Do gender and torus mandibularis affect mandibular cortical index? A cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The interactions between torus and several factors such as age, gender, and dental status have not been studied comprehensively. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gender on the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and to investigate a possible association between torus mandibularis (TM) and MCI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study consisted of 189 consecutive patients referred to Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology of Hacettepe University within 30 workdays. Patients who did not have systemic disorders affecting bone density were included; and the age, gender, dental status and existing TM of the patients were recorded. Morphology of the mandibular inferior cortex was determined according to Klemitti's classification on panoramic radiographs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MCI was affected by age and gender (<it>P </it>< 0.05). No significant relationship was found between TM and MCI (<it>P </it>> 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the study population, MCI was affected by age and gender. As age increased, semilunar defects could be seen on the cortex of the mandible and MCI values increased. Women appeared to have higher MCI values than men.</p

Genetic and Non-Genetic Influences during Pregnancy on Infant Global and Site Specific DNA Methylation: Role for Folate Gene Variants and Vitamin B12

Inter-individual variation in patterns of DNA methylation at birth can be explained by the influence of environmental, genetic and stochastic factors. This study investigates the genetic and non-genetic determinants of variation in DNA methylation in human infants. Given its central role in provision of methyl groups for DNA methylation, this study focuses on aspects of folate metabolism. Global (LUMA) and gene specific (IGF2, ZNT5, IGFBP3) DNA methylation were quantified in 430 infants by Pyrosequencing®. Seven polymorphisms in 6 genes (MTHFR, MTRR, FOLH1, CβS, RFC1, SHMT) involved in folate absorption and metabolism were analysed in DNA from both infants and mothers. Red blood cell folate and serum vitamin B12 concentrations were measured as indices of vitamin status. Relationships between DNA methylation patterns and several covariates viz. sex, gestation length, maternal and infant red cell folate, maternal and infant serum vitamin B12, maternal age, smoking and genotype were tested. Length of gestation correlated positively with IGF2 methylation (rho = 0.11, p = 0.032) and inversely with ZNT5 methylation (rho = −0.13, p = 0.017). Methylation of the IGFBP3 locus correlated inversely with infant vitamin B12 concentration (rho = −0.16, p = 0.007), whilst global DNA methylation correlated inversely with maternal vitamin B12 concentrations (rho = 0.18, p = 0.044). Analysis of common genetic variants in folate pathway genes highlighted several associations including infant MTRR 66G>A genotype with DNA methylation (χ2 = 8.82, p = 0.003) and maternal MTHFR 677C>T genotype with IGF2 methylation (χ2 = 2.77, p = 0.006). These data support the hypothesis that both environmental and genetic factors involved in one-carbon metabolism influence DNA methylation in infants. Specifically, the findings highlight the importance of vitamin B12 status, infant MTRR genotype and maternal MTHFR genotype, all of which may influence the supply of methyl groups for DNA methylation. In addition, gestational length appears to be an important determinant of infant DNA methylation patterns

A Genome-Wide Scan of Ashkenazi Jewish Crohn's Disease Suggests Novel Susceptibility Loci

Crohn's disease (CD) is a complex disorder resulting from the interaction of intestinal microbiota with the host immune system in genetically susceptible individuals. The largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association to date identified 71 CD–susceptibility loci in individuals of European ancestry. An important epidemiological feature of CD is that it is 2–4 times more prevalent among individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) descent compared to non-Jewish Europeans (NJ). To explore genetic variation associated with CD in AJs, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) by combining raw genotype data across 10 AJ cohorts consisting of 907 cases and 2,345 controls in the discovery stage, followed up by a replication study in 971 cases and 2,124 controls. We confirmed genome-wide significant associations of 9 known CD loci in AJs and replicated 3 additional loci with strong signal (p<5×10−6). Novel signals detected among AJs were mapped to chromosomes 5q21.1 (rs7705924, combined p = 2×10−8; combined odds ratio OR = 1.48), 2p15 (rs6545946, p = 7×10−9; OR = 1.16), 8q21.11 (rs12677663, p = 2×10−8; OR = 1.15), 10q26.3 (rs10734105, p = 3×10−8; OR = 1.27), and 11q12.1 (rs11229030, p = 8×10−9; OR = 1.15), implicating biologically plausible candidate genes, including RPL7, CPAMD8, PRG2, and PRG3. In all, the 16 replicated and newly discovered loci, in addition to the three coding NOD2 variants, accounted for 11.2% of the total genetic variance for CD risk in the AJ population. This study demonstrates the complementary value of genetic studies in the Ashkenazim

The role of the dental surgeon in detecting osteoporosis: the OSTEODENT study.

To determine if thinning (<3 mm width) of the lower cortical border of the mandible on dental panoramic radiographs, as well as other clinical risk factors, may provide a useful diagnostic test for osteoporosis in young postmenopausal women

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for patients with medically unexplained symptoms: A cost-effectiveness study

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess cost-effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) compared with enhanced usual care (EUC) in treating patients with persistent medically unexplained symptoms(MUS). METHODS: A full economic evaluation with a one year time horizon was performed from a societal perspective. Costs were assessed by prospective cost diaries. Health-related Quality of Life was measured using SF-6D. Outcomes were costs per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY). Bootstrap simulations were performed to obtain mean costs, QALY scores and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). RESULTS: MBCT participants (n=55) had lower hospital costs and higher mental health care costs than patients who received EUC (n=41). Mean bootstrapped costs for MBCT were euro6269, and euro5617 for EUC (95% uncertainty interval for difference: -euro1576; euro2955). QALYs were 0.674 for MBCT and 0.663 for EUC. MBCT was on average more effective and more costly than EUC, resulting in an ICER of euro56,637 per QALY gained. At a willingness to pay of euro80,000 per QALY, the probability that MBCT is cost-effective is 57%. CONCLUSION: Total costs were not statistically significantly different between MBCT and EUC. However, MBCT seemed to cause a shift in the use of health care resources as mental health care costs were higher and hospital care costs lower in the MBCT condition. Due to the higher drop-out in the EUC condition the cost-effectiveness of MBCT might have been underestimated. The shift in health care use might lead to more effective care for patients with persistent MUS. The longer-term impact of MBCT for patients with persistent MUS needs to be further studied