A Novel 3D Evaluation of the Correlation Between the Condylar Position and Angle Classification in a Lebanese Population: A Pilot Study

Résumé Introduction : L’articulation temporo-mandibulaire (ATM) est l’une des articulations les plus complexes. Sa morphologie varie selon les individus, et même entre les côtés gauche et droit. Plusieurs études ont démontré une relation significative entre certaines caractéristiques occlusales et la morphologie articulaire. La tomodensitométrie à faisceau conique (CBCT) est actuellement la modalité la plus largement adoptée pour l’examen de l’ATM. Objectif : Cette étude vise à comparer, dans une cohorte Libanaise, l’espace interarticulaire avec les différentes classes d’Angle en utilisant le CBCT. Méthodologie : Une analyse rétrospective a été menée sur des images CBCT réalisées à l’Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth sur une période de 1 an, entre 2021 et 2022. Quatre valeurs de clairance ont été sélectionnées, représentant la distance minimale entre l’os temporal et le condyle mandibulaire qui définit l’espace interarticulaire : 0,5 mm, 1 mm, 1,5 mm et 2 mm. Pour chaque valeur choisie, nous avons recherché la présence ou non d’une surface visible. Cette surface correspond à la zone du condyle ayant une distance du condyle à l’os temporal inférieure ou égale à la valeur choisie. Résultats : Vingt-neuf patients âgés de 12 à 60 ans ont été inclus ; 12 (41 %) étaient des hommes et 17 (59 %) des femmes. Les 48 images CBCT (23 du côté droit et 25 du côté gauche) ont été réparties en trois groupes selon la classification d’Angle : classe I (n = 14), classe II (n = 29) et classe III (n = 5). Pour une distance de [0 mm ;0,5 mm ;1mm et 1,5mm] correspondent des surfaces de valeurs nulles. Pour un intervalle compris entre [1,5 – 2mm] correspond une surface de 18,8 mm2 pour les sujets de classe I, 16,6 mm2 pour les sujets de classe II, et 30,5 mm2 pour les sujets de classe III. Les résultats n’ont pas montré de corrélation statistiquement significative entre l’espace interarticulaire et les différentes classes d’Angle. Conclusion : L’évaluation tridimensionnelle de la position condylienne par CBCT a montré qu’il n’existe pas de corrélation entre les espaces interarticulaires et les différentes classes d’Angle. Mots clés : position condylienne ; classification d’Angle ; occlusion ; CBCT ; tomodensitométrie. Abstract Introduction: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints. Its morphology varies between individuals, and even between the left and right sides. Several studies have found a significant relation between certain occlusal features and joint morphology. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging is currently the most widely adopted modality for the examination of the TMJ. Objective: This study aimed to compare the joint space in a Lebanese cohort with different Angle classification using CBCT. Methodology: We retrospectively analyzed CBCT images performed at the Saint Joseph University of Beirut in Lebanon, over a period of 1 year, between 2021 and 2022. Four clearance values were selected, representing the minimum distance between the temporal bone and the mandibular condyle that defines the joint space: 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm. For each value chosen, we looked for the presence or not of a visible surface. This surface corresponds to the area of the condyle with a distance from the condyle to the temporal bone less than or equal to the chosen value. Results: Twenty-nine patients aged between 12 and 60 years old were included; 12 (41%) were males and 17 (59%) females. We classified 48 CBCT images (23 on the right side and 25 on the left side) into three groups according to Angle’s classification: class I (n=14), class II (n=29), and class III (n=5). For a distance of [0-1.5 mm] corresponded a surface of 0 mm2. For the interval between [1.5-2 mm] corresponded a surface of 18,8 mm2 for class I subjects, 16,6 mm2 for class II, and 30,5 mm2 for class III. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the articular spaces and the different types of occlusion. Conclusion: The three-dimensional evaluation of the condylar position by CBCT showed that there are no significant differences between the joint spaces and the different types of occlusion according to Angle’s classification. Keywords: condylar position; Angle classification; occlusion; CBCT

Countdown to 2030 : tracking progress towards universal coverage for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health

Building upon the successes of Countdown to 2015, Countdown to 2030 aims to support the monitoring and measurement of women's, children's, and adolescents' health in the 81 countries that account for 95% of maternal and 90% of all child deaths worldwide. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the rate of decline in prevalence of maternal and child mortality, stillbirths, and stunting among children younger than 5 years of age needs to accelerate considerably compared with progress since 2000. Such accelerations are only possible with a rapid scale-up of effective interventions to all population groups within countries (particularly in countries with the highest mortality and in those affected by conflict), supported by improvements in underlying socioeconomic conditions, including women's empowerment. Three main conclusions emerge from our analysis of intervention coverage, equity, and drivers of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) in the 81 Countdown countries. First, even though strong progress was made in the coverage of many essential RMNCH interventions during the past decade, many countries are still a long way from universal coverage for most essential interventions. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests that available services in many countries are of poor quality, limiting the potential effect on RMNCH outcomes. Second, within-country inequalities in intervention coverage are reducing in most countries (and are now almost non-existent in a few countries), but the pace is too slow. Third, health-sector (eg, weak country health systems) and non-health-sector drivers (eg, conflict settings) are major impediments to delivering high-quality services to all populations. Although more data for RMNCH interventions are available now, major data gaps still preclude the use of evidence to drive decision making and accountability. Countdown to 2030 is investing in improvements in measurement in several areas, such as quality of care and effective coverage, nutrition programmes, adolescent health, early childhood development, and evidence for conflict settings, and is prioritising its regional networks to enhance local analytic capacity and evidence for RMNCH

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Complexification of In Vitro Models of Intestinal Barriers, A True Challenge for a More Accurate Alternative Approach

The use of cell models is common to mimic cellular and molecular events in interaction with their environment. In the case of the gut, the existing models are of particular interest to evaluate food, toxicants, or drug effects on the mucosa. To have the most accurate model, cell diversity and the complexity of the interactions must be considered. Existing models range from single-cell cultures of absorptive cells to more complex combinations of two or more cell types. This work describes the existing solutions and the challenges that remain to be solved

Phytochemical Study of Dendrobangia boliviana.

