exist between levels of clinical parameters like OHI-S, BI, PPD and CAL when compared with CRP and fibrinogen as well as with the study groups. The finding of the present study suggests the role of serum as a diagnostic marker in inflammatory conditions and indicates that levels of CRP and fibrinogen may serve as important biomarkers for evaluating the association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases.

The effect of locally delivered doxycycline as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing in smokers

PubMed Central

Al Hulami, Hassan; Babay, Nadir; Awartani, Fatin; Anil, Sukumaran

2011-01-01

Background Locally delivered doxycycline is found to be effective in managing periodontitis as an adjunct to scaling and root planing. Aim To evaluate the effect of locally delivered doxycycline (10%) with scaling and root planing in the periodontal treatment of smokers and to compare it with scaling and root planing alone. Methods Twelve smokers with chronic periodontitis and a pocket depth (⩾5 mm) on posterior teeth that bleed on probing were selected. Patients were randomly assigned to scaling and root planing (SRP) or scaling and root planing followed by local application of doxycycline (SRP-D). Plaque, bleeding on probing, gingival recession, clinical attachment level (CAL), and probing depth (PD) were recorded at the baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Results Both groups showed a significant reduction in Plaque, Bleeding on Probing and pocket depth at 6th and 12th week from the baseline. A statistically significant gain of attachment was observed in both groups after treatment. Even though the doxycycline group showed slightly higher attachment gain it was not statistically significant compared to the control group. Conclusion The observations of the study reveal that the additional benefit of topical application of doxycycline as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in smokers is not convincing. However, further clinical studies may be necessary to substantiate the present observations. PMID:23960508

Paleoenvironmental dynamics in South Amazonia, Brazil, during the last 35,000 years inferred from pollen and geochemical records of Lago do Saci

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fontes, D.; Cordeiro, R. C.; Martins, G. S.; Behling, H.; Turcq, B.; Sifeddine, A.; Seoane, J. C. S.; Moreira, L. S.; Rodrigues, R. A.

2017-10-01

Paleoenvironmental changes for the last 35,000 years were reconstructed from palynological, sedimentological and organic geochemical evidence from a well-dated sediment core from Lago do Saci (South Amazonia). Dry climatic conditions occurred between 35,000 and 18,200 cal yr BP as recorded by high frequencies of open savanna taxa and low lake level indicated by Sagittaria and low Total Organic Carbon content. Cold temperatures are indicated by the presence of Podocarpus and Ilex. A sedimentation hiatus observed between 18,200 and 9200 cal yr BP was likely related to dry conditions. The beginning of the Holocene was marked by rainforest expansion and an increase in carbon content that represented high lake levels and warmer and wetter climate conditions. Between 7500 and 5000 cal yr BP, the expansion of open savanna, seasonal forest elements and abundant black carbon suggests a dry phase. After 5000 cal yr BP, rainforest expansion and higher lake levels indicate a return to wetter conditions. A reduction of flooding taxa (Celtis and Mauritia) between 1800 and 1300 cal yr BP, high lake level conditions and maintenance of a forest physiognomy, suggests a decrease of regional precipitation and subsequent reduction of the flooded areas in a still humid climate regime.

Effects of vector ultrasonic system debridement and conventional instrumentation on the levels of TNF-α in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Arpağ, Osman Fatih; Dağ, Ahmet; İzol, Bozan Serhat; Cimitay, Gülcan; Uysal, Ersin

2017-12-01

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is an inflammatory mediator whose levels are increased in the gingival crevicular fluid and blood serum in the case of chronic periodontitis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vector ultrasonic system (VUS) on the levels of TNF-α in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and the clinical parameters in patients with chronic periodontitis. The study protocol was conducted using split-mouth design in 30 patients with chronic periodontitis. VUS and scaling and root planing (S/RP) were applied separately to 2 quadrants, including the upper and the lower jaws. At baseline and after 6 months, clinical parameters including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded, and concentrations of TNF-α in GCF were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Intergroup comparisons were evaluated by the independent Students' t-test, and the Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationship between parameters. The level of significance was set at 5%. Both treatment modalities provided statistically significant improvements in clinical periodontal parameters and TNF-α levels after 6 months (p < 0.05). Also, there were no significant correlations between the TNF-α levels in GCF and the clinical parameters in both treatment group at baseline and at the end of 6 months period (p > 0.05). The use of the vector ultrasonic system in the non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis presents beneficial improvements for the clinical attachment level and the probing pocket depth as well as TNF-α levels in GCF.

Development of small carbonate banks on the south Florida platform margin: Response to sea level and climate change

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mallinson, David J.; Hine, Albert C.; Hallock, Pamela; Locker, Stanley D.; Shinn, Eugene; Naar, David; Donahue, Brian; Weaver, Douglas C.

2003-01-01

Geophysical and coring data from the Dry Tortugas, Tortugas Bank, and Riley’s Hump on the southwest Florida margin reveal the stratigraphic framework and growth history of these carbonate banks. The Holocene reefs of the Dry Tortugas and Tortugas Bank are approximately 14 and 10 m thick, respectively, and are situated upon Pleistocene reefal edifices. Tortugas Bank consists of the oldest Holocene corals in the Florida Keys with earliest coral recruitment occurring at ∼9.6 cal ka. Growth curves for the Tortugas Bank reveal slow growth (<1 mm/yr) until 6.2 cal ka, then a rapid increase to 3.4 mm/yr, until shallow reef demise at ∼4.2 cal ka. Coral reef development at the Dry Tortugas began at ∼6.4 cal ka. Aggradation at the Dry Tortugas was linear, and rapid (∼3.7 mm/yr) and kept pace with sea-level change. The increase in aggradation rate of Tortugas Bank at 6.2 cal ka is attributed to the growth of the Dry Tortugas reefs, which formed a barrier to inimical shelf water. Termination of shallow (<15 m below sea level) reef growth at Tortugas Bank at ∼4.2 cal ka is attributed to paleoclimate change in the North American interior that increased precipitation and fluvial discharge. Reef growth rates and characteristics are related to the rate of sea-level rise relative to the position of the reef on the shelf margin, and are additionally modified by hydrographic conditions related to climate change.

Chemically modified tetracyclines an emerging host modulator in chronic periodontitis patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

PubMed

Alyousef, Abdullah A; Divakar, Darshan Devang; Muzaheed

2017-09-01

Although periodontal diseases are caused by some of the specific pathogens, most of the tissue damage is caused by the host reaction to disease and not actually by the infections. Therefore, host modulatory therapy (HMT) has advanced benefit for the treatment of periodontitis, which works basically by reducing tissue destruction and regeneration in periodontium by altering the critical aspects of host response regulation and up regulating defensive regenerative responses. The present study was conducted with the goal to test an innovative therapeutic option using chemically modified tetracycline in patients affected with generalized, moderate and severe chronic periodontitis. We assumed that CMT might have the potential to provoke an assessable clinical result and pharmacologically impede the level inflammatory flow. CMT (incyclinide) treated group had significantly higher CAL (clinical attachment) values than Placebo Control suggesting an improved CAL in CMT treatment. Host modulation therapy width incyclinide can be as an adjunct to conventional nonsurgical therapies without antimicrobial resistance. Progress was noticed in the clinical parameters but not the serum CRP level in our study establishing the role of CMTs in controlling chronic periodontitis. Also CMT treatment indicates its role in anti-inflammatory process as it inhibited IL-12 and TNF alpha but IL-10 level was not affected. However, more randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials with large sample size are required in order to authenticate the usage of CMTs in chronic periodontitis treatment. Based on this understanding, exploration of the novel, low-cost synthetic inhibitors that can be used as potential therapeutic agents, has been tested. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Short-term effects of non-surgical periodontal therapy on clinical measures of impaired glucose tolerance in people with prediabetes and chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Giblin, Lori J; Boyd, Linda D; Rainchuso, Lori; Chadbourne, Dianne

2014-01-01

Diabetes and periodontal disease are conditions considered to be biologically linked. Prediabetes is a condition in which individuals have blood glucose levels, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Few human studies address the relationship between periodontitis and prediabetes or clarify an association between periodontitis and prediabetes. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the impact of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on clinical measures of glycemic control in prediabetes. Prediabetes measures of IFG, IGT, A1C and periodontal measures of pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were taken at baseline and 3 months in 12 subjects with prediabetes and chronic slight to moderate periodontitis. Blood samples were taken from each subject following an 8 hour fast. This study controlled for changes in medications, body-mass index, physical activity and diet. Comparison of mean prediabetes and periodontal measures from baseline and post-treatment at 3 months demonstrated clinical improvement for both periodontal and prediabetes measures. A mean reduction in PD of 0.27 (p=0.003), CAL of 0.32 (p=0.050) and A1C of 0.19 (p=0.015) reached statistical significance. This pilot study suggests NSPT improves A1C and periodontal measures at 3 months. The robustness of measures is limited due to the small sample size and lack of a control group. Further larger scale studies using a randomized control design would be informative. Copyright © 2014 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Possible association between obesity and periodontitis in patients with Down syndrome.

PubMed

Culebras-Atienza, E; Silvestre, F-J; Silvestre-Rangil, J

2018-05-01

The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible association between obesity and periodontitis in patients with DS, and to explore which measure of obesity is most closely correlated to periodontitis. A prospective observational study was made to determine whether obesity is related to periodontal disease in patients with DS. The anthropometric variables were body height and weight, which were used to calculate BMI and stratify the patients into three categories: < 25(normal weight), 25-29.9 (overweight) and ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 (obese). Waist circumference and hip circumference in turn was recorded as the greatest circumference at the level of the buttocks, while the waist/hip ratio (WHR) was calculated. Periodontal evaluation was made of all teeth recording the plaque index (PI), pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and the gingival index. We generated a multivariate linear regression model to examine the relationship between PD and the frequency of tooth brushing, gender, BMI, WHI, WHR, age and PI. Significant positive correlations were observed among the anthropometric parameters BMI, WHR, WHI and among the periodontal parameters PI, PD, CAL and GI. The only positive correlation between the anthropometric and periodontal parameters corresponded to WHR. Upon closer examination, the distribution of WHR was seen to differ according to gender. Among the women, the correlation between WHR and the periodontal variables decreased to nonsignificant levels. In contrast, among the males the correlation remained significant and even increased. In a multivariate linear regression model, the coefficients relating PD to PI, WHR and age were positive and significant in all cases. Our results suggest that there may indeed be an association between obesity and periodontitis in male patients with DS. Also, we found a clear correlation with WHR, which was considered to be the ideal adiposity indicator in this context.

Last glacial maximum and Holocene lake levels of Owens Lake, eastern California, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bacon, S.N.; Burke, R.M.; Pezzopane, S.K.; Jayko, A.S.

2006-01-01

Stratigraphic investigations of fluvio-deltaic and lacustrine sediments exposed in stream cuts, quarry walls, and deep trenches east of the Sierra Nevada in Owens Valley near Lone Pine, California have enabled the reconstruction of pluvial Owens Lake level oscillations. Age control for these sediments is from 22 radiocarbon (14C) dates and the identification and stratigraphic correlation of a tephra, which when plotted as a function of age versus altitude, define numerous oscillations in the level of pluvial Owens Lake during the latest Pleistocene and early Holocene. We have constructed a lake-level altitude curve for the time interval ???27,000 cal yr BP to present that is based on the integration of this new stratigraphic analysis with published surface stratigraphic data and subsurface core data. Pluvial Owens Lake regressed from its latest Pleistocene highstands from ???27,000 to ???15,300 cal yr BP, as recorded by ???15 m of down cutting of the sill from the altitudes of ???1160 to 1145 m. By ???11,600 cal yr BP, the lake had dropped ???45 m from the 1145 m sill. This lowstand was followed by an early Holocene transgression that attained a highstand near 1135 m before dropping to 1120 m at 7860-7650 cal yr BP that had not been recognized in earlier studies. The lake then lowered another ???30 m to shallow and near desiccation levels between ???6850 and 4300 cal yr BP. Fluvial cut-and-fill relations north of Lone Pine and well-preserved shoreline features at ???1108 m indicate a minor lake-level rise after 4300 cal yr BP, followed by alkaline and shallow conditions during the latest Holocene. The new latest Quaternary lake-level record of pluvial Owens Lake offers insight to the hydrologic balance along the east side of the southern Sierra Nevada and will assist regional paleoclimatic models for the western Basin and Range. ?? 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative clinical evaluation of coronally advanced flap with or without platelet rich fibrin membrane in the treatment of isolated gingival recession

PubMed Central

Thamaraiselvan, Murugan; Elavarasu, Sugumari; Thangakumaran, Suthanthiran; Gadagi, Jayaprakash Sharanabasappa; Arthie, Thangavelu

2015-01-01

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of an autologous platelet rich fibrin (PRF) membrane to a coronally advanced flap (CAF) would improve the clinical outcome in terms of root coverage, in the treatment of isolated gingival recession. Materials and Methods: Systemically healthy 20 subjects each with single Miller's class I or II buccal recession defect were randomly assigned to control (CAF) or test (CAF + PRF) group. Clinical outcome was determined by measuring the following clinical parameters such as recession depth (RD), recession width (RW), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), width of keratinized tissue (WKT), gingival thickness (GTH), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI) at baseline, 3rd, and 6th month postsurgery. Results: The root coverage was 65.00 ± 44.47% in the control group and 74.16 ± 28.98% in the test group at 6th month, with no statistically significant difference between them. Similarly, CAL, PD, and WKT between the groups were not statistically significant. Conversely, there was statistically significant increase in GTH in the test group. Conclusion: CAF is a predictable treatment for isolated Miller's class I and II recession defects. The addition of PRF to CAF provided no added advantage in terms of root coverage except for an increase in GTH. PMID:25810596

Effect of Subgingivally Delivered 10% Emblica officinalis Gel as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis - A Randomized Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Grover, Shilpa; Tewari, Shikha; Sharma, Rajinder K; Singh, Gajendra; Yadav, Aparna; Naula, Satish C

2016-06-01

Emblica officinalis fruit possesses varied medicinal properties including cytoprotective antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiresorptive and antiinflammatory activity. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of subgingival application of indigenously prepared E. officinalis (Amla) sustained-release gel adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP) on chronic periodontitis. Forty-six patients (528 sites) were randomly assigned to control group (23;264): SRP +placebo gel and test group (23;264): SRP + 10% E. officinalis gel application. Periodontal parameters: plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI) were assessed at baseline, 2 and 3-month post-therapy. Forty patients (470 sites) completed the trial. When test and control sites were compared, significantly more reduction in mean PPD, mSBI, number of sites with PPD = 5-6 mm, PPD ≥ 7 mm, CAL ≥ 6 mm and greater CAL gain were achieved in test sites at 2- and 3-month post-therapy (p < 0.05). Locally delivered 10% E. officinalis sustained-release gel used as an adjunct to SRP may be more effective in reducing inflammation and periodontal destruction in patients with chronic periodontitis when compared with SRP alone. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Clinical and microbiological effects of levofloxacin in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Pradeep, Avani R; Singh, Sonender P; Martande, Santosh S; Naik, Savitha B; N, Priyanka; Kalra, Nitish; Suke, Deepak K

2015-08-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effect of systemic levofloxacin (LFX) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). Sixty-five patients with CP were randomly divided into a test (n = 33, SRP and LFX 500 mg, once daily [o.d.]) and a control group (n = 32, SRP and placebo, o.d.). Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (%BoP), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline, 10 days, and 1-, 3-, and 6-month intervals. The percentage of sites positive for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans), Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forsythia were recorded at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. Patients receiving LFX showed statistically-significant improvements in mean PD and CAL. The intergroup difference in PI, GI, and%BoP was not significant at any interval. There was a reduction in the percentage of sites positive for periodontopathic bacteria over the duration of the study in both groups, and a statistically-significant reduction in the number of sites positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans in the LFX group (P < 0.001). Levofloxacin was found to significantly improve the clinical and microbiological parameters in CP individuals. © 2014 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Healing response of apicomarginal defects to two guided tissue regeneration techniques in periradicular surgery: a double-blind, randomized-clinical trial.

PubMed

Marín-Botero, M L; Domínguez-Mejía, J S; Arismendi-Echavarría, J A; Mesa-Jaramillo, A L; Flórez-Moreno, G A; Tobón-Arroyave, S I

2006-05-01

To compare healing responses to periosteal sliding grafts and polyglactin 910 periodontal mesh used as guided tissue regeneration (GTR) materials/techniques when both periapical and periradicular bone loss are present. Thirty patients with suppurative chronic apical periodontitis with apicomarginal communication were selected and allocated randomly into two groups according to the barrier technique to be used during periradicular surgery: periosteal graft group (n = 15) and bioabsorbable membrane group (n = 15). Clinical and radiological evaluations were completed prior to surgery, a week later and every 3 months after surgery up to 12 months to measure the periodontal pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival margin position (GMP), size of periapical lesion, percentage reduction of the periapical rarefaction, and periapical healing. Both groups showed highly significant (P < 0.001) reductions in periodontal PD, CAL and size of periapical lesion at 12 months whilst GMP was unaltered. No significant difference between the experimental groups was evident for these parameters, or for the percentage reduction of size of the periapical lesion and clinical-radiographic healing. Guided tissue regeneration applied to apicomarginal defects using sliding periosteal grafts and use of bioabsorbable membranes led to similar enhancements of the clinical outcome of periradicular surgery in terms of periapical healing, gain of periodontal support, PD reduction and minimal recession of the gingival margin.

One-year outcomes of repeated adjunctive photodynamic therapy during periodontal maintenance: a proof-of-principle randomized-controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Lulic, Martina; Leiggener Görög, Isabelle; Salvi, Giovanni E; Ramseier, Christoph A; Mattheos, Nikolaos; Lang, Niklaus P

2009-08-01

Single photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been effective in initial periodontal therapy, but only improved bleeding on probing (BoP) in maintenance patients after a single use. Repeated PDT has not been addressed. To study the possible added benefits of repeated adjunctive PDT to conventional treatment of residual pockets in patients enrolled in periodontal maintenance. Ten maintenance patients with 70 residual pockets [probing pocket depth (PPD)>or=5 mm] were randomly assigned for treatment five times in 2 weeks (Days 0, 1, 2, 7, 14) with PDT (test) or non-activated laser (control) following debridement. The primary outcome variable was PPD, and the secondary variables were clinical attachment level (CAL) and BoP. These were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months following the interventions. Greater PPD reductions were observed in the test (-0.67 +/- 0.34; p=0.01) compared with the control patients (-0.04 +/- 0.33; NS) after 6 months. Significant CAL gain (+0.52 +/- 0.31; p=0.01) was noted for the test, but not in the control (-0.27 +/- 0.52; NS) patients after 6 months. BoP percentages decreased significantly in test (97-64%, 67%, 77%), but not control patients after 3, 6 and 12 months. Repeated (five times) PDT adjunctive to debridement yielded improved clinical outcomes in residual pockets in maintenance patients. The effects were best documented after 6 months.

Treatment of localized gingival recession using the free rotated papilla autograft combined with coronally advanced flap by conventional (macrosurgery) and surgery under magnification (microsurgical) technique: A comparative clinical study

PubMed Central

Pandey, Suraj; Mehta, D. S.

2013-01-01

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the conventional (macro-surgical) and microsurgical approach in performing the free rotated papilla autograft combined with coronally advanced flap surgery in treatment of localized gingival recession. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 sites from 10 systemically healthy patients were selected for the study. The selected sites were randomly divided into experimental site A and experimental site B by using the spilt mouth design. Conventional (macro-surgical) approach for site A and micro-surgery for site B was applied in performing the free rotated papilla autograft combined with coronally advanced flap. Recession depth (RD), recession width (RW) clinical attachment level (CAL.) and width of keratinized tissue (WKT.) were recorded at baseline, 3 months and 6 months post-operatively. Results: Both (macro- and microsurgery) groups showed significant clinical improvement in all the parameters (RD, RW, CAL and WKT). However, on comparing both the groups, these parameters did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Both the surgical procedures were equally effective in treatment of localized gingival recession by the free rotated papilla autograft technique combined with coronally advanced flap. However, surgery under magnification (microsurgery) may be clinically better than conventional surgery in terms of less post-operative pain and discomfort experienced by patients at the microsurgical site. PMID:24554888

Reconstruction of the maxillary midline papilla following a combined orthodontic-periodontic treatment in adult periodontal patients.

PubMed

Cardaropoli, Daniele; Re, Stefania; Corrente, Giuseppe; Abundo, Roberto

2004-02-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of a combined orthodontic-periodontic treatment in determining the reconstruction of midline papilla lost following periodontitis. Twenty-eight patients, with infrabony defect and extrusion of one maxillary central incisor, were treated. At baseline, all patients presented opening of the interdental diastema and loss of the papilla. At 7-10 days after open-flap surgery, the intrusive movement started. For each patient, probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and papilla presence index (PI) were assessed at baseline, end of treatment and after 1 year. PI was also evaluated independently in patients with narrow or wide periodontal biotype (NPB-WPB). All parameters showed statistical improvement between the initial and final measurements, and showed no changes at follow-up time. The mean residual PPD was 2.50 mm, with a decrease of 4.29 mm, while the mean CAL gain was 5.93 mm. Twenty-three out of 28 patients improved the PI score at the end of therapy. No statistical difference was recorded in PI values between groups NPB and WPB. The presented clinical protocol resulted in the improvement of all parameters examined. At the end of orthodontic treatment, a predictable reconstruction of the interdental papilla was reported, both in patients with thin or wide gingiva. Copyright Blackwell Munksgaard, 2004.

Effects of bodybuilding and protein supplements in saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and serum.

PubMed

Aral, Kübra; Berdeli, Eynar; Aral, Cüneyt A; Berdeli, Afig; Atan, Merve

2017-01-01

The effects of bodybuilding and protein supplements on periodontal tissues have not yet been evaluated. The present study aimed to examine the periodontal status and interleukin (IL)-1β, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing C-terminal caspase-recruitment domain (ASC), and caspase 1 (CASP1) gene expression levels of body builders compared with those of controls. Twenty-five bodybuilders with gingivitis (BB-G) who used protein powder supplements were compared with 25 nonexercising males with (G) and 25 without (H) gingivitis. Saliva, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), and serum were collected for gene expression analysis. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded. GI and BOP were higher in group BB-G and G than in group H (P < 0.01), but PI, PD, and CAL were similar between groups (P > 0.05). In GCF, CASP1, ASC, and IL-1β expression were upregulated in group G compared with groups BB-G and H (P < 0.01). In addition, ASC (P < 0.05) and IL-1β (P < 0.01) were downregulated in group BB-G compared with group H. CASP1, IL-1β (P < 0.01), and ASC in the saliva were downregulated in group BB-G compared with groups H and G (P < 0.05). CASP1, IL-1β, and ASC may play a role in the pathogenesis of gingivitis. Bodybuilding and supplement usage may decrease gingival inflammation by downregulating CASP1, IL-1β, and ASC.

Prevalence of periodontopathogens and Candida spp. in smokers after nonsurgical periodontal therapy - a pilot study.

PubMed

Camargo, Gabriela Alessandra da Cruz Galhardo; Abreu, Mariana Gouvêa Latini; Cordeiro, Renata Dos Santos; Wenderoscky, Letícia de Farias; Duque, Cristiane

2016-08-22

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the influence of smoking on clinical and microbiological parameters after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Forty-eight subjects were grouped into smokers (SM, n = 24) and nonsmokers (NS, n = 24) and paired according to gender, age, ethnicity, and periodontal status. Both groups received oral hygiene education and scaling and root planing. Clinical evaluation was performed using plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket probing depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), and clinical attachment level (CAL) before instrumentation (baseline) and at 3 and 6 months. The prevalence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida dubliniensis in subgingival biofilm was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The data were statistically analyzed considering p < 0.05. Clinical conditions improved between baseline and 3 months after periodontal treatment. However, NS had a better clinical response, presenting greater PPD reduction and CAL increase in comparison to SM. Periodontal treatment reduced the levels of P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and T. forsythia individually after 3 months for the NS group and after 6 months for both groups. The prevalence of Candida species was markedly higher in SM than in NS at all time points evaluated. Periodontopathogens associated or not with C. albicans or C. dubliniensis were more prevalent in SM than in NS at baseline and after 3 months. It was concluded that smoking impairs clinical and microbiological responses to periodontal therapy. Periodontopathogens combined or not with some Candida species are resistant to short-term periodontal therapy in SM.

Vegetation, fire, climate and human disturbance history in the southwestern Mediterranean area during the late Holocene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiménez-Moreno, Gonzalo; García-Alix, Antonio; Hernández-Corbalán, María Dolores; Anderson, R. Scott; Delgado-Huertas, Antonio

2013-03-01

Detailed pollen, charcoal, isotope and magnetic susceptibility data from an alpine lake sediment core from Sierra Nevada, southern Spain record changes in vegetation, fire history and lake sedimentation since ca. 4100 cal yr BP. The proxies studied record an arid period from ca. 3800 to 3100 cal yr BP characterized by more xerophytic vegetation and lower lake levels. A humid period is recorded between ca. 3100 and 1850 cal yr BP, which occurred in two steps: (1) an increase in evergreen Quercus between 3100 and 2500 cal yr BP, indicating milder conditions than previously and (2) an increase in deciduous Quercus and higher lake levels, between ca. 2500 and 1850 cal yr BP, indicating a further increase in humidity and reduction in seasonal contrast. Humid maxima occurred during the Roman Humid Period, previously identified in other studies in the Mediterranean region. Intensified fire activity at this time could be related to an increase in fuel load and/or in human disturbance. An arid period subsequently occurred between 1850 and 650 cal yr BP, though a decrease in Quercus and an increase in xerophytes. The alternation of persistent North Atlantic Oscillation modes probably played an important role in controlling these humid-arid cycles.

Periodontal status and associated risk factors among childbearing age women in Cixi City of China*

PubMed Central

Wu, Yan-min; Liu, Jia; Sun, Wei-lian; Chen, Li-li; Chai, Li-guo; Xiao, Xiang; Cao, Zheng

2013-01-01

Objective: To investigate the periodontal status and associated risk factors among women of childbearing age to increase the awareness of oral health. Methods: The study was conducted on childbearing age women in Cixi, a city in Zhejiang Province in the southeast of China. A total of 754 women participated in periodontal examination while receiving prenatal care. Data of the women were collected from the Cixi Family Planning Commission and during an interview. Clinical periodontal indices, such as bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured during the examination. Statistical analysis on subject-based data was performed. Results: The prevalence of periodontal disease among childbearing age women in Cixi was high (84.7%). A significant association was found between the disease and educational level, pregnancy, taking oral contraceptives, stress, alcohol consumption, overweight, dental visit, and teeth brushing (P<0.05). Women who suffered periodontal disease showed deep PD, obvious BOP, and clinical attachment loss. Among this population, pregnancy was closely associated with higher BOP percentage; teeth brushing no more than once per day or brushing for less than 1 min (P<0.001) after adjusting for age and stress. Conclusions: The periodontal status of childbearing age women in Cixi needs to be improved urgently. Attention towards the periodontal health should be warranted, especially for those in special statuses and with poor awareness. PMID:23463766

Late glacial to Holocene water level and climate changes in the Gulf of Gemlik, Sea of Marmara: evidence from multi-proxy data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filikci, Betül; Eriş, Kürşad Kadir; Çağatay, Namık; Sabuncu, Asen; Polonia, Alina

2017-10-01

Multi-proxy analyses of new piston core M13-08 together with seismic data from the Gulf of Gemlik provide a detailed record of paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic changes with special emphasis on the timing of the connections between the Sea of Marmara (SoM) and the Gulf of Gemlik during the late Pleistocene to Holocene. The deposition of a subaqueous delta sourced from the Armutlu River to the north is attributed to the lowstand lake level at -60 m in the gulf prior to 13.5 cal ka BP. On the basis of the seismic data, it is argued that the higher lake level (-60 m) in the gulf compared to the SoM level (-85 m) attests to its disconnection from the SoM during the late glacial period. Ponto-Caspian assemblages in the lacustrine sedimentary unit covering the time period between 13.5 and 12 cal ka BP represent a relict that was introduced into the gulf by a Black Sea outflow during the marine isotope stage 3 interstadial. Contrary to the findings of previous studies, the data suggest that such an outflow into the Gulf of Gemlik during the late glacial period could have occurred only if the SoM lake level (-85 m) was shallower than the sill depth (-55 m) of the gulf in the west. A robust age model of the core indicates the connection of the gulf with the marine SoM at 12 cal ka BP, consistent with the sill depth (-55 m) of the gulf on the global sea level curve. Strong evidence of a marine incursion into the gulf is well documented by the μ-XRF Sr/Ca data. The available profiles of elemental ratios in core M13-08, together with the age-depth model, imply that a warm and wet climate prevailed in the gulf during the early Holocene (12-10.1 cal ka BP), whereas the longest drought occurred during the middle Holocene (8.2-5.4 cal ka BP). The base of the main Holocene sapropel in the gulf is dated at 10.1 cal ka BP, i.e., 500 years younger than its equivalent in the SoM. The late Holocene is earmarked by warm and wet climate periods (5.0-4.2 and 4.2-2.7 cal ka BP) with some brief cold/dry periods (4.2 and 2.7-0.9 cal ka BP).

Comparison of acidic and neutral PH root conditioners prior to a coronally positioned flap to treat gingival recession

PubMed Central

Ahmadi, Roya Shariatmadar; Awwadi, Mohammd Reza; Moatazed, Shilan; Rezaei, Fatemeh; Hajisadeghi, Samira

2014-01-01

Background: Localized gingival recession can be treated successfully via coronally positioned flap (CPF) and additional use of root surface demineralization agents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of additional use of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid as a root conditioner in association with CPF to cover localized buccal gingival recessions. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven patients with 66 Miller class I buccal gingival recession ≥ 2 mm on single-rooted teeth were studied. Patients were randomly assigned: CPF with EDTA gel (test 1) and CPF with saturated citric acid (test 2) or CPF alone (control). Clinical parameters were measured at baseline and 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after surgery; assessment included recession depth (RD), clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD) and height of keratinized gingiva (HKG). SPSS version-20 was used to perform all statistical analyses. Data was reported as Mean ± SD. Age, RD, CAL, PD, and HKG before treatment and after 6 months among study groups were compared by one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey test. The level of significance was considered to be less than 0.05. Results: At 6 months, all treatment modalities showed significant root coverage and gain in CAL. RD was reduced from 2.86 ± 0.76 mm to 0.55±0.53 mm in the EDTA group and from 2.37±0.57 mm to 1.03±0.43 mm in the acid group and from 2.37±0.54 mm to 0.85±0.49 mm in the control group. The average percentage of root coverage for the EDTA, acid, and control groups were 80.73%, 52.16%, and 64.50%, respectively. At 6 months, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in all parameters for the EDTA group (except HKG that did not vary among the groups). Conclusion: Root preparation with EDTA was an effective procedure to cover localized gingival recessions and significantly improved the amount of root coverage obtained. PMID:25097639

Early to Middle Holocene sea level fluctuation, coastal progradation and the Neolithic occupation in the Yaojiang Valley of southern Hangzhou Bay, Eastern China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yan; Sun, Qianli; Fan, Daidu; Dai, Bin; Ma, Fuwei; Xu, Lichen; Chen, Jing; Chen, Zhongyuan

2018-06-01

The Yaojiang Valley (YJV) of southern Hangzhou Bay was the birthplace of the well-known Hemudu Culture (HC), one of the representatives of Neolithic civilization in eastern China. To explore the magnitude of natural environmental effects on the HC trajectory, the palaeo-embayment setting of the YJV was studied in detail for the first time in terms of 3D Holocene strata supported by a series of new radiocarbon-dated cores. The results indicated that the local relative sea level rose rapidly during the Early Holocene in the YJV, reached its maximum flooding surface ca. 7900 cal yr BP, and then remained stable ca. 7900-7600 cal yr BP. Thereupon, an estuary stretching inland was first formed by marine transgression, and then, it was transformed to an alluvial-coastal plain by regressive progradation. The alluvial plain was initiated in the foothills and then spread towards the valley centre after sea level stabilization ca. 7600 cal yr BP. Accompanying these natural environmental changes, the earliest arrivals of foragers in the valley occurred no later than ca. 7000 cal yr BP. They engaged in rice farming and fostered the HC for approximately two millennia from ca. 7000-5000 cal yr BP as more lands developed from coastal progradation. The rise and development of the HC are closely associated with the sea level-induced landscape changes in the YJV in the Early-Middle Holocene, but the enigmatic exodus of the HC people after ca. 5000 cal yr BP is still contentious and possibly linked with the rapid waterlogging and deterioration of this setting in such a low-lying coastal plain as well as with associated social reasons.

Association between involuntary smoking and salivary markers related to periodontitis: a 2-year longitudinal study.

PubMed

Nishida, Nobuko; Yamamoto, Yumiko; Tanaka, Muneo; Kataoka, Kosuke; Kuboniwa, Masae; Nakayama, Kunio; Morimoto, Kanehisa; Shizukuishi, Satoshi

2008-12-01

Insufficient data exist regarding the longitudinal influence of involuntary smoking on periodontitis progression. This study examined the relationship between involuntary smoking and periodontitis progression and the effects of involuntary smoking on salivary inflammatory and microbiologic markers related to periodontitis. Participants were recruited during annual health checkups in 2003 and 2005. In 2005, 200 of 273 (73%) Japanese employees examined at baseline underwent periodontal measurements, including clinical attachment level (CAL) and probing depth (PD). Periodontitis progression was identified when a subject displayed one or more teeth with an increase > or = 2.0 mm in CAL and PD during the 2 years. Salivary marker levels, including cotinine, were determined by enzyme assay, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The proportions of six periodontal pathogens in saliva were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction methodology. Based on receiver-operating characteristic analysis, non-, involuntary, and active smokers were defined as subjects exhibiting salivary cotinine levels of 0, 1 to 7, and > or = 8 ng/ml, respectively. By simple logistic regression analysis, age, alcohol consumption, smoking, breakfast habits, and working hours were related to the risk for significant periodontitis progression. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significantly higher periodontitis odds ratios (OR) in involuntary (OR = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03 to 4.83) and active (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.02 to 5.04) smokers relative to non-smokers following adjustment for covariates. Levels of salivary markers, including albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactoferrin, were significantly elevated in involuntary smokers relative to non-smokers. In contrast, the percentages of periodontal pathogens did not differ between the smoking groups, with the exception of Prevotella nigrescens, which displayed significantly lower levels in involuntary smokers compared to non-smokers. Involuntary smoking increased the inflammatory response and was associated with a greater risk for periodontitis progression.

Efficiency of nonsurgical periodontal therapy in moderate chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Mlachkova, Antoaneta M; Popova, Christina L

2014-01-01

Chronic periodontitis is defined as an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of teeth caused by microorganisms in the dental biofilm, resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with pocket formation and gingival recession. Treatment of chronic periodontitis aims at arresting the inflammation and stopping the loss of attachment by removal and control of the supra- and subgingival biofilm and establishing a local environment and microflora compatible with periodontal health. The AIM of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of non-surgical therapy (scaling and root planning) in the treatment of moderate chronic periodontitis. The study included 30 patients aged between 33 and 75 years, of which 46.7% women and 53.3% men, diagnosed with moderate and, at some sites, severe periodontitis. They were treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy methods (scaling and root planning and curettage if indicated). Additionally, chemical plaque control with rinse water containing chlorhexidine was applied. The diagnostic and reassessment procedures included measuring the periodontal indices of 601 periodontal units before and after the therapy. The indices measured were the papillary bleeding index (PBI), the hygiene index (HI), the probing pocket depth (PPD) and the clinical attachment level (CAL). Significant reduction of plaque and gingival inflammation was found in all treated patients; we also found a statistically significant reduction of periodontal pockets with clinically measured depth < 5 mm (PD < 5 mm). Pockets with PD > 5 mm did not show statistically significant lower incidence rates probably due to the initially small percentage of deep pockets in the patients studied. There was a statistically significant reduction of all sites with attachment loss, the highest significance found at sites where the attachment loss was greater than 5 mm. The results of the study suggest that nonsurgical periodontal therapy is effective in managing the moderate chronic periodontitis. Given a good patient compliance, the antimicrobial periodontal therapy can be quite efficient in arresting the inflammatory process and reducing the depth of periodontal pockets; it can also achieve a stable attachment loss level and obviate the need to use a surgical periodontal treatment modality.

Low density lipoprotein levels linkage with the periodontal status patients of coronary heart disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Nafisah Ibrahim; Masulili, Sri Lelyati C.; Lessang, Robert; Radi, Basuni

2017-02-01

Studies found an association between periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD), but relationship between periodontal status CHD patients with LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) levels, as risk factors for atherosclerosis, has not been studied. Objective: To analyze relationship between LDL and periodontal status CHD. Methods: Periodontal status of 60 CHD, 40 controls were examined (PBI, PPD, CAL) and their blood was taken to assess levels of LDL. Result: Found significant differences LDL (p=0.005), correlation between LDL with PPD (p=0.003) and CAL CHD (p=0.013), and PPD (p=0.001), CAL (p=0.008) non-CHD, but no significant correlation between LDL with PBI CAD (p=0.689) and PBI non-CHD (p=0.320). Conclusion: There is a correlation between the LDL levels with periodontal status.

Holocene environmental change along the southern Cape coast of South Africa - Insights from the Eilandvlei sediment record spanning the last 8.9 kyr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wündsch, Michael; Haberzettl, Torsten; Cawthra, Hayley C.; Kirsten, Kelly L.; Quick, Lynne J.; Zabel, Matthias; Frenzel, Peter; Hahn, Annette; Baade, Jussi; Daut, Gerhard; Kasper, Thomas; Meadows, Michael E.; Mäusbacher, Roland

2018-04-01

This study investigates Holocene sediments from Eilandvlei, a coastal lake located within the Wilderness embayment at the southern Cape coast of South Africa. The evolution of the present estuarine/coastal lake system is reconstructed based on seismic data as well as a multi-proxy approach on a 30.5 m sediment core spanning the last 8.9 kyr. Geochemical (Ca, TOC/S, Br/TOC) and micropalaeontological data (diatoms, foraminifera) reflect changes in the degree of marine influence at the core site. The embayment likely developed via distinct phases of connectivity to the Indian Ocean caused by sea level changes and dune progradation. Marine conditions prevailed at the core site from 8900 to 4700 cal BP. The rapid sea level rise during the early Holocene caused the inundation of a palaeovalley that most likely had formed at lower sea levels during the Pleistocene. Towards the mid-Holocene the sea level exceeded its present height around 7500 cal BP creating a marine embayment. At 4700 cal BP, the embayment became distinctly more disconnected from the ocean turning into a lagoon system that persisted until 1200 cal BP. Subsequently, the marine influence further decreased and the present estuarine/coastal lake system was established. Grain size and geochemical data (Fe, Si/Al, chemical index of alteration (CIA)) further reflect changes in the deposition of terrigenous sediments at the core site. While the sedimentation of fine-grained (<16 μm), iron-rich and highly weathered material is linked to periods of increased river discharge and rainfall, high amounts of deposited quartz (31-250 μm, high Si/Al) point to relatively dry and/or windy conditions during which increased aeolian transport of dune sands occurred. The proxies indicate reduced river discharge and hence possibly drier climatic conditions than today from 8900 to 7900 cal BP and 6400 to 3000 cal BP. In contrast, the periods between 7900-6400 cal BP and 3000 cal BP-present were likely characterized by high river discharge and thus, generally more rainfall. The reconstructed palaeoclimatic variations are discussed within the context of e.g., shifts in the position of the Antarctic sea ice extent and the mid-latitude westerly wind belt as well as changes in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

Early-to-middle Holocene sea-level fluctuations, coastal progradation and the Neolithic occupations in Yaojiang valley of southern Hangzhou bay, eastern China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y.; Sun, Q.; Fan, D.; Chen, Z.

2017-12-01

The formation of Holocene coast in eastern China provided material base for the development of Neolithic civilizations. The coastal Yaojiang valley of south Hangzhou bay was one of the examples where the well-known Neolithic Hemudu Culture (HC) of Eastern China initiated. Here, we studied the early-to-middle Holocene environment changes in relation to sea-level fluctuations on the basis of a serial of sediment cores based on a set of new Accelerator Mass Spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) chronology. The result indicated that relative sea-level rose rapidly in the Yaojiang valley at the early Holocene, reaching its maximum at ca. 8000-7800 cal yr BP and then decelerated at ca. 7800-7500 cal yr BP. The alluvial plain in Yaojiang valley began to form at the foothills first and then grew towards the valley center accompanying with the sea-level stabilization after ca. 7500 cal yr BP. This progressive progradation of alluvial plain would attract the early arrivals of foragers to dwell at the foothills to engaging in rice farming after ca.7000 cal yr BP and starting the epic Hemudu Culture. The HC people then move down to the valley center as more land became available thanks to sediment aggregation and progradation. The rise and development of HC were closely associated with the sea-level induced landscape changes in Yaojiang valley at the early-middle Holocene, and the unstable hydraulic condition in the valley after 5000 cal yr BP could be accountable for the cultural termination.

Hepatoprotective effect of Cirsium arisanense Kitamura in tacrine-treated hepatoma Hep 3B cells and C57BL mice.

PubMed

Ku, Kuo-Lung; Tsai, Chu-Tsai; Chang, Wei-Min; Shen, Mei-Lin; Wu, Chia-Tien; Liao, Hui-Fen

2008-01-01

Cirsium arisanense Kitamura (Compositae) has been used for hundreds of years in Taiwan as a folk medicine for hepatoprotection. However, no scientific research has demonstrated this effect. In the present study, we extracted the phenol-containing aqueous components of C. arisanense roots (CaR) and leaves/stem (CaL), and then assessed their hepatoprotective activities in both human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep 3B cells and C57BL/6 mice strain. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the components of CaR and CaL differed from those of the positive control silymarin. CaR exhibited a higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity than CaL. Hep 3B cells treated with silymarin (0-200 microg/ml) demonstrated a concentration-dependent decrease in viability; however, both CaR and CaL did not exhibit any apparent cytotoxicity. Silymarin at 100 microg/ml, as well as CaR and CaL, not only protect Hep 3B cells from tacrine-induced hepatotoxicity but also decrease the expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Moreover, an animal experiment demonstrated that CaR, CaL, and silymarin have hepatoprotective effects in C57BL/6 mice injected with tacrine, and they significantly decrease the levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). These effects of CaR and silymarin, but not of CaL, may occur via an increase in the hepatic glutathione level and the elimination of the nitric oxide production. In conclusion, the phenol-containing aqueous components from C. arisanense have potential in hepatoprotection.

Is there a relationship between chronic periodontitis and erectile dysfunction?

PubMed

Oğuz, Fatih; Eltas, Abubekir; Beytur, Ali; Akdemir, Ender; Uslu, Mustafa Özay; Güneş, Ali

2013-03-01

Chronic periodontitis (CP) is characterized with inflammation of the gingival tissues, which causes endothelial dysfunction in different organs. In this study, we investigated the association of CP with the erectile dysfunction (ED). The study group included 80 male patients with ED and 82 male patients without ED (control), aged between 30 and 40 years. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire was used to assess male sexual function, particularly the presence or absence of ED. The patients in the study and control groups were statistically compared according to their plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). In the non-ED and the ED groups, the mean age was 35.7 ± 4.8 and 34.9 ± 4.9 years, respectively. Patients' characteristics including body mass index, household income, and education status were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). Nineteen patients (23%) had severe CP in the non-ED group; 42 patients (53%) had severe CP in the ED group. Logistic regression analysis showed a significantly high association between ED and the severity of CP (odds ratio: 3.29, 95% confidence interval: 1.36-9.55, P < 0.01). The mean values of PI, BoP, and the percentages of sites with PD >4 mm and sites with CAL >4 mm were significantly higher in the ED group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The mean values of PD and CAL were not significantly different in the two groups (P > 0.05). The decayed, missing, filled teeth scores were also significantly higher in the ED group than in the non-ED group (P < 0.05).   Our results have suggested that CP had a high association with ED in young adults at 30-40 years. We think that it will be of benefit to consider periodontal disease as a causative clinical condition of ED in such patients. © 2012 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Clinical evaluation of an Er:YAG laser for nonsurgical treatment of peri-implantitis: a pilot study.

PubMed

Schwarz, Frank; Sculean, Anton; Rothamel, Daniel; Schwenzer, Katja; Georg, Thomas; Becker, Jürgen

2005-02-01

The aim of this controlled, parallel design clinical study was to compare the effectiveness of an Er:YAG laser (ERL) to that of mechanical debridement using plastic curettes and antiseptic therapy for nonsurgical treatment of peri-implantitis. Twenty patients with moderate to advanced peri-implantitis lesions were randomly treated with either (1) an ERL using a cone-shaped glass fiber tip at an energy setting of 100 mJ/pulse and 10 pps (ERL), or (2) mechanical debridement using plastic curettes and antiseptic therapy with chlorhexidine digluconate (0.2%) (C). The following clinical parameters were measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months after treatment by one blinded and calibrated examiner: Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR) and clinical attachment level (CAL). At the baseline examination, there were no statistically significant differences in any of the investigated parameters. Mean value of BOP decreased in the ERL group from 83% at baseline to 31% after 6 months (P < 0.001) and in the C group from 80% at baseline to 58% after 6 months (P < 0.001). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001, respectively). The sites treated with ERL demonstrated a mean CAL change from 5.8 +/- 1 mm at baseline to 5.1 +/- 1.1 mm (P < 0.01) after 6 months. The C sites demonstrated a mean CAL change from 6.2 +/- 1.5 mm at baseline to 5.6 +/- 1.6 mm (P < 0.001) after 6 months. After 6 months, the difference between the two groups was statistically not significant (P > 0.05). Within the limits of the present study, it was concluded that (i) at 6 months following treatment both therapies led to significant improvements of the investigated clinical parameters, and (ii) ERL resulted in a statistically significant higher reduction of BOP than C.

Socket preservation using bovine bone mineral and collagen membrane: a randomized controlled clinical trial with histologic analysis.

PubMed

Cardaropoli, Daniele; Tamagnone, Lorenzo; Roffredo, Alessandro; Gaveglio, Lorena; Cardaropoli, Giuseppe

2012-08-01

After tooth extraction, varying amounts of bone resorption occur because of qualitative and quantitative changes at the edentulous site of the alveolar process. The aims of this randomized controlled clinical trial were (1) to compare the postextraction changes in residual ridge dimensions during spontaneous healing with those during socket preservation, (2) to analyze the histologic and histomorphometric aspects of the grafted sockets, and (3) to compare probing procket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) changes at teeth adjacent to extraction sites. Forty-eight teeth were extracted from 41 patients referred for extraction of 1 or more maxillary or mandibular premolars or molars. The edentulous sites were randomly assigned to the control (EXT, extraction alone) or experimental groups (SP, extraction and socket preservation). In the SP group, the sockets were filled with bovine bone mineral and covered with porcine collagen membrane. At baseline and after 4 months, PPD, gingival recession (REC), and CAL were measured at teeth adjacent to the edentulous sites. The changes in ridge dimensions from baseline to 4 months were assessed on dental casts. At 4 months, bone was harvested from the grafted areas in the SP group and the edentulous areas in the EXT group. PPD, REC, and CAL were comparable between groups. However, from baseline to 4 months, the SP group showed significantly less reduction in ridge width (1.04 ± 1.08 mm vs 4.48 ± 0.65 mm, P < .001) and height (0.46 ± 0.46 mm vs 1.54 ± 0.33 mm, P < .001). Histologically, the grafted sockets exhibited various stages of bone maturation and formation without inflammatory responses. No significant difference in the mineralized and nonmineralized fractions was noted between the groups. Socket preservation using bovine bone mineral and porcine collagen membrane considerably limits the amount of horizontal and vertical bone resorption when compared with extraction alone.

Timing of atmospheric precipitation in the Zagros Mountains inferred from a multi-proxy record from Lake Mirabad, Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevens, Lora R.; Ito, Emi; Schwalb, Antje; Wright, Herbert E.

2006-11-01

A sediment core 7.2 m long from Lake Mirabad, Iran, was examined for loss-on-ignition, mineralogy, oxygen-isotopic composition of authigenic calcite, and trace-element composition of ostracodes to complement earlier pollen and ostracode-assemblage studies. Pollen, ostracode-inferred lake level, and high Sr/Ca ratios indicate that the early Holocene (10000 to 6500 cal yr BP) was drier than the late Holocene. Low δ18O values during this interval are interpreted as resulting from winter-dominated precipitation, characteristic of a Mediterranean climate. Increasing δ18O values after 6500 cal yr BP signal a gradual increase in spring rains, which are present today. A severe 600-yr drought occurred at ca. 5500 cal yr BP, shortly after the transition from pistachio-almond to oak forest. During the late Holocene, two milder droughts occurred at about 1500 and 500 cal yr BP. Within the resolution of the record, no drought is evident during the collapse of the Akkadian empire (4200-3900 cal yr BP). Rather, a decrease in δ18O values to early-Holocene levels may indicate the return to a Mediterranean precipitation regime.

Development of the mixed conifer forest in northern New Mexico and its relationship to Holocene environmental change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, R. Scott; Jass, Renata B.; Toney, Jaime L.; Allen, Craig D.; Cisneros-Dozal, Luz M.; Hess, Marcey; Heikoop, Jeff; Fessenden, Julianna

2008-03-01

Chihuahueños Bog (2925 m) in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico contains one of the few records of late-glacial and postglacial development of the mixed conifer forest in southwestern North America. The Chihuahueños Bog record extends to over 15,000 cal yr BP. An Artemisia steppe, then an open Picea woodland grew around a small pond until ca. 11,700 cal yr BP when Pinus ponderosa became established. C/N ratios, δ13C and δ15N values indicate both terrestrial and aquatic organic matter was incorporated into the sediment. Higher percentages of aquatic algae and elevated C/N ratios indicate higher lake levels at the opening of the Holocene, but a wetland developed subsequently as climate warmed. From ca. 8500 to 6400 cal yr BP the pond desiccated in what must have been the driest period of the Holocene there. C/N ratios declined to their lowest Holocene levels, indicating intense decomposition in the sediment. Wetter conditions returned after 6400 cal yr BP, with conversion of the site to a sedge bog as groundwater levels rose. Higher charcoal influx rates after 6400 cal yr BP probably result from greater biomass production rates. Only minor shifts in the overstory species occurred during the Holocene, suggesting that mixed conifer forest dominated throughout the record.

Development of the mixed conifer forest in northern New Mexico and its relationship to Holocene environmental change

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, R. Scott; Jass, R.B.; Toney, J.L.; Allen, Craig D.; Cisneros-Dozal, L. M.; Hess, M.; Heikoop, Jeff; Fessenden, J.

2008-01-01

Chihuahueños Bog (2925 m) in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico contains one of the few records of late-glacial and postglacial development of the mixed conifer forest in southwestern North America. The Chihuahueños Bog record extends to over 15,000 cal yr BP. AnArtemisiasteppe, then an openPiceawoodland grew around a small pond until ca. 11,700 cal yr BP whenPinus ponderosabecame established. C/N ratios,δ 13C andδ 15N values indicate both terrestrial and aquatic organic matter was incorporated into the sediment. Higher percentages of aquatic algae and elevated C/N ratios indicate higher lake levels at the opening of the Holocene, but a wetland developed subsequently as climate warmed. From ca. 8500 to 6400 cal yr BP the pond desiccated in what must have been the driest period of the Holocene there. C/N ratios declined to their lowest Holocene levels, indicating intense decomposition in the sediment. Wetter conditions returned after 6400 cal yr BP, with conversion of the site to a sedge bog as groundwater levels rose. Higher charcoal influx rates after 6400 cal yr BP probably result from greater biomass production rates. Only minor shifts in the overstory species occurred during the Holocene, suggesting that mixed conifer forest dominated throughout the record.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand and osteoprotegerin levels in gingival crevicular fluid

PubMed Central

Sarlati, Fatemeh; Sattari, Mandana; Razzaghi, Shilan; Nasiri, Malihe

2012-01-01

Background: Osteoclastogenesis is coordinated by the interaction of three members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily: Osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK). The aim of this study was to investigate RANKL and OPG levels, and their relative ratio in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis, as well as healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In this analytical study, GCF was obtained from healthy (n = 10), mild chronic periodontitis (n = 18), moderate chronic periodontitis (n = 18), severe chronic periodontitis (n = 20), and generalized aggressive periodontitis (n = 20) subjects. RANKL and OPG concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical tests used were Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U rank sum test, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Mean RANKL concentration showed no statistically significant differences between groups (P = 0.58). There were also no significant differences between mean OPG concentration in the five groups (P = 0.0.56). Moreover, relative RANKL/OPG ratio did not reveal a significant difference between the three study group subjects: healthy, chronic periodontitis (mild, moderate, severe), and aggressive periodontitis (P = 0.41). There was statistically significant correlation between the concentration of sRANKL and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL) in moderate chronic periodontitis patients (R = 0.48, P = 0.04). There was also negative correlation between OPG concentration and CAL in moderate chronic periodontitis patients, although not significant (R = −0.13). Conclusion: RANKL was prominent in periodontitis sites, especially in moderate periodontitis patients, whereas OPG was not detectable in some diseased sites with bleeding on probing, supporting the role of these two molecules in the bone loss developed in this disease. PMID:23559954

Definition of colorectal anastomotic leakage: A consensus survey among Dutch and Chinese colorectal surgeons.

PubMed

van Rooijen, Stefanus J; Jongen, Audrey Chm; Wu, Zhou-Qiao; Ji, Jia-Fu; Slooter, Gerrit D; Roumen, Rudi Mh; Bouvy, Nicole D

2017-09-07

To determine the level of consensus on the definition of colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) among Dutch and Chinese colorectal surgeons. Dutch and Chinese colorectal surgeons were asked to partake in an online questionnaire. Consensus in the online questionnaire was defined as > 80% agreement between respondents on various statements regarding a general definition of CAL, and regarding clinical and radiological diagnosis of the complication. Fifty-nine Dutch and 202 Chinese dedicated colorectal surgeons participated in the online survey. Consensus was found on only one of the proposed elements of a general definition of CAL in both countries: 'extravasation of contrast medium after rectal enema on a CT scan'. Another two were found relevant according to Dutch surgeons: 'necrosis of the anastomosis found during reoperation', and 'a radiological collection treated with percutaneous drainage'. No consensus was found for all other proposed elements that may be included in a general definition. There is no universally accepted definition of CAL in the Netherlands and China. Diagnosis of CAL based on clinical manifestations remains a point of discussion in both countries. Dutch surgeons are more likely to report 'subclinical' leaks as CAL, which partly explains the higher reported Dutch CAL rates.

Effectiveness of alendronate as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of periodontitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Purpose Alendronate has been proposed as a local and systemic drug treatment used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatment of periodontitis. However, its effectiveness has yet to be conclusively established. The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of SRP with alendronate on periodontitis compared to SRP alone. Methods Five electronic databases were used by 2 independent reviewers to identify relevant articles from the earliest records up to September 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SRP with alendronate to SRP with placebo in the treatment of periodontitis were included. The outcome measures were changes in bone defect fill, probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) from baseline to 6 months. A fixed-effect or random-effect model was used to pool the extracted data, as appropriate. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane χ2 and I2 tests. Results After the selection process, 8 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with SRP alone, the adjunctive mean benefits of locally delivered alendronate were 38.25% for bone defect fill increase (95% CI=33.05–43.45; P<0.001; I2=94.0%), 2.29 mm for PD reduction (95% CI=2.07–2.52 mm; P<0.001; I2=0.0%) and 1.92 mm for CAL gain (95% CI=1.55–2.30 mm; P<0.001; I2=66.0%). In addition, systemically administered alendronate with SRP significantly reduced PD by 0.36 mm (95% CI=0.18–0.55 mm; P<0.001; I2=0.0%) and increased CAL by 0.39 mm (95% CI=0.11–0.68 mm; P=0.006; I2=6.0%). Conclusions The collective evidence regarding the adjunctive use of alendronate locally and systemically with SRP indicates that the combined treatment can improve the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal therapy on increasing CAL and bone defect fill and reducing PD. However, precautions must be exercised in interpreting these results, and multicenter studies evaluating this specific application should be carried out. PMID:28050316

Health promotion for patients with diabetes: health coaching or formal health education?

PubMed

Basak Cinar, Ayse; Schou, Lone

2014-02-01

The purpose of this study was to determine if a Health Coaching (HC) approach compared with formal health education (HE) resulted in better health outcomes among type II diabetes (T2DM) patients in improving glycaemic control and oral health, by use of clinical and subjective outcome measures. The study is part of a prospective intervention among randomly selected T2DM patients (n = 186) in Istanbul, Turkey. The data analysed were clinical [glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1C)), clinical attachment loss (CAL)] and psychological measures [tooth-brushing self efficacy (TBSES)]. Data were collected initially and at the end of intervention. Participants were allocated randomly to HC (intervention) (n = 77) and HE (control) (n = 111) groups. At baseline, there was no statistical difference between HC and HE regarding clinical and psychological measures, (P > 0.05). At post-intervention the HC group had significantly lower HBA(1C) and CAL (reduction: 7%, 56%) than the HE group (reduction: HbA(1C) 0%; CAL 26%), (P ≤ 0.01). Similarly, HC group, compared with HE group, had better TBSES (increase: 61% vs. 25%) and stress (reduction: 16% vs. 1%), (P ≤ 0.01). Among high-risk group patients, the HC patients had significant improvements compared with the HE group (reduction: HbA(1C) 16% vs. 5%; CAL 63% vs. 18%; stress 39% vs. 2%; fold increase: TBSES 6.6 vs. 3.6) (P ≤ 0.01). The present findings may imply that HC has a significantly greater impact on better management of oral health and glycaemic control than HE. It is notable that the impact was more significant among high-risk group patients, thus HC may be recommended especially for high-risk group patients. © 2013 FDI World Dental Federation.

CAL--ERDA program manual. [Building Design Language; LOADS, SYSTEMS, PLANT, ECONOMICS, REPORT, EXECUTIVE, CAL-ERDA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hunn, B. D.; Diamond, S. C.; Bennett, G. A.

1977-10-01

A set of computer programs, called Cal-ERDA, is described that is capable of rapid and detailed analysis of energy consumption in buildings. A new user-oriented input language, named the Building Design Language (BDL), has been written to allow simplified manipulation of the many variables used to describe a building and its operation. This manual provides the user with information necessary to understand in detail the Cal-ERDA set of computer programs. The new computer programs described include: an EXECUTIVE Processor to create computer system control commands; a BDL Processor to analyze input instructions, execute computer system control commands, perform assignments andmore » data retrieval, and control the operation of the LOADS, SYSTEMS, PLANT, ECONOMICS, and REPORT programs; a LOADS analysis program that calculates peak (design) zone and hourly loads and the effect of the ambient weather conditions, the internal occupancy, lighting, and equipment within the building, as well as variations in the size, location, orientation, construction, walls, roofs, floors, fenestrations, attachments (awnings, balconies), and shape of a building; a Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) SYSTEMS analysis program capable of modeling the operation of HVAC components including fans, coils, economizers, humidifiers, etc.; 16 standard configurations and operated according to various temperature and humidity control schedules. A plant equipment program models the operation of boilers, chillers, electrical generation equipment (diesel or turbines), heat storage apparatus (chilled or heated water), and solar heating and/or cooling systems. An ECONOMIC analysis program calculates life-cycle costs. A REPORT program produces tables of user-selected variables and arranges them according to user-specified formats. A set of WEATHER ANALYSIS programs manipulates, summarizes and plots weather data. Libraries of weather data, schedule data, and building data were prepared.« less

Porphyromonas endodontalis in chronic periodontitis: a clinical and microbiological cross-sectional study

PubMed Central

Lombardo Bedran, Telma Blanca; Marcantonio, Rosemary Adriana C.; Spin Neto, Rubens; Alves Mayer, Marcia Pinto; Grenier, Daniel; Spolidorio, Luis Carlos; Spolidorio, Denise Palomari

2012-01-01

Background Although previous studies have shown the presence of Porphyromonas endodontalis in chronic periodontitis associated with periapical lesions, the occurrence of this pathogen in diseased periodontal sites without periapical lesions has been poorly investigated. Objective The aims of this study were to quantify P. endodontalis in patients with chronic periodontitis without periapical lesions, to evaluate the potential correlation of P. endodontalis with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia, and to evaluate the ability of periodontal treatment to reduce these pathogens. Design Patients with generalized chronic periodontitis were selected by recording clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Subgingival samples from 30 diseased nonadjacent sites (CAL≥5 mm, PD between 5 and 7 mm and positive BOP) and 30 healthy nonadjacent sites (PD≤3 mm and negative BOP) were collected and subjected to microbial analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) The variables of age, PD, CAL and BOP of all individuals were analyzed using the paired t-test (GrapPad Prism5®). Data of bacteria quantification were subjected to a normality test (D'Agostino-Pearson Test). For bacterial correlation analysis, the Spearman correlation was used. Results Our results showed that diseased sites had significantly higher levels of P. endodontalis compared to healthy sites, similar to the results obtained for P. gingivalis and T. forsythia. The numbers of all bacterial species were reduced significantly after mechanical periodontal treatment. P. endodontalis was significantly correlated with the presence of T. forsythia and P. gingivalis in the diseased group. Conclusion Our results suggest that there is a high prevalence of P. endodontalis, P. gingivalis and T. forsythia in periodontitis sites and that mechanical periodontal treatment is effective at reducing the pathogens studied. PMID:22232719

The Effects of Diode Laser Therapy as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in the Treatment of Aggressive Periodontitis: A 1-Year Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Matarese, Giovanni; Ramaglia, Luca; Cicciù, Marco; Cordasco, Giancarlo; Isola, Gaetano

2017-12-01

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the clinical, microbial, and inflammatory effects of a diode laser as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) versus SRP alone for the treatment of generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP). Using a split-mouth design, 31 patients with GAgP were enrolled in the study. The maxillary right and left quadrants were randomly assigned to SRP+diode laser or SRP alone. Patients were examined on a regular basis for clinical, microbiological, and inflammatory mediator changes over a 1-year period. Clinical attachment level (CAL) was the primary outcome variable chosen. In addition, subgingival biofilm samples and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) inflammatory mediators were analyzed at each follow-up session. Compared to baseline, both treatments demonstrated an improvement in periodontal parameters at 1 year. However, SRP+diode laser produced a significant improvement in probing depth (PD; 2.56 ± 0.44 vs. 3.36 ± 0.51 mm, p < 0.05) and CAL (3.47 ± 0.25 vs. 4.11 ± 0.26 mm, p < 0.05) values compared to SRP alone. Similarly, in the SRP+diode laser group, the bacteria of orange complex group were significantly reduced at 30 and 60 days compared to SRP alone. Moreover, SRP+diode laser determined a reduction in mean GCF level of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-1β/IL-10 ratio at 15 and 30 days compared to SRP alone (p < 0.05). At 1 year, SRP+diode laser yielded a significant reduction in some clinical parameters, while microbial and inflammatory mediator changes were not significantly reduced compared to SRP alone.

A novel approach to the use of subgingival controlled-release chlorhexidine delivery in chronic periodontitis: a randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Gonzales, Jose R; Harnack, Lutz; Schmitt-Corsitto, Gabriella; Boedeker, Rolf H; Chakraborty, Trinad; Domann, Eugen; Meyle, Joerg

2011-08-01

We aimed to analyze clinical, microbiologic, and serologic effects of chlorhexidine (CHX) chips used as a subgingival controlled-release delivery device before and immediately after scaling and root planing (SRP). Twenty-four patients presenting with ≥12 teeth with probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm and bleeding on probing were assigned in test or control groups. After prophylaxis, CHX chips (test) or placebo chips (control) were placed in pockets with PD ≥5 mm. Ten days later, SRP was performed in all teeth with PD ≥4 mm in a single appointment. Immediately after SRP, new chips were inserted in all pockets with PD ≥5 mm. Parameters were assessed at baseline; beginning of SRP; and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Subgingival samples were obtained at baseline; beginning of SRP; and at 1 month after treatment. Periodontal pathogens Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola were analyzed. Serum levels of high sensitive C-reactive and lipopolysaccharide-binding proteins were measured. The changes of the parameters between and within the groups were tested by Mann-Whitney U test (P <0.05). All clinical and serologic parameters improved in both groups over time. There was a significant difference in clinical attachment level (CAL) gain from baseline to 6 months between groups (1.17 mm in the test group versus 0.79 mm in the placebo group) (P <0.05). The treatment with CHX chips showed a greater reduction of the microorganisms of the "red complex" after 1 month (P = 0.02). The use of CHX chips before and immediately after SRP improved CAL and reduced the subgingival microorganisms of the red complex in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Porphyromonas endodontalis in chronic periodontitis: a clinical and microbiological cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Lombardo Bedran, Telma Blanca; Marcantonio, Rosemary Adriana C; Spin Neto, Rubens; Alves Mayer, Marcia Pinto; Grenier, Daniel; Spolidorio, Luis Carlos; Spolidorio, Denise Palomari

2012-01-01

Although previous studies have shown the presence of Porphyromonas endodontalis in chronic periodontitis associated with periapical lesions, the occurrence of this pathogen in diseased periodontal sites without periapical lesions has been poorly investigated. The aims of this study were to quantify P. endodontalis in patients with chronic periodontitis without periapical lesions, to evaluate the potential correlation of P. endodontalis with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia, and to evaluate the ability of periodontal treatment to reduce these pathogens. Patients with generalized chronic periodontitis were selected by recording clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Subgingival samples from 30 diseased nonadjacent sites (CAL≥5 mm, PD between 5 and 7 mm and positive BOP) and 30 healthy nonadjacent sites (PD≤3 mm and negative BOP) were collected and subjected to microbial analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) The variables of age, PD, CAL and BOP of all individuals were analyzed using the paired t-test (GrapPad Prism5(®)). Data of bacteria quantification were subjected to a normality test (D'Agostino-Pearson Test). For bacterial correlation analysis, the Spearman correlation was used. Our results showed that diseased sites had significantly higher levels of P. endodontalis compared to healthy sites, similar to the results obtained for P. gingivalis and T. forsythia. The numbers of all bacterial species were reduced significantly after mechanical periodontal treatment. P. endodontalis was significantly correlated with the presence of T. forsythia and P. gingivalis in the diseased group. Our results suggest that there is a high prevalence of P. endodontalis, P. gingivalis and T. forsythia in periodontitis sites and that mechanical periodontal treatment is effective at reducing the pathogens studied.

Searching for evidence of curricular effect on the teaching and learning of mathematics: some insights from the LieCal project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Jinfa

2014-12-01

Drawing on evidence from the Longitudinal Investigation of the Effect of Curriculum on Algebra Learning (LieCal) Project, issues related to mathematics curriculum reform and student learning are discussed. The LieCal Project was designed to longitudinally investigate the impact of a reform mathematics curriculum called the Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) in the USA on teachers' teaching and students' learning. Using a three-level conceptualization of curriculum (intended, implemented, and attained), a variety of evidence from the LieCal Project is presented to show the impact of mathematics curriculum reform on teachers' teaching and students' learning. This paper synthesizes findings from the two longitudinal studies spanning 7 years of the LieCal Project both to show the kind of impact curriculum has on teachers' teaching and students' learning and to suggest powerful but feasible ways researchers can investigate curriculum effect on both teaching and learning.

Adjunctive Effects of A Piscean Collagen-Based Controlled-Release Chlorhexidine Chip in the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis: A Clinical and Microbiological Study

PubMed Central

John, Priya; Lazarus, Flemingson; Selvam, Arul; Prabhuji, Munivenkatappa Lakshmaiah Venkatesh

2015-01-01

Introduction PerioChip a bovine origin gelatine based CHX chip has shown beneficial effects in the management of Chronic Periodontitis. A new fish collagen based CHX chip similar to PerioChip is currently available; however this product has not been thoroughly researched. Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new Piscean collagen-based controlled-release chlorhexidine chip (CHX chip) as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP). Settings and Design The study was conducted as a randomised, split-mouth, controlled clinical trial at Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, India. Materials and Methods In a split–mouth study involving 20 sites in 10 patients with chronic periodontitis, control sites received scaling and root planing and test sites received scaling and root planing (SRP) and the intrapocket CHX chip placement as an adjunct. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from both control and test sites at baseline, 11 days and 11 weeks and the anaerobic colony count were assessed. Clinical parameters that were recorded at baseline and 11 weeks were gingival index, Plaque index, Probing pocket depth (PPD), and Clinical attachment level (CAL). Plaque index was recorded additionally at 11 days. Results In the test group there was a statistically significant reduction in the total anaerobic colony count, gingival index and plaque scores from baseline as compared to control sites at all time intervals. An additional 0.8mm reduction in mean probing pocket depth was noted in the test group. Gain in Clinical attachment level was comparable in both groups. Conclusion The adjunctive use of the new collagen-based CHX chip yielded significant antimicrobial benefit accompanied by a reduction in probing depth and a clinical attachment level gain as compared to SRP alone. This suggests that it may be a useful treatment option of nonsurgical periodontal treatment of chronic periodontitis. PMID:26155567

Palaeohydrology of the Southwest Yukon Territory, Canada, based on multiproxy analyses of lake sediment cores from a depth transect

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, L.; Abbott, M.B.; Finney, B.P.; Edwards, M.E.

2005-01-01

Lake-level variations at Marcella Lake, a small, hydrologically closed lake in the southwestern Yukon Territory, document changes in effective moisture since the early Holocene. Former water levels, driven by regional palaeohydrology, were reconstructed by multiproxy analyses of sediment cores from four sites spanning shallow to deep water. Marcella Lake today is thermally stratified, being protected from wind by its position in a depression. It is alkaline and undergoes bio-induced calcification. Relative accumulations of calcium carbonate and organic matter at the sediment-water interface depend on the location of the depositional site relative to the thermocline. We relate lake-level fluctuations to down-core stratigraphic variations in composition, geochemistry, sedimentary structures and to the occurrence of unconformities in four cores based on observations of modern limnology and sedimentation processes. Twenty-four AMS radiocarbon dates on macrofossils and pollen provide the lake-level chronology. Prior to 10 000 cal. BP water levels were low, but then they rose to 3 to 4 m below modern levels. Between 7500 and 5000 cal. BP water levels were 5 to 6 m below modern but rose by 4000 cal. BP. Between 4000 and 2000 cal. BP they were higher than modern. During the last 2000 years, water levels were either near or 1 to 2 m below modern levels. Marcella Lake water-level fluctuations correspond with previously documented palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic changes and provide new, independent effective moisture information. The improved geochronology and quantitative water-level estimates are a framework for more detailed studies in the southwest Yukon. ?? 2005 Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd.

Management of gingival recession with acellular dermal matrix graft: A clinical study

PubMed Central

Balaji, V. R.; Ramakrishnan, T.; Manikandan, D.; Lambodharan, R.; Karthikeyan, B.; Niazi, Thanvir Mohammed; Ulaganathan, G.

2016-01-01

Aims and Objectives: Obtaining root coverage has become an important part of periodontal therapy. The aims of this studyare to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acellular dermal matrix graft in the coverage of denuded roots and also to examine the change in the width of keratinized gingiva. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 sites with more than or equal to 2 mm of recession depth were taken into the study, for treatment with acellular dermal matrix graft. The clinical parameters such as recession depth, recession width, width of keratinized gingiva, probing pocket depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured at the baseline, 8th week, and at the end of the study (16th week). The defects were treated with a coronally positioned pedicle graft combined with acellular dermal matrix graft. Results: Out of 20 sites treated with acellular dermal matrix graft, seven sites showed complete root coverage (100%), and the mean root coverage obtained was 73.39%. There was a statistically significant reduction in recession depth, recession width, and probing PD. There was also a statistically significant increase in width of keratinized gingiva and also gain in CAL. The postoperative results were both clinically and statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The results of this study were esthetically acceptable to the patients and clinically acceptable in all cases. From this study, it may be concluded that acellular dermal matrix graft is an excellent substitute for autogenous graft in coverage of denuded roots. PMID:27829749

Effect of 1% sodium alendronate in the non-surgical treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects: a 6-month clinical trial

PubMed Central

DUTRA, Bernardo Carvalho; OLIVEIRA, Alcione Maria Soares Dutra; OLIVEIRA, Peterson Antônio Dutra; MANZI, Flavio Ricardo; CORTELLI, Sheila Cavalca; COTA, Luís Otávio de Miranda; COSTA, Fernando Oliveira

2017-01-01

Abstract Background and objectives Few studies have evaluated the effect of the topical application of sodium alendronate (ALN) on the treatment of intrabuccal bone defects, especially those caused by periodontitis. This 6-month randomized placebo controlled clinical trial aimed at evaluating the effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment associated with the use of 1% ALN, through clinical evaluations and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and Methods Twenty individuals with chronic periodontitis underwent periodontal examination at the baseline as well as 3 and 6 months after periodontal treatment, registering clinical attachment level (CAL), periodontal probing depth (PPD), and bleeding on probing (BOP) as the clinical outcomes. After manual scaling and root planing, 40 bilateral sites with interproximal vertical bone defects were randomly treated with either 1% ALN gel or a placebo. Bone defects were evaluated through CBCT at the baseline and 6 months post-treatment. The clinical and CBCT parameters were compared using the Wilcoxon and Friedman tests (p<0.05). Results Although ALN produced a greater CAL gain when compared to the placebo at 6 months post-treatment (p=0.021), both treatments produced similar effects on the PPD, BOP, and bone height. Significant differences in bone fill were observed only in patients of the ALN group (4.5 to 3.8 mm; p=0.003) at 6 months post-treatment. Conclusions Topical application of 1% ALN might be a beneficial adjuvant to non-surgical periodontal therapy. PMID:28678950

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of intrabony periodontal defect treatment by open flap debridement alone or in combination with nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite bone substitute.

PubMed

Pietruska, Małgorzata; Skurska, Anna; Pietruski, Jan; Dolińska, Ewa; Arweiler, Nicole; Milewski, Robert; Duraj, Ewa; Sculean, Anton

2012-11-01

The aim of this study has been to compare the clinical and radiographic outcome of periodontal intrabony defect treatment by open flap debridement alone or in combination with nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite bone substitute application. Thirty patients diagnosed with advanced periodontits were divided into two groups: the control group (OFD), in which an open flap debridement procedure was performed and the test group (OFD+NHA), in which defects were additionally filled with nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite bone substitute material. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket depth (PD), gingival recession (GR) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured prior to, then 6 and 12months following treatment. Radiographic depth and width of defects were also evaluated. There were no differences in any clinical and radiographic parameters between the examined groups prior to treatment. After treatment, BOP, GI, PD, CAL, radiographic depth and width parameter values improved statistically significantly in both groups. The PI value did not change, but the GR value increased significantly after treatment. There were no statistical differences in evaluated parameters between OFD and OFD+NHA groups 6 and 12months after treatment. Within the limits of the study, it can be concluded that the additional use of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite bone substitute material after open flap procedure does not improve clinical and radiographic treatment outcome. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Orthodontic treatment simultaneous to or after periodontal cause-related treatment in periodontitis susceptible patients. Part I: Clinical outcome. A randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Zasčiurinskienė, Eglė; Basevičienė, Nomeda; Lindsten, Rune; Slotte, Christer; Jansson, Henrik; Bjerklin, Krister

2018-02-01

To compare two treatment strategies regarding the effect of orthodontic treatment on periodontal status in patients with plaque-induced periodontitis. This was a randomized clinical trial. Fifty periodontal patients were randomly assigned to the test or control groups according to periodontal treatment timing. All patients received supra- and subgingival debridement following baseline examination. Control group patients received cause-related periodontal treatment before the start of orthodontic treatment and which was performed simultaneous to orthodontic treatment for the test group patients. No difference between the test and control groups was found regarding change of clinical attachment level (CAL) after periodontal-orthodontic treatment. Fewer sites with initial pocket depth (PD) of 4-6 mm healed after periodontal-orthodontic treatment in the test group (20.5%, IQR = 11.9%) in comparison with controls (30.4%, IQR = 27.1%) (p = .03). Anterior teeth [OR 2.5] and teeth in male patients [OR 1.6] had a greater chance for PD improvement ≥2 mm. Total periodontal-orthodontic treatment duration was significantly longer for the control group (p < .01). Both groups showed a gain of CAL and a reduction in sites with PD ≥ 4 mm. Orthodontic treatment, simultaneously to the periodontal treatment, could be used in the routine treatment of patients with plaque-induced periodontitis. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Retrospective study of combined splinting restorations in the aesthetic zone of periodontal patients

PubMed Central

Liu, X.; Zhang, Y.; Zhou, Z.; Ma, S.

