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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Scaffolds with Controlled Release of Pro-Mineralization Exosomes to Promote Craniofacial Bone Healing without Cell Transplantation

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Publication date: Available online 13 October 2020

Source: Acta Biomaterialia

Author(s): W. Benton Swanson, Zhen Zhang, Kemao Xiu, Ting Gong, Miranda Eberle, Ziqi Wang, Peter X. Ma

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Prevalence of temporomandibular disorder in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis – a Norwegian cross- sectional multicentre study

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Abstract

Background

Children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may suffer pain from temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Still, routines for the assessment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in health and dental care are lacking. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of TMD in children and adolescents with JIA compared to their healthy peers and to investigate potential associations between JIA and TMD.

Methods

This comparative cross-sectional study is part of a longitudinal multicentre study performed during 2015–2020, including 228 children and adolescents aged 4–16 years with a diagnosis of JIA according to the ILAR criteria. This particular substudy draws on a subset of data from the first study visit, including assessments of TMD as part of a broader oral health examination. Children and adolescents with JIA were matched with healthy controls according to gender, age, and centre site. Five calibrated examiners performed the clinical oral examinations according to a standardised protocol, including shortened versions of the diagnostic criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) and the TMJaw Recommendations for Clinical TMJ Assessment in Patients Diagnosed with JIA. Symptoms were recorded and followed by a clinical examination assessing the masticatory muscles and TMJs.

Results

In our cohort of 221 participants with JIA and 221 healthy controls, 88 (39.8%) participants with JIA and 25 (11.3%) healthy controls presented with TMD based on symptoms and clinical signs. Painful TMD during the last 30 days was reported in 59 (26.7%) participants with JIA vs. 10 (5.0%) of the healthy controls (p <  0.001). Vertical unassisted jaw movement was lower in participants with JIA than in controls, with means of 46.2 mm vs. 49.0 mm, respectively (p <  0.001). Among participants with JIA, a higher proportion of those using synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic-drugs and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic-drugs presented with painful masticatory muscles and TMJs at palpation.

Conclusion

Symptoms and clinical signs of TMD were seen in approximately half of the JIA patients compared to about one fourth of their healthy peers. Painful palpation to masticatory muscles and decreased vertical unassisted jaw movement were more frequent in participants with JIA than among healthy controls and should be part of both medical and dental routine examinations in patients with JIA.

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Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Combined with Simultaneous Cone-beam Computed Tomography-guided Microwave Ablation in the Treatment of Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical Experiences From 50 Procedures

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Publication date: Available online 13 October 2020

Source: Academic Radiology

Author(s): Zhaonan Li, Dexun Hao, Dechao Jiao, Wenguang Zhang, Xinwei Han

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[Identification of a novel mutation of CEACAM16 gene in a Chinese family with autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss].

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[Identification of a novel mutation of CEACAM16 gene in a Chinese family with autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss].

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2020 Sep;34(9):777-781

Authors: Zhang Q, Wu K, Zhao C, Xie L, Xiong F, Lan L, Wang Q

Abstract
Objective:To explore the genetic cause of a Chinese autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss family and investigate the clinical features and molecular genetic characteristics of this family. Method:Detailed medical history and systematic audiology tests were carried out in the family members, and they were subjected to comprehensive genetic analyses using massively parallel sequencing, which targeted 139 known deafness genes and 6 mitochondrial DNA mutations associated with hearing loss. Result:This family's hearing loss was consistent with autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss. The affected family members appeared to have developed a high-frequency hearing loss with the onset of twenties. We identified a heterozygous missense mutation, c.418A>G/p. Thr140Ala in the CEACAM16 gene, segregating with the deafness in this family. Conclusion:In this study, we identified a new mutation of CEACAM16 gene, which was the second mutation identified in Chinese hearing loss population. It has enriched the mutation spectrum of this gene.

PMID: 33040498 [PubMed - in process]

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Clinical characteristics analysis of patients with Meniere's disease and vestibular migraine].

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[Clinical characteristics analysis of patients with Meniere's disease and vestibular migraine].

