Abstract The pathogenesis of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) remains unknown, and the development of a reliable experimental model would help to improve our understanding of ...it. We used 12 domestic pigs of which 6 made up the experimental group and were treated with zoledronate 4 mg intravenously weekly for 5 weeks, while the control group (n = 6) were given no drugs. On day 60 the right second maxillary and mandibular third molars were extracted. Thirty days later 3 animals in each group were killed; the rest were killed 90 days later. Histopathological specimens from the extraction sites were analysed for bone density, collagen architecture, density of osteons, and the amount of non-mineralised bone. Bone density, amount of non-mineralised bone, and density of osteons differed significantly between the 2 groups (p < 0.001 in each case), but the chromatic pattern dictated by the collagen architecture did not. Our results correspond to the observations that have been made in patients with BRONJ, which means that the histomorphometric conditions seen in patients can be reproduced in this experimental setting.
The objective of the present study was to validate the use of intralesional injection of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with skin and soft-tissue melanoma metastases. A total of 24 patients with ...AJCC stage III or IV melanoma and single or multiple skin and soft-tissue metastases were included. Interleukin-2 injections were administered intralesionally into the total number of cutaneous and soft-tissue metastases accessible from the skin, 2-3 times weekly, over 1-57 weeks. Single doses varied from 0.6 to 6 x 10(6) IU, depending on lesion size. The clinical response was monitored by sonography and confirmed by histopathology; response evaluation was confined to the intralesionally treated tumours. Complete response (CR) of the treated metastases was achieved in 15 patients (62.5%), the longest remission lasting 38 months to date. In five patients, partial response (PR) was achieved (21%) and in another three patients, progressive disease was observed (one patient not assessable). A total of 245 metastases were treated with CR in 209 (85%), and PR in 21 (6%). The therapy was generally well tolerated; the observed adverse events were mainly of grade 1-2 severity. Immunohistochemical studies showed the tumour cells undergoing apoptosis and revealed a mixed character of the inflammatory infiltrate. The unusual high CR rate in metastatic melanoma of 62.5% and the limited toxicity suggest that treatment of skin and soft-tissue melanoma metastases with intralesional injection of IL-2 may be a safe and effective alternative to conventional therapies. The optimal dosage and duration of this therapy still remain to be defined in larger prospective multicentre trials.
ABSTRACT
We present measurements of galaxy clustering from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), which is part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS‐III). These use the Data Release ...9 (DR9) CMASS sample, which contains 264 283 massive galaxies covering 3275 square degrees with an effective redshift z = 0.57 and redshift range 0.43 < z < 0.7. Assuming a concordance ΛCDM cosmological model, this sample covers an effective volume of 2.2 Gpc3, and represents the largest sample of the Universe ever surveyed at this density, n¯≈3×10−4h−3 Mpc 3. We measure the angle‐averaged galaxy correlation function and power spectrum, including density‐field reconstruction of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature. The acoustic features are detected at a significance of 5σ in both the correlation function and power spectrum. Combining with the SDSS‐II luminous red galaxy sample, the detection significance increases to 6.7σ. Fitting for the position of the acoustic features measures the distance to z = 0.57 relative to the sound horizon DV/rs = 13.67 ± 0.22 at z = 0.57. Assuming a fiducial sound horizon of 153.19 Mpc, which matches cosmic microwave background constraints, this corresponds to a distance DV (z = 0.57) = 2094 ± 34 Mpc. At 1.7 per cent, this is the most precise distance constraint ever obtained from a galaxy survey. We place this result alongside previous BAO measurements in a cosmological distance ladder and find excellent agreement with the current supernova measurements. We use these distance measurements to constrain various cosmological models, finding continuing support for a flat Universe with a cosmological constant.
Abstract In the present paper we report the oral findings of a patient who was diagnosed with hyperoxaluria. Hyperoxalurias can basically be classified as primary and secondary, with the first being ...inborn errors of metabolism and the second a result of excessive oxalate intake. Primary hyperoxalurias form a rare group of metabolic diseases that are inherited in the autosomal recessive fashion. The affected genes code for specific hepatic enzymes that are involved in glyoxylate metabolism and their deficiency results in overproduction of oxalate. Two different types are described: Primary hyperoxaluria type I results from a deficiency of peroxisomal enzyme alanine–glyoxylate aminotransferase and the more rare type II from a deficiency of cytosolic enzyme d -glycerate dehydrogenase. Since oxalate is primarily excreted through the kidneys, abnormally high concentration of oxalate in the urine occurs. This can in turn result in recurrent kidney stones and parenchymal renal damage and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Inability to further excrete oxalate through the kidneys leads to its deposition in various organs (oxalosis). Several oral findings have been described in patients with oxalosis, most important of whose are bone resorption in the jaws, external root resorption and rapidly progressive dental mobility, as well as dental pain associated with deposition of oxalate in the dentine and the pulp.
Tidewater glacier velocity and mass balance are known to be
highly responsive to terminus position change. Yet it remains challenging
for ice flow models to reproduce observed ice margin changes. ...Here, using the
Ice Sheet System Model (Larour et al., 2012), we simulate the ice velocity
and thickness changes of Upernavik Isstrøm (north-western Greenland) by prescribing
a collection of 27 observed terminus positions spanning 164 years
(1849–2012). The simulation shows increased ice velocity during the 1930s,
the late 1970s and between 1995 and 2012 when terminus retreat was observed
along with negative surface mass balance anomalies. Three distinct mass
balance states are evident in the reconstruction: (1849–1932) with near zero
mass balance, (1932–1992) with ice mass loss dominated by ice dynamical
flow, and (1998–2012), when increased retreat and negative surface mass
balance anomalies led to mass loss that was twice that of any earlier period. Over
the multi-decadal simulation, mass loss was dominated by thinning and
acceleration responsible for 70 % of the total mass loss induced by
prescribed change in terminus position. The remaining 30 % of the
total ice mass loss resulted directly from prescribed terminus retreat and
decreasing surface mass balance. Although the method can not explain the
cause of glacier retreat, it enables the reconstruction of ice flow and
geometry during 1849–2012. Given annual or seasonal observed terminus front
positions, this method could be a useful tool for evaluating simulations
investigating the effect of calving laws.
