Abstract Occlusal splints are a standard method to treat disc displacement with reduction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). They can be classified into three major groups on the basis of ...function: stabilization splints, distraction splints (pivot), and anterior repositioning splints. The aim of this paper is to introduce a modified mandibular splint, the Kaohsuing Medical University splint, and its associated treatment regimen for management of disc displacement with reduction of the TMJ. The key points for fabrication of the KMU splint include the occlusal surface of the mandibular splint must be indented and average bite elevation 1.5 mm vertically. The patient should wear it 24 hours a day for the first 4 weeks, then wear it while eating and sleeping for the next 2 weeks, and wear it only while sleeping for the last 2 weeks. Patients must understand that the success of treatment depends on their compliance with the regimen.
Bidirectional integrin alphaIIbbeta3 signaling is essential for platelet activation. The platelet adaptor protein Disabled-2 (Dab2) is a key regulator of integrin signaling and is phosphorylated at ...serine 24 in eukaryotic cells. However, the mechanistic insight and function of Dab2-serine 24 phosphorylation (Dab2-pSer24) in platelet biology are barely understood. This study aimed to define whether and how Dab2 is phosphorylated at Ser24 during platelet activation and to investigate the effect of Dab2-pSer24 on platelet function. An antibody with confirmed specificity for Dab2-pSer24 was generated. By using this antibody as a tool, we showed that protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated Dab2-pSer24 was a conservative signaling event when human platelets were activated by the platelet agonists such as thrombin, collagen, ADP, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, and the thromboxane A2 activator U46619. The agonists-stimulated Dab2-pSer24 was attenuated by pretreatment of platelets with the RGDS peptide which inhibits integrin outside-in signaling by competitive binding of integrin alphaIIb with fibrinogen. Direct activation of platelet integrin outside-in signaling by combined treatment of platelets with manganese dichloride and fibrinogen or by spreading of platelets on fibrinogen also resulted in Dab2-pSer24. These findings implicate that Dab2-pSer24 was associated with the outside-in signaling of integrin. Further analysis revealed that Dab2-pSer24 was downstream of Src-PKC-axis and phospholipase D1 underlying the integrin alphaIIbbeta3 outside-in signaling. A membrane penetrating peptide R11-Ser24 which contained 11 repeats of arginine linked to the Dab2-Ser24 phosphorylation site and its flanking sequences (RRRRRRRRRRR.sup.19APKAPSKKEKK.sup.29) and the R11-S24A peptide with Ser24Ala mutation were designed to elucidate the functions of Dab2-pSer24. R11-Ser24 but not R11-S24A inhibited agonists-stimulated Dab2-pSer24 and consequently suppressed platelet spreading on fibrinogen, with no effect on platelet aggregation and fibrinogen binding. Notably, Ser24 and the previously reported Ser723 phosphorylation (Dab2-pSer723) occurred exclusively in a single Dab2 molecule and resulted in distinctive subcellular distribution and function of Dab2. Dab2-pSer723 was mainly distributed in the cytosol of activated platelets and associated with integrin inside-out signaling, while Dab2-pSer24 was mainly distributed in the membrane fraction of activated platelets and associated with integrin outside-in signaling. These findings demonstrate for the first time that Dab2-pSer24 is conservative in integrin alphaIIbbeta3 outside-in signaling during platelet activation and plays a novel role in the control of cytoskeleton reorganization and platelet spreading on fibrinogen.
In the interest of expanding the available options for safe and inexpensive electrolyte in lithium ion batteries, we examined a novel electrolyte consisting of 30% IL (triethylmethylammonium ...bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, N1222-TFSI) mixed with 70% commercial carbonate electrolyte (EC/DMC = 1:1 by wt%, 0.78 mol kg-1 LiPF6) to form a hybrid electrolyte. The hybrid electrolyte failed to ignite after exposure to flame, a demonstration of high thermal stability. The aluminum corrosion is inhibited in N1222-TFSI mixed carbonate electrolyte, while the N-methyl-N-propyl-pyrrolidinium TFSI mixed carbonate electrolyte experienced serious pitting corrosion. The electrolyte has been observed with the LiFePO4 as positive electrode and the mesophase graphite as negative electrode in 18650 full cells. The electrochemical properties of hybrid electrolyte for the LiFePO4 electrode at 25oC and 60oC showed improved performance at high temperature in comparison to commercial electrolyte EC/DMC (1:1 by wt%) 0.78 mol kg-1 LiPF6. Vinylene carbonate (VC) as electrolyte additive in hybrid electrolyte at 2% addition was found to enhance the cycling performance at 25oC and 60oC, however a decrease in cell performance was observed at -10oC.
Perinatal tuberculosis is a rare disease with a high mortality rate and is difficult to diagnose. We report a case of perinatal tuberculosis diagnosed by postmortem study at the age of 3 months. An ...83-day-old male infant presented with cough for 3 weeks and intermittent fever for 1 week. A focal tonic convulsion occurred on the day of admission. Physical examination revealed failure to thrive, tachypnea, and marked hepatosplenomegaly. Chest roentgenogram showed bilateral nodular alveolar-interstitial infiltrates. Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple nodules in the liver and spleen as well as lymphadenopathy in the hepatic portal hilum. Antituberculous therapies were prescribed on the second hospital day. The patient died from respiratory failure on the sixth hospital day. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from gastric aspirates and cerebrospinal fluid 4 weeks after inoculation. Postmortem examination revealed disseminated necrotizing granulomas in several organs and tissues, including the porta hepatis lymph nodes, a primary hepatic complex. M. tuberculosis infection was diagnosed in his mother based on positive findings of Mautoux test and chest roentgenogram. This case illustrates that tuberculosis, though rare, still should be considered in poor-weight-gain neonates with cough, fever, and/or hepatosplenomegaly. Careful maternal and other family contact history is essential to establishing the diagnosis.
Depression is a frequent and important problem for patients who have experienced strokes. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms, their clinical correlations, ...and the effects of depressive symptoms on stroke recovery. A consecutive cohort of 207 ischemic stroke patients with a mean age of 64 years, were studied for ascertaining any correlation between potential risk factors and the incidence of post-stroke depression (PSD). Depressive symptoms were relatively common (34.3% Hamilton depression rating scale > 10), but the prevalence of severe depression (HDRS > 17) was only 7.7%. Patients with depressive symptoms were more likely to be female, have a family history of depression, and a poor functional outcome. There were no significant differences between depressive symptoms and age, marital status, location of stroke lesion, and duration after stroke onset. Our findings indicate that depressive symptoms occurred in about one third of post stroke patients. There is a negative correlation between depressive symptoms and functional status of the patients.
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![Integrin [alpha]IIb[beta]3 ...](http://api.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/image/issn/XR4PS5YY4K/2045-3701/small "Integrin [alpha]IIb[beta]3 outside-in signaling activates human platelets through serine 24 phosphorylation of Disabled-2")
