Complete denture wearing and fractures among edentulous patients treated in university clinics

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00551.x
Complete denture wearing and fractures among edentulous patients treated in university clinics Objective: The prevalence of wearing and fracture of complete dentures was evaluated among edentulous patients treated in two dental schools in Brazil. Background: Acceptance and wearing of complete dentures are related to adaptive behaviour of edentulous patients. However, one reason that could interfere with the wearing dentures is their potential to fracture, which is still a common complication in denture rehabilitation practice. Material and methods: Two hundred and twenty‐four edentulous patients rehabilitated with complete dentures from 2000 to 2005 in Araçatuba and Araraquara Dental School, University of State of São Paulo, were assessed in 2006 and 2007 to answer a questionnaire about wearing and fracture of their dentures. Statistical analysis were performed using Epi Info software and chi‐squared test to compare maxillary and mandibular data (α = 0.05). Results: Almost 26% of the patients did not wear their dentures, and among the remainder, the majority wore the maxillary denture. About 30% of the dentures were fractured, with higher prevalence in the maxillary arch (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Discontinuation of wearing dentures was quite high, especially considering the treatment which was carried out in university clinics. Prevalence of fractures was also high, greater for the maxillary denture, and was one of the main reasons for non‐wearing of complete dentures.     

In vitro reconstitution of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) synthase regulation by thioredoxin

Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), a major membrane lipid of chloroplasts, is synthesized by MGDG synthase (MGD) localized in chloroplast envelope membranes. We investigated whether MGD activity is regulated in a redox-dependent manner using recombinant cucumber MGD overexpressed in Escherichia coli. We found that MGD activity is reversibly regulated by reduction and oxidation in vitro and that an intramolecular disulfide bond(s) is involved in MGD activation. Because thioredoxin efficiently reduced disulfide bonds to enhance MGD activity in vitro, MGD is potentially an envelope-bound thioredoxin target protein in higher plants.     

Morphometric analysis and taxonomic revision of the Vriesea paraibica complex (Bromeliaceae)

The species related to Vriesea paraibica (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae) have controversial taxonomic limits. For several decades, this group has been identified in herbarium collections as V. × morreniana, an artificial hybrid that does not grow in natural habitats. The aim of this study was to assess the morphological variation in the V. paraibica complex through morphometric analyses of natural populations. Two sets of analyses were performed: the first involved six natural populations (G1) and the second was carried out on taxa that emerged from the first analysis, but using material from herbarium collections (G2). Univariate ANOVA was used, as well as discriminant analysis of 16 morphometric variables in G1 and 18 in G2. The results of the analyses of the two groups were similar and led to the selection of diagnostic traits of four species. Lengths of the lower and median floral bracts were significant for the separation of red and yellow floral bracts. Vriesea paraibica and V. interrogatoria have red bracts; these two species are differentiated by the widths of the lower and median portions of the inflorescence and by scape length. These structures are larger in the former and smaller in the latter. Of the species with yellow floral bracts, V. eltoniana is distinguished by longer leaf blades and scapes and V. flava is characterized by its shorter sepal lengths. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 159 , 163–181.     

Hydrologic regulation of gross methyl chloride and methyl bromide uptake from Alaskan Arctic tundra

The Arctic tundra has been shown to be a potentially significant regional sink for methyl chloride (CH₃Cl) and methyl bromide (CH₃Br), although prior field studies were spatially and temporally limited, and did not include gross flux measurements. Here we compare net and gross CH₃Cl and CH₃Br fluxes in the northern coastal plain and continental interior. As expected, both regions were net sinks for CH₃Cl and CH₃Br. Gross uptake rates (−793 nmol CH₃Cl m⁻² day⁻¹ and −20.3 nmol CH₃Br m⁻² day⁻¹) were 20–240% greater than net fluxes, suggesting that the Arctic is an even greater sink than previously believed. Hydrology was the principal regulator of methyl halide flux, with an overall trend towards increasing methyl halide uptake with decreasing soil moisture. Water table depth was one of the best predictors of net and gross uptake, with uptake increasing proportionately with water table depth. In drier areas, gross uptake was very high, averaging −1201 nmol CH₃Cl m⁻² day⁻¹ and −34.9 nmol CH₃Br m⁻² day⁻¹; in flooded areas, gross uptake was significantly lower, averaging −61 nmol CH₃Cl m⁻² day⁻¹ and −2.3 nmol CH₃Br m⁻² day⁻¹. Net and gross uptake was greater in the continental interior than in the northern coastal plain, presumably due to drier inland conditions. Within certain microtopographic features (low‐ and high‐centered polygons), uptake rates were positively correlated with soil temperature, indicating that temperature played a secondary role in methyl halide uptake. Incubations suggested that the inverse relationship between water content and methyl halide uptake was the result of mass transfer limitation in saturated soils, rather than because of reduced microbial activity under anaerobic conditions. These findings have potential regional significance, as the Arctic is expected to become warmer and drier due to anthropogenic climate forcing, potentially enhancing the Arctic sink for CH₃Cl and CH₃Br.     

DOG-SPOT database for comprehensive management of dog genetic research data

Research laboratories studying the genetics of companion animals have no database tools specifically designed to aid in the management of the many kinds of data that are generated, stored and analyzed. We have developed a relational database, "DOG-SPOT," to provide such a tool. Implemented in MS-Access, the database is easy to extend or customize to suit a lab's particular needs. With DOG-SPOT a lab can manage data relating to dogs, breeds, samples, biomaterials, phenotypes, owners, communications, amplicons, sequences, markers, genotypes and personnel. Such an integrated data structure helps ensure high quality data entry and makes it easy to track physical stocks of biomaterials and oligonucleotides.     

Funduscopy in adult zebrafish and its application to isolate mutant strains with ocular defects

Funduscopy is one of the most commonly used diagnostic tools in the ophthalmic practice, allowing for a ready assessment of pathological changes in the retinal vasculature and the outer retina. This non-invasive technique has so far been rarely used in animal model for ophthalmic diseases, albeit its potential as a screening assay in genetic screens. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is well suited for such genetic screens for ocular alterations. Therefore we developed funduscopy in adult zebrafish and employed it as a screening tool to find alterations in the anterior segment and the fundus of the eye of genetically modified adult animals.A stereomicroscope with coaxial reflected light illumination was used to obtain fundus color images of the zebrafish. In order to find lens and retinal alterations, a pilot screen of 299 families of the F3 generation of ENU-treated adult zebrafish was carried out.Images of the fundus of the eye and the anterior segment can be rapidly obtained and be used to identify alterations in genetically modified animals. A number of putative mutants with cataracts, defects in the cornea, eye pigmentation, ocular vessels and retina were identified. This easily implemented method can also be used to obtain fundus images from rodent retinas.In summary, we present funduscopy as a valuable tool to analyse ocular abnormalities in adult zebrafish and other small animal models. A proof of principle screen identified a number of putative mutants, making funduscopy based screens in zebrafish feasible.