Highlights • Training improves performance with a multi-class auditory P300 speller paradigm. • Communication speed after training is one of the highest that has been achieved with auditory ...brain–computer interface paradigms. • Motivation influences BCI performance and P300 amplitude.
This study investigated the cytocompatibility of low-temperature direct 3-D printed calcium phosphate scaffolds in vitro. The fabrication of the scaffolds was performed with a commercial 3-D powder ...printing system. Diluted phosphoric acid was printed into tricalcium phosphate powder, leading to the formation of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (brushite). Hydrothermal conversion of the brushite matrices led to the formation of dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (monetite). The biocompatibility was investigated using the osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1. Cell viability and the expression of alkaline phosphatase served as parameters. The culture medium was analyzed for pH value, concentration of free calcium and phosphate ions and osteocalcin. Both types of scaffolds showed a considerable increase of cell proliferation and viability; the monetite matrices were a little inferior compared with the brushite ones. The activity of alkaline phosphatase showed a similar pattern. Optical and electron microscopy revealed an obvious cell growth on the surface of both materials. Analysis of the culture medium showed minor alterations of pH value within the physiological range. The concentrations of free calcium and phosphate ions were obviously different among brushite and monetite cultures, due to their different solubility. The content of osteocalcin of the culture medium was reduced by the printed scaffolds due to adsorption. We conclude that the powder printed brushite and monetite matrices have a suitable biocompatibility for their use as cell culture scaffolds. Both materials enable osteoblastic cells in vitro to proliferate and differentiate due to the expression of typical osteoblastic markers.
MAGE-A proteins are highly expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and are promising targets for cancer immunotherapy. This study examined the presence of MAGE-A expression within the tumor ...center (TC) and tumor invasive front (TIF) and evaluated its relationship to poor prognosis. The expression rate of each MAGE-A subtype, A1-A12, was examined in 68 OSCCs at the TIF and TC. Slides (1-µm) of tissue microarrays (diameter =0.6 mm) were immunohistochemically stained, and the findings were correlated to clinical data. Approximately 95% of the tumors had MAGE-A expression. Higher expression in the TC was shown significantly for MAGE-A1, -A5, -A6, -A9 and -A12 (P<0.05). MAGE-A2 and -A3 exhibited the opposite behavior (not significant, P>0.05). Age, tumor size, grade and survival time were not associated with the expression of certain MAGE-A subgroups. When expression in the whole tumor tissue was considered, only MAGE-A1 was expressed at a significantly higher rate in male patients (P=0.034). At the TIF, MAGE-A9 and the UICC disease stage were significantly correlated (P=0.0263), and MAGE-A6 and the UICC disease stage exhibited a strong trend (P=0.0596). The expression of MAGE-A3, -A4, -A5, -A9 and -A11 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, while MAGE-A4 was expressed in all regions of the tumors (TIF and TC). This study showed that higher expression of most MAGE-A antigens occurred at the TC rather than at the TIF. MAGE‑A1, -A3, -A4, -A5, -A9 and -A11 were significantly associated with clinically advanced stages of disease and seem to be of particular interest.
•Transport of ragweed pollen from the Pannonian Plain to Scandinavia is described.•Hot and dry weather in the Pannonian Plain aids ragweed pollen release.•Pollen release is enhanced by a mesoscale ...phenomena – the dry and gusty Kosava wind.•Deep Planetary Boundary Layers lift pollen over the Carpathian Mountains.•Synoptic conditions move ragweed pollen northward causing long distance transport.
The pollen grains of ragweed are important aeroallergens that have the potential to be transported long distances through the air. The arrival of ragweed pollen in Nordic countries from the Pannonian Plain can occur when certain conditions are met, which this study aims to describe for the first time. Atmospheric ragweed pollen concentrations were collected at 16 pollen-monitoring sites. Other factors included in the analysis were the overall synoptic weather situation, surface wind speeds, wind direction and temperatures as well as examining regional scale orography and satellite observations. Hot and dry weather in source areas on the Pannonian Plain aid the release of ragweed pollen during the flowering season and result in the deep Planetary Boundary Layers needed to lift the pollen over the Carpathian Mountains to the north. Suitable synoptic conditions are also required for the pollen bearing air masses to move northward. These same conditions produce the jet-effect Kosava and orographic foehn winds that aid the release and dispersal of ragweed pollen and contribute towards its movement into Poland and beyond.
