Nevin Manimala

Methods Enzymol. 2021;652:321-340. doi: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.02.018. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

ABSTRACT

During reconstitution, membrane proteins are randomly inserted into liposomes according to Poisson distribution statistics. When the protein to lipid ratios in the reconstitution mixture are varied systematically, the characteristics of this statistical capture permit inferences about the proteins themselves, such as the number of subunits that assemble into a single functional unit. This chapter describes the Poisson distribution as applied to the reconstitution of membrane proteins into proteoliposomes and focuses on an application whereby this statistical behavior is used to determine the number of ion channel subunits that assemble into a functional pore. Practical considerations for performing these experiments are emphasized. Harnessing Poisson dilution statistics provides a function-based method to determine ion channel oligomerization, complementing other biophysical, biochemical, or structural approaches.

PMID:34059289 | DOI:10.1016/bs.mie.2021.02.018

Facial Plast Surg. 2021 May 31. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1730385. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The short nose represents one of the greatest challenges in rhinoplasty. It is characterized by a reduced distance from the nasal radix to the tip-defining points, often associated with inadequate tip projection. Several techniques have been described for correction of short nose with the common objective of replacing and rebuilding the osteocartilaginous framework. One of the most effective method to correct the short nose is the septal extension graft. The authors describe the caudal septum pivot (CSP) technique, a simple method to elongate short noses by using a graft inserted in the dorsal septum after its division using as pivot the caudal portion, without detaching it from its natural anchorage to the anterior nasal spine. A retrospective analysis was performed reviewing the clinical charts and the operative records of 315 patients who underwent revision rhinoplasty from January 2015 to June 2019; among this group, 34 were considered eligible for the study. The patients (8 men, 26 women; mean age: 25.4 years; age range: 22-53 years) were divided into two groups: in 12 patients (Group 1) the CSP technique was performed, while Group 2 was composed of 22 patients who received a more classic treatment with a septal extension graft. To evaluate the outcomes, nasal length, tip projection, and tip rotation were measured pre- and 1 year postoperatively on digital photographs of each patient. Nasal anthropometric measurements revealed, at 12-month visit follow-up, an improvement in nasal length, tip projection, and nasolabial angle was achieved in all the patients. The comparison of the pre- and postoperative values showed a statistically significant reduction in the nasolabial angle (p < 0.05) and an increase in the tip projection (p < 0.05) and in the nasal lengthening (p < 0.05) in both groups. In authors’ experience, the CSP technique could be considered a safe, reliable, and effective alternative technique in selected patients.

PMID:34058786 | DOI:10.1055/s-0041-1730385

Eur J Dent. 2021 May 31. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1721315. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The low resistance to fracture has limited the use of indirect composite resins for dental restorations, particularly in regions that are exposed to strong occlusal forces. To overcome this issue, different types of reinforcement for composites have been proposed, one of which is carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the flexural resistance of one commercial indirect composite resin (Sinfony, 3M/ESPE) after incorporation of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs; Sigma-Aldrich, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, United States) with or without the silanization form.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specimens of composite resin were fabricated in a Teflon mold. The composite resin was prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions (n = 10 for each group), with SWCNTs in three concentrations.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The SWCNTs and SWCNT/SiO₂-ATES specimens were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, and a flexural test was conducted according to the ISO 4049/2009. Flexural strength data in MPa were submitted to one-way ANOVA following Tukey (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: The SWCNTs did not improve the flexural strength of indirect composite resin when compared with the control, independent of the concentration added (p > 0.05). However, when SWCNTs and SWCNTs/SiO2-ATES were compared, the SWCNTs/SiO2-ATES showed higher values than the three concentrations of SWCNTs (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The silanization process improves the SWCNTs strength proprieties, but the modification of chemical bonding between SWCNT and SWCNT/SiO₂-ATES modified resins, in different concentrations, did not improve the composite resin flexural strength.

PMID:34058771 | DOI:10.1055/s-0040-1721315

Am J Perinatol. 2021 May 31. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1730436. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the neonatal outcomes of infants born to mothers on hemodialysis.

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective, case-control, and observational study included 17 infants born to 16 mothers on dialysis in 2003 to 2016. We compared their clinical characteristics to those of 51 gestational age- and sex-matched control infants. Statistical comparisons were made between the two groups by using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables and the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables.

RESULTS: Of the 16 pregnancies of mothers on dialysis, 15 (94%) deliveries were premature (<37 weeks), and 16/17 (94%) infants survived to discharge. The incidences of neonatal complications, such as intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, and periventricular leukomalacia, were not significantly different between the groups. However, 5/17 (29%) of the infants had congenital anomalies.

