Incidence, aetiology and pattern of mandibular fractures in central Switzerland

The two major causative factors for mandibular fractures, as stated in the literature, are either interpersonal violence or motor vehicle accidents. The purpose of this study was to describe epidemiological trends of mandibular fractures in Switzerland. A special emphasis was directed towards the potential impact of socio-economic standards on the mechanism and pattern of mandible fractures.

Expression and localization pattern of ABCA1 in diverse human placental primary cells and tissues

The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mediates the transport of cholesterol, phospholipids, and other lipophilic molecules across cellular membranes. Recent data provide evidence that ABCA1 plays an important role in placental function but the exact cellular sites of ABCA1 action in the placenta remain controversial. To clarify this issue, we analyzed the cellular and subcellular localization of ABCA1 with immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and subsequent confocal or immunofluorescence microscopy in different types of isolated primary placenta cells: cytotrophoblast cells, amnion epithelial cells, villous macrophages (Hofbauer cells), and mesenchymal cells isolated from chorionic membrane and placental villi. After 12 h of cultivation, primary cytotrophoblast cells showed intensive membrane and cytoplasmic staining for ABCA1. After 24 h, with progressive syncytium formation, ABCA1 staining intensity was markedly reduced and ABCA1 was dispersed in the cytoplasm of the forming syncytial layer. In amnion epithelial cells, placental macrophages and mesenchymal cells, ABCA1 was predominantly localized at the cell membrane and cytoplasmic compartments partially corresponding to the endoplasmic reticulum. In these cell types, the ABCA1 staining intensity was not dependent on the cultivation time. In conclusion, ABCA1 shows marked expression levels in diverse placental cell types. The multitopic localization of ABCA1 in diverse human placental cells not all directly involved in materno-fetal exchange suggests that this protein may not only participate in transplacental lipid transport but could have additional regulatory functions.

Estimates of Use of Research-Based Instructional Strategies in Core Electrical or Computer Engineering Courses

Many research-based instruction strategies (RBISs) have been developed; their superior efficacy with respect to student learning has been demonstrated in many studies. Collecting and interpreting evidence about: 1) the extent to which electrical and computer engineering (ECE) faculty members are using RBISs in core, required engineering science courses, and 2) concerns that they express about using them, are important aspects of understanding how engineering education is evolving. The authors surveyed ECE faculty members, asking about their awareness and use of selected RBISs. The survey also asked what concerns ECE faculty members had about using RBISs. Respondent data showed that awareness of RBISs was very high, but estimates of use of RBISs, based on survey data, varied from 10% to 70%, depending on characteristics of the strategy. The most significant concern was the amount of class time that using an RBIS might take; efforts to increase use of RBISs must address this.

Constrained pattern of viral evolution in acute and early HCV infection limits viral plasticity

Cellular immune responses during acute Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection are a known correlate of infection outcome. Viral adaptation to these responses via mutation(s) within CD8+ T-cell epitopes allows these viruses to subvert host immune control. This study examined HCV evolution in 21 HCV genotype 1-infected subjects to characterise the level of viral adaptation during acute and early HCV infection. Of the total mutations observed 25% were within described CD8+ T-cell epitopes or at viral adaptation sites. Most mutations were maintained into the chronic phase of HCV infection (75%). The lack of reversion of adaptations and high proportion of silent substitutions suggests that HCV has structural and functional limitations that constrain evolution. These results were compared to the pattern of viral evolution observed in 98 subjects during a similar phase in HIV infection from a previous study. In contrast to HCV, evolution during acute HIV infection is marked by high levels of amino acid change relative to silent substitutions, including a higher proportion of adaptations, likely reflecting strong and continued CD8+ T-cell pressure combined with greater plasticity of the virus. Understanding viral escape dynamics for these two viruses is important for effective T cell vaccine design.

Diurnal pattern of melatonin in blood and milk of dairy Cows

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diurnal rhythm of melatonin concentration in blood and milk of dairy cows. Blood was sampled and the entire milk was removed every hour and melatonin concentration was measured throughout 24 hours in June in 12 dairy cows (around 16 hours daylight). Both, blood plasma and milk melatonin concentration showed a diurnal pattern with high levels during scotoperiod and low levels during photoperiod. Average blood plasma melatonin was 16.2 +/- 2.3 pg/mL during the photoperiod (0800-2200h), started to increase at 2100h, and reached a plateau at 2300h (16.0 +/- 4.4 pg/mL). Peak concentration was reached at 0100h (25.4 +/- 5.6 pg/mL). At 0700h melatonin decreased to baseline level again. The melatonin pattern in milk paralleled the pattern in blood. However, the concentration of melatonin was much lower in milk than in blood with a maximum concentration of 2.9 +/- 0.6 pg/mL at all tested time points.