2016-01-01

Aims This retrospective study evaluated the clinical performance of combining a fiber-reinforced, composite-resin (FRC) bonded splint; bridge; fiber post; and/or resin veneer for the restoration of periodontally-involved anterior teeth. Methods Sixty-three patients with periodontally-involved anterior teeth each received one of the following splinting restorations: FRC-bonded splint-bridges (SB), a combination of an FRC-bonded splint and resin veneer (SV), or FRC-bonded splints (S). Six patients with healthy periodontal teeth received orthodontic retainers with FRC-bonded splints (OS) as a control. Modified USPHS criteria were used to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation, and the periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) of the natural teeth were measured. Results All restorations resulted in good aesthetic outcomes. SV, S in combination with fiber posts and OS all resulted in 100% acceptable ratings for each category that was directly evaluated at each follow-up. The mean PPD was 3.5 ± 1.0 mm at baseline, decreased to 3.3 ± 1.0 mm after one year (p <0.05), and subsequently increased to 3.5±1.0 mm again after four years (p >0.05). These changes were similar to those in the mean CAL. Conclusion A combination of a FRC-bonded splint, bridge, fiber post and/or resin veneer for minimally invasive prosthodontic treatment in the aesthetic zone is a good choice for periodontal patients. PMID:26964599

Evaluation of nonsurgical periodontal therapy in chronic periodontitis patients with anemia by estimating hematological parameters and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels

PubMed Central

Musalaiah, S. V. V. S.; Anupama, M.; Nagasree, M.; Krishna, Ch. Murali; Kumar, Aravind; Kumar, P. Mohan

2014-01-01

Background: Periodontal tissues mount an immune inflammatory response to bacteria and their products. Certain inflammatory cytokines produced during periodontal inflammation increase the production of acute phase proteins like high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) and can depress erythropoietin production leading to the development of anemia. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on red blood cell (RBC) parameters and hs-CRP in chronic periodontitis patients with anemia. Materials and Methods: This is a longitudinal, interventional study with 6-month follow-up. A total of 30 subjects with anemia and chronic periodontitis with age group of 33-55 years were selected by screening hemoglobin (Hb) levels and examining periodontal findings. The clinical parameters plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline. Laboratory blood investigations were performed to evaluate RBC count, Hb, packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and red cell indices, hs-CRP at baseline. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy was performed for all patients. Patients were recalled after 6 months. The clinical and hematological parameters were re-evaluated to analyze the changes after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Results: The results showed that there was a significant increase in Hb levels, RBC count and PCV from baseline to 6 months after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. There is significant decrease in levels of ESR and hs-CRP levels after nonsurgical periodontal therapy indicating resolution of periodontal inflammation. There is a significant decrease in PPD, scores of PI and GI and significant increase in CAL gain. Minimal changes in mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and MCH concentration indicated that the lower values of red cell parameters are not due to any vitamin and mineral deficiencies, but secondary to the chronic inflammatory changes associated with chronic periodontal disease. Conclusion: The present study strengthens the hypothesis that chronic periodontitis may lead to anemia and provides evidence that nonsurgical periodontal therapy can improve the anemic status and reduce levels of hs-CRP in patients with chronic periodontitis. PMID:25210388

Evaluation of nonsurgical periodontal therapy in chronic periodontitis patients with anemia by estimating hematological parameters and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels.

PubMed

Musalaiah, S V V S; Anupama, M; Nagasree, M; Krishna, Ch Murali; Kumar, Aravind; Kumar, P Mohan

2014-07-01

Periodontal tissues mount an immune inflammatory response to bacteria and their products. Certain inflammatory cytokines produced during periodontal inflammation increase the production of acute phase proteins like high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) and can depress erythropoietin production leading to the development of anemia. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on red blood cell (RBC) parameters and hs-CRP in chronic periodontitis patients with anemia. This is a longitudinal, interventional study with 6-month follow-up. A total of 30 subjects with anemia and chronic periodontitis with age group of 33-55 years were selected by screening hemoglobin (Hb) levels and examining periodontal findings. The clinical parameters plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline. Laboratory blood investigations were performed to evaluate RBC count, Hb, packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and red cell indices, hs-CRP at baseline. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy was performed for all patients. Patients were recalled after 6 months. The clinical and hematological parameters were re-evaluated to analyze the changes after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. The results showed that there was a significant increase in Hb levels, RBC count and PCV from baseline to 6 months after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. There is significant decrease in levels of ESR and hs-CRP levels after nonsurgical periodontal therapy indicating resolution of periodontal inflammation. There is a significant decrease in PPD, scores of PI and GI and significant increase in CAL gain. Minimal changes in mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and MCH concentration indicated that the lower values of red cell parameters are not due to any vitamin and mineral deficiencies, but secondary to the chronic inflammatory changes associated with chronic periodontal disease. The present study strengthens the hypothesis that chronic periodontitis may lead to anemia and provides evidence that nonsurgical periodontal therapy can improve the anemic status and reduce levels of hs-CRP in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Evaluation of effectiveness of hyaluronic acid in combination with bioresorbable membrane (poly lactic acid-poly glycolic acid) for the treatment of infrabony defects in humans: A clinical and radiographic study

PubMed Central

Sehdev, Bhumika; Bhongade, Manohar Laxmanrao; Ganji, Kiran Kumar

2016-01-01

Background: The combination of biomaterials, bone graft substitutes along with guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has been shown to be an effective modality of periodontal regenerative therapy for infrabony defects. Therefore, the present randomized controlled clinical study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid (HA) in combination with bioresorbable membrane for the treatment of human infrabony defects. Materials and Methods: Twenty four infrabony defects in 20 systemically healthy patients were randomly assigned to test (HA in combination with bioresorbable membrane) and control (bioresorbable membrane alone) treatment groups. Probing pocket depth (PPD), relative attachment level, and relative gingival margin level were measured with a computerized Florida disc probe at baseline and at 6 months follow-up. Radiographic measurements were also evaluated at baseline and at 6 months of postsurgery. Results: At 6 months, the mean reduction in PPD in test group and control group was 4.52 mm and 2.97 mm, respectively. Significantly higher clinical attachment level with a gain of 2.20 mm was found in the test group as compared to control group. In addition, statistically significant greater reduction of radiographic defect depth was observed in the test group. Conclusion: Regenerative approach using hyaloss in combination with GTR for the treatment of human infrabony defects resulted in a significant added benefit in terms of CAL gains, PPD reductions and radiographic defect fill, as well as LBG, compared to the GTR alone. PMID:27041838

CalTOX (registered trademark), A multimedia total exposure model spreadsheet user's guide. Version 4.0(Beta)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McKone, T.E.; Enoch, K.G.

2002-08-01

CalTOX has been developed as a set of spreadsheet models and spreadsheet data sets to assist in assessing human exposures from continuous releases to multiple environmental media, i.e. air, soil, and water. It has also been used for waste classification and for setting soil clean-up levels at uncontrolled hazardous wastes sites. The modeling components of CalTOX include a multimedia transport and transformation model, multi-pathway exposure scenario models, and add-ins to quantify and evaluate uncertainty and variability. All parameter values used as inputs to CalTOX are distributions, described in terms of mean values and a coefficient of variation, rather than asmore » point estimates or plausible upper values such as most other models employ. This probabilistic approach allows both sensitivity and uncertainty analyses to be directly incorporated into the model operation. This manual provides CalTOX users with a brief overview of the CalTOX spreadsheet model and provides instructions for using the spreadsheet to make deterministic and probabilistic calculations of source-dose-risk relationships.« less

Delayed deglaciation or extreme Arctic conditions 21-16 cal. kyr at southeastern Laurentide Ice Sheet margin?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peteet, D. M.; Beh, M.; Orr, C.

The conventionally accepted ages of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) retreat of the southeastern Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) are 26–21 cal. kyr (derived from bulk-sediment radiocarbon ages) and 28–23 cal. kyr (varve estimates). By utilizing accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating of earliest macrofossils in 13 lake/bog inorganic clays, we find that vegetation first appeared on the landscape at 16–15 cal. kyr, suggesting ice had not retreated until that time. The gap between previous age estimates and ours is significant and has large implications for our understanding of ocean-atmosphere linkages. Older ages imply extreme Arctic conditions for 9–5 cal kyr;more » a landscape with no ice, yet no deposition in lakes. Also, our new AMS chronology of LIS retreat is consistent with marine evidence of deglaciation from the N. Atlantic, showing significant freshwater input and sea level rise only after 19 cal kyr with a cold meltwater lid, perhaps delaying ice melt.« less

Delayed deglaciation or extreme Arctic conditions 21-16 cal. kyr at southeastern Laurentide Ice Sheet margin?

DOE PAGES

Peteet, D. M.; Beh, M.; Orr, C.; ...

2012-06-15

The conventionally accepted ages of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) retreat of the southeastern Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) are 26–21 cal. kyr (derived from bulk-sediment radiocarbon ages) and 28–23 cal. kyr (varve estimates). By utilizing accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating of earliest macrofossils in 13 lake/bog inorganic clays, we find that vegetation first appeared on the landscape at 16–15 cal. kyr, suggesting ice had not retreated until that time. The gap between previous age estimates and ours is significant and has large implications for our understanding of ocean-atmosphere linkages. Older ages imply extreme Arctic conditions for 9–5 cal kyr;more » a landscape with no ice, yet no deposition in lakes. Also, our new AMS chronology of LIS retreat is consistent with marine evidence of deglaciation from the N. Atlantic, showing significant freshwater input and sea level rise only after 19 cal kyr with a cold meltwater lid, perhaps delaying ice melt.« less

Sedimentary Evidence for a Rapid Sea Level Rise at 7,600 cal yr BP from North-Central Cuba

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peros, M. C.; Agosta G'meiner, A. M.; Collins, S.

2016-12-01

A lack of high-resolution relative sea level (RSL) proxy data has meant that the pattern of early Holocene RSL change in the Caribbean is poorly understood. A RSL curve published by Toscano and Macintyre (2003) using inter-tidal mangrove peats and submerged corals suggests RSL underwent a relatively fast and `smooth' curvilinear increase during the Holocene. However, others, such as Blanchon and Shaw (1995), suggest that RSL increased rapidly at around 7600 cal yr BP, in response to the final stages of the melting of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (melt water pulse 1C or catastrophic rise event 3). We investigated this question using multi-proxy data from a flooded sinkhole (Cenote Jennifer) on the north coast of central Cuba. Cenote Jennifer is located 7 m above mean sea level and 2 km from the Bahamas Channel and appears to have a high degree of connectivity with the ocean through a network of underground caverns. The water depth is 13 m and the bottommost 5 m is anoxic. A sediment core collected from Cenote Jennifer was studied using loss-on-ignition, pollen analysis, high-resolution XRF core-scanning, and grain size analysis. An age-depth model was generated for the core by AMS dating. The results show that the bottommost stratigraphic unit ( 9000 to 7600 cal yr BP) is a fine-grained carbonate-rich mud (i.e., marl). This unit abruptly transitions into finely laminated organic-rich sediment from 7600 cal yr BP to the present. The pollen analysis shows that the sinkhole supported a cattail (Typha) community until 7600 cal yr BP, indicating low water levels ( 1 m). At 7600 cal yr BP, the cattail community disappeared and the vegetation of the surrounding bedrock became dominated by a thorny coastal scrubland. In addition, a 3 cm thick fining-upward siliciclastic unit is present immediately above the marl-organic contact, suggesting: 1) a marine sediment source given the limestone-dominated nature of the region, and 2) the presence of a short-duration, high-energy depositional event. We interpret the change in vegetation and the siliciclastic layer as representing a rise in water level of 2-3 m in the sinkhole driven by a sudden rise in RSL at 7600 cal yr BP that inundated the cattail community and transported marine sediment into it. Our results provide new information to support the view of a "step-like" pattern of early Holocene sea level.

Azithromycin buccal patch in treatment of chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Latif, Sajith Abdul; Vandana, K L; Thimmashetty, J; Dalvi, Priyanka Jairaj

2016-01-01

This study aims to explore the clinical, microbiological, and biochemical impact of azithromycin (AZM) buccal patch in chronic generalized patients as a monotherapy as well as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy. A parallel design was used forty periodontitis patients were randomly allocated into five groups, namely Group 1 scaling root planing (SRP) alone, Group 2 (SRP + AZM patch group), Group 3 (SRP + AZM tablet group), Group 4 (AZM patch monotherapy), and Group 5 (AZM tablet as monotherapy). Plaque index, gingival bleeding index, modified gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed at baseline and 21 and 90 days. Subgingival pooled plaque sample was collected to assess periodontopathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) by anaerobic culture method. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was also evaluated at baseline and 21 days. Periodontal maintenance was performed in Group 1 until 90(th) day, and clinical parameter was assessed at the end of 90(th) day. SRP + AZM tablets showed greater reduction in clinical parameters (P < 0.05) AZM as monotherapy did not offer clinical benefits over SRP. Baseline data were compared at the end, i.e., 90(th) day a significant reduction in plaque scores, gingival bleeding, and PPD was observed however no significant gain in the clinical attachment was observed. The monotherapy resulted in no improvement of periodontal parameters, microbial parameters, and TNF-α level. It is safe to use AZM + SRP as a mode of nonsurgical treatment in periodontitis patients.

Azithromycin buccal patch in treatment of chronic periodontitis

PubMed Central

Latif, Sajith Abdul; Vandana, K. L.; Thimmashetty, J.; Dalvi, Priyanka Jairaj

2016-01-01

Aim: This study aims to explore the clinical, microbiological, and biochemical impact of azithromycin (AZM) buccal patch in chronic generalized patients as a monotherapy as well as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy. Materials and Methods: A parallel design was used forty periodontitis patients were randomly allocated into five groups, namely Group 1 scaling root planing (SRP) alone, Group 2 (SRP + AZM patch group), Group 3 (SRP + AZM tablet group), Group 4 (AZM patch monotherapy), and Group 5 (AZM tablet as monotherapy). Plaque index, gingival bleeding index, modified gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed at baseline and 21 and 90 days. Subgingival pooled plaque sample was collected to assess periodontopathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) by anaerobic culture method. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was also evaluated at baseline and 21 days. Periodontal maintenance was performed in Group 1 until 90th day, and clinical parameter was assessed at the end of 90th day. Results: SRP + AZM tablets showed greater reduction in clinical parameters (P < 0.05) AZM as monotherapy did not offer clinical benefits over SRP. Baseline data were compared at the end, i.e., 90th day a significant reduction in plaque scores, gingival bleeding, and PPD was observed however no significant gain in the clinical attachment was observed. Conclusion: The monotherapy resulted in no improvement of periodontal parameters, microbial parameters, and TNF-α level. It is safe to use AZM + SRP as a mode of nonsurgical treatment in periodontitis patients. PMID:27127325

Fire and vegetation history on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands, and long-term environmental change in southern California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Starratt, Scott W.; Pinter, N.; Anderson, Robert S.; Jass, R.B.

2009-01-01

The long-term history of vegetation and fire was investigated at two locations – Soledad Pond (275 m; from ca. 12 000 cal. a BP) and Abalone Rocks Marsh (0 m; from ca. 7000 cal. a BP) – on Santa Rosa Island, situated off the coast of southern California. A coastal conifer forest covered highlands of Santa Rosa during the last glacial, but by ca. 11 800 cal. a BP Pinus stands, coastal sage scrub and grassland replaced the forest as the climate warmed. The early Holocene became increasingly drier, particularly after ca. 9150 cal. a BP, as the pond dried frequently, and coastal sage scrub covered the nearby hillslopes. By ca. 6900 cal. a BP grasslands recovered at both sites. Pollen of wetland plants became prominent at Soledad Pond after ca. 4500 cal. a BP, and at Abalone Rocks Marsh after ca. 3465 cal. a BP. Diatoms suggest freshening of the Abalone Rocks Marsh somewhat later, probably by additional runoff from the highlands. Introduction of non-native species by ranchers occurred subsequent to AD 1850. Charcoal influx is high early in the record, but declines during the early Holocene when minimal biomass suggests extended drought. A general increase occurs after ca. 7000 cal. a BP, and especially after ca. 4500 cal. a BP. The Holocene pattern closely resembles population levels constructed from the archaeological record, and suggests a potential influence by humans on the fire regime of the islands, particularly during the late Holocene.

Paleoecology of a Northern Michigan Lake and the relationship among climate, vegetation, and Great Lakes water levels

USGS Publications Warehouse

Booth, R.K.; Jackson, S.T.; Thompson, T.A.

2002-01-01

We reconstructed Holocene water-level and vegetation dynamics based on pollen and plant macrofossils from a coastal lake in Upper Michigan. Our primary objective was to test the hypothesis that major fluctuations in Great Lakes water levels resulted in part from climatic changes. We also used our data to provide temporal constraints to the mid-Holocene dry period in Upper Michigan. From 9600 to 8600 cal yr B.P. a shallow, lacustrine environment characterized the Mud Lake basin. A Sphagnum-dominated wetland occupied the basin during the mid-Holocene dry period (???8600 to 6600 cal yr B.P.). The basin flooded at 6600 cal yr B.P. as a result of rising water levels associated with the onset of the Nipissing I phase of ancestral Lake Superior. This flooding event occured contemporaneously with a well-documented regional expansion of Tsuga. Betula pollen increased during the Nipissing II phase (4500 cal yr B.P.). Macrofossil evidence from Mud Lake suggests that Betula alleghaniensis expansion was primarily responsible for the rising Betula pollen percentages. Major regional and local vegetational changes were associated with all the major Holocene highstands of the western Great Lakes (Nipissing I, Nipissing II, and Algoma). Traditional interpretations of Great Lakes water-level history should be revised to include a major role of climate. ?? 2002 University of Washington.

Definition of colorectal anastomotic leakage: A consensus survey among Dutch and Chinese colorectal surgeons

PubMed Central

van Rooijen, Stefanus J; Jongen, Audrey CHM; Wu, Zhou-Qiao; Ji, Jia-Fu; Slooter, Gerrit D; Roumen, Rudi MH; Bouvy, Nicole D

2017-01-01

AIM To determine the level of consensus on the definition of colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) among Dutch and Chinese colorectal surgeons. METHODS Dutch and Chinese colorectal surgeons were asked to partake in an online questionnaire. Consensus in the online questionnaire was defined as > 80% agreement between respondents on various statements regarding a general definition of CAL, and regarding clinical and radiological diagnosis of the complication. RESULTS Fifty-nine Dutch and 202 Chinese dedicated colorectal surgeons participated in the online survey. Consensus was found on only one of the proposed elements of a general definition of CAL in both countries: ‘extravasation of contrast medium after rectal enema on a CT scan’. Another two were found relevant according to Dutch surgeons: ‘necrosis of the anastomosis found during reoperation’, and ‘a radiological collection treated with percutaneous drainage’. No consensus was found for all other proposed elements that may be included in a general definition. CONCLUSION There is no universally accepted definition of CAL in the Netherlands and China. Diagnosis of CAL based on clinical manifestations remains a point of discussion in both countries. Dutch surgeons are more likely to report ‘subclinical’ leaks as CAL, which partly explains the higher reported Dutch CAL rates. PMID:28970733

Zipf rank approach and cross-country convergence of incomes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Jia; Ivanov, Plamen Ch.; Urošević, Branko; Stanley, H. Eugene; Podobnik, Boris

2011-05-01

We employ a concept popular in physics —the Zipf rank approach— in order to estimate the number of years that EU members would need in order to achieve "convergence" of their per capita incomes. Assuming that trends in the past twenty years continue to hold in the future, we find that after t≈30 years both developing and developed EU countries indexed by i will have comparable values of their per capita gross domestic product {\\cal G}_{i,t} . Besides the traditional Zipf rank approach we also propose a weighted Zipf rank method. In contrast to the EU block, on the world level the Zipf rank approach shows that, between 1960 and 2009, cross-country income differences increased over time. For a brief period during the 2007-2008 global economic crisis, at world level the {\\cal G}_{i,t} of richer countries declined more rapidly than the {\\cal G}_{i,t} of poorer countries, in contrast to EU where the {\\cal G}_{i,t} of developing EU countries declined faster than the {\\cal G}_{i,t} of developed EU countries, indicating that the recession interrupted the convergence between EU members. We propose a simple model of GDP evolution that accounts for the scaling we observe in the data.

Mid-Holocene hydrology change in the south Taihu area of the Yangtze delta plain, China, and its relationship to the development of Neolithic cultures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, T.; Ryves, D.; Wang, Z.; Lewis, J.

2017-12-01

During the middle Holocene, the hydrological environments in the Taihu Plain, Yangtze Delta, China, varied tremendously under the influence of sea-level and climate change. Simultaneously, several Neolithic cultures, such as, the Majiabang, Songze, and Liangzhu culture, developed in this region. Basing on AMS14C dating, diatom identification, measurements of C-N elements and their stable isotopes of sediments from core DTX4 and DTX10, obtained in the East Tiaoxi Plain, south Taihu plain, we discussed the influence of hydrology changes on the development of Neolithic cultures. The results revealed that the East Tiaoxi River plain was in an estuary (the Palaeo-Taihu Estuary) condition at 7500 cal. yr BP, undergoing elevated in-fill in response to rapid sea-level rise. After 7500 cal. yr BP, low salinity conditions occurred, likely influenced by the Yangtze freshwater evidenced by constant occurrence of Aulacoseira granulata, which implied Yangtze runoff discharged along the channel of Palaeo-incised Taihu valley into the Hangzhou Bay during the middle Holocene. Sea-water penetration interrupted after 7000 cal. yr BP caused by an abrupt sea-level rise. During 6500-5600 cal. yr BP, sea-water retreated gradually, corresponding to the infilling of Palaeo-Taihu Estuary. Combing records from previously studied cores in the Taihu plain, stable freshwater condition (or dry land) established in most area of the Taihu plain after 5600 cal. yr BP due to the closure of the Palaeo-Taihu Estuary. We speculate that the low-salinity marsh started at about 7500-7000 cal. yr BP probably attracted the early Majiabang people to live around the Palaeo-Taihu Estuary. The sea water penetration between 7000-6500 cal. yr BP matches the left of the late Majiabang and the early-middle Songze people lived in the east of the Palaeo-Taihu Estuary, to the north and east of the Taihu Plain. The context of stable freshwater condition (or dry land) in the East Tiaoxi River plain promoted the continuous expansion of the Liangzhu culture (5500 - 4500 cal. yr BP) in the southern Yangtze Delta Plain, by forcing rivers originated from the west uplands and the Yangtze River discharge into the Taihu Plain, supplying sufficient freshwater for rice farming expansion, and by protecting the Taihu Plain from sea-water penetration from the Hangzhou Bay.

Depositional Architecture of Late Pleistocene-Holocene Coastal Alluvial-fan System in the Coastal Range, Taiwan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, S. T.; Chen, W. S.

2016-12-01

Since late Pleistocene, the Coastal Range (Philippine Sea plate) collided and overridden on the Central Range (Eurasian Plate) along the Longitudinal Valley Fault. Therefore, the Coastal Range is exposed widely the late Pleistocene-Holocene marine and fluvial terraces caused by the tectonic uplift. Based on the estimation of paleosea-level elevations (Δh), depositional paleodepth, altitude distribution of Holocene deposits (D), altitude of outcrops (H), and 14C dating of marine deposits (t), the uplift rate (=(Δh+H +d-D)/t) is about 5-10 mm/yr in the southern Coastal Range. In this study, we suggest through field logging that the deposits can be divided into alluvial, foreshore (intertidal), shoreface, and offshore environments. In Dulan area in the southern Coastal Range, the uplift rate was 6-7 mm/yr during 16,380-10,000 cal yr BP and 3-4 mm/yr after 7,000 cal yr BP. Results from the Dulan Coastal alluvial-fan system can be divided into five depositional stages: (1) 16,380-14,300 cal yr BP: The rate of global sea level rise (SLR) has averaged about 6-7 mm/yr, similar to the tectonic uplift rate. In this stage, the bedrock was eroded and formed a wide wave-cut platform. (2) 14,300-10,000 cal yr BP: SLR of about 14 mm/yr that was faster than tectonic uplift rate of 6-7 mm/yr. As a result of transgression, the beach-lagoon deposits about 5 m thick were unconformably overlain on the wave-cut platform. (3) 10,000-8,200 cal yr BP: The ongoing sea level rise (SLR: 11 mm/yr), the lagoon deposits were overlain by an offshore slump deposits representing a gradual deepening of the depositional environment. (4) 8,200-7,930 cal yr BP (SLR: 6-7 mm/yr): The tectonic uplift rate may occur at similar SLR. The alluvial-fan deposits have prograded over the shallow marine deposits. (5) After 7,000 cal yr BP (SLR: 1-0 mm/yr): SLR was much slower than tectonic uplift rate of 3-4 mm/yr. Thus, Holocene marine terraces are extensively developed in the coastal region, showing that the Holocene marine deposits rest above the fluvial deposits. The crustal high uplift rates of relative sea-level changes led to form a well-developed multiple Holocene marine terraces.

Total salivary nitrates and nitrites in oral health and periodontal disease.

PubMed

Sánchez, Gabriel A; Miozza, Valeria A; Delgado, Alejandra; Busch, Lucila

2014-01-30

It is well known that nitrites are increased in saliva from patients with periodontal disease. In the oral cavity, nitrites may derive partly from the reduction of nitrates by oral bacteria. Nitrates have been reported as a defence-related mechanism. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the salivary levels of total nitrate and nitrite and their relationship, in unstimulated and stimulated saliva from periodontal healthy subjects, and from patients with chronic periodontal disease. Nitrates and nitrites were determined in saliva from thirty healthy subjects and forty-four patients with periodontal disease. A significant increase in salivary nitrates and nitrites was observed. Nitrates and nitrites concentration was related to clinical attachment level (CAL). A positive and significant Pearson's correlation was found between salivary total nitrates and nitrites. Periodontal treatment induced clinical improvement and decreased nitrates and nitrites. It is concluded that salivary nitrates and nitrites increase, in patients with periodontal disease, could be related to defence mechanisms. The possibility that the salivary glands respond to oral infectious diseases by increasing nitrate secretion should be explored further. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparative evaluation of surgical modalities for coverage of gingival recession: An Armed Forces Medical College perspective

PubMed Central

Gilbert, Luiram R.; Lohra, Parul; Mandlik, V.B.; Rath, S.K.; Jha, A.K.

2012-01-01

Background Esthetics represents an inseparable part of today's oral therapy, and several procedures have been proposed to preserve or enhance it. Gingival recessions may cause hypersensitivity, impaired esthetics and root caries. Keeping in mind patient's desire for improved esthetics and other related problems, every effort should be made to achieve complete root coverage. Methods Different types of modalities have been introduced to treat gingival recession including displaced flaps, free gingival graft, connective tissue graft, different type of barrier membranes and combination of different techniques. The aim of this study was to compare the commonly used techniques for gingival recession coverage and evaluate the results obtained. 73 subjects were selected for the present study who were randomly divided into four groups and were followed at baseline and 180 days where following parameters were recorded: (a) Assessment of gingival recession depth (RD); (b) Assessment of pocket depth (PD); (c) Assessment of clinical attachment level (CAL) and (d) Assessment of width of attached gingiva (WAG). Results Results of this study showed statistically significant reduction of gingival recession, with concomitant attachment gain, following treatment with all tested surgical techniques. However, SCTG with CAF technique showed the highest percentage gain in coverage of recession depth as well as gain in keratinized gingiva. Similar results were obtained with CAF alone. The use of GTR and other techniques showed less predictable coverage and gain in keratinized gingiva. Conclusion Connective tissue grafts were statistically significantly superior to guided tissue regeneration for improvement in gingival recession reduction. PMID:25609865

Gingival crevicular fluid alkaline phosphatase activity reflects periodontal healing/recurrent inflammation phases in chronic periodontitis patients.

PubMed

Perinetti, Giuseppe; Paolantonio, Michele; Femminella, Beatrice; Serra, Emanuela; Spoto, Giuseppe

2008-07-01

Roles for host enzymes as diagnostic indicators of periodontal status in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) have been proposed. One of these host enzymes is alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the GCF activity of which has been associated with periodontal inflammation. Thus, the present study aimed to improve our understanding of how the healing of chronic periodontitis following scaling and root planing (SRP) affects GCF ALP activity after 15 and 60 days. Sixteen systemically healthy subjects (aged 35 to 61 years) with moderate to advanced generalized chronic periodontitis were recruited. In each subject, paired pockets with probing depths (PDs) > or =4 mm that were located in two symmetric quadrants were chosen. These sites were randomized at the split-mouth level, with half receiving SRP treatment and the other half left untreated. Ninety-two pockets were included in the study. Clinical examinations were performed at baseline (prior to SRP) and after 15 and 60 days; information recorded included the presence of plaque, PD, clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing. GCF was collected from each pocket included in the study at the three time points. A large and significant decrease in GCF ALP activity was seen 15 days after SRP, concomitant with an improvement in clinical parameters. After 60 days, an increase in GCF ALP activity back to baseline levels was recorded along with further improvements in clinical parameters. Moreover, in the SRP pockets with initial PDs >6 mm, the CAL gains between days 15 and 60 were significantly associated with changes in GCF ALP activity over the same time interval. The decrease in GCF ALP activity at 15 days corresponded to a decrease in clinical signs of inflammation; in contrast, the increase in GCF ALP activity at 60 days seemed to be related to subclinical recurrent inflammation or further healing/remodeling of the periodontal tissue. Therefore, GCF ALP reflects the short-term periodontal healing/recurrent inflammation phases in chronic periodontitis patients.

Periodontal soft tissue root coverage procedures: a systematic review from the AAP Regeneration Workshop.

PubMed

Chambrone, Leandro; Tatakis, Dimitris N

2015-02-01

This paper aims to create a "bridge" between research and practice by developing a practical, extensive, and clinically relevant study that translates evidence-based findings on soft tissue root coverage (RC) of recession-type defects to daily clinical practice. This review is prepared in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement based on the proposed focused questions. A literature search with no restrictions regarding status or the language of publication was performed for MEDLINE and EMBASE databases up to and including June 2013. Systematic reviews (SRs), randomized clinical trials, controlled clinical trials, case series, and case reports evaluating recession areas that were treated by means of RC procedures were considered eligible for inclusion through the three parts of the study (part I, an overview of the base of SRs; part II, an alternative random-effects meta-analyses on mean percentage of RC and sites exhibiting complete RC; and part III, an SR of non-randomized trials exploring other conditions not extensively evaluated by previous SRs). Data on Class I, II, III, and IV recessions, type of histologic attachment achieved with treatment, recipient- and donor-site anatomic characteristics, smoking-related outcomes, root surface conditions, tooth type and location, long-term effectiveness outcomes, unusual conditions that may be reported during conventional daily practice, and patient-centered outcomes were assessed as well. Of the 2,456 potentially eligible trials, 234 were included. Data on Class I, II, III, and IV gingival recessions, histologic attachment achieved after treatment, recipient- and donor-site anatomic characteristics, smoking-related outcomes, root surface conditions/biomodification, tooth type and location, long-term effectiveness outcomes and unusual conditions that may be reported during conventional daily practice, and patient-centered outcomes (i.e., esthetic, visual analog scale, complications, hypersensitivity, patients perceptions) were assessed. Subepithelial connective tissue (CT)-based procedures and coronally advanced flap plus acellular dermal matrix grafts, enamel matrix derivative, or collagen matrix led to the best improvements of recession depth, clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, and keratinized tissue (KT). Some conditions, such as smoking and use of magnification, may affect RC outcomes. All RC procedures can provide significant reduction in recession depth and CAL gain for Miller Class I and II recession-type defects. Subepithelial CT graft-based procedures provided the best outcomes for clinical practice because of their superior percentages of mean and complete RC, as well as significant increase of KT.

Nonimpacted Third Molars Affect the Periodontal Status of Adjacent Teeth: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PubMed

Li, Zhi-Bang; Qu, Hong-Lei; Zhou, Li-Na; Tian, Bei-Min; Gao, Li-Na; Chen, Fa-Ming

2017-07-01

Most previous studies of the effect of third molars (M3s) on the health of adjacent second molars (A-M2s) have focused on impacted M3s (I-M3s). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether nonimpacted M3 (N-M3s) could affect the periodontal status of A-M2s. In this cross-sectional study, patients (≥18 years) who had at least 1 quadrant with intact first and second molars and a nonimpacted or absent M3 were enrolled in this study. The periodontal measurements of M2 (6 sites) in the examined quadrants included the gingival index (GI), plaque index (PLI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession, and bleeding on probing (BOP). The mean GI, PLI, PPD, CAL, and BOP proportion and the proportion with at least 1 site with a PPD of at least 5 mm (PPD5 + ) were compared using the t test or χ 2 test. The association of PPD5 + (percentage) or BOP (percentage) with the presence of N-M3s was assessed using a 2-level logistic regression model (quadrant-based analysis). One hundred thirty-five patients (43.7% men; 40.6 ± 11.5 yr old) were enrolled in this study. Patients who had at least 1 quadrant with 3 intact molars and an N-M3 were enrolled in group A (105 patients), and patients who had at least 1 quadrant with intact first and second molars without an M3 were enrolled in group B (30 patients). The periodontal parameters (ie, GI, PLI, PPD, CAL, BOP, and PPD5 + ) were markedly greater in group A. When other factors associated with periodontal disease were controlled, N-M3s were associated with the PPD5 + (odds ratio = 6.7) and BOP (odds ratio = 4.0) of the A-M2s. Other factors positively associated with A-M2 PPD5 + were location on the mandible, age older than 35 years, and smoking. The presence of N-M3s is a potential risk factor for the development of periodontitis in A-M2s. Copyright © 2017 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Low-visibility light-intensity laser-triggered release of entrapped calcein from 1,2-bis (tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine liposomes is mediated through a type I photoactivation pathway

PubMed Central

Yavlovich, Amichai; Viard, Mathias; Gupta, Kshitij; Sine, Jessica; Vu, Mylinh; Blumenthal, Robert; Tata, Darrell B; Puri, Anu

2013-01-01

We recently reported on the physical characteristics of photo-triggerable liposomes containing dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and 1,2-bis (tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC8,9PC) carrying a photo agent as their payload. When exposed to a low-intensity 514 nm wavelength (continuous-wave) laser light, these liposomes were observed to release entrapped calcein green (Cal-G; Ex/Em 490/517 nm) but not calcein blue (Cal-B; Ex/Em 360/460 nm). In this study, we have investigated the mechanism for the 514 nm laser-triggered release of the Cal-G payload using several scavengers that are known specifically to inhibit either type I or type II photoreaction pathways. Liposomes containing DPPC:DC8,9PC: distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE)-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-2000 (86:10:04 mole ratio) were loaded either with fluorescent (calcein) or nonfluorescent (3H-inulin) aqueous markers. In addition, a non-photo-triggerable formulation (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine [POPC]:DC8,9PC:DSPE-PEG2000) was also studied with the same payloads. The 514 nm wavelength laser exposure on photo-triggerable liposomes resulted in the release of Cal-G but not that of Cal-B or 3H-inulin, suggesting an involvement of a photoactivated state of Cal-G due to the 514 nm laser exposure. Upon 514 nm laser exposures, substantial hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, ≈100 μM) levels were detected from only the Cal-G loaded photo-triggerable liposomes but not from Cal-B-loaded liposomes (≤10 μM H2O2). The Cal-G release from photo-triggerable liposomes was found to be significantly inhibited by ascorbic acid (AA), resulting in a 70%–80% reduction in Cal-G release. The extent of AA-mediated inhibition of Cal-G release from the liposomes also correlated with the consumption of AA. No AA consumption was detected in the 514 nm laserexposed Cal B-loaded liposomes, thus confirming a role of photoactivation of Cal-G in liposome destabilization. Inclusion of 100 mM K3Fe(CN)6 (a blocker of electron transfer) in the liposomes substantially inhibited Cal-G release, whereas inclusion of 10 mM sodium azide (a blocker of singlet oxygen of type II photoreaction) in the liposomes failed to block 514 nm laser-triggered Cal-G release. Taken together, we conclude that low-intensity 514 nm laser-triggered release of Cal-G from photo-triggerable liposomes involves the type I photoreaction pathway. PMID:23901274

A High-Level Language for Modeling Algorithms and Their Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akhtar, Sabina; Merz, Stephan; Quinson, Martin

Designers of concurrent and distributed algorithms usually express them using pseudo-code. In contrast, most verification techniques are based on more mathematically-oriented formalisms such as state transition systems. This conceptual gap contributes to hinder the use of formal verification techniques. Leslie Lamport introduced PlusCal, a high-level algorithmic language that has the "look and feel" of pseudo-code, but is equipped with a precise semantics and includes a high-level expression language based on set theory. PlusCal models can be compiled to TLA + and verified using the model checker tlc.

Adult Literacy Learning and Computer Technology: Features of Effective Computer-Assisted Learning Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fahy, Patrick J.

Computer-assisted learning (CAL) can be used for adults functioning at any academic or grade level. In adult basic education (ABE), CAL can promote greater learning effectiveness and faster progress, concurrent learning and experience with computer literacy skills, privacy, and motivation. Adults who face barriers (financial, geographic, personal,…

Cal-Adapt: California's Climate Data Resource and Interactive Toolkit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, N.; Mukhtyar, S.; Wilhelm, S.; Galey, B.; Lehmer, E.

2016-12-01

Cal-Adapt is a web-based application that provides an interactive toolkit and information clearinghouse to help agencies, communities, local planners, resource managers, and the public understand climate change risks and impacts at the local level. The website offers interactive, visually compelling, and useful data visualization tools that show how climate change might affect California using downscaled continental climate data. Cal-Adapt is supporting California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment through providing access to the wealth of modeled and observed data and adaption-related information produced by California's scientific community. The site has been developed by UC Berkeley's Geospatial Innovation Facility (GIF) in collaboration with the California Energy Commission's (CEC) Research Program. The Cal-Adapt website allows decision makers, scientists and residents of California to turn research results and climate projections into effective adaptation decisions and policies. Since its release to the public in June 2011, Cal-Adapt has been visited by more than 94,000 unique visitors from over 180 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and 689 California localities. We will present several key visualizations that have been employed by Cal-Adapt's users to support their efforts to understand local impacts of climate change, indicate the breadth of data available, and delineate specific use cases. Recently, CEC and GIF have been developing and releasing Cal-Adapt 2.0, which includes updates and enhancements that are increasing its ease of use, information value, visualization tools, and data accessibility. We showcase how Cal-Adapt is evolving in response to feedback from a variety of sources to present finer-resolution downscaled data, and offer an open API that allows other organization to access Cal-Adapt climate data and build domain specific visualization and planning tools. Through a combination of locally relevant information, visualization tools, and access to primary data, Cal-Adapt allows users to investigate how the climate is projected to change in their areas of interest.

Rapid settlement of Majuro Atoll, central Pacific, following its emergence at 2000 years CalBP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kayanne, Hajime; Yasukochi, Toru; Yamaguchi, Toru; Yamano, Hiroya; Yoneda, Minoru

2011-10-01

Atoll islands are areas of low, flat land, and the sustainability of habitable land in such environments is sensitive to even slight changes in sea level. The projected rise in sea level during this century may lead to the submergence of atoll islands and the widespread loss of habitable land. However, the actual time sequence of past sea level change, island emergence events, and human settlement of newly emerged islands remain poorly constrained. The results of geomorphological and archaeological surveys, combined with calibrated radiocarbon age dates, at Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, central Pacific, reveal that the emergence of the island, triggered by a fall in sea level, was quickly followed by human settlement. The elevation of the central body of the island exceeded high water level at 2000 years CalBP, and the complete formation of the island occurred within an interval of 100 years. The island was colonized by people shortly after emergence, at 2000 years CalBP, prior to the establishment of dense vegetation, and has been continuously settled since that time.

Influence of Monsoon variations on ecosystem changes on the Central Tibetan Plateau during the last 24 ka cal BP (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasper, T.; Haberzettl, T.; Zhu, L.; Maeusbacher, R.

2013-12-01

Lakes as archives of climate and environmental change are well known and well investigated all over the world, also in high mountain areas such as the Tibetan Plateau (TP) which is one of the most important key players in global climate circulation. Lake sediment records in this area, which were subject to lots of paleoenvironmental investigations, are mostly focused on the Holocene, often showing discontinuities due to desiccation or are located at the margin of the TP, such as Lake Qinghai. Here we present the first continuous lake sediment record from the southern central TP from Lake Nam Co, comprising ~24 ka cal BP, i.e., the LGM, the post-Glacial and the entire Holocene. The record reveals environmental changes with varying intensities. Extraordinary high sediment accumulation rates (SAR = 1.3 mm a-1) and quite large quantities of minerogenic input associated with the absence of ostracods during the LGM point to a small lake within a cold and dry environment. Around 19 ka cal BP reduced SAR (~0.3 mm a-1) and the occurrence of ostracods refer to a rising lake level in a moister environment. During the post-Glacial (~16 ka cal BP) changes in the geochemical composition of the sediments and a shift in the pollen composition suggests a change in summer precipitation and wind direction associated with a stronger Indian Ocean Summer Monsoon (IOSM). Major variations in the geochemical parameters between ~12.6 and ~11.6 ka cal BP may reflect the Younger Dryas climate oscillation of the Northern Hemisphere with cool and arid environmental conditions. The most striking hydrological variation within this record occurs at ~9.5 ka cal BP in the early Holocene. A rise in TOC points to enhanced bio-productivity within the lake and the catchment as well as to hampered decomposition of organic matter at the lake floor. Pollen composition refers to alpine meadow vegetation assemblages during this time. This may reflect moist and warm conditions probably associated with a higher lake level and a strong stratification of the water body. Nevertheless, during the mid- and late-Holocene some changes of minor amplitude also occur. Around 4 ka cal BP a short-term increase in Mg points to a dry-event as seen in other monsoon dominated records. The probably most intensive shift to drier conditions with a rapidly falling lake level has been proposed to have occurred around 2 ka cal BP. Even the recent climate warming associated with higher rates of glacier melting, enhanced surface runoff and a rising lake level is reflected by this multi-proxy investigation.

A 6900-year history of landscape modification by humans in lowland Amazonia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bush, M. B.; Correa-Metrio, A.; McMichael, C. H.; Sully, S.; Shadik, C. R.; Valencia, B. G.; Guilderson, T.; Steinitz-Kannan, M.; Overpeck, J. T.

2016-06-01

A sedimentary record from the Peruvian Amazon provided evidence of climate and vegetation change for the last 6900 years. Piston cores collected from the center of Lake Sauce, a 20 m deep lake at 600 m elevation, were 19.7 m in length. The fossil pollen record showed a continuously forested catchment within the period of the record, although substantial changes in forest composition were apparent. Fossil charcoal, found throughout the record, was probably associated with humans setting fires. Two fires, at c. 6700 cal BP and 4270 cal BP, appear to have been stand-replacing events possibly associated with megadroughts. The fire event at 4270 cal BP followed a drought that caused lowered lake levels for several centuries. The successional trajectories of forest recovery following these large fires were prolonged by smaller fire events. Fossil pollen of Zea mays (cultivated maize) provided evidence of agricultural activity at the site since c. 6320 cal BP. About 5150 years ago, the lake deepened and started to deposit laminated sediments. Maize agriculture reached a peak of intensity between c. 3380 and 700 cal BP. Fossil diatom data provided a proxy for lake nutrient status and productivity, both of which peaked during the period of maize cultivation. A marked change in land use was evident after c. 700 cal BP when maize agriculture was apparently abandoned at this site. Iriartea, a hyperdominant of riparian settings in western Amazonia, increased in abundance within the last 1100 years, but declined markedly at c. 1070 cal BP and again between c. 80 and -10 cal BP.

The effect of FcγRIIA and FcγRIIB on coronary artery lesion formation and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment responses in children with Kawasaki disease

PubMed Central

Chang, Ling-Sai; Lo, Mao-Hung; Li, Sung-Chou; Yang, Ming-Yu; Hsieh, Kai-Sheng; Kuo, Ho-Chang

2017-01-01

Previous research has found patients with the FcγRIIIB NA1 variant having increased risk of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance in Kawasaki disease (KD). Our previous studies revealed that elevated FcγRIIA expression correlated with the susceptibility of KD patients. We conducted this research to determine whether and how Fcγ receptors affect the susceptibility, IVIG treatment response, and coronary artery lesions (CAL) of KD patients. The activating FcγRIIA and inhibitory FcγRIIB methylation levels of seven patients with KD and four control subjects were examined using HumanMethylation27 BeadChip. We enrolled a total of 44 KD patients and 10 control subjects with fevers. We performed real-time RT-PCR to determine the FcγRIIA and FcγRIIB expression levels, as well as a luciferase assay of FcγRIIA. We found a considerable increase in methylation of both FcγRIIA and FcγRIIB in KD patients undergoing IVIG treatment. Promoter methylation of FcγRIIA inhibited reporter activity in K562 cells using luciferase assay. The FcγRIIB mRNA expression levels were not found to increase susceptibility, CAL formation, or IVIG resistance. FcγRIIA mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in IVIG-resistant patients than in those that responded to IVIG during the pre-treatment period. Furthermore, the FcγRIIA/IIB mRNA expression ratio was considerably higher in KD patients with CAL than in those without CAL. FcγRIIA and FcγRIIB both demonstrated increased methylation levels in KD patients that underwent IVIG treatment. FcγRIIA expression influenced the IVIG treatment response of KD patients. The FcγRIIA/IIB mRNA expression ratio was greater in KD patients with CAL formation. PMID:27893416

Platelet rich fibrin combined with decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft for the treatment of human intrabony periodontal defects: a randomized split mouth clinical trail.

PubMed

Agarwal, Ashish; Gupta, Narinder Dev; Jain, Avikal

2016-01-01

Polypeptide growth factors of platelet rich fibrin (PRF) have the potential to regenerate periodontal tissues. Osteoinductive property of demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) has been successfully utilized in periodontal regeneration. The aim of the present randomized, split mouth, clinical trial was to determine the additive effects of PRF with a DFDBA in the treatment of human intrabony periodontal defects. Sixty interproximal infrabony defects in 30 healthy, non-smoker patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to PRF/DFDBA group or the DFDBA/saline. Clinical [pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and gingival recession (REC)] and radiographic (bone fill, defect resolution and alveolar crest resorption) measurements were made at baseline and at a 12-month evaluation. Compared with baseline, 12-month results indicated that both treatment modalities resulted in significant changes in all clinical and radiographic parameters. However, the PRP/DFDBA group exhibited statistically significantly greater changes compared with the DFDBA/saline group in PD (4.15 ± 0.84 vs 3.60 ± 0.51 mm), CAL (3.73 ± 0.74 vs 2.61 ± 0.68 mm), REC (0.47 ± 0.56 vs 1.00 ± 0.61 mm), bone fill (3.50 ± 0.67 vs 2.49 ± 0.64 mm) and defect resolution (3.73 ± 0.63 vs 2.75 ± 0.57 mm). Observations indicate that a combination of PRF and DFDBA is more effective than DFDBA with saline for the treatment of infrabony periodontal defects.

Generalized aggressive periodontitis: microbiological composition and clinical parameters in non-surgical therapy.

PubMed

Usin, María M; Tabares, Sandra M; Menso, Julieta; de Albera, Estela R; Sembaj, Adela

2016-12-01

The aim of this study was to determine the variations in periodontal parameters and microbiological composition in periodontal pockets at the baseline and 3 and 6 months post treatmentin patients with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis(GAP) undergoing non surgical periodontal treatment combined with chlorhexidine and systemic antibiotics. Medical and dental history was taken from 10 subjects, average age 30.6±2.7 years, diagnosed with GAP. A non surgical periodontal treatment combined with 0.12% chlorhexidine, 875 mg amoxicillin and 500 mg metronidazole every 12 hours for ten days was conducted. At each visit, the following measurements wererecorded: bacterial plaque (BP), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), hypermobility, and furcation lesions, and a sample of subgingivalplaque was taken from the site of the deepest probing depth of each sextant to identify Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponemadenticola, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans using molecular biology techniques. After 6 months, the Wilcoxon test showed an increase of 0.97 mm in CAL (p=0.0047) and 2.54 mm in PD(p=0.009). A healthy site was defined as having a PD <5 mm, negative BOP and no pathogenic bacteria detected at 6 months, indicating significant improvement (p=0.008), with OR (95%CI) =4.7 (1.102220.11).With the treatment protocol used in this study, 6 months after treatment, patients had an approximately 4- fold higher possibility of presenting PD <5 mm and periodontal pockets without periodontal pathogenic bacteria. Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Odontológica.

Effect of Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment Combined With Diode Laser or Photodynamic Therapy on Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Split-Mouth Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Birang, Reza; Shahaboui, Mohammad; Kiani, Sima; Shadmehr, Elham; Naghsh, Narges

2015-01-01

Introduction: The optimum removal of bacteria and their toxins from periodontal pockets is not always obtained by conventional mechanical debridement. Adjunctive therapies may improve tissue healing through detoxification and bactericidal effects. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of adjunctive laser therapy (LT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) on patients with chronic periodontitis. Methods: Twenty patients with at least three quadrants involved and each of them presenting pockets 4-8 mm deep were included in the study. Periodontal treatment comprising scaling and root planning (SRP) was accomplished for the whole mouth. Applying a split-mouth design, each quadrant was randomly treated with SRP alone (group A), SRP with LT (group B), and SRP with PDT (group C). The clinical indices were measured at baseline 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment. Microbiological samples were taken and evaluated at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Results: All groups showed statistically significant improvements in terms of clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, periodontal pocket depth (PPD) reduction, papilla bleeding index and microbial count compared to baseline (P < .05). The results showed more significant improvement in the 6-week evaluation in terms of CAL in groups B and C than in group A (P < .05). Group B also revealed a greater reduction in PPD than the other treatment modalities (P < .05). Conclusion: The obtained data suggested that adjunctive LT and PDT have significant short-term benefits in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Furthermore, LT showed minimal additional advantages compared to PDT. PMID:26464778

Salivary cytokines and the association between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and periodontal disease.

PubMed

Nizam, Nejat; Basoglu, Ozen K; Tasbakan, Mehmet S; Nalbantsoy, Ayşe; Buduneli, Nurcan

2014-07-01

A higher prevalence of periodontal disease has been reported in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and these two chronic conditions may be linked via inflammatory pathways. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the salivary interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-21, IL-33, and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) concentrations in patients with and without OSAS. A total of 52 patients were included in the study. Thirteen individuals were in the control (non-OSAS) group, 17 were in the mild/moderate OSAS group, and 22 were in the severe OSAS group. Clinical periodontal measurements were recorded, and saliva samples were obtained before initiation of periodontal intervention. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine salivary cytokine concentrations. Data were statistically analyzed using D'Agostino-Pearson omnibus normality, Spearman ρ rank, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn tests. Salivary IL-6 and IL-33 concentrations were similar in the two OSAS groups (P >0.05), which were statistically higher than the control group (P <0.05). IL-1β, IL-21, and PTX3 concentrations were similar in the study groups. The only significant correlation between clinical periodontal parameters and salivary cytokines was found between clinical attachment level (CAL) and IL-21 (P = 0.02). Highly significant correlations were found between probing depth, CAL measures, and indicators of OSAS severity (P <0.01). The present findings suggest that OSAS may have an increasing effect on salivary IL-6 and IL-33 concentrations regardless of OSAS severity. Additional investigation is required to elucidate a potential bidirectional relationship between OSAS and periodontal disease.

Root Surface Biomodification with Nd:YAG Laser for the Treatment of Gingival Recession with Subepithelial Connective Tissue Grafts

PubMed Central

Aydin, Tugba; Canakci, Varol; Cicek, Yasin

2010-01-01

Abstract Background/Aim: Root surface biomodification has been used to treat gingival recession and periodontitis. The principle for this procedure is that removing the smear layer from the root surfaces exposes collagen fibers, which leads to improved healing. Clinical studies generally have failed to find any improvement in clinical parameters when using such procedures, however. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the outcome of gingival recession therapy using the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) with or without Nd:YAG laser application for root surface biomodification. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four teeth in 17 patients with Miller Class 1 and 2 recession were treated with SCTG with (test group) or without (control group) the application of Nd:YAG laser (1 W, 10 Hz, 100 mj, 60 s, 1064 nm). Clinical attachment level (CAL), recession depth (RD), recession width (RW), and probing depth (PD) were measured at baseline and six months postsurgery. Results: Both treatments yielded significant improvements in terms of RD and RW decrease and CAL gain compared to baseline values. For test and control groups, the average root coverage was 33% and 77%, respectively (p < 0.05), and the complete root coverage was 18% and 65%, respectively (p < 0.05). The control group showed a greater reduction in RD and RW compared with the test group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of Nd:YAG laser as a root surface biomodifier negatively affected the outcome of root coverage with the SCTG. PMID:19860567

Evolutionary history of callose synthases in terrestrial plants with emphasis on proteins involved in male gametophyte development

PubMed Central

Honys, David

2017-01-01

Callose is a plant-specific polysaccharide (β-1,3-glucan) playing an important role in angiosperms in many developmental processes and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Callose is synthesised at the plasma membrane of plant cells by callose synthase (CalS) and, among others, represents the main polysaccharide in the callose wall surrounding the tetrads of developing microspores and in the growing pollen tube wall. CalS proteins involvement in spore development is a plesiomorphic feature of terrestrial plants, but very little is known about their evolutionary origin and relationships amongst the members of this protein family. We performed thorough comparative analyses of callose synthase family proteins from major plant lineages to determine their evolutionary history across the plant kingdom. A total of 1211 candidate CalS sequences were identified and compared amongst diverse taxonomic groups of plants, from bryophytes to angiosperms. Phylogenetic analyses identified six main clades of CalS proteins and suggested duplications during the evolution of specialised functions. Twelve family members had previously been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. We focused on five CalS subfamilies directly linked to pollen function and found that proteins expressed in pollen evolved twice. CalS9/10 and CalS11/12 formed well-defined clades, whereas pollen-specific CalS5 was found within subfamilies that mostly did not express in mature pollen vegetative cell, although were found in sperm cells. Expression of five out of seven mature pollen-expressed CalS genes was affected by mutations in bzip transcription factors. Only three subfamilies, CalS5, CalS10, and CalS11, however, formed monophyletic, mostly conserved clades. The pairs CalS9/CalS10, CalS11/CalS12 and CalS3 may have diverged after angiosperms diversified from lycophytes and bryophytes. Our analysis of fully sequenced plant proteins identified new evolutionary lineages of callose synthase subfamilies and has established a basis for understanding their functional evolution in terrestrial plants. PMID:29131847

A 12,000-Yr Pollen Record off Cape Hatteras: Pollen Sources and Mechanisms of Pollen Dispersion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naughton, F.; Keigwin, L.; Peteet, D.; Costas, S.; Desprat, S.; Oliveira, D.; de Vernal, A.; Voelker, A.; Abrantes, F.

2015-01-01

Integrating both marine and terrestrial signals from the same sediment core is one of the primary challenges for understanding the role of ocean-atmosphere coupling throughout past climate changes. It is therefore vital to understand how the pollen signal of a given marine record reflects the vegetation changes of the neighboring continent. The comparison between the pollen record of marine core JPC32 (KNR178JPC32) and available terrestrial pollen sequences from eastern North America over the last 12,170 years indicates that the pollen signature off Cape Hatteras gives an integrated image of the regional vegetation encompassing the Pee Dee river, Chesapeake and Delaware hydrographic basins and is reliable in reconstructing the past climate of the adjacent continent. Extremely high quantities of pollen grains included in the marine sediments off Cape Hatteras were transferred from the continent to the sea, at intervals 10,100-8800 cal yr BP, 8300-7500 cal yr BP, 5800- 4300 cal yr BP and 2100-730 cal yr BP, during storm events favored by episodes of rapid sea-level rise in the eastern coast of US. In contrast, pollen grains export was reduced during 12,170-10,150 cal yr BP and 4200- 2200 cal yr BP, during episodes of intense continental dryness and slow sea level rise episodes or lowstands in the eastern coast of US. The near absence of reworked pollen grains in core JPC32 contrasts with the high quantity of reworked material in nearby but deeper located marine sites, suggesting that the JPC32 recordwas not affected by the DeepWestern Boundary Current (DWBC) since the end of the Younger Dryas and should be considered a key site for studying past climate changes in the western North Atlantic.

Boric acid irrigation as an adjunct to mechanical periodontal therapy in patients with chronic periodontitis: a randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Sağlam, Mehmet; Arslan, Uğur; Buket Bozkurt, Şerife; Hakki, Sema S

2013-09-01

The purpose of this single-masked, randomized, controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of boric acid irrigation as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) on clinical and microbiologic parameters and compare this method with chlorhexidine irrigation and SRP alone in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). Forty-five systemically healthy patients with CP are included in this study. They were divided into three groups: 1) SRP + saline irrigation (C); 2) SRP + chlorhexidine irrigation (CHX); and 3) SRP + boric acid irrigation (B). To determine an ideal concentration of boric acid, a preclinical analysis was conducted. At baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment, clinical measurements, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP), were performed, and subgingival plaque samples were taken. Quantitative analysis of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), and Treponema denticola (Td) was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures. The concentration of boric acid is 0.75% in this study. All clinical parameters showed statistically significant reduction at all time points compared to baseline in all groups (P <0.001). Whole-mouth PD and CAL reduction was similar in all groups at all time points after treatment (P >0.05). The PD and CAL reductions for moderately deep pockets (PD ≥5 and <7) were greater in the B group compared to other groups between baseline and 1 month (P <0.05). For deep pockets (PD ≥7), reductions were similar in the B and CHX groups (P >0.05). BOP (percentage) was significantly lower in the B group compared with the CHX and C groups in the first month after treatment (P <0.001). GI and PI scores were significantly lower in the B and CHX groups compared with the C group at all time points after treatment (P <0.05). The amounts of Pg, Tf, and Td were significantly reduced in all treatment groups after 1 month (P <0.05). No statistically significant differences were detected among the groups for microbiologic parameters at any time points after treatment (P >0.05). The results of this study suggest that boric acid could be an alternative to chlorhexidine, and it might be more favorable because boric acid was superior in whole-mouth BOP as well as PD and CAL reduction for moderate pockets in early time periods.

Birth of the modern Chesapeake Bay estuary between 7.4 and 8.2 ka and implications for global sea-level rise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bratton, John F.; Colman, Steven M.; Thieler, E. Robert; Seal, Robert R.

2002-12-01

Two major pulses of sea-level rise are thought to have taken place since the last glacial maximum — meltwater pulses (mwp) 1A (12 cal ka) and 1B (9.5 cal ka). Between mwp 1B and about 6 cal ka, many of the complex coastal ecosystems which ring the world's oceans began to form. Here we report data for rhenium, carbon isotopes, total organic carbon, and fossil oysters from Chesapeake Bay which span the transition from fresh to brackish water conditions in the bay in the mid-Holocene. These data constrain sea-level change and resulting environmental change in the bay. They indicate that the transition was rapid, and that it was produced by (1) a third pulse of rapid eustatic sea-level rise, or (2) a geometry of the prehistoric Chesapeake Bay basin which predisposed it to a nonlinear response to a steadily rising sea level. Similar nonlinear changes in vulnerable coastal environments are likely to take place in the future due to polar warming, regardless of the timing or rate of sea-level rise.

Birth of the modern Chesapeake Bay estuary between 7.4 and 8.2 ka and implications for global sea-level rise

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bratton, John F.; Colman, Steven M.; Thieler, E. Robert; Seal, Robert R.

2003-01-01

Two major pulses of sea-level rise are thought to have taken place since the last glacial maximum — meltwater pulses (mwp) 1A (12 cal ka) and 1B (9.5 cal ka). Between mwp 1B and about 6 cal ka, many of the complex coastal ecosystems which ring the world’s oceans began to form. Here we report data for rhenium, carbon isotopes, total organic carbon, and fossil oysters from Chesapeake Bay which span the transition from fresh to brackish water conditions in the bay in the mid-Holocene. These data constrain sea-level change and resulting environmental change in the bay. They indicate that the transition was rapid, and that it was produced by (1) a third pulse of rapid eustatic sea-level rise, or (2) a geometry of the prehistoric Chesapeake Bay basin which predisposed it to a nonlinear response to a steadily rising sea level. Similar nonlinear changes in vulnerable coastal environments are likely to take place in the future due to polar warming, regardless of the timing or rate of sea-level rise.

Developmental evolution of flowering plant pollen tube cell walls: callose synthase (CalS) gene expression patterns

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background A number of innovations underlie the origin of rapid reproductive cycles in angiosperms. A critical early step involved the modification of an ancestrally short and slow-growing pollen tube for faster and longer distance transport of sperm to egg. Associated with this shift are the predominantly callose (1,3-β-glucan) walls and septae (callose plugs) of angiosperm pollen tubes. Callose synthesis is mediated by callose synthase (CalS). Of 12 CalS gene family members in Arabidopsis, only one (CalS5) has been directly linked to pollen tube callose. CalS5 orthologues are present in several monocot and eudicot genomes, but little is known about the evolutionary origin of CalS5 or what its ancestral function may have been. Results We investigated expression of CalS in pollen and pollen tubes of selected non-flowering seed plants (gymnosperms) and angiosperms within lineages that diverged below the monocot/eudicot node. First, we determined the nearly full length coding sequence of a CalS5 orthologue from Cabomba caroliniana (CcCalS5) (Nymphaeales). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated low CcCalS5 expression within several vegetative tissues, but strong expression in mature pollen. CalS transcripts were detected in pollen tubes of several species within Nymphaeales and Austrobaileyales, and comparative analyses with a phylogenetically diverse group of sequenced genomes indicated homology to CalS5. We also report in silico evidence of a putative CalS5 orthologue from Amborella. Among gymnosperms, CalS5 transcripts were recovered from germinating pollen of Gnetum and Ginkgo, but a novel CalS paralog was instead amplified from germinating pollen of Pinus taeda. Conclusion The finding that CalS5 is the predominant callose synthase in pollen tubes of both early-diverging and model system angiosperms is an indicator of the homology of their novel callosic pollen tube walls and callose plugs. The data suggest that CalS5 had transient expression and pollen-specific functions in early seed plants and was then recruited to novel expression patterns and functions within pollen tube walls in an ancestor of extant angiosperms. PMID:21722365

Short-term clinical and microbiologic effects of pocket debridement with an Er:YAG laser during periodontal maintenance.

PubMed

Tomasi, Cristiano; Schander, Kerstin; Dahlén, Gunnar; Wennström, Jan L

2006-01-01

The erbium-doped:yttrium, aluminum, and garnet (Er:YAG) laser is considered a useful tool for subgingival debridement because the laser treatment creates minimal damage to the root surface and has potential antimicrobial effects. The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate clinical and microbiologic effects of pocket debridement using an Er:YAG laser in patients during periodontal maintenance. Twenty patients at a recall visit for maintenance were consecutively recruited if presenting at least four teeth with residual probing depth (PD) > or = 5 mm. Two pockets in each of two jaw quadrants were randomly assigned to subgingival debridement using 1) an Er:YAG laser (test) or 2) an ultrasonic scaler (control). The laser beam was set at 160 mJ with a pulse frequency of 10 Hz. Clinical variables were recorded at baseline, 1 month, and 4 months after treatment. Primary clinical outcome variables were changes in PD and clinical attachment level (CAL). Microbiologic analysis of subgingival samples was performed at baseline, 2 days, and 30 days after treatment using a checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique against 12 periodontal disease-associated species. The mean initial PD was 6.0 mm (SD: 1.2) in the test group and 5.8 mm (SD: 0.9) in the control group. At 1 month post-treatment, the PD reduction was significantly greater for test than control sites (0.9 versus 0.5 mm; P <0.05). The CAL gain also was significantly greater (0.5 versus 0.06 mm; P <0.01). At the 4-month examination, no significant differences were detected in PD reduction (1.1 versus 1.0 mm) or CAL gain (0.6 versus 0.4 mm). Both treatments resulted in reduction of the subgingival microflora. No significant differences in microbiologic composition were identified between the treatment groups at various time intervals. Degree of treatment discomfort scored significantly lower for the test than the control treatment modality. The results of the trial failed to demonstrate any apparent advantage of using an Er:YAG laser for subgingival debridement, except less treatment discomfort perceived by the patients.

Effect of Alendronate with β - TCP Bone Substitute in Surgical Therapy of Periodontal Intra-Osseous Defects: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Naineni, Rohini; Ravi, Vishali; Subbaraya, Dwijendra Kocherlakota; Prasanna, Jammula Surya; Panthula, Veerendranath Reddy; Koduganti, Rekha Rani

2016-08-01

Alendronate (ALN), an aminobisphosphonate, inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption and also stimulates osteogenesis. Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) is an osteoconductive graft material which provides a scaffold for bone formation and also a widely used drug delivery vehicle for growth factors and antibiotics. Drug delivery vehicles, like β-TCP, improve the potency of the drugs by specific local site delivery of the drug, optimal release characteristics and easy handling. The aim of the this study was to evaluate the bone formation potential of 400μg ALN delivered in β-TCP in the treatment of periodontal intra-osseous defects. Thirty patients with periodontal defects were randomly assigned to 400μg ALN + β-TCP + Saline (test) group and β-TCP + Saline (active-control) group. Clinical parameters like Clinical Attachment Level (CAL) gain, Probing Depth (PD) reduction, post-operative Gingival Recession (GR) were assessed from the baseline, 3 months and 6 months recordings. Radiographic parameters like Linear Bone Growth (LBG), Percentage Bone Fill (%BF), and change in alveolar crest height (ACH) were assessed from baseline and 6 months radiographs. Mean measurements in the ALN test group for CAL gain (3.4 ± 0.74 mm), PD reduction (4.33 ± 0.82 mm), LBG (2.88 ± 0.88 mm), and %BF (51.98 ± 15.84%) were significantly greater with a p-value <0.05 compared to the mean measurements of CAL gain (2.20 ± 0.86 mm), PD reduction (3.20 ± 1.15 mm), LBG (1.70 ± 0.39 mm), and %BF (30.35 ± 6.88%) of the control group. There was mild alveolar crestal apposition (0.32 ± 0.68 mm) in the ALN test group and mild alveolar crestal resorption (-0.24 ± 0.40 mm) in the control group. 400μg ALN combined with β-TCP bone graft material was effective in improving soft tissue parameters, inhibiting alveolar crestal resorption and enhancing bone formation, compared to β-TCP alone.

Development of Level 2 Calibration and Validation Plans for GOES-R; What is a RIMP?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kopp, Thomas J.; Belsma, Leslie O.; Mollner, Andrew K.; Sun, Ziping; Deluccia, Frank

2017-01-01

Calibration and Validation (CalVal) plans for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite version R (GOES-R) Level 2 (L2) products were documented via Resource, Implementation, and Management Plans (RIMPs) for all of the official L2 products required from the GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). In 2015 the GOES-R program decided to replace the typical CalVal plans with RIMPs that covered, for a given L2 product, what was required from that product, how it would be validated, and what tools would be used to do so. Similar to Level 1b products, the intent was to cover the full spectrum of planning required for the CalVal of L2 ABI products. Instead of focusing on step-by-step procedures, the RIMPs concentrated on the criteria for each stage of the validation process (Beta, Provisional, and Full Validation) and the many elements required to prove when each stage was reached.

Determining the Effect of Gutkha on Serum Levels of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid as Compared to Smoking among Chronic Periodontitis Subjects : A Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Warad, Shivaraj; Kalburgi, Nagaraj B; Kalburgi, Veena C; Koregol, Arati C; Patanashetti, Jyoti; Rao, Subramaniam; Kokatnur, M. Vijayalaxmi

2014-01-01

Background: Periodontitis, being a common inflammatory disease has a multifactorial origin , with smoking and gutkha as few of the causative entities. The role of smoking as a risk factor for periodontitis is been well documented in literature. Cigarette smoke also affects vitamin B12 and folic acid mechanisms. Nutritionally derived vitamin B12 occurs mainly as either hydroxycobalamin or deoxyadenosycobalmin. Folic acid is also heat sensitive and water soluble, closely linked to vitamin B12 in its metabolism. However, effect of smokeless tobacco in form of gutkha on serum levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid is yet to be explored. Aims and Objectives: To estimate and correlate serum vitamin B12 (VB12) and folic acid (FA) levels among periodontally healthy subjects and Chronic Periodontitis (CP) subjects with habit of smoking and gutkha chewing. Materials and Methods: The study included 111 subjects ranging in age from 18 to 60 y. Participants were divided into four groups: 30 healthy subjects (Group I), 29 subjects with CP (Group II), 25 smokers with CP (Group III) and 27 gutkha chewers with CP (Group IV). Clinical parameters included pocket probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) & gingival index (GI) following which VB12 and FA levels were estimated through UV-spectrophotometry method and data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists software, Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. p-values less than 0.05 were considered as significant. Results : Pairwise comparison by Mann-Whitney U-test showed an increase in the serum VB12 in Group IV when compared to Group I (p=0.01) and Group II (p=0.01). Although serum FA levels were found to be low in Group III (7.61 ug/ml) & Group IV (8.64 ug/ml), Group III was found to be statistically significant (P=0.046). The clinical parameters GI, PPD and CAL among the four groups of patients were also statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study results suggested that among the patients with periodontal disease, serum VB12 levels are directly related while serum FA levels are inversely related to inflammation and tissue destruction in periodontium as occurred in Group IV. PMID:25654040

Holocene environmental changes inferred from biological and sedimentological proxies in a high elevation Great Basin lake in the northern Ruby Mountains, Nevada, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wahl, David B.; Starratt, Scott W.; Anderson, Lysanna; Kusler, Jennifer E.; Fuller, Christopher C.; Addison, Jason A.; Wan, Elmira

2015-01-01

Multi-proxy analyses were conducted on a sediment core from Favre Lake, a high elevation cirque lake in the northern Ruby Mountains, Nevada, and provide a ca. 7600 year record of local and regional environmental change. Data indicate that lake levels were lower from 7600-5750 cal yr BP, when local climate was warmer and/or drier than today. Effective moisture increased after 5750 cal yr BP and remained relatively wet, and possibly cooler, until ca. 3750 cal yr BP. Results indicate generally dry conditions but also enhanced climatic variability from 3750-1750 cal yr BP, after which effective moisture increased. The timing of major changes in the Favre Lake proxy data are roughly coeval and in phase with those recorded in several paleoclimate studies across the Great Basin, suggesting regional climatic controls on local conditions and similar responses at high and low altitudes.

CalQuo: automated, simultaneous single-cell and population-level quantification of global intracellular Ca2+ responses.

PubMed

Fritzsche, Marco; Fernandes, Ricardo A; Colin-York, Huw; Santos, Ana M; Lee, Steven F; Lagerholm, B Christoffer; Davis, Simon J; Eggeling, Christian

2015-11-13

Detecting intracellular calcium signaling with fluorescent calcium indicator dyes is often coupled with microscopy techniques to follow the activation state of non-excitable cells, including lymphocytes. However, the analysis of global intracellular calcium responses both at the single-cell level and in large ensembles simultaneously has yet to be automated. Here, we present a new software package, CalQuo (Calcium Quantification), which allows the automated analysis and simultaneous monitoring of global fluorescent calcium reporter-based signaling responses in up to 1000 single cells per experiment, at temporal resolutions of sub-seconds to seconds. CalQuo quantifies the number and fraction of responding cells, the temporal dependence of calcium signaling and provides global and individual calcium-reporter fluorescence intensity profiles. We demonstrate the utility of the new method by comparing the calcium-based signaling responses of genetically manipulated human lymphocytic cell lines.

Suppression of A549 cell proliferation and metastasis by calycosin via inhibition of the PKC‑α/ERK1/2 pathway: An in vitro investigation.

PubMed

Cheng, Xu-Dong; Gu, Jun-Fei; Yuan, Jia-Rui; Feng, Liang; Jia, Xiao-Bin

2015-12-01

The migration and invasion of lung cancer cells into the extracellular matrix contributes to the high mortality rates of lung cancer. The protein kinase C (PKC) and downstream signaling pathways are important in the invasion and migration of lung cancer cells. Calycosin (Cal), an effector chemical from Astragalus has been reported to affect the recurrence and metastasis of cancer cells via the regulation of the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The inhibition of Cal on the migration and invasion of A549 cells was investigated in the present study. Cell viability and apoptosis assays were performed using MTT and flow cytometric analyses. A wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay were performed to evaluate the effect of Cal on A549 cell migration and invasion. Invasion‑associated proteins, including MMP‑2, MMP‑9, E‑cadherin (E‑cad), integrin β1, PKC‑α and extracellular signal‑regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) were detected using western blotting. In addition, PKC‑α inhibitor, AEB071, and ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059, were used to determine the association between the suppression of PKC‑α /ERK1/2 and invasion, MMP‑2, MMP‑9, E‑cad and integrin β1. Cal was observed to suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. There were significant differences between the phorbol‑12‑myristate‑13‑acetate (TPA)‑induced A549 cells treated with Cal and the untreated cells in the rates of migration and invasion. The levels of MMP‑2, MMP‑9, E‑cad and integrin β1 in the TPA‑induced A549 cells changed markedly, compared with the untreated cells. In addition, the suppression of Cal was affected by the PKC inhibitor, AEB071, an ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059. The results of the present study indicated that Cal inhibited the proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion of the TPA‑induced A549 cells. The Cal‑induced repression of PKC‑α/ERK1/2, increased the expression of E‑Cad and inhibited the expression levels of MMP‑2, MMP‑9 and integrin β1, which possibly demonstrates the mechanism underlying the biological anticancer effects of Cal.

Holocene fire activity and vegetation response in South-Eastern Iberia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gil-Romera, Graciela; Carrión, José S.; Pausas, Juli G.; Sevilla-Callejo, Miguel; Lamb, Henry F.; Fernández, Santiago; Burjachs, Francesc

2010-05-01

Since fire has been recognized as an essential disturbance in Mediterranean landscapes, the study of long-term fire ecology has developed rapidly. We have reconstructed a sequence of vegetation dynamics and fire changes across south-eastern Iberia by coupling records of climate, fire, vegetation and human activities. We calculated fire activity anomalies (FAAs) in relation to 3 ka cal BP for 10-8 ka cal BP, 6 ka cal BP, 4 ka cal BP and the present. For most of the Early to the Mid-Holocene uneven, but low fire events were the main vegetation driver at high altitudes where broadleaved and coniferous trees presented a highly dynamic post-fire response. At mid-altitudes in the mainland Segura Mountains, fire activity remained relatively stable, at similar levels to recent times. We hypothesize that coastal areas, both mountains and lowlands, were more fire-prone landscapes as biomass was more likely to have accumulated than in the inland regions, triggering regular fire events. The wet and warm phase towards the Mid-Holocene (between ca 8 and 6 ka cal BP) affected the whole region and promoted the spread of mesophytic forest co-existing with Pinus, as FAAs appear strongly negative at 6 ka cal BP, with a less important role of fire. Mid and Late Holocene landscapes were shaped by an increasing aridity trend and the rise of human occupation, especially in the coastal mountains where forest disappeared from ca 2 ka cal BP. Mediterranean-type vegetation (evergreen oaks and Pinus pinaster- halepensis types) showed the fastest post-fire vegetation dynamics over time.