Abstract Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. The past decades have not led to substantial improvement in diagnosis and therapy. ...Analysis of miRNA expression may help to determine the progression profiles and outcomes of many different diseases, including HNSCC. Therefore, in this investigation, 43 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma were micro-dissected, analysed for expression of 30 miRNAs and were compared with non-tumorous tissue. Furthermore, correlation analysis was performed, investigating possible correlations of miRNA expression and patient or tumour-linked data, such as age, sex, tumour stage and size. miRNA extraction from FFPE samples functioned well for OSCC, and several miRNAs were differently expressed in tumours compared with non-tumorous tissue (i.e., miR-99*; miR-224; miR-205*), indicating their possible utility as biomarkers. Moreover, some miRNAs showed significant correlations with clinical and pathological data (e.g. tumour size: miR-3156, p=0.033; T-stage: miR-212, p=0.0009).
Abstract Detecting bone invasion in oral cancer is crucial for therapy planning and the prognosis. The present study evaluated cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for detecting bone invasion in ...comparison to standard imaging techniques. A total of 197 patients with diagnoses of oral cancer underwent CBCT as part of preoperative staging between January 2007 and April 2013. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CBCT were compared with panoramic radiography (PR), multi-slice computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and bone scintigraphy (BS) using McNemar's test. Histopathology and clinical follow-up served as references for the presence of bone invasion. CBCT and BS (84.8% and 89.3%, respectively), as well as CBCT and CT/MRI (83.2%), showed comparable accuracy ( P = 0.188 and P = 0.771). CBCT was significantly superior to PR, which was reconstructed based on a CBCT dataset (74.1%, P = 0.002). In detecting bone invasion, CBCT was significantly more accurate than PR and was comparable to BS and CT/MRI. However, each method has certain advantages, and the best combination of imaging methods must be evaluated in prospective clinic trials.
Multiple data suggest that the renin-angiotensin system contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The atherogenic effect of the renin-angiotensin system can only in part be explained by the ...influence of its effector angiotensin II on blood pressure, smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth, or antifibrinolytic activity. Because chronic inflammation of the vessel wall is a hallmark of atherosclerosis, we hypothesized that angiotensin II may elicit inflammatory signals in vascular SMCs. Human vascular SMCs were stimulated with angiotensin. Inflammatory activation was assessed by determination of interleukin-6 (IL-6) release into the culture medium, detection of IL-6 mRNA by RT-PCR, and demonstration of activation of nuclear factor-kappaB in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Angiotensin II concentration-dependently (1 nmol/L to 1 micromol/L) stimulated IL-6 production by SMCs via activation of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (demonstrated by the inhibitory action of the receptor antagonist losartan). Angiotensin I increased IL-6 production by SMCs, too. This effect was inhibited by captopril and ramiprilat, suggesting conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II by angiotensin-converting enzyme in SMCs. Steady-state mRNA for IL-6 was augmented after stimulation with angiotensin II, suggesting regulation of angiotensin-induced IL-6 release at the pretranslational level. Moreover, the proinflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB, which is necessary for transcription of most cytokine genes, was also activated by angiotensin II. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate suppressed angiotensin II-induced IL-6 release, a finding compatible with involvement of reactive oxygen species as second messengers in cytokine production mediated by angiotensin. The data demonstrate the ability of angiotensin to elicit an inflammatory response in human vascular SMCs by stimulation of cytokine production and activation of nuclear factor-kappaB. Inflammatory activation of the vessel wall by a dysregulated renin-angiotensin system may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
► Active caspase-3 showed a time dependent increase after Pb- and BaP-treatment. ► 3-nitrotyrosine is able to detect short-term exposure to Pb or BaP. ► Smokers’ samples showed significant lower ...levels of oxidative stress.
