Abstract:
Pangolins are scale-covered mammals, containing eight endangered species. Maintaining pangolins in captivity is a significant challenge, in part because little is known about their genetics. Here we provide the first large-scale sequencing of the critically endangered Manis javanica transcriptomes from eight different organs using Illumina HiSeq technology, yielding similar to 75 Giga bases and 89,754 unigenes. We found some unigenes involved in the insect hormone biosynthesis pathway and also 747 lipids metabolism-related unigenes that may be insightful to understand the lipid metabolism system in pangolins. Comparative analysis between M. javanica and other mammals revealed many pangolin-specific genes significantly over-represented in stress-related processes, cell proliferation and external stimulus, probably reflecting the traits and adaptations of the analyzed pregnant female M. javanica. Our study provides an invaluable resource for future functional works that may be highly relevant for the conservation of pangolins. Source: Scientfic Reports Author: Yusoff AM, Tan TK, Hari R, Koeplfli KP, Wee WY, Antunes A, Sitam FT, Rovie-Ryan JJ, Karuppannan KV, Wong GJ, Lipovich L, Warren WC, O’brien SJ, Choo SW. Status: Open Access available at NATURE
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Abstract:
Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the changes in cell density and morphology of selected cells of the ageing human dental pulp. Background:Changes in cell density and morphology of dental pulp cells over time may affect their capability to respond to tooth injury. Materials and methods:One hundred thirty-one extracted teeth were obtained from individuals between the ages of 6 and 80years. The apical 1/3 of the root region was removed from all teeth prior to routine processing for producing histological slides. The histology slides were used to study the changes in cell density and morphology of selected pulp cells; odontoblasts, subodontoblasts and fibroblasts in the crown and root regions of the dental pulp. Student's t-test and one-way anova were used for statistical analyses. Results:In all age groups, the cell density for all types of cells was found to be higher in the crown than in the root (p<0.05). In general, the pulp cell density was found to decrease with age in both the crown and root regions. However, it was noted that the reduction of coronal odontoblasts occurred later in life (40-49years) when compared to that of subodontoblasts or fibroblasts (30-39years). Conclusions:The density of the coronal pulp cells reduces and these cells undergo morphological changes with ageing of individuals and this may affect the pulp's ability to resist tooth injury. Source: GERODONTOLOGY Author: Daud S, Nambiar P, Hossain MZ, Ab Rahman MR, Bakri MM. Status: Full-text is available at WILEY Abstract:
Objective: People with chronic schizophrenia have high rates of physical ill-health such as heart disease. However, there has been less attention to the issue of poor oral health including dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal (gum) disease, although both have consequences for quality of life and systemic physical health. We therefore measured tooth decay and gum disease in Malaysians with schizophrenia. Methods: We recruited long-stay inpatients with schizophrenia from June to October 2014. Four dental specialists assessed oral health using the decayed-missing-filled teeth index, the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs and the Debris Index of the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index. Results were compared with the 2010 Oral Health survey of the general Malaysian population. Results: A total of 543 patients participated (66.7% males, 33.3% females; mean age=54.8years [standard deviation=16.0]) with a mean illness duration of 18.4years (standard deviation=17.1). The mean decayed-missing-filled teeth was 20.5 (standard deviation=9.9), almost double that of the general population (11.7). Higher decayed-missing-filled teeth scores were associated with both older age (p<0.001) and longer illness duration (p=0.048). Only 1% (n=6) had healthy gums. Levels of decay and periodontal disease were greatest in those aged between 45 and 64years, coinciding with the onset of tooth loss. Conclusion: Dental disease in people with schizophrenia deserves the same attention as other comorbid physical illness. The disparity in oral health is most marked for dental decay. Possible interventions include oral health assessments using standard checklists designed for non-dental personnel, help with oral hygiene, management of iatrogenic dry mouth and early dental referral. Source: AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY Author: Wey MC, Loh S, Doss JG, Abu Bakar AK, Kisely S. Status: Full text available at SAGEPUB Three-dimensional facial analysis of Chinese children with repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate11/22/2016 Abstract:
We analyzed the facial features of Chinese children with repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and compared them with a normal control group using a three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry camera. This cross-sectional study examined 3D measurements of the facial surfaces of 20 Chinese children with repaired UCLP and 40 unaffected Chinese children aged 7 to 12 years old, which were captured using the VECTRA 3D five-pod photosystem and analyzed using Mirror software. Twenty-five variables and two ratios were compared between both groups using independent t-test. Intra-and inter-observer reliability was determined using ten randomly selected images and analyzed using intra-class correlation coefficient test (ICC). The level of significance was set at p < 0.0018. Intra-and inter-observers' reliability was considered fair to excellent with an ICC value ranging from 0.54 to 0.99. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.0018) were found mainly in the nasolabial region. The cleft group exhibited wider alar base root width, flattened nose and broader nostril floor width on the cleft side. They tended to have shorter upper lip length and thinner upper vermillion thickness. Faces of Chinese children with repaired UCLP displayed meaningful differences when compared to the normal group especially in the nasolabial regions. Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS Author: Othman SA, Koay NAA. Status: Full-text available at NATURE Abstract:
Despite the many attractive potential uses of ceramic materials as humidity sensors, some unavoidable drawbacks, including toxicity, poor biocompatibility, long response and recovery times, low sensitivity and high hysteresis have stymied the use of these materials in advanced applications. Therefore, in present investigation, we developed a capacitive humidity sensor using lead-free Ca,Mg,Fe,Ti-Oxide (CMFTO)-based electro-ceramics with perovskite structures synthesized by solid-state step-sintering. This technique helps maintain the submicron size porous morphology of the developed lead-free CMFTO electro-ceramics while providing enhanced water physisorption behaviour. In comparison with conventional capacitive humidity sensors, the presented CMFTO-based humidity sensor shows a high sensitivity of up to 3000% compared to other materials, even at lower signal frequency. The best also shows a rapid response (14.5 s) and recovery (34.27 s), and very low hysteresis (3.2%) in a 33%-95% relative humidity range which are much lower values than those of existing conventional sensors. Therefore, CMFTO nano-electro-ceramics appear to be very promising materials for fabricating high-performance capacitive humidity sensors. Source: Sensors Author: Tripathy A, Pramanik S, Manna A, Bhuyan S, Shah NFA, Radzi Z, Abu Osman NA. Status: Full text available at MDPI Abstract:
The mandibular canal is a conduit that allows the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle to transverse the mandible to supply the dentition, jawbone, and soft tissue around the lower lip. It is now acknowledged that the mandibular canal is not a single canal but an anatomical structure with multiple branches and variations. Iatrogenic injury to branches of the mandibular canal that carry a neurovascular bundle has been reported to cause injury to the main canal as severe as if the main canal itself is traumatized. These injuries include bleeding, neurosensory disturbance, or the formation of traumatic neuroma, and so far, they have involved cases with the bifid mandibular canal. This current report presents a case of neurosensory disturbance that resulted from the impingement of a branch of a trifid mandibular canal during implant insertion. Its management included analgesics, reexamination, and reinserting a shorter implant. Source: JOURNAL OF ORAL IMPLANTOLOGY Author: Aljunid S, AlSiweedi, Nambiar P, Chai WL, Ngeow WC. Status: Fulltext version availalbe at JOIONLINE |