Climate change and human occupations in the Lake Daihai basin, north-central China over the last 4500 years: A geo-archeological perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Lichen; Liu, Yan; Sun, Qianli; Chen, Jing; Cheng, Peng; Chen, Zhongyuan

2017-05-01

High-resolution climate variations since the last 4500 years in the monsoonal-arid transition zone of north-central China were revealed through the integration of proxies from sediment cores in the Lake Daihai basin. Human occupations in the lake basin deduced from archeological findings and historical literatures were then incorporated into the climate sequence to demonstrate the patterns of human responses to the climate changes, and the recent anthropogenic effects. It indicated that: (1) Climate dominated human-environment adaptations prevailed prior to ∼2700 cal yr BP. An amicable climate setting before ∼4100 cal yr BP would facilitate the growth of the Laohushan Culture (LC) in the lake basin, while a pronounced deterioration of water thermal condition after that had led to human exodus and the collapse of the LC. The reduced human activity in the lake basin indicated at ∼3800-3500 cal yr BP and a subsequent cultural blank at ∼3500-2700 cal yr BP, were both in response to the climate and lake level fluctuations during ∼3800-2800 cal yr BP. (2) Transition to a positive human adaptation was seen at ∼2700-1100 cal yr BP, represented by the exploitation of arable land for cultivation and animal husbandry as the lake contracted. (3) An increasing human presence that affected environmental processes became more severe over the last ∼1100 cal yr BP. This was basically due to the ongoing lake shore reclamation for cropping, and more recently heavy metals emissions from fossil fuel combustion and local industries.

Holocene climate variability, vegetation dynamics and fire regime in the central Pyrenees: the Basa de la Mora sequence (NE Spain)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pérez-Sanz, A.; González-Sampériz, P.; Moreno, A.; Valero-Garcés, B.; Gil-Romera, G.; Rieradevall, M.; Tarrats, P.; Lasheras-Álvarez, L.; Morellón, M.; Belmonte, A.; Sancho, C.; Sevilla-Callejo, M.; Navas, A.

2013-08-01

High resolution multiproxy data (pollen, sedimentology, geochemistry, chironomids and charcoal) from the Basa de la Mora (BSM) lake sequence (42° 32' N, 0° 19' E, 1914 m a.s.l.) show marked climate variability in the central southern Pyrenees throughout the Holocene. A robust age model based on 15 AMS radiocarbon dates underpins the first precise reconstruction of rapid climate changes during the Holocene from this area. During the Early Holocene, increased winter snowpack and high snowmelt during summer, as a consequence of high seasonality, led to higher lake levels, a chironomid community dominated by non-lacustrine taxa (Orthocladiinae) related to higher inlet streams, and a forested landscape with intense run-off processes in the watershed. From 9.8 to 8.1 cal ka BP, climate instability is inferred from rapid and intense forest shifts and high fluctuation in surface run-off. Shifts among conifers and mesophytes reveal at least four short-lived dry events at 9.7, 9.3, 8.8 and 8.3 cal ka BP. Between 8.1 and 5.7 cal ka BP a stable climate with higher precipitation favoured highest lake levels and forest expansion, with spread of mesophytes, withdrawal of conifers and intensification of fires, coinciding with the Holocene Climate Optimum. At 5.7 cal ka BP a major change leading to drier conditions contributed to a regional decline in mesophytes, expansion of pines and junipers, and a significant lake level drop. Despite drier conditions, fire activity dropped as consequence of biomass reduction. Two arid intervals occurred between 2.9 and 2.4 cal ka BP and at 1.2-0.7 cal ka BP (800-1300 AD). The latter coincides with the Medieval Climate Anomaly and is one of the most arid phases of the Holocene in BSM sequence. Anthropogenic disturbances were small until 700 AD, when human pressure over landscape intensified, with Olea cultivation in the lowlands and significant deforestation in highlands. Colder and unfavourable weather conditions during the second part of the Little Ice Age caused a temporary cease of high-land management. The most intense anthropogenic disturbances occurred during the second half of 19th century. Last decades are characterized by recovery of the vegetation cover as a result of land abandonment, and lowered lake levels, probably due to higher temperatures.

Little evidence for the use of diode lasers as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy.

PubMed

Dederich, Douglas N

2015-03-01

Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Embase databases. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using thermal diode lasers as an adjunct to non-surgical conventional periodontal initial therapy conducted in patients ≥18 years old written in English or Dutch were considered. Study assessment data extraction and quality assessment was carried out independently by two reviewers. The main outcome variables were probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL), but plaque scores (PS), bleeding scores (BS) and the Gingival Index (GI) were also considered. Meta-analysis was carried out using a random effects model. Nine studies involving 247 patients were included. Seven studies were of split mouth design and two were parallel group studies. The study designs showed considerable heterogeneity and follow up ranged from six weeks to six months. Meta-analysis found no significant effect on PPD, CAL and PS. There was however a significant effect for GI and BS favouring adjunctive use of the diode laser. The collective evidence regarding adjunctive use of the diode laser with SRP indicates that the combined treatment provides an effect comparable to that of SRP alone. With respect to BS the results showed a small but significant effect favouring the diode laser, however, the clinical relevance of this difference remains uncertainStandard . This systematic review questions the adjunctive use of diode laser with traditional mechanical modalities of periodontal therapy in patients with periodontitis. The strength of the recommendation for the adjunctive use of the diode laser is considered to be 'moderate' for changes in PPD and CAL.

Diet-Induced Overweight and Obesity and Periodontitis Risk: An Application of the Parametric G-Formula in the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort.

PubMed

Nascimento, Gustavo G; Peres, Marco A; Mittinty, Murthy N; Peres, Karen G; Do, Loc G; Horta, Bernardo L; Gigante, Denise P; Corrêa, Marcos B; Demarco, Flávio F

2017-03-15

We aimed to estimate hypothetical effects of habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, and fat and carbohydrates consumption) combined with diet-induced overweight/obesity on the risk of periodontitis. The risk of any periodontitis, moderate/severe periodontitis, and the combination of bleeding on probing (BOP) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) was estimated using the parametric g-formula in adults aged 31 years from the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort in Brazil. Individuals in this cohort have been followed since birth. Hypothetical conditions were set independently for each risk factor and in combination for the entire population. A total of 539 participants had oral examinations in 2013. The cumulative 31-year risk under no intervention was 33.3% for any periodontitis, 14.3%, for moderate/severe periodontitis, and 14.7%, for BOP and CAL. According to our statistical approach, diet-induced overweight/obesity increased the risk of all outcomes: 11% (overweight) and 22% (obesity) higher risk of periodontitis; 12% (overweight) and 27% (obesity) higher risk of moderate/severe periodontitis; 21% (overweight) and 57% (obesity) higher risk of CAL and BOP. When overweight/obesity was combined with other unhealthy habits, the risk was even greater. Our findings suggest that the combination of diet-induced obesity with other risk factors may increase the risk of periodontitis. Further research in the field is required to corroborate our study. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

New data from fringing-reef cores for the mid-Holocene higher sea level in Hainan Island, northern South China Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Yantao; Zhan, Wenhuan; Sun, Jie

2017-04-01

Most previous research on sea level indicators (including beachrock, abrasion platforms, notches and coral reefs) from coast of northern South China Sea suggested a higher sea level in the mid-Holocene. Microatolls, considered to be one of the most reliable indicators, led to an estimation of 2 to 3 m or even more higher sea levels in the mid-Holocene at southwest Leizhou Peninsula. Volcanic activities, however, occurred at several stages during the Quaternary at southern Leizhou Peninsula and northern Hainan Island, indicating a tectonically unstable local crust. Comprehensive comparison of microatolls between the volcanic and the non-volcanic coasts implied obvious uplift of the volcanic coast, where elevation of microatolls was higher than those on the non-volcanic coast. In addition, microatolls from the non-volcanic coast universally demonstrated a mid-Holocene higher sea level of less than 1 m. Similar studies to date at some tectonically stable locations, distant from the major glaciation centers (the far-field), provided evidence that the mid-Holocene sea level was not as high as that estimated before. On the longest and also the widest fringing reef of Hainan Island, 10 cores were drilled in a transect approximately perpendicular to coastline. Upper and lower unconformities for the layer of Holocene marine sediments witnessed the Holocene transgression and regression, respectively. U-series and AMS14C ages of in-situ surface corals and deposits from the unconformities, compiled with sedimentary characteristics, announced a highest sea level of 1.18 m in 5.30 cal ka BP. The rapid sea level rise mainly occurred in 6.25 5.75 cal ka BP at a rate up to 11.4 mm/a. From 5.30 cal ka BP to 4.50 cal ka BP, it can be regarded as a relative sea level stand, for most surface fossil microatolls on reef flat lived in this period. Since then there might be a sudden and fast sea level fall in 4.50 4.14 cal ka BP, resulting in fast exposure of the initial reef flat and then fast covering of sand dunes or beachrocks. As a result, fossil microtalls on the initial reef flat were well preserved, which were very important to indicating the mid-Holocene higher sea level. Acknowledgement: This research was supported by the National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China (2013CB956104)、National Natural Science Foundation of China (41376063) and the Chinese-Polish collaborated project ERES.

High-resolution paleoenvironmental records during the late Quaternary from the marginal seas of East Asia: the intrusion of open-ocean current

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, G. S.; Kim, S. P.; Choi, H. S.

2012-04-01

Four long mud-dominated sediment cores (35m-long YSDP 103, 32m-long SSDP 102, 72m-long SSDP103 and 52m-long SSDP 105) were recovered in the continental shelves of Korea and were examined through the analysis of AMS 14C dating, lithology, organic geochemistry and stable isotopes to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental histories during the late Quaternary. These drill cores acquired from the thick Holocene mud deposits allow us to obtain high-resolution paleoenvironmental records concerning the intrusion of open-ocean warm currents triggered by the last deglacial sea-level rise. Various organic geochemical results (TOC, C/N, C/S, HI, δ13Corg) of core YSDP 103, taken from the southeastern Yellow Sea, showed that terrigenous organic matters were significantly dominant in the southeastern Yellow Sea between 16,600 and 4,300 cal. yr BP probably due to the influence of freshwater derived from an adjacent river and then the dominance of organic matter origin changed to marine type affected by surface primary productivity after 4,300 cal. yr BP. These results may indicate that the marine environment of the southeastern Yellow Sea changed from brackish to a modern-type shelf environment since 4,300 cal. yr BP, implying the intrusion of the open-ocean current. The δ18O values of benthic foraminifer Cibicides lobatulus, however, showed that variation changed from high-amplitude to low-amplitude fluctuations at around 3,500 cal. yr. The time discrepancy of 800 years between organic geochemical proxies and stable isotope proxies is interpreted to reflect that a modern-type shelf environment was not fully developed in the southeastern Yellow Sea until 3,500 cal. yr BP, even though the open-ocean current (Yellow Sea Warm Current) began to flow into the Yellow Sea at 4,300 cal. Yr. BP. The results of core SSDP 102 collected in the Korean Strait reveal that the area experienced 4 stages of environmental change during the last 13,900 cal. yr BP. Occurrence of well-rounded, oxidized rock fragments at the core bottom indicates that the area was under a fluvial environment before 13,900 cal. yr BP. Between 13,900 and 7,000 cal. yr BP, the dominances of terrigenous organic matters and coarse fractions reflect that the area was changed into the estuarine (deltaic) environment which was directly affected by the Nakdong River. Between 7,000 and 6,100 cal. yr BP, the occurrence of a sand layer with remarkably high coarse fraction and low TOC contents reflects that the temporary erosion occurred in this area probably due to the deceleration of sea-level rising rate. Since 6,100 cal. yr BP, the prevailing occurrences of marine organic matters and the fine-grained sediments indicate that the study area was changed into a modern-type shelf environment under the influence of the open-ocean current (Tsushima Current). The organic chemical result of core SSDP103 extracted in the central South Sea of Korea close to the Seomjin River mouth, indicates that the area was under a brackish coastal environment like tidal flat and estuarine at the early stage of deposition, which is supported by high occurrence of oyster shell fragments and terrigeneous organic matter. Even though there is some difficulty of age control due to older ages at depth of 33.8m, various geochemical proxies showed that the area began to change into a modern-type marine environment by far before 5.21cal. kyr, supported by increasing TOC, C/N and δ13Corg. Based on the results of core SSDP 105 collected from the southeastern coast of Korea, the occurrence of large, well-rounded gravel at depths of 34.3 - 32 m reflects that the southeastern coast of Korea was under a shallow coastal environment before 17,500 cal. yr. During the transgressive stage of sea-level between 17,500 and 8,100 cal. yr, this area was more under a coastal environment of erosion rather than the deposition of the fine-grained sediments as indicated by the dominance of coarse fractions. Since 8,100 cal. yr when sea-level rose nearly to the present level, the southeastern coast area began to change into a modern-type shelf environment influenced by the intrusion of the Tsushima Current, which is supported by significantly high TOC contents, high CaCO3 contents, and predominance of marine-type organic matters. In summary, long mud-dominated Holocene cores provided the opportunity to elucidate the onset of inflow of the open-ocean warm current during Holocene marine transgression in the marginal seas around the Korean Peninsula. The results of four long cores suggest that the timings of intrusion of warm currents are different from each other due to the influence of brackish coastal currents and river discharge rather than increased water depth. Also, a relative abundance of marine-type organic matter characteristic of oxygen and carbon isotopes showed differences even after establishing a modern-type marine environment, implying that properties of their environments are altered according to the changes of strength between river discharge and open-ocean current at their location.

Direct pulp capping in primary molars using a resin-modified Portland cement-based material (TheraCal) compared to MTA with 12-month follow-up: a randomised clinical trial.

PubMed

Erfanparast, L; Iranparvar, P; Vafaei, A

2018-05-16

This study was to compare the success of resin-modified Portland cement-based material (TheraCal) with MTA in direct pulp capping (DPC) of primary molars. Symmetrical bilateral primary molars (92) from 46 healthy subjects aged 5-7 years were included in this split-mouth randomised clinical trial. DPC for small non-contaminated pulp exposures using either TheraCal or MTA were randomly performed in symmetrical molars. Thereafter, teeth were restored with amalgam. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 6 and 12 month follow-ups. Data were analysed using Chi square test at a significance level of 0.05. At the final follow-up session 74 teeth were available. After 12 months, the overall success rates for MTA and TheraCal were 94.5 and 91.8%, respectively. The difference between outcomes of the two groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Within the limitations of the current study, radiographic and clinical findings revealed that TheraCal exhibited a comparable outcome to MTA in DPC of primary molars after 12 months.

Postglacial vegetation history of Orcas Island, northwestern Washington

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leopold, Estella B.; Dunwiddie, Peter W.; Whitlock, Cathy; Nickmann, Rudy; Watts, William A.

2016-05-01

The revegetation of islands following retreat of Pleistocene glaciers is of great biogeographical interest. The San Juan Islands, Washington, feature regionally distinctive xerophytic plant communities, yet their vegetation history, as it relates to past climate and sea level, is poorly known. We describe a 13,700-year-old pollen record from Killebrew Lake Fen and compare the vegetation reconstruction with others from the region. The data suggest that the narrow channels surrounding Orcas Island were not a barrier to early postglacial immigration of plants. Between 13,700 and 12,000 cal yr BP, Pinus, Tsuga, Picea, Alnus viridis, and possibly Juniperus maritima were present in a mosaic that supported Bison antiquus and Megalonyx. The rise of Alnus rubra-type pollen and Pteridium spores at ca. 12,000 cal yr BP suggests a warming trend and probably more fires. Temperate conifer taxa, including Cupressaceae, Pseudotsuga, Tsuga heterophylla, and Abies, increased after 11,000 cal yr BP and especially in the last 7000 cal yr BP. After 6000 cal yr BP, Pseudotsuga and Cupressaceae dominated the vegetation. The last 1500 yr were the wettest period of the record. Due to its rain shadow location, Orcas Island experienced drier conditions than on the mainland during most of the postglacial period.

Periodontitis in coronary heart disease patients: strong association between bleeding on probing and systemic biomarkers.

PubMed

Bokhari, Syed Akhtar H; Khan, Ayyaz A; Butt, Arshad K; Hanif, Mohammad; Izhar, Mateen; Tatakis, Dimitris N; Ashfaq, Mohammad

2014-11-01

Few studies have examined the relationship of individual periodontal parameters with individual systemic biomarkers. This study assessed the possible association between specific clinical parameters of periodontitis and systemic biomarkers of coronary heart disease risk in coronary heart disease patients with periodontitis. Angiographically proven coronary heart disease patients with periodontitis (n = 317), aged >30 years and without other systemic illness were examined. Periodontal clinical parameters of bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) and systemic levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB) and white blood cells (WBC) were noted and analyzed to identify associations through linear and stepwise multiple regression analyses. Unadjusted linear regression showed significant associations between periodontal and systemic parameters; the strongest association (r = 0.629; p < 0.001) was found between BOP and CRP levels, the periodontal and systemic inflammation marker, respectively. Stepwise regression analysis models revealed that BOP was a predictor of systemic CRP levels (p < 0.0001). BOP was the only periodontal parameter significantly associated with each systemic parameter (CRP, FIB, and WBC). In coronary heart disease patients with periodontitis, BOP is strongly associated with systemic CRP levels; this association possibly reflects the potential significance of the local periodontal inflammatory burden for systemic inflammation. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Paleoenvironmental and Paleoclimate Changes Since 21,000 Cal Years BP in the Northeastern part of Brazil Inferred From Sediment Records in Lagoa do Caco (Maranhao State, Brazil)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sifeddine, A.; Meyers, P. A.; Gustavo, A.; Spadano Albuquerque, A. L.; Turcq, B.; Campbello Cordeiro, R.; Abrao, J. J.

2004-12-01

Two cores from Caco Lake, Maranhao State (North Brazil) record different histories of sediment accumulation on the margin and center of the lake that reflect changes in lake level. Seismic profiles, mineralogy and organic geochemical studies, backed by radiocarbon dating, reveal variable climatic and environmental conditions over the last 21 Cal Kyr BP. During the Last Glacial Maximum, regional climate was predominantly dry but was interrupted by short humid phases as reflected by a succession of very thin layers of sand and organic matter. The late glacial climate was relatively wet and included two rapid lake-level increases accompanied by forest expansion. The two wet phases were separated by a phase where the lake level remained stable and the forest changes were marked by the development of cool "Podocarpus" forest. These humid climate periods differed significantly from present warm tropical conditions.. The Holocene period is characterized by progressive increase of lake level, which reaches his maximum at around 7,000 Cal years BP. The period between 4,000 Cal years BP and the present shows high variability in lake level. Comparing with other South American and African records, we conclude that Late Glacial humid conditions were controlled by intensification of the ITCZ or shifts of its position, resulting in southeasterly trade wind variations and in interconnection between northern South America and the Atlantic tropical ocean-atmosphere system. The climatic variability during the Holocene is probably the result of sub-Milankovitch solar cycles and regional responses to these global forcings that are related to Atlantic and Pacific variability and their interconnections.

Coherent monsoonal changes in the northern tropics revealed by Chadian lakes (L. Chad and Yoa) sedimentary archives during the African Humid Period

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sylvestre, Florence; Kroepelin, Stefan; Pierre, Deschamps; Christine, Cocquyt; Nicolas, Waldmann; Kazuyo, Tachikawa; Amaral Paula, Do; Doriane, Delanghe; Guillaume, Jouve; Edouard, Bard; Camille, Bouchez; Jean-Claude, Doumnang; Jean-Charles, Mazur; Martin, Melles; Guillemette, Menot; Frauke, Rostek; Nicolas, Thouveny; Volkner, Wennrich

2016-04-01

In northern African tropics, it is now well established that the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) was extremely dry followed by a wetter Holocene. Numerous palaeolake records reveal a fairly consistent pattern of a moister early Holocene resulting in a green Sahara followed by the onset of aridification about 4000 years ago. These palaeoenvironmental conditions are deciphered from several continental records distributed over the sub-Saharan zone and including diverse environments. However, pronounced differences in the timing and amplitude of these moisture changes inferred from sedimentary records point to both regional climatic variability change and site-specific influences of local topographic-hydrogeological factors which biased the evolution of water balance reconstructed from individual lacustrine archives. Here we present hydrological reconstructions from Chadian lakes, i.e. Lake Chad (c. 13°N) and Lake Yoa (19°N). Because of their location, both records allow to reconstruct lake level fluctuations and environmental changes according to a gradient from Sahelian to Saharan latitudes. Whereas Lake Chad is considered as a good sensor of climatic changes because of its large drainage basin covering 610,000 km2 in the Sudanian belt, Lake Yoa logs the northern precipitation changes in the Sahara. Combining sedimentological (laser diffraction grain size) and geochemical (XRF analysis) data associated with bio-indicators proxies (diatoms, pollen), we compare lake-level fluctuations and environmental changes during the last 12,000 years. After the hyperarid Last Glacial Maximum period during which dunes covered the Lake Chad basin, both lake records indicate an onset of more humid conditions between 12.5-11 ka cal BP. These resulted in lacustrine transgressions approaching their maximum extension at c. 10.5 ka cal BP. The lacustrine phase was probably interrupted by a relatively short drying event occurring around 8.2 ka cal BP which is well-defined in Lake Yoa by abrupt changes in the diatom flora, while in Lake Chad water levels decreased substantially. The lakes may have reached their highest levels between 8 and 7 ka cal BP until regressions started at about 6 ka cal BP. Lake Yoa, after a rapid change from freshwater to saline diatom species at that time, is characterized by a progressive lowering of its lake level which is punctuated by short humid episodes after 5 ka cal BP. In Lake Chad, the transition occurring at 5 ka BP is more abrupt, indicating a rapid decrease in freshwater input from tropical regions.

Relationship between the formation of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) and the severity of the periodontal disease: a pilot study.

PubMed

Nogueira-Filho, G R; Peruzzo, D; Sallum, A W

2008-03-01

This aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the formation of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) and the severity of different kinds of periodontal disease. Twenty patients suffering from biofilm-related periodontal diseases and a control group of ten healthy individuals were selected. The patients were divided according to their periodontal diagnoses: marginal gingivitis (MG/n = 10) and chronic periodontitis (CP/n = 10). The patients received non-surgical therapy that consisted of motivation, scaling and root planing. Two experimental periods were used: T1 = baseline and T2 = final evaluation after three months. The data analysis showed that CP group had a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), and group MG presented a reduction in GI (p < 0.05). There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), N-a-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) and VSC levels in both MG and CP groups, although the deeper residual pockets led to higher AST and VSC levels in the CP group. Within the limits of the present pilot study, it can be concluded that the non-surgical therapy may influence VSC formation in a manner dependent on periodontal disease severity.

Association of stem cell factor and high-sensitivity C reactive protein concentrations in crevicular fluid and serum in patients with chronic periodontitis with and without type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Kalra, Nitish; Pradeep, Avani R; Priyanka, Ningappa; Kumari, Minal

2013-03-01

The aim of the present study was to clarify whether there is any correlation between the levels of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and stem cell factor (SCF) in serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). A total of 40 subjects were divided into 3 groups: 10 periodontally healthy subjects (Group 1), 15 CP patients (Group 2), and 15 type 2 DM patients with CP (Group 3). Levels of hs-CRP and SCF in GCF and serum were quantified using different techniques. The clinical outcomes evaluated were gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), and the correlations of the two inflammatory mediators with clinical parameters were evaluated. The levels of these inflammatory mediators increased continuously from group 1 to group 2, and to group 3. The serum levels of both hs-CRP and SCF were correlated with PD in patients with CP (P < 0.05). SCF levels were correlated with PD in Group 3 (P < 0.05). The fact that the levels of hs-CRP and SCF were highest in DM patients with CP suggests that the presence of a systemic condition has a profound effect on the levels of inflammatory mediators, both locally at sites of periodontal disease, and elsewhere.

Activation of pollen tube callose synthase by detergents. Evidence for different mechanisms of action.

PubMed Central

Li, H; Bacic, A; Read, S M

1997-01-01

In pollen tubes of Nicotiana alata, a membrane-bound, Ca(2+)-independent callose synthase (CalS) is responsible for the biosynthesis of the (1,3)-beta-glucan backbone of callose, the main cell wall component. Digitonin increases CalS activity 3- to 4-fold over a wide range of concentrations, increasing the maximum initial velocity without altering the Michaelis constant for UDP-glucose. The CalS activity that requires digitonin for assay (the latent CalS activity) is not inhibited by the membrane-impermeant, active site-directed reagent UDP-pyridoxal when the reaction is conducted in the absence of digitonin. This is consistent with digitonin increasing CalS activity by the permeabilization of membrane vesicles. A second group of detergents, including 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonate (CHAPS), Zwittergent 3-16, and 1-alpha-lysolecithin, activate pollen tube CalS 10- to 15-fold, but only over a narrow range of concentrations just below their respective critical micellar concentrations. This activation could not be attributed to any particular chemical feature of these detergents. CHAPS increases maximum initial velocity and decreases the Michaelis constant for UDP-glucose and activates CalS even in the presence of permeabilizing concentrations of digitonin. Inhibition studies with UDP-pyridoxal indicate that activation by CHAPS occurs by recruitment of previously inactive CalS molecules to the pool of active enzyme. The activation of pollen tube CalS by these detergents therefore resembles activation of the enzyme by trypsin. PMID:9276948

Treatment of gingival recession defects using coronally advanced flap with a porcine collagen matrix compared to coronally advanced flap with connective tissue graft: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Cardaropoli, Daniele; Tamagnone, Lorenzo; Roffredo, Alessandro; Gaveglio, Lorena

2012-03-01

Connective tissue graft (CTG) plus coronally advanced flap (CAF) is the reference therapy for root coverage. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the use of a porcine collagen matrix (PCM) plus CAF as an alternative to CTG+CAF for the treatment of gingival recessions (REC), in a prospective randomized, controlled clinical trial. Eighteen adult patients participated in this study. The patients presented 22 single Miller's Class I or II REC, randomly assigned to the test (PCM+CAF) or control (CTG+CAF) group. REC, probing depth, clinical attachment level (CAL), and width of keratinized tissue (KG) were evaluated at 12 months. In addition, the gingival thickness (GT) was measured 1mm apical to the bottom of the sulcus. At 12 months, mean REC was 0.23 mm for test sites and 0.09 mm for control sites (P <0.01), whereas percentage of root coverage was 94.32% and 96.97%, respectively. CAL gain was 2.41 mm in test sites and 2.95 mm in control sites (P <0.01). KG gain was 1.23 mm in the test group and 1.27 mm in the control group (P <0.01). In test sites, GT changed from 0.82 to 1.82 mm, and in control sites, from 0.86 to 2.09 mm (P <0.01). Within the limits of the study, both treatment procedures resulted in significant reduction in REC at 12 months. No statistically significant differences were found between PCM+CAF and CTG+CAF with regard to any clinical parameter. The collagen matrix represents a possible alternative to CTG.

Amniotic membrane - A Novel material for the root coverage: A case series

PubMed Central

Sharma, Anamika; Yadav, Komal

2015-01-01

Background: Periodontal plastic surgical procedures aimed at coverage of exposed root surface. Owing to the second surgical donor site and difficulty in procuring a sufficient graft for the treatment of root coverage procedures, various alternative additive membranes have been used. A recent resorbable amniotic membrane, not only maintains the structural and anatomical configuration of regenerated tissues, but also enhances gingival wound healing, provides a rich source of stem cells. Therefore, amniotic membrane is choice of material these days in augmenting the better results in various periodontal procedures. Aim: The aim of this observational case series was to evaluate the effectiveness, predictability and the use of a novel material, amniotic membrane in the treatment of shallow-to-moderate isolated recession defects. Materials and Methods: A total of three cases, showing Miller's Class I or Class II gingival recession, participated in this study. Recession depth, recession width, keratinized gingiva (KG) tissue width, clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Six months following root coverage procedures, the mean root coverage was found to be 70.2 ± 6.8%. CAL significantly decreased from 6.4 ± 0.54 mm preoperatively to 3.5 ± 0.9 mm postoperatively at 6 months while KG showed significant improvement from 3.2 ± 0.28 mm preoperatively to 5.9 ± 0.74 mm postoperatively at 6 months. Conclusion: Autogenous graft tissue procurement significantly increases patient morbidity while also lengthening the duration of surgery in placing the graft, while self-adherent nature of amniotic membrane significantly reduces surgical time and made the procedure easier to perform, making it membrane of choice. PMID:26392696

Subpedicle connective tissue graft versus guided tissue regeneration with bioabsorbable membrane in the treatment of human gingival recession defects.

PubMed

Trombelli, L; Scabbia, A; Tatakis, D N; Calura, G

1998-11-01

The purpose of the present clinical study was to evaluate the effect of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in comparison to subpedicle connective tissue graft (SCTG) in the treatment of gingival recession defects. A total of 12 patients, each contributing a pair of Miller's Class I or II buccal gingival recessions, was treated. According to a randomization list, one defect in each patient received a polyglycolide/lactide bioabsorbable membrane, while the paired defect received a SCTG. Treatment effect was evaluated 6 months postsurgery. Clinical recordings included full-mouth and defect-specific oral hygiene standards and gingival health, recession depth (RD), recession width (RW), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and keratinized tissue width (KT). Mean RD significantly decreased from 3.1 mm presurgery to 1.5 mm at 6 months postsurgery for the GTR group (48% root coverage), and from 3.0 mm to 0.5 mm for the SCTG group (81% root coverage). RD reduction and root coverage were significantly greater in SCTG group compared to GTR group. Mean CAL gain amounted to 1.7 mm for the GTR group, and 2.3 mm in the SCTG group. No significant differences in PD changes were observed within and between groups. KT increased significantly from presurgery for both treatment groups, however gingival augmentation was significantly greater in the SCTG group compared to GTR group. Results indicate that: 1) treatment of human gingival recession defects by means of both GTR and SCTG procedures results in clinically and statistically significant improvement of the soft tissue conditions of the defect; and 2) treatment outcome was significantly better following SCTG compared to GTR in terms of recession depth reduction, root coverage, and keratinized tissue increase.

Pre- and post-treatment experiences of fear, anxiety, and pain among chronic periodontitis patients treated by scaling and root planing per quadrant versus one-stage full-mouth disinfection: a 6-month randomized controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Santuchi, Camila Carvalho; Cortelli, Sheila Cavalca; Cortelli, José Roberto; Cota, Luís Otávio Miranda; Alencar, Camila Oliveira; Costa, Fernando Oliveira

2015-11-01

To relate the clinical effects of two different forms of non-surgical periodontal therapy - scaling and root planing per quadrant (SRP-Q) and one-stage full-mouth disinfection (FMD) - to patient-based outcomes such as fear, anxiety, and pain of moderate chronic periodontitis patients. Dental Fear Survey (DFS) and Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) questionnaires and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were applied to 78 patients randomized into two groups: SRP-Q (n = 37) and FMD (n = 41). Periodontal clinical parameters: probing pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI) were monitored at baseline and 6 months after treatment. Data were statistically analysed by chi-square, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon tests, Pearson's correlation, and Cluster analysis. All periodontal clinical parameters improved from baseline to 6 months. Patients with higher fear and anxiety showed a worse clinical periodontal status before and after treatment (mean CAL, PI, and GI). After both types of treatment, fear and anxiety decreased (FMD: p = 0.019; SRP-Q: p = 0.043) with no differences between the groups. Pain did not differ between groups (FMD: 20.6 ± 19.0 and SRP: 20.7 ± 20.0; p = 0.930). In moderate chronic periodontitis patients, SRP-Q and FMD provided periodontal clinical improvements and similar experiences of fear, anxiety, and pain. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Root coverage using subepithelial connective tissue graft with platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of gingival recession: A clinical study

PubMed Central

Srinivas, B. V. V.; Rupa, N.; Halini Kumari, K. V.; Prasad, S. S. V.; Varalakshmi, U.; Sudhakar, K.

2015-01-01

Introduction: The presence of gingival recession associated with an insufficient amount of keratinized tissue may indicate gingival augmentation procedure. It is a multifaceted problem for which several treatment options are available. The most predictable technique used for gingival augmentation is the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an enhanced source of growth factors and helps in accelerated periodontal repair and regeneration. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of SCTG along with PRP in the treatment of Miller's class I and II gingival recessions. Materials and Methods: Eleven subjects with Miller's class I and II gingival recessions were treated using SCTG with PRP. Clinical variables, including plaque index, gingival index, recession depth (RD), Recession width (RW), width of the keratinized gingiva, probing pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded. Patients were recalled at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 1-year after surgery and clinical recordings were taken. Root coverage percentage (%) was measured at the end of 1-year. Results: The clinical parameters were analyzed during the follow-up period by repeated measures ANOVA test. Twelve months follow-up results showed significant improvements in all the clinical parameters. Reduction of recession resulted in a significant decrease in CAL, PD, RW and RD at the end of 12 months. A statistically significant gain in width of keratinized gingiva and a mean root coverage of 84.72 ± 19.10 was obtained at the end of 12 months. Conclusion: From the results of this study, it may be concluded that SCTG with PRP is an effective and predictable method to treat miller's class I and II gingival recession. PMID:26538912

Acellular dermal matrix allograft versus free gingival graft: a histological evaluation and split-mouth randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

de Resende, Daniel Romeu Benchimol; Greghi, Sebastião Luiz Aguiar; Siqueira, Aline Franco; Benfatti, César Augusto Magalhães; Damante, Carla Andreotti; Ragghianti Zangrando, Mariana Schutzer

2018-04-30

This split-mouth controlled randomized clinical trial evaluated clinical and histological results of acellular dermal matrix allograft (ADM) compared to autogenous free gingival graft (FGG) for keratinized tissue augmentation. Twenty-five patients with the absence or deficiency of keratinized tissue (50 sites) were treated with FGG (control group) and ADM (test group). Clinical parameters included keratinized tissue width (KTW) (primary outcome), soft tissue thickness (TT), recession depth (RD), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Esthetic perception was evaluated by patients and by a calibrated periodontist using visual analog scale (VAS). Histological analysis included biopsies of five different patients from both test and control sites for each evaluation period (n = 25). The analysis included percentage of connective tissue components, epithelial luminal to basal surface ratio, tissue maturation, and presence of elastic fibers. Data were evaluated by ANOVA complemented by Tukey's tests (p < 0.05). After 6 months, PD and CAL demonstrated no differences between groups. ADM presented higher RD compared to FGG in all periods. Mean tissue shrinkage for control and test groups was 12.41 versus 55.7%. TT was inferior for ADM group compared to FGG. Esthetics perception by professional evaluation showed superior results for ADM. Histomorphometric analysis demonstrated higher percentage of cellularity, blood vessels, and epithelial luminal to basal surface ratio for FGG group. ADM group presented higher percentage of collagen fibers and inflammatory infiltrate. Both treatments resulted in improvement of clinical parameters, except for RD. ADM group presented more tissue shrinkage and delayed healing, confirmed histologically, but superior professional esthetic perception. This study added important clinical and histological data to contribute in the decision-making process between indication of FGG or ADM.

Impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on oral health.

PubMed

de Oliveira Solis, Ana Cristina; Araújo, Álvaro Cabral; Corchs, Felipe; Bernik, Marcio; Duran, Érica Panzani; Silva, Cláudio; Lotufo-Neto, Francisco

2017-09-01

The stress experienced as an intense and traumatic event can increase the odds of orofacial pain, affect the biomechanics of masticatory system and compromise the periodontal health. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on oral health. A case-control study with a convenience sample was designed. Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing, and plaque were recorded at 6 sites per tooth. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the pain after probing. The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Axis II (RDC/TMD Axis II) and Structured Clinical Interview (DSM-IV) were also applied. The final sample comprised 38 PTSD patients and 38 controls. Patients with PTSD had a higher degree of chronic pain, more depression and nonspecific physical symptoms (including and excluding pain) compared with the control group (Fisher exact test p < 0.001, and Chi-squared test, p < 0.001, < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). Patients with PTSD also had more pain after periodontal probing compared with controls (Mann-Whitney, p = 0.037). The prevalence of sites with CAL or PPD ≥ 4, ≥ 5, ≥ 6 were not different between the groups. Age was associated with moderate periodontitis (multivariable logistic regression model, OR = 3.33, 95% CI = 1.03-10.75, p = 0.04). The severity of PTSD precluded an ample sample size. Patients with PTSD presented a worse RDC/TMD Axis II profile, more pain after periodontal probing, and no difference related to periodontal clinical parameters. More studies are needed to confirm these findings. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Soft tissues healing at immediate transmucosal implants placed into molar extraction sites with buccal self-contained dehiscences. A 12-month controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Siciliano, V Iorio; Salvi, G E; Matarasso, S; Cafiero, C; Blasi, A; Lang, N P

2009-05-01

To assess soft tissues healing at immediate transmucosal implants placed into molar extraction sites with buccal self-contained dehiscences. For this 12-month controlled clinical trial, 15 subjects received immediate transmucosal tapered-effect (TE) implants placed in molar extraction sockets displaying a buccal bone dehiscence (test sites) with a height and a width of > or =3 mm, respectively. Peri-implant marginal defects were treated according to the principles of Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) by means of deproteinized bovine bone mineral particles in conjunction with a bioresorbable collagen membrane. Fifteen subjects received implants in healed molar sites (control sites) with intact buccal alveolar walls following tooth extraction. In total, 30 TE implants with an endosseous diameter of 4.8 mm and a shoulder diameter of 6.5 mm were used. Flaps were repositioned and sutured, allowing non-submerged, transmucosal soft tissues healing. At the 12-month follow-up, pocket probing depths (PPD) and clinical attachment levels (CAL) were compared between implants placed in the test and the control sites, respectively. All subjects completed the 12-month follow-up period. All implants healed uneventfully, yielding a survival rate of 100%. After 12 months, statistically significantly higher (P<0.05) PPD and CAL values were recorded around implants placed in the test sites compared with those placed in the control sites. The findings of this controlled clinical trial showed that healing following immediate transmucosal implant installation in molar extraction sites with wide and shallow buccal dehiscences yielded less favorable outcomes compared with those of implants placed in healed sites, and resulted in lack of 'complete' osseointegration.

Detection of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin and fimbria-associated protein gene genotypes among periodontitis patients and healthy controls: A case–control study

PubMed Central

Mahalakshmi, Krishnan; Krishnan, Padma; Chandrasekaran, S. C.

2018-01-01

Background: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans has been reported in higher proportions in subgingival microbiota of individuals with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) compared with those with chronic periodontitis (ChP) and healthy controls. The major virulence factors are the ones that help in colonization and evasion of host's defenses. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans 16S rRNA and its virulent genotypes (leukotoxin [lktA] and fimbria-associated protein [fap]). Materials and Methods: In this case– control study We performed periodontal examination and measured probing depth and clinical attachment level (CAL). Subgingival plaque samples from 200 (ChP: n = 128 and AgP: n = 72) periodontitis patients and 200 healthy controls were screened for the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans 16S rRNA, lktA, and fap genotypes by polymerase chain reaction. The prevalence of genotypes between periodontitis patients and healthy controls was compared with Pearson's Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean pocket probing depth and CAL were high as compared to the healthy controls. The prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans in ChP (n = 128), AgP (n = 72), and healthy individuals (n = 200) was 32.0%, 61.1%, and 2.5%, respectively. A. actinomycetemcomitans lktA genotype prevalence was 71.8% among periodontitis patients, while A. actinomycetemcomitans fap genotype showed 31.8% prevalence. The prevalence of these genotypes was insignificant in healthy controls. Conclusion: The high odds ratio for A. actinomycetemcomitans prevalence suggests its strong link to periodontitis. Detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans lktA + genotype may be a useful marker for AgP as its prevalence was found to be high in AgP. PMID:29922337

Combined photoablative and photodynamic diode laser therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment: a randomized split-mouth clinical trial.

PubMed

Giannelli, Marco; Formigli, Lucia; Lorenzini, Luca; Bani, Daniele

2012-10-01

Comparing the efficacy of photoablative and photodynamic diode laser in adjunct to scaling -root planing (SRP) and SRP alone for the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Twenty-six patients were studied. Maxillary left or right quadrants were randomly assigned to sham-laser treatment + SRP or laser + SRP. This consisted of photoablative intra/extra-pocket de-epithelization with diode laser (λ = 810 nm), followed by single SRP and multiple photodynamic treatments (once weekly, 4-10 applications, mean ± SD: 3.7 ± 2.4) using diode laser (λ = 635 nm) and 0.3% methylene blue as photosensitizer. The patients were monitored at days 0 and 365 by clinical assessment (probing depth, PD; clinical attachment level, CAL; bleeding on probing, BOP) and at days 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 365 by cytofluorescence analysis of gingival exfoliative samples taken in proximity of the teeth to be treated (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMN; red blood cells, RBC; damaged epithelial cells, DEC; bacteria). At day 365, compared with the control quadrants, the laser + SRP therapy yielded a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in PD (-1.9 mm), CAL (-1.7 mm) and BOP (-33.2% bleeding sites), as well as in bacterial contamination - especially spirochetes - and PMN and RBC shedding in the gingival samples (p < 0.001). Diode laser treatment (photoablation followed by multiple photodynamic cycles) adjunctive to conventional SRP improves healing in chronic periodontitis patients. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Impact of supragingival therapy on subgingival microbial profile in smokers versus non-smokers with severe chronic periodontitis

PubMed Central

Meulman, Tatiana; Casarin, Renato C. V.; Peruzzo, Daiane C.; Giorgetti, Ana Paula; Barbagallo, André; Casati, Márcio Z.; Sallum, Enilson A.; Gonçalves, Reginaldo B.; Nociti Jr, Francisco H.

2012-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to assess subgingival microbiological changes in smokers versus non-smokers presenting severe chronic periodontitis after supragingival periodontal therapy (ST). Methods Non-smokers (n=10) and smokers (n=10) presenting at least nine teeth with probing pocket depth (PPD) (≥5 mm), bleeding on probing (BoP), and no history of periodontal treatment in the last 6 months were selected. Clinical parameters assessed were plaque index (PI), BoP, PPD, relative gingival margin position (rGMP) and relative clinical attachment level (rCAL). Subgingival biofilm was collected before and 21 days after ST. DNA was extracted and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified with the universal primer pair, 27F and 1492R. Amplified genes were cloned, sequenced, and identified by comparison with known 16S rRNA sequences. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's t and Chi-Square tests (α=5%). Results Clinically, ST promoted a significant reduction in PI and PPD, and gain of rCAL for both groups, with no significant intergroup difference. Microbiologically, at baseline, data analysis demonstrated that smokers harbored a higher proportion of Porphyromonas endodontalis, Bacteroidetes sp., Fusobacterium sp. and Tannerella forsythia and a lower number of cultivated phylotypes (p<0.05). Furthermore, non-smokers featured significant reductions in key phylotypes associated with periodontitis, whereas smokers presented more modest changes. Conclusion Within the limits of the present study, ST promoted comparable clinical improvements in smokers and non-smokers with severe chronic periodontitis. However, in smokers, ST only slightly affected the subgingival biofilm biodiversity, as compared with non-smokers. PMID:22232720

Cannabis use and destructive periodontal diseases among adolescents.

PubMed

López, Rodrigo; Baelum, Vibeke

2009-03-01

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the association between cannabis use and destructive periodontal disease among adolescents. Data from a population screening examination carried out among Chilean high school students from the Province of Santiago were used to determine whether there was an association between the use of cannabis and signs of periodontal diseases as defined by (1) the presence of necrotizing ulcerative gingival (NUG) lesions or (2) the presence of clinical attachment loss (CAL) > or =3 mm. The cannabis exposures variables considered were "Ever use of cannabis" (yes/no) and "Regular use of cannabis" (yes/no). The associations were investigated using multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, paternal income, paternal education, frequency of tooth-brushing and time since last dental visit. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that "Ever use of cannabis" was significantly negatively associated with the presence of NUG lesions (OR=0.47 [0.2;0.9]) among non-smokers only. No significant associations were observed between the presence of CAL > or =3 mm and cannabis use in either of the smoking groups. There was no evidence to suggest that the use of cannabis is positively associated with periodontal diseases in this adolescent population.

Parameters of oxidative stress in saliva from patients with aggressive and chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Acquier, Andrea B; De Couto Pita, Alejandra K; Busch, Lucila; Sánchez, Gabriel A

2017-05-01

Free radicals play an important role in the onset and progression of many diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of oxidative stress in the pathology of aggressive (AgP) and chronic (CP) periodontitis and its relation with the clinical periodontal status. Eighty subjects were divided into two groups: 20 patients with AgP and 20 patients with CP with their 20 corresponding matched controls, based on clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Saliva reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and non-enzymatic antioxidant defences were measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay, as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), respectively. Pearson's correlation and multivariate analysis were used to determine the relationship between ROS and TBARs and the clinical parameters. ROS and TBARs were increased in AgP while TRAP was decreased, comparing with CP. In AgP, a strong and positive correlation was observed between ROS and TBARs and they were closely associated with CAL and PPD. In AgP, but not in CP, oxidative stress is a high contributor to periodontal pathology and it is closely associated with the clinical periodontal status.

Evaluation of calcium ion, hydroxyl ion release and pH levels in various calcium hydroxide based intracanal medicaments: An in vitro study

PubMed Central

Fulzele, Punit; Baliga, Sudhindra; Thosar, Nilima; Pradhan, Debaprya

2011-01-01

Aims: Evaluation of calcium ion and hydroxyl ion release and pH levels in various calcium hydroxide based intracanal medicaments. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate calcium and hydroxyl ion release and pH levels of calcium hydroxide based products, namely, RC Cal, Metapex, calcium hydroxide with distilled water, along with the new gutta-percha points with calcium hydroxide. Materials and Methods: The materials were inserted in polyethylene tubes and immersed in deionized water. The pH variation, Ca++ and OH- release were monitored periodically for 1 week. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was carried out using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc tests with PASW Statistics version 18 software to compare the statistical difference. Results: After 1 week, calcium hydroxide with distilled water and RC Cal raised the pH to 12.7 and 11.8, respectively, while a small change was observed for Metapex, calcium hydroxide gutta-percha points. The calcium released after 1 week was 15.36 mg/dL from RC Cal, followed by 13.04, 1.296, 3.064 mg/dL from calcium hydroxide with sterile water, Metapex and calcium hydroxide gutta-percha points, respectively. Conclusions: Calcium hydroxide with sterile water and RC Cal pastes liberate significantly more calcium and hydroxyl ions and raise the pH higher than Metapex and calcium hydroxidegutta-percha points. PMID:22346155

Decrease of tight junction integrity in the ipsilateral thalamus during the acute stage after focal infarction and ablation of the cerebral cortex in rats.

PubMed

Li, Jing-Jing; Xing, Shi-Hui; Zhang, Jian; Hong, Hua; Li, Yi-Liang; Dang, Chao; Zhang, Yu-Sheng; Li, Chuo; Fan, Yu-Hua; Yu, Jian; Pei, Zhong; Zeng, Jin-Sheng

2011-11-01

1. Whether damage to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) occurs in remote areas after a focal cortical lesion remains unknown. The present study investigated tight junction-related proteins and tight junction microstructure in the ipsilateral thalamus during the acute stage after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and cortical aspiration lesion (CAL) in rats. 2. Thirty-six hypertensive and normotensive rats were subjected to MCAO or CAL; another 18 rats in each group were submitted to sham operation. Zonula Occluden (ZO)-1, occludin and albumin were detected by western blotting 12 and 24 h after surgery. Tight junction microstructure was evaluated using electron microscopy, whereas albumin location in the ipsilateral thalamus was determined using double immunostaining for albumin and occludin or albumin and neuronal nuclei (NeuN) 24 h after surgery. 3. Twenty-four hours after MCAO or CAL, occludin expression was reduced to 78.4% and 81.3%, respectively, compared with control. A reduction in ZO-1 expression in the ipsilateral thalamus (to 79%) was seen only after CAL (P < 0.05). Membrane contact at the tight junction was discontinuous in the ipsilateral thalamus in both MCAO and CAL rats. Albumin levels were 23.2% and 82.5% higher in the ipsilateral thalamus after MCAO and CAL, respectively (P < 0.05). The percentage of the albumin-positive area that coincided with the occludin-positive area in the MCAO and CAL groups was 76.8% and 64.6%, respectively, indicating that albumin was mainly localized around the microvessels. 4. The results of the present study suggest that tight junction integrity decreases during the acute stage in the ipsilateral thalamus after MCAO and CAL in rats. © 2011 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Comparative clinical evaluation of acellular dermal matrix allograft and connective tissue graft for the treatment of gingival recession.

PubMed

Rahmani, M E; Lades, Mohammad A Rigi

2006-05-01

"Gingival recession is a condition reported to occur due to abnormal periodontal anatomy, poor hygiene, excessive occlusal forces, toothbrush abrasion, and even iatrogenic or factitious causes. Though various surgical techniques are available to treat this problem, the most common is the palatal soft tissue autograft. Recently, an acellular dermal matrix allograft (ADMA) has been available as a substitute for the palatal tissue harvest. The aim of this study is to compare the ADMA with the conventional subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) in the treatment of gingival recession." Fourteen patients with 20 gingival recessions of Miller's grade I and II were selected and randomized in two groups of control (SCTG ) and test (ADMA). In each group ten recession defects were treated. The following parameters were measured at baseline and then at six months post surgery: recession height (RH), recession width (RW), probing depth (PD), attached gingiva (AG), keratinized gingiva (KG), and clinical attachment level (CAL). All parameters were analyzed using the two-sample t-test. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 11) software. The following mean changes (mm) occurred in SCTG and ADMA, respectively: 2.60+/-0.97 and 2.90+/-0.81 decrease in RH; 1.70+/-1.01 and 1.65+/-0.67 decrease in RW; 2.50+/-0.97 and 2.95+/-0.69 increase in KG; 2.25+/-0.92 and 2.65+/-0.85 increase in AG; 2.60+/-1.08 and 2.75+/-0.92 decrease in CAL; and finally 0.05+/-0.50 and 0.10+/-0.46 decrease in PD for the SCTG and ADMA groups, respectively. The percentage of root coverage for the two groups was 70.12%+/-22.81% and 72.08%+/-14.12%, respectively. The changes from baseline to the six-month visit were significant for both groups in terms of all parameters but PD. However, the differences in mean changes were not significant between the two groups in any of the parameters. These findings imply the ADMA and SCTG techniques could produce the same results when used for the successful treatment of gingival recessions. In addition the ADMA could be used as an adequate alternative treatment modality for conventional techniques.

Holocene sea-level changes along the North Carolina Coastline and their implications for glacial isostatic adjustment models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Horton, B.P.; Peltier, W.R.; Culver, S.J.; Drummond, R.; Engelhart, S.E.; Kemp, A.C.; Mallinson, D.; Thieler, E.R.; Riggs, S.R.; Ames, D.V.; Thomson, K.H.

2009-01-01

We have synthesized new and existing relative sea-level (RSL) data to produce a quality-controlled, spatially comprehensive database from the North Carolina coastline. The RSL database consists of 54 sea-level index points that are quantitatively related to an appropriate tide level and assigned an error estimate, and a further 33 limiting dates that confine the maximum and minimum elevations of RSL. The temporal distribution of the index points is very uneven with only five index points older than 4000 cal a BP, but the form of the Holocene sea-level trend is constrained by both terrestrial and marine limiting dates. The data illustrate RSL rapidly rising during the early and mid Holocene from an observed elevation of -35.7 ?? 1.1 m MSL at 11062-10576 cal a BP to -4.2 m ?? 0.4 m MSL at 4240-3592 cal a BP. We restricted comparisons between observations and predictions from the ICE-5G(VM2) with rotational feedback Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) model to the Late Holocene RSL (last 4000 cal a BP) because of the wealth of sea-level data during this time interval. The ICE-5G(VM2) model predicts significant spatial variations in RSL across North Carolina, thus we subdivided the observations into two regions. The model forecasts an increase in the rate of sea-level rise in Region 1 (Albemarle, Currituck, Roanoke, Croatan, and northern Pamlico sounds) compared to Region 2 (southern Pamlico, Core and Bogue sounds, and farther south to Wilmington). The observations show Late Holocene sea-level rising at 1.14 ?? 0.03 mm year-1 and 0.82 ?? 0.02 mm year-1 in Regions 1 and 2, respectively. The ICE-5G(VM2) predictions capture the general temporal trend of the observations, although there is an apparent misfit for index points older than 2000 cal a BP. It is presently unknown whether these misfits are caused by possible tectonic uplift associated with the mid-Carolina Platform High or a flaw in the GIA model. A comparison of local tide gauge data with the Late Holocene RSL trends from Regions 1 and 2 support the spatial variation in RSL across North Carolina, and imply an additional increase of mean sea level of greater than 2 mm year-1 during the latter half of the 20th century; this is in general agreement with historical tide gauge and satellite altimetry data. ?? 2009 Elsevier Ltd.

Automatic health record review to help prioritize gravely ill Social Security disability applicants.

PubMed

Abbott, Kenneth; Ho, Yen-Yi; Erickson, Jennifer

2017-07-01

Every year, thousands of patients die waiting for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Some qualify for expedited service under the Compassionate Allowance (CAL) initiative, but CAL software focuses exclusively on information from a single form field. This paper describes the development of a supplemental process for identifying some overlooked but gravely ill applicants, through automatic annotation of health records accompanying new claims. We explore improved prioritization instead of fully autonomous claims approval. We developed a sample of claims containing medical records at the moment of arrival in a single office. A series of tools annotated both patient records and public Web page descriptions of CAL medical conditions. We trained random forests to identify CAL patients and validated each model with 10-fold cross validation. Our main model, a general CAL classifier, had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.915. Combining this classifier with existing software improved sensitivity from 0.960 to 0.994, detecting every deceased patient, but reducing positive predictive value to 0.216. True positive CAL identification is a priority, given CAL patient mortality. Mere prioritization of the false positives would not create a meaningful burden in terms of manual review. Death certificate data suggest the presence of truly ill patients among putative false positives. To a limited extent, it is possible to identify gravely ill Social Security disability applicants by analyzing annotations of unstructured electronic health records, and the level of identification is sufficient to be useful in prioritizing case reviews. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association 2017. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US.

A 3500 14C yr High-Resolution Record of Water-Level Changes in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia/Peru

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbott, Mark B.; Binford, Michael W.; Brenner, Mark; Kelts, Kerry R.

1997-03-01

Sediment cores collected from the southern basin of Lake Titicaca (Bolivia/Peru) on a transect from 4.6 m above overflow level to 15.1 m below overflow level are used to identify a new century-scale chronology of Holocene lake-level variations. The results indicate that lithologic and geochemical analyses on a transect of cores can be used to identify and date century-scale lake-level changes. Detailed sedimentary analyses of subfacies and radiocarbon dating were conducted on four representative cores. A chronology based on 60 accelerator mass spectrometer radiocarbon measurements constrains the timing of water-level fluctuations. Two methods were used to estimate the 14C reservoir age. Both indicate that it has remained nearly constant at ˜250 14C yr during the late Holocene. Core studies based on lithology and geochemistry establish the timing and magnitude of five periods of low lake level, implying negative moisture balance for the northern Andean altiplano over the last 3500 cal yr. Between 3500 and 3350 cal yr B.P., a transition from massive, inorganic-clay facies to laminated organic-matter-rich silts in each of the four cores signals a water-level rise after a prolonged mid-Holocene dry phase. Evidence of other significant low lake levels occurs 2900-2800, 2400-2200, 2000-1700, and 900-500 cal yr B.P. Several of the low lake levels coincided with cultural changes in the region, including the collapse of the Tiwanaku civilization.

Coronary calcium visualization using dual energy chest radiography with sliding organ registration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Di; Nye, Katelyn; Zhou, Bo; Gilkeson, Robert C.; Wilson, David L.

2016-03-01

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is the lead biomarker for atherosclerotic heart disease. We are developing a new technique to image CAC using ubiquitously ordered, low cost, low radiation dual energy (DE) chest radiography (using the two-shot GE Revolution XRd system). In this paper, we proposed a novel image processing method (CorCalDx) based on sliding organ registration to create a bone-image-like, coronary calcium image (CCI) that significantly reduces motion artifacts and improves CAC conspicuity. Experiments on images of a physical dynamic cardiac phantom showed that CorCalDx reduced 73% of the motion artifact area as compared to standard DE over a range of heart rates up to 90 bpm and varying x-ray radiation exposures. Residual motion artifact in the phantom CCI is greatly suppressed in gray level and area (0.88% of the heart area). In a Functional Measurement Test (FMT) with 20 clinical exams, image quality improvement of CorCalDx against standard DE (measured from -10 to +10) was significantly suggested (p<0.0001) by three radiologists for cardiac motion artifacts (7.2+/-2.1) and cardiac anatomy visibility (6.1+/-3.5). CorCalDx was always chosen best in every image tested. In preliminary assessments of 12 patients with 18 calcifications, 90% of motion artifact regions in standard DE results were removed in CorCalDx results, with 100% sensitivity of calcification detection, showing great potential of CorCalDx to improve CAC detection and grading in DE chest radiography.

Anthocyanins from black rice (Oryza sativa L.) demonstrate antimetastatic properties by reducing MMPs and NF-κB expressions in human oral cancer CAL 27 cells.

PubMed

Fan, Ming-Jen; Wang, I-Chen; Hsiao, Yung-Ting; Lin, Hui-Yi; Tang, Nou-Ying; Hung, Tzu-Chieh; Quan, Christine; Lien, Jin-Cherng; Chung, Jing-Gung

2015-01-01

Aside from the commonly known white rice lines, colored varieties also exist. These varieties have historically been used in Chinese medicine. Anthocyanins, a large group of natural polyphenols existing in a variety of daily fruits and vegetables, have been widely recognized as cancer chemopreventive agents. The primary objective of cancer treatment strategies has traditionally focused on preventing the occurrence of metastasis. In this research the antimetastatic mechanism of anthocyanins on the invasion/migration of human oral CAL 27 cells was performed using a transwell to quantify the migratory potential of CAL 27 cells and the results show that anthocyanins can inhibit the in vitro migration and invasion of CAL 27 cancer cells. In addition, the gelatin zymography assay indicated that anthocyanins inhibited the activity of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2). Western blotting assay also demonstrated that anthocyanins inhibited the associated protein expression of migration/invasion of CAL 27 cell. Immunofluorescence staining proved that anthocyanins inhibited nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) expressions. These results demonstrated that anthocyanins from a species of black rice (selected purple glutinous indica rice cultivated at Asia University) could suppress CAL 27 cell metastasis by reduction of MMP-2, MMP-9, and NF-κB p65 expression through the suppression of PI3K/Akt pathway and inhibition of NF-κB levels.

Calcium Solubility In Zeolite Synthetic-Apatite Mixtures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beiersdorfer, R.; Ming, D. W.

1999-01-01

Life support systems at a lunar or martian outpost will require the ability to produce food growing in 1) treated lunar or martian regolith; 2) a synthetic soil, or 3) some combination of both. Zeoponic soil, composed of NH4 (-) and K-exchanged clinoptilolite (Cp) and synthetic apatite (Ap), can provide slow-release fertilization via dissolution and ion-exchange. Equilibrium studies indicate that KNH4, P, and Mg are available to plants at sufficient levels, however, Ca is deficient. Ca availability can be increased by adding a second Ca-bearing mineral: calcite (Cal); dolomite (Dol); or wollastonite (Wol). Additions of Cal, Dol, and Wol systematically change the concentrations of Ca and P in solution. Cal has the greatest effect, Dol the least, and Wol is intermediate.

Holocene multidecadal and multicentennial droughts affecting Northern California and Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Benson, L.; Kashgarian, Michaele; Rye, R.; Lund, S.; Paillet, F.; Smoot, J.; Kester, C.; Mensing, S.; Meko, D.; Lindstrom, S.

2002-01-01

Continuous, high-resolution ??18O records from cored sediments of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, indicate that oscillations in the hydrologic balance occurred, on average, about every 150 years (yr) during the past 7630 calendar years (cal yr). The records are not stationary; during the past 2740 yr, drought durations ranged from 20 to 100 yr and intervals between droughts ranged from 80 to 230 yr. Comparison of tree-ring-based reconstructions of climate change for the past 1200 yr from the Sierra Nevada and the El alpais region of northwest New Mexico indicates that severe droughts associated with Anasazi withdrawal from Chaco Canyon at 820 cal yr BP (calendar years before present) and final abandonment of Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, and the Kayenta area at 650 cal yr BP may have impacted much of the western United States.During the middle Holocene (informally defined in this paper as extending from 8000 to 3000 cal yr BP), magnetic susceptibility values of sediments deposited in Pyramid Lake's deep basin were much larger than late-Holocene (3000-0 cal yr BP) values, indicating the presence of a shallow lake. In addition, the mean ?? 18O value of CaCO3 precipitated between 6500 and 3430 cal yr BP was 1.6??? less than the mean value of CaCO3 precipitated after 2740 cal yr BP. Numerical calculations indicate that the shift in the ??18O baseline probably resulted from a transition to a wetter (> 30%) and cooler (3-5??C) climate. The existence of a relatively dry and warm middle-Holocene climate in the Truckee River - Pyramid Lake system is generally consistent with archeological, sedimentological, chemical, physical, and biological records from various sites within the Great Basin of the western United States. Two high-resolution Holocene-climate records are now available from the Pyramid and Owens lake basins which suggest that the Holocene was characterized by five climatic intervals. TIC and ??18O records from Owens Lake indicate that the first interval in the early Holocene (11,600-10,000 cal yr BP) was characterized by a drying trend that was interrupted by a brief (200 yr) wet oscillation centered at 10,300 cal yr BP. This was followed by a second early-Holocene interval (10,000-8000 cal yr BP) during which relatively wet conditions prevailed. During the early part of the middle Holocene (8000-6500 cal yr BP), high-amplitude oscillations in TIC in Owens Lake and ??18O in Pyramid Lake indicate the presence of shallow lakes in both basins. During the latter part of the middle Holocene (6500-3800 cal yr BP), drought conditions dominated, Owens Lake desiccated, and Lake Tahoe ceased spilling to the Truckee River, causing Pyramid Lake to decline. At the beginning of the late Holocene (???3000 cal yr BP), Lake Tahoe rose to its sill level and Pyramid Lake increased in volume. ?? 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Holocene multidecadal and multicentennial droughts affecting Northern California and Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benson, Larry; Kashgarian, Michaele; Rye, Robert; Lund, Steve; Paillet, Fred; Smoot, Joseph; Kester, Cynthia; Mensing, Scott; Meko, Dave; Lindström, Susan

2002-02-01

Continuous, high-resolution δ18O records from cored sediments of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, indicate that oscillations in the hydrologic balance occurred, on average, about every 150 years (yr) during the past 7630 calendar years (cal yr). The records are not stationary; during the past 2740 yr, drought durations ranged from 20 to 100 yr and intervals between droughts ranged from 80 to 230 yr. Comparison of tree-ring-based reconstructions of climate change for the past 1200 yr from the Sierra Nevada and the El Malpais region of northwest New Mexico indicates that severe droughts associated with Anasazi withdrawal from Chaco Canyon at 820 cal yr BP (calendar years before present) and final abandonment of Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, and the Kayenta area at 650 cal yr BP may have impacted much of the western United States.During the middle Holocene (informally defined in this paper as extending from 8000 to 3000 cal yr BP), magnetic susceptibility values of sediments deposited in Pyramid Lake's deep basin were much larger than late-Holocene (3000-0 cal yr BP) values, indicating the presence of a shallow lake. In addition, the mean δ18O value of CaCO 3 precipitated between 6500 and 3430 cal yr BP was 1.6‰ less than the mean value of CaCO 3 precipitated after 2740 cal yr BP. Numerical calculations indicate that the shift in the δ18O baseline probably resulted from a transition to a wetter (>30%) and cooler (3-5°C) climate. The existence of a relatively dry and warm middle-Holocene climate in the Truckee River-Pyramid Lake system is generally consistent with archeological, sedimentological, chemical, physical, and biological records from various sites within the Great Basin of the western United States. Two high-resolution Holocene-climate records are now available from the Pyramid and Owens lake basins which suggest that the Holocene was characterized by five climatic intervals. TIC and δ18O records from Owens Lake indicate that the first interval in the early Holocene (11,600-10,000 cal yr BP) was characterized by a drying trend that was interrupted by a brief (200 yr) wet oscillation centered at 10,300 cal yr BP. This was followed by a second early-Holocene interval (10,000-8000 cal yr BP) during which relatively wet conditions prevailed. During the early part of the middle Holocene (8000-6500 cal yr BP), high-amplitude oscillations in TIC in Owens Lake and δ18O in Pyramid Lake indicate the presence of shallow lakes in both basins. During the latter part of the middle Holocene (6500-3800 cal yr BP), drought conditions dominated, Owens Lake desiccated, and Lake Tahoe ceased spilling to the Truckee River, causing Pyramid Lake to decline. At the beginning of the late Holocene (˜3000 cal yr BP), Lake Tahoe rose to its sill level and Pyramid Lake increased in volume.

Aging-associated changes in L-type calcium channels in the left atria of dogs.

PubMed

Gan, Tian-Yi; Qiao, Weiwei; Xu, Guo-Jun; Zhou, Xian-Hui; Tang, Bao-Peng; Song, Jian-Guo; Li, Yao-Dong; Zhang, Jian; Li, Fa-Peng; Mao, Ting; Jiang, Tao

2013-10-01

Action potential (AP) contours vary considerably between the fibers of normal adult and aged left atria. The underlying ionic and molecular mechanisms that mediate these differences remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the L-type calcium current (I Ca.L ) and the L-type Ca 2+ channel of the left atria may be altered with age to contribute to atrial fibrillation (AF). Two groups of mongrel dogs (normal adults, 2-2.5 years old and older dogs, >8 years old) were used in this study. The inducibility of AF was quantitated using the cumulative window of vulnerability (WOV). A whole-cell patch-clamp was used to record APs and I Ca.L in left atrial (LA) cells obtained from the two groups of dogs. Protein and mRNA expression levels of the a1C (Cav1.2) subunit of the L-type calcium channel were assessed using western blotting and quantitative PCR (qPCR), respectively. Although the resting potential, AP amplitude and did not differ with age, the plateau potential was more negative and the APD 90 was longer in the aged cells compared with that in normal adult cells. Aged LA cells exhibited lower peak I Ca.L current densities than normal adult LA cells (P<0.05). In addition, the Cav1.2 mRNA and protein expression levels in LA cells were decreased in the aged group compared with those in the normal adult group. The lower AP plateau potential and the decreased I Ca.L of LA cells in aged dogs may contribute to the slow and discontinuous conduction of the left atria. Furthermore, the reduction of the expression levels of Cav1.2 with age may be the molecular mechanism that mediates the decline in I Ca.L with increasing age.

The 3D structure and function of digestive cathepsin L-like proteinases of Tenebrio molitor larval midgut.

PubMed

Beton, Daniela; Guzzo, Cristiane R; Ribeiro, Alberto F; Farah, Chuck S; Terra, Walter R

2012-09-01

Cathepsin L-like proteinases (CAL) are major digestive proteinases in the beetle Tenebrio molitor. Procathepsin Ls 2 (pCAL2) and 3 (pCAL3) were expressed as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli, purified and activated under acidic conditions. Immunoblot analyses of different T. molitor larval tissues demonstrated that a polyclonal antibody to pCAL3 recognized pCAL3 and cathepsin L 3 (CAL3) only in the anterior two-thirds of midgut tissue and midgut luminal contents of T. molitor larvae. Furthermore, immunocytolocalization data indicated that pCAL3 occurs in secretory vesicles and microvilli in anterior midgut. Therefore CAL3, like cathepsin L 2 (CAL2), is a digestive enzyme secreted by T. molitor anterior midgut. CAL3 hydrolyses Z-FR-MCA and Z-RR-MCA (typical cathepsin substrates), whereas CAL2 hydrolyses only Z-FR-MCA. Active site mutants (pCAL2C25S and pCAL3C26S) were constructed by replacing the catalytic cysteine with serine to prevent autocatalytic processing. Recombinant pCAL2 and pCAL3 mutants (pCAL2C25S and pCAL3C26S) were prepared, crystallized and their 3D structures determined at 1.85 and 2.1 Å, respectively. While the overall structure of these enzymes is similar to other members of the papain superfamily, structural differences in the S2 subsite explain their substrate specificities. The data also supported models for CAL trafficking to lysosomes and to secretory vesicles to be discharged into midgut contents. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical evaluation of subepithelial connective tissue graft and guided tissue regeneration for treatment of Miller’s class 1 gingival recession (comparative, split mouth, six months study)

PubMed Central

Bhavsar, Neeta-V.; Dulani, Kirti; Trivedi, Rahul

2014-01-01

Objectives: The present study aims to clinically compare and evaluate subepithelial connective tissue graft and the GTR based root coverage in treatment of Miller’s Class I gingival recession. Study Design: 30 patients with at least one pair of Miller’s Class I gingival recession were treated either with Subepithelial connective tissue graft (Group A) or Guided tissue regeneration (Group B). Clinical parameters monitored included recession RD, width of keratinized gingiva (KG), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), attached gingiva (AG), residual probing depth (RPD) and % of Root coverage(%RC). Measurements were taken at baseline, three months and six months. A standard surgical procedure was used for both Group A and Group B. Data were recorded and statistical analysis was done for both intergroup and intragroup. Results: At end of six months % RC obtained were 84.47% (Group A) and 81.67% (Group B). Both treatments resulted in statistically significant improvement in clinical parameters. When compared, no statistically significant difference was found between both groups except in RPD, where it was significantly greater in Group A. Conclusions: GTR technique has advantages over subepithelial connective tissue graft for shallow Miller’s Class I defects and this procedure can be used to avoid patient discomfort and reduce treatment time. Key words:Collagen membrane, comparative split mouth study, gingival recession, subepithelial connective tissue graft, guided tissue regeneration (GTR). PMID:25136420

Effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on plasma homocysteine levels in Indian population with chronic periodontitis: a pilot study.

PubMed

Bhardwaj, Smiti; Prabhuji, M L Venkatesh; Karthikeyan, Bangalore Vardhan

2015-03-01

Homocysteine (Hcy) is implicated in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The effect of periodontal disease and periodontal therapy on plasma Hcy remains controversial. Hence, in this pilot study we assessed the effect of periodontal disease and non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on plasma Hcy in systemically healthy Indian subjects. Forty participants (30 to 39 years) were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups based on gingival index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL): Healthy (control group; n = 20) and Chronic Periodontitis (test group; n = 20). Plasma samples were collected and quantified at baseline and 12 weeks after scaling and root planing (SRP) for Hcy using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with fluorescent detection (HPLC-fld). Plasma Hcy levels of chronic periodontitis (17.87 ± 1.21 μmol/l) subjects was significantly higher than healthy subjects (9.09 ± 2.11 μmol/l). Post-therapy, the plasma Hcy concentration reduced significantly (11.34 ± 1.87 μmol/l) (p < 0.05). The rise and descent of plasma Hcy levels with periodontal inflammation and therapy, respectively, indicate a direct relationship of Hcy with chronic periodontitis. NSPT may be employed as an adjunctive Hcy Lowering Therapy, contributing towards primary prevention against CVD's. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Lateglacial and Holocene climatic changes in south-eastern Patagonia inferred from carbonate isotope records of Laguna Potrok Aike (Argentina)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oehlerich, M.; Mayr, C.; Gussone, N.; Hahn, A.; Hölzl, S.; Lücke, A.; Ohlendorf, C.; Rummel, S.; Teichert, B. M. A.; Zolitschka, B.

2015-04-01

First results of strontium, calcium, carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of bulk carbonates from a 106 m long sediment record of Laguna Potrok Aike, located in southern Patagonia are presented. Morphological and isotopic investigations of μm-sized carbonate crystals in the sediment reveal an endogenic origin for the entire Holocene. During this time period the calcium carbonate record of Laguna Potrok Aike turned out to be most likely ikaite-derived. As ikaite precipitation in nature has only been observed in a narrow temperature window between 0 and 7 °C, the respective carbonate oxygen isotope ratios serve as a proxy of hydrological variations rather than of palaeotemperatures. We suggest that oxygen isotope ratios are sensitive to changes of the lake water balance induced by intensity variations of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies and discuss the role of this wind belt as a driver for climate change in southern South America. In combination with other proxy records the evolution of westerly wind intensities is reconstructed. Our data suggest that weak SHW prevailed during the Lateglacial and the early Holocene, interrupted by an interval with strengthened Westerlies between 13.4 and 11.3 ka cal BP. Wind strength increased at 9.2 ka cal BP and significantly intensified until 7.0 ka cal BP. Subsequently, the wind intensity diminished and stabilised to conditions similar to present day after a period of reduced evaporation during the "Little Ice Age". Strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr ratio) were identified as a potential lake-level indicator and point to a lowering from overflow conditions during the Glacial (∼17 ka cal BP) to lowest lake levels around 8 ka cal BP. Thereafter the strontium isotope curve resembles the lake-level curve which is stepwise rising until the "Little Ice Age". The variability of the Ca isotope composition of the sediment reflects changes in the Ca budget of the lake, indicating higher degrees of Ca utilisation during the period with lowest lake level.

Gingival crevicular fluid and plasma oxidative stress markers and TGM-2 levels in chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Becerik, Sema; Öztürk, Veli Özgen; Celec, Peter; Kamodyova, Natalia; Atilla, Gül; Emingil, Gülnur

2017-11-01

This study was aimed to evaluate the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and plasma transglutaminase-2 (TGM-2), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in patients with chronic periodontal disease. Twenty patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), 20 patients with gingivitis and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Clinical periodontal parameters including probing depth, clinical attachment level, plaque index and papillary bleeding index were recorded. GCF and plasma levels of TGM-2, TAC, TOS, TBARS and FRAP were analyzed. GCF TGM-2 was significantly lower in CP group than in gingivitis patients (P=0.006). GCF FRAP in CP and gingivitis groups was significantly lower than in healthy subjects (P<0.001). Plasma FRAP level was lower in gingivitis group when compared to healthy subjects (P=0.003). There was no significant difference in GCF and plasma TAC, TOS, TBARS and plasma TGM-2 levels among the study groups (P>0.05). GCF TGM-2 level was positively correlated with GCF TAC and negatively correlated with CAL. Decreased FRAP in GCF and plasma indicating lower antioxidant status of CP patients might suggest the role of oxidative stress in periodontitis. GCF TGM-2 data might suggest that TGM2 is associated with stabilization of the extracellular matrix and wound healing in periodontium rather than gingival inflammation. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Holocene vegetation, environment and anthropogenic influence in the Fuzhou Basin, southeast China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yue, Yuanfu; Zheng, Zhuo; Rolett, Barry V.; Ma, Ting; Chen, Cong; Huang, Kangyou; Lin, Gongwu; Zhu, Guangqi; Cheddadi, Rachid

2015-03-01

A ∼40 m sediment core (FZ4) was collected from the Fuzhou Basin, near the lower reaches of the Min River, in Fujian Province on the southeast coast of China. The sediment and pollen record contributes to our understanding of Holocene paleogeography, including local changes in vegetation and climate in the context of Neolithic cultural developments. The sediment record reveals a fluvial environment in the Fuzhou Basin during the late Pleistocene, and it demonstrates that a change from fluvial to estuarine conditions at ∼9000 cal yr BP resulted from postglacial sea level rise. Evidence of abundant marine diatoms and tidal flat laminations observed in the FZ4 sediments, implies that the Fuzhou Basin was under marine influence between ∼9000 and ∼2000 cal yr BP. After 2000 cal yr BP, a rapid retreat in coastline associated with fluvial aggradation and coastal progradation produced more shallow water for wetlands and initiated formation of the floodplain landscape. The pollen record reveals the presence of a dense subtropical forest between ca. 9000 and 7000 cal yr BP, representing the Holocene thermal maximum, which is linked with rising sea level and marine transgression in the Fuzhou Basin. Between ca. 5500 and 2000 cal yr BP, the thermophilous forest dominated by Castanopsis retreated and coniferous forest expanded, reflecting moderate climatic cooling during this period. Timing of the high frequencies for Pinus and ferns correspond with the mid-late Holocene cooling trend recorded in local mountain peatland and coastal regions of the lower Yangtze and Hanjiang deltas. Anthropogenically induced land cover change was negligible prior to the Tanshishan cultural period, which marks the beginning of Neolithic era sedentary village life on the Fujian coast around 5500 BP. The pollen transition at ca. 3000-1500 cal yr BP, distinguished by rising frequencies of Poaceae and taxa (including Cyperaceae and Artemisia) closely associated with agricultural land cover, indicates exploitation of newly formed lowlands in the emerging Min River floodplain. The historic era intensification of rice agriculture is reflected in this trend of rising frequencies of Poaceae. After ca. 2000 cal yr BP, we observe the onset of a marine regression followed by evidence for an intensely human-impacted environment characterized by sharp rises in pioneer plants such as Poaceae and Dicranopteris. This transition coincides with a rapid retreat of coastline and emergence of the Fuzhou Basin floodplain.