Sarcomatous evolution of oligodendroglioma ("oligosarcoma"): confirmatory report of an uncommon pattern of malignant progression in oligodendroglial tumors

By analogy to gliosarcoma, the neologism "oligosarcoma" is to describe an uncommon form of biphasic central nervous system tumor composed of contiguous neuroepithelial and mesenchymal elements, each of which individually meet the criteria of oligodendroglioma and sarcoma, respectively. By virtue of its distinctive genotype (codeletion 1p/19q), oligodendroglioma is a particularly inviting paradigm to test the assumption that such mixed tumors are clonally derived from a glial primary. We observed this constellation in a 41-year-old male who underwent two resection procedures for a recurring right frontal tumor at five years' interval. On imaging, both lesions were contrast-enhancing, and measured 7 cm × 7 cm × 6.8 cm and 7 cm × 6.5 cm × 4cm, respectively. Following the first operation, temozolomide monotherapy was administered. Whereas initial histology showed conventional anaplastic oligodendroglioma, the recurrence consisted mostly of a fibrosarcoma-like, fascicular neoplasm that was immunoreactive for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, S100 protein, and focally epithelial membrane antigen. In between, a subset of otherwise indistinguishable spindle cells expressed GFAP, and focally merged with residues of oligodendroglioma. Molecular testing for loss of heterozygosity confirmed codeletion of 1p/19q in both the primary tumor and the sarcomatous recurrence. Similarly, generalized immunoreactivity for the mutant R132H form of isocitrate dehydrogenase in both lesions indicated an identical mutation of the IDH1 gene. By the above standards, biologically consistent "oligosarcomas" are felt to be exceedingly rare, and possibly participate of a nosologically heterogeneous group of combined glial/mesenchymal lesions that may also include iatrogenically induced second malignancies as well as true collision tumors.

Point-of-care prothrombin time testing in paediatric intensive care: an observational study of the ease of use of two devices

Two major difficulties arise when taking blood samples in children: the challenge of venous access and the comparatively large amount of blood required.

Different pattern of clinical deficits in stroke mimics treated with intravenous thrombolysis

Guidelines recommend intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) to be applied as early as possible in ischemic stroke (IS), while clinical presentation is often assessed by using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). However, diagnostic workup under time pressure bears the risk of misdiagnosis. Little is known about whether NIHSS could help to differentiate between IS and stroke mimics (SM) in patients being evaluated for IVT.

Association of cardiovascular risk factors with pattern of lower limb atherosclerosis in 2659 patients undergoing angioplasty

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study is to correlate distribution pattern of lower limb atherosclerosis with cardiovascular risk factor profile of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis is based on a consecutive series of 2659 patients (1583 men, 1076 women, 70+/-11 years) with chronic PAD of atherosclerotic origin undergoing primary endovascular treatment of lower extremity arteries. Pattern of atherosclerosis was grouped into iliac (n=1166), femoropopliteal (n=2151) and infrageniculate (n=888) disease defined according to target lesions treated. A multivariable multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to assess relation with age, gender and classical cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking) using femoropopliteal disease as reference. RESULTS: Iliac disease was associated with younger age (RRR 0.95 per year of age, 95%-CI 0.94-0.96, p<0.001), male gender (RRR 1.32, 95%-CI 1.09-1.59, p=0.004) and cigarette smoking (RRR 2.02, 95%-CI 1.68-2.42, p<0.001). Infrageniculate disease was associated with higher age (RRR 1.02, 95%-CI 1.01-1.02, p<0.001), male gender (RRR 1.23, 95%-CI 1.06-1.41, p=0.005) and diabetes mellitus (RRR 1.68, 95%-CI 1.47-1.92, p<0.001). Hypercholesterolemia was less prevalent in patients with lesions below the knee (RRR 0.82, 95%-CI 0.71-0.94, p=0.006), whereas no distinct pattern was apparent related to arterial hypertension. CONCLUSION: Clinical phenotype of peripheral atherosclerosis varies with prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors suggesting differences in mechanisms involved in iliac as compared with infrageniculate lesions. Identification of molecular mechanism might have influence on future therapeutic strategies in PAD patients.

Pattern of mineralization after regenerative periodontal therapy with enamel matrix proteins

A derivative (EMD) of enamel matrix proteins (EMPs) is used for periodontal regeneration because EMPs are believed to induce the formation of acellular extrinsic fiber cementum (AEFC). Other reports, however, indicate that EMPs have osteogenic potential. The aim of this study was to characterize the nature of the tissue that forms on the root surface following application of EMD. Ten human teeth affected by periodontitis and scheduled for extraction were treated with EMD. Four to six weeks later, they were extracted and processed for analysis by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Immunocytochemistry with antibodies against bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN) was performed to determine the mineralization pattern. The newly formed tissues on the root were thick and contained embedded cells. Small mineralization foci were regularly seen, and large organic matrix patches were occasionally seen, but a distinct mineralization front was lacking. While labeling for BSP was always associated with small mineralization foci and large matrix patches, OPN labeling was seen inconsistently. It is concluded that tissues resembling either cellular intrinsic fiber cementum or a type of bone were observed. The mineralization pattern mostly resembled that found in bone, except for a few areas that exhibited a hitherto undescribed mineralization pattern.

Pattern of regional cerebral blood-flow changes induced by acute heroin administration--a perfusion MRI study

Although both the subjective and physiological effects of abused psychotropic substances have been characterized, less is known about their effects on brain function. We examined the actions of intravenous diacetylmorphine (heroin), the most widely abused opioid, on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), as assessed by perfusion-weighted MR imaging (PWI) in a double-blind and placebo-controlled setting.