Decreased Brain Volume in Adults with Childhood Lead Exposure

Using magnetic resonance imaging to assess brain volumes, Kim Cecil and colleagues find that inner-city children with higher blood lead levels showed regions of decreased gray matter as adults

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions in inflammatory, premalignant, and malignant oral lesions: A quantitative and qualitative assessment

Background and Objective: Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) have found widespread application in the past, especially in tumor histopathology. This study was undertaken to evaluate the significance of various AgNOR parameters and to assess their role in differentiating hyperplastic, premalignant, and malignant lesions. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of archival biopsy specimens of ten squamous cell carcinomas, ten premalignant lesions, and five inflammatory lesions. Two biopsies from normal mucosa acted as control. AgNORs were assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The data were analyzed using Student′s independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple range test (Tukey-HSD). Results: Quantitatively significant difference existed in the number of AgNORs between the normal mucosa, inflammatory lesions, and carcinomas, but the premalignant lesions failed to differ significantly from the normal mucosa. The number of AgNORs was found to be related to epithelial proliferation. Qualitatively, in terms of size, shape, and pattern of distribution, the normal mucosa and inflammatory lesion were alike, but the premalignant and malignant lesions differed significantly from the normal, with a marked degree of AgNOR pleomorphism being observed in carcinomas. Conclusions: AgNOR quantity is strictly proportional to the proliferative activity of the cell and does not necessarily indicate malignancy. It is the qualitative characteristics of AgNOR that help to differentiate hyperplastic, premalignant, and malignant lesions

Lateral Pedicle and Connective Tissue Graft – A combined approach for management of isolated gingival recession

Gingival recession is defined as apical migration of the gingival epithelium leading to the exposure of root surface. There are many surgical procedures for treating gingival recessions and the main goal is to cover the exposed tooth surface by soft tissue augmentation. The surgical techniques performed for root coverage has their own advantages and limitations. The surgical technique used for managing the gingival recession is the major factor that determines the outcome and the long term result of the procedure. The most common surgical technique in treating the isolated gingival recession is the lateral pedicle graft and the surgical technique with highest percentage of root coverage is the connective tissue graft. This case report deals with the management of an isolated gingival recession with lateral pedicle and connective tissue graft. The outcome of the procedure was excellent having complete root coverage

Genome wide polymorphisms and yield heterosis in rice (Oryza sativa subsp. indica)

The linear relationship between genetic distance and heterosis within maize heterotic groups has inspired efforts to predict heterosis using molecular markers in other species. In this study, three cytoplasmic male sterile and three restorer lines from a hybrid rice breeding program were crossed in all possible (9) combinations and the F1 offspring grown in replicated trials in three locations. Whole genome sequence analyses were used to identify hybrid pair genome-wide polymorphisms and the extent to which these polymorphisms were associated with heterosis estimated. The number of total hybrid pair SNP ranged from 150,823 to 331,876 and mid-parent heterosis from −13.6 % to 18.6 %. Hybrid pair total SNP, total INDEL, gene SNP and gene INDEL counts were generally correlated at the whole genome and chromosome level. There was a close correlation between chromosome SNP and INDEL frequencies while gene presence-absence analysis found little difference between cross combinations. The relationship between whole genome SNP and heterosis was best explained by a second order polynomial of negative sign, suggesting a positive heterotic response may be achieved by maintaining a balance between inbreeding and outbreeding depression, and that genome wide polymorphisms may have a role in predicting heterosis in rice

Neural correlates of lower limbs proprioception: An fMRI study of foot position matching

Little is known about the neural correlates of lower limbs position sense, despite the impact that proprioceptive deficits have on everyday life activities, such as posture and gait control. We used fMRI to investigate in 30 healthy right-handed and right-footed subjects the regional distribution of brain activity during position matching tasks performed with the right dominant and the left nondominant foot. Along with the brain activation, we assessed the performance during both ipsilateral and contralateral matching tasks. Subjects had lower errors when matching was performed by the left nondominant foot. The fMRI analysis suggested that the significant regions responsible for position sense are in the right parietal and frontal cortex, providing a first characterization of the neural correlates of foot position matching