ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ORAL HABITS, MOUTH BREATHING AND MALOCCLUSION.

The ratio of bad habits, mouth breathing and malocclusion is an important issue in view of prevention and early treatment of disorders of the craniofacial growth. While the bad habits can interfere with the position of the teeth and the normal pattern of skeletal growth, on the other hand obstruction of the upper airway, resulting in mouth breathing, changes the pattern of craniofacial growth causing malocclusion. Our cross-sectional study, carried out on 3017 children using the ROMA index, was developed to verify if there was really a significant correlation between bad habits/mouth breathing and malocclusion. The results showed that with the increase of the degree of the index also increases the prevalence of bad habits and mouth breathing, meaning that these factors are associated with more severe malocclusions. Moreover we found a significant association of bad habits with increased overjet and openbite, while no association was found with crossbite. Additionally we found that mouth breathing is closely related to increased overjet, reduced overjet, cross bite, openbite and displacement. Therefore it is necessary to intervene early on these etiological factors of malocclusion to prevent the its development or worsening and, if it has already developed, correct it by early orthodontic treatment to promote eugnatic skeletal growth

Pharmacokinetics in morbid obesity: influence of two bariatric surgery techniques on paracetamol and caffeine metabolism

The purpose of the study was to study the impact of the two most common bariatric surgery techniques on paracetamol pharmacokinetics (a marker of gastric emptying) and caffeine metabolism (a marker of liver function). In the present prospective study, we studied 24 morbid obese patients before, at 4 weeks, and 6 months after having undergone sleeve gastrectomy (n = 10) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n = 14). For comparative purposes, 28 healthy controls (14 normal weights and 14 overweights) were also included in the study. Paracetamol pharmacokinetics was altered in the obese participants leading to lower bioavailability. Bariatric surgery resulted in faster absorption and normalized pharmacokinetic parameters, prompting an increase in paracetamol bioavailability. No differences were found between surgical procedures. In the case of caffeine, the ratio paraxanthine/caffeine did not differ between morbid obese and healthy individuals. This ratio remained unmodified after surgery, indicating that the liver function (assessed by cytochrome P450 1A2 activity) was unaffected by obesity or bariatric surgery. Paracetamol pharmacokinetics and caffeine plasma levels are altered in severely obese patients. The two studied bariatric surgical techniques normalize paracetamol oral bioavailability without impairing the liver function (measured by cytochrome P450 1A2 activity).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Serum levels of immunoglobulins and severity of community-acquired pneumonia

Altres ajuts: This work was supported by a grant (08/PI 090448) from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS) and CIBER de Respiratorio (06/06/0028), Madrid, Spain and a grant from 'Fundació Salut del Consorci Sanitari del Maresme'.There is evidence of a relationship between severity of infection and inflammatory response of the immune system. The objective is to assess serum levels of immunoglobulins and to establish its relationship with severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and clinical outcome. This was an observational and cross-sectional study in which 3 groups of patients diagnosed with CAP were compared: patients treated in the outpatient setting (n=54), patients requiring in-patient care (hospital ward) (n=173), and patients requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) (n=191). Serum total IgG (and IgG subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4), IgA and IgM were measured at the first clinical visit. Normal cutpoints were defined as the lowest value obtained in controls (≤680, ≤323, ≤154, ≤10, ≤5, ≤30 and ≤50 mg/dL for total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM and IgA, respectively). Serum immunoglobulin levels decreased in relation to severity of CAP. Low serum levels of total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 showed a relationship with ICU admission. Low serum level of total IgG was independently associated with ICU admission (OR=2.45, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.2, p=0.002), adjusted by the CURB-65 severity score and comorbidities (chronic respiratory and heart diseases). Low levels of total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. Patients with severe CAP admitted to the ICU showed lower levels of immunoglobulins than non-ICU patients and this increased mortality

The Differences in Physical Activity Levels of Male snd Female University Students

Study purpose. The aim of this study was to examine the levels of physical activity among undergraduates living in ADISU (Agency for the Right to University Study) residences in order to better understand their situations and highlight the differences between male and female students. Materials and methods. Eighty participants between the ages of 18 and 28 were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire was given to each participant who was selected for the study in order to gather general data and measure physical activity levels. Results. 60% of the students involved in this investigation are smokers; nonsmokers show a higher average than smokers, which indicates greater physical activity and higher frequency; 52.3% of female students declare not to practice any PA compared to 26.9% of male students; 9.3% of female students declare to practice PA 3 times per week, while 30.8% of male students declare to practice PA > 3 times per week. Conclusions. In conclusion, we think that studies like ours are essential for formulating plans to enhance students’ wellbeing and their academic route inside universities

Role of Vitamin E and the Orexin System in Neuroprotection.