Screening for periodontal disease in research dogs - a methodology study.

PubMed

Kortegaard, Hanne E; Eriksen, Thomas; Baelum, Vibeke

2014-11-19

It has been shown that the prevalence of both clinical attachment loss (CAL) ≥1 mm and pocket probing depth (PPD) ≥4 mm is relatively high even in younger dogs, but also that only a minority of the dogs have such clinical signs of periodontal disease (PD) in more than a few teeth. Hence, a minority of dogs carry the major PD burden. These epidemiological features suggest that screening for PD in larger groups of dogs, allowing for rapid assessment of treatment planning, or for the selection of dogs with or without PD prior to be included in experimental trials, should be possible. CAL is the central variable in assessing PD extent and severity while PPD is the central variable used in treatment planning which make these two variables obvious in a screening protocol with the dual aim of disease identification and treatment planning. The main purpose of the present study in 98 laboratory Beagle dogs was to construct a fast, simple and accurate screening tool, which is highly sensitive for the identification of dogs with PD. Examination of the maxillary P4, P3, P2, I1 and C would, in this population, result in the identification of 85.5% of all dogs and 96% of all teeth positive for CAL ≥1 mm, and 58.9% of all dogs and 82.1% of all teeth positive for PD ≥4 mm. Examination of tooth pairs, all C's, maxillary I2, M2 and the mandibular P4 would, in this population result in identification of 92.9% of all dogs and 97.3% of all teeth positive for PD ≥4 mm, and 65.5% of all dogs and 83.2% of all teeth positive for CAL ≥1 mm. The results presented here only pertain to the present study population. This screening protocol is suitable for examination of larger groups of laboratory Beagle dogs for PD and our findings indicate that diseased dogs are identified with a high degree of sensitivity. Before this screening can be used in clinical practice, it has to be validated in breeds other than Beagle dogs and in populations with larger age variation.

Olea europaea L. in the North Mediterranean Basin during the Pleniglacial and the Early-Middle Holocene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrión, Yolanda; Ntinou, Maria; Badal, Ernestina

2010-04-01

The paper aims to define the natural distribution of Olea europaea L. var. sylvestris (Miller) Lehr. in the North Mediterranean basin during the Pleniglacial and the Early-Middle Holocene by means of the identification of its wood-charcoal and/or wood at prehistoric sites. For this purpose we have reviewed the previously available information and we have combined it with new wood-charcoal analyses data. We have taken under consideration the presence and frequency of O. europaea L. in the available wood-charcoal sequences, the characteristics of the accompanying flora, the associated chrono-cultural contexts, the broader biogeographical context and the AMS dates provided by Olea wood-charcoal or endocarps. According to the available evidence, during the Middle and Late Pleniglacial (ca 59-11.5 ka cal. BP), Olea would have persisted in thermophilous refugia located in the southern areas of the North Mediterranean basin, the southern Levant and the north of Africa. The Last Glacial Maximum (ca 22-18 ka cal. BP) probably reduced the distribution area of Olea. During the Preboreal and the Boreal (ca 11 500-8800 cal. BP) the species started to expand in the thermomediterranean bioclimatic level. In the western Mediterranean, during the Atlantic period (ca 8800-5600 cal. BP), the species became very abundant or dominant in the thermophilous plant formations and expanded to favorable enclaves outside the limits of the thermomediterranean level.

Stone Age settlement and Holocene water level changes of the Baltic Sea in the Torvajoe Basin area, Narva-Luga Klint Bay, NE Estonia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raig, Hanna; Rosentau, Alar; Muru, Merle; Risberg, Jan

2014-05-01

The Tõrvajõe basin is located in NE Estonia in the southern part of the Narva-Luga Klint Bay, that is characterized by slow post-glacial isostatic uplift (about 0-1mm/yr) and slowly undulating low topography. Post-glacial changes of the water-level of the Baltic Sea have at times flooded the area, and at times, it has emerged as terrestrial land. In addition to a complex geological development, the surroundings of the Tõrvajõe basin are interesting from the archaeological point of view because of abundant archaeological findings in the area, of which the oldest (c 8.1 cal ka BP) from the Mesolithic period and the majority, indicating very intense habitation (c 7.1-5.5 cal ka BP), from the Neolithic period. Development of the Tőrvajőe basin area during the period of Stone Age settlement (c 8.1-5.5 cal. ka BP) is studied with multiple geological and archaeological proxies. Sediments are described by lithostratigraphical methods, loss-on-ignition. AMS radiocarbon dates are used to date events and create an age-depth model. Environment is described by pollen analyses and water environment by siliceous microfossil analyses. Palaeogeographical reconstructions for time slices of interest are created to illustrate Stone Age settlement pattern and changes of the coastline and landscape over time. The aim of this interdisciplinary study is to investigate and associate palaeoenvironmental conditions and water-level changes with Stone Age settlement pattern in the Tőrvajőe area. Results show four developmental stages in the post-glacial history of the basin: Ancylus Lake lagoon, mire, lagoon during the Litorina Sea and mire. During the Ancylus Lake transgression at about 10.8-10.2 cal. ka BP a spit started to form north of the basin and a lagoon evolved behind it. Following the Ancylus Lake regression river activity and formation of palaeosoil and fen peat took place. Due to the Litorina Sea transgression, that was initially slower but accelerated around 7.8-7.6 cal ka BP when the sea-level rose c 6m in less than a thousand years, the Siivertsi site (8.1 cal ka BP) was inundated and a coastal lagoon evolved in the basin. Shores of this lagoon were preferable living environments for Neolithic people between 7.1-6.1 cal ka BP as appears from 15 settlement sites around the basin. Due to slowing of water-level rise and on-going land uplift, the water body dried up. People abandoned the Tőrvajőe lagoon and concentrated mostly along the ancient rivers in Narva-Luga Klint Bay (Rosentau et al., 2013). References Rosentau A., Muru M., Kriiska A., Subetto D. A., Vassiljev J., Hang T., Gerasimov D., Nordqvist K., Ludikova A., Lõugas L., Raig H., Kihno K., Aunap R., Letyka, N. 2013. Stone Age settlement and Holocene shore displacement in the Narva-Luga Klint Bay area, eastern Gulf of Finland. Boreas. 10.1111/bor.12004. ISSN 0300-9483

Photodynamic therapy associated with full-mouth ultrasonic debridement in the treatment of severe chronic periodontitis: a randomized-controlled clinical trial

PubMed Central

BALATA, Maybel Lages; de ANDRADE, Lyla Prates; SANTOS, David Barros Nunes; CAVALCANTI, Andrea Nóbrega; TUNES, Urbino da Rocha; RIBEIRO, Érica Del Peloso; BITTENCOURT, Sandro

2013-01-01

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a method of microbial reduction which can benefit periodontal treatment in areas of difficult access, such as deep pockets and furcations. The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of PDT as an adjunct to full-mouth ultrasonic debridement in the treatment of severe chronic periodontitis. Material and Methods: Twenty-two patients with at least one pocket with a probing depth (PD) of ≥7 mm and one pocket with a PD of ≥5 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) on each side of the mouth were included, characterizing a split mouth design. The control group underwent full-mouth ultrasonic debridement and the test group received the same treatment associated with PDT. The PDT was performed on only one side of the mouth and the initial step consisted of subgingival irrigation with 0.005% methylene blue dye. Two minutes after applying the photosensitizer, the low power laser - AsGaAl (Photon Lase III - PL7336, DMC, São Carlos -São Paulo, Brazil) was applied (660 nm, 100 mW, 9 J, 90 seconds per site, 320 J/cm2, diameter tip 600 µm).The following clinical parameters were evaluated: plaque index, gingival index, BOP, gingival recession (GR), PD, and clinical attachment level (CAL). All parameters were collected before, 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. Results: An improvement in BOP, PD and CAL was observed after treatment, in both groups, but without any difference between them. After 6 months, the PD decreased from 5.11±0.56 mm to 2.83±0.47 mm in the test group (p<0.05) and from 5.15±0.46 mm to 2.83±0.40 mm in the control group (p<0.05). The CAL changed, after 6 months, from 5.49±0.76 mm to 3.41±0.84 mm in the test group (p<0.05) and from 5.53±0.54 to 3.39±0.51 mm in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Both approaches resulted in significant clinical improvements in the treatment of severe chronic periodontits, however, the PDT did not provide any additional benefit to those obtained with full-mouth ultrasonic debridement used alone. PMID:23739857

Calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate aerosol foam provides superior efficacy vs. gel in patients with psoriasis vulgaris: randomized, controlled PSO-ABLE study.

PubMed

Paul, C; Stein Gold, L; Cambazard, F; Kalb, R E; Lowson, D; Bang, B; Griffiths, C E M

2017-01-01

Fixed combination calcipotriol 50 μg/g (Cal) plus betamethasone 0.5 mg/g (BD) foam has been developed as a new treatment option for patients with psoriasis. The randomized, parallel-group, investigator-blinded Phase III, 12-week PSO-ABLE study compared the efficacy and safety of Cal/BD foam with Cal/BD gel. Patients aged ≥18 years with mild-to-severe psoriasis were randomized 4:4:1:1 to once-daily Cal/BD foam, Cal/BD gel, foam vehicle or gel vehicle (NCT02132936). The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who were clear/almost clear with a ≥ 2 grade improvement according to the physician's global assessment of disease severity (i.e. treatment success) at week 4 for Cal/BD foam vs. week 8 for Cal/BD gel. Secondary efficacy endpoints included: proportion of patients achieving at least a 75% reduction in modified psoriasis area and severity index (mPASI75), and time to treatment success (TTTS). Safety was monitored throughout. A total of 463 patients were randomized: Cal/BD foam (n = 185), Cal/BD gel (n = 188), foam vehicle (n = 47), gel vehicle (n = 43); overall completion rate was 90%. Cal/BD foam achieved higher treatment success rates (38% vs. 22%; P < 0.001) and mPASI75 (52% vs. 35%; P < 0.001) by week 4 than Cal/BD gel by week 8. Median TTTS with Cal/BD foam was 6 weeks; this could not be determined for Cal/BD gel as 50% treatment success was not achieved (P < 0.001). Adverse drug reactions were reported in 14 (7.6%) Cal/BD aerosol foam patients and 7 (3.7%) Cal/BD gel patients; all were single events except for itch with Cal/BD aerosol foam (n = 5; 2.7%) and worsening psoriasis with Cal/BD gel (n = 3; 1.6%). Cal/BD aerosol foam showed significantly greater efficacy after 4 weeks, than 8 weeks of treatment with Cal/BD gel, with similar tolerability. © 2016 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

High-level extracellular production and characterization of Candida antarctica lipase B in Pichia pastoris.

PubMed

Eom, Gyeong Tae; Lee, Seung Hwan; Song, Bong Keun; Chung, Keun-Wo; Kim, Young-Wun; Song, Jae Kwang

2013-08-01

The gene encoding lipase B from Candida antarctica (CalB) was expressed in Pichia pastoris after it was synthesized by the recursive PCR and cloned into the Pichia expression plasmid, pPICZαA. The CalB was successfully secreted in the recombinant P. pastoris strain X-33 with an apparent molecular weight of 34 kDa. For 140 h flask culture, the dry cell weight and the extracellular lipase activity reached at 5.4 g/l and 57.9 U/l toward p-nitrophenyl palmitate, respectively. When we performed the fed-batch fermentation using a methanol feeding strategy for 110 h, the dry cell weight and the extracellular lipase activity were increased to 135.7 g/l and 11,900 U/l; the CalB protein concentration was 1.18 g/l of culture supernatant. The characteristics of CalB recovered from the P. pastoris culture were compared with the commercial form of CalB produced in Aspergillus oryzae. The kinetic constants and specific activity, the effects of activity and stability on temperature and pH, the glycosylation extent, the degree of immobilization on macroporous resin and the yield of esterification reaction between oleic acid and n-butanol were almost identical to each other. Therefore, we successfully proved that the Pichia-based expression system for CalB in this study was industrially promising compared with one of the most efficient production systems. Copyright © 2013 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anti-tumor effect of cisplatin in human oral squamous cell carcinoma was enhanced by andrographolide via upregulation of phospho-p53 in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Chen, Songjie; Hu, Hui; Miao, Shushu; Zheng, Jiayong; Xie, Zhijian; Zhao, Hui

2017-05-01

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common neoplasm in the world. Despite the improvements in diagnosis and treatment, the outcome is still poor now. Thus, the development of novel therapeuticapproaches is needed. The aim of this study is to assess the synergistic anti-tumor effect of andrographolide with cisplatin (DDP) in oral squamous cell carcinoma CAL-27 cells in vitro and in vivo. We performed Cell Counting Kit-8 proliferation assay, apoptosis assay, and western blotting on CAL-27 cells treated with andrographolide, DDP or the combination in vitro. In vivo, we also treated CAL-27 xenografts with andrographolide or the combination, and performed terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay and immunohistochemical analysis of Ki-67. The results showed the combination of andrographolide and DDP synergistically inhibited CAL-27 cell proliferation in vitro and caused tumor regression in vivo in the CAL-27 xenografts. In addition, the synergistic anti-tumor effect of andrographolide with synergistic was due to an enhanced apoptosis. Moreover, the combination therapy upregulated the expression level of p-p53 in vitro and decreased Ki-67 expression in vivo. Our data indicate that the combination treatment of andrographolide and DDP results in synergistic anti-tumor growth activity against oral squamous cell carcinoma CAL-27 in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrated that combination of andrographolide with DDP was likely to represent a potential therapeutic strategy for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Great earthquakes of variable magnitude at the Cascadia subduction zone

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nelson, A.R.; Kelsey, H.M.; Witter, R.C.

2006-01-01

Comparison of histories of great earthquakes and accompanying tsunamis at eight coastal sites suggests plate-boundary ruptures of varying length, implying great earthquakes of variable magnitude at the Cascadia subduction zone. Inference of rupture length relies on degree of overlap on radiocarbon age ranges for earthquakes and tsunamis, and relative amounts of coseismic subsidence and heights of tsunamis. Written records of a tsunami in Japan provide the most conclusive evidence for rupture of much of the plate boundary during the earthquake of 26 January 1700. Cascadia stratigraphic evidence dating from about 1600??cal yr B.P., similar to that for the 1700 earthquake, implies a similarly long rupture with substantial subsidence and a high tsunami. Correlations are consistent with other long ruptures about 1350??cal yr B.P., 2500??cal yr B.P., 3400??cal yr B.P., 3800??cal yr B.P., 4400??cal yr B.P., and 4900??cal yr B.P. A rupture about 700-1100??cal yr B.P. was limited to the northern and central parts of the subduction zone, and a northern rupture about 2900??cal yr B.P. may have been similarly limited. Times of probable short ruptures in southern Cascadia include about 1100??cal yr B.P., 1700??cal yr B.P., 3200??cal yr B.P., 4200??cal yr B.P., 4600??cal yr B.P., and 4700??cal yr B.P. Rupture patterns suggest that the plate boundary in northern Cascadia usually breaks in long ruptures during the greatest earthquakes. Ruptures in southernmost Cascadia vary in length and recurrence intervals more than ruptures in northern Cascadia.

Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen, and Formate Metabolism during Methanogenesis from Acetate by Thermophilic Cultures of Methanosarcina and Methanothrix Strains.

PubMed

Zinder, S H; Anguish, T

1992-10-01

CO and H(2) have been implicated in methanogenesis from acetate, but it is unclear whether they are directly involved in methanogenesis or electron transfer in acetotrophic methanogens. We compared metabolism of H(2), CO, and formate by cultures of the thermophilic acetotrophic methanogens Methanosarcina thermophila TM-1 and Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1. M. thermophila accumulated H(2) to partial pressures of 40 to 70 Pa (1 Pa = 0.987 x 10 atm), as has been previously reported for this and other Methanosarcina cultures. In contrast, Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 accumulated H(2) to maximum partial pressures near 1 Pa. Growing cultures of Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 initially accumulated CO, which reached partial pressures near 0.6 Pa (some CO came from the rubber stopper) during the middle of methanogenesis; this was followed by a decrease in CO partial pressures to less than 0.01 Pa by the end of methanogenesis. Accumulation or consumption of CO by cultures of M. thermophila growing on acetate was not detected. Late-exponential-phase cultures of Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1, in which the CO partial pressure was decreased by flushing with N(2)-CO(2), accumulated CO to 0.16 Pa, whereas cultures to which ca. 0.5 Pa of CO was added consumed CO until it reached this partial pressure. Cyanide (1 mM) blocked CO consumption but not production. High partial pressures of H(2) (40 kPa) inhibited methanogenesis from acetate by M. thermophila but not by Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1, and 2 kPa of CO was not inhibitory to M. thermophila but was inhibitory to Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1. Levels of CO dehydrogenase, hydrogenase, and formate dehydrogenase in Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 were 9.1, 0.045, and 5.8 mumol of viologen reduced min mg of protein. These results suggest that CO plays a role in Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 similar to that of H(2) in M. thermophila and are consistent with the conclusion that CO is an intermediate in a catabolic or anabolic pathway in Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1; however, they could also be explained by passive equilibration of CO with a metabolic intermediate.

Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen, and Formate Metabolism during Methanogenesis from Acetate by Thermophilic Cultures of Methanosarcina and Methanothrix Strains

PubMed Central

Zinder, S. H.; Anguish, T.

1992-01-01

CO and H2 have been implicated in methanogenesis from acetate, but it is unclear whether they are directly involved in methanogenesis or electron transfer in acetotrophic methanogens. We compared metabolism of H2, CO, and formate by cultures of the thermophilic acetotrophic methanogens Methanosarcina thermophila TM-1 and Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1. M. thermophila accumulated H2 to partial pressures of 40 to 70 Pa (1 Pa = 0.987 × 10-5 atm), as has been previously reported for this and other Methanosarcina cultures. In contrast, Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 accumulated H2 to maximum partial pressures near 1 Pa. Growing cultures of Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 initially accumulated CO, which reached partial pressures near 0.6 Pa (some CO came from the rubber stopper) during the middle of methanogenesis; this was followed by a decrease in CO partial pressures to less than 0.01 Pa by the end of methanogenesis. Accumulation or consumption of CO by cultures of M. thermophila growing on acetate was not detected. Late-exponential-phase cultures of Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1, in which the CO partial pressure was decreased by flushing with N2-CO2, accumulated CO to 0.16 Pa, whereas cultures to which ca. 0.5 Pa of CO was added consumed CO until it reached this partial pressure. Cyanide (1 mM) blocked CO consumption but not production. High partial pressures of H2 (40 kPa) inhibited methanogenesis from acetate by M. thermophila but not by Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1, and 2 kPa of CO was not inhibitory to M. thermophila but was inhibitory to Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1. Levels of CO dehydrogenase, hydrogenase, and formate dehydrogenase in Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 were 9.1, 0.045, and 5.8 μmol of viologen reduced min-1 mg of protein-1. These results suggest that CO plays a role in Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1 similar to that of H2 in M. thermophila and are consistent with the conclusion that CO is an intermediate in a catabolic or anabolic pathway in Methanothrix sp. strain CALS-1; however, they could also be explained by passive equilibration of CO with a metabolic intermediate. PMID:16348788

Impacts of sea-level change on human activity at the early Neolithic forager/cultivator site, Kuahuqiao on the east coast of China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zong, Yongqiang; Innes, James; Chen, Zhongyuan; Chen, Chun; Wang, Zhanghua; Wang, Hui

2010-05-01

The date and location of the adoption of rice cultivation by foraging cultures in China is of considerable current interest but its understanding is hampered by a lack of information regarding its palaeoenvironmental context. We present detailed multi-proxy palaeoecological research at the earliest-dated site of rice cultivation in the coastal area of east China which has revealed the precise environmental setting of this early Neolithic settlement and its incipient cultivation at c. 7750 cal. BP. Regional and local environmental changes governed the character of the site and the duration of human activity. The rise in relative sea level up to 8000 cal. BP prompted the development of coastal wetland environments at the head of the Hangzhou Bay. A short period of stable sea level allowed natural hydrological succession and terrestrialisation of the site changing from a brackish/freshwater lake to a freshwater marsh/alder carr, which attracted Neolithic foragers to settle and take advantage of the plentiful food resources present in the wetland, wild rice in particular. After a fire clearance of an alder scrub that prepared the ground for settlement, the Kuahuqiao people maintained a reedswamp-type wet grassland in which rice was grown. As relative sea level rose again around 7600-7500 cal. BP, artificial bunding was used to retain nutrient rich water and prevent tidal flooding to provide rice with the consistent water regime it requires. Such bunding resulted in blockage of water which promoted the growth of aquatic plants such as Cattail. Cropping of Cattail stands may have formed part of the subsistence base. Thesite was overwhelmed by marine inundation around 7400-7200 cal. BP as relative sea level rose rapidly for a couple of meters, after which rice cultivation spread to Neolithic sites of Hemudu type elsewhere in the coastal lowlands.

Benthic foraminifera response to Holocene environmental changes in the ria de Muros (NW Spain)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diz, P.; Francés, G.; Pena, L. D.; Nombela, M. A.; Alejo, I.

2003-04-01

Benthic foraminifera assemblages from the outer sector of the ría de Muros have been analyzed in order to obtain a detailed reconstruction of Holocene environmental evolution. The studied core (EUGC-3B: 42' 45.10'N; 9' 02.23'W, at 38 m.b.s.l. and 410 cm length) consists of muddy sand from the core bottom (8200 cal yr BP) to 200 cm (2700 cal yr BP) and mainly mud from 200 cm to the core top. Measurements of geochemical properties carried out by a XRF core scanner revealed different signatures in the two aforementioned intervals and an enhancing terrigenous influence during the last 2000 yr. The prevalence of Bulimina spp., Nonion fabum, Ammonia beccarii and Cibicides ungerianus along the whole core indicates high organic carbon concentration and/or low oxygenation levels into the sediment. Nevertheless, the percentage of these species shows noticeable changes, indicating the existence of five periods with different environmental conditions. The basal assemblage (8200-7500 cal yr BP) is dominated by epifaunal taxa and it can be interpreted as a low sea level assemblage. An increase of fresh water influence during the Holocene Climate Optimum (7500-5000 cal yr BP) is revealed by maxima percentages of A. beccarii. The oceanic influence increased during the Subboreal period (5000-2750 cal yr BP) leading to an active water interchange between the ría and the open ocean and a higher marine productivity. The oceanic influence is recorded by the increase of typical marine species as Elphidium advenum, Bulimina spp., N. fabum, and Nonionella turgida. The appearance of Rectuvigerina phlegeri at 4000 cal yr BP denotes full marine conditions. Environmental conditions similar to the current ones were achieved during the Subatlantic period (2750-Rec). In a first step an assemblage dominated by Bulimina spp. N. fabum, and C. ungerianus permit us to interpret a relatively stable period with episodic pulses of fluvial influence. Afterwards the appearance and the rapid increase of E. scabrus show the onset of the present seasonal upwelling regime governing the region. Acknowledgements to EU HOLSMEER Project (EVK2-CT-2000-00060) and Paleostudies Program. Contribution 270 of EX-1.

Origin and dynamics of the northern South American coastal savanna belt during the Holocene - the role of climate, sea-level, fire and humans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alizadeh, Kamaleddin; Cohen, Marcelo; Behling, Hermann

2015-08-01

Presence of a coastal savanna belt expanding from British Guiana to northeastern Brazil cannot be explained by present-day climate. Using pollen and charcoal analyses on an 11.6 k old sediment core from a coastal depression in the savanna belt near the mouth of the Amazon River we investigated the paleoenvironmental history to shed light on this question. Results indicate that small areas of savanna accompanied by a forest type composed primarily by the genus Micropholis (Sapotaceae) that has no modern analog existed at the beginning of the Holocene. After 11,200 cal yr BP, savanna accompanied by few trees replaced the forest. In depressions swamp forest developed and by ca 10,000 cal yr BP replaced by Mauritia swamps. Between 8500 and 5600 cal yr BP gallery forest (composed mainly of Euphorbiaceae) and swamp forest succeeded the treeless savanna. The modern vegetation with alternating gallery forest and savanna developed after 5600 cal yr BP. We suggest that the early Holocene no-analog forest is a relict of previously more extensive forest under cooler and moister Lateglacial conditions. The early Holocene savanna expansion indicates a drier phase probably related to the shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) towards its northernmost position. The mid-Holocene forest expansion is probably a result of the combined influence of equatorwards shift of ITCZ joining the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ). The ecosystem variability during the last 5600 cal yr BP, formed perhaps under influence of intensified ENSO condition. High charcoal concentrations, especially during the early Holocene, indicate that natural and/or anthropogenic fires may have maintained the savanna. However, our results propose that climate change is the main driving factor for the formation of the coastal savanna in this region. Our results also show that the early Holocene sea level rise established mangroves near the study site until 7500 cal yr BP and promoted swamp formation in depressions, but did not influence the savanna vegetation.

The reconstruction of late Holocene depth-to-water-table based on testate amoebae in an eastern Australian mire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, X.; Money, S.; Hope, G.

2017-12-01

There are relatively few quantitative palaeo-hydrological records available in eastern Australia, and those that are available, for example from dendroclimatology and the reconstruction of lake level, are often relatively short or have a relatively coarse temporal resolution (e.g. Wilkins et al. 2013; Palmer et al. 2015). Testate amoebae, a widely used hydrological proxy in the Northern Hemisphere, were used here to reconstruct depth to water table (DWT) at Snowy Flat, which is a Sphagnum-Richea-Empodismahigh altitude (1618 m asl) shrub bog in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Testate amoebae were quantified in a Snowy Flat core representing 4,200 cal Y BP and the community composition was used to reconstruct DWT based on our recently established transfer functions. Results from three different types of transfer functions (Fig. 1) consistently show there was a decreasing DWT (wetter) period centred on about 3350 cal Y BP, a trend towards increased dryness from about 3300 to 2200 cal Y BP and a distinctly drier period 850 to 700 cal Y BP which was immediately followed by a wetter period from 700 to 500 cal Y BP. We discuss these episodes and trends in relation to the drivers of climatic variability in this region and in particular, by comparing our results with other south-eastern Australia records, comment on the history of the southern annular mode.

Climate forcing due to the 8200 cal yr BP event observed at Early Neolithic sites in the eastern Mediterranean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weninger, Bernhard; Alram-Stern, Eva; Bauer, Eva; Clare, Lee; Danzeglocke, Uwe; Jöris, Olaf; Kubatzki, Claudia; Rollefson, Gary; Todorova, Henrieta; van Andel, Tjeerd

2006-11-01

We explore the hypothesis that the abrupt drainage of Laurentide lakes and associated rapid switch of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation 8200 yr ago had a catastrophic influence on Neolithic civilisation in large parts of southeastern Europe, Anatolia, Cyprus, and the Near East. The event at 8200 cal yr BP is observed in a large number of high-resolution climate proxies in the Northern Hemisphere, and in many cases corresponds to markedly cold and arid conditions. We identify the relevant archaeological levels of major Neolithic settlements in Central Anatolia, Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria, and examine published stratigraphic, architectural, cultural and geoarchaeological studies for these sites. The specific archaeological events and processes we observe at a number of these sites during the study interval 8400-8000 cal yr BP lead us to refine some previously established Neolithisation models. The introduction of farming to South-East Europe occurs in all study regions (Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Bulgaria) near 8200 cal yr BP. We observe major disruptions of Neolithic cultures in the Levant, North Syria, South-East Anatolia, Central Anatolia and Cyprus, at the same time. We conclude that the 8200 cal yr BP aridity event triggered the spread of early farmers, by different routes, out of West Asia and the Near East into Greece and Bulgaria.

Efficacy of Erbium, Chromium-doped:Yttrium, Scandium, Gallium, and Garnet Laser Irradiation Combined with Resin-based Tricalcium Silicate and Calcium Hydroxide on Direct Pulp Capping: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Cengiz, Esra; Yilmaz, Hasan Guney

2016-03-01

The purpose of this randomized clinical study was to evaluate the efficiency of erbium, chromium-doped:yttrium, scandium, gallium, and garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser irradiation combined with a resin-based tricalcium silicate material and calcium hydroxide in direct pulp capping for a 6-month follow-up period. A total of 60 teeth of 60 patients between the ages of 18 and 41 years were recruited for this study. Sixty permanent vital teeth without symptoms and radiographic changes were randomly assigned to the following 4 groups (n = 15): Gr CH, the exposed area was sealed with calcium hydroxide (CH) paste; Gr laser CH, the treated area was sealed with CH paste after Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation at an energy level of 0.5 W without water and with 45% air; Gr TheraCal, TheraCal LC (Bisco, Schaumburg, IL) was applied directly to the exposed pulp; and Gr Laser TheraCal, TheraCal LC was applied after irradiation with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser. At the 1-week and 1-, 3-, and 6-month recall examinations, the loss of vitality, spontaneous pain, reactions to thermal stimuli and percussion, and radiographic changes were considered as failure. The success rates in the CH and TheraCal groups were 73.3% and 66.6%, respectively. These rates did not reveal any significant difference. In both laser groups, success rates were 100%. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser-irradiated TheraCal and Er,Cr:YSGG laser-irradiated CH groups showed statistically higher success rates than the TheraCal and CH groups, respectively. Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation at 0.5 W without water combined with pulp capping agents can be recommended for direct pulp therapy. Copyright © 2016 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Major storm periods and climate forcing in the Western Mediterranean during the Late Holocene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Degeai, Jean-Philippe; Devillers, Benoît; Dezileau, Laurent; Oueslati, Hamza; Bony, Guénaëlle

2015-12-01

Big storm events represent a major risk for populations and infrastructures settled on coastal lowlands. In the Western Mediterranean, where human societies colonized and occupied the coastal areas since the Ancient times, the variability of storm activity for the past three millennia was investigated with a multi-proxy sedimentological and geochemical study from a lagoonal sequence. Mappings of the geochemistry and magnetic susceptibility of detrital sources in the watershed of the lagoon and from the coastal barriers were undertaken in order to track the terrestrial or coastal/marine origin of sediments deposited into the lagoon. The multi-proxy analysis shows that coarser material, low magnetic susceptibility, and high strontium content characterize the sedimentological signature of the paleostorm levels identified in the lagoonal sequence. A comparison with North Atlantic and Western Mediterranean paleoclimate proxies shows that the phases of high storm activity occurred during cold periods, suggesting a climatically-controlled mechanism for the occurrence of these storm periods. Besides, an in-phase storm activity pattern is found between the Western Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Spectral analyses performed on the Sr content revealed a new 270-year solar-driven pattern of storm cyclicity. For the last 3000 years, this 270-year cycle defines a succession of ten major storm periods (SP) with a mean duration of 96 ± 54 yr. Periods of higher storm activity are recorded from >680 to 560 cal yr BC (SP10, end of the Iron Age Cold Period), from 140 to 820 cal yr AD (SP7 to SP5) with a climax of storminess between 400 and 800 cal yr AD (Dark Ages Cold Period), and from 1230 to >1800 cal yr AD (SP3 to SP1, Little Ice Age). Periods of low storm activity occurred from 560 cal yr BC to 140 cal yr AD (SP9 and SP8, Roman Warm Period) and from 820 to 1230 cal yr AD (SP4, Medieval Warm Period).

A cost-effectiveness analysis of calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate aerosol foam versus gel for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis.

PubMed

Foley, Peter; Garrett, Sinead; Ryttig, Lasse

2018-01-24

Calcipotriol 50 µg/g and betamethasone 0.5 mg/g dipropionate (Cal/BD) aerosol foam formulation provides greater effectiveness and improved patient preference compared with traditional Cal/BD formulations for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis. To determine the cost-effectiveness of Cal/BD foam compared with Cal/BD gel from the Australian perspective. A Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of topical Cal/BD foam and gel for the treatment of people with plaque psoriasis. Treatment effectiveness, safety, and utilities were based on a randomized control trial, resource use was informed by expert opinion, and unit costs were obtained from public sources. Outcomes were reported in terms of 1-year costs, quality-adjusted life years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. All costs were reported in 2017 Australian Dollars. The model showed that patients using Cal/BD foam had more QALYs and higher costs over 1 year compared with patients using Cal/BD gel, resulting in a cost of $13,609 per QALY gained at 4-weeks. When 4 weeks of Cal/BD foam was compared with 8 weeks of Cal/BD gel treatment, Cal/BD foam was $8 less expensive and resulted in 0.006 more QALYs gained. Sensitivity analyses showed that, compared with Cal/BD ointment, Cal/BD foam was associated with an incremental cost of $15,091 per QALY gained. Cal/BD foam is the most cost-effective Cal/BD formulation for the topical treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis.

Chronological reconstruction of eolianites and transversal mobile dunes of northwest coast of Ceará State - Brazil, in the last 3000 cal yrs BP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro, João Wagner Alencar; Malta, Julia Varella; Miguel, Lucas Lavo Antonio Jimo; Cabral, Caique Lima; Passemilio, Alvaro Balmant

2017-10-01

Dunefields are very common in the northern coastal zone of northeast Brazil. They have the potential to yield important information about paleoclimate, paleo-winds and regional winds and their response to sea-level fluctuations during the Holocene. We reconstructed the coastal dunes geochronological evolution of northwest Ceará State - Brazil, in the last 3000 cal yrs BP, using detailed analyses of lithostratigraphy, microfossil (foraminifera), wind regime, dune monitoring and 8 radiocarbon dates. The chronology was based on 14C dating in eolianites and monitoring transversal mobile dunes movement processes. Radiocarbon date results indicated that the dunes corresponding to eolianites revealed ages between 2760-2480 and 980-750 cal yrs BP, suggesting that the vast transversal mobile dunefields were formed after this period in similar condition to the current sea-level. We considered that the material transportation by the prevailing east winds towards the transversal dunes is estimated in the order of 11.0 m/year, thus the current aeolian system is less than 1000 yrs BP.

Lysosomes and unfolded protein response, determinants of differential resistance of melanoma cells to vinca alkaloids.

PubMed

Vincent, Laure-Anais; Attaoua, Chaker; Bellis, Michel; Rozkydalova, Lucie; Hadj-Kaddour, Kamel; Vian, Laurence; Cuq, Pierre

2015-04-01

On account of its strong ability to become chemoresistant after a primary response to drugs, malignant melanoma (MM) remains a therapeutic challenge. This study focuses on acquired resistance to vinca alkaloids (VAs) using VA-resistant MM cell lines (CAL1R-VCR, CAL1R-VDS, and CAL1R-VRB), established by long-term continuous exposure of parental CAL1-wt cells to vincristine (VCR), vindesine (VDS), or vinorelbine (VRB), respectively. Transcriptomic profiling using rma and rdam methods led to distinguish two cell groups: CAL1R-VCR and CAL1R-VDS, CAL1R-VRB, and CAL1-wt. mgsa of the specifically altered genes in the first group evidenced the GO terms 'lysosomal lumen' and 'vacuolar lumen' linked to underexpressed genes, and 'endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response' associated with overexpressed genes. A specific reduction of lysosomal enzymes, independent of acidic vacuole organelle (AVO) turnover, was observed (LTG probe) in CAL1R-VCR and CAL1R-VDS cells. It was associated with the specific lowering of cathepsin B and L, known to be involved in the lysosomal pathway of apoptosis. Confirming gene profiling, the same groups (CAL1R-VCR and CAL1R-VDS, CAL1-wt and CAL1R-VRB) could be distinguished regarding the VA-mediated changes on mean size areas and on acidic compartment volumes. These two parameters were reduced in CAL1R-VCR and CAL1R-VDS cells, suggesting a smaller AVO accumulation and thus a reduced sensitivity to lysosomal membrane permeabilization-mediated apoptosis. In addition, 'ER stress response' inhibition by tauroursodeoxycholic acid induced a higher VA sensitization of the first cell group. In conclusion, lysosomes and unfolded protein response could be key determinants of the differential resistance of MM to VAs. © 2015 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

Oral Candida Carriage and Morphotype Differentiation in Chronic Periodontitis Patients with and without Diabetes in the Indian Sub-Continent

PubMed Central

Venkatesan, Gomathinayagam; Uppoor, Ashita; Naik, Dilip; Kadkampally, David; Maddi, Abhiram

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the oral Candida carriage and morphotype differentiation of Candida species in chronic periodontitis patients, with and without diabetes mellitus. This cross sectional study included 30 subjects in the age range of 40–60 years, who were divided into two groups: 15 chronic periodontitis only (CP) patients, and 15 chronic periodontitis patients with diabetes (CPD). Clinical measurements included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and fasting blood sugar level (FBS). The unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected for fungal analysis. Candida carriage was analyzed by measuring colony forming units (CFU) following the culture of samples. Qualitative morphotype differentiation of Candida species from yeast to hyphal form was analyzed using Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. There was no statistically significant difference between CP and CPD groups for the periodontal parameters. However, a significantly higher Candida species CFU count was found in CPD (0.33 ± 0.23) as compared to CP (0.05 ± 0.04) group. This pilot study suggests that the occurrence of Candida species is higher in the saliva of chronic periodontitis patients with diabetes as compared to patients with chronic periodontitis alone. PMID:29567932

Alpha-2-Macroglobulin Levels in Gingival Crevicular Fluid Pre- and Post-scaling and Root Planing with Adjunctive Tetracycline Fibers in Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Chhina, Shivjot; Rathore, Ajit Singh; Juneja, Saurabh

2015-06-01

This split-mouth clinical study aimed to investigate levels of alpha-2-macroglobulin (a2M) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of chronic periodontitis patients pre- and post-scaling and root planing (SRP) with or without adjunctive use of tetracycline fibers. In 30 patients of chronic periodontitis, samples of GCF were collected from the gingival sulcus before SRP. Recording of clinical parameters was conducted. This was followed by local drug delivery (LDD) of tetracycline fibers in test sites. In control sites, no LDD was done. Second samples of GCF were taken 90 days after treatment. Samples of crevicular fluid were analyzed to determine the levels of a2m. A gain of clinical attachment (CAL) of 3.30 mm for SRP and LDD and for SRP alone was 1.62 mm (p < 0.001). The pocket probing depth was significantly decreased by 2.43 mm for SRP and LDD and for SRP alone was 1.61 mm (p < 0.001) after 90 days. Alpha-2-macroglobulin was significantly reduced in GCF by SRP and SRP and LDD after 90 days (p < 0.001). Clinical and biochemical variables showed a more favorable outcome when SRP was combined with LDD of tetracycline fibers in management of patients suffering from chronic periodontitis.

A Calibration of NICMOS Camera 2 for Low Count Rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubin, D.; Aldering, G.; Amanullah, R.; Barbary, K.; Dawson, K. S.; Deustua, S.; Faccioli, L.; Fadeyev, V.; Fakhouri, H. K.; Fruchter, A. S.; Gladders, M. D.; de Jong, R. S.; Koekemoer, A.; Krechmer, E.; Lidman, C.; Meyers, J.; Nordin, J.; Perlmutter, S.; Ripoche, P.; Schlegel, D. J.; Spadafora, A.; Suzuki, N.

2015-05-01

NICMOS 2 observations are crucial for constraining distances to most of the existing sample of z\\gt 1 SNe Ia. Unlike conventional calibration programs, these observations involve long exposure times and low count rates. Reciprocity failure is known to exist in HgCdTe devices and a correction for this effect has already been implemented for high and medium count rates. However, observations at faint count rates rely on extrapolations. Here instead, we provide a new zero-point calibration directly applicable to faint sources. This is obtained via inter-calibration of NIC2 F110W/F160W with the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) in the low count-rate regime using z∼ 1 elliptical galaxies as tertiary calibrators. These objects have relatively simple near-IR spectral energy distributions, uniform colors, and their extended nature gives a superior signal-to-noise ratio at the same count rate than would stars. The use of extended objects also allows greater tolerances on point-spread function profiles. We find space telescope magnitude zero points (after the installation of the NICMOS cooling system, NCS) of 25.296\\+/- 0.022 for F110W and 25.803\\+/- 0.023 for F160W, both in agreement with the calibration extrapolated from count rates ≳1000 times larger (25.262 and 25.799). Before the installation of the NCS, we find 24.843\\+/- 0.025 for F110W and 25.498\\+/- 0.021 for F160W, also in agreement with the high-count-rate calibration (24.815 and 25.470). We also check the standard bandpasses of WFC3 and NICMOS 2 using a range of stars and galaxies at different colors and find mild tension for WFC3, limiting the accuracy of the zero points. To avoid human bias, our cross-calibration was “blinded” in that the fitted zero-point differences were hidden until the analysis was finalized. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555, under programs SM2/NIC-7049, SM2/NIC-7152, CAL/NIC-7607, CAL/NIC-7691, CAL/NIC-7693, GO-7887, CAL/NIC-7902, CAL/NIC-7904, GO/DD-7941, SM3/NIC-8983, SM3/NIC-8986, GTO/ACS-9290, ENG/NIC-9324, CAL/NIC-9325, GO-9352, GO-9375, SNAP-9485, CAL/NIC-9639, GO-9717, GO-9834, GO-9856, CAL/NIC-9995, CAL/NIC-9997, GO-10189, GO-10258, CAL/NIC-10381, CAL/NIC-10454, GO-10496, CAL/NIC-10725, CAL/NIC-10726, GO-10886, CAL/NIC-11060, CAL/NIC-11061, GO-11135, GO-11143, GO-11202, CAL/NIC-11319, GO/DD-11359, SM4/WFC3-11439, SM4/WFC3-11451, GO-11557, GO-11591, GO-11600, GO/DD-11799, CAL/WFC3-11921, CAL/WFC3-11926, GO/DD-12051, GO-12061, GO-12062, GO-12177, CAL/WFC3-12333, CAL/WFC3-12334, CAL/WFC3-12341, GO-12443, GO-12444, GO-12445, CAL/WFC3-12698, CAL/WFC3-12699, GO-12874, CAL/WFC3-13088, and CAL/WFC3-13089.

Post-glacial flooding of the Bering Land Bridge dated to 11 cal ka BP based on new geophysical and sediment records

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jakobsson, Martin; Pearce, Christof; Cronin, Thomas M.; Backman, Jan; Anderson, Leif G.; Barrientos, Natalia; Björk, Göran; Coxall, Helen; de Boer, Agatha; Mayer, Larry A.; Mörth, Carl-Magnus; Nilsson, Johan; Rattray, Jayne E.; Stranne, Christian; Semiletov, Igor; O'Regan, Matt

2017-08-01

The Bering Strait connects the Arctic and Pacific oceans and separates the North American and Asian landmasses. The presently shallow ( ˜ 53 m) strait was exposed during the sea level lowstand of the last glacial period, which permitted human migration across a land bridge today referred to as the Bering Land Bridge. Proxy studies (stable isotope composition of foraminifera, whale migration into the Arctic Ocean, mollusc and insect fossils and paleobotanical data) have suggested a range of ages for the Bering Strait reopening, mainly falling within the Younger Dryas stadial (12.9-11.7 cal ka BP). Here we provide new information on the deglacial and post-glacial evolution of the Arctic-Pacific connection through the Bering Strait based on analyses of geological and geophysical data from Herald Canyon, located north of the Bering Strait on the Chukchi Sea shelf region in the western Arctic Ocean. Our results suggest an initial opening at about 11 cal ka BP in the earliest Holocene, which is later than in several previous studies. Our key evidence is based on a well-dated core from Herald Canyon, in which a shift from a near-shore environment to a Pacific-influenced open marine setting at around 11 cal ka BP is observed. The shift corresponds to meltwater pulse 1b (MWP1b) and is interpreted to signify relatively rapid breaching of the Bering Strait and the submergence of the large Bering Land Bridge. Although the precise rates of sea level rise cannot be quantified, our new results suggest that the late deglacial sea level rise was rapid and occurred after the end of the Younger Dryas stadial.

Mid-Holocene to Present Climate Transition in Tropical South America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turcq, B.; Cordeiro, R.; Sifeddine, A.; Braconnot, P.; Dias, P. S.; Costa, R.; Jorgetti, T.

2008-12-01

The classical illustration of Holocene climate changes in tropical South America is the huge rising of Titicaca lake level from 4400 to 4000 cal BP. Because the Amazon basin is the source of Andean rainfalls we have explored Amazonian data of climate changes during the Holocene to better understand the cause of this abrupt transition. Amazonian data confirm the existence of mid-Holocene dryness: (1) lacustrine level studies show a lower precipitation/evaporation budget than present, with the lowest lake levels between 8500 and 6800 cal BP; (2) although the dominant Holocene vegetation has always been the rainforest in the heart of Amazonia, this forest expanded towards the northwestern and southwestern regions from 6800 to 1550 cal BP, moreover, pioneer elements of the rainforest developed during the mid-Holocene and the best example is those of Cecropia, between 9000 and 5000 cal BP. (3) soil d13C indicates a forest expansion over savannas areas in Roraima (north), Mato Grosso and Rondonia (southwest), during the Holocene. (4) the mid-Holocene (8000- 4000 cal BP) is characterized by repeated occurrences of forest fires, marked by the presence of charcoals in soils and lacustrine sediments. However these different records are not characterized by abrupt transitions at the end of the Middle Holocene in Amazonia. In the Andean records there is a clear north-south shift in the timing of the transition. Analysis of coupled Ocean Atmosphere Model simulations suggest that convection in Amazon basin is directly controlled by insolation leading to an almost linear response of local climate to the global forcing. Differently, in the eastern and south-western regions where the rain is brought by the South American Monsoon, the climate transition appears more abrupt. It may be because the involved climate mechanisms are more complex and depend on Ocean/Atmosphere/Vegetation coupled process (ITCZ position, ZCAS formation, etc.). Tectonic movements or threshold links to lacustrine basin hydrology or to proxy responses to local climate changes must also be carefully taken into account in the identification of abrupt climate changes.

Infliximab for the Treatment of Refractory Kawasaki Disease: A Nationwide Survey in Japan.

PubMed

Masuda, Hiroshi; Kobayashi, Tohru; Hachiya, Akira; Nakashima, Yasutaka; Shimizu, Hiroyuki; Nozawa, Tomo; Ogihara, Yoshihito; Ito, Shuichi; Takatsuki, Shinichi; Katsumata, Nobuyuki; Suzuki, Yasuo; Takenaka, Satoshi; Hirono, Keiichi; Kobayashi, Tomio; Suzuki, Hiroshi; Suganuma, Eisuke; Takahashi, Kei; Saji, Tsutomu

2018-04-01

To assess the safety and efficacy of infliximab (IFX) for the treatment of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). This was a nationwide survey of 274 Japanese institutions exploring how IFX was used to treat patients with KD. The patients' sex, age, treatment course, pre- and post-IFX therapy blood test results, coronary artery lesions (CALs), and adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. We analyzed 434 patients with KD who received IFX between March 2005 and November 2014. The median age at onset was 33 months (range 1-138), and 66 patients (15.2%) were under 1 year old. In all cases, IFX was administered as additional treatment. The median days of illness at the initiation of IFX was 9 days. In 275 patients (63.4%), IFX was administered as third-line treatment, and in 106 patients (24.4%), IFX was administered as fourth-line treatment. Single dose IFX 5 mg/kg was administered to 412 patients (94.9%). After IFX, 363 patients (83.6%) became afebrile within 2 days, and the white blood cell count, percentage of neutrophils, and serum C-reactive protein levels significantly decreased (P < .001), although 119 patients (27.4%) received additional treatment. Before IFX, 132 patients (30.4%) had already developed CALs. In patients without CALs before IFX, 31 patients (10.3%) newly developed CAL after IFX, whereas 32 patients (24.2%) with CAL before IFX showed increased CAL severity. Eighty AEs were observed in 69 patients (15.9%); however, serious AEs were few and reversible. IFX might be an effective and tolerable treatment for refractory KD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Human occupation and environmental change in Holocene from a case of XDW2 relic site in the Tibetan Plateau at above 4000 meters above sea level.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, G.; Li, F.; Zhu, Y.

2017-12-01

XDW2 is an important microlithic cultural relics with continuous stratum that is located in the the Tibetan plateau at above 4,000 masl, wich is a window of revealing the evolution of early human activities and the response and adaptation to extreme environmental in the principal part of Tibetan plateau. So it has important research significance. The analysis on human activity indicator(stoneware, potsherds) and environmental indicators(magnetic susceptibility, color, granularity and pollen) showed: the winter wind and dust storm intensity is weak in this area during 7.0-6 cal. Ka BP, pedogenesis is strong, the climate is humid, environment is suitable relatively, when is Holocene Megathermal; the active phase of microlithic human activities occurred during 7.2-6 cal. ka BP, and quickly weakened after 6 cal. ka BP. The number of stone tools reveal that human activities are concentrated before and after 7-6.2 cal. ka BP, charcoal fragmental concentration indicates that microlithic human activity reached the peak at around 6.7 cal. ka BP. Thus relatively suitable environment during Holocene Megathermal is the important motivating factor of active hunter-gatherer activities in the principal part of Tibetan plateau. After 6 cal. ka BP, summer monsoon weakened rapidly, agricultural growers in the Loess Plateau began to expand towards the plateau, under the effect of environmental degradation and new technologies, microlithic hunter-gatherers in the principal part of plateau moved towards the river valley at low altitude, and learnt settlement and plantation, microlithic activity in the main plateau began to decline.

The Efficiency of Delone Coverings of the Canonical Tilings T^*(A4) and T^*(D6)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papadopolos, Zorka; Kasner, Gerald

This chapter is devoted to the coverings of the two quasiperiodic canonical tilings T^*(A4) and T^*(D6) T^*(2F), obtained by projection from the root lattices A4 and D6, respectively. In the first major part of this chapter, in Sect. 5.2, we shall introduce a Delone covering C^sT^*(A4) of the 2-dimensional decagonal tiling T^*(A4). In the second major part of this chapter, Sect. 5.3, we summarize the results related to the Delone covering of the icosahedral tiling T^*(D6), CT^*(D6) and determine the zero-, single-, and double- deckings and the resulting thickness of the covering. In the conclusions section, we give some suggestions as to how the definition of the Delone covering might be changed in order to reach some real (full) covering of the icosahedral tiling T^*(D6). In Section 5.2 the definition of the Delone covering is also changed in order to avoid an unnecessary large thickness of the covering.

Paleoenvironmental records of water level and climatic changes from the middle to late Holocene at a Lake Erie coastal wetland, Ontario, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finkelstein, Sarah A.; Davis, Anthony M.

2006-01-01

Pollen and diatom assemblages, and peat stratigraphies, from a coastal wetland on the northern shore of Lake Erie were used to analyze water level and climatic changes since the middle Holocene and their effects on wetland plant communities. Peat deposition began 4700 cal yr B.P. during the Nipissing II transgression, which was driven by isostatic rebound. At that time, a diatom-rich wild rice marsh existed at the site. Water level dropped at the end of the Nipissing rise at least 2 m within 200 yr, leading to the development of shallower-water plant communities and an environment too dry for most diatoms to persist. The sharp decline in water level was probably driven primarily by outlet incision, but climate likely played some role. The paleoecological records provide evidence for post-Nipissing century-scale transgressions occurring around 2300, 1160, 700 and 450 cal yr B.P. The chronology for these transgressions correlates with other studies from the region and implies climatic forcing. Peat inception in shallow sloughs across part of the study area around 700 cal yr B.P. coincides with the Little Ice Age. These records, considered alongside others from the region, suggest that the Little Ice Age may have resulted in a wetter climate across the eastern Great Lakes region.

Holocene paleoclimate inferred from salinity histories of adjacent lakes in southwestern Sicily (Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curry, Brandon; Henne, Paul D.; Mesquita-Joanes, Francesc; Marrone, Federico; Pieri, Valentina; La Mantia, Tommaso; Calò, Camilla; Tinner, Willy

2016-10-01

Marked uncertainties persist regarding the climatic evolution of the Mediterranean region during the Holocene. For instance, whether moisture availability gradually decreased, remained relatively constant, or increased during the last 7000 years remains a matter of debate. To assess Holocene limnology, hydrology and moisture dynamics, the coastal lakes Lago Preola and Gorgo Basso, located in southwestern Sicily, were investigated through several stratigraphic analyses of ostracodes, including multivariate analyses of assemblages, transfer functions of salinity, and biochemical analyses of valves (Sr/Ca, δ18O and δ13C). During the early Holocene, the Gorgo Basso and Lago Preola ostracode records are similar. After an initial period of moderate salinity (1690-6100 mg/l from ca. 10,000-8190 cal yr BP), syndepositional or diagenetic dissolution of ostracode valves suggests that salinity declined to <250 mg/L from ca. 8190 to 7000 cal yr BP at both sites. After ca. 6250 cal yr BP, the ostracode records are strikingly different. Lago Preola became much more saline, with paleosalinity values that ranged from 2270 to about 24,420 mg/L. We suggest that Lago Preola's change from a freshwater to mesosaline lake at about 6250 cal yr BP was related to sea level rise and resulting intrusion of seawater-influenced groundwater. In contrast, Gorgo Basso remained a freshwater lake. The salinity of Gorgo Basso declined somewhat after 6250 cal yr BP, in comparison to the early Holocene, ranging from about 550 to 1680 mg/L. Cypria ophtalmica, a species capable of rapid swimming and flourishing in waters with low dissolved oxygen levels, became dominant at approximately the time when Greek civilization took root in Sicily (2600 cal yr BP), and it completely dominates the record during Roman occupation (roughly 2100 to 1700 cal yr BP). These freshwater conditions at Gorgo Basso suggest high effective moisture when evergreen olive-oak forests collapsed in response to increased Greco-Roman land use and fire. Ostracode valve geochemistry (Sr/Ca, δ18O) suggests significant changes in early vs. late Holocene hydrochemistry, either as changes in salinity or in the seasonality of precipitation. Harmonizing the autecological and geochemical data from Gorgo Basso suggests the latter was more likely, with relatively more late Holocene precipitation falling during the spring, summer, and fall, than winter compared to the early Holocene. Our ostracode-inferred paleosalinity data indicate that moisture availability did not decline during the late Holocene in the central Mediterranean region. Instead, moisture availability was lowest during the early Holocene, and most abundant during the late Holocene.

Fixed Combination Aerosol Foam Calcipotriene 0.005% (Cal) Plus Betamethasone Dipropionate 0.064% (BD) is More Efficacious than Cal or BD Aerosol Foam Alone for Psoriasis Vulgaris

PubMed Central

Tyring, Stephen; Bukhalo, Michael; Alonso-Llamazares, Javier; Olesen, Martin; Lowson, David; Yamauchi, Paul

2016-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of fixed combination aerosol foam calcipotriene 0.005% (Cal) plus betamethasone dipropionate 0.064% (BD). Design: Patients were randomized (100:101:101) to receive Cal/BD foam, Cal foam, or BD foam once daily for four weeks. Setting: Twenty-eight United States centers. Participants: 302 patients (≥18 years) with Psoriasis vulgaris (plaque Psoriasis; ≥mild disease severity by physicians global assessment). Measurements: Treatment success of the body (“clear”/”almost clear” from baseline moderate/severe disease; “clear” from baseline mild disease). Involved scalp treatment success was an additional endpoint. Results: Most patients (76%) had moderate Psoriasis of the body (66% for scalp). At Week 4, 45 percent of Cal/BD foam patients achieved treatment success, significantly more than Cal foam (14.9%; OR 4.34 [95%CI 2.16,8.72] P<0.001) or BD foam (30.7%; 1.81 [1.00,3.26] P=0.047). Fifty-three percent of Cal/BD foam patients achieved treatment success of the scalp, significantly greater than Cal foam (35.6%; 1.91 [1.09,3.35] P=0.021), but not BD foam (47.5%; 1.24 [0.71,2.16] P=0.45). Mean modified Psoriasis area and severity index (population baseline 7.6) improved in all groups, with statistically significant differences in Week 4 Cal/BD foam score (2.37) versus Cal foam (4.39; mean difference -2.03 [-2.63][-1.43] P<0.001) and BD foam (3.37; -1.19 [-1.80][-0.59] P<0.001). Four (Cal/BD), 10 (Cal), and 8 (BD) adverse drug reactions were reported. Conclusion: Cal/BD foam was significantly more effective than Cal foam and BD foam in providing treatment success at Week 4 and effective on involved scalp. Trial registration: NCT01536938. PMID:27313822

Intentional replantation of adhesively reattached vertically fractured maxillary single-rooted teeth.

PubMed

Nizam, N; Kaval, M E; Gürlek, Ö; Atila, A; Çalışkan, M K

2016-03-01

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intentionally replanted maxillary single-rooted teeth with vertical root fractures (VRFs) after being repaired extraorally using 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methacrylate-tri-n-butyl borane (4-META/MMA-TBB) resin cement. Twenty-one root filled maxillary single-rooted teeth with VRFs were evaluated. After atraumatic extraction, fractured fragments were adhesively cemented. The teeth were then replanted and splinted to the neighbouring teeth for 2 weeks. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, and radiographic evaluations were made using PAI scores at baseline and 12 months. Mobility was evaluated using periotest values (PTV) at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Replanted teeth, contralateral teeth (control teeth) and adjacent teeth were analysed statistically using repeated measures one-way anova, unpaired t-tests and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests. Two teeth were extracted in the first month after surgery. PI, GI, CAL and PD scores of the replanted teeth were significantly lower at 6 month (P < 0.0001 for all) and 12 month (P < 0.0001 for all) postoperatively when compared to baseline, but the values were not significantly different from those of the control and adjacent teeth. PTV of the test teeth increased significantly (P < 0.0001) after the intervention and decreased to baseline levels by month 12. PTVs were significantly higher (P < 0.05) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months in the test teeth when compared with the control teeth, but were not significantly different at month 12. PAI scores of teeth with VRF were significantly lower (P < 0.05) at 12 months compared with baseline. Adhesive cementation and intentional replantation were an effective treatment modality for this group of vertically fractured maxillary single-rooted teeth. The clinical periodontal parameters decrease by month 6, and the mobility returned to the physiological limits of natural teeth 12 months after replantation. © 2015 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of various laser wavelengths in the treatment of peri-implantitis.

PubMed

Kotsakis, Georgios A; Konstantinidis, Ioannis; Karoussis, Ioannis K; Ma, Xiaoye; Chu, Haitao

2014-09-01

The primary aim of this systematic review is to address the following focused question: Is laser therapy, as a monotherapy or as an adjunctive therapy, an efficacious treatment modality for patients with peri-implantitis? The PubMed database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were electronically searched, complemented by manual searches up to June 2013. The search yielded 137 titles and abstracts. After initial screening, 15 of 137 publications were scrutinized during the second phase of the review. In the second phase, nine articles were excluded from the analysis and six controlled, clinical studies were selected. Narrative synthesis of the results revealed that non-surgical laser treatment with a single application of either an erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) (2,940-nm) laser or a diode (660-nm) laser in combination with a phenothiazine chloride dye is efficient in controlling inflammation around treated implants for at least 6 months following intervention, whereas it has only a mild effect on reduction in probing depth (PD) and gain in clinical attachment level (CAL). There is limited information regarding the clinical application of the CO2 (10.6-µm) laser in the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis; however, its use may be promising. A meta-analysis could be performed only for the efficacy of Er:YAG laser due to the heterogeneity of the studies and the limited amount of data available. Meta-analysis did not reveal statistically significant evidence for treatment effects in reducing PD and CAL levels in comparison to controls. Based on the limited information currently available, any superiority of laser treatment in comparison to conventional treatment of peri-implantitis could not be identified. Considering the high heterogeneity and the low number of included studies, the authors cautiously conclude that non-surgical laser therapy may be investigated as phase I therapy for the treatment of peri-implantitis. Future research should emphasize detailed description of the specific laser characteristics and power settings in clinical studies.

Periodontal Flap Surgery along with Vestibular Deepening with Diode Laser to Increase Attached Gingiva in Lower Anterior Teeth: A Prospective Clinical Study

PubMed Central

Bhardwaj, Ashu; Jafri, Zeba; Sultan, Nishat; Sawai, Madhuri; Daing, Anika

2018-01-01

Background: Chronic periodontitis in lower anterior teeth results in rapidly progressive gingival recession (GR), loss of alveolar bone, decreased vestibular depth (VD) with consequential tooth mobility, and tooth loss. Treatment option for such cases in this esthetically important area of the oral cavity includes extraction followed by implants for which sufficient bone height and mucogingival complex are a prerequisite. Henceforth, an attempt was made to prolong the life of lower anterior teeth and postpone the need for implants by the treatment of chronic periodontitis with periodontal flap surgery followed by vestibular deepening in single surgical procedure. Materials and Methods: In this clinical, prospective study, conventional periodontal flap surgery was done on 74 sites in lower anterior teeth in 16 patients with attachment loss >5 mm due to chronic periodontitis. Vestibular deepening with diode laser at (wavelength - 810 nm, output power: 0.5–7 W, continuous wave, contact mode) was done after suturing the flap. All the clinical parameters: GR, pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), width of keratinized gingiva, width of attached gingiva, and VD were assessed preoperatively after Phase I therapy and 6 months postoperatively. Results: At all the 74 sites, there was highly significant gain in attached gingiva, keratinized gingiva, and VD (P ≤ 0.001). Highly significant reduction in PD (P ≤ 00.001), significant reduction in attachment loss (P ≤ 0.01) but no significant reduction in GR (P = 0.897) was observed. Conclusions: The combination of periodontal flap surgery with vestibular deepening with diode laser may be a suitable cost-effective treatment option to prolong the life of periodontally involved lower anterior teeth. The surgical technique can postpone the need for extraction of teeth along with all the intangible benefits of periodontal therapy. PMID:29456397

Enhanced oral bioavailability and in vivo antioxidant activity of chlorogenic acid via liposomal formulation.

PubMed

Feng, Yingshu; Sun, Congyong; Yuan, Yangyang; Zhu, Yuan; Wan, Jinyi; Firempong, Caleb Kesse; Omari-Siaw, Emmanuel; Xu, Yang; Pu, Zunqin; Yu, Jiangnan; Xu, Ximing

2016-03-30

In the present study, a formulation system consisting of cholesterol and phosphatidyl choline was used to prepare an effective chlorogenic acid-loaded liposome (CAL) with an improved oral bioavailability and an increased antioxidant activity. The developed liposomal formulation produced regular, spherical and multilamellar-shaped distribution nanoparticles. The pharmacokinetic analysis of CAL compared with chlorogenic acid (CA), showed a higher value of Cmax(6.42 ± 1.49 min versus 3.97 ± 0.39 min) and a delayed Tmax(15 min versus 10 min), with 1.29-fold increase in relative oral bioavailability. The tissue distribution in mice also demonstrated that CAL predominantly accumulated in the liver which indicated hepatic targeting potential of the drug. The increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (Total Superoxide Dismutase (T-SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px)) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), in addition to decreased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity study further revealed that CAL exhibited significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects. Collectively, these findings present a liposomal formulation with significantly improved oral bioavailability and an increased in vivo antioxidant activity of CA. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Holocene Record of Hydrological Fluctuations in the Northern Chilean Altiplano (Lago Chungará)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valero-Garces, B. L.; Saez, A.; Pueyo, J.; Taberner, C.; Bao, R.; Schnurrenberger, D.; Myrbo, A.; Shapley, M.; Herrera, C.; Moreno-Caballud, A.; Gonzalez-Samperiz, P.; Giralt, S.; Oriol-Gibert, R.; Edwards, L.; Schwalb, A.

2004-12-01

Holocene records of moisture availability in the Central Andes and the Altiplano show contrasting and even opposite signals and time-transgressive millennial-scale climatic changes across the region, particularly between the Titicaca Basin and the Atacama Altiplano. A multiproxy study of a 13 kyr record of Lago Chungará (18° 15' S, 69° 10' W, 4520 m a.s.l.) provides new data to solve some of the paleoclimate controversies as regional moisture availability patterns during the early and mid Holocene and the onset of modern ENSO conditions. Lago Chungara originated after the emplacement of the Parinacota volcano debris avalanche that blocked the Chungará River prior to 13 cal. kyrs ago. A seismic survey and fifteen Kullenberg cores allowed a detailed 3-D reconstruction of the 8 m long sedimentary sequence. The chronological model is based on 5 AMS 14C on bulk organic matter and 3 U/Th dates on authigenic carbonates and shells. To assess the typically large (and variable) reservoir effect, we dated modern sediments and waters, and constrained the model with time markers based on a 210Pb age model for the last 150 yrs, volcanic ashes of known age, and the U/Th dates. We performed high-resolution analyses by an X-ray fluorescence core scanner and magnetic, sedimentological, mineralogical, isotopic, and biological (pollen, diatoms and ostracodes) analyses on selected cores. Statistical analyses helped to separate the volcanism from climate as the key driving forces in the hydrological and sedimentological evolution of the lake. Three main lacustrine units are identified on top of the pre Parinacota avalanche substrate. The basal unit (13 - 7.2 cal. kyrs BP) is a finely laminated diatomite. The middle unit (7.2 - 4.5 cal. kyrs BP) is banded and it is composed of diatomites and carbonate-rich layers. The diatomaceous upper unit (after 4.5 cal. kyrs BP) is banded to massive, and it contains abundant volcanic layers (lapilli, ash layers). Increased volcanic activity after 6 cal kyrs BP and climate-driven hydrological changes seem to have been conducive to increase carbonate precipitation during the middle unit. Seismic features of the middle unit in littoral areas evidence an alluvial progradation compatible with lowstand intervals and a subsequent lake level rise episode during the upper unit. The reconstructed hydrological variability in the Lake Chungará shows fluctuating lake levels during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition and the early Holocene (13 to 7.2 cal kyrs BP), and the mid Holocene (7.2 - 4.5 cal kyrs BP), and the highest lake levels during the late Holocene. Preliminary frequency analyses in laminated basal unit suggest that ENSO-like variability was also present during the early Holocene in the Altiplano. The presence of mid - Holocene arid intervals supports the regional extent of this period of reduced moisture through the region.

Climate Change in Lowland Central America During the Late Deglacial and Early Holocene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hillesheim, M B; Hodell, D A; Leyden, B W

2005-02-08

The transition from arid glacial to moist early Holocene conditions represented a profound change in northern lowland Neotropical climate. Here we report a detailed record of changes in moisture availability during the latter part of this transition ({approx}11,250 to 7,500 cal yr BP) inferred from sediment cores retrieved in Lake Peten Itza, northern Guatemala. Pollen assemblages demonstrate that a mesic forest had been largely established by {approx}11,250 cal yr BP, but sediment properties indicate that lake level was more than 35 m below modern stage. From 11,250 to 10,350 cal yr BP, during the Preboreal period, lithologic changes in sedimentsmore » from deep-water cores (>50 m below modern water level) indicate several wet-dry cycles that suggest distinct changes in effective moisture. Four dry events (designated PBE1-4) occurred at 11,200, 10,900, 10,700, and 10,400 cal yr BP and correlate with similar variability observed in the Cariaco Basin titanium record and glacial meltwater pulses into the Gulf of Mexico. After 10,350 cal yr BP, multiple sediment proxies suggest a shift to a more persistently moist early Holocene climate. Comparison of results from Lake Peten Itza with other records from the circum-Caribbean demonstrates a coherent climate response during the entire span of our record. Furthermore, lowland Neotropical climate during the late deglacial and early Holocene period appears to be tightly linked to climate change in the high-latitude North Atlantic. We speculate that the observed changes in lowland Neotropical precipitation were related to the intensity of the annual cycle and associated displacements in the mean latitudinal position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and Azores-Bermuda high-pressure system. This mechanism operated on millennial-to-submillennial timescales and may have responded to changes in solar radiation, glacial meltwater, North Atlantic sea ice, and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC).« less

Holocene Enviromental Changes in AN Amazonian Floodplain Lake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moreira, L.; Moreira-Turcq, P. F.; Turcq, B.; Cordeiro, R. C.

2011-12-01

The floodplains lakes are built due to the fluctuations in the level of the rivers, which causes the formation of bars and accumulation of sediment carried by the rivers and its tributaries. Thus, significant quantities of organic matter can accumulate within these lakes that might represent important carbon sinks. The organic sedimentation process in the floodplains remains unknown as well as very little is known about past conditions in the Amazonian floodplains. Because these gaps, the aim of this work is to provide, through sedimentological, mineralogical and organic geochemical analysis of a 124-cm long core collected in Lago Comprido (eastern Amazonia), evidences of paleoenviromental changes during the Holocene. The core COM1 was analysed using radiocarbon dates, organic carbon concentration, C/N ratio, delta 13C and diatoms. The core points out different sedimentary environments that occurs in the last 9900 years cal BP. The record is divided into three phases: - phase III (124-94 cm, 9900 to 3200 cal years BP): this interval is characterized by delta 13C values typical of graminea, suggesting dry conditions with longer low water levels of the Amazon River. Supporting evidence for driest conditions during this period comes from low organic carbon values due to oxidation and absence of diatoms in the sediment. The carbon flux was very low, reaching an average of 0.9 g C/m2/year. - phase II (93-46 cm, 3200 to 940 years cal BP): increasing lake level beginning in this phase. The delta 13C values ranged between -25% and -29%, which are thought to represent terrestrial plants. This may indicate the presence of a flooded vegetation in this site. The freshwater planktonic diatoms Aulacoseira sp start to increase in this phase, additional evidence that the period of the annual high water stands was probably longer than before. Carbon flux increases, reaching an average of 5 g C/m2/year. - phase I (45-0cm, < 940 years cal BP): the delta 13C values and CN ratios did not change, suggesting the permanence of a flooded vegetation. The carbon flux increases significantly, reaching peaks of 17 g C/m2/year. The Aulacoseira sp became dominant reaching a peak in this phase. These characteristics show conditions progressively wetter during the Late Holocene. The shift from a shorter annual water levels during the Early-Mid Holocene (phase III) to a long annual high water levels since 3200 years cal BP can suggest a climate change from a drier Early-mid Holocene to a wetter Late Holocene.

Wave Energy Prize - 1/20th Testing - CalWave Power Technologies

DOE Data Explorer

Scharmen, Wesley

2016-09-09

Data from the 1/20th scale testing data completed on the Wave Energy Prize for the CalWave Power Technologies team, including the 1/20th scale test plan, raw test data, video, photos, and data analysis results. The top level objective of the 1/20th scale device testing is to obtain the necessary measurements required for determining Average Climate Capture Width per Characteristic Capital Expenditure (ACE) and the Hydrodynamic Performance Quality (HPQ), key metrics for determining the Wave Energy Prize (WEP) winners.

Antibiotics in aggressive periodontitis, is there a clinical benefit?

PubMed

Rajendra, Anjana; Spivakovsky, Silvia

2016-12-01

Data sourcesMedline, Embase and CENTRAL databases were searched up to December 2014. Unpublished data were sought by searching a database listing unpublished studies OpenGray [http://www.opengrey.eu/], formerly OpenSIGLE.Study selectionRandomised clinical trials assessing treatment of patients with AgP comparing scaling and root planing (SRP) alone with SRP plus a single antibiotic or a combination of drugs with a minimum of three months follow-up were considered. Studies specifically designed to evaluate smokers or subjects with diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS were not included.Data extraction and synthesisTwo researchers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts of the search results. The studies, which fulfilled inclusion criteria, underwent validity assessment and data extraction using a specifically designed form. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochranes collaboration tool for risk of bias. Only two of the 11 included trials were considered at a low risk of bias. The data extracted from ten studies was analysed by pair-wise meta-analyses and the data extracted from five studies was included in Bayesian network meta-analyses pooled estimates. The six studies evaluated in the pairwise meta-analyses were excluded in the pooled estimates because four studies included patients with advanced disease only and one study did not present average data for pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) and another one for using a different mechanical treatment.ResultsFourteen studies reporting 11 randomised clinical trials with a total of 388 patients were included in the review. Nine of 11 studies reported a statistically significant greater gain in full mouth mean clinical attachment (CA) and reduction in probing depth (PD) when a systemic antibiotic was used. From those studies the calculated mean difference for CA gained was 1.08 mm (p < 0.0001) and for PD reduction was 1.05 mm (p< 0.00001) for SRP + Metronidazole (Mtz). For SRP + Mtz+ amoxicillin (Amx) group the mean difference was 0.45 mm for CA gained and 0.53 mm for PD reduction (p<0.00001) than SRP alone/placebo. Bayesian network meta-analysis showed some additional benefits in CA gain and PD reduction when SRP was associated with systemic antibiotics.ConclusionsThe results support a statistically significant benefit of adjunctive systemic antibiotics in the treatment of AgP. The most consistent advantages - reduction in PD and CAL gain - were attained with the use of Mtz and Mtz + Amx. Future RCTs should be designed in order to directly compare these two antibiotic protocols in the treatment of AgP.

Impact of managed MediCal on California family practice programs.

PubMed

Zweifler, J A

2001-05-01

An important source of patients for California's family practice program is MediCal. During the past 5 years, MediCal has established a variety of capitated managed care plans. To assess the impact of California's managed MediCal program on the state's 38 family practice training programs. A cross-sectional, retrospective descriptive survey. A 3-page, 11-question survey was developed by family practice residency directors and staff from the California Academy of Family Physicians, San Francisco. The 38 family practice programs in existence in California in September 1997 were stratified by type of managed MediCal in their county and by type of sponsoring institution--university, county, community based, staff-model health maintenance organization, or managed care system. Of the 38 family practice programs, 27 responded; 19 of 27 programs participated in managed MediCal. The total number of family health center patients, and the percentage of MediCal patients (48%-60%) at family practice programs was similar when stratified by programs with and without managed MediCal and by type of sponsorship. Most programs reported that they were able to compete effectively, although most also reported increased administrative, nursing, and front office costs. Managed MediCal patients were directly assigned to residents in only 3 of 19 programs. The introduction of managed MediCal has not adversely affected the number of patients cared for in California's family practice programs. Continued vigilance regarding California family practice programs' involvement in managed MediCal, including collection of accurate data on the number of MediCal patients and the financial and educational implications for California's family practice programs, is warranted.

Fabrication of Calix[4]arene Derivative Monolayers to Control Orientation of Antibody Immobilization

PubMed Central

Chen, Hongxia; Liu, Feng; Qi, Fangjie; Koh, Kwangnak; Wang, Keming

2014-01-01

Three calix[4]arene (Cal-4) derivatives which separately contain ethylester (1), carboxylic acid (2), and crownether (3) at the lower rim with a common reactive thiol at the upper rim were synthesized and constructed to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au films. After spectroscopic characterization of the monolayers, surface coverage and orientation of antibody immobilized on the Cal-4 derivative SAMs were studied by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique. Experimental results revealed that the antibody could be immobilized on the Cal-4 derivatives spontaneously. The orientation of absorbed antibody on the Cal-4 derivative SAMs is related to the SAM’s dipole moment. The possible orientations of the antibody immobilized on the Cal-4 derivative 1 SAM are lying-on or side-on, while on the Cal-4 derivative 2 and Cal-4 derivative 3 head-on and end-on respectively. These experimental results demonstrate the surface dipole moment of Cal-4 derivative appears to be an important factor to antibody orientation. Cal-4 derivatives are useful in developing site direct protein chips. PMID:24690993

Lacustrine records of Holocene flood pulse dynamics in the Upper Paraguay River watershed (Pantanal wetlands, Brazil)

USGS Publications Warehouse

McGlue, Michael M.; Silva, Aquinaldo; Zani, Hiran; Corradini, Fabricio A.; Parolin, Mauro; Abel, Erin J.; Cohen, Andrew S.; Assine, Mario L.; Ellis, Geoffrey S.; Trees, Mark A.; Kuerten, Sidney; Gradella, Frederico dos Santos; Rasbold, Giliane Gessica

2012-01-01

The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland and a biodiversity hotspot, yet its response to Quaternary environmental change is unclear. To address this problem, sediment cores from shallow lakes connected to the UpperParaguayRiver (PR) were analyzed and radiocarbon dated to track changes in sedimentary environments. Stratal relations, detrital particle size, multiple biogeochemical indicators, and sponge spicules suggest fluctuating lake-level lowstand conditions between ~ 11,000 and 5300 cal yr BP, punctuated by sporadic and in some cases erosive flood flows. A hiatus has been recorded from ~ 5300 to 2600 cal yr BP, spurred by confinement of the PR within its channel during an episode of profound regional drought. Sustained PR flooding caused a transgression after ~ 2600 cal yr BP, with lake-level highstand conditions appearing during the Little Ice Age. Holocene PR floodpulsedynamics are best explained by variability in effective precipitation, likely driven by insolation and tropical sea-surface temperature gradients. Our results provide novel support for hypotheses on: (1) stratigraphic discontinuity of floodplain sedimentary archives; (2) late Holocene methane flux from Southern Hemisphere wetlands; and (3) pre-colonial indigenous ceramics traditions in western Brazil.