CONCLUSION: Although infants born to mothers on dialysis have a high risk of prematurity, they do not have any additional risk of neonatal complications, except for congenital anomalies. The potential risk of congenital anomalies should be investigated further.

KEY POINTS: · Preterm birth rate among mothers on hemodialysis was 94%.. · Complications in these infants were similar to controls.. · Twenty-nine percent of infants had congenital anomalies..

PMID:34058762 | DOI:10.1055/s-0041-1730436

ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2021 May 31:1-8. doi: 10.1159/000516243. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of nasal surgery on airflow characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by comparing the alterations of airflow characteristics within the nasal and palatopharyngeal cavities.

METHODS: Thirty patients with OSA and nasal obstruction who underwent nasal surgery were enrolled. A pre- and postoperative 3-dimensional model was constructed, and alterations of airflow characteristics were assessed using the method of computational fluid dynamics. The other subjective and objective clinical indices were also assessed.

RESULTS: By comparison with the preoperative value, all postoperative subjective symptoms statistically improved (p < 0.05), while the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) changed little (p = 0.492); the postoperative airflow velocity and pressure in both nasal and palatopharyngeal cavities, nasal and palatopharyngeal pressure differences, and total upper airway resistance statistically decreased (all p < 0.01). A significant difference was derived for correlation between the alteration of simulation metrics with subjective improvements (p < 0.05), except with the AHI (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Nasal surgery can decrease the total resistance of the upper airway and increase the nasal airflow volume and subjective sleep quality in patients with OSA and nasal obstruction. The altered airflow characteristics might contribute to the postoperative reduction of pharyngeal collapse in a subset of OSA patients.

PMID:34058743 | DOI:10.1159/000516243

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2021 May 31:1-5. doi: 10.1159/000516596. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are rare inherited disorders with a broad spectrum of manifestations. Here, we aimed to delineate the atopy burden in a cohort of patients with IEIs.

METHODS: 313 patients with IEIs were enrolled in the study within a 9-years period, and data were collected via a questionnaire. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (v. 25.0, Chicago, IL, USA). The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Overall, 51 out of 313 (16.3%) patients were identified to have atopic manifestations. Food allergy was detected in 34 (10.2%), atopic dermatitis in 21 (6.7%), as well as allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis each in 4 (1.3%) patients. The allergic disorders were reported as initial manifestations among 14 out of 35 (40.0%) atopic patients. Most of these 51 patients fell within the category of combined immunodeficiency (CID) (n = 38, 74.5%), followed by, severe CID (SCID) (n = 5, 9.8%), common variable immunodeficiency (n = 3, 5.9%), chronic granulomatous disease (n = 3, 5.9%), selective IgA deficiency (n = 1, 2.0%), and leukocyte adhesion defect (n = 1, 2.0%). No patient with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacteria was found to have atopic manifestation. Atopic dermatitis (p = 0.001) and food allergy (p < 0.001) were both significantly higher in patients with CID than in other IEI groups. Among atopic patients with CID and SCID, food allergy and atopic dermatitis were the most prevalent comorbidities.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Atopic diseases may contribute to the clinical picture of IEIs, particularly in patients with CID. Atopy in association with other warning signs of IEIs increases the possibility of an underlying IEI.

PMID:34058734 | DOI:10.1159/000516596

Arch Oral Biol. 2021 May 27;128:105172. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105172. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The position and size of the major cusps in mammalian molars are arranged in a characteristic pattern that depends on taxonomy. In humans, the cusp which locates distally within each molar is smaller than the mesially located cusp, which is referred to as “distal reduction”. Although this concept has been well-recognized, it is still unclear how this reduction occurs. Current study examined whether senescence-accelerating mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice could be a possible animal model for studying how the mammalian molar cusp size is determined.

DESIGN: SAMP8 mice were compared with parental control (SAMR1) mice. Microcomputed tomography images of young and aged mice were captured to observe molar cusp morphologies. Cusp height from cement-enamel junction and mesio-distal length of molars were measured. The statistical comparison of the measurements was performed by Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS: SAMP8 mice showed reduced development of the disto-lingual cusp (entoconid) of lower second molar when compared with SAMR1 mice. The enamel thickness and structure was disturbed at entoconid, and aged SAMP8 mice displayed severe wear of the entoconid in lower second molar. These phenotypes were observed on both sides of the lower second molar.

CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the general senescence phenotype observed in SAMP8 mice, this strain may genetically possess molar cusp phenotypes which is determined prenatally. Further, SAMP8 mice would be a potential model strain to study the genetic causes of the distal reduction of molar cusp size.