Size selectivity of aqueous pores in Vicia leaf cuticles was investigated by measuring the penetration of calcium salts into the abaxial surface of detached leaves. Molecular weights of salts ranged ...from 111 g mol(-1) to 755 g mol(-1). Penetration in light at 20 degrees C and 100% humidity was a first order process and rate constants of penetration ranged from 0.39 h(-1) (CaCl2) to 0.058 h(-1) (Ca-lactobionate). Penetration was a first order process in the dark as well, but the rate constants were smaller by a factor of 1.82. Plotting logarithmatised rate constants versus anhydrous molecular weights resulted in straight lines both in light and in the dark. The slopes per hour were very similar and the average slope was -1.2x10(-3) mol g(-1). Hence, size selectivity was not affected by stomatal opening, and in light or darkness permeability of Vicia cuticles decreased by a factor of 2.9 when molecular weight increased from 100 g mol(-1) to 500 g mol(-1). Silver nitrate was preferentially precipitated as silver chloride in guard cells, glandular trichomes and at the base of trichomes. It was concluded that these precipitates mark the location of aqueous pores in Vicia leaf cuticles. The size selectivity of aqueous pores in Vicia leaf cuticles is small compared to that observed in poplar leaf cuticles, in which permeability decreased by a factor of 7-13 for the same range of molecular weights. It is also much smaller than size selectivity of the lipophilic pathway in cuticles. These findings suggest that active ingredients of pesticides, growth regulators and chemical inducers with high molecular weights penetrate leaves at higher rates when formulated as ions.
Calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, potassium carbonate and the alkylpolyglycoside surfactants Glucopon 215 CSUP and Plantacare 12 UP are salts applied to leaves as foliar nutrients and fungicides. ...These chemicals were sprayed on apple (Malus domestica BORKH.) and broad bean (Vicia faba L.) leaves. Stomatal conductance and rates of net photosynthesis were measured continuously in the light and in the dark using a Portable Photosynthesis System CIRAS-1. All compounds with the exception of Ca(OH)₂ affected stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis, albeit to different degrees. In light, Plantacare either alone (0.2gl⁻¹) or in combination with CaCl₂·2H₂O (5gl⁻¹) or K₂CO₃ (5gl⁻¹) caused a rapid initial increase in stomatal conductance during the first 1-3h after spraying on the leaves, maximum conductances were observed about 6h after application. A rather high stomatal conductance was observed during the dark period when Glucopon (0.2gl⁻¹) was applied either alone or in combination with Ca(OH)₂. The combination CaCl₂·2H₂O+Glucopon did not cause this elevated stomatal conductance during the dark. CaCl₂·2H₂O reduced stomatal conductance in combination with both Glucopon and Plantacare. The surfactant Plantacare reduced net photosynthesis during the first light period (12h), if applied alone or in combination with CaCl₂·2H₂O. Treatment of broad bean leaves with K₂CO₃ +Plantacare resulted in a rapid decrease in net photosynthesis during the first hour, and then the rates of net photosynthesis increased rapidly and approached to those of the water control. The effects of surfactants and salts on net photosynthesis had nearly disappeared by the beginning of the second light period. Non-specific glycosidases presumably cleaved the glycosidic bond between the alkyl and the sugar moieties during the preceding night. Our data showed that foliar applications of CaCl₂·2H₂O and K₂CO₃ together with alkyl polyglycoside surfactants can affect gas exchange. However, the effects of the chemicals at the concentrations used in our study were not very large and were transient. They practically vanished within 24h and a detrimental effect on growth and development of crops was not likely.
Using a leaf disc method rates of penetration of 45CaCl2 across upper and lower surfaces of apple, pear, broad bean and corn leaves were studied at 20 °C and 100% humidity. The donor solutions ...contained 5 g l-1 CaCl2 and 0.2 g l-1 Glucopon 215 CSUP as wetter. A small droplet (5 µl) was applied to each leaf disc, allowed to dry within 1 h and penetration was followed from the hydrated salt residue on the leaves for up to 12 h. The following observations demonstrate a significant involvement of stomata in foliar penetration of salts: (1) Penetration across astomatous apple and pear leaf surfaces was too slow to be measured, whereas half times of penetration across stomatous surfaces ranged from 0.5 to 9 h. (2) Rates of penetration in the light were higher than in the dark. (3) Initial penetration during droplet drying was zero in non-stomatous surfaces while in stomatous leaf surfaces it ranged from 19 to 69% of the dose, depending on species, leaf surface and illumination. It is suggested that stomatal infiltration was involved in initial penetration, while later on, when penetration proceeded from a hydrated salt residue, penetration across the cuticle was the major pathway. When silver nitrate was used as a tracer, black silver precipitates were formed in the cuticle over and inside guard cells, as well as in trichomes and in the cuticle surrounding the base of the trichomes. It is suggested that CaCl2 and other ionic species may penetrate into leaves via the same routes.
PDF
