Success rate and efficiency of activator treatment

In a retrospective multicentre study, the success rate and efficiency of activator treatment were analysed. All patients from two University clinics (Giessen, Germany and Berne, Switzerland) that fulfilled the selection criteria (Class II division 1 malocclusion, activator treatment, no aplasia, no extraction of permanent teeth, no syndromes, no previous orthodontic treatment except transverse maxillary expansion, full available records) were included in the study. The subject material amounted to 222 patients with a mean age of 10.6 years. Patient records, lateral head films, and dental casts were evaluated. Treatment was classified as successful if the molar relationship improved by at least half to three-fourths cusp width depending on whether or not the leeway space was used during treatment. Group comparisons were carried out using Wilcoxon two-sample and Kruskal-Wallis tests. For discrete data, chi-square analysis was used and Fisher's exact test when the sample size was small. Stepwise logistic regression was also employed. The success rate was 64 per cent in Giessen and 66 per cent in Berne. The only factor that significantly (P < 0.001) influenced treatment success was the level of co-operation. In approximately 27 per cent of the patients at both centres, the post-treatment occlusion was an 'ideal' Class I. In an additional 38 per cent of the patients, marked improvements in occlusal relationships were found. In subjects with Class II division 1 malocclusions, in which orthodontic treatment is performed by means of activators, a marked improvement of the Class II dental arch relationships can be expected in approximately 65 per cent of subjects. Activator treatment is more efficient in the late than in the early mixed dentition.

Estudo das alterações transversais do arco dentário inferior e da distância transversal da borda WALA no pré e pós-tratamento ortodôntico

O presente estudo investigou os efeitos das alterações transversais do arco dentário inferior na largura da borda WALA, ocorridos em pacientes com má oclusão classe II, divisão 1, no pré e pós-tratamento ortodôntico. Foram selecionados 36 pacientes, na faixa etária entre 12 e 15 anos e sete meses, que realizaram o tratamento ortodôntico com o emprego do aparelho pré-ajustado Straight Wire. Para avaliar o comportamento das dimensoes transversais foram mensuradas a largura do arco dentário inferior, a largura da borda wala e a distancia horizontal do ponto do eixo vestibular a borda wala por meio de um paquimetro dogital diretamente nos modelos de gesso inferiores pré e pós tratamento.

AVALIAÇÃO DAS ALTERAÇÕES DENTOESQUELÉTICAS DE PACIENTES COM MÁ OCLUSÃO DE CLASSE II DE ANGLE, TRATADOS COM O APARELHO REGULADOR DE FUNÇÃO DE FRÄNKEL (RF-2).

Esta pesquisa objetivou estudar retrospectivamente por meio de radiografias em norma frontal e modelos de gesso as alterações dentoesqueléticas de pacientes com má oclusão de Classe II, 1ª divisão, divididos em dois grupos: Grupo Tratado, constituído de 28 pacientes, sendo 13 pacientes do sexo masculino e 15 do sexo feminino, tratados com aparelho regulador de função de Fränkel - 2 (RF-2), por um período ativo de 1,5 anos; Grupo Controle: constituído de 28 pacientes, sendo 12 do sexo masculino e 16 do sexo feminino, sem nenhum tipo de tratamento durante o acompanhamento longitudinal de 1,5 anos. A amostra deste estudo consistiu de 112 telerradiografias em norma frontal e 112 pares de modelos de gesso, 56 obtidos ao início (T1) e 56 ao final da observação (T2). Após a análise estatística das mensurações obtidas, concluiu- se que houve como resultado alterações estatisticamente significantes em todas as medidas analisadas e o aparelho RF-2 teve atuação direta nas variáveis: distância intermolares superio res e inferiores (radiografias e modelos),profundidade palatina, largura maxilar e altura facial ântero-inferior.