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2020 Sep;34(9):820-823

Authors: Chen Y, Sun H, Zhang Q, Qu Y, Li J, Zhou L, Yang M, Lu H, Zhao L, Sun Q

Abstract
Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with Meniere's disease and vestibular migraine, improve the understanding of such diseases for accurate treatment. Method:Eighteen patients with MD and VM were reviewed and the clinical characteristics of the patients were evaluated. Result:There were 4 males and 14 females whose average age was 55.2 years old. The average onset age was 36.5 years meanwhile the headache occured 7.5 years earlier than the vertigo. The average time of vertigo attacks was 30 min-24 h; The mainly kind of headache was unilateral pulsatile headache with or without vertigo attacks; All patients showed the characteristics of photophobia or phonophobia, 7 of them showed visual aura and 9 of them experienced vertigo attacks with headache but without auditory symptoms; 11 patients experienced motion sickness and 10 patients had a related family history. Electrocochleogram abnormal was 11 ears; c-VEMP abnormal was 11 cases; Caloric test abnorm al was 13 cases; Velocity step test abnormal was 4 cases. Conclusion:MD and VM shows recurrent vertigo, There are evidences of hearing loss and abnormal changes of electrocochleogram、c-VEMP and lateral semicircular canal function in MD; VM experienced migraine attacks with the characteristics of photophobia、phonophobia and visual aura; The patients can be diagnosed with overlap syndrome when they fulfill the diagnostic criteria of MD and VM at the same time and the two diseases should be treated at the same time.

PMID: 33040507 [PubMed - in process]

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Spatial Mechanisms for Segregation of Competing Sounds, and a Breakdown in Spatial Hearing.

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Spatial Mechanisms for Segregation of Competing Sounds, and a Breakdown in Spatial Hearing.

Front Neurosci. 2020;14:571095

Authors: Middlebrooks JC, Waters MF

Abstract
We live in complex auditory environments, in which we are confronted with multiple competing sounds, including the cacophony of talkers in busy markets, classrooms, offices, etc. The purpose of this article is to synthesize observations from a series of experiments that focused on how spatial hearing might aid in disentangling interleaved sequences of sounds. The experiments were unified by a non-verbal task, "rhythmic masking release", which was applied to psychophysical studies in humans and cats and to cortical physiology in anesthetized cats. Human and feline listeners could segregate competing sequences of sounds from sources that were separated by as little as ∼10°. Similarly, single neurons in the cat primary auditory cortex tended to synchronize selectively to sound sequences from one of two competing sources, again with spatial resolution of ∼10°. The spatial resolution of spatial stream segregation varied widely depending on the binaural and monaural acoustica l cues that were available in various experimental conditions. This is in contrast to a measure of basic sound-source localization, the minimum audible angle, which showed largely constant acuity across those conditions. The differential utilization of acoustical cues suggests that the central spatial mechanisms for stream segregation differ from those for sound localization. The highest-acuity spatial stream segregation was derived from interaural time and level differences. Brainstem processing of those cues is thought to rely heavily on normal function of a voltage-gated potassium channel, Kv3.3. A family was studied having a dominant negative mutation in the gene for that channel. Affected family members exhibited severe loss of sensitivity for interaural time and level differences, which almost certainly would degrade their ability to segregate competing sounds in real-world auditory scenes.

PMID: 33041763 [PubMed]

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The slc4a2b gene is required for hair cell development

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The slc4a2b gene is required for hair cell development in zebrafish.

Aging (Albany NY). 2020 Oct 12;12:

Authors: Qian F, Wang X, Yin Z, Xie G, Yuan H, Liu D, Chai R

Abstract
Hair cells (HCs) function as important sensory receptors that can detect movement in their immediate environment. HCs in the inner ear can sense acoustic signals, while in aquatic vertebrates HCs can also detect movements, vibrations, and pressure gradients in the surrounding water. Many genes are responsible for the development of HCs, and developmental defects in HCs can lead to hearing loss and other sensory dysfunctions. Here, we found that the solute carrier family 4, member 2b (slc4a2b) gene, which is a member of the anion-exchange family, is expressed in the otic vesicles and lateral line neuromasts in developing zebrafish embryos. An in silico analysis showed that the slc4a2b is evolutionarily conserved, and we found that loss of function of slc4a2b resulted in a decreased number of HCs in zebrafish neuromasts due to increased HC apoptosis. Taken together, we conclude that slc4a2b plays a critical role in the development of HCs in zebrafish.

