Morphology and morphogenesis of a freshwater ciliate, Epistylis chlorelligerum Shen, 1980 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia)

An oligohalobic peritrichous ciliate, Epistylis chlorelligerum Shen, 1980, was collected from a ditch in Hangzhou, China. The morphology, oral infraciliature, and morphogenesis of the species were studied using living and protargol-impregnated specimens. Zooids of E. chlorelligerum are 160-230 × 50-60 μm in vivo, and characterized by green-colored endoplasm containing symbiotic algae. The oral infraciliature presents a well-developed filamentous reticulum linked to the circular fiber of the cytostome; the outer two rows of P3 extend adstomally over P1 and usually enfold it. During binary fission, one daughter cell inherits most part of the old buccal apparatus and the reorganized haplokinety and germinal kinety (Hk' and G'), and new buccal apparatus of the other daughter cell is mostly developed from the original germinal kinety (G) and haplokinety (Hk): new peniculi 2, 3 (2P2, 2P3), new haplokinety (2Hk), and new germinal kinety (2G) are formed from G, while the new peniculus 1 (2P1) and its peristomial extention (2Pk) originate from Hk. The epistomial membrane can be observed until the two sets of buccal apparatus begin to separate from each other.     

宫腔镜联合B超诊断异常子宫出血124例临床分析

目的：探讨宫腔镜联合B超在诊治异常子宫出血的临床价值。方法：对124例异常子宫出血的病例进行回顾性分析,所有患者作B超及宫腔镜检查,宫腔内切除物或刮出物均送病理检查。结果：124例患者经病理检查确诊为子宫内膜息肉84例（67．7％）,合并宫颈息肉10例;子宫内膜增生症16例（12．9％）,其中单纯性增生12例,复杂性增生4例;子宫内膜不典型增生1例（0．8％）;子宫粘膜下肌瘤12例（9．7％）;子宫内膜样腺癌6例（4．8％）;子宫内膜炎3例（2．4％）;胚物残留2例（1．6％）。结论：宫腔镜联合B超检查是诊断异常子宫出血最好的方法.     

B 超引导下子宫内膜消融术治疗更年期功血51 例临床分析

目的:探讨在B超引导下子宫内膜消融术治疗更年期功血的效果。方法:扩张宫颈至6.5号,吸宫,在B超监视下由子宫右前壁始向外刮凝,依次顺时针方向刮凝宫腔2周。结果:治愈31例(60.8%),有效19例(37.3%),好转1例(1.9%),无效0例。结论:电凝刀子宫内膜消融术与其他更年期功血治疗方法相比,消融的范围及深度由B超监视,安全性高,创伤小,不开刀,恢复快,并且治愈率高,更容易在临床上推广。     

Do “glanduliferous” larvae of Galerucinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) possess defensive glands? A scanning electron microscopic study

Larvae of the chrysomelid taxon Galerucinae, Sermylini, are known to release a fluid from dorsolateral segmental openings when disturbed. The release of this fluid resembles the discharge of secretion from well-studied exocrine defensive glands in larvae of Chrysomelinae, the putative sister group of Galerucinae. Thus, Sermylini larvae have been named “glanduliferous” ones. However, no comparative analyses of the internal structures of the segmental openings in Sermylini larvae have been available prior to this study. Therefore, segmental larval openings in 10 Sermylini species were investigated by scanning and light microscopy. Two types of segmental openings were detected: (1) the opening is visible as an integumental slit which can be opened and closed by muscles. No specific glandular structures are associated with this slit. (2) The opening is covered internally by a cuticular sac which can be everted to the outside. A cuticular duct of a gland is leading into this sac. Haemolymph is discharged from both types of openings. These structures are discussed with respect to reflex bleeding in other taxa. Furthermore, a common origin of the segmental openings in larvae of Sermylini and the segmental exocrine glands in chrysomeline larvae is critically questioned.     

Oral health among institutionalised elderly in Zagreb, Croatia

Objective: A survey of dental health status was conducted in the institutionalised elderly in Zagreb, Croatia in order to assess the dental and oral health of the elderly population. Participants: In 139 institutionalised elderly from a single nursing home in Zagreb, dental and oral status was registered according to World Health Organization criteria. There were 108 (77.7%) female and 31 (22.3%) male subjects aged 58–99 years. Results: The results showed that 45.3% of the interviewed persons were totally edentulous in both jaws. A significant increase in prevalence of edentulousness with the increasing age was recorded. The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth number was 27. The average number of teeth with caries was 1.03 per person, the number of the teeth extracted was 6.9 per person and teeth with fillings 0.74 per person. The average number of teeth with root caries was 0.17. Approximately 9 teeth per person were in need of treatment. Filled teeth were found 25.9% of subjects and decayed teeth in 30.9%. The mean number of remaining sound teeth, decayed teeth and residual roots in the elderly decreased with increasing age. Complete periodontal treatment was required in 5.8% of the participants and no significant differences between genders in periodontal status could be noticed. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest poor dental health in this group of the institutionalised elderly and the necessity of improving and implementing some special features in the dental health services programs for the institutionalised elderly.     