International audienc

Draft genomes and descriptions of Urmitella timonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Marasmitruncus massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from severely malnourished African children using culturomics

International audienceAbstract Two strains, designated as Marseille-P2918 T and Marseille-P3646 T , were isolated from a 14-week-old Senegalese girl using culturomics: Urmitella timonensis strain Marseille-P2918 T (= CSUR P2918, = DSM 103634) and Marasmitruncus massiliensis strain Marseille-P3646 T (= CSUR P3646, = CCUG72353). Both strains were rod-shaped, anaerobic, spore forming motile bacteria. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains Marseille-P2918 T (LT598554) and Marseille-P3646 T (LT725660) shared 93.25% and 94.34% identity with Tissierella praeacuta ATCC 25539 T and Anaerotruncus colihominis CIP 107754 T , their respective phylogenetically closest species with standing in nomenclature. Therefore, strain Marseille-P2918 T is classified within the family Tissierellaceae and order Tissierellales whereas strain Marseille-P3646 T is classified within the family Oscillospiraceae and order Eubacteriales . The genome of strain Marseille-P2918 T had a size of 2.13 Mb with a GC content of 50.52% and includes six scaffolds and six contigs, and that of strain Marseille-P3646 T was 3.76 Mbp long consisting of five contigs with a 50.04% GC content. The genomes of both strains presented a high percentage of genes encoding enzymes involved in genetic information and processing, suggesting a high growth rate and adaptability. These new taxa are extensively described and characterised in this paper, using the concept of taxono-genomic description

Additional file 3: Figure S3. of Autophagy is associated with chemoresistance in neuroblastoma

HCQ sensitizes NB cells to chemotherapy by inhibition of autophagy. A. N91-IGR or NB8-IGR cell viability was measured after vincristine or doxorubicin treatment combined or not to HCQ 30 µM. Results are expressed as percentage of corresponding control and represent mean ± SEM of 4 independent experiments. B. Autophagic activity of N91-IGR or NB8-IGR was measured using MDC agent after increasing concentration of vincristine or doxorubicin treatment combined or not to HCQ 30 µM. Fluorescence was quantified by spectrophotometer. (*: P < 0.05), (**: P < 0.01), (***: P < 0.001). (PDF 215 kb

Additional file 4: Figure S4. of Autophagy is associated with chemoresistance in neuroblastoma

Effect of ATG5 knockdown xenografts on tumor growth. (11/12) NSG Mice developed xenograft tumor from s.c injection of 5.106 sheGFP cells and only (3/12) from shATG5 cells (Table A). When tumor reached 200 mm3, mice were administered vincristine (0.4 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (saline) for 5 days. Progression of tumor volume was followed in each group. Each data point represents the mean 6 ± SE tumor volume for sheGFP cells and 1 or 2 for shAtg5 cells. At day 6, Tumors size from shATG5 cells were reduced compared with tumors from eGFP (B). Also, tumors from shATG5 cells were more sensitive to vincristine comparing to control cells. Immunohistochemistry was performed on the sections of tumors developed in the mouse model. with LC3 antibody and showed a high expression of LC3 II in control cells and a very low in cells ATG5 knockdown as well as treated (b, d) or not treated (a, c) (C). (PDF 259 kb

Paternal resistance exercise modulates skeletal muscle remodeling pathways in fathers and male offspring submitted to a high-fat diet

Although some studies have shown that a high-fat diet (HFD) adversely affects muscle extracellular matrix remodeling, the mechanisms involved in muscle trophism, inflammation, and adipogenesis have not been fully investigated. Thus, we investigated the effects of 8 weeks of paternal resistance training (RT) on gene and protein expression/activity of critical factors involved in muscle inflammation and remodeling of fathers and offspring (offspring exposed to standard chow or HFD). Animals were randomly distributed to constitute sedentary fathers (SF; n = 7; did not perform RT) or trained fathers (TF n = 7; performed RT), with offspring from mating with sedentary females. After birth, 28 male pups were divided into four groups (n = 7 per group): offspring from sedentary father submitted either to control diet (SFO-C) or high-fat diet (SFO-HF) and offspring from trained father submitted to control diet (TFO-C) or high-fat diet (TFO-HF). Our results show that an HFD downregulated collagen mRNA levels and upregulated inflammatory and atrophy pathways and adipogenic transcription factor mRNA levels in offspring gastrocnemius muscle. In contrast, paternal RT increased MMP-2 activity and decreased IL-6 levels in offspring exposed to a control diet. Paternal RT upregulated P70s6k and Ppara mRNA levels and downregulated Atrogin1 mRNA levels, while decreasing NFκ-B, IL-1β, and IL-8 protein levels in offspring exposed to an HFD. Paternal physical training influences key skeletal muscle remodeling pathways and inflammatory profiles relevant for muscle homeostasis maintenance in offspring submitted to different diets