This study compared the ability of a calcium silicate-, sodium phosphate-, and fluoride-based (CSSPF) toothpaste (TP) in promoting dentinal tubule occlusion and reducing dentin permeability with that ...of other commercially available antisensitivity TPs. Seventy-eight dentin discs (1.0±0.1 mm thick) were prepared from the midcoronal area and were treated with 37% phosphoric acid for 2 minutes; then they were randomly divided into six groups according to treatments: No treatment positive control (PC), entirely covered with nail varnish negative control (NC), hydroxyapatite (HAP)-containing TP Desensin Repair (DES), NovaMin-based Sensodyne Repair & Protect (SEN), CSSPF-based TP Regenerate Advanced (REG), sodium monofluorophosphate, potassium citrate, zinc citrate TP Signal Sensitive Expert (SIG). Dentin permeability was tested by the dye percolation method (DP%). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micromorphological and energy dispersive X-ray elemental analysis (EDX) of the dentin surfaces were done following each treatment. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey post hoc test at a 95% confidence level (α=0.05). All the tested groups showed higher DP% than NC and lower percolation than the PC (p<0.05). REG and SIG were statistically comparable, and showed significantly lower DP% (p<0.05) than SEN and DES. None of the TPs tested was able to obliterate the lumen of the dentinal tubules (DT) completely. REG exhibited the highest weight percentage of calcium deposition, followed by SEN. Compared to the tested desensitizing TPs, CSSPF-based TPs demonstrated equal or less dentin permeability and better DT occlusion.
In this study, the essential oils from lemon (Citrus aurantifolia) peels were extracted using hydrodistillation and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and their volatile compositions were compared ...via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MHD) achieved the oil yield of 2.48% at microwave power of 470W and extraction time of 60 min. The yield obtained using conventional hydrodistillation (HD) was 2.2% at 90 min at 120 °C. GC-MS analysis revealed a total of 17 and 8 components existing in the oil samples produced by MHD and HD methods respectively. The main components shared by both samples were limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, β-cymene, ocimene, and sabinene. Overall, these results suggest that MHD could produce lemon (Citrus aurantifolia) peels essential oil at a higher yield within a shortened period of time as compared to the traditional HD, thus it could be used as an alternative for HD to reduce costs of the extraction process.
Adult-onset cerebellar ataxias are a group of neurodegenerative conditions that challenge both genetic discovery and molecular diagnosis. In this study, we identified an intronic (GAA) repeat ...expansion in fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14). Genetic analysis of 95 Australian individuals with adult-onset ataxia identified four (4.2%) with (GAA)
and a further nine individuals with (GAA)
. PCR and long-read sequence analysis revealed these were pure (GAA) repeats. In comparison, no control subjects had (GAA)
and only 2/311 control individuals (0.6%) had a pure (GAA)
. In a German validation cohort, 9/104 (8.7%) of affected individuals had (GAA)
and a further six had (GAA)
, whereas 10/190 (5.3%) control subjects had (GAA)
but none were (GAA)
. The combined data suggest (GAA)
are disease causing and fully penetrant (p = 6.0 × 10
, OR = 72 95% CI = 4.3-1,227), while (GAA)
is likely pathogenic with reduced penetrance. Affected individuals had an adult-onset, slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia with variable features including vestibular impairment, hyper-reflexia, and autonomic dysfunction. A negative correlation between age at onset and repeat length was observed (R
= 0.44, p = 0.00045, slope = -0.12) and identification of a shared haplotype in a minority of individuals suggests that the expansion can be inherited or generated de novo during meiotic division. This study demonstrates the power of genome sequencing and advanced bioinformatic tools to identify novel repeat expansions via model-free, genome-wide analysis and identifies SCA50/ATX-FGF14 as a frequent cause of adult-onset ataxia.
Transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) prostate biopsy is an established procedure for diagnosis of prostate cancer. Complications after TRUS biopsy are not well reported in Hong Kong. This study ...evaluated the 5-year incidences of TRUS biopsy complications and potential risk factors for those complications.
This was a retrospective review of biopsies performed from 2013 to 2017 in two local hospitals, using data retrieved from electronic medical records. The primary outcome was the occurrence of complications requiring either emergency attendances or hospitalisations within 30 days after biopsy. Potential risk factors were examined using multiple logistic regression analysis.
In total, 1699 men were included (mean age ± standard deviation: 67 ± 7 years; median prostate-specific antigen level: 7.9 μg/L interquartile range, 5.5-12.6 μg/L); 4.3% had pre-biopsy bacteriuria. Overall, 5.7% and 3.8% of post-biopsy complications required emergency attendances and hospitalisations, respectively. Gross haematuria and rectal bleeding requiring emergency attendances developed in 2.1% and 0.4% of men; 0.8% and 0.4% required hospitalisations. Furthermore, 1.5% of men developed acute urinary retention requiring hospitalisations; 1.9% and 1.2% had post-biopsy infections requiring emergency attendances and hospitalisations, respectively, and 0.9% had urosepsis requiring hospitalisations. Prostate volume >48 cc was associated with an increased risk of post-biopsy retention (odds ratio 2.75, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-4.17).
The rate of overall complications after TRUS biopsy was low. The most common complications requiring emergency attendances and hospitalisations were gross haematuria and acute urinary retention, respectively. Prostate volume >48 cc increased the risk of post-biopsy urinary retention.