PMID: 33044947 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Family with Waardenburg syndrome type II caused by a truncating mutation of MITF gene.

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A follow-up study of a Chinese family with Waardenburg syndrome type II caused by a truncating mutation of MITF gene.

Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2020 Oct 12;:e1520

Authors: Yang S, Wang C, Zhou C, Kang D, Zhang X, Yuan H

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a highly clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease. The core disease phenotypes of WS are sensorineuronal hearing loss and pigmentary disturbance, which are usually caused by the absence of neural crest cell-derived melanocytes. At present, four subtypes of WS have been defined, which are caused by seven genes. Waardenburg syndrome type 2 (WS2) is one of the most common forms. Two genes, MITF and SOX10, have been found to be responsible for majority of WS2.
METHODS: In this study, we performed a clinical longitudinal follow-up and mutation screening for a Chinese family with Waardenburg syndrome type II.
RESULTS: A diversity of clinical manifestations was observed in this WS2 family. In addition to the congenital hearing loss of most affected family members, progressive hearing loss was also found in some WS2 patients. A nonsense mutation of c.328C>T (p.R110X) in MITF was identified in all affected family members. This mutation results in a truncated MITF protein, which is considered to be a disease-causing mutation.
CONCLUSION: These findings offer a better understanding of the spectrum of MITF mutations and highlight the necessity of continuous hearing assessment in WS patients.

PMID: 33045145 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Red Between the Lines: Evolution of Eosinophilic Esophagitis as a Distinct Clinicopathologic Syndrome

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Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa and symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, including dysphagia. While EoE is still considered a rare disease, in practice it seems that more and more cases are diagnosed every week, research in the field is exploding, and the pipeline for treatments contains multiple agents, some of which are quite far along the development pathway. After only scattered cases and small series were published in the late 1970s and 1980, Stephen Attwood, Thomas Smyrk, Tom DeMeester, and James Jones, published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences in 1993 a seminal report that described a clinicopathologic syndrome of esophageal eosinophilia with dysphagia. This review details the origins of this paper and compares and contrast what was observed then and what is known now about multiple aspects of EoE, including the clinical presentation, diagnosis, epidemiology, natural history, and treat ments and outcomes. Moreover, it will highlight how the paper presaged a number of controversies in the field that have yet to be resolved, as well as foreshadowed the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that has led to rapid advances.

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Dye‐Loaded Nanoemulsions: Biomimetic Fluorescent Nanocarriers for Bioimaging and Nanomedicine

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Dye‐Loaded Nanoemulsions: Biomimetic Fluorescent Nanocarriers for Bioimaging and Nanomedicine

Nanoemulsions (NEs), built of components generally recognized as safe, can be considered as "green" nanocarriers that mimic closely naturally occurring lipoproteins and intracellular lipid droplets. Here, dye‐loaded fluorescent NEs are described, including their formulation, dye design, stability assessment, and emerging biological applications, which include fluorescence imaging and single‐particle tracking at the cellular and animal levels, tumor targeting, and photodynamic therapy.


Abstract

Lipid nanoemulsions (NEs), owing to their controllable size (20 to 500 nm), stability and biocompatibility, are now frequently used in various fields, such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, and even as nanoreactors for chemical synthesis. Moreover, being composed of components generally recognized as safe (GRAS), they can be considered as "green" nanoparticles that mimic closely lipoproteins and intracellular lipid droplets. Therefore, they attracted attention as carriers of drugs and fluorescent dyes for both bioimaging and studying the fate of nanoemulsions in cells and small animals. In this review, the composition of dye‐loaded NEs, methods for their preparation, and emerging biological applications are described. The design of bright fluorescent NEs with high dye loading and minimal aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) is focused on. Common issues including dye leakage and NEs stability are discussed, highlighting advanced techniques for their cha racterization, such as Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Attempts to functionalize NEs surface are also discussed. Thereafter, biological applications for bioimaging and single‐particle tracking in cells and small animals as well as biomedical applications for photodynamic therapy are described. Finally, challenges and future perspectives of fluorescent NEs are discussed.

