Knowledge, attitude and practices of pediatricians regarding the prevention of oral diseases in Italy

BACKGROUND: Pediatricians are in an ideal position to advise families about the prevention and management of oral diseases in children. The objective of the study was to determine knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the prevention of oral diseases among pediatricians in Italy. METHODS: A systematic random sample of 1000 pediatricians received a questionnaire on socio-demographic and practice characteristics; knowledge on risk factors; attitude and practices towards the prevention of oral diseases. RESULTS: A total of 507 pediatricians participated. More than half knew the main risk factors for oral diseases and this knowledge was higher in primary care pediatricians (p = 0.007), in those with a higher number of hours worked per week (p = 0.012), and who believed that oral diseases may be prevented (p = 0.017). Pediatricians with higher knowledge about the main risk factors (p = 0.006) believe that they have an important role in preventing oral diseases and that they can perform an oral examination. Almost all (89%) prescribed fluoride supplements and those younger (p = 0.016), with a higher number of patients seen in workday (p = 0.001), with longer practice activity (p = 0.004), those who believe that fluoride is effective in preventing caries (p < 0.0001), and who learned about prevention from scientific sources (p = 0.002) were more likely to prescribe fluoride. One-fourth and 40.6% provides and recommends a dental visit once a year and primary care pediatricians (p = 0.014) and those who believed that routine visit is important in preventing oral diseases (p < 0.0001) were more likely to recommend a dental visit once a year. CONCLUSION: The results showed a lack of knowledge among pediatricians although almost all believed that they had an important responsibility in preventing oral diseases and provided an oral examination

Genetic diversity of Brazilian isolates of feline immunodeficiency virus

We isolated Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) from three adult domestic cats, originating from two open shelters in Brazil. Viruses were isolated from PBMC following co-cultivation with the feline T-lymphoblastoid cell line MYA-1. All amplified env gene products were cloned directly into pGL8MYA. The nucleic acid sequences of seven clones were determined and then compared with those of previously described isolates. The sequences of all of the Brazilian virus clones were distinct and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all belong to subtype B. Three variants isolated from one cat and two variants were isolated from each of the two other cats, indicating that intrahost diversity has the potential to pose problems for the treatment and diagnosis of FIV infection

Two-dome structure in electron-doped iron arsenide superconductors

Iron arsenide superconductors based on the material LaFeAsO1-xFx are characterized by a two-dimensional Fermi surface (FS) consisting of hole and electron pockets yielding structural and antiferromagnetic transitions at x = 0. Electron doping by substituting O2- with F- suppresses these transitions and gives rise to superconductivity with a maximum Tc = 26 K at x = 0.1. However, the over-doped region cannot be accessed due to the poor solubility of F- above x = 0.2. Here we overcome this problem by doping LaFeAsO with hydrogen. We report the phase diagram of LaFeAsO1-xHx (x < 0.53) and, in addition to the conventional superconducting dome seen in LaFeAsO1-xFx, we find a second dome in the range 0.21 < x < 0.53, with a maximum Tc of 36 K at x = 0.3. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the three Fe 3d bands (xy, yz, zx) become degenerate at x = 0.36, whereas the FS nesting is weakened monotonically with x. These results imply that the band degeneracy has an important role to induce high Tc.Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures, 1 table and supplementary informatio

Seeking legitimacy through CSR: Institutional Pressures and Corporate Responses of Multinationals in Sri Lanka

Arguably, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of multinational enterprises (MNEs) are influenced by a wide range of both internal and external factors. Perhaps most critical among the exogenous forces operating on MNEs are those exerted by state and other key institutional actors in host countries. Crucially, academic research conducted to date offers little data about how MNEs use their CSR activities to strategically manage their relationship with those actors in order to gain legitimisation advantages in host countries. This paper addresses that gap by exploring interactions between external institutional pressures and firm-level CSR activities, which take the form of community initiatives, to examine how MNEs develop their legitimacy-seeking policies and practices. In focusing on a developing country, Sri Lanka, this paper provides valuable insights into how MNEs instrumentally utilise community initiatives in a country where relationship-building with governmental and other powerful non-governmental actors can be vitally important for the long-term viability of the business. Drawing on neo-institutional theory and CSR literature, this paper examines and contributes to the embryonic but emerging debate about the instrumental and political implications of CSR. The evidence presented and discussed here reveals the extent to which, and the reasons why, MNEs engage in complex legitimacy-seeking relationships with Sri Lankan institutions