Microglia are the first line of defense at the level of the central nervous system (CNS). Phenotypic change in microglia can be regulated by various factors, including the orexin system. Neuroinflammation is an inflammatory process mediated by cytokines, by the lack of interaction of specific receptors such as the OX2-OX2R complex, caused by systemic tissue damage or, more often, associated with direct damage to the CNS. Chronic activation of microglia could lead to long-term neurodegenerative diseases. This review aims to explore how tocopherol (vitamin E) and the orexin system may play a role in the prevention and treatment of microglia inflammation and, consequently, in neurodegenerative diseases thanks to its antioxidant properties. The results of animal and in vitro studies provide evidence to support the use of tocopherol for a reduction in microglia inflammation as well as a greater activation of the orexinergic system. Although there is much in vivo and in vitro evidence of vitamin E antioxidant and protective abilities, there are still conflicting results for its use as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases that speculate that vitamin E, under certain conditions or genetic predispositions, can be pro-oxidant and harmful

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Tool to Investigate Motor Cortex Excitability in Sport

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, since its introduction in 1985, has brought important innovations to the study of cortical excitability as it is a non-invasive method and, therefore, can be used both in healthy and sick subjects. Since the introduction of this cortical stimulation technique, it has been possible to deepen the neurophysiological aspects of motor activation and control. In this narrative review, we want to provide a brief overview regarding TMS as a tool to investigate changes in cortex excitability in athletes and highlight how this tool can be used to investigate the acute and chronic responses of the motor cortex in sport science. The parameters that could be used for the evaluation of cortical excitability and the relative relationship with motor coordination and muscle fatigue, will be also analyzed. Repetitive physical training is generally considered as a principal strategy for acquiring a motor skill, and this process can elicit cortical motor representational changes referred to as use-dependent plasticity. In training settings, physical practice combined with the observation of target movements can enhance cortical excitability and facilitate the process of learning. The data to date suggest that TMS is a valid technique to investigate the changes in motor cortex excitability in trained and untrained subjects. Recently, interest in the possible ergogenic effect of non-invasive brain stimulation in sport is growing and therefore in the future it could be useful to conduct new experiments to evaluate the impact on learning and motor performance of these techniques

Activating cannabinoid receptor 2 preserves axonal health through GSK-3β/NRF2 axis in adrenoleukodystrophy

Aberrant endocannabinoid signaling accompanies several neurodegenerative disorders, including multiple sclerosis. Here, we report altered endocannabinoid signaling in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), a rare neurometabolic demyelinating syndrome caused by malfunction of the peroxisomal ABCD1 transporter, resulting in the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). We found abnormal levels of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2r) and related endocannabinoid enzymes in the brain and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of X-ALD patients and in the spinal cord of a murine model of X-ALD. Preclinical treatment with a selective agonist of CB2r (JWH133) halted axonal degeneration and associated locomotor deficits, along with normalization of microgliosis. Moreover, the drug improved the main metabolic disturbances underlying this model, particularly in redox and lipid homeostatic pathways, including increased lipid droplets in motor neurons, through the modulation of the GSK-3β/NRF2 axis. JWH133 inhibited Reactive Oxygen Species elicited by excess VLCFAs in primary microglial cultures of Abcd1-null mice. Furthermore, we uncovered intertwined redox and CB2r signaling in the murine spinal cords and in patient PBMC samples obtained from a phase II clinical trial with antioxidants (NCT01495260). These findings highlight CB2r signaling as a potential therapeutic target for X-ALD and perhaps other neurodegenerative disorders that present with dysregulated redox and lipid homeostasis.This study was funded by the Institute of Health Carlos III through projects [PI19/01008] to SF and [PI20/00759] to AP (co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF, a way to build Europe), Miguel Servet program [CPII16/00016] to SF and [PFIS, FI18/00141] to LPS (co-funded by the European Social Fund, ESF investing in your future). This study was also funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality (EC10-137), the Autonomous Government of Catalonia [2017SGR1206], the Hesperia Foundation, CERTIS Obres i Serveis, and the Crowd funding Campaign Arnau’97 to AP. JP was a predoctoral fellow of IDIBELL. The Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), an initiative of the Institute of Health Carlos III, funded the position of MR. Locomotor experiments were performed by the SEFALer unit F5 led by AP, which belongs to the CIBERER structure. We thank the CERCA Program/Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support