The TCP4 transcription factor of Arabidopsis blocks cell division in yeast at G1 -> S transition

The TCP transcription factors control important aspects of plant development. Members of class I TCP proteins promote cell cycle by regulating genes directly involved in cell proliferation. In contrast, members of class II TCP proteins repress cell division. While it has been postulated that class II proteins induce differentiation signal, their exact role on cell cycle has not been studied. Here, we report that TCP4, a class II TCP protein from Arabidopsis that repress cell proliferation in developing leaves, inhibits cell division by blocking G1 -> S transition in budding yeast. Cells expressing TCP4 protein with increased transcriptional activity fail to progress beyond G1 phase. By analyzing global transcriptional status of these cells, we show that expression of a number of cell cycle genes is altered. The possible mechanism of G1 -> S arrest is discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

HLA class I and II antigens are partially co-clustered in the plasma membrane of human lymphoblastoid cells

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules displayed clustered patterns at the surfaces of T (HUT-102B2) and B (JY) lymphoma cells characterized by interreceptor distances in the micrometer range as detected by scanning force microscopy of immunogold-labeled antigens. Electron microscopy revealed that a fraction of the MHC class II molecules was also heteroclustered with MHC class I antigens at the same hierarchical level as described by the scanning force microscopy data, after specifically and sequentially labeling the antigens with 30- and 15-nm immunogold beads. On JY cells the estimated fraction of co-clustered HLA II was 0.61, whereas that of the HLA I was 0.24. Clusterization of the antigens was detected by the deviation of their spatial distribution from the Poissonian distribution representing the random case. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements also confirmed partial co-clustering of the HLA class I and II molecules at another hierarchical level characterized by the 2- to 10-nm Förster distance range and providing fine details of the molecular organization of receptors. The larger-scale topological organization of the MHC class I and II antigens may reflect underlying membrane lipid domains and may fulfill significant functions in cell-to-cell contacts and signal transduction.

Reactivity Of Pph3 Toward Ruiiruiiicl(O2car)4 - Syntheses, Molecular-Structures, And Spectroscopic And Electrochemical Properties Of Ruiiruiii(Oh2)Cl(Mecn)(O2car)4(Pph3)2 And Ruii2(Oh2)(Mecn)2(O2car)4(Pph3)2