The history of South American tropical precipitation for the past 25,000 years.

PubMed

Baker, P A; Seltzer, G O; Fritz, S C; Dunbar, R B; Grove, M J; Tapia, P M; Cross, S L; Rowe, H D; Broda, J P

2001-01-26

Long sediment cores recovered from the deep portions of Lake Titicaca are used to reconstruct the precipitation history of tropical South America for the past 25,000 years. Lake Titicaca was a deep, fresh, and continuously overflowing lake during the last glacial stage, from before 25,000 to 15,000 calibrated years before the present (cal yr B.P.), signifying that during the last glacial maximum (LGM), the Altiplano of Bolivia and Peru and much of the Amazon basin were wetter than today. The LGM in this part of the Andes is dated at 21,000 cal yr B.P., approximately coincident with the global LGM. Maximum aridity and lowest lake level occurred in the early and middle Holocene (8000 to 5500 cal yr B.P.) during a time of low summer insolation. Today, rising levels of Lake Titicaca and wet conditions in Amazonia are correlated with anomalously cold sea-surface temperatures in the northern equatorial Atlantic. Likewise, during the deglacial and Holocene periods, there were several millennial-scale wet phases on the Altiplano and in Amazonia that coincided with anomalously cold periods in the equatorial and high-latitude North Atlantic, such as the Younger Dryas.

CalWater 2015 — Atmospheric Rivers and Aerosol Impacts on Precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spackman, J. R.; Ralph, F. M.; Prather, K. A.; Cayan, D.; DeMott, P. J.; Dettinger, M. D.; Doyle, J. D.; Fairall, C. W.; Leung, L. R.; Rosenfeld, D.; Rutledge, S. A.; Waliser, D. E.; White, A. B.

2015-12-01

The CalWater 2015 field experiment was conducted between January and March and consisted of more than fifty science flights, a major research cruise, and continuous ground-based observations coordinated to study phenomena driving the incidence of extreme precipitation events and the variability of water supply along the West Coast of the United States. CalWater 2015 examined key processes linked to (1) atmospheric rivers (ARs) in delivering much of the precipitation associated with major winter storms, and (2) aerosols, originating from local sources as well as from remote continents, within and between storms and their modulating effects on precipitation on the U.S. West Coast. As part of a large interagency field effort including NOAA, DOE, NASA, NSF, and the Naval Research Laboratory, four research aircraft from three government agencies were deployed in coordination with the oceangoing NOAA Ronald H. Brown and were equipped with meteorological and chemical observing systems in near-shore regions of California and the eastern Pacific. At the same time, ground-based measurements from NOAA's HydroMeteorological Testbed (HMT) network on the U.S. West Coast and a major NSF-supported observing site for aerosols and microphysics at Bodega Bay, California provided continuous near surface-level meteorological and chemical observations, respectively, during CalWater 2015. The DOE-sponsored ARM Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Experiment (ACAPEX) was executed in close coordination with NOAA and NASA facilities and deployed airborne and ship-based observing systems. This presentation summarizes the objectives, implementation strategy, data acquisitions, and some preliminary results from CalWater 2015 addressing science gaps associated with (1) the evolution and structure of ARs including cloud and precipitation processes and air-sea interaction, and (2) aerosol interaction with ARs and the impact on precipitation, including locally-generated aerosol effects on orographic precipitation along the U.S. West Coast. CalWater 2015 is part of a broad, five-year interagency vision called CalWater 2 (http://esrl.noaa.gov/psd/calwater) that includes proposed West Coast observations for multiple winter seasons to address these science gaps.

Green tea extract as a local drug therapy on periodontitis patients with diabetes mellitus: A randomized case-control study.

PubMed

Gadagi, Jayaprakash S; Chava, Vijay K; Reddy, Venkata Ramesh

2013-03-01

The green tea extract is a naturally occurring product having beneficial effects that counteract with the pathobiological features of periodontitis and diabetes mellitus. Hence, the present study was aimed at incorporation of green tea extract into hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose and investigates its efficacy in chronic periodontitis patients associated with and without diabetes mellitus. For the in vitro study, formulation of green tea strips and placebo strips, and analysis of drug release pattern from the green tea strips at different time intervals were performed. For the in vivo study, 50 patients (20-65 years), including 25 systemically healthy patients with chronic periodontitis (group 1) and 25 diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis (group 2) were enrolled. In each patient, test and control sites were identified for the placement of green tea and placebo strips, respectively. Gingival Index (GI), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL) were examined at baseline, first, second, third, and fourth weeks. Microbiological analysis for Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was performed at baseline and fourth week. The in vitro study showed 10.67% green tea release at 30 min; thereafter, a slow release was noted till 120 min. Both groups showed significant reduction in GI scores at the test sites. Group 1 showed significant (P < 0.001) PPD reduction at different time intervals at the test sites. However, group 2 showed significant reduction from baseline (5.30 ± 0.70) to fourth week (3.5 ± 0.97). Statistically significant gain in CAL at the test sites was observed both in group 1 (1.33 mm) and group 2 (1.43 mm). The prevalence of P. gingivalis in group 1 test sites was significantly reduced from baseline (75%) to fourth week (25%). Local drug delivery using green tea extract could be used as an adjunct in the treatment of chronic periodontitis in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Combination of ultrasonic decontamination, soft tissue curettage, and submucosal air polishing with povidone-iodine application for non-surgical therapy of peri-implantitis: 12 Month clinical outcomes.

PubMed

Stein, Jamal M; Hammächer, Christian; Michael, Sareh Said-Yekta

2017-12-05

The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes of a concept for non-surgical peri-implantitis combining stepwise mechanical debridement measures with adjuvant povidone-iodine application with and without systemic antibiotics. Forty-five patients with chronic periodontitis and a total of 164 screw-typed implants with peri-implantitis were included. Peri-implantitis was defined as radiographic bone loss of > 2 mm, probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm with bleeding on probing (BOP). Stepwise treatment of implants was performed with ultrasonic debridement, soft tissue curettage (STC), glycine powder air polishing (GPAP), and a repeated submucosal application of povidone-iodine. Teeth with PD > 4 mm were treated simultaneously according to the same concept except STC. In cases with severe periodontitis (n = 24), amoxicillin and metronidazole (AM) were prescribed for 7 days. After 12 months, implants treated without AM showed significant reductions (P < 0.05) of mean PD (1.4 ± 0.7 mm), clinical attachment level (CAL) (1.3 ± 0.8 mm), and BOP (33.4% ± 17.2%). In deep pockets (PD > 6 mm) changes of mean PD (2.3 ± 1.3 mm), CAL (2.0 ± 1.6 mm), and BOP (44.0% ± 41.7%) were more pronounced. Intake of AM did not significantly influence the changes in these parameters. However, the reduction of implant sites with PD > 4 mm and BOP was significantly higher in patients with AM than in those without AM (31.8% ± 12.6% versus 20.8% ± 14.7%; P < 0.05). The combination of ultrasonic debridement, STC, and GPAP with adjuvant povidone-iodine led to significant clinical improvements at implants. Systemic antibiotics had limited effects on the reduction of persisting implant sites with treatment need. © 2017 American Academy of Periodontology.

Long-Term Results Comparing Xenogeneic Collagen Matrix and Autogenous Connective Tissue Grafts With Coronally Advanced Flaps for Treatment of Dehiscence-Type Recession Defects.

PubMed

McGuire, Michael K; Scheyer, E Todd

2016-03-01

Although connective tissue grafts with coronally advanced flaps (CTG + CAF) have been deemed the gold standard for recession defect treatment, to provide adequate recession coverage, the periodontal profession continues to pursue lower-morbidity, patient-preferred substitutes that are more convenient and of unlimited supply. Using a randomized, controlled, and masked contralateral comparison of matched-pair, within-patient recession defects, collagen matrix (CMX) + CAF therapy was compared with CTG + CAF at 6 months and 5 years. The primary efficacy endpoint was percentage of root coverage (RC). Secondary efficacy parameters included width of keratinized tissue (KTw), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), clinician rating of color and texture compared with surrounding tissues, and patient esthetic satisfaction. Seventeen patients were available for the 5-year recall. Mean RC between 6 months and 5 years changed from 89.5% to 77.6% for CMX + CAF test sites and 97.5% to 95.5% for CTG + CAF control sites. KTw averaged >3 mm for both test and control sites at 5 years. PD was equivalent at all time points. The 6-month to 5-year changes for RC, KTw, and PD were not significantly different between therapies. CAL change from 6 months to 5 years was greater for CTG + CAF (0.26 mm) than CMX + CAF (-0.21 mm). Tissue color match to surrounding tissues remained similar for both therapies throughout the study. There was a difference in tissue texture at both 6 months and 5 years, with CMX + CAF sites tending to be "equally firm" and CTG + CAF sites "more firm." Patient satisfaction was high, with no statistical difference in satisfaction between therapies at any time point. When balanced with patient-reported satisfaction, clinical rankings of esthetics, and control and historical RC results reported by other investigators, CMX + CAF appears to present a viable and long-term alternative to traditional CTG + CAF therapy.

Spanish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-Sp).

PubMed

Lopez, Rodrigo; Baelum, Vibeke

2006-07-07

The need for appraisal of oral health-related quality of life has been increasingly recognized over the last decades. The aims of this study were to develop a Spanish version (OHIP-Sp) of the Oral Health Impact Profile and to evaluate its convergent and discriminative validity, and its internal consistency. The original 49-items OHIP was translated to Spanish, revised for understanding and semantics by two independent dentists, and then translated back to English by an independent bilingual dentist. The data originated in a cross sectional study conducted among high school students from the Province of Santiago, Chile. The study group was sampled using a multistage random cluster procedure yielding 9,203 students aged 12-21 years. All selected students were invited to participate and all filled a questionnaire with information on socio-demographic factors; oral health related behaviors; and self-reported oral health status (good, fair or poor). From this group, 9,163 students also accepted to fill a detailed questionnaire on socio-economic indicators and to receive a clinical examination comprising direct recordings of clinical attachment levels (CAL) in molars and incisors, tooth loss, and the presence of necrotizing ulcerative gingival lesions. The participation rate and the questionnaire completeness were high with OHIP-Sp total scores being computed for 9,133 subjects. Self-perceived oral health status was associated with the total OHIP-Sp score and all its domains (Spearman rank correlation). The OHIP-Sp total score was also directly associated with the 4 dental outcomes investigated (Mann-Whitney test) and the largest impact was found for the outcomes, 'tooth loss' with a mean OHIP-Sp score = 13.5 and 'CAL > or = 3 mm' with a mean OHIP-Sp score = 13.0. The OHIP-Sp revealed suitable convergent and discriminative validity and appropriate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Further studies on OHIP-Sp warrant the inclusion of populations with a higher disease burden; and the use of test-retest reliability exercises to evaluate the stability of the test.

Locally applied statins as adjuvants to non-surgical periodontal treatment for chronic periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Meza-Mauricio, Jonathan; Soto-Peñaloza, David; Peñarrocha-Oltra, David; Montiel-Company, Jose Maria; Peruzzo, Daiane Cristina

2018-06-12

This review aimed at evaluating the effects of chronic periodontitis (CP) treatment with local statins as adjuncts to scaling and root planing (SRP), compared with SRP alone or with placebo. Electronic and hand searches were conducted in three databases to select randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SRP + statins versus SRP alone. Random effects models were conducted to determine the clinical attachment level (CAL) gain as the primary outcome variable, and probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI), and intrabony defect depth (IBD) as the secondary outcomes. Of the 526 papers identified, 15 articles met the criteria for inclusion in this systematic review, and 13 in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed a statistically significant CAL gain (mean differences [MD] = 1.84 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.45 to 2.23; p = 0.000), PPD reduction (MD = 1.69 mm, 95% CI = 1.37 to 2.04; p = 0.000), mSBI change (MD = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.57 to 0.84; p = 0.000), and IBD (MD = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.30 to 1.67; p = 0.000) attributed to SRP + statin treatment (6 months). Within the limitations of this study, the collective evidence emerging from this systematic review and meta-analysis may support the use of locally applied statins as adjuncts to SRP in CP treatment, based on being an easy, low-cost alternative, with lesser adverse effects on bacterial resistance. These results should be interpreted with caution. Clinicians might consider the use of SRP + statins as an adjunct over other alternative approaches, based on the results of the present review. The informed decision should be taken, considering the patient's values and preferences, and the intervention to be implemented by the clinician.

Active Matrixmetalloproteinase-8 and periodontal bacteria - interlink between periodontitis and inflammatory bowel disease?

PubMed

Schmidt, J; Weigert, M; Leuschner, C; Hartmann, H; Raddatz, D; Haak, R; Mausberg, R F; Kottmann, Tanja; Schmalz, G; Ziebolz, D

2018-03-25

The aim of this study was the investigation of concentration and prevalence of selected periodontal pathogenic bacteria and concentration of active matrix-metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) within a group of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and to compare the results with a group of healthy control subjects (HC). 59 IBD patients with Crohn`s disease (CD, n = 30) or ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 29) and 59 HC were included in this cross-sectional study. Based on periodontal probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), periodontitis was classified into healthy/mild, moderate or severe. aMMP-8 was analyzed from gingival crevicular fluid using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Eleven selected periodontal pathogenic bacteria were analyzed in subgingival plaque samples using polymerase chain reaction. IBD patients showed higher CAL (p < 0.01), more severe periodontitis (p = 0.04), gingival bleeding (p < 0.01) and aMMP-8 concentration (p < 0.01) than HC. Only in CD, increasing severity of periodontitis was associated with an increase in aMMP-8 concentration (p = 0.02). The prevalences of Eubacterium nodatum and Eikanella corrodens were significantly lower in IBD compared to HC (p = 0.01). Additionally, the prevalence of Eikanella corrodens was significantly higher in CD compared to UC group (p = 0.04). Further statistically significant differences in selected bacteria between IBD and HC or CD and UC groups could not be found (p > 0.05). The results reveal changes in host immune response of IBD patients in terms of aMMP-8. Only in CD increasing aMMP-8 was associated with severity of periodontal disease. The role of periodontal pathogenic bacteria in the interrelation between IBD and periodontitis remains unclear. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Late Holocene lake-level variation in southeastern Lake Superior: Tahquamenon Bay, Michigan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnston, John W.; Baedke, Steve J.; Booth, Robert K.; Thompson, Todd A.; Wilcox, Douglas A.

2004-01-01

Internal architecture and ages of 71 beach ridges in the Tahquamenon Bay embayment along the southeastern shore of Lake Superior on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were studied to generate a late Holocene relative lake-level curve. Establishing a long-term framework is important to examine the context of historic events and help predict potential future changes critical for effective water resource management. Ridges in the embayment formed between about 4,200 and 2,100 calendar years before 1950 (cal. yrs. B.P.) and were created and preserved every 28 A? 4.8 years on average. Groups of three to six beach ridges coupled with inflections in the lake-level curve indicate a history of lake levels fluctuations and outlet changes. A rapid lake-level drop (approximately 4 m) from about 4,100 to 3,800 cal. yrs. B.P. was associated with a fall from the Nipissing II high-water-level phase. A change from a gradual fall to a slight rise was associated with an outlet change from Port Huron, Michigan/Sarnia, Ontario to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan/Ontario. A complete outlet change occurred after the Algoma high-water-level phase (ca. 2,400 cal. yrs. B.P.). Preliminary rates of vertical ground movement calculated from the strandplain are much greater than rates calculated from historical and geologic data. High rates of vertical ground movement could have caused tectonism in the Whitefish Bay area, modifying the strandplain during the past 2,400 years. A tectonic event at or near the Sault outlet also may have been a factor in the outlet change from Port Huron/Sarnia to Sault Ste. Marie.

Theory overview of tree-level B decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Fazio, F.

2017-07-01

I describe the theoretical progress in the study of semileptonic tree-level B decays, and its interplay with recent experimental results. In particular, I focus on two anomalies: the ratios $R(D^{(*)})=\\displaystyle\\frac{{\\cal B}(B \\to D^{(*)} \\tau \\bar \

29 CFR 1952.172 - Level of Federal enforcement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 29 Labor 9 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Level of Federal enforcement. 1952.172 Section 1952.172... Level of Federal enforcement. (a) Pursuant to §§ 1902.20(b)(1)(iii) and 1952.3 of this chapter, under... significantly greater level of worker protection than the corresponding Cal/OSHA standard, enforcement of new...

Impact of aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis on oral health-related quality of life.

PubMed

Llanos, Alexandre Hugo; Silva, Carlos Guillermo Benítez; Ichimura, Karina Tamie; Rebeis, Estela Sanches; Giudicissi, Marcela; Romano, Marcelo Munhóes; Saraiva, Luciana

2018-01-01

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of different forms of periodontal diseases on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). Fifty-two patients with Aggressive Periodontitis (AP) or Chronic Periodontitis (CP) were included: nine patients with Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP), thirty-three patients with Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis (GAP) and ten patients with Generalized Chronic Periodontitis (GCP). Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaires (OHIP-14) were distributed after a clinical examination that measured the following periodontal parameters: tooth loss, bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (REC) and clinical attachment level (CAL). The global OHIP-14 score means were 10.6 for LAP, 16.5 for GAP, and 17.5 for GCP. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed between the LAP group and the other two groups. There was significantly less bleeding and recession in the LAP group than in the patients with the generalized forms of periodontitis. LAP, GAP and GCP have an impact on patient quality of life when measured using the OHIP-14. Patients with GAP and GCP had poorer OHRQoL than LAP patients.

Cell-assisted lipotransfer: Friend or foe in fat grafting? Systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Laloze, J; Varin, A; Gilhodes, J; Bertheuil, N; Grolleau, J L; Brie, J; Usseglio, J; Sensebe, L; Filleron, T; Chaput, B

2018-02-01

Autologous fat grafting is a common procedure for soft-tissue reconstruction but is associated with a graft resorption rate ranging from 20% to 80%. To improve the fat graft survival rate, a new technique, called cell-assisted lipotransfer (CAL), was developed. With CAL, fat is injected along with adipose-derived stromal cells that are assumed to improve fat survival rate. We conducted an evidence-based meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CAL as compared with conventional autologous fat grafting (non-CAL). The databases MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched for reports of clinical trials, case series, and cohorts available from 2008 to 2016. We conducted a meta-analysis of the efficacy of CAL with data analysis concerning fat survival rate. The incidence of complications and the need for multiple procedures were evaluated to determine the safety of CAL. We identified 25 studies (696 patients) that were included in the systematic review; 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of CAL. The fat survival rate was significantly higher with CAL than non-CAL (64% vs. 44%, p < .0001) independent of injection site (breast and face). This benefit of CAL was significant for only injection volumes <100 ml (p = .03). The two groups did not differ in frequency of multiple procedures after fat grafting, but the incidence of complications was greater with CAL than non-CAL (8.4% vs. 1.5%, p = .0019). The CAL method is associated with better fat survival rate than with conventional fat grafting but only for small volumes of fat grafting (<100 ml). Nonetheless, the new technique is associated with more complications and did not reduce the number of surgical procedures needed after the first fat grafting. More prospective studies are required to draw clinical conclusions and to demonstrate the real benefit of CAL as compared with common autologous fat grafting. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Reduced density and altered regulation of rat atrial L-type Ca2+ current in heart failure.

PubMed

Bond, Richard C; Bryant, Simon M; Watson, Judy J; Hancox, Jules C; Orchard, Clive H; James, Andrew F

2017-03-01

Constitutive regulation by PKA has recently been shown to contribute to L-type Ca 2+ current ( I CaL ) at the ventricular t-tubule in heart failure. Conversely, reduction in constitutive regulation by PKA has been proposed to underlie the downregulation of atrial I CaL in heart failure. The hypothesis that downregulation of atrial I CaL in heart failure involves reduced channel phosphorylation was examined. Anesthetized adult male Wistar rats underwent surgical coronary artery ligation (CAL, N =10) or equivalent sham-operation (Sham, N =12). Left atrial myocytes were isolated ~18 wk postsurgery and whole cell currents recorded (holding potential=-80 mV). I CaL activated by depolarizing pulses to voltages from -40 to +50 mV were normalized to cell capacitance and current density-voltage relations plotted. CAL cell capacitances were ~1.67-fold greater than Sham ( P ≤ 0.0001). Maximal I CaL conductance ( G max ) was downregulated more than 2-fold in CAL vs. Sham myocytes ( P < 0.0001). Norepinephrine (1 μmol/l) increased G max >50% more effectively in CAL than in Sham so that differences in I CaL density were abolished. Differences between CAL and Sham G max were not abolished by calyculin A (100 nmol/l), suggesting that increased protein dephosphorylation did not account for I CaL downregulation. Treatment with either H-89 (10 μmol/l) or AIP (5 μmol/l) had no effect on basal currents in Sham or CAL myocytes, indicating that, in contrast to ventricular myocytes, neither PKA nor CaMKII regulated basal I CaL Expression of the L-type α 1C -subunit, protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, and inhibitor-1 proteins was unchanged. In conclusion, reduction in PKA-dependent regulation did not contribute to downregulation of atrial I CaL in heart failure. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Whole cell recording of L-type Ca 2+ currents in atrial myocytes from rat hearts subjected to coronary artery ligation compared with those from sham-operated controls reveals marked reduction in current density in heart failure without change in channel subunit expression and associated with altered phosphorylation independent of protein kinase A. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

CalSimHydro Tool - A Web-based interactive tool for the CalSim 3.0 Hydrology Prepropessor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, P.; Stough, T.; Vu, Q.; Granger, S. L.; Jones, D. J.; Ferreira, I.; Chen, Z.

2011-12-01

CalSimHydro, the CalSim 3.0 Hydrology Preprocessor, is an application designed to automate the various steps in the computation of hydrologic inputs for CalSim 3.0, a water resources planning model developed jointly by California State Department of Water Resources and United States Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region. CalSimHydro consists of a five-step FORTRAN based program that runs the individual models in succession passing information from one model to the next and aggregating data as required by each model. The final product of CalSimHydro is an updated CalSim 3.0 state variable (SV) DSS input file. CalSimHydro consists of (1) a Rainfall-Runoff Model to compute monthly infiltration, (2) a Soil moisture and demand calculator (IDC) that estimates surface runoff, deep percolation, and water demands for natural vegetation cover and various crops other than rice, (3) a Rice Water Use Model to compute the water demands, deep percolation, irrigation return flow, and runoff from precipitation for the rice fields, (4) a Refuge Water Use Model that simulates the ponding operations for managed wetlands, and (5) a Data Aggregation and Transfer Module to aggregate the outputs from the above modules and transfer them to the CalSim SV input file. In this presentation, we describe a web-based user interface for CalSimHydro using Google Earth Plug-In. The CalSimHydro tool allows users to - interact with geo-referenced layers of the Water Budget Areas (WBA) and Demand Units (DU) displayed over the Sacramento Valley, - view the input parameters of the hydrology preprocessor for a selected WBA or DU in a time series plot or a tabular form, - edit the values of the input parameters in the table or by downloading a spreadsheet of the selected parameter in a selected time range, - run the CalSimHydro modules in the backend server and notify the user when the job is done, - visualize the model output and compare it with a base run result, - download the output SV file to be used to run CalSim 3.0. The CalSimHydro tool streamlines the complicated steps to configure and run the hydrology preprocessor by providing a user-friendly visual interface and back-end services to validate user inputs and manage the model execution. It is a powerful addition to the new CalSim 3.0 system.

Holocene paleoclimate inferred from salinity histories of adjacent lakes in southwestern Sicily (Italy)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Curry, B Brandon; Henne, Paul; Mezquita-Joanes, Francesc; Marrone, Federico; Pieri, Valentina; La Mantia, Tommaso; Calo, Camilla; Tinner, Willy

2016-01-01

Marked uncertainties persist regarding the climatic evolution of the Mediterranean region during the Holocene. For instance, whether moisture availability gradually decreased, remained relatively constant, or increased during the last 7000 years remains a matter of debate. To assess Holocene limnology, hydrology and moisture dynamics, the coastal lakes Lago Preola and Gorgo Basso, located in southwestern Sicily, were investigated through several stratigraphic analyses of ostracodes, including multivariate analyses of assemblages, transfer functions of salinity, and biochemical analyses of valves (Sr/Ca, δ18O and δ13C). During the early Holocene, the Gorgo Basso and Lago Preola ostracode records are similar. After an initial period of moderate salinity (1690–6100 mg/l from ca. 10,000–8190 cal yr BP), syndepositional or diagenetic dissolution of ostracode valves suggests that salinity declined to <250 mg/L from ca. 8190 to 7000 cal yr BP at both sites. After ca. 6250 cal yr BP, the ostracode records are strikingly different. Lago Preola became much more saline, with paleosalinity values that ranged from 2270 to about 24,420 mg/L. We suggest that Lago Preola's change from a freshwater to mesosaline lake at about 6250 cal yr BP was related to sea level rise and resulting intrusion of seawater-influenced groundwater. In contrast, Gorgo Basso remained a freshwater lake. The salinity of Gorgo Basso declined somewhat after 6250 cal yr BP, in comparison to the early Holocene, ranging from about 550 to 1680 mg/L. Cypria ophtalmica, a species capable of rapid swimming and flourishing in waters with low dissolved oxygen levels, became dominant at approximately the time when Greek civilization took root in Sicily (2600 cal yr BP), and it completely dominates the record during Roman occupation (roughly 2100 to 1700 cal yr BP). These freshwater conditions at Gorgo Basso suggest high effective moisture when evergreen olive-oak forests collapsed in response to increased Greco-Roman land use and fire. Ostracode valve geochemistry (Sr/Ca, δ18O) suggests significant changes in early vs. late Holocene hydrochemistry, either as changes in salinity or in the seasonality of precipitation. Harmonizing the autecological and geochemical data from Gorgo Basso suggests the latter was more likely, with relatively more late Holocene precipitation falling during the spring, summer, and fall, than winter compared to the early Holocene. Our ostracode-inferred paleosalinity data indicate that moisture availability did not decline during the late Holocene in the central Mediterranean region. Instead, moisture availability was lowest during the early Holocene, and most abundant during the late Holocene.

Late Quaternary palaeoecological and palaeoclimatological reconstruction in the Gutaiului Mountains, northwest Romania

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feurdean, Angelica; Bennike, Ole

2004-12-01

Macrofossil, pollen, lithostratigraphy, mineral magnetic measurements (SIRM and magnetic susceptibility), loss-on-ignition, and AMS radiocarbon dating on sediments from two former crater lakes, situated at moderate altitudes in the Gutaiului Mountains of northwest Romania, allow reconstruction of Late Quaternary climate and environment. Shrubs and herbs with steppe and montane affinities along with stands of Betula and Pinus, colonised the surroundings of the sites prior to 14 700 cal. yr BP and the inferred climatic conditions were cold and dry. The gradual transition to open Pinus-Betula forests, slightly higher lake water temperatures, and higher lake productivity, indicate more stable environmental conditions between 14 700 and 14 100 cal. yr BP. This development was interrupted by cooler and drier climatic conditions between 14 100 and 13 800 cal. yr BP, as inferred from a reduction of open forests to patches, or stands, of Pinus, Betula, Larix, Salix and Populus. The expansion of a denser boreal forest, dominated by Picea, but including Pinus, Larix, Betula, Salix, and Ulmus started at 13 800 cal. yr BP, although the forest density seems to have been reduced between 13400 and 13200cal.yrBP. Air temperature and moisture availability gradually increased, but a change towards drier conditions is seen at 13400cal.yrBP. A distinct decrease in temperature and humidity between 12900 and 11500cal.yrBP led to a return of open vegetation, with patches of Betula, Larix, Salix, Pinus and Alnus and individuals of Picea. Macrofossils and pollen of aquatic plants indicate rising lake water temperatures and increased aquatic productivity already by ca. 11800cal.yrBP, 300 years earlier than documented by the terrestrial plant communities. At the onset of the Holocene, 11500cal.yrBP, forests dominated by Betula, Pinus and Larix expanded and were followed by dense Ulmus forests with Picea, Betula and Pinus at 11250cal.yrBP. Larix pollen was not found, but macrofossil evidence indicates that Larix was an important forest constituent at the onset of the Holocene. Moister conditions were followed by a dry period starting about 10600cal.yrBP, which was more pronounced between 8600 and 8200cal.yrBP, as inferred from aquatic macrofossils. The maximum expansion of Tilia, Quercus, Fraxinus and Acer between 10700 and 8600cal.yrBP may reflect a more continental climate. A drier and/or cooler climate could have been responsible for the late expansion (10300cal.yrBP) and late maximum (9300cal.yrBP) of Corylus. Increased water stress, and possibly cooler conditions around 8600cal.yrBP, may have caused a reduction of Ulmus, Tilia, Quercus and Fraxinus. After 8200cal.yrBP moisture increased and the forests included Picea, Tilia, Quercus and Fraxinus. Copyright

Effect of enamel matrix derivative on collagen guided tissue regeneration-based root coverage procedure.

PubMed

Trabulsi, Manal; Oh, Tae-Ju; Eber, Robert; Weber, Daniel; Wang, Hom-Lay

2004-11-01

Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) has been shown to promote periodontal wound healing and/or regeneration when applied to tooth root surfaces in soft tissue dehiscence models. In addition, guided tissue regeneration (GTR)-based root coverage using collagen membrane (GTRC) has shown promising results. However, limited information is available regarding how EMD may influence GTRC outcome. Twenty-six patients with Miller's Class I or II gingival recession defects of 2.5 mm were recruited for the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either EMD + collagen (EMDC; test group) or collagen membrane (GTRC; control group). Clinical parameters, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), relative clinical attachment levels (RCAL) to the stent, recession depth (RD), recession width (RW), probing depth (PD), gingival tissue thickness (GTT), and width of keratinized gingiva (KG) were assessed at baseline, and 3 and 6 months after surgery. A repeated measure of analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences between treatment groups and time effect. Both treatments (GTRC and EMDC) resulted in a statistically significant decrease in RD and RW between baseline and 6 months (P <0.05). However, no difference was noted between treatment groups. The percent of root coverage after 6 months was 75% for GTRC and 63% for EMDC. Complete 100% root coverage was achieved in five patients in the GTRC group, compared to only one patient in the EMDC group. There was a statistically significant gain (P <0.05) in the clinical attachment level (CAL) between baseline and 6 months in both groups, as reflected on the RCAL data. No other significant differences were noted on other clinical parameters (PD, GTT, KG, GI, and PI). GTR-based root coverage utilizing collagen membrane, with or without enamel matrix derivative, can be successfully used in obtaining gingival recession coverage. The application of EMD during GTRC procedures did not add additional benefit to the final clinical outcome.

Sediment record of environmental change at Lake Lop Nur (Xinjiang, NW China) from 13.0 to 5.6 cal ka BP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jingzhong; Jia, Hongjuan

2017-09-01

Lake Lop Nur is located in the eastern part of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, northwestern China. A 220-cm-long sediment core was collected from the center of the ear-shaped depression forming the basin and dated with AMS14C. Grain size, total organic matter (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and TOC/TN (C/N) analyses were used to reconstruct climatic conditions from 13.0 to 5.6 cal ka BP. The results showed five main climatic stages. Zone I (13.0-11.3 cal ka BP) was a wet-dry environment, whereas Zone II (11.3-8.9 cal ka BP) consisted of a primarily wet environment. Zone III (8.9-7.7 cal ka BP) was subdivided into Zone IIIa (8.9-8.2 cal ka BP) that indicated lake constriction and dry climate, and Zone IIIb (8.2-7.7 cal ka BP) in which the proxies indicated wet conditions. In Zone IV (7.7-6.6 cal ka BP), the climate presented a bit wet conditions. In Zone V (6.6-5.6 cal ka BP), abundant glauberite is present in the sediment and silt dominates the lithology; these results indicate the lake shrank and the overall climate was dry. Abrupt environmental events were also identified, including six dry events at 11.0, 10.5, 9.3, 8.6, 8.2, and 7.6 cal ka BP and one flood event from 7.8 to 7.7 cal ka BP in the Early-Middle Holocene.

Clinical Evaluation of Insulin like Growth Factor-I and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor with Alloplastic Bone Graft Material in the Management of Human Two Wall Intra-Osseous Defects

PubMed Central

Dixit, Jaya

2016-01-01

Introduction In recent years, emphasis on the use of growth factors for periodontal healing is gaining great momentum. Several growth factors showed promising results in periodontal regeneration. Aim This study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of 0.8μg recombinant human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (rh-VEGF) and 10μg recombinant human Insulin Like Growth Factor-I (rh-IGF-I) with β-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) and Polylactide-Polyglycolide Acid (PLGA) membrane in two wall intra-osseous defects. Materials and Methods A total of 29 intra-osseous defects in 27 subjects were randomly divided into 3 test and 1 control group. Test group I (n=8) received rh-VEGF+ rh-IGF-I, Test group II (n=7) rh-VEGF, Test group III (n=7) rh-IGF-I and control group (n=7) with no growth factor, β-TCP and PLGA membrane was used in all the groups. Baseline soft tissue parameters including Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), and Gingival Recession (GR) at selected sites were recorded at baseline and at 6 months. Intrasurgically, intra-osseous component was calculated as a) Cemento-Enamel Junction to Bone Crest (CEJ to BC), b) Bone Crest to Base of the Defect (BC to BD) at baseline and at re-entry. The mean changes at baseline and after 6 months within each group were compared using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. The mean changes for each parameter between groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Results After 6 months, maximum mean PPD reduction occurred in test group I followed by test group II, III and control group. Similar trend was observed in CAL gain. Non-significant GR was present in test group I and control group whereas in test group II and III GR was absent. The use of rh-VEGF+ rhIGF-I exhibited 95.8% osseous fill as compared to 54.8% in test group II, 52.7% in test group III and 41.1 % in the control group. Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that, rh-IGF-I+rh-VEGF treated sites resulted in greater improvement in PPD reduction, CAL gain as well as in osseous fill after 6 months when compared with rh-VEGF, rh-IGF-I and control sites. PMID:27790578

Inconsistency in the Crown-to-Root Ratios of Single-Rooted Premolars Measured by 2D and 3D Examinations.

PubMed

Hong, Hsiang-Hsi; Liu, Heng-Liang; Hong, Adrienne; Chao, Pu

2017-11-28

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was applied to elucidate the relationship between the three-dimensional (3D) root surface area (RSA) and two-dimensional (2D) crown-to-root ratio (CRR) of extracted teeth to classify the periodontitis and assign a periodontal/prosthetic prognosis. A total of 31 maxillary and 35 mandibular single-rooted human premolars were examined. The amount of periodontal support on the basis of 3D RSA and 2D root length (RL) at CRRs of 1:1, 5:4, 3:2, and 2:1 were analyzed. Both maxillary and mandibular premolars demonstrated a nonsignificant RSA percentage at the evaluated CRRs. The coronal 21%-22% 2D RL and the 26%-28% 3D RSA bone loss apical to the cemento-enamel junction corresponded to a CRR of 1:1, relating to mild-moderate periodontitis. The coronal 30%-31% 2D RL and the 41%-42% 3D RSA bone loss corresponded to a CRR of 5:4, correlating to severe periodontitis. More severe clinical attachment loss (CAL) was observed in the 3D RSA measurement than in the 2D RL measurement at the evaluated CRRs. The amount of CAL at the CRR of 1:1 was inadequate to assess the severity of periodontitis on the basis of the 2D RL and 3D RSA measurements.

KSC-2013-2718

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-06-10

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Roland Coelho, right, CalPoly program lead, and members of the student launch team for the Polysat works through final checks in the CubeSat lab facility at California Polytechnic Institute, or CalPoly. The payload, which includes sensors and equipment carefully packaged into 4-inch cube sections, will ride in the body of a Garvey Spacecraft Corporation's Prospector P-18D rocket during a June 15 launch on a high-altitude, suborbital flight. Known as a CubeSat, the satellite will record shock, vibrations and heat inside the rocket. It will not be released during the test flight, but the results will be used to prove or strengthen their designs before they are carried into orbit in 2014 on a much larger rocket. A new, lightweight carrier is also being tested for use on future missions to deploy the small spacecraft. The flight also is being watched closely as a model for trying out new or off-the-shelf technologies quickly before putting them in the pipeline for use on NASA's largest launchers. Built by several different organizations, including a university, a NASA field center and a high school, the spacecraft are four-inch cubes designed to fly on their own eventually, but will remain firmly attached to the rocket during the upcoming mission. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/elana/cubesatlaunchpreview.html Photo credit: VAFB/Kathi Peoples

Paleohydrology of China Lake basin and the context of early human occupation in the northwestern Mojave Desert, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenthal, Jeffrey S.; Meyer, Jack; Palacios-Fest, Manuel R.; Young, D. Craig; Ugan, Andrew; Byrd, Brian F.; Gobalet, Ken; Giacomo, Jason

2017-07-01

Considerable prior research has focused on the interconnected pluvial basins of Owens Lake and Searles Lake, resulting in a long record of paleohydrological change in the lower Owens River system. However, the published record is poorly resolved or contradictory for the period encompassing the terminal Pleistocene (22,000 to 11,600 cal BP) and early Holocene (11,600-8200 cal BP). This has resulted in conflicting interpretations about the timing of lacustrine high stands within the intermediate basin of China Lake, which harbors one of the most extensive records of early human occupation in the western Great Basin and California. Here, we report a broad range of radiocarbon-dated paleoenvironmental evidence, including lacustrine deposits and shoreline features, tufa outcrops, and mollusk, ostracode, and fish bone assemblages, as well as spring and other groundwater-related deposits (a.k.a. "black mats") from throughout China Lake basin, its outlet, and inflow drainages. Based on 98 radiocarbon dates, we develop independent evidence for five significant lake-level oscillations between 18,000 and 13,000 cal BP, and document the persistence of groundwater-fed wetlands from the beginning of the Younger Dryas through the early Holocene (12,900-8200 cal BP); including the transition from ground-water fed lake to freshwater marsh between about 13,000 and 12,600 cal BP. Results of this study support and refine existing evidence that shows rapid, high-amplitude oscillations in the water balance of the Owens River system during the terminal Pleistocene, and suggest widespread human use of China Lake basin began during the Younger Dryas.

Limiting age for the Provo shoreline of Lake Bonneville

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, David; Wahl, David B.; McGeehin, John; Rosario, Jose J.; Oviatt, Charles G.; Anderson, Lysanna; Presnetsova, Liubov S.

2015-01-01

Pluvial Lake Bonneville features a prominent shoreline at the Provo level, which has been interpreted as having formed during a period of threshold-stabilized overflow. The timing of Provo shoreline development is important for paleoclimate interpretations and for inferences on geomorphic process rates. Estimates for the timing of the shoreline formation, based on radiocarbon measurements from gastropod shells, are from approximately 18 to 15 cal ka. One key radiocarbon age on plant fragments from Swan Lake, which formed in the threshold spillway after overflow ceased, has been taken as a young limiting age. The conventional age of 12090 ± 300 14C when calibrated at 2σ has large uncertainty (13375–15103 cal BP). We report six new AMS radiocarbon ages recovered from new Swan Lake sediment cores. A twig near the base of lacustrine muds was dated at 11,615 ± 40 14C yr (13,350 to 13,560 cal BP). Age determinations on roots in that interval and deeper in the core are somewhat younger. These ages limit the last overflow of the Provo stand to earlier than ∼13.5 cal ka BP, consistent with the younger bound of the imprecise age reported by Bright. If conservative interpretations of sedimentation rates for the thick well-sorted sand interval below the lacustrine muds are correct and landscape change that resulted in damming of Swan Lake is accounted for, cessation of flow probably occurred before ∼14.5 cal ka BP.

78 FR 1264 - CalAmp Wireless Networks Corporation, Waseca, MN; Notice of Negative Determination Regarding...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-08

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration [TA-W-81,646] CalAmp Wireless Networks...; CalAmp Wireless Networks Corporation, Waseca, Minnesota; expires on December 2, 2013). Conclusion Due to the eligibility of workers and former workers of CalAmp Wireless Networks Corporation, Waseca...

A late Holocene palaeoenvironmental record from Lake Tizong, northern Cameroon using diatom and carbon stable isotope analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguetsop, Victor François; Bentaleb, Ilham; Favier, Charly; Bietrix, Sophie; Martin, Céline; Servant-Vildary, Simone; Servant, Michel

2013-07-01

A late Holocene record, based on diatom and stable carbon isotopes from Lake Tizong, northern Cameroon, provides a history of environmental changes over the last 4100 years. Several coarser sediment layers among which the two younger ones are of pyroclastic origin interrupt the fine clayey sediment of the core. The detailed chronology of the core supported by 24 radiocarbon 14C dates and proxies data results revealed an erosive phase registered in the sedimentary column from 2200 to 1500 cal BP. The diatom ecological groups suggest that between 4100 and 2800 cal yrs BP, the lake level was much higher than after corresponding to a relatively greater precipitation minus evaporation (P - E) ratio, as well as increased runoff in the lake catchment. These conditions were favourable to the development of C3 plants in the lake catchment as indicated by lower δ13C values and higher C/N ratios than after. This hydrological phase is also characterized by eutrophic, turbid and probably circum-neutral to alkaline waters. After this episode, higher δ13C values between 2800 and 2500 cal BP suggest increased water use efficiency of terrestrial plants and/or potentially more C4 plant debris input into the lake: an indication of savannas patches developing, due probably to changes in the rainfall distribution. Marked lake-level declines are recorded at 2500, 2200-2100, and at 1400-1000 cal yrs BP. These low-stands are characterized by higher inputs of windblown diatoms (up to 4.2%) than before, which confirms that the NE trade-winds were strengthening. This corresponds primarily to a reduction in the P - E ratio, but probably also to greater inter-annual or seasonal variability when drier periods or seasons became more prolonged and intense than previously. Consequently, savannas were maintained as suggested by relatively higher than before δ13C values, as well as independently supported by regional pollen data. After 1000 cal BP, the lake-level rose towards sub-modern conditions, with a deep neutral and eutrophic water column. Carbon stable isotopes suggest a reduction of organic matter input, while savannas were maintained despite the return to more humid conditions. The trends of climatic changes observed in the Lake Tizong reveal the variability in timing, magnitude and regional extent of known climatic events.

Holocene climate on the Modoc Plateau, northern California, USA: The view from Medicine Lake

USGS Publications Warehouse

Starratt, Scott W.

2009-01-01

Medicine Lake is a small (165 ha), relatively shallow (average 7.3 m), intermediate elevation (2,036 m) lake located within the summit caldera of Medicine Lake volcano, Siskiyou County, California, USA. Sediment cores and high-resolution bathymetric and seismic reflection data were collected from the lake during the fall of 1999 and 2000. Sediments were analyzed for diatoms, pollen, density, grain size (sand/mud ratio), total organic carbon (TOC), and micro-scale fabric analysis. Using both 14C (AMS) dating and tephrochronology, the basal sediments were estimated to have been deposited about 11,400 cal year BP, thus yielding an estimated average sedimentation rate of about 20.66 cm/1,000 year. The lowermost part of the core (11,400–10,300 cal year BP) contains the transition from glacial to interglacial conditions. From about 11,000–5,500 cal year BP, Medicine Lake consisted of two small, steep-sided lakes or one lake with two steep-sided basins connected by a shallow shelf. During this time, both the pollen (Abies/Artemisia ratio) and the diatom (Cyclotella/Navicula ratio) evidences indicate that the effective moisture increased, leading to a deeper lake. Over the past 5,500 years, the pollen record shows that effective moisture continued to increase, and the diatom record indicates fluctuations in the lake level. The change in the lake level pattern from one of the increasing depths prior to about 6,000 cal year BP to one of the variable depths may be related to changes in the morphology of the Medicine Lake caldera associated with the movement of magma and the eruption of the Medicine Lake Glass Flow about 5,120 cal year BP. These changes in basin morphology caused Medicine Lake to flood the shallow shelf which surrounds the deeper part of the lake. During this period, the Cyclotella/Navicula ratio and the percent abundance of Isoetes vary, suggesting that the level of the lake fluctuated, resulting in changes in the shelf area available for colonization by benthic diatoms and Isoetes. These fluctuations are not typical of the small number of low-elevation Holocene lake records in the region, and probably reflect the hydrologic conditions unique to Medicine Lake.

Effect of 1.2% of simvastatin gel as a local drug delivery system on Gingival Crevicular Fluid interleukin-6 & interleukin-8 levels in non surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis patients.

PubMed

Gunjiganur Vemanaradhya, Gayathri; Emani, Shilpa; Mehta, Dhoom Singh; Bhandari, Shilpy

2017-10-01

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of 1.2% simvastatin gel as local drug delivery (LDD) system on Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) Interleukin -6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in chronic periodontitis patients, in addition to scaling and root planing (SRP). A total of 46 chronic periodontitis patients were equally divided into two groups. Group I patients were treated by SRP; Group II patients were treated by SRP followed by LDD of 1.2% simvastatin (SMV) gel. Plaque index (PI), Gingival index(GI), Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI), Probing pocket depth (PPD) and Relative clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded & GCF samples were collected at baseline (0day) and at 45th day from both the groups. The collected GCF samples were analysed for IL-6 and IL-8 levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both the groups showed significant reduction in all the clinical parameters scores and IL-6 and IL-8 levels after non-surgical periodontal therapy (SRP for group I/SRP+1.2% SMV gel for group II) in contrast to baseline values. However, a greater reduction was observed in group II. A non-significant positive correlation was observed between clinical parameters and IL-6 and IL-8 levels except at baseline, a significant correlation was observed between PPD &IL 6 levels in group II. In adjunct to SRP, 1.2% Simvastatin gel acts as an effective local drug delivery agent for the management of chronic periodontitis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Holocene development of the eastern Gulf of Finland coastal zone (Baltic Sea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryabchuk, Daria; Sergeev, Alexander; Gusentsova, Tatiana; Gerasimov, Dmitry; Zhamoida, Vladimir; Amantov, Aleksey; Kulkova, Marianna; Sorokin, Peter

2014-05-01

In 2011-2013 geoarcheological and marine geological research of the eastern Gulf of Finland coasts and near-shore bottom were undertaken. Researches were concentrated within several key-areas (Sestroretskaya Lowland, Narva-Luga Klint Bay and southern coastal zone of the Gulf (near Bolshaya Izhora village). Study areas can provide important information about Gulf of Finland Holocene coastal development as since Ancylus time (about 10000 cal.BP). Development of numerous sand accretion forms (spits, bars, dunes) of different shape, age and genesis caused formation of lagoon systems, situated now on-land due to land uplift. Coasts of lagoons in Sestroretskaya Lowland and Narva-Luga Klint Bay were inhabited by Neolithic and Early Metal people. Analysis of coastal morphology and results of geological research (GIS relief analyses, ground penetrating radar, drilling, grain-size analyses, radiocarbon dating) and geoarcheological studies allowed to reconstruct the mechanism of large accretion bodies (bars and spits) and lagoon systems formation during last 8000 years. Geoarcheological studies carried out within eastern Gulf of Finland coasts permitted to find some features of the Neolithic - Early Metal settlements distribution. Another important features of the eastern Gulf of Finland coastal zone relief are the series of submarine terraces found in the Gulf bottom (sea water depths 10 to 2 m). Analyses of the submarine terraces morphology and geology (e.g. grain-size distribution, pollen analyses and organic matter dating) allow to suppose that several times during Holocene (including preAncylus (11000 cal.BP) and preLittorina (8500 cal.BP) regressions) the sea-water level was lower than nowadays. During the maximal stage of the Littorina transgression (7600-7200 cal. BP) several open bays connected with the Littorina Sea appeared in this area. The lagoon systems and sand accretion bodies (spits and bars) were formed during the following decreasing of the sea level. Late Neolithic-Early Metal Epoch archaeological contexts of the end of the 6th to the beginning of the 5th ka BP mark the rate of regression. The results of geological research of submarine terraces and modeling show that by the time period about 3000 cal. BP, relative water level decreased (in the vicinities of Sestroretskaya Lowland and Bolshaya Izhora village by modern depth of about 3 m). The main trend of the final stage of paleogeographical development was the gradual relative sea-level rise up to the modern shoreline. Studies are supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (projects 12-05-01121 and 12-05-31196).

Holocene history of a lake filling and vegetation dynamics of the Serra Sul dos Carajás, southeast Amazonia.

PubMed

Guimarães, José T F; Sahoo, Prafulla K; Souza-Filho, Pedro W M; Figueiredo, Mariana M J Costa DE; Reis, Luiza S; Silva, Marcio S DA; Rodrigues, Tarcísio M

2017-07-24

Down-core changes in sedimentary facies, elemental geochemistry, pollen, spore, δ13C, δ15N and radiocarbon records from a filled lake, named R4, of the Serra Sul dos Carajás were used to study the relationship between the paleomorphological and paleoecological processes and their significance for Holocene paleoclimatology of the southeast Amazonia. The sediment deposition of the R4 lake started around 9500 cal yr BP. Increase of detrital components from 9500 to 7000 cal yr BP suggests high weathering of surrounding catchment rocks and soils, and deposition into the lake basin under mudflows. At that time, montane savanna and forest formation were already established suggesting predominance of wet climate. However, from 7000 to 3000 cal yr BP, a decline of detrital input occurred. Also, forest formation and pteridophytes were declined, while palms and macrophytes were remained relatively stable, indicating that water levels of the lake is likely dropped allowing the development of plants adapted to subaerial condition under drier climate conditions. After 3000 cal yr BP, eutrophication and low accommodation space lead to high lake productivity and the final stage of the lake filling respectively, and forest formation may has acquired its current structure, which suggests return of wetter climate conditions.

A multi-proxy approach to understanding complex responses of salt-lake catchments to climate variability and human pressure: A Late Quaternary case study from south-eastern, Spain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Samantha Elsie; Burjachs, Francesc; Ferrer-García, Carlos; Giralt, Santiago; Schulte, Lothar; Fernández-López de Pablo, Javier

2018-03-01

This article focuses on a former salt lake in the upper Vinalopó Valley in south-eastern Spain. The study spans the Late Pleistocene through to the Late Holocene, although with particular focus on the period between 11 ka cal BP and 3000 ka cal BP (which spans the Mesolithic and part of the Bronze Age). High resolution multi-proxy analysis (including pollen, non pollen palynomorphs, grain size, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction) was undertaken on the lake sediments. The results show strong sensitivity to both long term and small changes in the evaporation/precipitation ratio, affecting the surrounding vegetation composition, lake-biota and sediment geochemistry. To summarise the key findings the main general trends identified include: 1) Hyper-saline conditions and low lake levels at the end of the Late Glacial 2) Increasing wetness and temperatures which witnessed an expansion of mesophilic woodland taxa, lake infilling and the establishment of a more perennial lake system at the onset of the Holocene 3) An increase in solar insolation after 9 ka cal BP which saw the re-establishment of pine forests 4) A continued trend towards increasing dryness (climatic optimum) at 7 ka cal BP but with continued freshwater input 5) An increase in sclerophyllous open woody vegetation (anthropogenic?), and increasing wetness (climatic?) is represented in the lake record between 5.9 and 3 ka cal BP 6) The Holocene was also punctuated by several aridity pulses, the most prominent corresponding to the 8.2 ka cal BP event. These events, despite a paucity of well dated archaeological sites in the surrounding area, likely altered the carrying capacity of this area both regionally and locally, particularly during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, in terms of fresh water supply for human/animal consumption, wild plant food reserves and suitable land for crop growth.

Efect of periodontal disease and non surgical periodontal treatment on C-reactive protein. Evaluation of type 1 diabetic patients

PubMed Central

Llambés, Fernando; Hernández-Mijares, Antonio; Guiha, Rami; Bautista, Daniel; Caffesse, Raúl

2012-01-01

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze how anti-infectious periodontal treatment affects C reactive protein (CRP) values in patients with type 1 diabetes, and correlate baseline CRP levels with periodontal disease severity. Study Design: A cohort of fifty three subjects with type 1 diabetes and moderate to severe periodontitis were recruited. Periodontal parameters were measured, and blood samples were obtained to evaluate high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Group 1 was treated with scaling, root planning, and systemic administration of doxycycline. Group 2 received only scaling and root planning. Results: Hs-CRP was reduced after periodontal treatment in group 1 (-0.22 mg/l) and 2 (-0.21 mg/l ) but this reduction was not statistically significant, even in the patients with the best response to periodontal treatment. However, significant correlation appeared between hs-CRP and mean probing pocket depth (PPD) (p=0, 01) and mean clinical attachment level (CAL) (p=0,03). Conclusions: Non-surgical periodontal treatment couldn’t reduce hs-CRP values, however, it was found an association between advanced periodontitis and elevated blood hs-CRP levels in patients with type 1 diabetes. It can be speculated that periodontal disease increases production of pro-inflammatory mediators in patients with type 1 diabetes, but other producing sources of these pro-inflammatory substances may exist. Key words:Periodontal disease, periodontitis, diabetes mellitus type 1, periodontal therapy, C reactive protein. PMID:22322513

Associations of Salivary BPIFA1 Protein in Chronic Periodontitis Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

PubMed Central

Tang, Chen-Yi

2017-01-01

Aims To explore the differences in salivary BPI fold containing family A, member 1 (BPIFA1) concentration among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects with various severities of chronic periodontitis and to determine whether BPIFA1 in saliva can be used as a potential biomarker of T2DM. Methods Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 44 subjects with T2DM and 44 without T2DM (NDM). Additionally, demographic data and general health parameters, including fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body mass index (BMI), were collected. We also detected full-mouth clinical periodontal parameters including probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding index (BI), and plaque index (PLI). Salivary BPIFA1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were also detected. Results BPIFA1 in saliva was detected at relatively high levels. T2DM subjects had decreased salivary BPIFA1 concentrations (P = 0.031). In T2DM subjects with nonperiodontitis or severe periodontitis, the level of BPIFA1 was significantly lower compared with that of NDM. Salivary TNF-α concentration displayed a similar trend to BPIFA1 in the NDM group. Conclusions BPIFA1 protein is rich in saliva and might be used as a potential predictive biomarker of T2DM, especially in patients with severe periodontitis and nonperiodontitis. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-ROC-17010310. PMID:29109737

A multi proxy reconstruction of paleoproductivity of Cleland Lake British Columbia, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mihindukulasooriya, L. N.; Pompeani, D. P.; Ortiz, J. D.; Steinman, B. A.; Abbott, M. B.

2013-12-01

In small closed-basin lakes in semi arid regions, variations in precipitation/evaporation (P/E) balance affect the physical, biological, and chemical composition of the lake water and sediment. This study presents color reflectance, XRF derived elemental concentrations and δ18O values of carbonates (δ18Ocarb) in sediment cores from Cleland Lake, British Columbia to provide insight into paleolimnological variations during the past 7500 years. Principal Component (PC) 1 of the reflectance data, i.e, Illite+ sphalerite is used as a clay mineral proxy, and PC 4, diatoms+ cyanobacteria, is used as a paleoproductivity proxy. Lake paleoproductivity history is divided into three temporal periods, 400 to 2500 (denoted as P1), 2500 to 5000 (P2) and 5000 to 7500 (P3) calibrated years before present (Cal yr BP). Fe and Mn concentrations gradually increase during P3, reach high values during P2 and rapidly drop to the lowest values after 2600 Cal yr BP. Diatom abundances have a positive correlation with illite (r= 0.79, n=73 α=0.01) throughout the record. In contrast, negative correlations (table 1) exists between δ18Ocarb and diatom abundances during P2 and P3, indicating higher diatom abundance during wet periods. After 3000 cal yr BP, the correlation reverses (table 1), indicating low diatom abundance during wet periods. Variability in diatom abundances is greater than that of the δ18Ocarb values, indicating that factors other than the P/E balance affects phytoplankton abundance. P 1 is characterized by three periods (centered at 2500, 2100 and 1400 Cal yr BP) of predominantly low diatom abundance that occur simultaneously with low Mn and Cr concentrations. Low Mn and Cr levels may indicate intense reducing conditions, while the observed peaks in Ni and Cu concentration might indicate reducing conditions resulting from high rates of organic matter decomposition (Tribovillard et al., 2006). Contemporaneous with the abrupt δ18Ocarb depletion around 2600 Cal yr BP, trace metal concentrations (Fe, Cu, Ni and Zn) as well as nutrient (P, S) levels increase, suggesting a higher rate of groundwater inflow and mineral delivery. Despite these increases, diatom abundance remains low. This may indicate the competitive appearance of Cyanobacteria in place of diatoms. Three rapid increases in diatom abundances centered at 1500, 900 and 700 Cal yr BP are associated with peaks in Cr and δ18Ocarb. Cr enrichment and low Mn may indicate reducing conditions in the absence of free H2S (Tribovillard et al., 2006). Such conditions can develop due to restricted water mass renewal in a well stratified lake (Tribovillard et al., 2006). In contrast, around 900 Cal yr BP P, S and Si levels increase. Relatively high δ18Ocarb values at this time do not provide support for a groundwater associated inflow of nutrients to the lake. Therefore it is possible that this peak could have resulted from other climatic factors including higher wind speeds and a greater flux of fine clastic material.Table 1

Differential expression of transglutaminase genes in patients with chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Currò, M; Matarese, G; Isola, G; Caccamo, D; Ventura, V P; Cornelius, C; Lentini, M; Cordasco, G; Ientile, R

2014-09-01

Gingival epithelium plays a key role in the protection of oral tissues from microbial challenge, especially during the periodontal disease. This study was aimed to evaluate levels of mRNA transcripts of different forms of transglutaminase in the human gingival tissues from patients with chronic periodontitis and relative controls. This study included 22 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and 22 healthy controls. For each patient, the values of probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded. Gene expression of transglutaminase 1, transglutaminase 2, transglutaminase 3, and metalloprotease 2 was evaluated by real-time PCR, while that of Factor XIIIA and metalloprotease 9 by RT-PCR. The values of all the clinical parameters were significantly higher in the CP group than in the healthy control group (P < 0.05). In the CP group, the mRNA expression of transglutaminase 1 and transglutaminase 3 was significantly decreased in comparison with healthy control group. A slight nonsignificant changes of transglutaminase 2 gene expression were observed in samples from CP patients in comparison with controls. These observations suggest that transglutaminase gene expression may be modified in response to chronic injury in the damaged gingival and emphasizes the key role of these enzymes in gingival remodelling/healing and adaptive processes. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Periodontal status and pathogenic bacteria after gastric bypass: a cohort study.

PubMed

Sales-Peres, Sílvia Helena de Carvalho; de Moura-Grec, Patrícia Garcia; Yamashita, Joselene Martinelli; Torres, Elza Araujo; Dionísio, Thiago José; Leite, Celso Vieira de Souza; Sales-Peres, Arsenio; Ceneviva, Reginaldo

2015-06-01

The aim this study was to evaluate the influence of gastric bypass surgery (GBS) on periodontal disease and quantify the periodontopathogenic bacteria in patients undergoing this surgery. This prospective study was composed of 50 patients who underwent bariatric surgery and the data collection was performed in three periods pre-operative, 6 (6M) and 12 months (12 M) postoperative. The oral clinical examination to assess periodontal disease; gingival fluid sample collection for quantification of the periodontopathogenic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Prevotella intermedia using q-PCR; body mass index (BMI) and for collection of the individual's health-related data from medical files. There was a significant reduction in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and glucose levels after surgery. The mean probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) increased significantly in the postoperative period of 6 months (p = 0.001). In the same period, the amount of P. gingivalis increased (p = 0.028) and the other bacteria decreased slightly (p > 0.050). In the presence of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola and P. intermedia, a poor periodontal condition was observed. The periodontal disease increased in severity and P. gingivalis increased after GBS. A systemic inflammation resolution due to bariatric surgery in obese subjects does not seem to affect the course of periodontal disease. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Teaching Neuroanatomy Using Computer-Aided Learning: What Makes for Successful Outcomes?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Svirko, Elena; Mellanby, Jane

2017-01-01

Computer-aided learning (CAL) is an integral part of many medical courses. The neuroscience course at Oxford University for medical students includes CAL course of neuroanatomy. CAL is particularly suited to this since neuroanatomy requires much detailed three-dimensional visualization, which can be presented on screen. The CAL course was…

Scale-invariant properties of public-debt growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petersen, A. M.; Podobnik, B.; Horvatic, D.; Stanley, H. E.

2010-05-01

Public debt is one of the important economic variables that quantitatively describes a nation's economy. Because bankruptcy is a risk faced even by institutions as large as governments (e.g., Iceland), national debt should be strictly controlled with respect to national wealth. Also, the problem of eliminating extreme poverty in the world is closely connected to the study of extremely poor debtor nations. We analyze the time evolution of national public debt and find "convergence": initially less-indebted countries increase their debt more quickly than initially more-indebted countries. We also analyze the public debt-to-GDP ratio {\\cal R} , a proxy for default risk, and approximate the probability density function P({\\cal R}) with a Gamma distribution, which can be used to establish thresholds for sustainable debt. We also observe "convergence" in {\\cal R} : countries with initially small {\\cal R} increase their {\\cal R} more quickly than countries with initially large {\\cal R} . The scaling relationships for debt and {\\cal R} have practical applications, e.g. the Maastricht Treaty requires members of the European Monetary Union to maintain {\\cal R} < 0.6 .

Integrated approach to colorectal anastomotic leakage: Communication, infection and healing disturbances

PubMed Central

Sparreboom, Cloë L; Wu, Zhou-Qiao; Ji, Jia-Fu; Lange, Johan F

2016-01-01

Colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) remains a major complication after colorectal surgery. Despite all efforts during the last decades, the incidence of CAL has not decreased. In this review, we summarize the available strategies regarding prevention, prediction and intervention of CAL and categorize them into three categories: communication, infection and healing disturbances. These three major factors actively interact during the onset of CAL. We aim to provide an integrated approach to CAL based on its etiology. The intraoperative air leak test, intraoperative endoscopy, radiological examinations and stoma construction mainly aim to detect and to prevent communication between the intra- and extra-luminal content. Other strategies including postoperative drainage, antibiotics, and infectious-parameter evaluation are intended to detect and prevent anastomotic or peritoneal infection. Most currently available interventions for CAL focus on the control of communication and infection, while strategies targeting the healing disturbances such as lifestyle changes, oxygen therapy and evaluation of metabolic biomarkers still lack wide clinical application. This simplified categorization may contribute to an integrated understanding of CAL. We strongly believe that this integrated approach should be taken into consideration during clinical practice. An integrated approach to CAL could contribute to a better understanding of the etiology of CAL and eventually better patient outcome. PMID:27621570

Estradiol up-regulates L-type Ca2+ channels via membrane-bound estrogen receptor/phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt/cAMP response element-binding protein signaling pathway.

PubMed

Yang, Xiaoyan; Mao, Xiaofang; Xu, Gao; Xing, Shasha; Chattopadhyay, Ansuman; Jin, Si; Salama, Guy

2018-05-01

In long QT syndrome type 2, women are more prone than men to the lethal arrhythmia torsades de pointes. We previously reported that 17β-estradiol (E2) up-regulates L-type Ca 2+ channels and current (I Ca,L ) (∼30%) in rabbit ventricular myocytes by a classic genomic mechanism mediated by estrogen receptor-α (ERα). In long QT syndrome type 2 (I Kr blockade or bradycardia), the higher Ca 2+ influx via I Ca,L causes Ca 2+ overload, spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ release, and reactivation of I Ca,L that triggers early afterdepolarizations and torsades de pointes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms whereby E2 up-regulates I Ca,L , which are poorly understood. H9C2 and rat myocytes were incubated with E2 ± ER antagonist, or inhibitors of downstream transcription factors, for 24 hours, followed by western blots of Cav1.2α1C and voltage-clamp measurements of I Ca,L . Incubation of H9C2 cells with E2 (10-100 nM) increased I Ca,L density and Cav1.2α1C expression, which were suppressed by the ER antagonist ICI182,780 (1 μM). Enhanced I Ca,L and Cav1.2α1C expression by E2 was suppressed by inhibitors of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (Pi3K) (30 μM LY294002; P <.05) and Akt (5 μM MK2206) but not of mitogen-activated protein kinase (5 μM U0126) or protein kinase A (1 μM KT5720). E2 incubation increased p-CREB via the Pi3K/Akt pathway, reached a peak in 20 minutes (3-fold), and leveled off to 1.5-fold 24 hours later. Furthermore, a CREB decoy oligonucleotide inhibited E2-induced Cav1.2α1C expression, whereas membrane-impermeable E2 (E2-bovine serum albumin) was equally effective at Cav1.2α1C up-regulation as E2. Estradiol up-regulates Cav1.2α1C and I Ca,L via plasma membrane ER and by activating Pi3K, Akt, and CREB signaling. The promoter regions of the CACNA1C gene (human-rabbit-rat) contain adjacent/overlapping binding sites for p-CREB and ERα, which suggests a synergistic regulation by these pathways. Copyright © 2018 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The impact of alternative pricing methods for drugs in California Workers’ Compensation System: Fee-schedule pricing

PubMed Central

Wilson, Leslie; Turkistani, Fatema A.; Huang, Wei; Tran, Dang M.; Lin, Tracy Kuo

2018-01-01

Introduction California’s Workers’ Compensation System (CAWCS) Department of Industrial Relations questioned the adequacy of the current Medi-Cal fee-schedule pricing and requested analysis of alternatives that maximize price availability and maintain budget neutrality. Objectives To compare CAWCS pharmacy-dispensed (PD) drug prices under alternative fee schedules, and identify combinations of alternative benchmarks that have prices available for the largest percentage of PD drugs and that best reach budget neutrality. Methods Claims transaction-level data (2011–2013) from CAWCS were used to estimate total annual PD pharmaceutical payments. Medi-Cal pricing data was from the Workman’s Compensation Insurance System (WCIS). Average Wholesale Prices (AWP), Wholesale Acquisition Costs (WAC), Direct Prices (DP), Federal Upper Limit (FUL) prices, and National Average Drug Acquisition Costs (NADAC) were from Medi-Span. We matched National Drug Codes (NDCs), pricing dates, and drug quantity for comparisons. We report pharmacy-dispensed (PD) claims frequency, reimbursement matching rate, and paid costs by CAWCS as the reference price against all alternative price benchmarks. Results Of 12,529,977 CAWCS claims for pharmaceutical products 11.6% (1,462,814) were for PD drugs. Prescription drug cost for CAWCS was over $152M; $63.9M, $47.9M, and $40.6M in 2011–2013. Ninety seven percent of these CAWCS PD claims had a Medi-Cal price. Alternative mechanisms provided a price for fewer claims; NADAC 94.23%, AWP 90.94%, FUL 73.11%, WAC 66.98%, and DP 14.33%. Among CAWCS drugs with no Medi-Cal price in PD claims, AWP, WAC, NADAC, DP, and FUL provided prices for 96.7%, 63.14%, 24.82%, 20.83%, and 15.08% of claims. Overall CAWCS paid 100.52% of Medi-Cal, 60% of AWP, 97% of WAC, 309.53% of FUL, 103.83% of DP, and 136.27% of NADAC. Conclusions CAWCS current Medi-Cal fee-schedule price list for PD drugs is more complete than all alternative fee-schedules. However, all reimbursement approaches would require combinations of pricing benchmarks. We suggest keeping primary reimbursement at 100% of Medi-Cal and for drugs without a primary Medi-Cal price calculating the maximum fee as 60% of AWP and then 97% of WAC. Alternatively, we suggest using NADAC as a primary fee-schedule followed by either 60% AWP and 97% WAC or AWP-40% for drugs with no NADAC price. Fee-schedules may not offer the best price and a formulary approach may provide more flexibility. PMID:29799850

The impact of alternative pricing methods for drugs in California Workers' Compensation System: Fee-schedule pricing.

PubMed

Wilson, Leslie; Turkistani, Fatema A; Huang, Wei; Tran, Dang M; Lin, Tracy Kuo

2018-01-01

California's Workers' Compensation System (CAWCS) Department of Industrial Relations questioned the adequacy of the current Medi-Cal fee-schedule pricing and requested analysis of alternatives that maximize price availability and maintain budget neutrality. To compare CAWCS pharmacy-dispensed (PD) drug prices under alternative fee schedules, and identify combinations of alternative benchmarks that have prices available for the largest percentage of PD drugs and that best reach budget neutrality. Claims transaction-level data (2011-2013) from CAWCS were used to estimate total annual PD pharmaceutical payments. Medi-Cal pricing data was from the Workman's Compensation Insurance System (WCIS). Average Wholesale Prices (AWP), Wholesale Acquisition Costs (WAC), Direct Prices (DP), Federal Upper Limit (FUL) prices, and National Average Drug Acquisition Costs (NADAC) were from Medi-Span. We matched National Drug Codes (NDCs), pricing dates, and drug quantity for comparisons. We report pharmacy-dispensed (PD) claims frequency, reimbursement matching rate, and paid costs by CAWCS as the reference price against all alternative price benchmarks. Of 12,529,977 CAWCS claims for pharmaceutical products 11.6% (1,462,814) were for PD drugs. Prescription drug cost for CAWCS was over $152M; $63.9M, $47.9M, and $40.6M in 2011-2013. Ninety seven percent of these CAWCS PD claims had a Medi-Cal price. Alternative mechanisms provided a price for fewer claims; NADAC 94.23%, AWP 90.94%, FUL 73.11%, WAC 66.98%, and DP 14.33%. Among CAWCS drugs with no Medi-Cal price in PD claims, AWP, WAC, NADAC, DP, and FUL provided prices for 96.7%, 63.14%, 24.82%, 20.83%, and 15.08% of claims. Overall CAWCS paid 100.52% of Medi-Cal, 60% of AWP, 97% of WAC, 309.53% of FUL, 103.83% of DP, and 136.27% of NADAC. CAWCS current Medi-Cal fee-schedule price list for PD drugs is more complete than all alternative fee-schedules. However, all reimbursement approaches would require combinations of pricing benchmarks. We suggest keeping primary reimbursement at 100% of Medi-Cal and for drugs without a primary Medi-Cal price calculating the maximum fee as 60% of AWP and then 97% of WAC. Alternatively, we suggest using NADAC as a primary fee-schedule followed by either 60% AWP and 97% WAC or AWP-40% for drugs with no NADAC price. Fee-schedules may not offer the best price and a formulary approach may provide more flexibility.

Holocene depositional environments and surface-level changes at Lake Fryxell, Antarctica

USGS Publications Warehouse

Whittaker, T.E.; Hall, B.L.; Hendy, C.H.; Spaulding, S.A.

2008-01-01

We report on Holocene surface-level variations of Lake Fryxell, Antarctica, as determined from multi-proxy analyses of 18 sediment cores. During this time accumulating sediments were predominantly aeolian sand with algal and carbonate laminae. Based on stratigraphy, mineralogy and diatom assemblages we suggest some carbonate laminae were deposited when lake level dropped, leading to concentration and subsequent precipitation of salts. Although lake level appears to have remained relatively stable throughout the Holocene, minor (<4.5 m below present) lowstands occurred at approximately 6400, 4700, 3800 and ??? 1600 cal. yr BP. The stability of Lake Fryxell during the Holocene contrasts with large-scale variability at other Dry Valleys lakes (eg, Lake Vanda) and with suggestions from chemical diffusion models of a near-desiccation at ???1200 cal. yr BP. The reason for the comparative stability of Lake Fryxell is uncertain, but may be the result of basin morphology and the number, aspect and proximity of meltwater sources. ?? 2008 SAGE Publications.

Diatom-inferred hydrological changes and Holocene geomorphic transitioning of Africa's largest estuarine system, Lake St Lucia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomes, M.; Humphries, M. S.; Kirsten, K. L.; Green, A. N.; Finch, J. M.; de Lecea, A. M.

2017-06-01

The diverse lagoons and coastal lakes along the east coast of South Africa occupy incised valleys that were flooded during the rise and subsequent stabilisation of relative sea-level during the Holocene. Sedimentary deposits contained within these waterbodies provide an opportunity to investigate complex hydrological and sedimentological processes, and examine sea-level controls governing system geomorphic evolution. In this paper, we combine diatom and sulfur isotope analyses from two sediment cores extracted from the northern sub-basins of Lake St Lucia, a large shallow estuarine lake that is today largely isolated from direct ocean influence behind a Holocene-Pleistocene barrier complex. Analyses allow the reconstruction of hydrological changes associated with the geomorphic development of the system over the mid-to late Holocene. The sedimentary sequences indicate that St Lucia was a shallow, partially enclosed estuary/embayment dominated by strong tidal flows prior to ∼6200 cal. BP. Infilling was initiated when sea-level rise slowed and stabilised around present day levels, resulting in the accumulation of fine-grained sediment behind an emergent proto-barrier. Diatom assemblages, dominated by marine benthic and epiphytic species, reveal a system structured by marine water influx and characterised by marsh and tidal flat habitats until ∼4550 cal. BP. A shift in the biological community at ∼4550 cal. BP is linked to the development of a back-barrier water body that supported a brackish community. Marine planktonics and enrichments in δ34S suggest recurrent, large-scale barrier inundation events during this time, coincident with a mid-Holocene sea-level highstand. Periodic marine incursions associated with episodes of enhanced storminess and overwash remained prevalent until ∼1200 cal. BP, when further barrier construction ultimately isolated the northern basins from the ocean. This study provides the first reconstruction of the palaeohydrological environment at Lake St Lucia and highlights the long-term geomorphic controls that have shaped the recent evolution and natural dynamics of the system. Unlike most coastal lake systems, this system is particularly effective as an archive of geomorphological change. Systems driven by back-barrier modifications, such as Lake St Lucia, highlight how geomorphological changes driven by sediment-supply, climate and sea level can be distributed unevenly over several isolated back-barrier basins.

"Cooking and Active Leisure" TAS Program, Spain: a Program Impact Pathways (PIP) analysis.

PubMed

Roura, Elena; Pareja, Sara Lucía; Milá, Raimon; Cinca, Núria

2014-09-01

The "Cooking and Active Leisure" Tu y Alícia por la Salud (CAL-TAS) Program is a school-based pilot that addresses healthy lifestyle needs of Spanish secondary school students with initiatives that research has proven to improve dietary and physical activity behaviors. The objectives were to perform a Program Impact Pathways (PIP) analysis to describe key activities and processes of the CAL-TAS Program, identify Critical Quality Control Points (CCPs), and identify a suite of common indicators of healthy lifestyles to be applied across participant schools. The CAL-TAS Program designers and implementation team developed this PIP analysis through an iterative process and presented the results for feedback at the seven-country Healthy Lifestyles Program Evaluation Workshop held in Granada, Spain, 13-14 September 2013, under the auspices of the Mondelēz International Foundation. The team identified three PIP CCPs: teachers' motivation and training, changes in students' knowledge of healthy lifestyles, and changes in students' healthy lifestyle behavior. The selected indicators of the program's impact on healthy lifestyles are adequacy of food intake, level of knowledge of healthy lifestyles gained, and adequacy of physical activity level according to World Health Organization recommendations. A clear definition of impact indicators, as well as collection of accurate data on healthy lifestyle behaviors and knowledge, is essential to understanding the effectiveness of this program before it can be scaled up. CAL-TAS is an effective secondary school-based program encouraging healthy lifestyles. The PIP analysis was instrumental in identifying CCPs to sustain and improve the quality of the program. The team hopes to sustain and improve the program through these program evaluation recommendations.