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Peripheral T helper cell profiles during management of periodontitis

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Abstract

Aim

Periodontitis has been associated with other systemic diseases with underlying inflammation responsible for the shared link. This study evaluated longitudinal variation in peripheral T helper cells in periodontitis patients undergoing management over one year.

Methods

Periodontal parameters and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 54 periodontitis patients at baseline, 3‐, 6‐ and 12‐months post‐treatment and 40 healthy controls. IFN‐γ+, IL‐4+, IL‐17+, Foxp3+ and their double positive expression was identified in CD4+ and TCRαβ+ cells using flow cytometry. PBMCs were incubated with P. gingivalis and IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐17 and IL‐10 in cell‐supernatant was measured by ELISA. Cells and cytokines were also assessed based on clinical response to treatment where good (<10% of sites), moderate (10‐20%) and poor (>20%) treatment outcome (TxO) groups had probing depths of ≥5mm at study conclusion.

Results

IFN‐γ+ cells were lower at baseline, 3‐ and 6‐months compared to health, whereas Foxp3+ cells were increased at 12‐months compared to all preceding timepoints and health. The good TxO group showed treatment‐related variation in IFN‐γ+ and Foxp3+ cells, whereas the poor TxO group did not. IFN‐γ and IL‐17 cytokine expression in cell‐supernatants was significantly lower at baseline compared to health, and IFN‐γ and IL‐10 showed treatment‐related decrease.

Conclusion

This study suggests that IFN‐γ+ and Foxp3+ cells may have a role in the systemic compartment in periodontitis. Periodontal management has local and systemic effects and thus, assessment and management of periodontitis should form an integral part of overall systemic health.

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Fundal Fluid Cap Is Associated With Hearing Preservation in the Radiosurgical Treatment of Vestibular Schwannoma

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Objective: To evaluate the relationship between fundal fluid and hearing outcomes after treatment of vestibular schwannoma (VS) with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). Study Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: Tertiary neurotology referral center. Patients: Patients treated with GKRS for vestibular schwannoma between March 2007 and March 2017 were considered for this study. Exclusion criteria included pretreatment pure-tone average (PTA) >90 dB, neurofibromatosis type II, history of previous surgical resection, and follow-up less than 1 year. Main Outcome Measure(s): Hearing function was assessed both by preservation of serviceable hearing and by preservation of baseline hearing (≤20 dB change in PTA) after GKRS. Hearing preservation comparisons were made between groups of patients with and without a fundal fluid cap. Results: Patients with a fundal cap had significantly higher rates of baseline hearing preservation (≤20 dB change in PTA) according to Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of all 106 patients (p = 0.006). By the 3rd year posttreatment, 70.9% of patients with a fundal cap had maintained a ≤20 dB change in PTA, while only 43.6% of patients without a fundal fluid cap achieved this outcome (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Fundal fluid present on pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging is predictive of improved baseline hearing preservation rates in patients undergoing GKRS for vestibular schwannoma when considering all patients with PTA ≤90 dB. Fundal fluid cap presence may serve as a favorable prognostic indicator to help set hearing expectations and guide patient selection efforts. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dennis I. Bojrab II, M.D., Michigan Ear Institute, 30055 Northwestern Highway, #101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; E-mail: dibojrab@gmail.com; Christian G. Fritz, B.S., Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI 48334; E-mail: cgfritz@oakland.edu D.I.B. and P.Y.C have direct stock ownership in the Greater Michigan Gamma Knife Facility. The authors disclose no conflicts of interest. Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Website (http://journals.lww.com/otology-neurotology). Copyright © 2020 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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