By the reaction of Ru2Cl(O2CAr)4 (1) and PPh3 in MeCN-H2O the diruthenium(II,III) and diruthenium(II) compounds of the type Ru2(OH2)Cl(MeCN)(O2CAr)4(PPh3)2 (2) and Ru2(OH2)(MeCN)2(O2CAr)4(PPh3)2 (3) were prepared and characterized by analytical, spectral, and electrochemical data (Ar is an aryl group, C6H4-p-X; X = H, OMe, Me, Cl, NO2). The molecular structure of Ru2(OH2)Cl(MeCN)(O2CC6H4-p-OMe)4(PPh3)2 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data are as follows: triclinic, P1BAR, a = 13.538 (5) angstrom, b = 15.650 (4) angstrom, c = 18.287 (7) angstrom, alpha = 101.39 (3)-degrees, beta = 105.99 (4)-degrees, gamma = 97.94 (3)-degrees, V = 3574 angstrom 3, Z = 2. The molecule is asymmetric, and the two ruthenium centers are clearly distinguishable. The Ru(III)-Ru(II), Ru(III)-(mu-OH2), and Ru(II)-(mu-OH2) distances and the Ru-(mu-OH2)-Ru angle in [{Ru(III)Cl(eta-1-O2CC6H4-p-OMe)(PPh3)}(mu-OH2)(mu-O2CC6H4-p-OMe)2{Ru(II)(MeCN)(eta-1-O2CC6H4-p-OMe)(PPh3)}] are 3.604 (1), 2.127 (8), and 2.141 (10) angstrom and 115.2 (5)-degrees, respectively. The compounds are paramagnetic and exhibit axial EPR spectra in the polycrystalline form. An intervalence transfer (IT) transition is observed in the range 900-960 nm in chloroform in these class II type trapped mixed-valence species 2. Compound 2 displays metal-centered one-electron reduction and oxidation processes near -0.4 and +0.6 V (vs SCE), respectively in CH2Cl2-TBAP. Compound 2 is unstable in solution phase and disproportionates to (mu-aquo)diruthenium(II) and (mu-oxo)diruthenium(III) complexes. The mechanistic aspects of the core conversion are discussed. The molecular structure of a diruthenium(II) compound, Ru2(OH2)(MeCN)2(O2CC6H4-p-NO2)4(PPh3)2.1.5CH2Cl2, was obtained by X-ray crystallography. The compound crystallizes in the space group P2(1)/c with a = 23.472 (6) angstrom, b = 14.303 (3) angstrom, c = 23.256 (7) angstrom, beta = 101.69 (2)-degrees, V = 7645 angstrom 3, and Z = 4. The Ru(II)-Ru(II) and two Ru(II)-(mu-OH2) distances and the Ru(II)-(mu-OH2)-Ru(II) angle in [{(PPh3)-(MeCN)(eta-1-O2CC6H4-p-NO2)Ru}2(mu-OH2)(mu-O2CC6H4-p-NO2)2] are 3.712 (1), 2.173 (9), and 2.162 (9) angstrom and 117.8 (4)-degrees, respectively. In both diruthenium(II,III) and diruthenium(II) compounds, each metal center has three facial ligands of varying pi-acidity and the aquo bridges are strongly hydrogen bonded with the eta-1-carboxylato facial ligands. The diruthenium(II) compounds are diamagnetic and exhibit characteristic H-1 NMR spectra in CDCl3. These compounds display two metal-centered one-electron oxidations near +0.3 and +1.0 V (vs SCE) in CH2Cl2-TBAP. The overall reaction between 1 and PPh3 in MeCN-H2O through the intermediacy of 2 is of the disproportionation type. The significant role of facial as well as bridging ligands in stabilizing the core structures is observed from electrochemical studies.

Interferon-Gamma and Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 Mediate the Aggregation of Resident Adherent Peritoneal Exudate Cells: Implications for the Host Response to Pathogens

Interferon-gamma (Ifn gamma), a key macrophage activating cytokine, plays pleiotropic roles in host immunity. In this study, the ability of Ifn gamma to induce the aggregation of resident mouse adherent peritoneal exudate cells (APECs), consisting primarily of macrophages, was investigated. Cell-cell interactions involve adhesion molecules and, upon addition of Ifn gamma, CD11b re-localizes preferentially to the sites of interaction on APECs. A functional role of CD11b in enhancing aggregation is demonstrated using Reopro, a blocking reagent, and siRNA to Cd11b. Studies with NG-methyl-L-arginine (LNMA), an inhibitor of Nitric oxide synthase (Nos), NO donors, e.g., S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) or Diethylenetriamine/ nitric oxide adduct (DETA/NO), and Nos2(-/-) mice identified Nitric oxide (NO) induced by Ifn gamma as a key regulator of aggregation of APECs. Further studies with Nos2(-/-) APECs revealed that some Ifn. responses are independent of NO: induction of MHC class II and CD80. On the other hand, Nos2 derived NO is important for other functions: motility, phagocytosis, morphology and aggregation. Studies with cytoskeleton depolymerizing agents revealed that Ifn gamma and NO mediate the cortical stabilization of Actin and Tubulin which contribute to aggregation of APECs. The biological relevance of aggregation of APECs was delineated using infection experiments with Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). APECs from orally infected, but not uninfected, mice produce high amounts of NO and aggregate upon ex vivo culture in a Nos2-dependent manner. Importantly, aggregated APECs induced by Ifn gamma contain fewer intracellular S. Typhimurium compared to their single counterparts post infection. Further experiments with LNMA or Reopro revealed that both NO and CD11b are important for aggregation; in addition, NO is bactericidal. Overall, this study elucidates novel roles for Ifn gamma and Nos2 in regulating Actin, Tubulin, CD11b, motility and morphology during the aggregation response of APECs. The implications of aggregation or ``group behavior'' of APECs are discussed in the context of host resistance to infectious organisms.