Summary
Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is a major constraint to transboundary trade in animal products, yet much of its natural ecology and epidemiology in endemic regions is still poorly understood. ...To address this gap, a multidisciplinary, molecular and conventional epidemiological approach was applied to an investigation of endemic FMD in Vietnam. Within the study space, it was found that 22.3% of sampled ruminants had previously been infected with FMD virus (FMDV), of which 10.8% were persistent, asymptomatic carriers (2.4% of the total population). Descriptive data collected from targeted surveillance and a farm questionnaire showed a significantly lower prevalence of FMDV infection for dairy farms. In contrast, farms of intermediate size and/or history of infection in 2010 were at increased risk of FMD exposure. At the individual animal level, buffalo had the highest exposure risk (over cattle), and there was spatial heterogeneity in exposure risk at the commune level. Conversely, carrier prevalence was higher for beef cattle, suggesting lower susceptibility of buffalo to persistent FMDV infection. To characterize virus strains currently circulating in Vietnam, partial FMDV genomic (VP1) sequences from carrier animals collected between 2012 and 2013 (N = 27) and from FMDV outbreaks between 2009 and 2013 (N = 79) were compared by phylogenetic analysis. Sequence analysis suggested that within the study period, there were two apparent novel introductions of serotype A viruses and that the dominant lineage of serotype O in Vietnam shifted from SEA/Mya‐98 to ME‐SA/PanAsia. FMDV strains shared close ancestors with FMDV from other South‐East Asian countries indicating substantial transboundary movement of the predominant circulating strains. Close genetic relationships were observed between carrier and outbreak viruses, which may suggest that asymptomatic carriers of FMDV contribute to regional disease persistence. Multiple viral sequences obtained from carrier cattle over a 1‐year period had considerable within‐animal genetic variation, indicating within‐host virus evolution.
A central event in the pathogenesis of motor neuron disease (MND) is the loss of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), yet the mechanisms that lead to this event in MND remain to be fully elucidated. ...Maintenance of the NMJ relies upon neural agrin (n-agrin) which, when released from the nerve terminal, activates the postsynaptic Muscle Specific Kinase (MuSK) signaling complex to stabilize clusters of acetylcholine receptors. Here, we report that muscle from MND patients has an increased proportion of slow fibers and muscle fibers with smaller diameter. Muscle cells cultured from MND biopsies failed to form large clusters of acetylcholine receptors in response to either non-MND human motor axons or n-agrin. Furthermore, levels of expression of MuSK, and MuSK-complex components: LRP4, Caveolin-3, and Dok7 differed between muscle cells cultured from MND patients compared to those from non-MND controls. To our knowledge, this is the first time a fault in the n-agrin-LRP4-MuSK signaling pathway has been identified in muscle from MND patients. Our results highlight the n-agrin-LRP4-MuSK signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target to prolong muscle function in MND.
Arsenic is a toxic semi-metallic element that can be fatal to human health. Arsenic pollution in water is found in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries such as Bangladesh, ...India, Nepal, and Vietnam. Photo-oxidation experiments with titanium dioxide (TiO
2) as photo-catalyst showed that photo-oxidation of As(III) to As(V) is possible within minutes. Further, TiO
2 can also adsorb both As(III) and As(V) on its surface. Photo-catalysis reaction with TiO
2 reduced about 98% of arsenite from water containing 500
μg/L of arsenite. By adding nano-scale zero valent iron (nZVI) of 0.05
g/L in the photo-reactor, arsenic removal can be significantly enhanced. Further the TiO
2 requirement is five times less in this photo-catalysis nZVI hybrid system. The photo-catalytic degradation processes was modeled using the first-order, second-order and Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics equations and removal rates were simulated.
Citrus reticulata Blanco. peel possess various phytochemical compounds which exhibit high-value biological activities. However, the microwave-assisted technique has not been experimentally adopted in ...essential oil extraction from Citrus reticulate. Therefore, the present study attempted adopt this microwave-assisted hydrodistillation method to extract the essential oil from the mandarin fruit peel and improved extraction method specifications. Fresh ground peels were used as the material and underwent three extraction cycles. Technical conditions for optimal oil yield consisted of raw material/solvent ratio of 1: 3 (g/ml), microwave power of 600W, and time extraction of 55 min. After extraction, essential oil products were analyzed for composition on the GC-MS method. Obtained essential oils featured main ingredients including limonene (97.688%), sabinene (0.12%), β-myrcene (1.394%), (-)-β-pinene (0.273%) and 1R-α- pinene (0.525%). These results suggest the use of Citrus reticulata essential oil in manufacture of antibacterial, antioxidant agents and in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals.
Abstract
In the tropical city of Ha Tinh (Vietnam), the number of new developed neighbourhoods in the courtyard layout is increasing while the city is experiencing annual severe heat stress. The ...paper quantitatively analyses, by means of ENVI-Met simulation, the effect of neighbourhood courtyard landscape on the outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) in the tropical city of Ha Tinh (Vietnam). A sample 9-ha residential block was at first experimentally configured with four scenarios of courtyard, including (1) bare grass and perimetry location of high plants, (2) grass ground, fully occupied high trees, (3) water body and perimetry location of high plants, and (4) mixed ground surfaces of water, hard pavement and grass, and partly occupied high trees. The adding of tree canopies to the entire courtyard, consequently sufficient shades, as in case 2, contributes to the better OTC among the chosen scenarios by triggering the reduction of mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) (2.9°C) and physiological equivalent temperature (PET) (3.5°C) at the hottest hours as compared to the original configuration (case 1) during the summer days. Application of perimetry plants with either water (case 1) or bare grass (case 3) results in higher PET though full occupation of water body lowers the air temperature by roughly 1°C. The limited impact on OTC of local water body is counter-intuitive, yet important result to the practice of urban design. The worst OTC was observed in case 4 where almost half of the garden was sun-exposed and intended for hard-paved playground and water body. Increasing shades against solar radiation is the most important measure to deal with intensive heat problem. The study is an essential part of translating academic knowledge on urban climate into interventions on urban design for better climate resilience of neighbourhoods in Vietnam and by extend in other tropical countries.
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