Lack of MHC class I surface expression on neoplastic cells and poor activation of the secretory pathway of cytotoxic cells in oral squamous cell carcinomas

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells use the secretory pathway of perforin/granzymes to kill their target cells. In contrast to NK cells, CTL responses are MHC class I restricted. In this study we analysed the relative activation of CTL and NK cells in relation with MHC class I expression on oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). MHC class I expression was investigated in 47 OSCCs by immunohistochemistry using HCA2, HC10 and β2-m antibodies. The presence of CTLs, NK cells, and its activation, was investigated in 21 of these OSCCs using respectively, CD8, CD57 and GrB7 antibodies. The Q-Prodit measuring system was used for quantification of cytotoxic cells. All OSCCs showed weak or absent staining of β2-m on the cell surface. The absence of β2-m was significantly associated with absent expression of MHC class I heavy chain as detected by HC10 antibody (P = 0.004). In tumour infiltrates CTLs always outnumbered NK cells, as reflected by the ratio CD57/CD8 being always inferior to one (mean: 0.19; SD: 0.15). The proportion of activated cytotoxic cells as detected by granzyme B expression was generally low (mean: 8.6%; SD 8.9). A clear correlation between MHC class I expression and the relative proportion of NK cells/CTLs was not found. This study shows that the majority of OSCCs show weak or absent expression of MHC class I molecules on the cell surface, possibly due to alterations in the normal β2-m pathway. The low proportion of granzyme B-positive CTLs/NK cells indicates that the secretory pathway of cytotoxicity is poor in these patients. The lack of correlation between MHC class I expression and CTL/NK cell activation as detected by granzyme B expression suggests that, next to poor antigen presentation, also local factors seem to determine the final outcome of the cytotoxic immune response. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

An Epigenetic Blockade of Cognitive Functions in the Neurodegenerating Brain

Cognitive decline is a debilitating feature of most neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease. The causes leading to such impairment are only poorly understood and effective treatments are slow to emerge. Here we show that cognitive capacities in the neurodegenerating brain are constrained by an epigenetic blockade of gene transcription that is potentially reversible. This blockade is mediated by histone deacetylase 2, which is increased by Alzheimer’s-disease-related neurotoxic insults in vitro, in two mouse models of neurodegeneration and in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Histone deacetylase 2 associates with and reduces the histone acetylation of genes important for learning and memory, which show a concomitant decrease in expression. Importantly, reversing the build-up of histone deacetylase 2 by short-hairpin-RNA-mediated knockdown unlocks the repression of these genes, reinstates structural and synaptic plasticity, and abolishes neurodegeneration-associated memory impairments. These findings advocate for the development of selective inhibitors of histone deacetylase 2 and suggest that cognitive capacities following neurodegeneration are not entirely lost, but merely impaired by this epigenetic blockade

Stress-Induced Reinstatement of Drug Seeking: 20 Years of Progress

In human addicts, drug relapse and craving are often provoked by stress. Since 1995, this clinical scenario has been studied using a rat model of stress-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. Here, we first discuss the generality of stress-induced reinstatement to different drugs of abuse, different stressors, and different behavioral procedures. We also discuss neuropharmacological mechanisms, and brain areas and circuits controlling stress-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. We conclude by discussing results from translational human laboratory studies and clinical trials that were inspired by results from rat studies on stress-induced reinstatement. Our main conclusions are (1) The phenomenon of stress-induced reinstatement, first shown with an intermittent footshock stressor in rats trained to self-administer heroin, generalizes to other abused drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, and alcohol, and is also observed in the conditioned place preference model in rats and mice. This phenomenon, however, is stressor specific and not all stressors induce reinstatement of drug seeking. (2) Neuropharmacological studies indicate the involvement of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), noradrenaline, dopamine, glutamate, kappa/dynorphin, and several other peptide and neurotransmitter systems in stress-induced reinstatement. Neuropharmacology and circuitry studies indicate the involvement of CRF and noradrenaline transmission in bed nucleus of stria terminalis and central amygdala, and dopamine, CRF, kappa/dynorphin, and glutamate transmission in other components of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system (ventral tegmental area, medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and nucleus accumbens). (3) Translational human laboratory studies and a recent clinical trial study show the efficacy of alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists in decreasing stress-induced drug craving and stress-induced initial heroin lapse