Bilateral Pressure Pain Hypersensitivity over the Hand as Potential Sign of Sensitization Mechanisms in Individuals with Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis

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SCREENING TOMATO GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE DIVERSITY FOR ASSOCIATION TO DROUGHT STRESS

Environmental stresses are one of the main challenges in agriculture, as they significantly limit crop productivity. As a result of global warming and climate change, extreme environmental events and abiotic stresses are expected to increase in intensity and frequency. Selecting tolerant plants for more resilient agro-ecosystems is a promising strategy for mitigating the effects of adverse environments. The cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) has a narrow genetic base, and its reduced genetic diversity hampers the progress of breeding. However, the rediscovery and use of local and wild genetic resources allow useful/beneficial alleles to be identified and used in breeding programs. To improve adaptation to harmful conditions, plants have evolved many molecular and genetics mechanisms, including hormone regulation and the activation of specific gene networks. Among others, glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes have been identified in various plant species and found to be involved in different physiological, developmental and stress modulation pathways. The aim of this research is to add insights into the role of tomato GST genes in the plant response to stress by associating allele diversity with drought tolerance. Tomato GST sequences were characterized in silico showing their diffuse clustering pattern across chromosomes with TAU class GSTs duplicated in tandem and mostly aggregated on chromosomes 7 and 9. To characterize the diversity of selected GSTs, a core collection of 75 tomato accessions was selected based on microsatellite screening from a larger collection of worldwide accessions. The core collection was screened for drought tolerance when 50% of plants showed fruit set on the lower flower truss. At this stage, two different water treatments were applied consisting in the complete restitution of the water lost due to evapo-transpiration (Full Water Restitution FWR) and the restitution of 50% of the water lost (Half Water Restitution HWR). After seven days the plants showed visible sign of drought and the leaves were analyzed for gas exchange and colorimetric variations. A gas exchange analyzer (Licor 6400) was used to measure the assimilation rate of foliar CO2 (µmol CO2 m-2 s-1) and transpiration (mmol H2O m-2 s-1). The colorimetric analysis was carried out with a portable Chroma Meters (Minolta). The eco-physiological data showed a continuous variability of the response to drought throughout the collection and allowed to identify eight tomato accessions combining a lower reduction in CO2 assimilation, transpiration and water use efficiency and higher stability in leaf temperatures and colorimetric variations when challenged with HWR. Enriched libraries for GST loci were prepared based on the specific hybridization of short oligonucleotide primers (20-25 bases). Libraries will be sequenced using next/third generation sequencing technology (Illumina or PacBio). Mapped variants and haplotypes in the GST loci will be integrated with drought tolerant traits and used to identify associations with tolerant phenotypes to additional environmental stresses

Periapical healing after simplified endodontic treatments: A digital subtraction radiography study

Abstract Aim To evaluate the 6-month outcome of endodontic treatment of periapical lesions with integrated systems by clinical examination and digital subtraction radiography (DSR). Methodology Eighty-four patients with chronic periapical pathosis were randomly allocated to two groups and received endodontic treatment with Revo-S/One Step Obturator (G1, n = 41) or GTX/GTX Obturator (G2, n = 43). Six months later, clinical examination and DSR analysis were performed. Non-parametric statistical methods were used (p Results Total healing, partial healing and failure occurred in 48.4%, 48.4% and 3.2% of cases in G1, in 50.0%, 43.8% and 6.2% of cases in G2, respectively. No significant difference was detected. Conclusions The integrated endodontic techniques allowed for a high 6-month success rate in both groups in accordance with literature data

Quality of canal obturation assessed by micro-computed tomography: Influence of filling technique and post placement in canals shaped with Reciproc

Abstract Aim To assess by micro-computed tomography (μCT) the quality of fillings in canals shaped with Reciproc considering the effects of filling technique and post insertion. Methodology The canals of 60 single-rooted teeth were instrumented with Reciproc R40 and randomly assigned to four groups (n = 15): G1, single point; G2, as G1 + DT Light Post; G3, continuous wave of condensation; G4, as G3 + DT Light Post. The filling voids were quantified by μCT. Data were statistically analysed by non-parametric test (p Results Filling greater than 96% of the entire canal volume was observed in all groups. The volume of internal voids was greater in G3 than in G4 (p Conclusions Our findings support the use of simplified techniques of canal shaping, filling with matching taper points and post cementation

Association between clinical and neurophysiological outcomes in patients with mechanical neck pain and whiplash-associated disorders

Objectives: To investigate the association between pain, disability, trigger points (TrPs), and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in patients with mechanical neck pain (MNP) or whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Materials and Methods: In total, 46 MNP and 51 WAD patients underwent a physical examination consisting of cervical range of motion, PPTs in the upper trapezius and tibialis anterior muscles, TrPs examination in the upper trapezius, and collection of clinical data including disability, pain intensity, and spontaneous symptomatic pain area. Results: A significantly moderate positive association between pain and disability was found in both groups (P<0.01). Significantly negative associations between pain intensity and PPT in the upper trapezius (P=0.008 and 0.041), pain and PPT in tibialis anterior (P=0.015 and 0.038), disability and PPT in upper trapezius (both, P=0.006) were also found in both MNP and WAD groups. Individuals with MNP showed significantly positive association between pain area and disability (P=0.034) and negative association between disability and PPT in the tibialis anterior (P=0.003). Patients with active TrPs in the upper trapezius exhibited higher intensity of neck pain, higher neck disability, and lower PPTs than those with latent TrPs in upper trapezius in both groups. Discussion: The association between pain, disability, and PPTs is common in patients with neck pain regardless of the origin of neck pain. The presence of active TrPs was related to higher pain intensity and related-disability and lower PPTs