CUBES Project Support

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, Kenneth T., Jr.

2012-01-01

CUBES stands for Creating Understanding and Broadening Education through Satellites. The goal of the project is to allow high school students to build a small satellite, or CubeSat. Merritt Island High School (MIHS) was selected to partner with NASA, and California Polytechnic State University (Cal-Poly}, to build a CubeSat. The objective of the mission is to collect flight data to better characterize maximum predicted environments inside the CubeSat launcher, Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deplorer (P-POD), while attached to the launch vehicle. The MIHS CubeSat team will apply to the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative, which provides opportunities for small satellite development teams to secure launch slots on upcoming expendable launch vehicle missions. The MIHS team is working to achieve a test launch, or proof of concept flight aboard a suborbital launch vehicle in early 2013.

Stratigraphic and microfossil evidence for hydroclimate changes over the middle to late Holocene in the northern Bahamas from an inland saline lake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Hengstum, P. J.; Maale, G. E.; Donnelly, J. P.; Onac, B. P.; Sullivan, R.; Winkler, T. S.; Albury, N. A.

2016-12-01

No Man's Land is one of the largest inland lakes on the Little Bahama Bank in the northern Bahamas, so its paleoenvironmental history may provide insight into how the regional hydroclimate developed over the Holocene. In its modern state, the site is shallow (<3 m), brackish (20.6 psu), 170 m in diameter, and located 700 m from the coastline. Prior to 6400 Cal yrs BP, the accumulation of peat deposits and no aquatic invertebrates (e.g., ostracodes, foraminifera, aquatic mollusks) indicate that the site was a terrestrial ecosystem. However, the site transitioned into a subaqueous freshwater environment at 6400 Cal yrs BP, and the site became a palustrine-lacustrine setting thereafter until 4200 Cal yrs BP. During this time, widespread palustrine-lacustrine carbonate deposition and the appearance of freshwater to low mesohaline microfossils indicates that the lake's salinity was likely oligohaline (charophytes, ostracodes: Candona annae, Cypridopsis vidua, foraminifera: Helenina davescottensis, mollusks: Planorbis, Hydrobia). A salinity increase at 4200 Cal yrs BP is inferred from the appearance of the ostracode Cyprideis americana that typically prefers salinities exceeding 10 psu, and deposition of laminated microbial mats. Thereafter, an organic- rich, algal sapropel unit accumulated that was devoid of any microfossils or mollusks. This unit suggests that the lake hosted a stratified water column, where surface waters supported phytoplankton primary productivity and corrosive or anoxic bottom water conditions either hampered microfossil growth or precluded their preservation. The transition to the modern environment ( 20 psu) at 2600 cal yrs BP is characterized by diversification of brackish ostracodes (Aurila floridana, Dolerocypria inopinata, and Hemicyprideis setipunctata), foraminifera (Elphidium spp., Ammonia beccarii, Triloculina oblonga) and mollusks (Anomalocardia, Cerithidea). Over the middle to late Holocene, it appears that the stratigraphic development and salinity changes in No Man's Land has been driven by groundwater-level rise in response to Holocene sea-level rise, the regional delivery of fresh water from hurricanes, and the meridional position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

Organic geochemical investigations of the Dali Lake sediments in northern China: Implications for environment and climate changes of the last deglaciation in the East Asian summer monsoon margin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Jiawei; Xiao, Jule; Wen, Ruilin; Zhang, Shengrui; Wang, Xu; Cui, Linlin; Yamagata, Hideki

2017-06-01

Millennial-scale environment and climate changes in the East Asian summer monsoon margin during the last deglaciation are reconstructed by systematic studies on the characteristic of sedimentary organic matter from Dali Lake in northern China. Concurrent increases in the TOC and TN concentrations indicate increases in terrestrial organic matter and nutrient inputs to the lake and a development of terrestrial vegetation and phytoplankton productivity related to increases in regional temperature and precipitation. C/N ratios reflect changes in the proportions of terrestrial and aquatic organic matter. Decreases in both δ13Corg and δ15N values indicate increases in the isotopically lighter, terrestrial carbon and nitrogen inputs to the lake, due to increases in surface runoffs; while a sharp decrease in the δ15N value implies a significant weakening in the biological activities of nitrifying and amonifying bacteria, due to abrupt decrease in the water temperature. The geochemical data indicate that regional temperature and precipitation exhibited increasing trends from 15,000 to 12,350 cal yr BP; temperature decreased abruptly at 12,350 cal yr BP and then maintained a low level from 12,350 to 11,400 cal yr BP, precipitation decreased to a relatively low level from 12,350 to 11,400 cal yr BP; and both temperature and precipitation returned to increase after 11,400 cal yr BP. The climate change in the Dali Lake region during the last deglaciation corresponds, within age uncertainties, to the Bølling-Allerød (BA) warm phase and Younger Dryas (YD) cold reversal occurring over northern high latitudes. However, the gradual and mild increasing trends of regional temperature and precipitation during the BA warm period contrasts with the general cooling trend in northern high latitude temperature, implying a dominant influence from increases in the Northern Hemisphere summer insolation; while the slight decreases in regional precipitation relative to the rapid and significant decreases in northern high latitude temperature during the YD cold period may have resulted from local moisture recycling or from an insensitive response of hydrology and ecology to the regional precipitation change.

Berberine alleviates the cerebrovascular contractility in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through modulation of intracellular Ca²⁺ handling in smooth muscle cells.

PubMed

Ma, Yu-Guang; Zhang, Yin-Bin; Bai, Yun-Gang; Dai, Zhi-Jun; Liang, Liang; Liu, Mei; Xie, Man-Jiang; Guan, Hai-Tao

2016-04-12

Vascular dysfunction is a distinctive phenotype in diabetes mellitus. Current treatments mostly focus on the tight glycemic control and few of these treatments have been designed to directly recover the vascular dysfunction in diabetes. As a classical natural medicine, berberine has been explored as a possible therapy for DM. In addition, it is reported that berberine has an extra-protective effect in diabetic vascular dysfunction. However, little is known whether the berberine treatment could ameliorate the smooth muscle contractility independent of a functional endothelium under hyperglycemia. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether berberine affects the arterial contractility by regulating the intracellular Ca(2+) handling in vascular smooth cells (VSMCs) under hyperglycemia. Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish the diabetic model with a high-fat diet plus injections of streptozotocin (STZ). Berberine (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day) were intragastrically administered to control and diabetic rats for 8 weeks since the injection of STZ. The intracellular Ca(2+) handling of isolated cerebral VSMCs was investigated by recording the whole-cell L-type Ca(2+) channel (CaL) currents, assessing the protein expressions of CaL channel, and measuring the intracellular Ca(2+) in response to caffeine. Our results showed that chronic administration of 100 mg/kg/day berberine not only reduced glucose levels, but also inhibited the augmented contractile function of cerebral artery to KCl and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in diabetic rats. Furthermore, chronic administration of 100 mg/kg/day berberine significantly inhibited the CaL channel current densities, reduced the α1C-subunit expressions of CaL channel, decreased the resting intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) level, and suppressed the Ca(2+) releases from RyRs in cerebral VSMCs isolated from diabetic rats. Correspondingly, acute application of 10 μM berberine could directly inhibit the hyperglycemia-induced CaL currents and suppress the hyperglycemia-induced Ca(2+) releases from RyRs in cerebral VSMCs isolated from normal control rats. Our study indicated that berberine alleviated the cerebral arterial contractility in the rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes via regulating the intracellular Ca(2+) handling of smooth muscle cells.

Stratigraphic Evidence for Environmental Change in a Bermudian Coastal Underwater Cave (Palm Cave System) in Response to Holocene Sea-level Rise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cresswell, J. N.; van Hengstum, P. J.; Iliffe, T. M.

2016-12-01

Unique environments exist worldwide in coastal underwater caves, including those from Bermuda, which has been a global epicenter for interdisciplinary cave research. However, the development of environments, ecosystems, and sedimentary deposits in coastal underwater caves, particularly over millennial timescales is poorly understood, with previous research from Bermuda indicating a critical role for sea-level rise in driving environmental change. A multi-proxy stratigraphic analysis of 14 sediment cores that were collected from the Palm Cave System in Bermuda from 2 m to 20 m water depths was conducted to better understand Holocene-scale environmental change in coastal underwater caves (e.g., textural analysis, x-radiographs, microfossil analysis, radiocarbon dating). The rate of deposition was found to be variable throughout time and dependent upon the proximity of core locations to cave openings (`karst windows') and conduit geometry. The oldest recovered sediment was likely Pleistocene-aged, terra-rosa soil deposits that predate the Holocene inundation. By 9500 Cal yrs BP, deposition was dominated by organic-rich facies (gyttja), with agglutinated brackish foraminifera (Trochammina, Polysaccammina) and bivalves indicating brackish aquatic conditions in the system by 9200 Cal yrs BP. A system-wide shift to carbonate deposition occurred 8500 Cal yrs BP, which indicates the onset of oxygenated marine water entering the cave and development of a marine-dominated (i.e., submarine) cave environment. Comparison with local maximum sea-level indicators shows that inundation of the Bermuda platform by Holocene sea-level rise likely drove environmental change in the Palm Cave System.

Marine04 Marine radiocarbon age calibration, 26 ? 0 ka BP

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hughen, K; Baille, M; Bard, E

2004-11-01

New radiocarbon calibration curves, IntCal04 and Marine04, have been constructed and internationally ratified to replace the terrestrial and marine components of IntCal98. The new calibration datasets extend an additional 2000 years, from 0-26 ka cal BP (Before Present, 0 cal BP = AD 1950), and provide much higher resolution, greater precision and more detailed structure than IntCal98. For the Marine04 curve, dendrochronologically dated tree-ring samples, converted with a box-diffusion model to marine mixed-layer ages, cover the period from 0-10.5 ka cal BP. Beyond 10.5 ka cal BP, high-resolution marine data become available from foraminifera in varved sediments and U/Th-dated corals.more » The marine records are corrected with site-specific {sup 14}C reservoir age information to provide a single global marine mixed-layer calibration from 10.5-26.0 ka cal BP. A substantial enhancement relative to IntCal98 is the introduction of a random walk model, which takes into account the uncertainty in both the calendar age and the radiocarbon age to calculate the underlying calibration curve. The marine datasets and calibration curve for marine samples from the surface mixed layer (Marine04) are discussed here. The tree-ring datasets, sources of uncertainty, and regional offsets are presented in detail in a companion paper by Reimer et al.« less

Dynamics of marsh-mangrove ecotone since the mid-Holocene: A palynological study of mangrove encroachment and sea level rise in the Shark River Estuary, Florida

PubMed Central

Liu, Kam-biu

2017-01-01

Sea level rise and the associated inland shift of the marsh-mangrove ecotone in south Florida have raised many scientific and management concerns in recent years. Holocene paleoecological records can provide an important baseline to shed light on the long-term dynamics of vegetation changes across this ecotone in the past, which is needed to predict the future. In this study, we present palynological, X-ray fluorescence, and loss-on ignition data from four sedimentary cores recovered from a 20-km marine-to-freshwater transect along the Shark River Estuary, southwest Everglades, to document the patterns and processes of coastal vegetation changes in response to sea level rise since the mid-Holocene. Our record indicates that freshwater marsh progressively replaced marl prairies at the Shark River Estuary between 5700 and 4400 cal yr BP. As marine transgression continued, marine influence reached the threshold necessary for mangroves to establish at the current mouth of the Shark River Slough at 3800 cal yr BP. During the next 3000 years, although sea level rise in the Western North Atlantic slowed down to 0.4 mm/yr, a spatial and temporal gradient was evident as the marsh-mangrove ecotone shifted inland by 20 km from 3800 to 800 cal yr BP, accompanied by a gradual landward replacement of freshwater marsh by mangrove forest. If sea level continues to rise at 2.33 mm/yr in the 21st century in south Florida, it is possible that marine influence will reach the threshold for mangroves to establish in the central Everglades, and we could expect a much more aggressive mangrove encroachment toward the northern and interior parts of south Florida in the next few centuries. PMID:28282415

Dynamics of marsh-mangrove ecotone since the mid-Holocene: A palynological study of mangrove encroachment and sea level rise in the Shark River Estuary, Florida.

PubMed

Yao, Qiang; Liu, Kam-Biu

2017-01-01

Sea level rise and the associated inland shift of the marsh-mangrove ecotone in south Florida have raised many scientific and management concerns in recent years. Holocene paleoecological records can provide an important baseline to shed light on the long-term dynamics of vegetation changes across this ecotone in the past, which is needed to predict the future. In this study, we present palynological, X-ray fluorescence, and loss-on ignition data from four sedimentary cores recovered from a 20-km marine-to-freshwater transect along the Shark River Estuary, southwest Everglades, to document the patterns and processes of coastal vegetation changes in response to sea level rise since the mid-Holocene. Our record indicates that freshwater marsh progressively replaced marl prairies at the Shark River Estuary between 5700 and 4400 cal yr BP. As marine transgression continued, marine influence reached the threshold necessary for mangroves to establish at the current mouth of the Shark River Slough at 3800 cal yr BP. During the next 3000 years, although sea level rise in the Western North Atlantic slowed down to 0.4 mm/yr, a spatial and temporal gradient was evident as the marsh-mangrove ecotone shifted inland by 20 km from 3800 to 800 cal yr BP, accompanied by a gradual landward replacement of freshwater marsh by mangrove forest. If sea level continues to rise at 2.33 mm/yr in the 21st century in south Florida, it is possible that marine influence will reach the threshold for mangroves to establish in the central Everglades, and we could expect a much more aggressive mangrove encroachment toward the northern and interior parts of south Florida in the next few centuries.

Kinetic study of Candida antarctica lipase B immobilization using poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles obtained by miniemulsion polymerization as support.

PubMed

Valério, Alexsandra; Nicoletti, Gabrieli; Cipolatti, Eliane P; Ninow, Jorge L; Araújo, Pedro H H; Sayer, Cláudia; de Oliveira, Débora

2015-03-01

With the objective to obtain immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) with good activity and improved utilization rate, this study evaluated the influence of enzyme and crodamol concentrations and initiator type on the CalB enzyme immobilization in nanoparticles consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) obtained by miniemulsion polymerization. The kinetic study of immobilized CalB enzyme in PMMA nanoparticles was evaluated in terms of monomer conversion, particle size, zeta potential, and relative activity. The optimum immobilization condition for CalB was compared with free enzyme in the p-NPL hydrolysis activity measurement. Results showed a higher CalB enzyme stability after 20 hydrolysis cycles compared with free CalB enzyme; in particular, the relative immobilized enzyme activity was maintained up to 40%. In conclusion, PMMA nanoparticles proved to be a good support for the CalB enzyme immobilization and may be used as a feasible alternative catalyst in industrial processes.

Distance traveled for Medicaid-covered abortion care in California.

PubMed

Johns, Nicole E; Foster, Diana Greene; Upadhyay, Ushma D

2017-04-19

Access to abortion care in the United States is limited by the availability of abortion providers and their geographic distribution. We aimed to assess how far women travel for Medicaid-funded abortion in California and identify disparities in access to abortion care. We obtained data on all abortions reimbursed by the fee-for-service California state Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) in 2011 and 2012 and examined distance traveled to obtain abortion care by several demographic and abortion-related factors. Mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to examine factors associated with traveling 50 miles or more. County-level t-tests and linear regressions were conducted to examine the effects of a Medi-Cal abortion provider in a county on overall and urban/rural differences in utilization. 11.9% (95% CI: 11.5-12.2%) of women traveled 50 miles or more. Women obtaining second trimester or later abortions (21.7%), women obtaining abortions at hospitals (19.9%), and rural women (51.0%) were most likely to travel 50 miles or more. Across the state, 28 counties, home to 10% of eligible women, did not have a facility routinely providing Medi-Cal-covered abortions. Efforts are needed to expand the number of abortion providers that accept Medi-Cal. This could be accomplished by increasing Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, increasing the types of providers who can provide abortions, and expanding the use of telemedicine. If national trends in declining unintended pregnancy and abortion rates continue, careful attention should be paid to ensure that reduced demand does not lead to greater disparities in geographic and financial access to abortion care by ensuring that providers accepting Medicaid payment are available and widely distributed.

Middle to Late Holocene Fluctuations of C3 and C4 Vegetation in a Northern New England Salt Marsh, Sprague Marsh, Phippsburg Maine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, B J; Moore, K A; Lehmann, C

2006-05-26

A 3.1 meter sediment core was analyzed for stable carbon isotope composition of organic matter and higher plant leaf wax (HPLW) lipid biomarkers to determine Holocene shifts in C{sub 3} (higher high marsh) and C{sub 4} (low and/or high marsh) plant deposition at the Sprague River Salt Marsh, Phippsburg, Maine. The carbon isotope composition of the bulk sediment and the HPLW parallel each other throughout most of the core, suggesting that terrestrial plants are an important source of organic matter to the sediments, and diagenetic alteration of the bulk sediments is minimal. The current salt marsh began to form 2500more » cal yr BP. Low and/or high C{sub 4} marsh plants dominated deposition at 2000 cal yr BP, 700 cal yr BP, and for the last 200 cal yr BP. Expansion of higher high marsh C{sub 3} plants occurred at 1300 and 600 cal yr BP. These major vegetation shifts result from a combination of changes in relative sea-level rise and sediment accumulation rates. Average annual carbon sequestration rates for the last 2500 years approximate 40 g C yr{sup -1} m{sup -2}, and are in strong agreement with other values published for the Gulf of Maine. Given that Maine salt marshes cover an area of {approx}79 km{sup 2}, they represent an important component of the terrestrial carbon sink. More detailed isotopic and age records from a network of sediment cores at Sprague Marsh are needed to truly evaluate the long term changes in salt marsh plant communities and the impact of more recent human activity, including global warming, on salt marsh vegetation.« less

Late Holocene palaeoclimate variability: The significance of bog pine dendrochronology related to peat stratigraphy. The Puścizna Wielka raised bog case study (Orawa - Nowy Targ Basin, Polish Inner Carpathians)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krąpiec, Marek; Margielewski, Włodzimierz; Korzeń, Katarzyna; Szychowska-Krąpiec, Elżbieta; Nalepka, Dorota; Łajczak, Adam

2016-09-01

The results of dendrochronological and palynological analyses of subfossil pine trees occurring in the peat deposits of the Puścizna Wielka raised bog (Polish Carpathians, Southern Poland) - the only site with numerous subfossil pine trees in the mountainous regions of Central Europe presently known - indicate that the majority of the tree populations grew in the peat bog during the periods ca 5415-3940 cal BP and 3050-2560 cal BP. Several forestless episodes, dated to 5245-5155 cal BP, 4525-4395 cal BP and 3940-3050 cal BP, were preceded by tree dying-off phases caused by an extreme periodical increase in humidity and general climate cooling trends. These events are documented based on analyses of pollen and non-pollen palynomorph assemblages, dendrochronological analyses of the trees, as well as numerous radiocarbon datings of the sediment horizons occurring within the peat bog profile. The phases of germinations, and, in turn, of tree and shrub invasions of the peat bog areas have been closely connected to drying and occasional warming of the regional climate. The last of the forestless periods began about 2600 years ago and continued up to the very recent times. Currently, as a result of desiccation of the peat bog and the lowering of the groundwater level (due to improved water drainage system), pine trees have returned the peat bog again. These results demonstrate that studies of subfossil bog-pine trees are quite effective in documenting and reconstructing periods of humidity fluctuation that occurred within the Carpathian region over the last several millennia.

The Return of Two-Class Medicine—III Effects of Medi-Cal Reform

PubMed Central

Waitzkin, Howard

1985-01-01

California's drastic Medi-Cal reforms have created great difficulties in health care for the poor. Patients' clinical problems seldom are apparent in descriptions of changes in public insurance programs. Rapidly escalating costs of Medi-Cal led to irresistible pressures for reform, especially from the business community. The new Medi-Cal regulations provide for prospective contracts with hospitals for inpatient services, the transfer of “Medically Indigent Adults” to the responsibility of county governments and various other straightforward funding cutbacks. Confusion, disruption of services and adverse health outcomes have accompanied the Medi-Cal reforms. PMID:3892917

Relative sea-level data from southwest Scotland constrain meltwater-driven sea-level jumps prior to the 8.2 kyr BP event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawrence, Thomas; Long, Antony J.; Gehrels, W. Roland; Jackson, Luke P.; Smith, David E.

2016-11-01

The most significant climate cooling of the Holocene is centred on 8.2 kyr BP (the '8.2 event'). Its cause is widely attributed to an abrupt slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) associated with the sudden drainage of Laurentide proglacial Lakes Agassiz and Ojibway, but model simulations have difficulty reproducing the event with a single-pulse scenario of freshwater input. Several lines of evidence point to multiple episodes of freshwater release from the decaying Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) between ∼8900 and ∼8200 cal yr BP, yet the precise number, timing and magnitude of these events - critical constraints for AMOC simulations - are far from resolved. Here we present a high-resolution relative sea level (RSL) record for the period 8800 to 7800 cal yr BP developed from estuarine and salt-marsh deposits in SW Scotland. We find that RSL rose abruptly in three steps by 0.35 m, 0.7 m and 0.4 m (mean) at 8760-8640, 8595-8465, 8323-8218 cal yr BP respectively. The timing of these RSL steps correlate closely with short-lived events expressed in North Atlantic proxy climate and oceanographic records, providing evidence of at least three distinct episodes of enhanced meltwater discharge from the decaying LIS prior to the 8.2 event. Our observations can be used to test the fidelity of both climate and ice-sheet models in simulating abrupt change during the early Holocene.

Reconstruction of paleoenvironmental changes based on the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages off Shimokita (Japan) in the northwestern North Pacific

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuroyanagi, Azumi; Kawahata, Hodaka; Narita, Hisashi; Ohkushi, Ken'ichi; Aramaki, Takafumi

2006-08-01

Planktonic foraminifera live in the upper ocean, and their assemblages can record the surrounding environment. To reconstruct changes in water masses and the timing of flow of the Oyashio and Tsugaru currents through the Tsugaru Strait after the Last Glacial Maximum, when the Japan Sea had been almost isolated from the surrounding seas, we investigated at high resolution the planktonic foraminiferal fauna in seafloor sediments off the Shimokita (core MD01-2409: 41°33.9'N, 141°52.1'E), in the northwestern North Pacific, over the last 26,900 years. Factor analysis of the foraminiferal assemblage suggests that the water mass changed significantly as a result of the deglacial sea-level rise and opening of the straits into the Japan Sea. Mass accumulation rates of some selected foraminiferal species that inhabit characteristic environments (e.g., warm stratified water, Oyashio Current, Tsushima Current) corroborate these changes in water mass and water column structure. We also used the ratio of the dextral form to total Neogloboquadrina pachyderma as an indicator of subsurface (below the pycnocline) water temperature. We recognized five distinct periods of oceanographic change at the study site, which is just east of the Tsugaru Strait: (1) Oyashio Current affecting both surface and subsurface waters (26.9-15.7 thousand calendar years before present (cal. kyr BP)); (2) vertical mixing and subsurface warming as the Oyashio Current began to flow into the Japan Sea through the Tsugaru Strait (15.7-10.6 cal. kyr BP); (3) outflow of the Tsugaru Current from the Japan Sea into the Pacific, leading to baroclinic conditions, with the surface layer under the influence of the Tsugaru and the subsurface layers of the Oyashio Current (10.6-9.0 cal. kyr BP); (4) stratification of the water column developed as the flow of the Tsugaru Current increased (9.0-6.2 cal. kyr BP); and (5) warming of the subsurface layer, disruption of the stratification, and dominance of the Tsugaru Current in both surface and subsurface layers, similar to the present situation (6.2-1.5 cal. kyr BP). The timing of flow of the Oyashio and Tsugaru currents through the strait at the study site off Shimokita is generally compatible with the results of studies in the Japan Sea. The flow of the Tsugaru Current led to progressive warming of the waters, from the surface to the subsurface layers and from the Japan Sea side to the Pacific side of the Tsugaru Strait, beginning in 8.3-6.8 cal. kyr BP on the western side, and in 6.2 cal. kyr BP on the eastern side of the strait. By 4.8 cal. kyr BP on the western side, and by ˜ 3.4 cal. kyr BP on the eastern side of the strait, warm water prevailed in both surface and subsurface layers.

M1 Abrams Tank Procedure Guides

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-01

Vemp =. ... . Mheek mustlam- sitlee no"Ageper- 2. Cal.5 . . swetgh: (PAge LI) 3. CaLS . ... Zen (pag 13) BOUzSzMT M CAL. SO I.. Teak peatima. .. lafel...Cleee ,-. 13.~~ .eds a." . .ege ..... abeW "d us (P P U) :. -z KINK CAL. 50 3. vempe " .. ... .led (pg ) 2. o . .. .ad tio"ge mgety .. 1 4. IC omee .C.1

Teaching neuroanatomy using computer-aided learning: What makes for successful outcomes?

PubMed

Svirko, Elena; Mellanby, Jane

2017-11-01

Computer-aided learning (CAL) is an integral part of many medical courses. The neuroscience course at Oxford University for medical students includes CAL course of neuroanatomy. CAL is particularly suited to this since neuroanatomy requires much detailed three-dimensional visualization, which can be presented on screen. The CAL course was evaluated using the concept of approach to learning. The aims of university teaching are congruent with the deep approach-seeking meaning and relating new information to previous knowledge-rather than to the surface approach of concentrating on rote learning of detail. Seven cohorts of medical students (N = 869) filled in approach to learning scale and a questionnaire investigating their engagement with the CAL course. The students' scores on CAL-course-based neuroanatomy assessment and later university examinations were obtained. Although the students reported less use of the deep approach for the neuroanatomy CAL course than for the rest of their neuroanatomy course (mean = 24.99 vs. 31.49, P < 0.001), deep approach for CAL was positively correlated with neuroanatomy assessment performance (r = 0.12, P < 0.001). Time spent on the CAL course, enjoyment of it, the amount of CAL videos watched and quizzes completed were each significantly positively related to deep approach. The relationship between deep approach and enjoyment was particularly notable (25.5% shared variance). Reported relationships between deep approach and academic performance support the desirability of deep approach in university students. It is proposed that enjoyment of the course and the deep approach could be increased by incorporation of more clinical material which is what the students liked most. Anat Sci Educ 10: 560-569. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.

Attachment's Links With Adolescents' Social Emotions: The Roles of Negative Emotionality and Emotion Regulation.

PubMed

Murphy, Tia Panfile; Laible, Deborah J; Augustine, Mairin; Robeson, Lindsay

2015-01-01

Recent research has attempted to explain the mechanisms through which parental attachment affects social and emotional outcomes (e.g., Burnette, Taylor, Worthington, & Forsyth, 2007 ; Panfile & Laible, 2012 ). The authors' goal was to examine negative emotionality and emotion regulation as mediators of the associations that attachment has with empathy, forgiveness, guilt, and jealousy. One hundred forty-eight adolescents reported their parental attachment security, general levels of negative emotionality and abilities to regulate emotional responses, and tendencies to feel empathy, forgiveness, guilt, and jealousy. Results revealed that attachment security was associated with higher levels of empathy, forgiveness, and guilt, but lower levels of jealousy. In addition, emotion regulation mediated the links attachment shared with both empathy and guilt, such that higher levels of attachment security were linked with greater levels of emotion regulation, which led to greater levels of empathy and guilt. Alternatively, negative emotionality mediated the links attachment shared with both forgiveness and jealousy, such that higher levels of attachment security were associated with lower levels of negative emotionality, which in turn was linked to lower levels of forgiveness and higher levels of jealousy. This study provides a general picture of how attachment security may play a role in shaping an individual's levels of social emotions.

CalR is required for the expression of T6SS2 and the adhesion of Vibrio parahaemolyticus to HeLa cells.

PubMed

Zhang, Lingyu; Osei-Adjei, George; Zhang, Ying; Gao, He; Yang, Wenhui; Zhou, Dongsheng; Huang, Xinxiang; Yang, Huiying; Zhang, Yiquan

2017-08-01

Vibrio parahaemolyticus expresses one major virulence determinant T6SS2, which is constituted into three putative operons, i.e., VPA1027-1024, VPA1043-1028, and VPA1044-1046. CalR, a LysR-type transcriptional regulator, was originally identified as a repressor of the swarming motility and T3SS1 gene expression. As shown in this study, CalR binds to the promoter-proximal region of each of the three operons to activate their transcription, and moreover, CalR activates the adhesion of V. parahaemolyticus to HeLa cells. In addition, competitive EMSAs demonstrated that CalR acts as an antagonist of H-NS in V. parahaemolyticus. Collectively, these studies confirmed a new physiological role for CalR in V. parahaemolyticus.

ZeroCal: Automatic MAC Protocol Calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meier, Andreas; Woehrle, Matthias; Zimmerling, Marco; Thiele, Lothar

Sensor network MAC protocols are typically configured for an intended deployment scenario once and for all at compile time. This approach, however, leads to suboptimal performance if the network conditions deviate from the expectations. We present ZeroCal, a distributed algorithm that allows nodes to dynamically adapt to variations in traffic volume. Using ZeroCal, each node autonomously configures its MAC protocol at runtime, thereby trying to reduce the maximum energy consumption among all nodes. While the algorithm is readily usable for any asynchronous low-power listening or low-power probing protocol, we validate and demonstrate the effectiveness of ZeroCal on X-MAC. Extensive testbed experiments and simulations indicate that ZeroCal quickly adapts to traffic variations. We further show that ZeroCal extends network lifetime by 50% compared to an optimal configuration with identical and static MAC parameters at all nodes.

A Comparison of CAL with a Conventional Method of Delivery of Cell Biology to Undergraduate Nursing Students Using an Experimental Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wharrad, Heather J.; Kent, Christine; Allcock, Nick; Wood, Barry

2001-01-01

In study 1, 12 nursing students attended slide lectures on cell biology; 13 used interactive computer-assisted learning (CAL). Study 2 surveyed 38 students who used CAL to study immunology. Students preferred CAL and felt confident in their grasp of the material, even without the presence of lecturers to answer questions. (Contains 16 references.)…

The Long Run Impacts of Merit Aid: Evidence from California's Cal Grant. CEPA Working Paper No. 16-13

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bettinger, Eric; Gurantz, Oded; Kawano, Laura; Sacerdote, Bruce

2016-01-01

We examine the impacts of being awarded a Cal Grant, among the most generous state merit aid programs. We exploit variation in eligibility rules using GPA and family income cutoffs that are ex ante unknown to applicants. Cal Grant eligibility increases degree completion by 2 to 5 percentage points in our reduced form estimates. Cal Grant also…

Purification of legumin-like proteins from Coffea arabica and Coffea racemosa seeds and their insecticidal properties toward cowpea weevil ( Callosobruchus maculatus ) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae).

PubMed

Coelho, Mirela Batista; Macedo, Maria Lígia Rodrigues; Marangoni, Sérgio; Silva, Desiree Soares da; Cesarino, Igor; Mazzafera, Paulo

2010-03-10

Legumin-like proteins from seeds of Coffea arabica (CaL-1 and CaL-2) and Coffea racemosa (CrL-1 and CrL-2) were characterized and isolated by gel filtration and reverse-phase chromatography. The insecticidal properties of the purified proteins were tested against Callosobruchus maculatus using artificial diets. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analyses indicated that CaL-1 is composed of two subunits of 33 and 24 kDa, while CaL-2, CrL-1, and CrL-2 were monomeric with a single band of 14 kDa. The LD(50) values were 0.5% (w/w) for CaL-1 and 0.3% (w/w) for CaL-2, CrL-1, and CrL-2. ED(50) at 0.3% was assessed for all protein concentrations. The legumin-like proteins were not digested by midgut homogenates of C. maculatus until 8 h of incubation. CaL-1 and CaL-2 ( C. arabica ) and CrL-1 and CrL-2 ( C. racemosa ) are chitin-binding proteins, and their insecticidal properties toward C. maculatus larvae might be related to their capacity to bind chitin present in the larval gut and their associated low digestibility.

Late-glacial and early Holocene changes in vegetation and lake-level at Hauterive/Rouges-Terres, Lake Neuchâtel (Switzerland)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magny, Michel; Thew, Nigel; Hadorn, Philippe

2003-01-01

Palynological and sedimentological analyses of a sedimentary sequence sampled at Hauterive/Rouges-Terres, Lake Neuchâtel (Switzerland) provide documentation of changes in vegetation and lake-level during the Bølling, Younger Dryas and Preboreal pollen zones, and have allowed a comparison with sequences covering the same period from other sites located in the western part of the Swiss Plateau. The Juniperus-Hippophaë zone (regional pollen assemblage zone (RPAZ) CHb-2, first part of the Bølling, ca. 14 650-14 450 cal. yr BP) was characterised by a generally low lake-level. A weak rise occurred during this zone. The Juniperus-Hippophaë to Betula zone transition coincided with a lake-level lowering, interrupted by a short-lived but marked phase of higher lake-level recorded at the neighbouring site of Hauterive-Champréveyres, but not present at Hauterive/Rouges-Terres owing to an erosion surface. Shortly after the beginning of the Betula zone (RPAZ CHb-3, second part of the Bølling, ca 14 450-14 000 cal. yr BP), a marked rise in lake-level occurred. It was composed of two successive periods of higher level, coinciding with high values of Betula, separated by a short episode of relatively lower lake-level associated with raised values in Artemisia and other non-arboreal pollen. The last part of RPAZ CHb-3 saw a fall in lake-level. The lower lake-levels during RPAZ CHb-2 to early RPAZ CHb-3 can be correlated with the abrupt warming at the beginning of the Greenland Interstadial (GI) 1e thermal maximum. The successive episodes of higher lake-level punctuating the GI 1e might be linked to the so-called Intra-Bølling Cold Oscillations identified from several palaeoclimatic records in the North Atlantic area, and also documented in oxygen-isotope data sets from Swiss Plateau lakes. The Hauterive/Rouges-Terres lake-level record provides evidence for marked climatic drying through the second part of the Younger Dryas event (GS1), during the GS1-Preboreal (RPAZ CHb-4b-4c) transition (except for a rise at ca. 11 450-11 400 cal. yr BP), and at the RPAZ CHb-4c-5 (Preboreal-Boreal) transition, following the Preboreal Oscillation (after 11 150 cal. yr BP). The Preboreal Oscillation coincided with higher lake-levels, its end being followed by a rapid expansion of Corylus, Quercus, Ulmus and Tilia. The Hauterive/Rouges-Terres lake-level record suggests that radiocarbon plateau at 12 600, 10 000 and 9500 14C yr BP corresponded to periods of generally lower lake-level. This suggests that an increase in solar activity may have contributed to both climatic dryness and a decrease in atmospheric radiocarbon content.

Postglacial history of alpine vegetation, fire, and climate from Laguna de Río Seco, Sierra Nevada, southern Spain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, R. S.; Jiménez-Moreno, G.; Carrión, J. S.; Pérez-Martínez, C.

2011-06-01

The Sierra Nevada of southern Spain is a landscape with a rich biological and cultural heritage. The range was extensively glaciated during the late Pleistocene. However, the postglacial paleoecologic history of the highest range in southern Europe is nearly completely unknown. Here we use sediments from a small lake above present treeline - Laguna de Río Seco at 3020 m elevation - in a paleoecological study documenting over 11,500 calendar years of vegetation, fire and climate change, addressing ecological and paleoclimatic issues unique to this area through comparison with regional paleoecological sequences. The early record is dominated by Pinus pollen, with Betula, deciduous Quercus, and grasses, with an understory of shrubs. It is unlikely that pine trees grew around the lake, and fire was relatively unimportant at this site during this period. Aquatic microfossils indicate that the wettest conditions and highest lake levels at Laguna de Río Seco occurred before 7800 cal yr BP. This is in contrast to lower elevation sites, where wettest conditions occurred after ca 7800. Greater differences in early Holocene seasonal insolation may have translated to greater snowpack and subsequently higher lake levels at higher elevations, but not necessarily at lower elevations, where higher evaporation rates prevailed. With declining seasonality after ca 8000 cal yr BP, but continuing summer precipitation, lake levels at the highest elevation site remained high, but lake levels at lower elevation sites increased as evaporation rates declined. Drier conditions commenced regionally after ca 5700 cal yr BP, shown at Laguna de Río Seco by declines in wetland pollen, and increases in high elevation steppe shrubs common today ( Juniperus, Artemisia, and others). The disappearance or decline of mesophytes, such as Betula from ca 4000 cal yr BP is part of a regional depletion in Mediterranean Spain and elsewhere in Europe from the mid to late Holocene. On the other hand, Castanea sativa increased in Laguna de Río Seco record after ca 4000 cal yr BP, and especially in post-Roman times, probably due to arboriculture. Though not as important at high than at low elevations, fire occurrence was elevated, particularly after ca 3700 years ago, in response to regional human population expansion. The local and regional impact of humans increased substantially after ca 2700 years ago, with the loss of Pinus forest within the mountain range, increases in evidence of pasturing herbivores around the lake, and Olea cultivation at lower elevations. Though human impact was not as extensive at high elevation as at lower elevation sites in southern Iberia, this record confirms that even remote sites were not free of direct human influence during the Holocene.

The glacial/deglacial history of sedimentation in Bear Lake, Utah and Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rosenbaum, J.G.; Heil, C.W.

2009-01-01

Bear Lake, in northeastern Utah and southern Idaho, lies in a large valley formed by an active half-graben. Bear River, the largest river in the Great Basin, enters Bear Lake Valley ???15 km north of the lake. Two 4-m-long cores provide a lake sediment record extending back ???26 cal k.y. The penetrated section can be divided into a lower unit composed of quartz-rich clastic sediments and an upper unit composed largely of endogenic carbonate. Data from modern fluvial sediments provide the basis for interpreting changes in provenance of detrital material in the lake cores. Sediments from small streams draining elevated topography on the east and west sides of the lake are characterized by abundant dolomite, high magnetic susceptibility (MS) related to eolian magnetite, and low values of hard isothermal remanent magnetization (HIRM, indicative of hematite content). In contrast, sediments from the headwaters of the Bear River in the Uinta Mountains lack carbonate and have high HIRM and low MS. Sediments from lower reaches of the Bear River contain calcite but little dolomite and have low values of MS and HIRM. These contrasts in catchment properties allow interpretation of the following sequence from variations in properties of the lake sediment: (1) ca. 26 cal ka-onset of glaciation; (2) ca. 26-20 cal ka-quasicyclical, millennial-scale variations in the concentrations of hematite-rich glacial fl our derived from the Uinta Mountains, and dolomite- and magnetite-rich material derived from the local Bear Lake catchment (reflecting variations in glacial extent); (3) ca. 20-19 cal ka-maximum content of glacial fl our; (4) ca. 19-17 cal ka-constant content of Bear River sediment but declining content of glacial fl our from the Uinta Mountains; (5) ca. 17-15.5 cal ka-decline in Bear River sediment and increase in content of sediment from the local catchment; and (6) ca. 15.5-14.5 cal ka-increase in content of endogenic calcite at the expense of detrital material. The onset of glaciation indicated in the Bear Lake record postdates the initial rise of Lake Bonneville and roughly corresponds to the Stansbury shoreline. The lake record indicates that maximum glaciation occurred as Lake Bonneville reached its maximum extent ca. 20 cal ka and that deglaciation was under way while Lake Bonneville remained at its peak. The transition from siliciclastic to carbonate sedimentation probably indicates increasingly evaporative conditions and may coincide with the climatically driven fall of Lake Bonneville from the Provo shoreline. Although lake levels fluctuated during the Younger Dryas, the Bear Lake record for this period is more consistent with drier conditions, rather than cooler, moister conditions interpreted from many studies from western North America. Copyright ?? 2009 The Geological Society of America.

Infrared lasers for the treatment of moderate to severe periodontitis: An american academy of periodontology best evidence review.

PubMed

Chambrone, Leandro; Ramos, Umberto D; Reynolds, Mark A

2018-04-22

This systematic review assesses the efficacy of infrared laser therapy used alone or as an adjunct to nonsurgical or surgical periodontal therapy, on clinical and patient-centered outcomes in patients with periodontitis. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with a follow-up duration ≥ 3 months that evaluated root surface debridement (i.e., scaling and root debridement with or without surgical access) to laser therapy alone or laser therapy plus root surface debridement for the treatment of adult patients (≥18 years old) with moderate to severe aggressive or chronic periodontitis were considered eligible for inclusion. The MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases were searched for articles published up to and including March 2016. Random effects meta-analyses were used throughout the review using continuous data (i.e., mean changes from baseline), and pooled estimates were expressed as weighted mean differences (MDs) with their associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, summaries are presented of the included RCTs, critical remarks of the literature and evidence quality rating/strength of recommendation of laser procedures. Of the 475 potentially eligible articles, 28 were included in the review. Individual study outcomes and seven sets of meta-analysis (1 for the nonsurgical treatment of AgP and 9 for nonsurgical and surgical treatment of CP) showed a benefit of laser therapy in improving clinical attachment level (CAL) and probing depth (PD). However, the comparative differences in clinical outcomes were modest (< 1 mm) and the level of certainty for different therapies was considered low-to-moderate (i.e., more information would be necessary to allow for a reliable and definitive estimation of effect/magnitude of therapies on health outcomes). Overall, most of the Strength of Clinical Recommendations of laser therapies were considered weak or based on expert opinion. In patients with moderate to severe periodontitis, the nonsurgical treatment of AgP and CP by SRP plus infrared diode laser, and the surgical treatment of CP by Er:YAG laser therapy alone may promote statistically significant improvements in PD and/or CAL. However, these gains are relatively small (< 1 mm) and provide modest clinical relevance compared to SRP alone. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2018 American Academy of Periodontology.

Spatially-Explicit Holocene Drought Reconstructions in Amazonian Forests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McMichael, C.; Bush, M. B.

2014-12-01

Climate models predict increasing drought in Amazonian forests over the next century, and the synergy of drought and fire may lead to forest dieback. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) are two primary drivers of Amazonian drought, and each process has a spatially distinct manifestation in the Basin. Paleoecological reconstructions can contextualize the forest response to past drought periods. Stalagmite and lake sediment records have documented that the early- to mid-Holocene, i.e. 10,000 - 5000 calibrated years before present (cal yr BP), was among the driest periods of the last 100,000 years in western Amazonia. Climatic conditions became wetter and more similar to the modern climate over the last 4000 cal yr BP, and fires rarely occurred in the absence of human activity. Yet there are currently no drought and fire reconstructions that examine the spatially explicit patterns of drought during the Holocene. Here, we present regional drought histories from southwestern and northeastern sections Amazonia for the last 10,000 years that document the drought-fire dynamics resulting from both climatic processes. Our reconstructions were based on a compilation of dated soil charcoal fragments (N= 291) collected from within Amazonia sensu stricto, which were analyzed by region using summed probability analysis. The compiled soil charcoal dates contained limited evidence of fire over the last 10,000 years in some regions. Fire frequency rose markedly across the Basin, however, during the last 2000 years, indicating an increased human presence. Fire probabilities, and thus droughts, had similar increasing trajectories between southwestern and northeastern Amazonia from 1500-1100 cal yr BP, which decoupled from 1100-740 cal yr BP, and then regained synchronicity from 740-500 cal yr BP. Fire probability declined markedly after 500 yr cal BP, coincident with European arrival to the Americas. Native populations were decimated, and fire probabilities returned to similar levels before the rise 2000 years ago. These results suggested that the synergy of humans plus drought have played a large role in historical fire regimes in Amazonian forests for the last 2000 years.

Combining charcoal sediment and molecular markers to infer a Holocene fire history in the Maya lowlands of Petén, Guatemala

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirchgeorg, Torben; Schüpbach, Simon; Colombaroli, Daniele; Beffa, Giorgia; Radaelli, Marta; Kehrwald, Natalie; Barbante, Carlo

2015-04-01

Holocene vegetation changes in the Maya Lowlands during the Holocene are a result of changing climate conditions, solely anthropogenic activities, or interactions of both factors. As a consequence, it is difficult to assess how tropical ecosystems will cope with projected changes in precipitation and land-use intensification over the next decades. We investigated the role of fire during the Holocene by combining different proxies. We distinguished between three different morphotypes (grass, wood and leaves) in macroscopic charcoal. We also determined the molecular fire proxies levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan. Combining these different fire proxies allows a more robust understanding of the complex history of fire regimes at different spatial scales during the Holocene. Comparing the two biomass burning proxies may help increase our understanding about advantages and limitations of molecular markers as proxies for past fire reconstruction in lake sediments. In order to infer changes in past biomass burning, we analysed a lake sediment core from Lake Petén Itzá, Guatemala (17°00'N, 89°50'W, 110 m above sea level), and compared our results with millennial-scale vegetation and climate change data available in this area. Some differences were observed between the two records and we assumed that while macroscopic charcoal represents a local fire signal, the molecular fire proxies records seem to be influenced by regional to supra-regional fire or low temperature fires. During the Holocene we detected three periods of high fire activity: 9500-6000 cal yr BP, 3800 cal yr BP and 2700 cal yr BP. We attributed the first maximum (9500-6000 cal yr BP) to only climate conditions, which corresponds with observations from previous studies in this region. The fast decrease in the relative abundance of woody charcoal to grass charcoal at the 3800 cal yr BP fire maximum may result from human activity, but we cannot exclude that this shift was related to climate conditions during this period. The last maximum (2700 cal yr BP) we attribute to the agricultural activity of the Maya at Lake Petén Itzá.

KSC-2013-2723

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-06-10

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Roland Coelho, third from left, CalPoly program lead, and members of the student launch team load a payload into a Poly Picosatellite Orbital Dispensor, or P-Pod nanolauncher/carrier in the CubeSat lab facility at California Polytechnic Institute, or CalPoly. The payload, which includes sensors and equipment carefully packaged into 4-inch cube sections, will ride in the body of a Garvey Spacecraft Corporation's Prospector P-18D rocket during a June 15 launch on a high-altitude, suborbital flight. Known as a CubeSat, the satellite will record shock, vibrations and heat inside the rocket. It will not be released during the test flight, but the results will be used to prove or strengthen their designs before they are carried into orbit in 2014 on a much larger rocket. Also, a new launcher/carrier of a lightweight design also is being tested for use on future missions to deploy the small spacecraft. The flight also is being watched closely as a model for trying out new or off-the-shelf technologies quickly before putting them in the pipeline for use on NASA's largest launchers. Built by several different organizations, including a university, a NASA field center and a high school, the spacecraft are four-inch cubes designed to fly on their own eventually, but will remain firmly attached to the rocket during the upcoming mission. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/elana/cubesatlaunchpreview.html Photo credit: VAFB/Kathi Peoples

KSC-2013-2722

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-06-10

KSC-2013-2721 – SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. –Roland Coelho, third from left, CalPoly program lead, and members of the student launch team load a payload into a Poly Picosatellite Orbital Dispensor, or P-Pod nanolauncher/carrier in the CubeSat lab facility at California Polytechnic Institute, or CalPoly. The payload, which includes sensors and equipment carefully packaged into 4-inch cube sections, will ride in the body of a Garvey Spacecraft Corporation's Prospector P-18D rocket during a June 15 launch on a high-altitude, suborbital flight. Known as a CubeSat, the satellite will record shock, vibrations and heat inside the rocket. It will not be released during the test flight, but the results will be used to prove or strengthen their designs before they are carried into orbit in 2014 on a much larger rocket. Also, a new launcher/carrier of a lightweight design also is being tested for use on future missions to deploy the small spacecraft. The flight also is being watched closely as a model for trying out new or off-the-shelf technologies quickly before putting them in the pipeline for use on NASA's largest launchers. Built by several different organizations, including a university, a NASA field center and a high school, the spacecraft are four-inch cubes designed to fly on their own eventually, but will remain firmly attached to the rocket during the upcoming mission. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/elana/cubesatlaunchpreview.html Photo credit: VAFB/Kathi Peoples

Salivary Myeloperoxidase, Assessed by 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine Colorimetry, Can Differentiate Periodontal Patients from Nonperiodontal Subjects.

PubMed

Klangprapan, Supaporn; Chaiyarit, Ponlatham; Hormdee, Doosadee; Kampichai, Amonrujee; Khampitak, Tueanjit; Daduang, Jureerut; Tavichakorntrakool, Ratree; Panijpan, Bhinyo; Boonsiri, Patcharee

2016-01-01

Periodontal diseases, which result from inflammation of tooth supporting tissues, are highly prevalent worldwide. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), from certain white blood cells in saliva, is a biomarker for inflammation. We report our study on the salivary MPO activity and its association with severity of periodontal diseases among Thai patients. Periodontally healthy subjects (n = 11) and gingivitis (n = 32) and periodontitis patients (n = 19) were enrolled. Assessments of clinically periodontal parameters were reported as percentages for gingival bleeding index (GI) and bleeding on probing (BOP), whereas pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were measured in millimeters and then made to index scores. Salivary MPO activity was measured by colorimetry using 3,3'-diaminobenzidine as substrate. The results showed that salivary MPO activity in periodontitis patients was significantly higher than in healthy subjects (p = 0.003) and higher than in gingivitis patients (p = 0.059). No difference was found between gingivitis and healthy groups (p = 0.181). Significant correlations were observed (p < 0.01) between salivary MPO activity and GI (r = 0.632, p < 0.001), BOP (r = 0.599, p < 0.001), PD (r = 0.179, p = 0.164), and CAL (r = 0.357, p = 0.004) index scores. Sensitivity (94.12%), specificity (54.55%), and positive (90.57%) and negative (66.67%) predictive values indicate that salivary MPO activity has potential use as a screening marker for oral health of the Thai community.

Salivary Myeloperoxidase, Assessed by 3,3′-Diaminobenzidine Colorimetry, Can Differentiate Periodontal Patients from Nonperiodontal Subjects

PubMed Central

Klangprapan, Supaporn; Chaiyarit, Ponlatham; Hormdee, Doosadee; Kampichai, Amonrujee; Khampitak, Tueanjit; Daduang, Jureerut; Tavichakorntrakool, Ratree; Panijpan, Bhinyo; Boonsiri, Patcharee

2016-01-01

Periodontal diseases, which result from inflammation of tooth supporting tissues, are highly prevalent worldwide. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), from certain white blood cells in saliva, is a biomarker for inflammation. We report our study on the salivary MPO activity and its association with severity of periodontal diseases among Thai patients. Periodontally healthy subjects (n = 11) and gingivitis (n = 32) and periodontitis patients (n = 19) were enrolled. Assessments of clinically periodontal parameters were reported as percentages for gingival bleeding index (GI) and bleeding on probing (BOP), whereas pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were measured in millimeters and then made to index scores. Salivary MPO activity was measured by colorimetry using 3,3′-diaminobenzidine as substrate. The results showed that salivary MPO activity in periodontitis patients was significantly higher than in healthy subjects (p = 0.003) and higher than in gingivitis patients (p = 0.059). No difference was found between gingivitis and healthy groups (p = 0.181). Significant correlations were observed (p < 0.01) between salivary MPO activity and GI (r = 0.632, p < 0.001), BOP (r = 0.599, p < 0.001), PD (r = 0.179, p = 0.164), and CAL (r = 0.357, p = 0.004) index scores. Sensitivity (94.12%), specificity (54.55%), and positive (90.57%) and negative (66.67%) predictive values indicate that salivary MPO activity has potential use as a screening marker for oral health of the Thai community. PMID:27274868

Navy/Marine Corps Manager’s Desktop Guide for CALS Implementation. 2nd Edition

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-30

significant process and productivity that CALS initiatives are providing within the Navy infrastructure. CALS programs are on-line and working in today’s Navy...era of declining budgets, CALS is most important in enhancing logistic support productivity to maintain operations and improve readiness. Our...is to be accomplished through the general adoption of a set of procedures and staridards for the production , access, management, maintenance, and

Uncertainty analysis on simple mass balance model to calculate critical loads for soil acidity.

PubMed

Li, Harbin; McNulty, Steven G

2007-10-01

Simple mass balance equations (SMBE) of critical acid loads (CAL) in forest soil were developed to assess potential risks of air pollutants to ecosystems. However, to apply SMBE reliably at large scales, SMBE must be tested for adequacy and uncertainty. Our goal was to provide a detailed analysis of uncertainty in SMBE so that sound strategies for scaling up CAL estimates to the national scale could be developed. Specifically, we wanted to quantify CAL uncertainty under natural variability in 17 model parameters, and determine their relative contributions in predicting CAL. Results indicated that uncertainty in CAL came primarily from components of base cation weathering (BC(w); 49%) and acid neutralizing capacity (46%), whereas the most critical parameters were BC(w) base rate (62%), soil depth (20%), and soil temperature (11%). Thus, improvements in estimates of these factors are crucial to reducing uncertainty and successfully scaling up SMBE for national assessments of CAL.

Computational approach for designing thermostable Candida antarctica lipase B by molecular dynamics simulation.

PubMed

Park, Hyun June; Park, Kyungmoon; Kim, Yong Hwan; Yoo, Young Je

2014-12-20

Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) is one of the most useful enzyme for various reactions and bioconversions. Enhancing thermostability of CalB is required for industrial applications. In this study, we propose a computational design strategy to improve the thermostability of CalB. Molecular dynamics simulations at various temperatures were used to investigate the common fluctuation sites in CalB, which are considered to be thermally weak points. The RosettaDesign algorithm was used to design the selected residues. The redesigned CalB was simulated to verify both the enhancement of intramolecular interactions and the lowering of the overall root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) values. The A251E mutant designed using this strategy showed a 2.5-fold higher thermostability than the wild-type CalB. This strategy could apply to other industry applicable enzymes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An Investigation of Sensory Information, Levels of Automation, and Piloting Experience on Unmanned Aircraft Pilot Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-01

Development.of. NASA - TLX .(Task.Load.Index):.Results.of.empiri- cal.and.theoretical.research ..In.P .A ..Hancock.&.N .. Meshkati.(Eds .),.Human...8 Automated Manual Level of Automation Hi gh Z oo m M an ip ul at io n Pilot Non-pilot Figure 4. Number of participants with high levels of zoom

A CAL-Based Undergraduate Genetics Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garbutt, K.; And Others

1979-01-01

Describes a second-year undergraduate practical course in quantitative genetics and biometrics, based upon computer-assisted learning (CAL); and discusses the educational benefits of the course, some problems encountered, and some implications of the extensive use of CAL. (Author/CMV)

Uplift and subsidence reveal a nonpersistent megathrust rupture boundary (Sitkinak Island, Alaska)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Briggs, Richard W.; Engelhart, Simon E.; Nelson, Alan R.; Dura, Tina; Kemp, Andrew C.; Haeussler, Peter J.; Corbett, D. Reide; Angster, Stephen J.; Bradley, Lee-Ann

2014-01-01

We report stratigraphic evidence of land-level change and tsunami inundation along the Alaska-Aleutian megathrust during prehistoric and historical earthquakes west of Kodiak Island. On Sitkinak Island, cores and tidal outcrops fringing a lagoon reveal five sharp lithologic contacts that record coseismic land-level change. Radiocarbon dates, 137Cs profiles, CT scans, and microfossil assemblages are consistent with rapid uplift ca. 290-0, 520-300, and 1050-790 cal yr BP, and subsidence in AD 1964 and ca. 640-510 cal yr BP. Radiocarbon, 137Cs, and 210Pb ages bracketing a sand bed traced 1.5 km inland and evidence for sudden uplift are consistent with Russian accounts of an earthquake and tsunami in AD 1788. The mixed uplift and subsidence record suggests that Sitkinak Island sits above a non-persistent boundary near the southwestern limit of the AD 1964 Mw 9.2 megathrust rupture.

CTN summary of DSREDS, EDCARS, EDMICS CALS readiness testing. [Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistic Support (CALS) CALS Test Network (CTN), Digital Storage Retrieval Eng. Data System (DSREDS), Eng. Data Computer Assisted Retrieval System (EDCARS), Eng. Data Management Information and Control System (EDMICS)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mitschkowetz, N.; Vickers, D.L.

This report provides a summary of the Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistic Support (CALS) Test Network (CTN) Laboratory Acceptance Test (LAT) and User Application Test (UAT) activities undertaken to evaluate the CALS capabilities being implemented as part of the Department of Defense (DOD) engineering repositories. Although the individual testing activities provided detailed reports for each repository, a synthesis of the results, conclusions, and recommendations is offered to provide a more concise presentation of the issues and the strategies, as viewed from the CTN perspective.

Factors Affecting Attachment in International Adoptees at 6 Months Post Adoption

PubMed Central

Weiss, Sandra

2011-01-01

This pilot study examined the effect of five child and maternal factors on the attachment security of international adoptees at six months post adoption. Results from the sample of 22 adoptive mother-infant dyads showed that age at adoption, developmental status, length and quality of preadoption care, and maternal attachment representations were not significant predictors of child attachment status. The number of preadoption placements and the child's stress level did significantly predict attachment status, accounting for approximately 40% of the variance in attachment security. Number of preadoption placements uniquely contributed 14% of that variance (p=.007) while stress level uniquely contributed 12% (p=.01). Children who had fewer preadoption placements had higher attachment security; similarly, children who had lower stress levels had higher attachment security. Results suggest that consistency of preadoption care was more important than its length or quality. Further, the relationship between stress level and attachment security raises the possibility that a lower stress level functions as a protective factor for the developing attachment with the adoptive mother. PMID:22267885

Attachment, childhood abuse, and IBD-related quality of life and disease activity outcomes.

PubMed

Caplan, Rachel A; Maunder, Robert G; Stempak, Joanne M; Silverberg, Mark S; Hart, Tae L

2014-05-01

This study examined attachment style as a moderator of the relationship between childhood abuse and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related outcomes. Study participants were 205 patients with IBD from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Participants completed self-report questionnaires regarding personal relationships, abuse history, and IBD-related information. Multiple regression models were fit using 3 outcome variables: disease-related quality of life (QOL), disease activity for ulcerative colitis, and disease activity for Crohn's disease. Patients reporting less severe abuse and low levels of avoidant attachment had the highest levels of QOL, whereas patients reporting high levels of avoidant attachment had the lowest levels of QOL, regardless of abuse severity. Patients reporting greater anxious attachment had lower QOL scores. Patients reporting less severe abuse and low levels of avoidant attachment had the lowest levels of disease activity, whereas patients reporting high levels of avoidant attachment had the highest levels of ulcerative colitis-related disease activity, regardless of abuse severity. However, for anxious attachment, there was no significant main effect or significant interaction of abuse by anxious attachment on ulcerative colitis-related disease activity. Childhood abuse and attachment style were not found to be associated with Crohn's disease-related disease activity. Adult attachment style may moderate the relationship between childhood abuse and IBD-related outcomes, by impacting one's QOL and disease activity. Distinct types of insecure attachment styles may impact these relationships differently. Psychological interventions focusing on attachment styles of patients with IBD have the potential to improve IBD-related QOL and disease activity.

Improving estimates of air pollution exposure through ubiquitous sensing technologies.

PubMed

de Nazelle, Audrey; Seto, Edmund; Donaire-Gonzalez, David; Mendez, Michelle; Matamala, Jaume; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J; Jerrett, Michael

2013-05-01

Traditional methods of exposure assessment in epidemiological studies often fail to integrate important information on activity patterns, which may lead to bias, loss of statistical power, or both in health effects estimates. Novel sensing technologies integrated with mobile phones offer potential to reduce exposure measurement error. We sought to demonstrate the usability and relevance of the CalFit smartphone technology to track person-level time, geographic location, and physical activity patterns for improved air pollution exposure assessment. We deployed CalFit-equipped smartphones in a free-living population of 36 subjects in Barcelona, Spain. Information obtained on physical activity and geographic location was linked to space-time air pollution mapping. We found that information from CalFit could substantially alter exposure estimates. For instance, on average travel activities accounted for 6% of people's time and 24% of their daily inhaled NO2. Due to the large number of mobile phone users, this technology potentially provides an unobtrusive means of enhancing epidemiologic exposure data at low cost. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cyclic sedimentation pattern in Lake Veetka, southeast Estonia: a case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saarse, Leili

2015-03-01

A sediment core from Lake Veetka, southeast Estonia, 1077 cm in length and covering 10,500 calibrated years, was examined using loss-on-ignition, grain-size distribution and AMS 14C dating to reconstruct depositional dynamics. The studied core, recovered from the northern part of the lake, shows a cyclic pattern of organic and mineral matter concentration with cycle durations of 100-400 years. Cyclicity is displayed better in sediments laid down between 9,200 and 5,600 cal BP. Within two time windows (5,600-5,100 cal BP and from 1,200 cal BP to the present), sediment composition changed drastically on account of a high and fluctuating mineral matter content, obviously driven by different factors. Little Ice Age cooling is characterised by the highest proportion of mineral matter, and the Medieval Warm Period is typified by high organic matter content. The cyclic change of organic and mineral matter has been related to climate dynamics, most likely an alternation of wet and dry conditions, changes in the water level of the lake and differences in bioproduction

Holocene geoarchaeology of the Sixteen Mile Beach barrier dunes in the Western Cape, South Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Compton, John S.; Franceschini, Giuliana

2005-01-01

Holocene evolution and human occupation of the Sixteen Mile Beach barrier dunes on the southwest coast of South Africa between Yzerfontein and Saldanha Bay are inferred from the radiocarbon ages of calcareous dune sand, limpet shell ( Patella spp.) manuports and gull-dropped white mussel shells ( Donax serra). A series of coast-parallel dunes have prograded seaward in response to an overall marine regression since the mid-Holocene with dated shell from relict foredunes indicating periods of shoreline progradation that correspond to drops in sea level at around 5900, 4500 and 2400 calibrated years before the present (cal yr B.P.). However, the active foredune, extensively covered by a layer of gull-dropped shell, has migrated 500 m inland by the recycling of eroded dune sand in response to an approximate 1 m sea level rise over the last 700 yr. Manuported limpet shells from relict blowouts on landward vegetated dunes indicate human occupation of coastal dune sites at 6200 and 6000 cal yr B.P. and help to fill the mid-Holocene gap in the regional archaeological record. Coastal midden shells associated with small hearth sites exposed in blowouts on the active foredune are contemporaneous (1600-500 cal yr B.P.) with large midden sites on the western margin of Langebaan Lagoon and suggest an increase in marine resource utilisation associated with the arrival of pastoralism in the Western Cape.

A comparative evaluation of subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) versus platelet concentrate graft (PCG) in the treatment of gingival recession using coronally advanced flap technique: A 12-month study

PubMed Central

Kumar, G. Naveen Vital; Murthy, K. Raja Venkatesh

2013-01-01

Objective: The objective of this study was to clinically evaluate and compare the efficacy of platelet concentrate graft (PCG) with that of subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) using a coronally advanced flap technique in the treatment of gingival recession. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with a total of 24 gingival recession defects were selected and randomly assigned either to experimental site-A (SCTG) or experimental site-B (PCG). The clinical parameters were recorded at baseline up to 12 months post-operatively and compared. Results: The mean vertical recession depth (VRD) statistically significantly decreased from 2.50 ± 0.48 mm to 0.54 ± 0.50 mm with PCG and from 2.75 ± 0.58 mm to 0.54 ± 0.45 mm with SCTG at 12 months. No statistically significant differences between the treatments were found for VRD and clinical attachment level (CAL), while keratinized tissue width (KTW) gain was statistically significant. Conclusion: Both the SCTG and the PCG group resulted in a significant amount of root coverage. The PCG technique was less invasive and required minimal time and clinical maneuver. It resulted in superior aesthetic outcome and lower post-surgical discomfort at the 12 months follow-up. PMID:24554889

Subepithelial connective tissue graft with and without the use of plasma rich in growth factors for treating root exposure

PubMed Central

Lafzi, Ardeshir; Shirmohammadi, Adileh; Behrozian, Ahmad; Kashefimehr, Atabak; Khashabi, Ehsan

2012-01-01

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficiency of the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) with and without plasma rich in growth factor (PRGF) in the treatment of gingival recessions. Methods Twenty bilateral buccal gingival Miller's Class I and II recessions were selected. Ten of the recessions were treated with SCTG and PRGF (test group). The rest ten of the recessions were treated with SCTG (control group). The clinical parameters including recession depth (RD), percentage of root coverage (RC), mucogingival junction (MGJ) position, clinical attachment level (CAL), and probing depth (PD) were measured at the baseline, and 1 and 3 months later. The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results After 3 months, both groups showed a significant improvement in all of the mentioned criteria except PD. Although the amount of improvement was better in the SCTG+PRGF group than the SCTG only group, this difference was not statistically significant. The mean RC was 70.85±12.57 in the test group and 75.83±24.68 in the control group. Conclusions Both SCTG+PRGF and SCTG only result in favorable clinical outcomes, but the added benefit of PRGF is not evident. PMID:23346462

OSD CALS Architecture Master Plan Study. Concept Paper. Security. Volume 38

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1989-07-01

Developing and executing a well-thought-out security policy is critical to the success of CALS. Without appropriate security measures, the integration of technology, organizations, functions, and data envisioned as Phase II CALS can not occur. Theref...

OSD CALS Architecture Master Plan Study. Concept Paper. Configuration Management. Volume 28

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1989-10-01

The mission of CALS is to enhance operational readiness of DoD weapon systems through application of information technology to the management of technical information. CALS will automate the current paper-intensive processes involved in weapon system...

Marine palynological record for tropical climate variations since the late last glacial maximum in the northern South China Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Lu; Weng, Chengyu

2015-12-01

The upper part (191-1439 cm) of the marine sediment core MD05-2906 from the northern South China Sea (SCS) was palynologically investigated. The chronology suggested that it covered the record since ~19 calendar kiloyears before present (cal ka BP) and revealed a detailed environmental change history since the late last glacial maximum (LGM). During the late LGM, due to the lowered sea level (~100 m lower) and the shortened distance from the shore to the study site, the pollen concentration was very high. The pollen assemblages were dominated by non-arboreal taxa, especially Artemisia pollen, before ~15 cal ka BP. Abundant subtropical and tropical pollen taxa were still important components and a south subtropical climate prevailed during the late LGM. The coexistent rich Artemisia pollen possibly was not derived from near shores, but was derived mainly from the northern exposed continental shelf in the East China Sea (ECS). After ~15 cal ka BP, with the rise in the sea level and enhanced distance from the pollen source areas to the core site, pollen concentrations started to decline gradually. However, during the late deglaciation and early Holocene, the higher concentrations of many pollen taxa reoccurred, which cannot be attributed to the sea level changes. Pinus pollen deposited in the core, which is considered to be mostly water-carried based on many modern pollen surveys, also started to dramatically increase at the same time. Therefore, the higher pollen concentration, with more Pinus and Typha (an aquatic plant) pollen indicated a notably enhanced terrestrial runoff and precipitation during the last deglaciation/Holocene transition (~11.3-9.4 cal ka BP). We inferred that a strong summer monsoon occurred at this time. During the late LGM/deglaciation transition period, the pollen assemblage reflected a gradually warming climate, and the climate fluctuations derived from the high-latitudes were not well-identified. This study suggests that solar insolation played a crucial role in controlling the East Asian monsoon and hydrological cycle in the northern SCS.

Supersaturation of Calcipotriene and Betamethasone Dipropionate in a Novel Aerosol Foam Formulation for Topical Treatment of Psoriasis Provides Enhanced Bioavailability of the Active Ingredients.

PubMed

Lind, Marianne; Nielsen, Kim Troensegaard; Schefe, Line Hollesen; Nørremark, Kasper; Eriksson, André Huss; Norsgaard, Hanne; Pedersen, Brian Thoning; Petersson, Karsten

2016-09-01

Previous studies have demonstrated the superior efficacy of a novel aerosol foam formulation of fixed combination calcipotriene 0.005% (Cal) and betamethasone dipropionate 0.064% (BD), compared with the ointment formulation. The aim of this study is to ascertain whether enhanced bioavailability of the active ingredients due to supersaturation and/or occlusive properties can explain the observed greater clinical efficacy. Solubility and evaporation experiments were conducted to examine the abilities of Cal/BD aerosol foam ingredients to create a supersaturated environment. Optical microscopy, Raman imaging and X-ray powder diffraction were used to examine the physical state of Cal and BD in the formulations after application, and determine whether a supersaturated state remained stable for clinically relevant time periods. In vitro skin penetration and ex vivo biomarker assays were conducted to compare the skin penetration and bioavailability of Cal and BD from the aerosol foam and ointment formulations, respectively. Occlusive properties were examined via transepidermal water loss. Solubility studies showed that Cal and BD solubility increased with increasing dimethyl ether (DME) content. Both active ingredients are completely dissolved in the final aerosol foam formulation. DME rapidly evaporates after spraying, and the amount was reduced to 0.5% of the initial amount after 2 min. This led to the formation of a supersaturated environment, where Cal and BD crystals were absent for at least 26 h after application. Cal/BD aerosol foam had significantly greater in vitro skin penetration and had increased bioavailability compared with Cal/BD ointment. Both formulations effectively occluded the skin. A stable supersaturated solution of Cal/BD in the aerosol foam leads to increased bioavailability and explains the improved clinical effect when compared to the Cal/BD ointment. The studies included in the paper are all conducted by LEO Pharma A/S or CROs on behalf of LEO Pharma A/S.

Adult attachment and approaches to activity engagement in chronic pain

PubMed Central

Andrews, Nicole E; Meredith, Pamela J; Strong, Jenny; Donohue, Genevieve F

2014-01-01

BACKGROUND: The way in which individuals with chronic pain habitually approach activity engagement has been shown to impact daily functioning, with both avoidance of one’s daily activities and overactivity (activity engagement that significantly exacerbates pain) associated with more pain, higher levels of physical disability and poorer psychological functioning. OBJECTIVE: To provide insight into the development of maladaptive habitual approaches to activity engagement in chronic pain by applying an attachment theory framework. METHODS: A sample of 164 adults with chronic pain completed selfreport measures of attachment, approach to activity and pain cognitions. Mediation analyses were undertaken to examine the direct association between attachment variables and maladaptive approaches to activity, and to test for the mediating role of pain cognitions (catastrophizing and thought suppression). RESULTS: Results demonstrated that higher levels of secure attachment were associated with lower levels of activity avoidance, which was fully mediated by lower levels of pain catastrophizing; higher levels of preoccupied or fearful attachment were directly associated with higher levels overactivity; higher levels of preoccupied attachment were associated with higher levels of activity avoidance, which was partially mediated by higher levels of pain catastrophizing; and higher levels of fearful attachment were indirectly associated with higher levels of activity avoidance through higher levels of catastrophizing. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide preliminary support for the suggestion that insecure attachment may be a source of vulnerability to the development of disabling activity patterns in chronic pain. PMID:25337857

Calcium vitamin D3 supplementation in clinical practice: side effect and satisfaction.

PubMed

Sanaei, Maryam; Banasiri, Mohammad; Shafiee, Gita; Rostami, Mahsa; Alizad, Saba; Ebrahimi, Mehdi; Larijani, Bagher; Heshmat, Ramin

2015-01-01

The objective of this study was to assess side effects and satisfaction about OsteoCalVitFort (500 mg calcium and 400 I.U. of vitamin D3) usage. A total 186 people were participated with range age from 18 to 65 years old. Each participant received 1 pack that contains 60 OsteoCalVitFort tablet and used two tablet OsteoCalVitFort daily (1 tablet after breakfast and 1 after dinner). By a phone call, side effects and satisfaction about OsteoCalVitFort were assessed. The rate of constipating (8.0 %) and bloating (12.5 %) were decreased significantly after OsteoCalVitFort supplement intake (1.2 %, and 0.6 %, respectively). Similar results were observed in metallic taste in mouth, tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, bone/muscle pain and mental/mood change after Calcium Vitamin D3 supplementation intake. Totally, 94 % of patients were satisfied about OsteoCalVitFort usage. The results of the research indicate despite the high quality of OsteoCalVitFort supplement, there are no side effects which have been seen in other supplements.

Interplay between Amazonia Tropical Rain Forest Fires (Mesoscale distribution) and global carbon cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cordeiro, R. C.; Turcq, B.; Sifeddine, A.

2009-12-01

Soil samples were collected at 9 different depths, from zero to 100 cm at six points distributed along a transect of 1700 m in upland and lowland areas of the Km 41 reserve near Manaus in Central Brazilian Amazonia, in order to compare the frequency, dimension and extension of past fires in different topographic environmental situations. The average charcoal mass distribution is higher in uplands than in lowlands. This distribution shows a gradient with a high correlation between the two topographic levels, demonstrating a characteristic depth distribution pattern. The highest charcoal concentrations were found at a depth of 20-50 cm in all the six profiles. These fires have affected the upland areas more severely than the lowlands, probably allowing the survival of the vegetation along the small streams.. Two periods of intense fire activity were identified through the distribution of the biomass of charcoal: from around 1320 cal yr BP (ca 1400 14C yr BP) to 1050 cal yr BP (ca 1100 14C yr BP), and between 610 cal yr BP (ca 600 14C yr BP) to 330 cal yr BP (ca 300 yr 14C yr BP). These forest fire phases were probably favored by dry climate which is recorded in other regions of Amazonia and South America by archaeological and palaeoecological data.. Observe that the data found in this article related to the disturbances of fire events in the Central Amazon region appear to be synchronous with events of disruption of populations and vegetation changes and background to the development of indigenous people. Thus it seems plausible that these disturbance phenomena may have an origin presumably climatic than anthropogenic. This possible relationship between climate and forest, ecosystems of high productivity and biomass, and humans should be look carefully in relation to the carbon cycle dynamics demonstrated by the air bubbles extracted of the ice core records.. Increase is observed in the CO2 concentration of the Taylor Dome record just after the increase in frequency and biomass burning at 1350 cal yr BP. The maximum increase of CO2, during the Holocene, is higher at 1220 cal yr BP almost simultaneously with the highest frequency of occurrence of charcoal/biomass of charcoal between 1350 and 1100 cal yr BP. Based on the present-day and future trend of drier climate and more irregular precipitation in this region, the frequency of Amazonian rainforest fires tend to increase and to may have an impact on the CO2 future global cycle.

Correlation of Levels of Oncostatin M Cytokine in Crevicular Fluid and Serum in Periodontal Disease

PubMed Central

Thorat, ManojKumar; AR, Pradeep; Garg, Garima

2010-01-01

Aim The aim of this study was to measure the level of Oncostatin M (OSM) a gp130 cytokine in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum of chronic periodontitis patients and to find any correlation between them before and after periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing, SRP). Methodology 60 subjects (age 25–50 years) were enrolled into three groups (n=20 per group), group I (healthy), group II (gingivitis) and group III (chronic periodontitis). Group III subjects were followed for 6–8 weeks after the initial periodontal therapy (SRP) as the group IV (after periodontal therapy). Clinical parameters were assessed as gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and radiographic evidence of bone loss. GCF and serum levels of OSM were measured by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results It was found that mean OSM levels had been elevated in both the GCF and serum of chronic periodontitis subjects (726.65 ± 283.56 and 65.59 ± 12.37 pg·mL−1, respectively) and these levels were decreased proportionally after the periodontal therapy (95.50 ± 38.85 and 39.98 ± 16.69 pg·mL−1 respectively). However, OSM was detected in GCF of healthy subjects (66.15 ± 28.10 pg·mL−1) and gingivitis-suffering subjects (128.33 ± 22.96 pg·mL−1) and was found as below the detectable limit (≈0.0 pg·mL−1) in the serum of same subjects. Significant correlation has been found between clinical parameters and GCF-serum levels of OSM. Conclusion Increased OSM level both in the GCF and serum, and the decreased levels after initial periodontal therapy (SRP) may suggest a use as an inflammatory bio-marker in the periodontal disease. PMID:21404969

Paleolimnological Evaluation of Lake Chapala (Western Mexico) During the Past 10,000 Years (CONACYT CB2011, Grant 168685, In Progress). PHASE II: Laboratory Work: First Results.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarate, P. F.; Israde-Alcantara, I.; Dorfler, W.; Unkel, I. B.; Dominguez Vazquez, G.; Nelle, O.; Espinoza Encinas, I. R.