Acute heroin intoxication in a baby chronically exposed to cocaine and heroin: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Acute intoxication with drugs of abuse in children is often only the tip of the iceberg, actually hiding chronic exposure. Analysis using non-conventional matrices such as hair can provide long-term information about exposure to recreational drugs.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a one-month-old Caucasian boy admitted to our pediatric emergency unit with respiratory distress and neurological abnormalities. A routine urine test was positive for opiates, suggesting an acute opiate ingestion. No other drugs of misuse, such as cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines or derivatives, were detected in the baby's urine. Subsequently, hair samples from the baby and the parents were collected to evaluate the possibility of chronic exposure to drug misuse by segmental analysis. Opiates and cocaine metabolites were detected in hair samples from the baby boy and his parents.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In light of these and previous results, we recommend hair analysis in babies and children from risky environments to detect exposure to heroin and other drug misuse, which could provide the basis for specific social and health interventions.</p

Guidance on Noncorticosteroid Systemic Immunomodulatory Therapy in Noninfectious Uveitis : Fundamentals Of Care for UveitiS (FOCUS) Initiative

Supplemental material available at www.aaojournal.org. Supported by AbbVie, Inc., and the Fundamentals of Care for Uveitis Initiative National Faculty. This manuscript was developed subsequent to an AbbVie-sponsored literature review of noninfectious, nonanterior uveitis. The meeting was conducted to understand the available literature regarding the management of patients with noninfectious, nonanterior uveitis. The program involved a total of 139 experts from 28 countries, who were selected for participation by AbbVie. However, AbbVie was not involved in the development of the manuscript. The authors maintained complete control over the content and this manuscript reflects the opinions of the authors. AbbVie selected the discussion participants and reviewed the final manuscript draft for scientific accuracy, but the authors determined the final content. All authors made substantial contributions to the article or critically revised it for important intellectual content and approved the final manuscript. AbbVie provided funding to invited participants, including honoraria for their attendance at the meetings. Travel to and from the meetings was reimbursed. No payments were made to the authors for the development of this manuscript. Dhinakaran Sambandan, PhD, and Shula Sarner, PhD, of Lucid Partners, Burleighfield House, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, provided medical writing and editorial support to the authors in the development of this manuscript; financial support for these services was provided by AbbVie. AbbVie reviewed the manuscript, but was not involved in the methodology, data collection and analysis, or completion of this manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Disrupted mitochondrial and metabolic plasticity underlie comorbidity between age-Related and degenerative disorders as parkinson disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are chronic, multisystemic, and degenerative diseases associated with aging, with eventual epidemiological co-morbidity and overlap in molecular basis. This study aims to explore if metabolic and mitochondrial alterations underlie the previously reported epidemiologic and clinical co-morbidity from a molecular level. To evaluate the adaptation of iPD to a simulated pre-diabetogenic state, we exposed primary cultured fibroblasts from iPD patients and controls to standard (5 mM) and high (25 mM) glucose concentrations to further characterize metabolic and mitochondrial resilience. iPD fibroblasts showed increased organic and amino acid levels related to mitochondrial metabolism with respect to controls, and these differences were enhanced in high glucose conditions (citric, suberic, and sebacic acids levels increased, as well as alanine, glutamate, aspartate, arginine, and ornithine amino acids; p-values between 0.001 and 0.05). The accumulation of metabolites in iPD fibroblasts was associated with (and probably due to) the concomitant mitochondrial dysfunction observed at enzymatic, oxidative, respiratory, and morphologic level. Metabolic and mitochondrial plasticity of controls was not observed in iPD fibroblasts, which were unable to adapt to different glucose conditions. Impaired metabolism and mitochondrial activity in iPD may limit energy supply for cell survival. Moreover, reduced capacity to adapt to disrupted glucose balance characteristic of T2DM may underlay the co-morbidity between both diseases. Conclusions: Fibroblasts from iPD patients showed mitochondrial impairment, resulting in the accumulation of organic and amino acids related to mitochondrial metabolism, especially when exposed to high glucose. Mitochondrial and metabolic defects down warding cell plasticity to adapt to changing glucose bioavailability may explain the comorbidity between iPD and T2DM