A new protein structure of P-II class snake venom metalloproteinases: it comprises metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains

A new metalloproteinase-disintegrin, named Jerdonitin, was purified from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom with a molecular weight of 36 kDa on SDS-PAGE. It dose-dependently inhibited ADP-induced human platelet aggregation with IC50 of 120 nM. cDNA cloning and sequencing revealed that Jerdonitin belonged to the class II of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) (P-II class). Different from other P-II class SVMPs, metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains of its natural protein were not separated, confirmed by internal peptide sequencing. Compared to other P-II class SVMPs, Jerdonitin has two additional cysteines (Cys219 and Cys238) located in the spacer domain and disintegrin domain, respectively. They probably form a disulfide bond and therefore the metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains cannot be separated by posttranslationally processing. In summary, comparison of the amino acid sequences of Jerdonitin with those of other P-II class SVMPs by sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, in conjunction with natural protein structure data, suggested that it was a new type of P-II class SVMPs. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Two Mn(2)(II)Ln(4)(III) (Ln = Gd, Eu) hexanuclear compounds of p-tert-butylsulfinylcalix[4]arene

Two 3d-4f heterometallic compounds of p-tert-butylsulfinylcalix[4] arene were synthesized by the solvothermal method and characterized by some hinged double-dumbbell-like subunits in which two perpendicular dumbbell entities were constructed by an in-between isosceles triangle Mn(II)Ln(2)(III), and two tail-to-tail calixarene molecules, and hinged by the lanthanide-sulfinyl group bonding. The magnetic properties of the title compounds were examined.

Restauração directa de classes II em pré-molares com compósitos

Tese de Doutoramento apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Doutor em em Biotecnologia e Saúde, Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública.

Design, synthesis and development of novel indolocarbazole derivatives as potential anti-cancer agents

This thesis describes work carried out on the design of new routes to a range of bisindolylmaleimide and indolo[2,3-a]carbazole analogs, and investigation of their potential as successful anti-cancer agents. Following initial investigation of classical routes to indolo[2,3-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole aglycons, a new strategy employing base-mediated condensation of thiourea and guanidine with a bisindolyl β-ketoester intermediate afforded novel 5,6-bisindolylpyrimidin-4(3H)-ones in moderate yields. Chemical diversity within this H-bonding scaffold was then studied by substitution with a panel of biologically relevant electrophiles, and by reductive desulfurisation. Optimisation of difficult heterogeneous literature conditions for oxidative desulfurisation of thiouracils was also accomplished, enabling a mild route to a novel 5,6-bisindolyluracil pharmacophore to be developed within this work. The oxidative cyclisation of selected acyclic bisindolyl systems to form a new planar class of indolo[2,3-a]pyrimido[5,4-c]carbazoles was also investigated. Successful conditions for this transformation, as well as the limitations currently prevailing for this approach are discussed. Synthesis of 3,4-bisindolyl-5-aminopyrazole as a potential isostere of bisindolylmaleimide agents was encountered, along with a comprehensive derivatisation study, in order to probe the chemical space for potential protein backbone H-bonding interactions. Synthesis of a related 3,4-arylindolyl-5-aminopyrazole series was also undertaken, based on identification of potent kinase inhibition within a closely related heterocyclic template. Following synthesis of approximately 50 novel compounds with a diversity of H-bonding enzyme-interacting potential within these classes, biological studies confirmed that significant topo II inhibition was present for 9 lead compounds, in previously unseen pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, indolo[2,3-c]carbazole and branched S,N-disubstituted thiouracil derivative series. NCI-60 cancer cell line growth inhibition data for 6 representative compounds also revealed interesting selectivity differences between each compound class, while a new pyrimido[5,4-c]carbazole agent strongly inhibited cancer cell division at 10 µM, with appreciable cytotoxic activity observed across several tumour types.