2015-12-01

At Lake Chapala (103° 02'W, 20° 15'N) a linear sedimentation rate of 2 mm a-1 for the last 12,000 years was deduced from ten 14C dates. Due to the presence of very old hydrothermal bitumen (14C date: >40,000 years BP) a reservoir effect of c. 2000 years must be taken into account. Pollen results indicate a generally increase in dry forest taxa with an interruption during the middle Holocene. Diatom results allow a zonation into 6 paleoenvironmental phases. Zone 1: From 27 to 26m depth (c. 12,000 yBP), Stephanodiscus niagaraeis the dominant taxa in coincidence with high TOC percents; a transgression into moister conditions is indicated. Zone 2: From 26 to 17m (10,310-8720 cal BP) it is characterized by Aulacoseira granulata indicating an increase in ionic conditions and turbidity in lake as result of a decrease in lacustrine levels. Zone 3: From 17 to 13m (8720-5950 cal BP) it is dominated by C. aff. kuetzingiana and the presence of temperate pollen taxa at 12 m (ca. 5000 YBP) suggest an increase in humid conditions in this interval. Zone 4: From 13 to 8.5m (5950-2840 cal BP) encompass the middle Holocene. Stephanodiscus medius alternating with Surirella ovalis characterize this period and indicate very fluctuant conditions in coincidence with at a decrease of low TOC percents. Zone 5: From 8.5 to 4m (2840-1580 cal BP), mark the establishment of modern conditions until present, with a peak in S. ovalis in coincidence with the high A. granulata, indicating low lake, saline, turbid and more extreme conditions at the base and top of this interval. Zone 6: From 4 to 0m (1580 cal BP to Present) S. medius (over 50%), C. aff. dubius (20 to 40%), perifitic diatoms in low percents (<5%), and A. granulata and S.ovallis in spite of few percents, are observed in concordance with a return of saline conditions of the lake, indicate a regressive phase. Magnetic (susceptibility and paleomagnetism), microprobe analyses on tephra levels, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Difraction (XRD) and anthracological studies are in progress.

Climate versus human-driven fire regimes in Mediterranean landscapes: the Holocene record of Lago dell’Accesa (Tuscany, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vannière, B.; Colombaroli, D.; Chapron, E.; Leroux, A.; Tinner, W.; Magny, M.

2008-06-01

A high-resolution sedimentary charcoal record from Lago dell'Accesa in southern Tuscany reveals numerous changes in fire regime over the last 11.6 kyr cal. BP and provides one of the longest gap-free series from Italy and the Mediterranean region. Charcoal analyses are coupled with gamma density measurements, organic-content analyses, and pollen counts to provide data about sedimentation and vegetation history. A comparison between fire frequency and lake-level reconstructions from the same site is used to address the centennial variability of fire regimes and its linkage to hydrological processes. Our data reveal strong relationships among climate, fire, vegetation, and land-use and attest to the paramount importance of fire in Mediterranean ecosystems. The mean fire interval (MFI) for the entire Holocene was estimated to be 150 yr, with a minimum around 80 yr and a maximum around 450 yr. Between 11.6 and 3.6 kyr cal. BP, up to eight high-frequency fire phases lasting 300-500 yr generally occurred during shifts towards low lake-level stands (ca 11,300, 10,700, 9500, 8700, 7600, 6200, 5300, 3400, 1800 and 1350 cal. yr BP). Therefore, we assume that most of these shifts were triggered by drier climatic conditions and especially a dry summer season that promoted ignition and biomass burning. At the beginning of the Holocene, high climate seasonality favoured fire expansion in this region, as in many other ecosystems of the northern and southern hemispheres. Human impact affected fire regimes and especially fire frequencies since the Neolithic (ca 8000-4000 cal. yr BP). Burning as a consequence of anthropogenic activities became more frequent after the onset of the Bronze Age (ca 3800-3600 cal. yr BP) and appear to be synchronous with the development of settlements in the region, slash-and-burn agriculture, animal husbandry, and mineral exploitation. The anthropogenic phases with maximum fire activity corresponded to greater sensitivity of the vegetation and triggered significant changes in vegetational communities (e.g. temporal declines of Quercus ilex forests and expansion of shrublands and macchia). The link between fire and climate persisted during the mid- and late Holocene, when human impact on vegetation and the fire regime was high. This finding suggests that climatic conditions were important for fire occurrence even under strongly humanised ecosystem conditions.

A new bioluminescent reporter system to study the biodistribution of systematically injected tumor-derived bioluminescent extracellular vesicles in mice

PubMed Central

Gangadaran, Prakash; Li, Xiu Juan; Lee, Ho Won; Oh, Ji Min; Kalimuthu, Senthilkumar; Rajendran, Ramya Lakshmi; Son, Seung Hyun; Baek, Se Hwan; Singh, Thoudam Debraj; Zhu, Liya; Jeong, Shin Young; Lee, Sang-Woo; Lee, Jaetae; Ahn, Byeong-Cheol

2017-01-01

In vivo biodistribution and fate of extracellular vesicles (EVs) are still largely unknown and require reliable in vivo tracking techniques. In this study, in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) using Renilla luciferase (Rluc) was developed and applied to monitoring of EVs derived from thyroid cancer (CAL-62 cells) and breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) in nude mice after intravenous administration and was compared with a dye-based labeling method for EV derived from CAL-62 cells. The EVs were successfully labeled with Rluc and visualized by BLI in mice. In vivo distribution of the EVs, as measured by BLI, was consistent with the results of ex vivo organ analysis. EV-CAL-62/Rluc showed strong signals at lung followed by liver, spleen & kidney (P < 0.05). EV-MDA-MB-231/Rluc showed strong signals at liver followed by lung, spleen & kidney (P < 0.05). EV-CAL-62/Rluc and EV-MDA-MB-231/Rluc stayed in animal till day 9 and 3, respectively; showed a differential distribution. Spontaneous EV-CAL-62/Rluc shown distributed mostly to lung followed by liver, spleen & kidney. The new BLI system used to show spontaneous distribution of EV-CAL-62/Rluc in subcutaneous CAL-62/Rluc bearing mice. Dye (DiR)-labeled EV-CAL-62/Rluc showed a different distribution in vivo & ex vivo compared to EV-CAL-62/Rluc. Fluorescent signals were predominately detected in the liver (P < 0.05) and spleen (P < 0.05) regions. The bioluminescent EVs developed in this study may be used for monitoring of EVs in vivo. This novel reporter-imaging approach to visualization of EVs in real time is expected to pave the way for monitoring of EVs in EV-based treatments. PMID:29299117

Transcription Factor Interplay between LEAFY and APETALA1/CAULIFLOWER during Floral Initiation1

PubMed Central

Zheng, Beibei; Kwaśniewska, Kamila; Thomson, Bennett

2017-01-01

The transcription factors LEAFY (LFY) and APETALA1 (AP1), together with the AP1 paralog CAULIFLOWER (CAL), control the onset of flower development in a partially redundant manner. This redundancy is thought to be mediated, at least in part, through the regulation of a shared set of target genes. However, whether these genes are independently or cooperatively regulated by LFY and AP1/CAL is currently unknown. To better understand the regulatory relationship between LFY and AP1/CAL and to obtain deeper insights into the control of floral initiation, we monitored the activity of LFY in the absence of AP1/CAL function. We found that the regulation of several known LFY target genes is unaffected by AP1/CAL perturbation, while others appear to require AP1/CAL activity. Furthermore, we obtained evidence that LFY and AP1/CAL control the expression of some genes in an antagonistic manner. Notably, these include key regulators of floral initiation such as TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1), which had been previously reported to be directly repressed by both LFY and AP1. We show here that TFL1 expression is suppressed by AP1 but promoted by LFY. We further demonstrate that LFY has an inhibitory effect on flower formation in the absence of AP1/CAL activity. We propose that LFY and AP1/CAL act as part of an incoherent feed-forward loop, a network motif where two interconnected pathways or transcription factors act in opposite directions on a target gene, to control the establishment of a stable developmental program for the formation of flowers. PMID:28385730

Transcription Factor Interplay between LEAFY and APETALA1/CAULIFLOWER during Floral Initiation.

PubMed

Goslin, Kevin; Zheng, Beibei; Serrano-Mislata, Antonio; Rae, Liina; Ryan, Patrick T; Kwaśniewska, Kamila; Thomson, Bennett; Ó'Maoiléidigh, Diarmuid S; Madueño, Francisco; Wellmer, Frank; Graciet, Emmanuelle

2017-06-01

The transcription factors LEAFY (LFY) and APETALA1 (AP1), together with the AP1 paralog CAULIFLOWER (CAL), control the onset of flower development in a partially redundant manner. This redundancy is thought to be mediated, at least in part, through the regulation of a shared set of target genes. However, whether these genes are independently or cooperatively regulated by LFY and AP1/CAL is currently unknown. To better understand the regulatory relationship between LFY and AP1/CAL and to obtain deeper insights into the control of floral initiation, we monitored the activity of LFY in the absence of AP1/CAL function. We found that the regulation of several known LFY target genes is unaffected by AP1/CAL perturbation, while others appear to require AP1/CAL activity. Furthermore, we obtained evidence that LFY and AP1/CAL control the expression of some genes in an antagonistic manner. Notably, these include key regulators of floral initiation such as TERMINAL FLOWER1 ( TFL1 ), which had been previously reported to be directly repressed by both LFY and AP1. We show here that TFL1 expression is suppressed by AP1 but promoted by LFY. We further demonstrate that LFY has an inhibitory effect on flower formation in the absence of AP1/CAL activity. We propose that LFY and AP1/CAL act as part of an incoherent feed-forward loop, a network motif where two interconnected pathways or transcription factors act in opposite directions on a target gene, to control the establishment of a stable developmental program for the formation of flowers. © 2017 American Society of Plant Biologists. All Rights Reserved.

Lipids in cheese

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Lipids are present in cheese at levels above 20 percent and are analyzed by several techniques. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy are used to examine the microstructure, gas chromatography is employed to look at fatty acid composition, and differential scanning cal...

Late-glacial and Holocene Vegetation and Climate Variability, Including Major Droughts, in the Sky Lakes Region of Southeastern New York State

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menking, Kirsten M.; Peteet, Dorothy M.; Anderson, Roger Y.

2012-01-01

Sediment cores from Lakes Minnewaska and Mohonk in the Shawangunk Mountains of southeastern New York were analyzed for pollen, plantmacrofossils, macroscopic charcoal, organic carbon content, carbon isotopic composition, carbon/nitrogen ratio, and lithologic changes to determine the vegetation and landscape history of the greater Catskill Mountain region since deglaciation. Pollen stratigraphy generally matches the New England pollen zones identified by Deevey (1939) and Davis (1969), with boreal genera (Picea, Abies) present during the late Pleistocene yielding to a mixed Pinus, Quercus and Tsuga forest in the early Holocene. Lake Minnewaska sediments record the Younger Dryas and possibly the 8.2 cal kyr BP climatic events in pollen and sediment chemistry along with an 1400 cal yr interval of wet conditions (increasing Tsuga and declining Quercus) centered about 6400 cal yr BP. BothMinnewaska andMohonk reveal a protracted drought interval in themiddle Holocene, 5700-4100 cal yr BP, during which Pinus rigida colonized the watershed, lake levels fell, and frequent fires led to enhanced hillslope erosion. Together, the records show at least three wet-dry cycles throughout the Holocene and both similarities and differences to climate records in New England and central New York. Drought intervals raise concerns for water resources in the New York City metropolitan area and may reflect a combination of enhanced La Niña, negative phase NAO, and positive phase PNA climatic patterns and/or northward shifts of storm tracks.

Late-glacial and Holocene records of fire and vegetation from Cradle Mountain National Park, Tasmania, Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stahle, Laura N.; Chin, Hahjung; Haberle, Simon; Whitlock, Cathy

2017-12-01

Fire activity was reconstructed at five sites and vegetation history at three sites in northwest Tasmania, Australia in order to examine the climate and human drivers of environmental change in the region. Watershed-scale reconstructions of fire were compared to regional vegetation history. Fire activity was very low until ca. 12,000 cal yr BP. An early-Holocene fire maximum, ca. 11,800-9800 cal yr BP, occurred during the warmest interval of the Holocene as recorded by regional paleoclimate proxy records. This period of elevated burning was also coincident with an increase in arboreal sclerophyll plant taxa. A maximum in rainforest taxa occurred at ca. 8500-5800 cal yr BP concurrent with sharply diminished biomass burning compared with the early Holocene. The increase in rainforest taxa is attributed to elevated effective moisture during this period. Conditions were drier and variable in the late Holocene as compared with earlier periods. A rise in fire activity at ca. 4800-3200 cal yr BP was accompanied by an increase in sclerophyll taxa and decline of rainforest and subalpine taxa. Elevated palynological richness during the late Holocene co-occurred with high levels of charcoal suggesting that fires promoted high floristic diversity. At Cradle Mountain, there is no clear evidence that fire regimes or vegetation were extensively modified by humans prior to European settlement. Climate was the primary driver of fire activity over millennial timescales as explained by the close relationship between charcoal and climate proxy data.

Assessing Cat Flea Microbiomes in Northern and Southern California by 16S rRNA Next-Generation Sequencing.

PubMed

Vasconcelos, Elton J R; Billeter, Sarah A; Jett, Lindsey A; Meinersmann, Richard J; Barr, Margaret C; Diniz, Pedro P V P; Oakley, Brian B

2018-06-12

Flea-borne diseases (FBDs) impact both human and animal health worldwide. Because adult fleas are obligately hematophagous and can harbor potential pathogens, fleas act as ectoparasites of vertebrates, as well as zoonotic disease vectors. Cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are important vectors of two zoonotic bacterial genera listed as priority pathogens by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID-USA): Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp., causative agents of bartonelloses and rickettsioses, respectively. In this study, we introduce the first microbiome analysis of C. felis samples from California, determining the presence and abundance of relevant pathogenic genera by characterizing the cat flea microbiome through 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing (16S-NGS). Samples from both northern (NoCal) and southern (SoCal) California were assessed to expand current knowledge regarding FBDs in the state. We identified Rickettsia and Bartonella, as well as the endosymbiont Wolbachia, as the most abundant genera, followed by less abundant taxa. In comparison to our previous study screening Californian cat fleas for rickettsiae using PCR/digestion/sequencing of the ompB gene, the 16S-NGS approach applied herein showed a 95% level of agreement in detecting Rickettsia spp. There was no overall difference in microbiome diversity between NoCal and SoCal samples. Bacterial taxa identified by 16S-NGS in this study may help to improve epidemiological investigations, pathogen surveillance efforts, and clinical diagnostics of FBDs in California and elsewhere.

CubiCal: Suite for fast radio interferometric calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kenyon, J. S.; Smirnov, O. M.; Grobler, T. L.; Perkins, S. J.

2018-05-01

CubiCal implements several accelerated gain solvers which exploit complex optimization for fast radio interferometric gain calibration. The code can be used for both direction-independent and direction-dependent self-calibration. CubiCal is implemented in Python and Cython, and multiprocessing is fully supported.

CALS Baseline Architecture Analysis of Weapons System. Technical Information: Army, Draft. Volume 8

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1989-09-01

This effort was performed to provide a common framework for analysis and planning of CALS initiatives across the military services, leading eventually to the development of a common DoD-wide architecture for CALS. This study addresses Army technical ...

Perspective: Maximum caliber is a general variational principle for dynamical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixit, Purushottam D.; Wagoner, Jason; Weistuch, Corey; Pressé, Steve; Ghosh, Kingshuk; Dill, Ken A.

2018-01-01

We review here Maximum Caliber (Max Cal), a general variational principle for inferring distributions of paths in dynamical processes and networks. Max Cal is to dynamical trajectories what the principle of maximum entropy is to equilibrium states or stationary populations. In Max Cal, you maximize a path entropy over all possible pathways, subject to dynamical constraints, in order to predict relative path weights. Many well-known relationships of non-equilibrium statistical physics—such as the Green-Kubo fluctuation-dissipation relations, Onsager's reciprocal relations, and Prigogine's minimum entropy production—are limited to near-equilibrium processes. Max Cal is more general. While it can readily derive these results under those limits, Max Cal is also applicable far from equilibrium. We give examples of Max Cal as a method of inference about trajectory distributions from limited data, finding reaction coordinates in bio-molecular simulations, and modeling the complex dynamics of non-thermal systems such as gene regulatory networks or the collective firing of neurons. We also survey its basis in principle and some limitations.

Olfactory Response and Host Plant Feeding of the Central American Locust Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons Walker to Common Plants in a Gregarious Zone.

PubMed

Poot-Pech, M A; Ruiz-Sánchez, E; Ballina-Gómez, H S; Gamboa-Angulo, M M; Reyes-Ramírez, A

2016-08-01

The Central American locust (CAL) Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons Walker is one of the most harmful plant pests in the Yucatan Peninsula, where an important gregarious zone is located. The olfactory response and host plant acceptance by the CAL have not been studied in detail thus far. In this work, the olfactory response of the CAL to odor of various plant species was evaluated using an olfactometer test system. In addition, the host plant acceptance was assessed by the consumption of leaf area. Results showed that the CAL was highly attracted to odor of Pisonia aculeata. Evaluation of host plant acceptance showed that the CAL fed on Leucaena glauca and Waltheria americana, but not on P. aculeata or Guazuma ulmifolia. Analysis of leaf thickness, and leaf content of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) showed that the CAL was attracted to plant species with low leaf C content.

Potential drawbacks in cell-assisted lipotransfer: A systematic review of existing reports (Review)

PubMed Central

HUANG, SHENG; ZHAO, WEILIANG; WANG, ZIHUA; TAO, KAI; LIU, XIAOYAN; CHANG, PENG

2016-01-01

Cell-assisted lipotransfer (CAL) has been widely used in various clinical applications, including breast augmentation following mammectomy, soft-tissue reconstruction and wound healing. However, the clinical application of CAL has been restricted due to the transplanted fat tissues being readily liquefied and absorbed. The present review examines 57 previously published studies involving CAL, including fat grafting or fat transfer with human adipose-stem cells in all known databases. Of these 57 articles, seven reported the clinical application of CAL. In the 57 studies, the majority of the fat tissues were obtained from the abdomen via liposuction of the seven clinical studies, four were performed in patients requiring breast augmentation, one in a patient requiring facial augmentation, one in a patient requiring soft tissue augmentation/reconstruction and one in a patient requiring fat in their upper arms. Despite the potential risks, there has been an increased demand for CAL in in cosmetic or aesthetic applications. Thus, criteria and guidelines are necessary for the clinical application of CAL technology. PMID:26677061

Callose biosynthesis regulates symplastic trafficking during root development.

PubMed

Vatén, Anne; Dettmer, Jan; Wu, Shuang; Stierhof, York-Dieter; Miyashima, Shunsuke; Yadav, Shri Ram; Roberts, Christina J; Campilho, Ana; Bulone, Vincent; Lichtenberger, Raffael; Lehesranta, Satu; Mähönen, Ari Pekka; Kim, Jae-Yean; Jokitalo, Eija; Sauer, Norbert; Scheres, Ben; Nakajima, Keiji; Carlsbecker, Annelie; Gallagher, Kimberly L; Helariutta, Ykä

2011-12-13

Plant cells are connected through plasmodesmata (PD), membrane-lined channels that allow symplastic movement of molecules between cells. However, little is known about the role of PD-mediated signaling during plant morphogenesis. Here, we describe an Arabidopsis gene, CALS3/GSL12. Gain-of-function mutations in CALS3 result in increased accumulation of callose (β-1,3-glucan) at the PD, a decrease in PD aperture, defects in root development, and reduced intercellular trafficking. Enhancement of CALS3 expression during phloem development suppressed loss-of-function mutations in the phloem abundant callose synthase, CALS7 indicating that CALS3 is a bona fide callose synthase. CALS3 alleles allowed us to spatially and temporally control the PD aperture between plant tissues. Using this tool, we are able to show that movement of the transcription factor SHORT-ROOT and microRNA165 between the stele and the endodermis is PD dependent. Taken together, we conclude that regulated callose biosynthesis at PD is essential for cell signaling. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Heat capacity from 12 to 305°K and entropy of talc and tremolite

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robie, R.A.; Stout, J.W.

1963-01-01

The heat capacities of talc, Mg3Si4O10(OH)2, and tremolite, Ca2Mg6Si8O22(OH)2, have been measured between 12 and 305??K. Smoothed values of heat capacity, entropy, enthalpy, and free energy are tabulated. At 298.15?? K. the values of the thermodynamic functions are: talc, Cp?? = 76.89 ?? 0.23 cal. deg.-1 mole-1, S?? = 62.33 ?? 0.19 cal. deg.-1 mole-1, H?? - H6?? = 11,206 ?? 34 cal. mole-1; tremolite, Cp?? = 156.7 ?? 0.6 cal. deg.-1 mole-1, S?? = 131.2 ?? 0.5 cal. deg.-1 mole-1, H?? - H6?? = 23,335 ?? 90 cal. mole-1. From the equilibrium data of Bowen and Tuttle and the entropy of talc, the heat of formation of talc from MgO, SiO2, and H2O (liq.) is calculated to be ??H??f298 = -43.6 ?? 1 kcal.

Perspective: Maximum caliber is a general variational principle for dynamical systems.

PubMed

Dixit, Purushottam D; Wagoner, Jason; Weistuch, Corey; Pressé, Steve; Ghosh, Kingshuk; Dill, Ken A

2018-01-07

We review here Maximum Caliber (Max Cal), a general variational principle for inferring distributions of paths in dynamical processes and networks. Max Cal is to dynamical trajectories what the principle of maximum entropy is to equilibrium states or stationary populations. In Max Cal, you maximize a path entropy over all possible pathways, subject to dynamical constraints, in order to predict relative path weights. Many well-known relationships of non-equilibrium statistical physics-such as the Green-Kubo fluctuation-dissipation relations, Onsager's reciprocal relations, and Prigogine's minimum entropy production-are limited to near-equilibrium processes. Max Cal is more general. While it can readily derive these results under those limits, Max Cal is also applicable far from equilibrium. We give examples of Max Cal as a method of inference about trajectory distributions from limited data, finding reaction coordinates in bio-molecular simulations, and modeling the complex dynamics of non-thermal systems such as gene regulatory networks or the collective firing of neurons. We also survey its basis in principle and some limitations.

The effect of age on anastomotic leakage in colorectal cancer surgery: A population-based study.

PubMed

Zaimi, Ina; Sparreboom, Cloë L; Lingsma, Hester F; Doornebosch, Pascal G; Menon, Anand G; Kleinrensink, Gert-Jan; Jeekel, Johannes; Wouters, Michel W J M; Lange, Johan F

2018-06-07

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of age on CAL and its associated mortality. Data were derived from the Dutch ColoRectal Audit. All patients undergoing resection for colorectal cancer in the Netherlands between January 2011 and December 2016 were included. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to test the effect of age on CAL and its associated mortality. In total, 45 488 patients were included. The incidence of CAL was 6.4% in patients <60 years old, 5.5% in patients 60-69 years old, 5.4% in patients 70-80 years old, and 4.9% in patients ≥80 years old (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age was protective for CAL (OR 0.965 per 5 years, 95% CI 0.941-0.985, P < 0.001). Mortality after CAL was 1.3% in patients <60 years old, 4.8% in patients 60-69 years old, 12.3% in patients 70-80 years old, and 27.0% in patients >80 years old (P < 0.001). Older age was associated with mortality following CAL (OR 1.497 per 5 years 95% CI 1.364-1.647, P < 0.001). This population-based study suggests a protective effect of increased age on CAL after colorectal cancer resection. However, older age is strongly associated with mortality after CAL. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Fond Memories of Cal Council

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minnis, Douglas L.

2015-01-01

This article describes the author's personal involvement in the California Council for the Education of Teachers (Cal Council), beginning in 1960 and spanning four decades, which involved associations with key people in California teacher education and credentialing. The Cal Council was organized for leaders in teacher education from the…

Surgical microscope may enhance root coverage with subepithelial connective tissue graft: a randomized-controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Bittencourt, Sandro; Del Peloso Ribeiro, Erica; Sallum, Enilson A; Nociti, Francisco H; Casati, Márcio Zaffalon

2012-06-01

Minimally invasive techniques have broadened the horizons of periodontal plastic surgery to improve treatment outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this clinical trial was to compare root coverage, postoperative morbidity, and esthetic outcomes of subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) technique with or without the use of a surgical microscope in the treatment of gingival recessions. In this split-mouth study, twenty-four patients with bilateral Miller's Class I or II buccal gingival recessions ≥2.0 mm in canines or premolars were selected. Gingival recessions were randomly designated to receive treatment with SCTG with or without the assistance of the surgical microscope (test and control groups, respectively). Clinical parameters evaluated included the following: depth (RH) and width (RW) of the gingival defect, width (WKT) and thickness (TKT) of keratinized tissue, probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Postoperative morbidity was evaluated by means of an analog visual scale and questionnaire. Patient satisfaction was also evaluated with a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were expressed as mean ± SD. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for examination of differences regarding PD, CAL, and TKT. The Wilcoxon test was used to detect differences between groups and the Friedman test to detect differences within group regarding WKT, RH, and RW. The average percentages of root coverage for test and control treatments, after 12 months, were 98.0% and 88.3%, respectively (P <0.05). Complete root coverage was achieved in 87.5% and 58.3% of teeth treated in test and control groups, respectively. For all parameters except recession height, there was an improvement in the final examination but without difference between treatments. For the RH, a lower value was found in the test group compared to the control group (P <0.05). In the test group, all patients were satisfied with the esthetics obtained, and 19 patients (79.1%) were satisfied in the control group. For postoperative morbidity, 14 patients in each of the two treatment groups did not use analgesics for pain control. Both approaches were capable of producing root coverage; however, use of the surgical microscope was associated with additional clinical benefits in the treatment of teeth with gingival recessions.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of effect of risedronate 5 mg as an adjunct to treatment of chronic periodontitis in postmenopausal women (12-month study).

PubMed

Bhavsar, N V; Trivedi, S R; Dulani, K; Brahmbhatt, N; Shah, S; Chaudhri, D

2016-08-01

Bisphosphonates are beneficial to women, after menopause, in treatment of gum diseases. In this study, significant improvement in the disease condition was found and that no further progress was noted, and no side effects were reported. Bisphosphonates can be safely and successfully be used to support oral health procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate host modulating effect of bisphosphonate adjunct with the treatment of chronic periodontitis in osteopenic and osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Twenty-two osteopenic and osteoporotic postmenopausal women with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were selected for the study. On intraoral examination, periodontal parameters like probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI) were recorded. Scaling and root planing were done. Intraoral periapical X-rays were taken, and alveolar bone density (ABD) was measured with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and then, medications (risedronate 5 mg once daily (OD), calcium citrate 250 mg OD, vitamin D 400 IU OD) were given. Patients were recalled for follow-up at 3, 6 and 12 months. Intraoral periapical (IOPA) X-rays were taken at 6 and 12 months and ABD was measured at baseline and 12 months. There was a significant improvement in all the parameters. There was an increase of 0.02 ± 0.001 cm on CT scan and 0.38 ± 0.005 mm on IOPA in bone height over 12 months from baseline. Bone density increased by 118.56 ± 3.251 Hounsfield units (HU). There was no progress in the disease, and further bone loss was not noticed. This is in correlation with clinical parameters which showed highly significant gain in CAL (3.57 ± 0.234 mm) and reduction in PD (2.20 ± 0.229 mm) Bisphosphonate therapy as an adjunct to scaling and root planing may have significant beneficial clinical effects on the periodontium of postmenopausal women with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis.

Impact of Yoga on Periodontal Disease and Stress Management.

PubMed

Sudhanshu, Archika; Sharma, Urvi; Vadiraja, H S; Rana, Rakesh Kumar; Singhal, Richa

2017-01-01

Yoga is considered to be one of the most important, effective, and valuable tools available for man to overcome various physical and psychological problems. Stress contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases; hence, it becomes important to reduce the level of stress for prevention and management of diseases. The present study was aimed: (1) To understand and analyze the possibilities of employing yogic practices in the treatment of periodontal disease along with conventional dental therapy, (2) to understand the effect of stress on periodontal treatment outcome, (3) to evaluate the efficacy of yoga in the management of periodontal disease with reference to stress. An outpatient department-based parallel group randomized study was performed with standard treatment for periodontal disease yoga therapy as Group II and only standard treatment as Group I. Periodontal health status was recorded using indices of modified plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth, and clinical attachment loss (CAL). The Cohen's perceived stress questionnaire was also used to determine stress severity. The yogic intervention consists of lectures and practical sessions on asanas, pranayama, kriyas, and meditation. Repeated measure analysis of variance revealed a significant difference ( P < 0.001) in all the outcome variables with respect to time in both groups. It was observed that mean PI score reduced by 1.35 in Group II as compared to 0.54 in Group I, mean probing pocket depth reduced by 1.60 in Group II as compared to only 0.68 in Group I, and mean CAL score reduced by 1.60 in Group II as compared to 0.68 in Group I. Similarly, Cohen's perceived stress scale score also reduced by 18.76 points in Group II as compared to only 2.58 points in Group I, BOP also shows better improvement in Group II with a reduction of 0.68 as compared to reduction of only 0.08 in Group I. The results obtained ascertained the role of yoga in stress reduction in periodontal disease. Although yoga does not play a direct role in improving periodontal disease, it accelerates the treatment outcomes by combating the stress which is a major factor affecting the treatment of periodontal disease.

Clinical efficacy of subgingivally delivered 0.5% controlled release azithromycin gel in the management of chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Tyagi, Prashant; Vaish, Shubhra; Dodwad, Vidya

2011-06-01

Recent developments suggest that the local delivery of antimicrobials into periodontal pockets can improve periodontal health. Azithromycin (AZM) has a wide antimicrobial spectrum of action toward anaerobic bacteria as well as Gram-negative bacilli. It is effective against periodontal pathogens such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the clinical effectiveness of AZM at 0.5% concentration in an indigenously prepared bioabsorbable controlled release gel as an adjunct to non-surgical mechanical therapy in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Thirty sites in patients with chronic periodontitis and probing depth (PD) 4-6 mm were categorized randomly into two treatment groups: Scaling and root planing (SRP) plus 0.5% AZM gel (group 1) and SRP only (group 2). Clinical evaluation was undertaken using the Gingival Index (GI) of Loe and Silness and plaque was assessed using the Turesky et al. modification of Quigley Hein Index at baseline and 21 days. Pocket PD and clinical attachment level (CAL) were also measured. Results were expressed as mean±standard deviation and percentages and the data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL) software. Both therapies resulted in significant improvements. Mean reduction in GI from baseline to 21 days was 1.20±0.41 and 0.73±0.45 in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Plaque Index also improved through the study period in both groups, i.e., 0.86±0.51 in group 1 and 1.6±0.97 in group 2. Mean PD reduced significantly with SRP plus AZM gel application in group 1, i.e., 2.1±0.91 mm as compared to 1.0±1.06 mm achieved with SRP alone. A significant gain in mean CAL gain was observed in the test group (1.8±0.63 mm) as compared to control group (1.0±1.06 mm). Although both treatment strategies seem to benefit patients, the adjunctive use of 0.5% of AZM showed significant results.

Reconstruction of precipitation variability in the Strait of Yucatan associated with latitudinal shifts in the position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone since the Last Glacial Maximum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staines-Urías, Francisca; Seidenkrantz, Marit-Solveig; Fischel, Andrea; Kuijpers, Antoon

2017-04-01

The elemental composition of sediments from gravity core HOLOVAR11-03 provides a ca. 40 ka record of past climate variability in the Strait of Yucatan, between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, a region where precipitation variability is determined by the seasonal position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Within this region, sea level pressure decreases and rainfall increases as the ITCZ moves north of the equator in response to increased solar insolation in the Northern Hemisphere during boreal summer. In contrast, as the ITCZ retracts southward towards the equator during boreal winter, rainfall diminishes and the regional sea level pressure gradient strengthens. On interannual, multidecadal and millennial timescales, fluctuations in the average latitudinal position of the ITCZ in response to insolation forcing modulate the intensity and duration of the seasonal regimens, determining average regional precipitation and, ultimately, the elemental composition of the marine sedimentary record. Regionally, higher titanium and iron content in marine sediments reflect greater terrigenous input from inland runoff, indicating greater precipitation, hence a more northerly position of the ITCZ. Correspondingly, Ti and Fe concentration data were used to reconstruct regional rainfall variability since the Last Glacial Maxima (LGM ˜24 cal ka BP). HOLOVAR11-03 age model (based on 4 AMS 14C dates obtained from multi-specific samples of planktic foraminifera) shows stable sedimentation rates in the area throughout the cored period. Nonetheless, higher terrestrial mineral input is observed since the LGM and all through the last glacial termination (24 to 12 cal ka BP), indicating a period of increased precipitation. In contrast, lower Ti and Fe values are typical for the period between 12 and 8 cal ka BP, indicating reduced precipitation. A positive trend characterizes the following interval, showing a return to wetter conditions lasting until 5 cal ka BP. Notably, records of sea-surface temperature from the Caribbean indicate similar variability, with among others, colder than present conditions in the early Holocene indicating a more northerly mean ITCZ position, followed by warmer surface waters and a weaker tradewind associated with a southward displacement of the ITCZ, further illustrating the strong link between precipitation variability and oceanographic conditions in the region. After 5 cal ka BP, Ti and Fe values remain fairly stable at an intermediate level until shortly after 2 cal ka BP, when a sudden increase in Fe content is observed. At this time, a significant increase in precipitation has also been inferred from the δ18O signal of ostracods and gastropods in lake sediments from the Yucatan Peninsula and a stalagmite δ18O monsoon reconstruction from mainland Mexico. The drastic increment in Fe content also marks the beginning of a shift towards rapidly decreasing Ti and Fe values, suggesting an increasingly drier climate. Decrease inland runoff/precipitation during the late Holocene has also been observed in stalagmite and lacustrine δ18O signals from nearby locations, altogether indicating a southward displacement of the ITCZ.

Reconstruction of Holocene environmental changes in Southern Kurils (North-Western Pacific) based on palaeolake sediment proxies from Shikotan Island

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nazarova, Larisa; Grebennikova, Tatiana A.; Razjigaeva, Nadezhda G.; Ganzey, Larisa A.; Belyanina, Nina I.; Arslanov, Khikmat A.; Kaistrenko, Victor M.; Gorbunov, Aleksey O.; Kharlamov, Andrey A.; Rudaya, Natalia; Palagushkina, Olga; Biskaborn, Boris K.; Diekmann, Bernhard

2017-12-01

We investigated a well-dated sediment section of a palaeolake situated in the coastal zone of Shikotan Island (Lesser Kurils) for organic sediment-geochemistry and biotic components (diatoms, chironomids, pollen) in order to provide a reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental changes and palaeo-events (tsunamis, sea-level fluctuations and landslides) in Holocene. During the ca 8000 years of sedimentation the changes in organic sediment-geochemistry and in composition of the diatoms and chironomids as well as the shifts in composition of terrestrial vegetation suggest that the period until ca 5800 cal yr BP was characterized by a warm and humid climate (corresponds to middle Holocene optimum) with climate cooling thereafter. A warm period reconstructed from ca 900 to at least ca 580 cal yr BP corresponds to a transition to a Nara-Heian-Kamakura warm stage and can be correlated to a Medieval Warm Period. After 580 cal yr PB, the lake gradually dried out and climatic signals could not be obtained from the declining lacustrine biological communities, but the increasing role of spruce and disappearance of the oak from the vegetation give evidences of the climate cooling that can be correlated with the LIA. The marine regression stages at the investigated site are identified for ca 6200-5900 (at the end of the middle Holocene transgression), ca 5500-5100 (Middle Jomon regression or Kemigawa regression), and ca 1070-360 cal yr BP (at the end of Heian transgression). The lithological structure of sediments and the diatom compositions give evidences for the multiple tsunami events of different strengths in the Island. Most remarkable of them can be dated at around ca 7000, 6460, 5750, 4800, 950 cal yr BP. The new results help to understand the Holocene environmental history of the Southern Kurils as a part of the Kuril-Kamchatka and Aleutian Marginal Sea-Island Arc Systems in the North-Western Pacific region.

New residence times of the Holocene reworked shells on the west coast of Bohai Bay, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shang, Zhiwen; Wang, Fu; Li, Jianfen; Marshall, William A.; Chen, Yongsheng; Jiang, Xingyu; Tian, Lizhu; Wang, Hong

2016-01-01

Shelly cheniers and shell-rich beds found intercalated in near-shore marine muds and sandy sediments can be used to indicate the location of ancient shorelines, and help to estimate the height of sea level. However, dating the deposition of material within cheniers and shell-rich beds is not straightforward because much of this material is transported and re-worked, creating an unknown temporal off-set, i.e., the residence time, between the death of a shell and its subsequent entombment. To quantify the residence time during the Holocene on a section of the northern Chinese coastline a total 47 shelly subsamples were taken from 17 discrete layers identified on the west coast of Bohai Bay. This material was AMS 14C dated and the calibrated ages were systematically compared. The subsamples were categorized by type as articulated and disarticulated bivalves, gastropod shells, and undifferentiated shell-hash. It was found that within most individual layers the calibrated ages of the subsamples got younger relative to the amount of apparent post-mortem re-working the material had been subject to. For examples, the 14C ages of the bivalve samples trended younger in this order: shell-hash → split shells → articulated shells. We propose that the younger subsample age determined within an individual layer will be the closest to the actual depositional age of the material dated. Using this approach at four Holocene sites we find residence times which range from 100 to 1260 cal yrs, with two average values of 600 cal yrs for the original 14C dates older than 1 ka cal BP and 100 cal yrs for the original 14C dates younger than 1 ka cal BP, respectively. Using this semi-empirical estimation of the shell residence times we have refined the existing chronology of the Holocene chenier ridges on the west coast of Bohai Bay.

78 FR 62614 - CalWind Resources, Inc. v. California Independent System Operator Corporation; Notice of Complaint

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-22

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. EL14-4-000] CalWind Resources, Inc. v. California Independent System Operator Corporation; Notice of Complaint Take notice that... 385.206 (2013), CalWind Resources, Inc. (Complainant) filed a formal complaint against California...

Engineering Students' Use of Computer Assisted Learning (CAL)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huczynski, Andrzej; Johnston, Scott Paul

2005-01-01

This study examines the use of Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) by undergraduate engineering students studying a business and management course. Discussing both the relationship between management and engineering and CAL applied to engineering education, this study is based on a survey of 82 undergraduates and adopts a quantitative research…

Computer-aided acquisition and logistics support (CALS): Concept of Operations for Depot Maintenance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bourgeois, N.C.; Greer, D.K.

1993-04-01

This CALS Concept of Operations for Depot Maintenance provides the foundation strategy and the near term tactical plan for CALS implementation in the depot maintenance environment. The user requirements enumerated and the overarching architecture outlined serve as the primary framework for implementation planning. The seamless integration of depot maintenance business processes and supporting information systems with the emerging global CALS environment will be critical to the efficient realization of depot user's information requirements, and as, such will be a fundamental theme in depot implementations.

Simultaneously achieve soluble expression and biomimetic immobilization of Candida antarctica lipase B by introducing polyamine tags.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaoxue; Han, Yu; Lv, Zheng; Tian, Xuemei; Li, Han; Xie, Panpan; Zheng, Liangyu

2017-05-10

Polyamine tags fused in Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) can help achieve high soluble expression of CalB in E. coli and can directly mediate silicification, which leads to rapid formation of a CalB-silica particle complex through a one-step approach. After optimization experiments, the fused lipase CalB tagged with 6-histidine at the N terminal and 10-lysine at the C terminal (6His-CalB-10Lys) is effectively expressed with high solubility (0.1mg/mL) and specific activity (10.1U/mg), and easily cross-linked in silica particles with a high immobilization efficiency of 96.8% and activity recovery of 81.5%. The immobilized lipase 6His-CalB-10Lys exhibits excellent performance at broad temperature ranges, high thermal and storage stabilities, and superior reusability. Michaelis-Menten kinetics indicates that the affinity and enantioselectivity of the free and immobilized 6His-CalB-10Lys toward the substrate are better than that of commercial Novozym 435 in enantioselective resolution of (S)-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl) alanine ((S)-NEMPA). The strategies described in this paper are useful for the facile expression and construction of diverse enzyme systems with high efficiency and excellent recyclability. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Postglacial vegetation history of Mitkof Island, Alexander Archipelago, southeastern Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ager, T.A.; Carrara, P.E.; Smith, Jane L.; Anne, V.; Johnson, J.

2010-01-01

An AMS radiocarbon-dated pollen record from a peat deposit on Mitkof Island, southeastern Alaska provides a vegetation history spanning ∼12,900 cal yr BP to the present. Late Wisconsin glaciers covered the entire island; deglaciation occurred > 15,400 cal yr BP. The earliest known vegetation to develop on the island (∼12,900 cal yr BP) was pine woodland (Pinus contorta) with alder (Alnus), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae type). By ∼12,240 cal yr BP, Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) began to colonize the island while pine woodland declined. By ∼11,200 cal yr BP, mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) began to spread across the island. Sitka spruce-mountain hemlock forests dominated the lowland landscapes of the island until ∼10,180 cal yr BP, when western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) began to colonize, and soon became the dominant tree species. Rising percentages of pine, sedge, and sphagnum after ∼7100 cal yr BP may reflect an expansion of peat bog habitats as regional climate began to shift to cooler, wetter conditions. A decline in alders at that time suggests that coastal forests had spread into the island's uplands, replacing large areas of alder thickets. Cedars (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Thuja plicata) appeared on Mitkof Island during the late Holocene.

Postglacial vegetation history of Mitkof Island, Alexander Archipelago, southeastern Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ager, Thomas A.; Carrara, Paul E.; Smith, Jane L.; Anne, Victoria; Johnson, Joni

2010-03-01

An AMS radiocarbon-dated pollen record from a peat deposit on Mitkof Island, southeastern Alaska provides a vegetation history spanning ˜12,900 cal yr BP to the present. Late Wisconsin glaciers covered the entire island; deglaciation occurred > 15,400 cal yr BP. The earliest known vegetation to develop on the island (˜12,900 cal yr BP) was pine woodland ( Pinus contorta) with alder ( Alnus), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae type). By ˜12,240 cal yr BP, Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis) began to colonize the island while pine woodland declined. By ˜11,200 cal yr BP, mountain hemlock ( Tsuga mertensiana) began to spread across the island. Sitka spruce-mountain hemlock forests dominated the lowland landscapes of the island until ˜10,180 cal yr BP, when western hemlock ( Tsuga heterophylla) began to colonize, and soon became the dominant tree species. Rising percentages of pine, sedge, and sphagnum after ˜7100 cal yr BP may reflect an expansion of peat bog habitats as regional climate began to shift to cooler, wetter conditions. A decline in alders at that time suggests that coastal forests had spread into the island's uplands, replacing large areas of alder thickets. Cedars ( Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Thuja plicata) appeared on Mitkof Island during the late Holocene.

How ion properties determine the stability of a lipase enzyme in ionic liquids: a molecular dynamics study.

PubMed

Klähn, Marco; Lim, Geraldine S; Wu, Ping

2011-11-07

The influence of eight different ionic liquid (IL) solvents on the stability of the lipase Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) is investigated with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Considered ILs contain cations that are based either on imidazolium or guanidinium as well as nitrate, tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophosphate anions. Partial unfolding of CAL-B is observed during high-temperature MD simulations and related changes of CAL-B regarding its radius of gyration, surface area, secondary structure, amount of solvent close to the backbone and interaction strength with the ILs are evaluated. CAL-B stability is influenced primarily by anions in the order NO(3)(-)≪ BF(4)(-) < PF(6)(-) of increasing stability, which agrees with experiments. Cations influence protein stability less than anions but still substantially. Long decyl side chains, polar methoxy groups and guanidinium-based cations destabilize CAL-B more than short methyl groups, other non-polar groups and imidazolium-based cations, respectively. Two distinct causes for CAL-B destabilization are identified: a destabilization of the protein surface is facilitated mostly by strong Coulomb interactions of CAL-B with anions that exhibit a localized charge and strong polarization as well as with polar cation groups. Surface instability is characterized by an unraveling of α-helices and an increase of surface area, radius of gyration and protein-IL total interaction strength of CAL-B, all of which describe a destabilization of the folded protein state. On the other hand, a destabilization of the protein core is facilitated when direct core-IL interactions are feasible. This is the case when long alkyl chains are involved or when particularly hydrophobic ILs induce major conformational changes that enable ILs direct access to the protein core. This core instability is characterized by a disintegration of β-sheets, diffusion of ions into CAL-B and increasing protein-IL van der Waals interactions. This process describes a stabilization of the unfolded protein state. Both of these processes reduce the folding free energy and thus destabilize CAL-B. The results of this work clarify the impact of ions on CAL-B stabilization. An extrapolation of the observed trends enables proposing novel ILs in which protein stability could be enhanced further. This journal is © the Owner Societies 2011

On the different roles of anions and cations in the solvation of enzymes in ionic liquids.

PubMed

Klähn, Marco; Lim, Geraldine S; Seduraman, Abirami; Wu, Ping

2011-01-28

The solvation of the enzyme Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) was studied in eight different ionic liquids (ILs). The influence of enzyme-ion interactions on the solvation of CAL-B and the structure of the enzyme-IL interface are analyzed. CAL-B and ILs are described with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in combination with an atomistic empirical force field. The considered cations are based on imidazolium or guanidinium that are paired with nitrate, tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophosphate anions. The interactions of CAL-B with ILs are dominated by Coulomb interactions with anions, while the second largest contribution stems from van der Waals interactions with cations. The enzyme-ion interaction strength is determined by the ion size and the magnitude of the ion surface charge. The solvation of CAL-B in ILs is unfavorable compared to water because of large formation energies for the CAL-B solute cages in ILs. The internal energy in the IL and of CAL-B increases linearly with the enzyme-ion interaction strength. The average electrostatic potential on the surface of CAL-B is larger in ILs than in water, due to a weaker screening of charged enzyme residues. Ion densities increased moderately in the vicinity of charged residues and decreased close to non-polar residues. An aggregation of long alkyl chains close to non-polar regions and the active site entrance of CAL-B are observed in one IL that involved long non-polar decyl groups. In ILs that contain 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cations, the diffusion of one or two cations into the active site of CAL-B occurs during MD simulations. This suggests a possible obstruction of the active site in these ILs. Overall, the results indicate that small ions lead to a stronger electrostatic screening within the solvent and stronger interactions with the enzyme. Also a large ion surface charge, when more hydrophilic ions are used, increases enzyme-IL interactions. An increase of these interactions destabilizes the enzyme and impedes enzyme solvation due to an increase in solute cage formation energies.

CAMPARE and Cal-Bridge: Two Institutional Networks Increasing Diversity in Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudolph, Alexander L.; Smecker-Hane, Tammy A.

2017-01-01

We describe two programs, CAMPARE and Cal-Bridge, with the common mission of increasing participation of groups traditionally underrepresented in astronomy, through summer research opportunities, in the case of CAMPARE, scholarships in the case of Cal-Bridge, and significant mentoring in both programs, creating a national impact on their numbers successfully pursuing a PhD in the field.In 7 years, the CAMPARE program has sent 80 students, >80% from underrepresented groups, to conduct summer research at one of 14 major research institutions throughout the country. The graduation rate among CAMPARE scholars is 98%, and of the CAMPARE scholars who have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree, more than 60% have completed or are pursuing graduate education in astronomy or a related field, at institutions including UCLA, UC Riverside, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, USC, Stanford, Univ. of Arizona, Univ. of Washington, and the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-PhD program.Now entering its third year, the Cal-Bridge program is a CSU-UC Bridge program comprised of over 75 physics and astronomy faculty from 5 University of California (UC), 9 California State University (CSU), and 14 California Community College (CCC) campuses in Southern California. In the first three years, 22 Cal-Bridge Scholars have been selected, including 11 Hispanic, 3 African-American and 8 female students, 5 of whom are from URM groups. Nineteen (19) of the 22 Cal-Bridge Scholars are first-generation college students. The entire first cohort of 4 Cal-Bridge scholars was accepted to one or more PhD programs in astronomy or physics, including UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, Michigan State, and Georgia State Universities. The second cohort of 8 Cal-Bridge scholars is applying to graduate schools this fall.Cal-Bridge provides much deeper mentoring and professional development experiences over the last two years of undergraduate and first year of graduate school to students from this diverse network of higher education institutions. Cal-Bridge Scholars benefit from substantial financial support, intensive, joint mentoring by CSU and UC faculty, professional development workshops, and exposure to research opportunities at the participating UC campuses.

Pollen record of the mid- to late-Holocene centennial climate change on the East coast of South Korea and its influential factors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Bing; Yi, Sangheon; Jia, Hongjuan; Nahm, Wook-Hyun; Kim, Jin-Cheul; Lim, Jaesoo; Lee, Jin-Young; Sha, Longbin; Mao, Limi; Yang, Zhongyong; Nakanishi, Toshimichi; Hong, Wan; Li, Zhen

2018-01-01

To understand historical climate change in western Pacific coastal areas, a sediment core (SOJ-2) from the stable sedimentary environment of the Songjiho Lagoon on the east coast of South Korea was obtained for centennial-resolution palynological analysis. The ages of the SOJ-2 core is well controlled by carbon 14 dating with high-resolution accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), and the results indicated a general warm to cold climate trend from the mid-Holocene to the present, which can be divided into two different stages: a warmer stage between 6842 and 1297 cal yr BP and a colder stage from 1297 cal yr BP to the present, with fluctuations during these stages. The climate was wetter from 6842 to 6227 cal yr BP and 4520 to 1297 cal yr BP and was drier from 6227 to 4520 cal yr BP. The climate changed to cold and dry during the period from 1297-425 cal yr BP. The impact of human activity on the climate began at approximately 1297 cal yr BP and became pronounced starting in 425 cal yr BP. The general cooling trend may represent a response to decreasing solar insolation; however, the relative dryness or wetness of the climate may have been co-determined by westerlies and the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). The climate had a teleconnection with the North Atlantic region, resulting from changes in solar activity. Nevertheless, EI Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) activity played an important role in impacting the EASM changes in western Pacific coastal areas.

Multiple Café au Lait Spots in a Group of Fair-Skinned Children without Signs or Symptoms of Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

PubMed

St John, Jessica; Summe, Heather; Csikesz, Courtney; Wiss, Karen; Hay, Beverly; Belazarian, Leah

2016-09-01

The presence of six or more café au lait (CAL) spots is a criterion for the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Children with multiple CAL spots are often referred to dermatologists for NF-1 screening. The objective of this case series is to characterize a subset of fair-complected children with red or blond hair and multiple feathery CAL spots who did not meet the criteria for NF-1 at the time of their last evaluation. We conducted a chart review of eight patients seen in our pediatric dermatology clinic who were previously identified as having multiple CAL spots and no other signs or symptoms of NF-1. We describe eight patients ages 2 to 9 years old with multiple, irregular CAL spots with feathery borders and no other signs or symptoms of NF-1. Most of these patients had red or blond hair and were fair complected. All patients were evaluated in our pediatric dermatology clinic, some with a geneticist. The number of CAL spots per patient ranged from 5 to 15 (mean 9.4, median 9). A subset of children, many with fair complexions and red or blond hair, has an increased number of feathery CAL spots and appears unlikely to develop NF-1, although genetic testing was not conducted. It is important to recognize the benign nature of CAL spots in these patients so that appropriate screening and follow-up recommendations may be made. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of environmental stress on the ability of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A to attach to food contact surfaces.

PubMed

Smoot, L M; Pierson, M D

1998-10-01

Attachment of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A to Buna-N rubber and stainless steel under different temperature and pH conditions at the time of cell growth or at the time of attachment was investigated. All experiments were conducted using sterile phosphate buffer to avoid cell growth during exposure to the test surfaces. Numbers of attached cells increased with increasing attachment temperature (10 to 45 degrees C) and exposure time for both test surfaces. Maximum levels of attached cells were obtained when cell growth occurred at 30 degrees C. Downward, but not upward, shifts in the cell suspension holding temperature prior to attachment to Buna-N rubber resulted in reduced adhered cell populations. Maximum levels of adhered cells to Buna-N rubber were not affected by adjustments of the attachment medium pH between 4 and 9. However, after short contact times (i.e., less than 30 min), levels of attached cells were lower when attachment occurred under alkaline conditions. Growth pH was also found to affect the levels of adhered cell populations to Buna-N rubber. L. monocytogenes Scott A attached to stainless steel at higher levels for all temperature and pH parameters evaluated in this study.

The Systemic Interaction of Attachment on Psychophysiological Arousal in Couple Conflict.

PubMed

Taylor, Nathan C; Seedall, Ryan B; Robinson, W David; Bradford, Kay

2018-01-01

Attachment in adult romantic relationships has long been linked to conflict styles. Psychophysiological measures have provided additional insight into this association by accessing less conscious and controlled responses to conflict. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and the interaction between attachment styles on skin conductance responses during conflict and recovery from conflict. Using dyadic analysis of 50 heterosexual couples, we found evidence of a systemic effect of attachment, where psychophysiological arousal increased when one partner had higher levels of attachment anxiety and the other partner had higher levels of attachment avoidance. Attachment avoidance was also negatively associated with increased levels of arousal. Relationship and clinical implications of these findings are discussed. © 2017 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Holocene Paleoenvironment of the North-central Great Basin: Preliminary Results from Favre Lake, Northern Ruby Mountains, Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starratt, S.; Wahl, D.; Wan, E.; Anderson, L.; Wanket, J.; Olson, H.; Lloyd-Davies, T.; Kusler, J.

2009-12-01

Little is known about Holocene climate variability in north-central Nevada. This study aims to assess changes in watershed vegetation, fire history, lake levels and limnological conditions in order to understand secular to millennial-scale changes in regional climate. Favre Lake (2,899 m a.s.l.; 12 m deep; 7.7 hectares) is a flow-through lake in the northern Ruby Mountains. The primary sources of influent, both of which appear to be intermittent, are Castle Lake (2,989 m a.s.l.) and Liberty Lake (3,077 m a.s.l.). The bedrock of the three lake basins is early Paleozoic marble and Mesozoic granite and metamorphic rocks. Bathymetric maps and temperature, pH, salinity, and conductivity profiles have been generated for Favre Lake. Surface samples and a series of cores were also collected using a modified Livingstone piston corer. The presence of the Mazama ash in the basal sediment (~4 m below the sediment/water interface) indicates the record extends to ~7,700 cal yr B.P. Magnetic susceptibility (MS) and loss-on-ignition data indicate that the sediments in the lowest part of the core contain primary and reworked Mazama ash. About 2,000 years ago CaCO3 increased from 2 to 3% of the inorganic sediment. The upper 25 cm of the core are marked by an increase in MS which may indicate increased erosion due to grazing. Between about 7,700 and 6,000 cal yr B.P. the diatom flora is dominated by a diverse assemblage of benthic species. The remainder of the core is dominated by Fragilaria, suggesting that lake level rose and flooded the shelf that surrounds the depocenter of the lake. This is supported by changes in the abundance of the aquatic fern Isoetes. Pinus and Artemisia dominate the pollen record, followed by subordinate levels of Poaceae, Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, and Sarcobatus. The late early Holocene (7,700-6,000 cal yr B.P.) is dominated by Pinus which is present in reduced amounts during the middle Holocene (6,000-3,000 cal yr B.P.) and then returns to dominance in the late Holocene (post-3,000 cal yr B.P.). Future research will include analysis of both macro- and micro-charcoal abundances. The charcoal record will augment the suite of data presented here by providing independent evidence of variability in precipitation regimes and drought history. An additional set of cores from a perennial wetland on the eastern edge of the range, Ruby Marsh, will provide a low elevation paleoclimatic counterpoint to this alpine site.

Chronostratigraphy in karst records from the Epipaleolithic to the Mid/Early Neolithic (c. 13.0-6.0 cal ka BP) in the Catalan Coastal Ranges of NE Iberia: environmental changes, sedimentary processes and human activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergadà, M. Mercè; Cervelló, Josep M.; Edo, Manel; Cebrià, Artur; Oms, F. Xavier; Martínez, Pablo; Antolín, Ferran; Morales, Juan Ignacio; Pedro, Mireia

2018-03-01

The stratigraphic, sedimentary and palaeoenvironmental features reflected in cavities in the Catalan Coastal Ranges of NE Iberia (Can Sadurní and Guineu caves) characterize the periods of pronounced climatic and human complexity that occurred c. 13.0-6.0 cal ka BP. This includes the stages of the Younger Dryas and Mid/Early Holocene, the latter being one of the periods of so-called Rapid Climatic Changes (RCCs). These caves, like others in Mediterranean contexts, are the result of an old duct originating in the saturated zone of the karst system and open to the outside; recording a succession of different detrital and anthropic episodes of the Epipaleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic communities. From this study it can be seen that paleoclimatic events do not always present clear signals in the karst records, especially c. 12.7-7.4 cal ka BP, corresponding to the Epipaleolithic and Mesolithic. It is characterized by a stratigraphic discontinuity in which there are phases with predominantly detrital sedimentation alternating with hiatus intervals. Detrital sedimentation formed by fine material colluvium with gravitational movements or solifluction processes in fresh and humid conditions. It appears in the following chronological intervals: 12.7-12.2 cal ka BP, 11.5/11.1-10.7/10.4 cal ka BP and 8.2-8.0 cal ka BP (less humid). Hiatus phases are represented in the rest of the sequence up to c. 7.4 cal ka BP. From the sedimentary point of view these stages of hiatus are indicative of phases of stability or lack of episodes with seasonal contrasts; a fact that would cause interruptions to detrital deposition in the interior of the caves. In contrast, in the period c. 7.4 to 6.0 cal ka BP, attributed to the Middle and Early Neolithic, there is a certain stratigraphic continuity. From the sedimentary point of view it is distinguished by a variability of processes that responds to accumulative episodes of short duration characteristic of morphogenesis of the slopes in an arid Mediterranean environment, identified in our records as RCCs, (c. 7.4-7.2 cal ka BP- Cardial Neolithic; c. 6.8-6.3 cal ka BP-Early Postcardial Middle Neolithic and c. 6.2-5.7 cal ka BP- Late Postcardial Middle Neolithic) alternating with episodes of stability, more humid and coinciding with a better sedimentary record of the pastoral activity in the cavities during Epicardial and Late Cardial Neolithic (c. 7.1-6.7 cal ka BP) and Postcardial Middle Neolithic (c. 6.6-5.9 cal ka BP). It is during this period that Holocene climate variability has better resolution in caves in the Catalan Coastal Ranges of NE Iberia.

21,000 years of Ethiopian African monsoon variability recorded in sediments of the western Nile deep-sea fan: impact of the Nile freshwater inflow for the Mediterranean thermo-haline circulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Revel, Marie; Colin, Christophe; Bernasconi, Stephano; Combourieu-Nebout, Nathalie; Ducassou, Emmanuelle; Rolland, Yann; Bosch, Delphine

2014-05-01

The Nile delta sedimentation constitutes a continuous high resolution (1.6 mm/year) record of Ethiopian African monsoon regime intensity. Multiproxy analyses performed on core MS27PT recovered in hemipelagic Nile sediment margin (<90 km outward of the Rosetta mouth of the Nile) allow the quantification of the Saharan aeolian dust and the Blue/White Nile River suspended matter frequency fluctuations during the last 21 cal. ka BP. The radiogenic Sr and Nd isotopes, clay mineralogy, bulk elemental composition and palynological analyses reveal large changes in source components, oscillating between a dominant aeolian Saharan contribution during the LGM and the Late Holocene (~4 to 2 cal. ka BP), a dominant Blue/Atbara Nile River contribution during the early Holocene (15 to 8.4 cal. ka BP) and a probable White Nile River contribution during the Middle Holocene (8.4 to 4 cal. ka BP). The following main features are highlighted: 1. The rapid shift from the LGM arid conditions to the African Humid Period (AHP) started at about 15 cal. ka BP. AHP extends until 8.4 cal. ka BP, and we suggest that the Ethiopian African Monsoon maximum between 12 and 8 cal. ka BP is responsible for a larger Blue/Atbara Nile sediment load and freshwater input into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. 2. The transition between the AHP and the arid Late Holocene is gradual and occurs in two main phases between 8.4 and 6.5 cal. ka BP and 6.5 to 3.2 cal. ka BP. We suggest that the main rain belt shifted southward from 8.4 to ~4 cal. ka BP and was responsible for progressively reduced sediment load and freshwater input into the eastern Mediterranean Sea. 3. The aridification along the Nile catchments occurred from ~4 to 2 cal. ka BP. A dry period, which culminates at 3.2 cal. ka BP, and seems to coincide with a re-establishment of increased oceanic primary productivity in the western Mediterranean Sea. We postulate that the decrease in thermo-haline water Mediterranean circulation could be part of a response to huge volumes of fresh-water delivered principally by the Nile River from 12 to 8.4 cal. ka BP in the eastern Mediterranean. We propose that the large hydrological change in Ethiopian latitude could be a trigger for the 8.2 ka cooling event recorded in high latitude. Revel R., Colin C., Bernasconi S., Combourieu-Nebout N., Ducassou E., Grousset F.E., Rolland Y., Migeon S., Brunet P., Zhaa Y., Bosch D., Mascle J.,. "21,000 years of Ethiopian African moonsoon variability recorded in sediments of the western Nile deep sea fan", Regional Environmental Change, in press.

A forager–herder trade-off, from broad-spectrum hunting to sheep management at Aşıklı Höyük, Turkey

PubMed Central

Stiner, Mary C.; Buitenhuis, Hijlke; Duru, Güneş; Kuhn, Steven L.; Mentzer, Susan M.; Munro, Natalie D.; Pöllath, Nadja; Quade, Jay; Tsartsidou, Georgia; Özbaşaran, Mihriban

2014-01-01

Aşıklı Höyük is the earliest known preceramic Neolithic mound site in Central Anatolia. The oldest Levels, 4 and 5, spanning 8,200 to approximately 9,000 cal B.C., associate with round-house architecture and arguably represent the birth of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic in the region. Results from upper Level 4, reported here, indicate a broad meat diet that consisted of diverse wild ungulate and small animal species. The meat diet shifted gradually over just a few centuries to an exceptional emphasis on caprines (mainly sheep). Age-sex distributions of the caprines in upper Level 4 indicate selective manipulation by humans by or before 8,200 cal B.C. Primary dung accumulations between the structures demonstrate that ruminants were held captive inside the settlement at this time. Taken together, the zooarchaeological and geoarchaeological evidence demonstrate an emergent process of caprine management that was highly experimental in nature and oriented to quick returns. Stabling was one of the early mechanisms of caprine population isolation, a precondition to domestication. PMID:24778242

An Interaction of Screen Colour and Lesson Task in CAL

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clariana, Roy B.

2004-01-01

Colour is a common feature in computer-aided learning (CAL), though the instructional effects of screen colour are not well understood. This investigation considers the effects of different CAL study tasks with feedback on posttest performance and on posttest memory of the lesson colour scheme. Graduate students (n=68) completed a computer-based…

CalNex Observational Data

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Observations made during the 2010 CalNex measurement campaign. This dataset is associated with the following publication:Woody , M., K. Baker , P. Hayes, J. Jimenez, B. Koo, and H. Pye. Understanding sources of organic aerosol during CalNex-2010 using the CMAQ-VBS. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. Copernicus Publications, Katlenburg-Lindau, GERMANY, 16: 4081-4100, (2016).

30 CFR 905.773 - Requirements for permits and permit processing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq California Air Pollution Control Laws, Cal. Health & Safety Code section 39000... (11) Noise Control Act, 42 U.S.C. 4903 California Noise Control Act of 1973, Cal. Health & Safety Code... Pollution Control Laws, Cal. Health & Safety Code section 39000 et seq.; the Hazardous Waste Control Law...

78 FR 1252 - CalAmp Wireless Networks Corporation (CWNC), Satellite Products Division, Including On-Site...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-08

... Select Staffing, Oxnard, CA; CalAmp Wireless Networks Corporation (CWNC), Including On- Site Leased... Division, including on-site leased workers from Select Staffing, Oxnard, California (TA-W-80,399). The...-site leased workers from Select Staffing, Oxnard, California (TA-W-80,399) and CalAmp Wireless Networks...

Holocene vegetation change in the northern Peten and its implications for Maya prehistory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahl, David; Byrne, Roger; Schreiner, Thomas; Hansen, Richard

2006-05-01

An ˜8400 cal yr record of vegetation change from the northern Peten, Guatemala, provides new insights into the environmental history of the archaeological area known as the Mirador Basin. Pollen, loss on ignition, and magnetic susceptibility analyses indicate warm and humid conditions in the early to mid-Holocene. Evidence for a decrease in forest cover around 4600 cal yr B.P. coincides with the first appearance of Zea mays pollen, suggesting that human activity was responsible. The period between 3450 cal yr B.P. and 1000 cal yr B.P. is characterized by a further decline in forest pollen types, includes an abrupt increase in weedy taxa, and exhibits the highest magnetic susceptibility values since the early Holocene, all of which suggest further agricultural disturbance in the watershed. A brief drop in disturbance indicators around 1800 cal yr B.P. may represent the Preclassic abandonment of the area. Changing pollen frequencies around 1000 cal yr B.P. indicate a cessation of human disturbance, which represents the Late Classic collapse of the southern Maya lowlands.

Revised paleoenvironmental analysis of the Holocene portion of the Barbados sea-level record: Cobbler's Reef revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toscano, Marguerite A.

2016-06-01

Sample elevations corrected for tectonic uplift and assessed relative to local modeled sea levels provide a new perspective on paleoenvironmental history at Cobbler's Reef, Barbados. Previously, 14C-dated surface samples of fragmented Acropora palmata plotted above paleo sea level based on their present (uplifted) elevations, suggesting supratidal rubble deposited during a period of extreme storms (4500-3000 cal BP), precipitating reef demise. At several sites, however, A. palmata persisted, existing until ~370 cal BP. Uplift-corrected A. palmata sample elevations lie below the western Atlantic sea-level curve, and ~2 m below ICE-6G-modeled paleo sea level, under slow rates of sea-level rise, negating the possibility that Cobbler's Reef is a supratidal storm ridge. Most sites show limited age ranges from corals likely damaged/killed on the reef crest, not the mixed ages of rubble ridges, strongly suggesting the reef framework died off in stages over 6500 yr. Reef crest death assemblages invoke multiple paleohistoric causes, from ubiquitous hurricanes to anthropogenic impacts. Comparison of death assemblage ages to dated regional paleotempestological sequences, proxy-based paleotemperatures, recorded hurricanes, tsunamis, European settlement, deforestation, and resulting turbidity, reveals many possible factors inimical to the survival of A. palmata along Cobbler's Reef.

12,000-Years of fire regime drivers in the lowlands of Transylvania (Central-Eastern Europe): a data-model approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feurdean, A.; Liakka, J.; Vannière, B.; Marinova, E.; Hutchinson, S. M.; Mosburgger, V.; Hickler, T.

2013-12-01

The usefulness of sedimentary charcoal records to document centennial to millennial scale trends in aspects of fire regimes (frequency, severity) is widely acknowledged, yet the long-term variability in these regimes is poorly understood. Here, we use a high-resolution, multi-proxy analysis of a lacustrine sequence located in the lowlands of Transylvania (NW Romania), alongside global climate simulations in order to disentangle the drivers of fire regimes in this dry climatic region of Central-Eastern Europe. Periods of greater fire activity and frequency occurred between 10,700 and 7100 cal yr BP (mean Fire Interval = mFI 112 yr), and between 3300 and 700 cal yr BP (mFI 150 yr), whereas intervals of lower fire activity were recorded between 12,000 and 10,700 cal yr BP (mFI 217 yr), 7100 and 3300 cal yr BP (mFI 317 yr), and over last 700 years (no fire events detected). We found good correlations between simulated early summer (June, July) soil moisture content and near-surface air temperature with fire activity, particularly for the early to mid Holocene. A climate-fire relationship is further supported by local hydrological changes, i.e., lake level and runoff fluctuations. Fuel limitation, as a result of arid and strongly seasonal climatic conditions, led to low fire activity before 10,700 cal yr BP. However, fires were most frequent during climatically drier phases for the remaining, fuel-sufficient, part of the Holocene. Our results also suggest that the occurrence of more frequent fires in the early Holocene has kept woodlands open, promoted grassland abundance and sustained a more flammable ecosystem (mFI < 150 years) whereas the decline in fire risk under cooler and wetter climate conditions (mFI = 317 years) favoured woodland development. From 3300 cal yr BP, human impacts clearly were partly responsible for changes in fire activity, first increasing fire frequency and severity in periods with fire-favourable climatic conditions (halving the mFI from 300 years to about 150 years), then effectively suppressing fires over the last several centuries. Given the projected future temperature increase and moisture decline and the biomass accumulation due to the agricultural land abandonment in the region, natural fire frequency would be expected to return to <150 years.

Early discharge after total thyroidectomy: a retrospective feasibility study.

PubMed

Tartaglia, F; Giuliani, A; Sorrenti, S; Tromba, L; Carbotta, S; Maturo, A; Carbotta, G; De Anna, L; Merola, R; Livadoti, G; Pelle, F; Ulisse, S

2016-01-01

The continued hospitalization after total thyroidectomy is often due to the onset of hypocalcemic complications more than 24 hours after surgery. So it would be important to predict which patients will not develop the hypocalcemic complication to discharge them early. This was the aim of our study. Our retrospective study was conducted on 327 consecutive thyroidectomized patients, operated on for benign and malignant diseases. We evaluated the values of preoperative serum calcium levels (Cal0) and of the first postoperative day (Cal1) and two new variables were calculated (dCal and dCaln). The same thing was made on a subgroup of 111 patients in whom also parathiroyd hormone (PTH) values were detected. Statistical analysis was performed with the goal of determining if we could establish a safe criterion for discharge at 24 hours after surgery and if there is a correlation between suitability for discharge and diagnosis. As to discharge, the predictive power of the discriminant function applied was significant both on the total of patients and in the subgroup of 111 patients, but it was clinically unacceptable because it would expose us to a 21% to 27% error rate. It is not possible to identify a threshold, below which to consider patients surely dischargeable. The diagnosis does not appear correlated with the suitability for discharge. On the basis of serum calcium and PTH levels in the first postoperative day, it is impossible to predict which patients can be discharged 24 hours after surgery without incurring in hypocalcemic complications.

Climatic oscillations in central Italy during the Last Glacial-Holocene transition: the record from Lake Accesa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magny, Michel; de Beaulieu, Jacques-Louis; Drescher-Schneider, Ruth; Vannière, Boris; Walter-Simonnet, Anne-Véronique; Millet, Laurent; Bossuet, Gilles; Peyron, Odile

2006-05-01

This paper presents an event stratigraphy based on data documenting the history of vegetation cover, lake-level changes and fire frequency, as well as volcanic eruptions, over the Last Glacial-early Holocene transition from a terrestrial sediment sequence recovered at Lake Accesa in Tuscany (north-central Italy). On the basis of an age-depth model inferred from 13 radiocarbon dates and six tephra horizons, the Oldest Dryas-Bølling warming event was dated to ca. 14 560 cal. yr BP and the Younger Dryas event to ca. 12 700-11 650 cal. yr BP. Four sub-millennial scale cooling phases were recognised from pollen data at ca. 14 300-14 200, 13 900-13 700, 13 400-13 100 and 11 350-11 150 cal.yrBP. The last three may be Mediterranean equivalents to the Older Dryas (GI-1d), Intra-Allerød (GI-1b) and Preboreal Oscillation (PBO) cooling events defined from the GRIP ice-core and indicate strong climatic linkages between the North Atlantic and Mediterranean areas during the last Termination. The first may correspond to Intra-Bølling cold oscillations registered by various palaeoclimatic records in the North Atlantic region. The lake-level record shows that the sub-millennial scale climatic oscillations which punctuated the last deglaciation were associated in central Italy with different successive patterns of hydrological changes from the Bølling warming to the 8.2ka cold reversal. Copyright

Adoption of computer-assisted learning in medical education: the educators' perspective.

PubMed

Schifferdecker, Karen E; Berman, Norm B; Fall, Leslie H; Fischer, Martin R

2012-11-01

Computer-assisted learning (CAL) in medical education has been shown to be effective in the achievement of learning outcomes, but requires the input of significant resources and development time. This study examines the key elements and processes that led to the widespread adoption of a CAL program in undergraduate medical education, the Computer-assisted Learning in Paediatrics Program (CLIPP). It then considers the relative importance of elements drawn from existing theories and models for technology adoption and other studies on CAL in medical education to inform the future development, implementation and testing of CAL programs in medical education. The study used a mixed-methods explanatory design. All paediatric clerkship directors (CDs) using CLIPP were recruited to participate in a self-administered, online questionnaire. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with a random sample of CDs to further explore the quantitative results. Factors that facilitated adoption included CLIPP's ability to fill gaps in exposure to core clinical problems, the use of a national curriculum, development by CDs, and the meeting of CDs' desires to improve teaching and student learning. An additional facilitating factor was that little time and effort were needed to implement CLIPP within a clerkship. The quantitative findings were mostly corroborated by the qualitative findings. This study indicates issues that are important in the consideration and future exploration of the development and implementation of CAL programs in medical education. The promise of CAL as a method of enhancing the process and outcomes of medical education, and its cost, increase the need for future CAL funders and developers to pay equal attention to the needs of potential adopters and the development process as they do to the content and tools in the CAL program. Important questions that remain on the optimal design, use and integration of CAL should be addressed in order to adequately inform future development. Support is needed for studies that address these critical areas. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2012.

The role of sediment compaction and groundwater withdrawal in local sea-level rise, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Christopher S.; Miller, Kenneth G.; Browning, James V.; Kopp, Robert E.; Khan, Nicole S.; Fan, Ying; Stanford, Scott D.; Horton, Benjamin P.

2018-02-01

The rate of relative sea-level (RSL) rise at Sandy Hook, NJ (4.0 ± 0.5 mm/yr) was higher than The Battery, NY (3.0 ± 0.3 mm/yr) from 1900 to 2012 despite being separated by just 26 km. The difference cannot be explained by differential glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA; 1.4 ± 0.4 and 1.3 ± 0.4 mm/yr RSL rise, respectively) alone. We estimate the contribution of sediment compaction to subsidence at Sandy Hook using high-resolution grain size, percent organic matter, and porosity data from three upper Quaternary (≤13,350 cal yr) cores. The organic matter content (<2%) is too low to contribute to local subsidence. However, numerical modeling of the grain size-depth-age-porosity relationship indicates that compaction of deglacial silts likely reduced the column thickness by 10-20% over the past 13,350 cal yrs. While compaction rates were high immediately after the main silt deposition (13,350-13,150 cal yrs BP), rates decreased exponentially after deposition to an average 20th century rate of 0.16 mm/yr (90% Confidence Interval (C.I.), 0.06-0.32 mm/yr). The remaining ∼0.7 mm/yr (90% C.I. 0.3-1.2 mm/yr) difference in subsidence between Sandy Hook and The Battery is likely due to anthropogenic groundwater withdrawal. Historical data from Fort Hancock wells (2 km to the southeast of the Sandy Hook tide gauge) and previous regional work show that local and regional water extraction lowered the water levels in the aquifers underlying Sandy Hook. We suggest that the modern order of contribution to subsidence (highest to lowest) appears to be GIA, local/regional groundwater extraction, and compaction of thick Quaternary silts.

Contributions of Precipitation and Soil Moisture Observations to the Skill of Soil Moisture Estimates in a Land Data Assimilation System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reichle, Rolf H.; Liu, Qing; Bindlish, Rajat; Cosh, Michael H.; Crow, Wade T.; deJeu, Richard; DeLannoy, Gabrielle J. M.; Huffman, George J.; Jackson, Thomas J.