Exposure of human oral mucosa to lead (Pb) and benzoapyrene (BaP) by inhalation and ingestion can lead to pathological conditions via apoptosis and oxidative and nitrosative stress. However, few studies have investigated the effects of Pb and BaP on oral mucosa cells. Furthermore, previous studies focused on chronic Pb and BaP exposure. Therefore, we evaluated important markers of apoptosis and oxidative and nitrosative stress in oral mucosa cells by incubating the cells with Pb and BaP for 5–360min. Ex vivo samples of human oral mucosa were exposed to Pb or BaP, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate active caspase-3, 8-epi-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-epi-PGF2a), and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT). Pb and BaP treatments significantly increased active caspase-3 levels in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the treatments induced an early increase in 3-NT level, which ceased with longer incubation times. 8-Epi-PGF2a level increased only after prolonged incubation with Pb, and this elevation was irrespective of BaP incubation duration. Smokers’ samples had significantly lower levels of markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress than did nonsmokers’ samples. Thus, single, short-term exposure to Pb or BaP increases the levels of apoptosis markers and markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress.
The European Commission Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action FA1203 “SMARTER” aims to make recommendations for the sustainable management of
Ambrosia
across Europe and for monitoring ...its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The goal of the present study is to provide a baseline for spatial and temporal variations in airborne
Ambrosia
pollen in Europe that can be used for the management and evaluation of this noxious plant. The study covers the full range of
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
L. distribution over Europe (39°N–60°N; 2°W–45°E). Airborne
Ambrosia
pollen data for the principal flowering period of
Ambrosia
(August–September) recorded during a 10-year period (2004–2013) were obtained from 242 monitoring sites. The mean sum of daily average airborne
Ambrosia
pollen and the number of days that
Ambrosia
pollen was recorded in the air were analysed. The mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated regardless of the number of years included in the study period, while trends are based on those time series with 8 or more years of data. Trends were considered significant at
p
< 0.05. There were few significant trends in the magnitude and frequency of atmospheric
Ambrosia
pollen (only 8% for the mean sum of daily average
Ambrosia
pollen concentrations and 14% for the mean number of days
Ambrosia
pollen were recorded in the air). The direction of any trends varied locally and reflected changes in sources of the pollen, either in size or in distance from the monitoring station. Pollen monitoring is important for providing an early warning of the expansion of this invasive and noxious plant.
Background and objectives
The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in osteoporosis patients suffering from inflammatory ...rheumatic diseases, as well as to assess the prevalence of relevant dental, behavioral, and medical risk factors for MRONJ.
Materials and methods
A total of 198 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and osteoporosis therapy were recruited from a tertiary rheumatological/immunological referral center between June 2015 and September 2016. They were assessed using a structured interview. A maxillofacial surgeon later examined patients complaining of possible symptoms of osteonecrosis. In cases of osteonecrosis, dental records were obtained and evaluated. Preventive measures taken and dental as well as other clinical risk factors were evaluated.
Results
Of the 198 patients, three suffered from osteonecrosis of the jaw, none of whom had any history of malignant disease or radiation therapy, resulting in a prevalence of 1.5%. Of these three patients, only one was given bisphosphonates intravenously (i.v.), whereas all three had been treated orally. All three diagnoses of MRONJ had been previously known to the patients and their maxillofacial surgeons. Two of the patients had rheumatoid arthritis, and one patient suffered from large vessel vasculitis. Long anti-osteoporotic treatment duration, low functional status, and low bone density of the femur were significantly associated with MRONJ development.
Conclusion
Inflammatory rheumatic diseases constitute a risk factor for MRONJ in patients treated with bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. Patients should be counseled accordingly and should be offered dental screening and regular dental check-ups.
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