Prevalence of oral and dental disorders in institutionalised elderly people in Rasht,Iran

doi:10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2009.00313.x
Prevalence of oral and dental disorders in institutionalised elderly people in Rasht, Iran Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental and oral mucosal lesions in institutionalised elderly people in Rasht. Background: Oral health in the elderly people is important to tailor the health programmes for this increasing age group within the population. Methods: A total of 216 elderly people residing in a geriatric nursing home were included in the study. Subjects were interviewed and examined clinically and registered in a data collection form and analysed using spss version 11 program (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois, USA). Results: The prevalence of dental and oral disorders was 44.9% and 86.1% respectively. The most frequent oral disorders were dry mouth (42.1%), fissure tongue (25.9%), atrophic of tongue (25%), sublingual varicosity (22.7%), burning sensation (16.7%) and varix (15.3%). The prevalence of edentulousness was 56% (95%CI: 49–63%). The mean level of retained teeth was 3.22. The odds of an oral mucosal disorder in females were significantly more than in males (OR = 2.79, 95%CI: 1.25–6.23). Discussion: The findings revealed a high prevalence of dental and oral disorders in institutionalised elderly people in Rasht in comparison to similar studies. The mean of retained teeth was also much lower than in other reports. Therefore, the necessity for regular oral examination of these rapidly expanding age groups of people is essential.     

Lithium/Oxygen Incorporation and Microstructural Evolution during Synthesis of Li‐Rich Layered Li[Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6]O2 Oxides

As promising cathode materials, the lithium‐excess 3d‐transition‐metal layered oxides can deliver much higher capacities (>250 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C) than the current commercial layered oxide materials (≈180 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C) used in lithium ion batteries. Unfortunately, the original formation mechanism of these layered oxides during synthesis is not completely elucidated, that is, how is lithium and oxygen inserted into the matrix structure of the precursor during lithiation reaction? Here, a promising and practical method, a coprecipitation route followed by a microwave heating process, for controllable synthesis of cobalt‐free lithium‐excess layered compounds is reported. A series of the consistent results unambiguously confirms that oxygen atoms are successively incorporated into the precursor obtained by a coprecipitation process to maintain electroneutrality and to provide the coordination sites for inserted Li ions and transition metal cations via a high‐temperature lithiation. It is found that the electrochemical performances of the cathode materials are strongly related to the phase composition and preparation procedure. The monoclinic layered Li[Li_0.2Ni_0.2Mn_0.6]O₂ cathode materials with state‐of‐the‐art electrochemical performance and comparably high discharge capacities of 171 mAh g^?1 at 10 C are obtained by microwave annealing at 750 °C for 2 h.     

Neural Differentiation of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSc) on Surface-Modified Nanofibrous Scaffolds Coated with Platelet-Rich Plasma

The field of tissue engineering exploits living cells in a variety of ways to restore, maintain, or enhance tissues and organs. Between stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), are very important due to their wide abilities. Growth factors can support proliferation, differentiation, and migration of hiPSCs. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) could be used as the source of growth factors for hiPSCs. In the present study, proliferation and neural differentiation of hiPSCs on surface-modified nanofibrous Poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) coated with platelet-rich plasma was investigated. The results of in vitro analysis showed that on the surface, which was modified nanofibrous scaffolds coated with platelet-rich plasma, significantly enhanced hiPSCs proliferation and neural differentiation were observed. Whereas the MTT ([3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide]) results showed biocompatibility of surface-modified nanofibrous scaffolds coated with platelet-rich plasma and the usage of these modified nanoscaffolds in neural tissue engineering in vivo is promising for the future.

     

Plant extract supplementation as a strategy for substituting dietary antibiotics in broiler chickens exposed to low ambient temperature

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of two plant extracts as alternatives to dietary antibiotics in broiler chickens exposed to low ambient temperature. A total of 300 one-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (5 replicate pens; 15 broiler chickens each) which consisted of starter (d 0 to 10), and grower (d 10 to 28) diets. Dietary treatments included a basal diet (negative control, NC) and three similar diets that were either supplemented with 200 mg/kg of Prosopis farcta extract (PFE), Rhus coriaria L. extract (RCE) or an antibiotic premix containing oxytetracycline (positive control, PC). In order to simulate low ambient temperature, room temperature was maintained at 32°C during the first 3 d of the trial and afterwards, the temperature was gradually reduced by approximately 1.5°C each day to 14°C on d 21. PFE and PC treatments exerted a significant effect on body weight gain at d 28. Diet PFE was effective in reducing mortality when compared with diet NC (p < 0.05). Furthermore, diet PFE caused increases in ileal digestibility of gross energy, dry matter and organic matter when compared with diet NC (p < 0.05). Diets PFE and PC decreased coliforms, total aerobic bacteria and total anaerobic bacteria loads in the caeca when compared with diet NC (p < 0.05). Moreover, the addition of PFE to the diet improved villous height in all small intestinal segments as well as villous height:crypt depth ratio in the duodenum when compared with diet NC (p < 0.05). The results indicated that PFE is not only a valid alternative to oxytetracycline under cold stress conditions, with no antibiotic resistance, but also has the potential to increase the resistance of broiler chickens against ascites syndrome. Moreover, the addition of RCE at the concentration of 200 mg/kg to the diet was not sufficient to improve the performance of broiler chickens (similar to diet PC) but maybe more effective at higher concentrations.     