Transient oral microflora in Greeks attending day centres for the elderly and residents in homes for the elderly

Objective: To examine the isolation frequency and the carriage of yeasts, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus and Enterococcus species in oral samples from elderly Greeks living alone or in institutions. Background: Ageing may promote changes in the oral ecosystem, which lead to colonisation of the mouth by microbes found less commonly or only transiently in younger subjects. Previous studies indicate a geographical variation in the isolation frequency of such bacteria in elderly populations. Materials and methods: Medical and dental records were obtained from 66 attenders at elderly people's day centres (EPDC), and 82 residents of elderly people's homes (EPH), 66–95 years old. Mucosa smear samples were cultured on appropriate media for enumeration of the above species. Microbial identification was performed by conventional microbiological tests. The results were analysed using the Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), anova and other traditional statistical tests. Results: No statistically significant association was found between the place of residence and the wearing of dentures. The isolation frequencies of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus and Enterobacteriaceae species were 21.6, 20.3 and 7.4% respectively. MCA, and further statistical analysis, revealed that the place of residence affected the isolation frequency of years (54.9% in EPH vs. 37.9% in EPDC). Moreover, anova showed that living in EPH increased the carriage of yeasts. Conclusions: Elderly Greeks exhibit a moderate to high oral carriage of transient bacteria compared with other elderly populations. Living in EPH seems to increase both the isolation frequency and carriage of yeasts.     

Noninvasive analyses of polyunsaturated fatty acids in human oral mucosa in vivo by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

The aim of this study was to develop a noninvasive method to observe polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) behavior in the human body using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. For the noninvasive measurement of human oral mucosa, we have used infrared spectroscopy with a suitable attachment for an in vivo attenuated total reflectance system. The fatty acid contents in the tissues were determined by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry after methylation. The alkene C-H stretching vibrations of unsaturated fatty acids in dietary oils showed infrared absorption bands with various peak positions and intensities at around 3010 cm(-1) depending on the extent of unsaturation and their species. The diurnal fluctuation of the alkene peak position of oral mucosa suggested that the contents of PUFAs were increased gradually in the early afternoon, and these data were supported by the direct determination of fatty acid species in oral mucosa where the relative increase of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids was observed in the early afternoon. This diurnal change of alkene peak position resembled the pattern of a "lipid factor" change calculated with the factor analysis applied to the overall infrared spectrum. We could monitor the diurnal fluctuations of PUFA contents of human oral mucosa noninvasively using a reagent-free infrared analysis system. The measurement of alkene and methylene infrared bands may provide a useful tool for detecting changes in PUFA balance in the human body.     

Molecular docking of potential inhibitors with the mTOR protein

The mTOR (mammalian or mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) is linked with oral cancer. Therefore, it is of interest to study the molecular docking-based binding of paclitaxel (a FDA approved drug for oral cancer) and its analogues with mTOR. Hence, we report the binding features of 10-Deacetyltaxol, 7-Epi-10-deacetyltaxol, 7-Epi-Taxol and 6alpha-Hydroxypaclitaxel with mTOR for further consideration.     

Oral health and morbidity--implications of oral infections on the elderly

Detrimental effects of oral infections on general health have been known for almost 3000 years. Modern studies, however, have cast new light on the pathogenic mechanisms by which oral infections appear to link with morbidity and mortality. In particular, among the elderly, poor dental health seems to associate with all-cause mortality. This review aims to provide an overview of present knowledge of these issues, starting from dental bacteraemia, oral mucosal infections and problems of drug resistance and, briefly, discussing what is known about the link between oral health and some systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis and type-2 diabetes. The main conclusions are that scientific evidence is still weak on these interactions and that the elderly should be better taken into account when planning future studies. Functions of the body differ in the frail and diseased from those of the young. Consequently, novel prevention and treatment strategies should be developed and properly tested for combating oral infections in elderly populations. Specific suggestions for further research are outlined.     

Oral hygiene and the need for treatment of the dependent institutionalised elderly

Objective: To assessing the oral hygiene and treatment needs of a geriatric institution in southern France. Background: For various reasons, the care demand from elderly people is low and difficult to determine, whereas their oral status would need long and complicated treatments. Materials and methods: From 2003 to 2004, a cross‐sectional study of 321 elderly patients was conducted at several geriatric services of Montpellier, France. The clinical evaluation of dental status was recorded together with medical information. Dental and prosthetic hygiene, status of dentures, caries experience, dependence conditions and treatment needs were evaluated. Results: The prevalence of edentulism was 27%, with no gender difference (23% of the men and 29% of the women). Among them, 16.7% (upper jaw) and 18.1% (lower jaw) were totally edentulous with no denture. The mean number of decayed and missing teeth was 3.7 for men and 2.8 for women and 21.5 for men and 21.0 for women, respectively. The mean number of filled teeth was 0.8 for men and 1.3 for women, with no statistical difference according to gender for the three indexes. Most of the subjects needed prostheses (53%), 45.1% extractions and 30.6% conservative treatments. Only 2.4% did not need any treatment. Conclusion: The prevalence of edentulism was relatively low, while the need for prosthodontic rehabilitation, especially for men, was still very high. The dental hygiene was globally inadequate. This evaluation emphasises the care demand and the need for help in oral hygiene procedures for the dependent institutionalised elderly.