PMID:34058725 | DOI:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105172

Arch Oral Biol. 2021 May 27;128:105171. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105171. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the aetiologic agent responsible for black staining of permanent dentition using next-generation sequencing and determine the relationship between caries and black stains.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 52 systemically healthy patients with black-stained and caries-free (n = 13), black-stained and carious (n = 13), black stain-free and caries-free (n = 13), and black stain-free and carious (n = 13) teeth were enrolled in the study. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) was used for caries classification. Between 08:00 and 10:00, supragingival plaque samples were collected after a minimum of 8-12 h of accumulation and DNA samples were isolated. The samples were processed using the ZymoBIOMICS™ Service. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using mothur at usegalaxy.org. Data were analysed statistically using the Pearson chi-square and Fisher tests.

RESULTS: The number of caries-free teeth (ICDAS 0, 1, and 2) was significantly higher in patients with black stains (p = 0.007).Capnocytophaga (4.8 %), Corynebacterium (3.9 %), and Neisseria (5.4 %) species were the most abundant among all black-stained plaques (carious and caries-free) (p < 0.05). Capnocytophaga (10.8 %), Cardiobacterium (3.6 %), and Rothia (1.72 %) species were detected in the black-stained plaques of caries-free patients (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: This study is one of the first studies examining the microbial composition of dental plaques with black staining in carious and caries-free adult patients using next generation sequencing technology. In the presence of black staining, plaques have an ultimate complex microbial structure. A lower caries burden was noted in the presence of black staining.

PMID:34058724 | DOI:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105171

Psychiatry Res. 2021 May 19;302:114019. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114019. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Although some studies have reported the potential efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of acute mania, there is no consensus on the matter. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of ECT combination with medication (ECT-combo) vs. medication alone (Med-alone) in the treatment of acute mania. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ECT-combo versus Med-alone in acute mania were searched in Chinese databases and English databases from their inceptions up to February 2020. Twelve RCTs (including 863 patients, n=863) met our criteria and were included into meta-analysis. The pooled results found that ECT-combo outperformed Med-alone in reducing manic symptoms from baseline to endpoint with a standardized mean difference of -3.50 (95% CI: -4.57, -2.44, p<0.00001). The significant difference occurred after 3-5 treatments or after a 1-week treatment. ECT-combo had significantly increased memory impairment compared to Med-alone. Apart from increased memory impairment in ECT-combo group (SMD=8.33; 95% CI: 2.73 to 25.45, p= 0.0002), no other statistically significant differences in side effects or drop-out rates were found between groups. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that ECT-combo was significantly superior to Med-alone in efficacy and well-tolerated as Med-alone in the acute treatment of mania. However, larger studies with randomized, double-blind design, and standardized treatment regimens are still warranted due to the high heterogeneity of studies included in the present meta-analysis.

PMID:34058715 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114019

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2021 May 28;50:93-103. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.04.022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Depressive Disorders are the most common psychiatric diagnoses in the general population. To estimate the frequency, costs associated with Depressive Disorders in usual clinical practice, and in the whole Spanish population, a longitudinal, retrospective, observational study was carried out using data from the BIG-PAC database®. Study population: all patients aged ≥ 18 years with a diagnosis of a Depressive Disorder in 2015-2017. Prevalence was computed as the proportion of Depressive Disorder cases in the adult general population, and the incidence rate, as the number of new Depressive Disorder cases diagnosed per 1,000 person-years in the population using health services, during 2015-2017. We collected demographic variables, comorbidity, direct health costs, and indirect costs (temporary and permanent disability). Health costs related to Depressive Disorders were estimated according to the annual resource use rate (resource/patient/year). Indirect costs were calculated according to the human capital method. Using the study data and information from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, we estimated the cost of Depressive Disorders corresponding to the Spanish adult population, including premature mortality. 69,217 Depressive Disorder patients aged ≥ 18 years who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were studied (mean age: 56.8 years; female: 71.4%). Prevalence of Depressive Disorders in the general population was 4.73% (95% CI: 4.70-4.76%). Annual incidence rates (2015-2017) were 7.12, 7.35 and 8.02 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Total costs observed in our Depressive Disorder patients were € 223.9 million (corresponding to a mean of € 3,235.3; mean/patient/year), of which, 18.4% were direct health care costs and 81.6%, non-health indirect costs (18% temporary occupational disability, 63.6% permanent disability). Considering also the cost of premature death, the mean cost per patient/year was € 3,402 and the estimated societal costs of Depressive Disorders in Spain were € 6,145 million. The prevalence and incidence of Depressive Disorders are consistent with other series reviewed. Resource use and total costs (especially non-health costs) were high.

PMID:34058711 | DOI:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.04.022