2011-01-01

The contributions of precipitation and soil moisture observations to the skill of soil moisture estimates from a land data assimilation system are assessed. Relative to baseline estimates from the Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA), the study investigates soil moisture skill derived from (i) model forcing corrections based on large-scale, gauge- and satellite-based precipitation observations and (ii) assimilation of surface soil moisture retrievals from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E). Soil moisture skill is measured against in situ observations in the continental United States at 44 single-profile sites within the Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) for which skillful AMSR-E retrievals are available and at four CalVal watersheds with high-quality distributed sensor networks that measure soil moisture at the scale of land model and satellite estimates. The average skill (in terms of the anomaly time series correlation coefficient R) of AMSR-E retrievals is R=0.39 versus SCAN and R=0.53 versus CalVal measurements. The skill of MERRA surface and root-zone soil moisture is R=0.42 and R=0.46, respectively, versus SCAN measurements, and MERRA surface moisture skill is R=0.56 versus CalVal measurements. Adding information from either precipitation observations or soil moisture retrievals increases surface soil moisture skill levels by IDDeltaR=0.06-0.08, and root zone soil moisture skill levels by DeltaR=0.05-0.07. Adding information from both sources increases surface soil moisture skill levels by DeltaR=0.13, and root zone soil moisture skill by DeltaR=0.11, demonstrating that precipitation corrections and assimilation of satellite soil moisture retrievals contribute similar and largely independent amounts of information.

Spanish-language community-based mental health treatment programs, policy-required language-assistance programming, and mental health treatment access among Spanish-speaking clients.

PubMed

Snowden, Lonnie R; McClellan, Sean R

2013-09-01

We investigated the extent to which implementing language assistance programming through contracting with community-based organizations improved the accessibility of mental health care under Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) for Spanish-speaking persons with limited English proficiency, and whether it reduced language-based treatment access disparities. Using a time series nonequivalent control group design, we studied county-level penetration of language assistance programming over 10 years (1997-2006) for Spanish-speaking persons with limited English proficiency covered under Medi-Cal. We used linear regression with county fixed effects to control for ongoing trends and other influences. When county mental health plans contracted with community-based organizations, those implementing language assistance programming increased penetration rates of Spanish-language mental health services under Medi-Cal more than other plans (0.28 percentage points, a 25% increase on average; P < .05). However, the increase was insufficient to significantly reduce language-related disparities. Mental health treatment programs operated by community-based organizations may have moderately improved access after implementing required language assistance programming, but the programming did not reduce entrenched disparities in the accessibility of mental health services.

Spanish-Language Community-Based Mental Health Treatment Programs, Policy-Required Language-Assistance Programming, and Mental Health Treatment Access Among Spanish-Speaking Clients

PubMed Central

McClellan, Sean R.

2013-01-01

Objectives. We investigated the extent to which implementing language assistance programming through contracting with community-based organizations improved the accessibility of mental health care under Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) for Spanish-speaking persons with limited English proficiency, and whether it reduced language-based treatment access disparities. Methods. Using a time series nonequivalent control group design, we studied county-level penetration of language assistance programming over 10 years (1997–2006) for Spanish-speaking persons with limited English proficiency covered under Medi-Cal. We used linear regression with county fixed effects to control for ongoing trends and other influences. Results. When county mental health plans contracted with community-based organizations, those implementing language assistance programming increased penetration rates of Spanish-language mental health services under Medi-Cal more than other plans (0.28 percentage points, a 25% increase on average; P < .05). However, the increase was insufficient to significantly reduce language-related disparities. Conclusions. Mental health treatment programs operated by community-based organizations may have moderately improved access after implementing required language assistance programming, but the programming did not reduce entrenched disparities in the accessibility of mental health services. PMID:23865663

Periodontal health of older men: the MrOS dental study.

PubMed

Phipps, Kathy R; Chan, Benjamin K S; Jennings-Holt, Marie; Geurs, Nico C; Reddy, Michael S; Lewis, Cora E; Orwoll, Eric S

2009-06-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of periodontitis in men of 65+ years and identify demographic and lifestyle factors associated with its presence. Participants were recruited from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study, a longitudinal study of risk factors for fractures in older men. Dental measures included clinical attachment loss (CAL), pocket depth (PD), calculus, plaque and bleeding on a random half-mouth, plus a questionnaire regarding access to care, symptoms and previous diagnosis. 1210 dentate men completed the dental visit. Average age was 75 years, 39% reported some graduate school education, 32% smoked 20 + pack years and 88% reported their overall health as excellent/good. In terms of periodontal health, 38% had sub-gingival calculus, 53% gingival bleeding, 82% CAL > or =5 mm and 34% PD > or =6 mm. The prevalence of severe periodontitis was 38%. Significant demographic and lifestyle factors associated with severe periodontitis in multivariate analyses included age > or =75 (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7) non-white race (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8), less than an annual dental visit (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0), and 20 + pack years (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.6-2.7). A high proportion of healthy older men have evidence of periodontal destruction which could, given the growing ageing population, have a significant impact on the dental profession's ability to provide preventive and therapeutic care. The population at highest risk of periodontitis in MrOS is older minority men who smoke and do not have annual dental visits.

Longitudinal Improvement in Periodontal Parameters between RPD Abutment Teeth with Direct and Indirect Retainers, after Periodontal Therapy.

PubMed

Almeida, Mariana Linhares; Tôrres, Ana Clara Soares de Paiva; de Oliveira, Kleiton Clécio; Calderon, Patrícia Dos Santos; Carreiro, Adriana da Fonte Porto; Gurgel, Bruno César de Vasconcelos

2018-03-06

To evaluate the effect of basic periodontal treatment on clinical periodontal parameters associated with abutment teeth of patients with mandibular Kennedy class I removable partial dentures (RPD) 18 months after treatment. Thirty patients with periodontal disease were treated and evaluated according to the following periodontal parameters: visible plaque index (VPI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and keratinized mucosa (KM). These parameters were compared between abutment teeth with direct and indirect retainers at baseline, and after 6 and 18 months. Data were analyzed by Friedman Test and Wilcoxon Test for all variables. Most patients (n = 26; 86.7%) included in the study were female and had a mean age of 61 years (±7.54). Results showed that VPI and BOP decreased over time, and that VPI values were higher in abutment teeth with direct retainers (p = 0.001). There was a reduction in PD after 6 months, which was maintained up to 18 months. In general, abutment teeth with direct retainers had significantly higher values for PD, GR, and CAL (p = 0.029). Data also indicated that the parameters for VPI, BOP, and PD improved; however, abutment teeth with direct retainers presented smaller improvements, compared with abutment teeth with indirect retainers, which presented significant improvements for almost all variables. Periodontal treatment and oral hygiene care of patients were adequate for maintenance of adequate periodontal conditions, regardless of the use of prostheses. © 2018 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

Association of time under immunosuppression and different immunosuppressive medication on periodontal parameters and selected bacteria of patients after solid organ transplantation.

PubMed

Schmalz, G; Berisha, L; Wendorff, H; Widmer, F; Marcinkowski, A; Teschler, H; Sommerwerck, U; Haak, R; Kollmar, O; Ziebolz, D

2018-05-01

Aim of this study was to investigate the association of the time under immunosuppression and different immunosuppressive medication on periodontal parameters and selected periodontal pathogenic bacteria of immunosuppressed patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT). 169 Patients after SOT (lung, liver or kidney) were included and divided into subgroups according their time under (0-1, 1-3, 3-6, 6-10 and >10 years) and form of immunosuppression (Tacrolimus, Cyclosporine, Mycophenolate, Glucocorticoids, Sirolimus and monotherapy vs. combination). Periodontal probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were assessed. Periodontal disease severity was classified as healthy/mild, moderate or severe periodontitis. Subgingival biofilm samples were investigated for eleven selected potentially periodontal pathogenic bacteria using polymerasechainreaction. The mean PPD and CAL as well as prevalence of Treponema denticola and Capnocytophaga species was shown to be different but heterogeneous depending on time under immunosuppression (p<0.05). Furthermore, only the medication with Cyclosporine was found to show worse periodontal condition compared to patients without Cyclosporine (p<0.05). Prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Fusobacterium nucleatum was reduced and prevalence of Parvimonas micra and Capnocytophaga species was increased in patients under immunosuppression with Glucocorticoids, Mycophenolate as well as combination therapy. Time under and form of immunosuppression might have an impact on the clinical periodontal and microbiological parameters of patients after SOT. Patients under Cyclosporine medication should receive increased attention. Differences in subgingival biofilm, but not in clinical parameters were found for Glucocorticoids, Mycophenolate and combination therapy, making the clinical relevance of this finding unclear.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus CalR down regulates the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) gene transcription and thereby inhibits hemolytic activity.

PubMed

Zhang, Yiquan; Zhang, Ying; Gao, He; Zhang, Lingyu; Yin, Zhe; Huang, Xinxiang; Zhou, Dongsheng; Yang, Huiying; Yang, Wenhui; Wang, Li

2017-05-20

TDH, encoded by tdh gene, is a major virulent determinant of V. parahaemolyticus that controls various biological activities, such as hemolytic activity, cytotoxicity, and enterotoxicity. The hemolytic activity on Wagatsuma agar ascribed to TDH is called Kanagawa phenomenon (KP). All KP positive strains contain tdh1 and tdh2 genes, but tdh2 is predominantly responsible for KP. CalR is a regulatory protein that was originally identified as a repressor of swarming motility and T3SS1 gene expression in V. parahaemolyticus. In the present study, the regulation of tdh2 by CalR was investigated using a set of experiments including qRT-PCR, primer extension, LacZ fusion, hemolytic phenotype, EMSA, and DNase I footprinting assays. The results showed that His-CalR protected a single region from 224bp to 318bp upstream of tdh2 against DNase I digestion, and a transcriptional start site located at 42bp upstream of tdh2 was detected and its transcribed activity was inhibited by CalR. Moreover, the KP test results showed that the hemolytic activity of V. parahaemolyticus is also under negative control of CalR. The data demonstrated that CalR is a repressor of the tdh2 transcription and thereby inhibits the hemolytic activity of V. parahaemolyticus. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Vegetation history along the eastern, desert escarpment of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, Baja California, Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Holmgren, Camille A.; Betancourt, Julio L.; Rylander, Kate A.

2011-01-01

Plant macrofossils from 38 packrat middens spanning the last ~ 33,000 cal yr BP record vegetation between ~ 650 and 900 m elevation along the eastern escarpment of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, northern Baja California. The middens span most of the Holocene, with a gap between ~ 4600 and 1800 cal yr BP, but coverage in the Pleistocene is uneven with a larger hiatus between 23,100 and 14,400 cal yr BP. The midden flora is relatively stable from the Pleistocene to Holocene. Exceptions include Pinus californiarum, Juniperus californica and other chaparral elements that were most abundant > 23,100 cal yr BP and declined after 14,400 cal yr BP. Despite being near the chaparral/woodland-desertscrub ecotone during glacial times, the midden assemblages reflect none of the climatic reversals evident in the glacial or marine record, and this is corroborated by a nearby semi-continuous pollen stratigraphy from lake sediments. Regular appearance of C4 grasses and summer-flowering annuals since 13,600 cal yr BP indicates occurrence of summer rainfall equivalent to modern (JAS average of ~ 80–90 mm). This casts doubt on the claim, based on temperature proxies from marine sediments in the Guaymas Basin, that monsoonal development in the northern Gulf and Arizona was delayed until after 6200 cal yr BP.

Hamiltonian adaptive resolution molecular dynamics simulation of infrared dielectric functions of liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, C. C.; Tan, J. Y.; Liu, L. H.

2018-05-01

Hamiltonian adaptive resolution scheme (H-AdResS), which allows to simulate materials by treating different domains of the system at different levels of resolution, is a recently proposed atomistic/coarse-grained multiscale model. In this work, a scheme to calculate the dielectric functions of liquids on account of H-AdResS is presented. In the proposed H-AdResS dielectric-function calculation scheme (DielectFunctCalS), the corrected molecular dipole moments are calculated by multiplying molecular dipole moment by the weighting fraction of the molecular mapping point. As the widths of all-atom and hybrid regions show different degrees of influence on the dielectric functions, a prefactor is multiplied to eliminate the effects of all-atom and hybrid region widths. Since one goal of using the H-AdResS method is to reduce computational costs, widths of the all-atom region and the hybrid region can be reduced considering that the coarse-grained simulation is much more timesaving compared to atomistic simulation. Liquid water and ethanol are taken as test cases to validate the DielectFunctCalS. The H-AdResS DielectFunctCalS results are in good agreement with all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. The accuracy of the H-AdResS results, together with all-atom molecular dynamics results, depends heavily on the choice of the force field and force field parameters. The H-AdResS DielectFunctCalS allows us to calculate the dielectric functions of macromolecule systems with high efficiency and makes the dielectric function calculations of large biomolecular systems possible.

North-south palaeohydrological contrasts in the central Mediterranean during the Holocene: tentative synthesis and working hypotheses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magny, M.; Combourieu Nebout, N.; de Beaulieu, J. L.; Bout-Roumazeilles, V.; Colombaroli, D.; Desprat, S.; Francke, A.; Joannin, S.; Peyron, O.; Revel, M.; Sadori, L.; Siani, G.; Sicre, M. A.; Samartin, S.; Simonneau, A.; Tinner, W.; Vannière, B.; Wagner, B.; Zanchetta, G.; Anselmetti, F.; Brugiapaglia, E.; Chapron, E.; Debret, M.; Desmet, M.; Didier, J.; Essallami, L.; Galop, D.; Gilli, A.; Haas, J. N.; Kallel, N.; Millet, L.; Stock, A.; Turon, J. L.; Wirth, S.

2013-04-01

On the basis of a multi-proxy approach and a strategy combining lacustrine and marine records along a north-south transect, data collected in the Central Mediterranean within the framework of a collaborative project have led to reconstruction of high-resolution and well-dated palaeohydrological records and to assessment of their spatial and temporal coherency. Contrasting patterns of palaeohydrological changes have been evidenced in the Central Mediterranean: south (north) of around 40° N of latitude, the middle part of the Holocene was characterised by lake-level maxima (minima), during an interval dated to ca. 10 300-4500 cal BP to the south and 9000-4500 cal BP to the north. Available data suggest that these contrasting palaeohydrological patterns operated throughout the Holocene, both on millennial and centennial scales. Regarding precipitation seasonality, maximum humidity in the Central Mediterranean during the middle part of the Holocene was characterised by humid winters and dry summers north of ca. 40° N, and humid winters and summers south of ca. 40° N. This may explain an apparent conflict between palaeoclimatic records depending on the proxies used for reconstruction as well as the synchronous expansion of tree species taxa with contrasting climatic requirements. In addition, south of ca. 40° N, the first millennium of the Holocene was characterised by very dry climatic conditions not only in the Eastern, but also in the Central and the Western Mediterranean zones as reflected by low lake levels and delayed reforestation. These results suggest that, in addition to the influence of the Nile discharge reinforced by the African monsoon, the deposition of Sapropel 1 has been favoured (1) by an increase in winter precipitation in the northern Mediterranean borderlands, and (2) by an increase in winter and summer precipitation in the southern Mediterranean area. The climate reversal following the Holocene climate optimum appears to have been punctuated by two major climate changes around 7500 and 4500 cal BP. In the Central Mediterranean, the Holocene palaeohydrological changes developed in response to a combination of orbital, ice-sheet and solar forcing factors. The maximum humidity interval in the south-central Mediterranean started at ca. 10 300 cal BP, in correlation with the decline (1) of the possible blocking effects of the North Atlantic anticyclone linked to maximum insolation, and/or (2) of the influence of the remnant ice sheets and fresh water forcing in the North Atlantic Ocean. In the north-central Mediterranean, the lake-level minimum interval began only around 9000 cal BP when the Fennoscandian ice-sheet disappeared and a prevailing positive NAO-type circulation developed in the North Atlantic area. The major palaeohydrological oscillation around 4500-4000 cal BP may be a non-linear response to the gradual decrease, with additional key seasonal and interhemispherical changes, in insolation. On a centennial scale, the successive climatic events which punctuated the entire Holocene in the central Mediterranean coincided with cooling events associated with deglacial outbursts in the North Atlantic area and decreases in solar activity during the interval 11 700-7000 cal BP, and to a possible combination of NAO-type circulation and solar forcing since ca. 7000 cal BP onwards. Thus, regarding the centennial-scale climatic oscillations, the Mediterranean Basin appears to have been strongly linked to the North Atlantic area and affected by solar activity over the entire Holocene. In addition to model experiments, a better understanding of forcing factors and past atmospheric circulation patterns behind the Holocene palaeohydrological changes in the Mediterranean area will require further investigation to establish additional high-resolution and well-dated records in selected locations around the Mediterranean Basin and in adjacent regions. Special attention should be paid to greater precision in the reconstruction, on millennial and centennial time scales, of changes in the latitudinal location of the limit between the northern and southern palaeohydrological Mediterranean sectors, depending on (1) the intensity and/or characteristics of climatic periods/oscillations (e.g. Holocene thermal maximum versus Neoglacial, as well as, for instance, the 8.2 ka event versus the 4 ka event or the Little Ice Age), and (2) on varying geographical conditions from the western to the eastern Mediterranean areas (longitudinal gradients).

Pre-Calculus California Content Standards: Standards Deconstruction Project. Version 1.0

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arnold, Bruce; Cliffe, Karen; Cubillo, Judy; Kracht, Brenda; Leaf, Abi; Legner, Mary; McGinity, Michelle; Orr, Michael; Rocha, Mario; Ross, Judy; Teegarden, Terrie; Thomson, Sarah; Villero, Geri

2008-01-01

This project was coordinated and funded by the California Partnership for Achieving Student Success (Cal-PASS). Cal-PASS is a data sharing system linking all segments of education. Its purpose is to improve student transition and success from one educational segment to the next. Cal-PASS' standards deconstruction project was initiated by the…

76 FR 70520 - Rovac Corp., RS Group of Companies, Inc., Rymer Foods, Inc. Stratus Services Group, Inc., Sun Cal...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-14

...., Rymer Foods, Inc. Stratus Services Group, Inc., Sun Cal Energy, Inc., Sun Motor International, Inc... current and accurate information concerning the securities of Sun Cal Energy, Inc. because it has not... Sun Motor International, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended...

Monitoring Outcomes for Los Angeles County's Pre- and Post-CalWORKS Leavers: How Are They Faring?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Verma, Nandita; Hendra, Richard

The characteristics, earnings, employment experiences, and material well-being of California welfare recipients after leaving welfare were examined by comparing the postwelfare experiences of groups who exited welfare before and after institution of California's welfare reform program CalWORKs. The first group (pre-CalWORKs group) exited welfare…

A Latest Glacial and Holocene Record From Medicine Lake, Siskiyou County, California: Preliminary Diatom, Pollen, and Sediment Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starratt, S. W.; Barron, J. A.; Kneeshaw, T.; Phillips, L.; Lowenstern, J.; Wanket, J. A.

2002-12-01

Medicine Lake is a small (165 ha), relatively shallow (average 7.3 m), medium- altitude (2,036 m) lake located within the summit caldera of Medicine Lake volcano, a dormant Quaternary shield volcano located in the southern Cascade Range. During September 1999 and 2000, high-resolution bathymetry, seismic-reflection profiles, and sediment cores were collected from the lake. Twenty six samples from core B100NC-1 (water depth 12.6 m; length 226 cm) were analyzed for physical properties, sediment grain size, diatoms, pollen, and total organic carbon (TOC). Using both 14C (AMS) dating and tephrochronology, the sediments at the bottom of the core are estimated to be 11,000 cal yr B.P., thus yielding an estimated average sedimentation rate of about 21 cm/1,000 yr. The lowermost part of the core (226 cm - ~200 cm) records the transition from glacial to interglacial conditions. During the period from about 11,000-7,200 cal yr B.P., lake level fluctuated between deeper oligotrophic conditions with a diatom flora dominated by Cyclotella spp. and shallower intervals with a diverse benthic flora. The relative low abundance (10-15%) of Abies (fir) pollen and relative high abundance (30-40%) of Artemesia (sagebrush) pollen in this interval suggest drier than present-day conditions. The lowest part of this interval (226 cm - 210 cm) is almost devoid of Cyclotella and may represent an ice-covered lake in which only a small benthic flora could exist around the margins of the lake where light penetration was the greatest. The sediments in this interval are relatively low in TOC and are dominated by glacial flour. From about 7,200 cal yr B.P. to the present, conditions have fluctuated between higher lake levels (three intervals) that are dominated by Cyclotella with a reduced number and diversity of benthic taxa, and lower lake levels (two intervals) during which the abundances of Cyclotella decrease to less than 10%. Relative values of Abies and Pinus (pine) pollen are higher during high lake levels, whereas pollen of aquatic taxa (primarily Isoetes [quillwort]) increases in significance at lower lake levels. Total organic carbon is higher during high stands and lower during low stands. Comparison with recently published multi-proxy studies of the Lake Tahoe-Truckee River-Pyramid Lake drainage system suggest that some of the changes in lake level observed at Medicine Lake between about 7,500-4,500 cal yr B.P. may be regional in nature, while fluctuations over the last 4,500 yr probably reflect conditions affecting only the local watershed.

High-resolution foraminiferal, isotopic, and trace element records from holocene estuarine deposits of San Francisco Bay, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

McGann, M.

2008-01-01

A 3.5-m gravity core (DJ6-93SF-6) from San Francisco Bay reveals a complex paleoclimatic history of the region over the last 3870 cal YBP. A polynomial equation based on 11 AMS 14C ages provides an excellent age model for the core, and environmental proxies for water temperature and salinity are derived from various foraminiferal abundances, stable carbon and oxygen isotopes, and Mg/Ca ratios. Two foraminiferal associations were identified by Q-mode cluster analysis: a colder-water Elphidium excavatum association and the warmer-water Ammonia beccarii-Elphidium gunteri association. The E. excavatum association dominates the core for all but about 600 years out of the last four millennia. At 3870 cal YBP, water temperatures were warm (13.9??C) and freshwater inflow was reduced compared with today. From 3590 to 2860 cal YBP, temperatures dropped 0.5??C and the climate remained dry. This was followed by a period of pronounced lower ??13C values, indicating that conditions became considerably wetter from 2860 to 2170 cal YBP. During this interval, the temperature oscillated frequently, peaking at 13.9??C at 2710 cal YBP, then dropping shortly thereafter to 12.8??C at 2420 cal YBP. Freshwater inflow gradually decreased between 2170 and 1950 cal YBP with a minimal rise in temperature, then changed quickly to colder and wetter conditions at 1900 cal YBP. Drier conditions then prevailed until 1480 cal YBP with water temperatures fluctuating between 13.1??C and 13.8??C, followed by wetter climate from 1480 to 1320 cal YBP. A significant faunal shift from the E. excavatum association to the A. beccarii-E. gunteri association occurred from 1250 to 650 cal YBP, possibly due to regional warming, decreased oxygen availability, and/or a change in the phyto-plankton community. Associated with this change in faunal composition were warm and dry conditions, representative of the Medieval Warm Period (Medieval Climatic Anomaly). A climatic shift coincident with the onset of the Little Ice Age (LIA I and LIA II) is evident from 650 to 280 cal YBP, with the return of the E. excavatum association and an extreme drop in ??18O values, all indicating increased precipitation and fresh water inflow. This was followed by generally drier conditions to the present, except for a brief wet period around 100 cal YBP, and fairly consistent water temperatures in the middle 13??C, except for a drop to 12.8??C at 200 cal YBP. Two significant faunal changes occur near the top of the core. First, there is the reappearance of the A. beccarii-E. gunteri association, suggesting that, once again, regional warming has taken place, oxygen availability has declined, and/or environmental conditions changed such that diatoms have become a scarce food source. Second, there is the first appearance of the invasive Japanese foraminifera Trochammina hadai Uchio, a species that commonly lives in highly polluted areas and is an indicator of eutrophication in its native estuaries. At the same time, freshwater inflow decreased, which may be explained by global warming during the last 100 years, or more likely due to modern water diversion for agriculture in the central valley of California. ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Climate, San Francisco Bay, Holocene, foraminifers, isotopes, trace metals, Medieval Warm Period, Little Ice Age.

The Aerosol Foam Formulation of the Fixed Combination Calcipotriene Plus Betamethasone Dipropionate Improves the Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Psoriasis Vulgaris: Results from the Randomized PSO-FAST Study.

PubMed

Leonardi, Craig; Bagel, Jerry; Yamauchi, Paul; Pariser, David; Xu, Zhenyi; Moller, Anders; Osterdal, Marie Louise; Stein Gold, Linda

2016-08-01

Psoriasis has a major impact on patient quality of life, similar to that seen in other chronic diseases, eg, diabetes. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures are commonly included in clinical trial designs, capturing the disease burden and therapeutic success of a treatment. In the randomized, double-blind, phase III PSO-FAST (Psoriasis vulgaris, a Four-week, vehicle-controlled, efficacy And Safety Trial) study (nCT01866163), fixed combination calcipotriene (Cal) 0.005% plus betamethasone dipropionate (BD) 0.064% aerosol foam was compared with vehicle. By treatment end, 53% of patients using Cal/BD foam achieved treatment success.
To compare the impact on HRQoL of Cal/BD foam vs vehicle in patients with mild-to-severe psoriasis.
HRQoL was assessed by dermatology life-quality index (DLQI; baseline, weeks 1, 2, 4) and EQ-5D-5L (EQ-5D; baseline, week 4) questionnaires. A DLQI score of 0 (range, 0-30) indicates no effect on the patient's life; an EQ-5D utility score of 1 (range, 0-1) and an EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS) score of 100 (range, 1-100) indicate perfect health.
426 patients were randomized (Cal/BD foam, n=323; vehicle, n=103). Baseline mean DLQI scores were 9.9 (Cal/BD foam) and 10.3 (vehicle). The impact of psoriasis on HRQoL (EQ-5D utility score) at baseline was primarily driven by pain/discomfort (Cal/BD foam: 69.9%; vehicle: 65.0%) and anxiety/depression (Cal/BD foam: 45.3%; vehicle 44.7%). There was a greater improvement from baseline in DLQI score for Cal/BD foam vs vehicle at week 4 (-7.0 vs -4.4; P<.001); increased improvement was also seen in EQ-5D scores. At week 4, 48.1% of patients using Cal/BD foam reported no effect of psoriasis on their lives (DLQI = 0/1), and of patients using Cal/BD foam with baseline DLQI scores ≥5, 81.2% achieved a ≥5-point improvement.
Cal/BD aerosol foam improved HRQoL after 4 weeks, with most patients experiencing a clinically meaningful improvement and almost 50% reporting no impairment.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(8):981-987.

Holocene seasonal variability inferred from multiple proxy records from Crevice Lake, Yellowstone National Park, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Whitlock, Cathy; Dean, Walter E.; Fritz, Sherilyn C.; Stevens, Lora R.; Stone, Jeffery R.; Power, Mitchell J.; Rosenbaum, Joseph R.; Pierce, Kenneth L.; Bracht-Flyr, Brandi B.

2012-01-01

A 9400-yr-old record from Crevice Lake, a semi-closed alkaline lake in northern Yellowstone National Park, was analyzed for pollen, charcoal, geochemistry, mineralogy, diatoms, and stable isotopes to develop a nuanced understanding of Holocene environmental history in a region of northern Rocky Mountains that receives both summer and winter precipitation. The limited surface area, conical bathymetry, and deep water (> 31 m) of Crevice Lake create oxygen-deficient conditions in the hypolimnion and preserve annually laminated sediment (varves) for much of the record. Pollen data indicate that the watershed supported a closed Pinus-dominated forest and low fire frequency prior to 8200 cal yr BP, followed by open parkland until 2600 cal yr BP, and open mixed-conifer forest thereafter. Fire activity shifted from infrequent stand-replacing fires initially to frequent surface fires in the middle Holocene and stand-replacing events in recent centuries. Low values of δ18O suggest high winter precipitation in the early Holocene, followed by steadily drier conditions after 8500 cal yr BP. Carbonate-rich sediments before 5000 cal yr BP imply warmer summer conditions than after 5000 cal yr BP. High values of molybdenum (Mo), uranium (U), and sulfur (S) indicate anoxic bottom-waters before 8000 cal yr BP, between 4400 and 3900 cal yr BP, and after 2400 cal yr BP. The diatom record indicates extensive water-column mixing in spring and early summer through much of the Holocene, but a period between 2200 and 800 cal yr BP had strong summer stratification, phosphate limitation, and oxygen-deficient bottom waters. Together, the proxy data suggest wet winters, protracted springs, and warm effectively wet summers in the early Holocene and less snowpack, cool springs, warm dry summers in the middle Holocene. In the late Holocene, the region and lake experienced extreme changes in winter, spring, and summer conditions, with particularly short springs and dry summers and winters during the Roman Warm Period (~ 2000 cal yr BP) and Medieval Climate Anomaly (1200–800 cal yr BP). Long springs and mild summers occurred during the Little Ice Age, and these conditions persist to the present. Although the proxy data indicate effectively wet summer conditions in the early Holocene and drier conditions in the middle and late Holocene, none point specifically to changes in summer precipitation as the cause. Instead, summer conditions were governed by multi-seasonal controls on effective moisture that operated over multiple time scales.

Changes in total body bone mineral density following a common bone health plan with two versions of a unique bone health supplement: a comparative effectiveness research study.

PubMed

Michalek, Joel E; Preuss, Harry G; Croft, Harry A; Keith, Patti L; Keith, Samuel C; Dapilmoto, Monika; Perricone, Nicholas V; Leckie, Robert B; Kaats, Gilbert R

2011-04-14

The US Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health suggests America's bone-health is in jeopardy and issued a "call to action" to develop bone-health plans that: (1) improve nutrition, (2) increase health literacy and, (3) increase physical activity. This study is a response to this call to action. After signing an informed consent, 158 adults agreed to follow an open-label bone-health plan for six months after taking a DXA test of bone density, a 43-chemistry blood test panel and a quality of life inventory (AlgaeCal 1). Two weeks after the last subject completed, a second group of 58 was enrolled and followed the identical plan, but with a different bone-health supplement (AlgaeCal 2). There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline bone mineral density (BMD) or in variables related to BMD (age, sex, weight, percent body fat, fat mass, or fat-free mass). In both groups, no significant differences in BMD or related variables were found between volunteers and non-volunteers or between those who completed per protocol and those who were lost to attrition.Both groups experienced a significant positive mean annualized percent change (MAPC) in BMD compared to expectation [AlgaeCal 1: 1.15%, p = 0.001; AlgaeCal 2: 2.79%, p = 0.001]. Both groups experienced a positive MAPC compared to baseline, but only AlgaeCal 2 experienced a significant change [AlgaeCal 1: 0.48%, p = 0.14; AlgaeCal 2: 2.18%, p < 0.001]. The MAPC in AlgaeCal 2 was significantly greater than that in AlgaeCal 1 (p = 0.005). The MAPC contrast between compliant and partially compliant subjects was significant for both plans (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003 respectively). No clinically significant changes in a 43-panel blood chemistry test were found nor were there any changes in self-reported quality of life in either group. Following The Plan for six months with either version of the bone health supplement was associated with significant increases in BMD as compared to expected and, in AlgaeCal 2, the increase from baseline was significantly greater than the increase from baseline in AlgaeCal 1. Increased compliance was associated with greater increases in BMD in both groups. No adverse effects were reported in either group. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01114685.

The impact of attachment and depression symptoms on multiple risk behaviors in post-war adolescents in northern Uganda.

PubMed

Okello, J; Nakimuli-Mpungu, E; Klasen, F; Voss, C; Musisi, S; Broekaert, E; Derluyn, I

2015-07-15

We have previously shown that depression symptoms are associated with multiple risk behaviors and that parental attachments are protective against depression symptoms in post-war adolescents. Accumulating literature indicates that low levels of attachment may sensitize individuals to increased multiple risk behaviors when depression symptoms exist. This investigation examined the interactive effects of attachment and depression symptoms on multiple risk behavior. We conducted hierarchical logistic regression analyses to examine the impact of attachment and depression symptoms on multiple risk behavior in our post-war sample of 551 adolescents in Gulu district. Analyses revealed interactive effects for only maternal attachment-by-depression interaction. Interestingly, high levels of maternal attachment exacerbated the relationship between depression symptoms and multiple risk behaviors while low levels of maternal attachment attenuated this relationship. It is possible that this analysis could be biased by a common underlying factor that influences self-reporting and therefore is correlated with each of self-reported attachment security, depressive symptoms, and multiple risk behaviors. These findings suggest that maternal attachment serves as a protective factor at low levels while serving as an additional risk factor at high levels. Findings support and expand current knowledge about the roles that attachment and depression symptoms play in the development of multiple risk behaviors and suggest a more complex etiology for post-war adolescents. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PAS-cal: a Generic Recombinant Peptide Calibration Standard for Mass Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breibeck, Joscha; Serafin, Adam; Reichert, Andreas; Maier, Stefan; Küster, Bernhard; Skerra, Arne

2014-08-01

We describe the design, preparation, and mass-spectrometric characterization of a new recombinant peptide calibration standard with uniform biophysical and ionization characteristics for mass spectrometry. "PAS-cal" is an artificial polypeptide concatamer of peptide cassettes with varying lengths, each composed of the three small, chemically stable amino acids Pro, Ala, and Ser, which are interspersed by Arg residues to allow site-specific cleavage with trypsin. PAS-cal is expressed at high yields in Escherichia coli as a Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) fusion protein, which is easily purified and allows isolation of the PAS-cal moiety after SUMO protease cleavage. Upon subsequent in situ treatment with trypsin, the PAS-cal polypeptide yields a set of four defined homogeneous peptides in the range from 2 to 8 kDa with equal mass spacing. ESI-MS analysis revealed a conveniently interpretable raw spectrum, which after deconvolution resulted in a very simple pattern of four peaks with similar ionization signals. MALDI-MS analysis of a PAS-cal peptide mixture comprising both the intact polypeptide and its tryptic fragments revealed not only the four standard peptides but also the singly and doubly charged states of the intact concatamer as well as di- and trimeric adduct ion species between the peptides, thus augmenting the observable m/z range. The advantageous properties of PAS-cal are most likely a result of the strongly hydrophilic and conformationally disordered PEG-like properties of the PAS sequences. Therefore, PAS-cal offers an inexpensive and versatile recombinant peptide calibration standard for mass spectrometry in protein/peptide bioanalytics and proteomics research, the composition of which may be further adapted to fit individual needs.

Hot deformation behaviors and processing maps of B{sub 4}C/Al6061 neutron absorber composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yu-Li

In this study, the hot deformation behaviors of 30 wt.% B{sub 4}C/Al6061 neutron absorber composites (NACs) have been investigated by conducting isothermal compression tests at temperatures ranging from 653 K to 803 K and strain rates from 0.01 to 10 s{sup −1}. It was found that, during hot compression, the B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs exhibited a steady flow characteristic which can be expressed by the Zener-Hollomon parameter as a hyperbolic-sine function of flow stress. High average activation energy (185.62 kJ/mol) of B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs is noted in current study owing to the high content of B{sub 4}C particle. The optimum hotmore » working conditions for B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs are found to be 760–803 K/0.01–0.05 s{sup −1} based on processing map and microstructure evolution. Typical material instabilities are thought to be attributed to void formation, adiabatic shear bands (ASB), particle debonding, and matrix cracking. Finally, the effect of the plastic deformation zones (PDZs) on the microstructure evolution in this 30 wt.% B{sub 4}C/Al6061 composite is found to be very important. - Highlights: •The hot deformation behavior of the 30 wt.% B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs was first analyzed. •The 3D efficiency map and the instability map are developed. •The optimum hot working conditions were identified and validated by SEM and TEM. •The hot deformation schematic diagram of 30 wt.% B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs is developed.« less

Formation and hydrolysis of amide bonds by lipase A from Candida antarctica; exceptional features.

PubMed

Liljeblad, Arto; Kallio, Pauli; Vainio, Marita; Niemi, Jarmo; Kanerva, Liisa T

2010-02-21

Various commercial lyophilized and immobilized preparations of lipase A from Candida antarctica (CAL-A) were studied for their ability to catalyze the hydrolysis of amide bonds in N-acylated alpha-amino acids, 3-butanamidobutanoic acid (beta-amino acid) and its ethyl ester. The activity toward amide bonds is highly untypical of lipases, despite the close mechanistic analogy to amidases which normally catalyze the corresponding reactions. Most CAL-A preparations cleaved amide bonds of various substrates with high enantioselectivity, although high variations in substrate selectivity and catalytic rates were detected. The possible role of contaminant protein species on the hydrolytic activity toward these bonds was studied by fractionation and analysis of the commercial lyophilized preparation of CAL-A (Cat#ICR-112, Codexis). In addition to minor impurities, two equally abundant proteins were detected, migrating on SDS-PAGE a few kDa apart around the calculated size of CAL-A. Based on peptide fragment analysis and sequence comparison both bands shared substantial sequence coverage with CAL-A. However, peptides at the C-terminal end constituting a motile domain described as an active-site flap were not identified in the smaller fragment. Separated gel filtration fractions of the two forms of CAL-A both catalyzed the amide bond hydrolysis of ethyl 3-butanamidobutanoate as well as the N-acylation of methyl pipecolinate. Hydrolytic activity towards N-acetylmethionine was, however, solely confined to the fractions containing the truncated form of CAL-A. These fractions were also found to contain a trace enzyme impurity identified in sequence analysis as a serine carboxypeptidase. The possible role of catalytic impurities versus the function of CAL-A in amide bond hydrolysis is further discussed in the paper.

Stereochemical determinants of C-terminal specificity in PDZ peptide-binding domains: a novel contribution of the carboxylate-binding loop.

PubMed

Amacher, Jeanine F; Cushing, Patrick R; Bahl, Christopher D; Beck, Tobias; Madden, Dean R

2013-02-15

PDZ (PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1) binding domains often serve as cellular traffic engineers, controlling the localization and activity of a wide variety of binding partners. As a result, they play important roles in both physiological and pathological processes. However, PDZ binding specificities overlap, allowing multiple PDZ proteins to mediate distinct effects on shared binding partners. For example, several PDZ domains bind the cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), an epithelial ion channel mutated in CF. Among these binding partners, the CFTR-associated ligand (CAL) facilitates post-maturational degradation of the channel and is thus a potential therapeutic target. Using iterative optimization, we previously developed a selective CAL inhibitor peptide (iCAL36). Here, we investigate the stereochemical basis of iCAL36 specificity. The crystal structure of iCAL36 in complex with the CAL PDZ domain reveals stereochemical interactions distributed along the peptide-binding cleft, despite the apparent degeneracy of the CAL binding motif. A critical selectivity determinant that distinguishes CAL from other CFTR-binding PDZ domains is the accommodation of an isoleucine residue at the C-terminal position (P(0)), a characteristic shared with the Tax-interacting protein-1. Comparison of the structures of these two PDZ domains in complex with ligands containing P(0) Leu or Ile residues reveals two distinct modes of accommodation for β-branched C-terminal side chains. Access to each mode is controlled by distinct residues in the carboxylate-binding loop. These studies provide new insights into the primary sequence determinants of binding motifs, which in turn control the scope and evolution of PDZ interactomes.

Comparative Study of Protein Immobilization Properties on Calixarene Monolayers

PubMed Central

Chen, Hongxia; Lee, Minsu; Choi, Sungwook; Kim, Jae-Ho; Choi, Heung-Jin; Kim, Sung-Hoon; Lee, Jeabeom; Koh, Kwangnak

2007-01-01

Three calix[4]arene (Cal-4) derivatives of which contain ethylester (1), carboxylic acid (2), and crownether (3) at the lower rim with a common reactive thiol at the upper rim were synthesized and constructed to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au films. After spectroscopic characterization of monolayers, the interaction between Cal-4 and surface confined bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the SAMs was analyzed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The estimated surface concentration of BSA on the Cal-4 SAM with crownether group was the highest among the three Cal-4 derivatives. Anti-hIgG and hIgG pair was employed for the investigation of protein-protein interaction. Molecular interaction between anti-hIgG and hIgG can be detected in a concentration range of 10 pg/mL to 200 pg/mL on the Cal-4 derivative 3 SAM modified SPR chip.

Computer-Assisted Learning Applications in Health Educational Informatics: A Review.

PubMed

Shaikh, Faiq; Inayat, Faisal; Awan, Omer; Santos, Marlise D; Choudhry, Adnan M; Waheed, Abdul; Kajal, Dilkash; Tuli, Sagun

2017-08-10

Computer-assisted learning (CAL) as a health informatics application is a useful tool for medical students in the era of expansive knowledge bases and the increasing need for and the consumption of automated and interactive systems. As the scope and breadth of medical knowledge expand, the need for additional learning outside of lecture hours is becoming increasingly important. CAL can be an impactful adjunct to conventional methods that currently exist in the halls of learning. There is an increasing body of literature that suggests that CAL should be a commonplace and the recommended method of learning for medical students. Factors such as technical issues that hinder the performance of CAL are also evaluated. We conclude by encouraging the use of CAL by medical students as a highly beneficial method of learning that complements and enhances lectures and provides intuitive, interactive modulation of a self-paced curriculum based on the individual's academic abilities.

[Clinical analysis of 942 cases of Kawasaki disease].

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Li, Qiu; Zhao, Xiao-dong; Tang, Xue-mei; Wang, Xiao-gang; Wang, Mo; Wu, Dao-qi; Ou, Qian; Yang, Xi-qiang

2006-05-01

The study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the effects of therapeutic proposal on Kawasaki disease (KD). Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment for totally 942 patients with KD hospitalized during Jan, 2000 to Dec, 2004 were reviewed. Clinical features of typical and incomplete KD were compared. Also, influential factors for KD resistant to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy were analyzed. Five hundred and ten cases were followed up for analyzing the prognosis of coronary artery lesion (CAL). (1) 774 cases were diagnosed as typical KD, and 168 cases as incomplete KD. The incidence of infants with incomplete KD was higher than that of infants with typical KD (18.5% vs. 10.1%, P < 0.01). As compared with typical KD, the cases of incomplete KD had a long duration of fever before final diagnosis [(7.7 +/- 2.9) d vs. (7.0 +/- 2.4) d, P < 0.01], high hemoglobin level [Hb, (106.6 +/- 13.4) g/L vs. (103.5 +/- 12.3) g/L, P < 0.01], high hematocrit [Hct, (32.0 +/- 4.3)% vs. (31.0 +/- 4.0)%, P < 0.01], and high prevalence of CAL (23.8% vs. 16.8%, P < 0.05), respectively. The occurrence rate and emerging time of clinical manifestations in incomplete KD and in typical KD were presented, respectively: non-exudative conjunctivitis [occurrence rate, 64.9% vs. 93.5%; emerging time, (4.4 +/- 1.4) d vs. (4.0 +/- 1.6) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], erythema and cracking of lips [occurrence rate, 50.6% vs. 94.8%; emerging time, (4.9 +/- 1.4) d vs. (4.5 +/- 1.6) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], rash [occurrence rate, 35.1% vs. 87.7%; emerging time, (3.9 +/- 1.9) d vs. (3.4 +/- 1.7) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], erythema and edema of extremity [occurrence rate, 26.8% vs. 71.4%; emerging time, (6.7 +/- 1.5) d vs. (5.3 +/- 1.7) d, respectively (P < 0.01)], cervical lymphadenopathy [occurrence rate, 34.5% vs. 68.0%; emerging time, (4.3 +/- 2.5) d vs. (3.6 +/- 2.2) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], strawberry tongue [occurrence rate, 31.0% vs. 59.8%; emerging time, (5.6 +/- 2.2) d vs. (4.9 +/- 1.8) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], membranous desquamation of fingertips [occurrence rate, 34.5% vs. 56.3%; emerging time, (11.7 +/- 3.3) d vs. (10.3 +/- 2.7) d, respectively (P < 0.01)], and desquamation peri-anus [occurrence rate, 42.9% vs. 50.0%; emerging time, (6.7 +/- 2.7) d vs. (6.9 +/- 2.5) d, respectively (P > 0.05)]. Except for peri-anus desquamation, other clinical manifestations in incomplete KD were sporadical as compared to typical KD. (2) Six per cent (51/857) of cases were resistant to the IVIG therapy. As compared to the group responding to IVIG therapy, high prevalence of CAL (31.4% vs. 17.1%, P < 0.05), long fever duration [(10.6 +/- 3.9) d vs. (7.5 +/- 2.3) d, P < 0.01], low Hb level [(99.9 +/- 14.1) g/L vs. (104.3 +/- 12.4) g/L, P < 0.01], low Hct [(30.1 +/- 4.5)% vs. (31.2 +/- 4.0)%, P < 0.05], low platelet [PLT, (256.9 +/- 142.4) x 10(9)/L vs. (309.7 +/- 131.5) x 10(9)/L, P < 0.05], and low albumin level [ALB, (27.8 +/- 8.4) g/L vs. (33.5 +/- 6.7) g/L, P < 0.01] were found in the group resistant to IVIG therapy, respectively. (3) In patients who received IVIG 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg, the recovery rates from CAL were 83.1% and 89.7% (P > 0.05), respectively. The prevalence of CAL in those without CAL in acute and subacute stages was 0.9% and 3.5% (P > 0.05), respectively, during 2 year-follow-up period. (1) Infants appeared to have more chances to suffer from incomplete KD. Incomplete KD had high prevalence of CAL. The peri-anus desquamation might be an important clue for early diagnosis of incomplete KD. (2) In acute stage, the influential factors for KD resistance to IVIG therapy included prolonged fever, non-elevated PLT, and persistent decrease in Hb, Hct and ALB levels. (3) Children receiving IVIG 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg had the similar effects on recovery and prevention from CAL within the first two years after KD onset.

Data Management Standards in Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistic Support (CALS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jefferson, David K.

1990-01-01

Viewgraphs and discussion on data management standards in computer-aided acquisition and logistic support (CALS) are presented. CALS is intended to reduce cost, increase quality, and improve timeliness of weapon system acquisition and support by greatly improving the flow of technical information. The phase 2 standards, industrial environment, are discussed. The information resource dictionary system (IRDS) is described.

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Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Calibration and Validation Plan and Current Activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, T. J.; Cosh, M.; Bindlish, R.; Crow, W.; Colliander, A.; Njoku, E.; McDonald, K.; Kimball, J.; Belair, S.; Walker, J.;

Resistance of human plasmacytoid dendritic CAL-1 cells to infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is caused by restricted virus cell entry, which is overcome by contact of CAL-1 cells with LCMV-infected cells.

PubMed

Iwasaki, Masaharu; Sharma, Siddhartha M; Marro, Brett S; de la Torre, Juan C

2017-11-01

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), a main source of type I interferon in response to viral infection, are an early cell target during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, which has been associated with the LCMV's ability to establish chronic infections. Human blood-derived pDCs have been reported to be refractory to ex vivo LCMV infection. In the present study we show that human pDC CAL-1 cells are refractory to infection with cell-free LCMV, but highly susceptible to infection with recombinant LCMVs carrying the surface glycoprotein of VSV, indicating that LCMV infection of CAL-1 cells is restricted at the cell entry step. Co-culture of uninfected CAL-1 cells with LCMV-infected HEK293 cells enabled LCMV to infect CAL-1 cells. This cell-to-cell spread required direct cell-cell contact and did not involve exosome pathway. Our findings indicate the presence of a novel entry pathway utilized by LCMV to infect pDC. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Clinical and radiographic comparison of indirect pulp treatment using light-cured calcium silicate and mineral trioxide aggregate in primary molars: A randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Menon, Navya P; Varma, Balagopal R; Janardhanan, Sureshkumar; Kumaran, Parvathy; Xavier, Arun Mamachan; Govinda, Bhat Sangeetha

2016-01-01

To clinically and radiographically evaluate the reparative dentin formation in indirect pulp treatment (IPT) using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and light cured calcium silicate (TheraCal) in primary molars over a period of 6 months. A clinical trial on IPT on 43 primary molars in 21 patients between the age of 4-7 years, divided into two groups: 22 teeth in MTA group and 21 in TheraCal group. Measurement of the variation in dentin thickness was done on the digitalized radiograph at baseline, 3 months and 6 months using CorelDRAW X3 software. Statistical analysis using an independent t -test for intragroup and intergroup comparison showed a significant increase in dentin thickness in both the MTA and TheraCal group (intragroup comparison [ P < 0.05]). However, intergroup comparison between MTA and TheraCal showed no statistical difference in reparative dentin formation ( P > 0.05). Clinically and radiographically, both MTA and TheraCal are good IPT materials. The better handling characteristics and comparable reparative dentin-forming ability of TheraCal make this material an alternative to MTA in pediatric restorative procedures.

Development and evaluation of an audiology app for iPhone/iPad mobile devices.

PubMed

Larrosa, Francisco; Rama-Lopez, Julio; Benitez, Jesus; Morales, Jose M; Martinez, Asuncion; Alañon, Miguel A; Arancibia-Tagle, Diego; Batuecas-Caletrio, Angel; Martinez-Lopez, Marta; Perez-Fernandez, Nicolas; Gimeno, Carlos; Ispizua, Angel; Urrutikoetxea, Alberto; Rey-Martinez, Jorge

2015-01-01

The application described in this study appears to be accurate and valid, thus allowing calculation of a hearing handicap and assessment of the pure-tone air conduction threshold with iPhone/iPad devices. To develop and evaluate a newly developed professional, computer-based hearing handicap calculator and a manual hearing sensitivity assessment test for the iPhone and iPad (AudCal). Multi-center prospective non-randomized validation study. One hundred and ten consecutive adult participants underwent two hearing evaluations, a standard audiometry and a pure-tone air conduction test using AudCal with an iOS device. The hearing handicap calculation accuracy was evaluated comparing AudCal vs a web-based calculator. Hearing loss was found in 83 and 84 out of 220 standard audiometries and AudCal hearing tests (Cohen's Kappa = 0.89). The mean difference between AudCal and standard audiogram thresholds was -0.21 ± 6.38 dB HL. Excellent reliability and concordance between standard audiometry and the application's hearing loss assessment test were obtained (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96; intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.93). AudCal vs a web-based calculator were perfectly correlated (Pearson's r = 1).

Comparing Vegetation Response in Southern, Central and Northern California during the 1997-1998 and 2015-2016 El Niño

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneiderman, A. C.; Miller, D. L.; Roberts, D. A.

2016-12-01

Quantifying changes in regional impacts of the positive phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is very important in order to understand and anticipate the potential impacts of El Niños. Two specific El Niños were chosen for this study because of their similar magnitude and their anomalous differences in local precipitation across California. Using images obtained in southern (SoCal), central (CeCal) and northern California (NoCal) by the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Operational Land Imager (OLI), we evaluated the geographic patterns of precipitation enhancement during the 1997-1998 and 2015-2016 El Niños. California's vegetation response during the El Niños was measured using Constrained Reference Endmember Selection (CRES) and Spectral Mixture Analysis to select endmembers and map fractional cover for green vegetation (GV), non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) and soil. Our initial analysis showed a greater amount of GV in locations where the enhanced precipitation fell (e.g. SoCal in'97-'98 and NoCal in '15-'16). By comparing the '97-'98 and '15-'16 seasonal change in GV (dGV), we anticipated southern California to show a decrease in dGV between the two El Niño's and for NoCal to show an increase in dGV, with CeCal lying between these trends. Our results confirmed this pattern, and in SoCal during the '15-'16 El Niño the total seasonal dGV was +1450.6 km², which showed a negative trend compared to the +3841.2 km² dGV that occurred during the '97-'98 El Niño. We found similar trends in CeCal and NoCal because the dGV in '15-'16 was greater than dGV in '97-'98 for both locations. The lack of precipitation is speculated to be a result of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs), which nearly reached the Tropic of Cancer during the '15-'16 El Niño. If the SSTAs continue to reach very high latitudes during future strong positive ENSO phases, we can speculate that similar trends in GV will be found.

Exploring the link between maternal attachment-related anxiety and avoidance and mindful parenting: The mediating role of self-compassion.

PubMed

Moreira, Helena; Carona, Carlos; Silva, Neuza; Nunes, Joana; Canavarro, Maria Cristina

2016-12-01

Mindful parenting has been described as a set of parental practices or skills that seek to enhance moment-to-moment awareness in the parent-child relationship. Although it has been suggested that adopting a mindful approach in parenting may foster positive parent-child relationships and promote the psychological functioning of children and parents, little is known about the factors that may be associated with this parental skill. In this study, we aimed to examine whether attachment-related anxiety and avoidance were associated with mindful parenting through self-compassion. The sample included 290 mothers of school-aged children and adolescents recruited in school settings, who completed self-reported measures of adult attachment (Experiences in Close Relationships - Relationships Structures), self-compassion (Self-compassion Scale), and mindful parenting (Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale). Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed mediation model and to ascertain direct and indirect effects among study variables. Whereas attachment avoidance had a direct effect on mindful parenting, attachment anxiety was indirectly associated with mindful parenting through self-compassion. Specifically, higher levels of anxiety were associated with lower self-compassion, which, in turn, was associated with lower levels of mindful parenting. Higher levels of avoidance were directly associated with lower levels of mindful parenting. These results demonstrate that mothers' attachment dimensions play an important role in their levels of mindful parenting, although through different pathways. Interventions aimed at promoting mindful parenting skills should attempt to promote parents' self-compassion and consider parents' levels of attachment insecurity. The results underline the important role of mothers' attachment on levels of mindful parenting and evidence different pathways through which attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance are associated with this parental skill. Higher levels of attachment avoidance were directly associated with lower levels of mindful parenting, whereas higher levels of anxiety were indirectly associated with lower levels of mindful parenting through lower levels of self-compassion. Mothers who are more self-compassionate are more able to adopt a mindful stance in the parent-child relationship. Parenting interventions aimed at promoting mindfulness skills in the parenting context can benefit from including self-compassionate exercises and are particularly important for insecurely attached parents. © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

Vegetation and Water Level Changes for the Northeast U.S. During the "8.2 ka Event"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newby, P. E.; Donnelly, J. P.; Shuman, B.; MacDonald, D.

2006-12-01

Cool conditions, known as the "8.2 ka event", occurred between 8400 and 7900 cal yr B.P. in Greenland, Europe and elsewhere in the North Atlantic. The impact of this brief cool interval on local forests is recorded in radiocarbon-dated, high-resolution pollen stratigraphies for New Long Pond (41^{0}50'N, 70^{0}42'W) and Davis Pond (42^{0}30'N, 73^{0}19'W), Massachusetts. The vegetation response to the event is recorded differently for regions with contrasting soil types. At New Long Pond, the sandy outwash derived soils are associated with changes in jack/red, white and pitch pine populations, whereas the dominant changes in vegetation for the clay-rich, proglacial lake derived soils around Davis Pond are among oak, hemlock, and beech. At both sites, pollen evidence for the "8.2 ka event" may be easily overlooked within the more dominant regional pattern for the Northeast, which shows a shift from dry to moist conditions in conjunction with changes from predominantly white pine to oak with more mesic plant taxa between 9000 and 8000 cal yr B.P. At New Long Pond, the "8.2 ka event" is brief, preceded by a low-stand in water-level during the early Holocene and dominated by white pine pollen. After 9000 cal yr B.P., pitch pine with beech, maple, hop/hornbeam, elm and ash pollen indicate a mixed mesophytic forest. A radiocarbon-dated decrease in loss-on-ignition values at 8400 cal yr B.P., likely related to a drawdown in lake level, distinguishes the "8.2 event" and helps highlight subtle shifts in vegetation that favor colder and drier conditions than before the event. Following this brief episode, the pollen data indicate a return to warm and moist conditions until about 5600 years ago. At Davis Pond, increased oak and decreased hemlock pollen abundances, followed by an increase in beech pollen abundance is evident and show what may be the dominant regional pollen signature for the "8.2 ka event" in the Northest. This pattern is also recorded at nearby Berry and North Ponds in western Massachusetts. The appearance of ragweed pollen at both Davis and New Long Pond may indicate perturbations to the vegetation that also relate to the "8.2 ka event".

Holocene Millennial Time Scale Hydrological Changes In Central-east Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jolly, D.; Bonnefille, R.; Beaufort, L.

The Holocene hydrological changes of a tropical swamp is reconstructed using a high resolution pollen record (ca 50 yrs) from the Kuruyange valley (Burundi, Africa, 3°35'S, 29°41'E), at 2000 m elevation. The sequence was dated by 10 radiocarbon dates, allowing reconstruction between ca 12 500 and 1000 cal yr B.P. In the Kuruyange swamp, peat accumulated rapidly at a sedimentation rate varying from 0.73 (prior to 6200 cal yr B.P.) to 1.51 mm/yr (during the late Holocene). A pollen index of water table, based on a ratio of aquatic versus non-aquatic plants has been used in order to test the hypothesis of hydrological constraints on the swampy ecosystem. Eight arid phases are evidenced by the index minima at 12 200, 11 200, 9900, 8600, 6500, 5000, 3400, 1600 cal yr B.P. The good agreement existing between this index and independent data such as (i) low-resolution East-African lake level reconstruct ions (Gillespie et al., 1983) and (ii) ?18O analyses from Arabian Sea (Sirocko et al., 1993) suggests the water table level responds to the monsoon dynamic. The Index varies periodically with a combination of 1/1515, 1/880 and 1/431 years-1 frequencies, revealed by time series analyses (Blackman-Tukey and Maximum Entropy). The extrapolation of the composite curve based on these 3 periodicities show that two major climatic events defined in the high latitudes between 1000 and 660 cal yr B.P. (Medieval Warm Period) and between 500 and 100 cal yr B.P. (Little Ice Age) are recorded in our data and show respectively high and low stands of the water table. Our results support some previous pollen-derived climate estimates in Ethiopia done by Bonnefille and Umer (1994). Moreover, the "1500 year" cycle registered in our data from the tropics, already evidenced in higher latitudes (Wijmstra et al., 1984; Bondet al., 1997; Schulz et al., 1999; Bond et al., 2001) support the hypothesis of strong teleconnections between tropical/subtropical and polar climates during the deglaciation (Sirocko et al., 1996) and the Holocene. References Bond et al., Science,278, 1257 (1997) Bond et al., Science,294, 2130 (2001) Bonnefille &Umer, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 109, 331 (1994) Gillespie et al., Nature, 306, 680 (1983) Schulz et al., Geophysical Research Letters, 26, 3385 (1999) Sirocko et al., Nature, 364, 322 (1993) Sirocko et al., Science, 272, 526 (1996) Wijmstra et al., Acta Botanica Neerlandica, 33, 547 (1984)

Late Holocene monsoon climate of northeastern Taiwan inferred from elemental (C, N) and isotopic (δ13C, δ15N) data in lake sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selvaraj, Kandasamy; Wei, Kuo-Yen; Liu, Kon-Kee; Kao, Shuh-Ji

2012-03-01

Little information exists about centennial-scale climate variability on oceanic islands in the western Pacific where the East Asian monsoon (EAM) strongly influences the climate, mountain ecosystem and the society. In this study, we investigate a 168 cm long sediment core recovered from Emerald Peak Lake in subalpine NE Taiwan for the contents of grain size, total organic carbon (TOC), C/N ratio, and stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) to reconstruct the monsoon climate and vegetation density during the late Holocene. Six radiocarbon (14C) ages obtained on plant remains used for the chronology indicate that the sediment core has been accumulated since ˜3770 cal BP with a mean sedimentation rate of 44.6 cm/ka. The sub-centennial resolution of our proxy records reveals strong fluctuations of the EAM and vegetation density for the past ˜3770 cal BP. The greater contents of coarse and medium sediments with overall decreasing trends from 3770 to 2000 cal BP suggest an increasing fine sediment influx from the catchment likely due to an increasing lake water level. Although low TOC content, C/N ratio, and enriched δ13C values in bulk and fine sediments during this interval suggest a sparsely vegetated catchment, increasing trends of TOC content and C/N ratio together with decreasing trends of δ13C and δ15N values indicate a strengthening pattern of summer monsoon. This is in contrast to a decreasing monsoon strength inferred from Dongge Cave δ18O record at that time, supporting the idea of anti-phasing of summer EAM and Indian summer monsoon. Since 2000 cal BP, higher content of fine sediments with high TOC content and C/N ratio but relatively depleted δ13C and low δ15N values suggest a high but stable lake water level and dense C3 plants, consistent with a stronger summer monsoon in a wet climate. Within this general trend, we interpret a prominent change of proxy parameters in sediments from ˜560 to 150 cal BP, as subtropical evidence for the Little Ice Age in NE Taiwan. By comparing our proxy records with other diverse land and marine records from southern China and adjoining marine realm, we demonstrate that the centennial to millennial-scale fluctuations of the summer EAM over the northeastern Taiwan during the late Holocene have been largely modulated by the tropical Pacific forcing through El Niño along with solar forcing.

A 27 ka paleoenvironmental lake sediment record from Taro Co, central Tibetan Plateau: implications for the interplay between monsoon and the Westerlies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J.; Ma, Q.; Huang, L.; Ju, J.; Guo, Y.; Lin, X.; Li, Y.; Zhu, L.

2017-12-01

The climate of Tibetan Plateau (TP) is mainly influenced by the Indian Ocean Summer Monsoon (IOSM) and the Westerlies. The interaction of these two air masses is therefore a crucial scientific issue to understand how they impact the climate in this area, especially in the geological times. However, constrained by the available archives, researches on this topic are still very few in the hinterland of the TP, especially covering the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) period. Here we present a new lake sediment record retrieved from Taro Co covering the last 27 ka to elucidate how the IOSM and the Westerlies interact and the possible mechanisms. Taro Co (486 km2, Dmax: 132m, 4565 m a.s.l., currently closed), located on the central TP, is a fresh lake with the major supply from glaciers. Two parallel piston cores as well as several gravity cores were retrieved from the deepest parts. These cores were correlated based on high resolution XRF scanning and a continuous 1069 cm-long core was finally integrated. Chronology was determined by 210Pb, 137Cs and AMS 14C measurements. Multidiscipline analyses including grain size, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen, diatom, ostracod, pollen and n-alkanes were accomplished to reconstruct paleoenvironmental changes. The lake level of Taro Co was low since 27 cal ka BP indicated by very coarse materials and diatom assemblages with gradually increased temperature and salinity (TOC and carbonate getting higher). The terrestrial water input decreased continuously reflected by such elements as Si, Ti, Fe, K. It is likely that there was a sedimentation gap between 961-954cm, corresponding to 23.4 to 18.6 cal ka BP probably demonstrated Taro Co was very shallow at that period. The first prominent abrupt change of most proxies was observed at 14.7 cal ka BP showing a great lake deepening which likely indicated an enhancement of IOSM. There were several spells with abrupt changes of cold/warm stages before the Holocene and the Younger Dryas event occurred at 11.8 cal ka BP. During the Holocene, carbonate dissolution was identified at 9.76 to 3.44 cal ka BP which indicated a high moisture availability hence high lake level even the lake became an open system. More detailed results and comparison with other studies are still in progress to have an insight into the record and its possible controlling mechanism.

Climate variability in the past ∼19,000 yr in NE Tibetan Plateau inferred from biomarker and stable isotope records of Lake Donggi Cona

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saini, Jeetendra; Günther, Franziska; Aichner, Bernhard; Mischke, Steffen; Herzschuh, Ulrike; Zhang, Chengjun; Mäusbacher, Roland; Gleixner, Gerd

2017-02-01

We investigated 4.84-m-long sediment record spanning over the Late Glacial and Holocene from Lake Donggi Cona to be able to reconstruct circulation pattern on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Presently, Lake Donggi Cona is located at the boundaries of Westerlies and Asian monsoon circulations in the northeastern TP. However, the exact timing and stimulating mechanisms for climatic changes and monsoon shifts in this region are still debated. We used a 19-ka-long stable isotope record of sedimentary n-alkanes to address this discrepancy by providing insights into paleohydrological conditions. The δD of nC23 is influenced by lake water evaporation; the δD values of sedimentary nC29 are mainly controlled by moisture source and temperature changes. Long-chain n-alkanes dominate over the core whereas three mean clusters (i.e. microbial, aquatic and terrestrial) can be inferred. Multi-proxies suggest five major episodes in the history of Lake Donggi Cona. The Lake Donggi Cona record indicates that the Late Glacial (18.4-14.8 cal ka BP) was dominated by low productivity of mainly microbial and aquatic organisms. Relatively low δD values suggest low temperatures and moist conditions eventually caused by stronger Westerlies, winter monsoon and melt-water influence. Likely, the shift (∼17.9 cal ka BP) from microbial to enhanced aquatic input suggests either a change from deep to shallow water lake or a break in local stratification. Between 14.8 and 13.0 cal ka BP, variable climatic conditions prevailed. Although the Westerlies weekend, the increase in temperature enhanced the permafrost and snow melting (displayed by a high sedimentary accumulation rate). Higher δD values indicate increasingly arid conditions with higher temperatures which eventually lead to high evaporative conditions and lowest lake levels. Low vegetation cover and high erosion rates led to high sediment accumulation resulting in stratification followed by anoxia in the terminal lake. From 13.0 to 9.2 cal ka BP, lowered values of δD along with high contents of terrestrial organic matter marked the early-Holocene warming indicating a further strengthening of summer precipitation and higher lake levels. A cooling trend was observed in the mid-Holocene between 9.2 and 3.0 cal ka BP accompanied by higher moisture availability (displayed by lowered δD values) caused by reduced evaporative conditions due to a drop in temperature and recovering Westerlies. After 3.0 cal ka BP, a decrease in lake productivity and cold and semi-arid conditions prevailed suggesting lower lake levels and reduced moisture from recycled air masses and Westerlies. We propose that the summer monsoon was the predominant moisture source during the Bølling-Allerød warm complex and early-Holocene followed by Westerlies in mid-to-late Holocene period. Stable carbon isotope values ∼ - 32‰ indicate the absence of C4-type vegetation in the region contradicting with their presence in the Lake Qinghai record. The δD record from lake Donggi Cona highlights the importance of the interplay between Westerlies and summer monsoon circulation at this location, which is highly dynamic in northeastern plateau compared to the North Atlantic circulation and insolation changes. Consequently lake Donggi Cona might be an important anchor point for environmental reconstructions on the Tibetan Plateau.

Influence of system controls on the Late Quaternary geomorphic evolution of a rapidly-infilled incised-valley system: The lower Manawatu valley, North Island New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clement, Alastair J. H.; Fuller, Ian C.

2018-02-01

The Manawatu incised-valley estuary was rapidly infilled between 12,000-4700 cal. yr BP. A combination of empirical measurements of sedimentation rates, a reconstruction of relative sea-level (RSL) change, and digital elevation models of key surfaces within the Holocene sedimentary fill of the valley were integrated to produce a numerical model to investigate the influence of the system controls of sea-level change, sediment flux, and accommodation space on the rapid infilling history of the palaeo-estuary. The numerical model indicates that sediment flux into the palaeo-estuary was greatest during the Holocene marine transgression between 12,000-8000 years BP. The average rate of sediment deposition in the estuary during this period was 1.0 M m3 yr- 1. This rapid rate of sedimentation was controlled by the rate of accommodation space creation, as regulated by the rate of sea-level rise and the antecedent configuration of the valley. By the time sea levels stabilised c. 7500 cal. yr BP, the palaeo-estuary had been substantively infilled. Limited accommodation space resulted in rapid infilling of the central basin, though sediment flux into the estuary between 7100 and 4500 cal. yr BP was at a lower rate of 234,000 m3 yr- 1. The limited accommodation space also influenced hydrodynamic conditions in the estuarine central basin, driving export of fine-grained sediment from the estuary. Once the accommodation space of the estuarine basin was infilled sediment bypassed the system, with a consequent reduction in the sedimentation rate in the valley. More accurate partitioning of the sources of sediment driving the infilling is necessary to quantify sediment bypassing. Post-depositional lowering of RSL index points from the valley is driven by neotectonics and sediment compaction.

Decadally resolved Lateglacial radiocarbon evidence from New Zealand kauri

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hogg, Alan; Southon, John; Turney, Chris; Palmer, Jonathan; Bronk Ramsey, Christopher; Fenwick, Pavla; Boswijk, Gretel; Büntgen, Ulf; Friedrich, Michael; Helle, Gerhard; Hughen, Konrad; Jones, Richard; Kromer, Bernd; Noronha, Alexandra; Reinig, Frederick; Reynard, Linda; Staff, Richard; Wacker, Lukas

2017-04-01

The Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition (LGIT; 15,000 - 11,000 cal BP) was characterised by complex spatiotemporal patterns of climate change, with numerous studies requiring accurate chronological control to decipher leads from lags in global palaeoclimatic, -environmental and archaeological records. However, close scrutiny of the few available tree-ring chronologies and radiocarbon-dated sequences composing the IntCal13 radiocarbon (14C) calibration curve, indicates significant weakness in 14C calibration across key periods of the LGIT. Here, we present a decadally-resolved atmospheric 14C record derived from New Zealand kauri spanning Greenland Stadial 1 (GS-1; 12,900 - 11,650 cal BP). Two floating kauri 14C time series, curve-matched to IntCal13, serve as a radiocarbon backbone through GS-1. Floating Northern Hemisphere (NH) 14C datasets are matched against the new kauri data, forming a robust NH 14C time series to 14,200 cal BP. Our results show that IntCal13 is questionable from 12,200 - 11,900 cal BP and the 10,400 BP 14C plateau is approximately five decades too short. By precisely aligning Southern and Northern Hemisphere tree-ring 14C records with marine 14C sequences, we document two relatively short periods of North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) collapse during GS-1. Hence, sustained North Atlantic cooling across GS-1 was not driven by a prolonged AMOC reduction but was probably due to an equatorward migration of the Polar Front.

Late Quaternary deglacial history of the Mérida Andes, Venezuela

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stansell, Nathan D.; Abbott, Mark B.; Polissar, Pratigya J.; Wolfe, Alexander P.; Bezada, Maximiliano; Rull, Valentí

2005-10-01

Radiocarbon-dated sediment cores from seven lakes and two bogs spanning the Cordillera de Mérida in the Venezuelan Andes were used to identify and date the regional history of late Pleistocene and Holocene glacial activity. Coring sites were selected at different elevations across a pronounced rain shadow from southeast (wet) to northwest (dry). Sediment lithostratigraphy and magnetic susceptibility, in conjunction with AMS radiocarbon dates on macrofossils and charcoal, were used to constrain deglaciation. The local expression of the Last Glacial Maximum occurred between 22 750 and 19 960 cal. yr BP. On the wetter southeastern side of the Cordillera de Mérida, glaciers had significantly retreated by 15 700 cal. yr BP, followed by several minor glacial advances and retreats between 14 850 and 13 830 cal. yr BP. At least one major glacial readvance occurred between 13 830 and 10 000 cal. yrBP in the wetter southeastern sector of the region. The drier northwest side of the Cordillera de Mérida records initial glacial retreat by 14240cal.yrBP. Multiple sites on both sides of the Mérida Andes record a further phase of extensive deglaciation approximately 10000cal.yrBP. However, the north-northwest facing Mucubají catchment remained partially glaciated until ca. 6000cal.yrBP. Deglacial ages from the Venezuelan Andes are consistently younger than those reported from the Southern Hemisphere Andes, suggesting an inter-hemispheric deglacial lag in the northern tropics of the order of two thousand years.

Quartz grains reveal sedimentary palaeoenvironment and past storm events: A case study from eastern Baltic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalińska-Nartiša, Edyta; Stivrins, Normunds; Grudzinska, Ieva

2018-01-01

Sediment record collected from the coastal lake serves as a powerful tool for reconstructing changes in palaeoenvironment and understanding the potential signals of past storminess. In this study, we use several proxies from sediment of the Holocene Thermal Maximum at coastal Lake Lilaste, Latvia. We focus on surface texture of quartz grains from the mineral inorganic fraction as indicators of depositional environments. We then use this as a proxy for potential storm transport and combine with information on granulometry, diatom stratigraphy and chronology to answer the question whether flux of quartz grains in the lake originated from the sea or from the land. Analyses in a binocular and scanning electron microscope reveal that most of the investigated quartz grains originate from dwelling in the seawater and wave action in the nearshore zone. Grains representing very energetic subaqueous environment similar to storm events are also present. Terrestrial record is of minor significance and visible through occurrence of aeolian quartz grains. During drier and colder conditions, an influx of sand with aeolian imprint was delivered to the lake between 8500 and 7800 cal yr BP. Marine and terrestrial conditions alternated between 7800 and 6000 cal yr BP. Storm-induced grains were likely deposited three times: at 7300 cal yr BP, 6600-6400 cal yr BP, and 6200-6000 cal yr BP. Overall stable marine environmental conditions prevailed between 6000 and 4000 cal yr BP except of the last portion of terrestrial-induced sediment at 4100 cal yr BP.

Were they all giants? Perspectives on late Holocene plate-boundary earthquakes at the northern end of the Cascadia subduction zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutchinson, Ian; Clague, John

2017-08-01

The relative magnitude of plate-boundary earthquakes at the northern end of the Cascadia subduction zone was assessed from the temporal concordance between the ages of coseismically buried late Holocene soils in southwest Washington, their counterparts in central and southern Cascadia, offshore turbidites, and paleoseismic deposits on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Only three of the seven buried soils in southwest Washington that can be reliably traced as buried soils or paleotsunami deposits in the coastal lowlands of south-central and southern Cascadia have well-dated counterparts in northern Cascadia. The three wide-ranging events date from Cascadia earthquakes Y (∼250 cal BP), U (∼1260 cal BP), and N (∼2520 cal BP). All three likely ruptured the entire plate margin, and therefore potentially qualify as ;giants; (Mw ≥ 9). Deposits that may derive from tsunamis generated by earthquakes S (∼1570 cal BP), L (∼2870 cal BP) and J (∼3360 cal BP) can also be found in northern Cascadia, but the ages of these deposits are not yet well-enough constrained to determine whether they are coeval with their southern counterparts. Earthquake W (∼850 cal BP), appears to be present in the northern Cascadia paleoseismic record, but yields considerably older ages than in central Cascadia, and may be missing from southernmost Cascadia. The onshore record of an offshore turbidite (T2) displays a similar spatio-temporal pattern to that of earthquake W.

Attachment anxiety benefits from security priming: Evidence from working memory performance

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

The present study investigates the relationship between the attachment dimensions (anxious vs. avoidance) and the cognitive performance of individuals, specifically whether the attachment dimensions would predict the working memory (WM) performance. In the n-back task, reflecting the WM capacity, both attachment related and non-attachment related words were used. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups that received either the secure or the neutral subliminal priming. In the secure priming condition, the aim was to induce sense of security by presenting secure attachment words prior to the n-back task performance. In neutral priming condition, neutral words that did not elicit sense of security were presented. Structural equation modeling revealed divergent patterns for attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions under the different priming conditions. In neutral priming condition, WM performance declined in terms of capacity in the n-back task for individuals who rated higher levels of attachment anxiety. However in the secure priming condition, WM performance was boosted in the n-back task for individuals who rated higher levels of attachment anxiety. In other words, the subliminal priming of the security led to increased WM capacity of individuals who rated higher levels of attachment anxiety. This effect, however, was not observed for higher levels of attachment avoidance. Results are discussed along the lines of hyperactivation and deactivation strategies of the attachment system. PMID:29522549

Adolescents' strengths and difficulties: approach to attachment styles.

PubMed

Keskin, G; Cam, O

2010-06-01

This research is a descriptive field study conducted in order to investigate the relationship between adolescent difficulties and the attachment style. The study aims to investigate the relationship between adolescent attachment style and strength and difficulties in Turkey. Children attachment style and difficulties pattern in the group of adolescents aged 11-16 years old were compared with each other. Several different questionnaires, including The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, The Relationship Scale Questionnaire were applied to 384 (mean age 12.10 +/- 1.4 years) adolescents. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, anova, t-test, Kruskall Wallis and effect sizes. The adolescent secure attachment style was associated with increased levels of prosocial behaviour, decreased levels of emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, conduct problems, total difficulties scores. The adolescent fearful attachment style was associated with increased levels of emotional symptoms, and total difficulties scores. The adolescent dismissing attachment style was significantly associated with higher levels of emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, total difficulties scores and lower levels of prosocial behaviour. Adolescent strengths and difficulties are associated with their attachment style. Insecure attachment styles of dismissing and fearful were associated with increased mental symptom reporting. It is suggested that further studies may illuminate the clinical value of the attachment disorder and quantify parental contribution to psychopathology. Giving the therapeutic, structured mental support programme to adolescents that have attachment problems could be beneficial in improving mental status of these individuals.