Meiosis and beyond – understanding the mechanistic and evolutionary processes shaping the germline genome

The separation of germ cell populations from the soma is part of the evolutionary transition to multicellularity. Only genetic information present in the germ cells will be inherited by future generations, and any molecular processes affecting the germline genome are therefore likely to be passed on. Despite its prevalence across taxonomic kingdoms, we are only starting to understand details of the underlying micro-evolutionary processes occurring at the germline genome level. These include segregation, recombination, mutation and selection and can occur at any stage during germline differentiation and mitotic germline proliferation to meiosis and post-meiotic gamete maturation. Selection acting on germ cells at any stage from the diploid germ cell to the haploid gametes may cause significant deviations from Mendelian inheritance and may be more widespread than previously assumed. The mechanisms that affect and potentially alter the genomic sequence and allele frequencies in the germline are pivotal to our understanding of heritability. With the rise of new sequencing technologies, we are now able to address some of these unanswered questions. In this review, we comment on the most recent developments in this field and identify current gaps in our knowledge.     

Mitochondrial DNA D‐loop sequence variation in maternal lineages of Iranian native horses

To understand the origin and genetic diversity of Iranian native horses, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D‐loop sequences were generated for 95 horses from five breeds sampled in eight geographical locations in Iran. Sequence analysis of a 247‐bp segment revealed a total of 27 haplotypes with 38 polymorphic sites. Twelve of 19 mtDNA haplogroups were identified in the samples. The most common haplotypes were found within haplogroup X2. Within‐population haplotype and nucleotide diversities of the five breeds ranged from 0.838 ± 0.056 to 0.974 ± 0.022 and 0.011 ± 0.002 to 0.021 ± 0.001 respectively, indicating a relatively high genetic diversity in Iranian horses. The identification of several ancient sequences common between the breeds suggests that the lineage of the majority of Iranian horse breeds is old and obviously originated from a vast number of mares. We found in all native Iranian horse breeds lineages of the haplogroups D and K, which is concordant with the previous findings of Asian origins of these haplogroups. The presence of haplotypes E and K in our study also is consistent with a geographical west–east direction of increasing frequency of these haplotypes and a genetic fusion in Iranian horse breeds.     

Allosteric activation of proto-oncogene kinase Src by GPCR–beta-arrestin complexes

G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) initiate signaling cascades via G-proteins and beta-arrestins (βarr). βarr-dependent actions begin with recruitment of βarr to the phosphorylated receptor tail and are followed by engagement with the receptor core. βarrs are known to act as adaptor proteins binding receptors and various effectors, but it is unclear whether in addition to the scaffolding role βarrs can allosterically activate their downstream targets. Here we demonstrate the direct allosteric activation of proto-oncogene kinase Src by GPCR–βarr complexes in vitro and establish the conformational basis of the activation. Whereas free βarr1 had no effect on Src activity, βarr1 in complex with M2 muscarinic or β2-adrenergic receptors reconstituted in lipid nanodiscs activate Src by reducing the lag phase in Src autophosphorylation. Interestingly, receptor–βarr1 complexes formed with a βarr1 mutant, in which the finger-loop, required to interact with the receptor core, has been deleted, fully retain the ability to activate Src. Similarly, βarr1 in complex with only a phosphorylated C-terminal tail of the vasopressin 2 receptor activates Src as efficiently as GPCR–βarr complexes. In contrast, βarr1 and chimeric M2 receptor with nonphosphorylated C-terminal tail failed to activate Src. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the phosphorylated GPCR tail interaction with βarr1 is necessary and sufficient to empower it to allosterically activate Src. Our findings may have implications for understanding more broadly the mechanisms of allosteric activation of downstream targets by βarrs.     

Phosphorylation of NuMA by Aurora‐A kinase in PC‐3 prostate cancer cells affects proliferation,survival, and interphase NuMA localization

Aurora‐A is a serine/threonine kinase that has oncogenic properties in vivo. The expression and kinase activity of Aurora‐A are up‐regulated in multiple malignancies. Aurora‐A is a key regulator of mitosis that localizes to the centrosome from the G2 phase through mitotic exit and regulates mitotic spindle formation as well as centrosome separation. Overexpression of Aurora‐A in multiple malignancies has been linked to higher tumor grade and poor prognosis through mechanisms that remain to be defined. Using an unbiased proteomics approach, we identified the protein nuclear mitotic apparatus (NuMA) as a robust substrate of Aurora‐A kinase. Using a small molecule Aurora‐A inhibitor in conjunction with a reverse in‐gel kinase assay (RIKA), we demonstrate that NuMA becomes hypo‐phosphorylated in vivo upon Aurora‐A inhibition. Using an alanine substitution strategy, we identified multiple Aurora‐A phospho‐acceptor sites in the C‐terminal tail of NuMA. Functional analyses demonstrate that mutation of three of these phospho‐acceptor sites significantly diminished cell proliferation. In addition, alanine mutation at these sites significantly increased the rate of apoptosis. Using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, we show that the NuMA T1804A mutant mis‐localizes to the cytoplasm in interphase nuclei in a punctate pattern. The identification of Aurora‐A phosphorylation sites in NuMA that are important for cell cycle progression and apoptosis provides new insights into Aurora‐A function. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 823–830, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Embryonic and early development of the Zagros tooth‐carp,Aphanius vladykovi (Actinopterygii: Cyprinodontidae)

The embryonic and early larval development of laboratory reared Zagros tooth‐carp, Aphanius vladykovi Coad, 1988, are described and illustrated. Development and embryogenesis start with the external fertilization of sticky, transparent and spherical telolecithal/macrolecithal eggs with a mean diameter of 1.61± 0.12 mm and it continues with meroblastic/radial cleavage, blastulation/blastula formation, epibolic cell migration during gastrulation and organogenesis resulting in a newly hatched larvae of 5.23 ± 0.09 mm in length with attached yolk sac at about 164 hr (at 24 ± 1°C) after fertilization.