Differential inducibility of HLA class I and II antigens by r-IFN gamma in type III bare lymphocyte syndrome.

Case Reports

Are poker players all the same? : latent class analysis

Poker is the gambling game that is currently gaining the most in popularity. However, there is little information on poker players' characteristics and risk factors. Furthermore, the first studies described poker players, often recruited in universities, as an homogeneous group who played in only one of the modes (land based or on the Internet). This study aims to identify, through latent class analyses, poker player subgroups. A convenience sample of 258 adult poker players was recruited across Quebec during special events or through advertising in various media. Participants filled out a series of questionnaires (Canadian Problem Gambling Index, Beck Depression, Beck Anxiety, erroneous belief and alcohol/drug consumption). The latent class analysis suggests that there are three classes of poker players. Class I (recreational poker players) includes those who have the lowest probability of engaging intensively in different game modes. Participants in class II (Internet poker players) all play poker on the Internet. This class includes the highest proportion of players who consider themselves experts or professionals. They make a living in part or in whole from poker. Class III (multiform players) includes participants with the broadest variety of poker patterns. This group is complex: these players are positioned halfway between professional and recreational players. Results indicate that poker players are not an homogeneous group identified simply on the basis of the form of poker played. The specific characteristics associated with each subgroup points to vulnerabilities that could potentially be targeted for preventive interventions.

A Passagem do 1.º para o 2.º CEB. Continuidade ou Recomeço?

Relatório de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Ensino do 1.º e do 2.º Ciclo de Educação Básica

Effets sur l'articulation temporo-mandibulaire du Twin-Block et d'un appareil myofonctionnel de classe II.

Introduction. Ce projet de recherche consiste en une étude cohorte prospective randomisée visant à évaluer les douleurs ressenties au niveau de l’articulation temporo-mandibulaire (ATM) lors d’une thérapie d’avancement mandibulaire grâce à un appareil fixe, le correcteur de classe II (CC) et d’un appareil amovible, le Twin-Block (TB). Matériels et méthodes. Cette étude comptait 26 patients (11 hommes et 15 femmes), âge moyen de 12ans 10mois (10ans 4mois à 15ans 10mois). Les sujets devaient avoir une malocclusion de classe II et être en croissance, CVM 2 ou 3 (Cervical Vertebral Maturation). Les patients étaient divisés en deux groupes : TB et CC. La douleur était évaluée selon l’axe I de l’examen du RDC/TMD (Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders) à 7 reprises (T0 à T6). De plus, le patient devait remplir un questionnaire, à la maison, sur la douleur ressentie et la médication prise lors des 30 premiers jours. La douleur était évaluée avant l’insertion des appareils (T0), à 1 semaine (T1) post-insertion, 4 semaines plus tard (T2), 8 semaines (T3) où une expansion de 20 tours (environs 5 mm) était débutée, ensuite (T4) (T5) et (T6) chacun à 8 semaines d’intervalles. Les tests statistiques utilisés dans cette étude : le test «Wilcoxon à un échantillon» ainsi que le test «Mann-Whitney à échantillons indépendants ». Résultats et Discussion. La douleur à l’examen clinique est variable mais tend à diminuer avec le temps. Aucune différence, statistiquement significative, ne fut observée entre les 2 groupes en ce qui à trait aux diverses palpations effectuées. Parmi les patients ayant rapporté de la douleur, 40% l’ont ressentie surtout le matin et 63,3% ont dit qu’elle durait de moins d’une heure jusqu’à quelques heures. Conclusion. D’après nos résultats, lors d’une thérapie myofonctionnnelle, il n’y a pas de différence statistiquement significative entre la douleur occasionnée par un Twin-Block et celle produite par un correcteur de classe II fixe au niveau de l’ATM et des muscles du complexe facial.