Intermittent alien hand syndrome and callosal apraxia in multiple sclerosis: implications for interhemispheric communication

We report a case of a 47-year-old woman with 35-year history of multiple sclerosis, who showed alien hand signs, a rare behavioural disorder that involves unilateral goal-directed movements that are contrary to the individual\u2019s intention. Alien hand syndrome has been described in multiple sclerosis (MS) only occasionally and is generally suggestive of callosal disconnection. The patient presented also with bilateral limb apraxia and left hand agraphia, raising the possibility of cortical dysfunction or disconnection, in addition to corpus callosum and white matter involvement. Her specific pattern of symptoms supports the role of the corpus callosum in interhemispheric communication for complex as well as fine motor activities and may indicate that it can serve as both an inhibitory and excitatory function depending on task demands

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dental Trauma in Six-Year-Old School-Children

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors of dental trauma in 6-year-old school children in the city of Palhoça, Brazil. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study nested in a cohort study. It involved a representative sample of school children born in 2009, residing in the municipality and regularly enrolled in public and private schools (n = 1,102). Clinical data were obtained through oral exams. To evaluate the incisal overjet, the distance in millimeters was measured horizontally from the labial surface of the lower central incisor to the labial surface of the upper incisor. Bivariate analyses were performed using the Chi-square test, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Multivariate analyses using Poisson Regression were performed to identify independent associations between the prevalence and the independent variables studied. Results: Prevalence of dental trauma was 4.2% (95% CI 3.0-5.4). Dental trauma was statistically associated with studying in a private school (PR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.06) (p=0.016) and with inadequate lip coverage (PR = 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.14) (p=0.016). Conclusion: The prevalence of 4.2% of dental trauma in six-year-old children, associated with inadequate and greater lip coverage in children from private schools should be taken into account, since most teeth at this stage are newly erupted

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dental Trauma in Six-Year-Old School-Children

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors of dental trauma in 6-year-old school children in the city of Palhoça, Brazil. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study nested in a cohort study. It involved a representative sample of school children born in 2009, residing in the municipality and regularly enrolled in public and private schools (n = 1,102). Clinical data were obtained through oral exams. To evaluate the incisal overjet, the distance in millimeters was measured horizontally from the labial surface of the lower central incisor to the labial surface of the upper incisor. Bivariate analyses were performed using the Chi-square test, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Multivariate analyses using Poisson Regression were performed to identify independent associations between the prevalence and the independent variables studied. Results: Prevalence of dental trauma was 4.2% (95% CI 3.0-5.4). Dental trauma was statistically associated with studying in a private school (PR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.06) (p=0.016) and with inadequate lip coverage (PR = 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.14) (p=0.016). Conclusion: The prevalence of 4.2% of dental trauma in six-year-old children, associated with inadequate and greater lip coverage in children from private schools should be taken into account, since most teeth at this stage are newly erupted

Surface acoustic wave-based lab-on-a-chip for the fast detection of Legionella pneumophila in water

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) -based immuno-biosensors are used for several applications, thanks to their versatility and faster response than conventional analytical methods. SAW immuno-biosensors can be usefully applied to promptly detect bacteria and prevent bacterial infections that can lead to severe diseases. Here, we present a SAW immuno-biosensor to detect Legionella pneumophila in water. Our device, working at ultra-high frequency (740 MHz), is functionalized with an anti-L. pneumophila antibody to maximize the specificity. We report the characteristic curve of the sensor, calculated measuring bacterial samples at known densities, and its related parameters. We also measure L. pneumophila samples contaminated with different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium) and samples diluted in mains waters. The proposed device is able to detect L. pneumophila in the range from 1·106 to 1·108 CFU/mL, with a limit of blank of 1.22·106 CFU/mL and a limit of detection of 2.01·106 CFU/mL. The nonspecific signal due to contaminant bacteria is very limited and measurements of L. pneumophila are not affected by contamination. We obtain a good detection also in mains water, representing a realistic matrix for L. pneumophila. Our results are encouraging and pave the way to the use of fast, easy-to-use, reliable and precise sensors to prevent bacterial infections in human activities

Developmental Defects of Enamel in Primary Teeth and Association with Early Life Course Events: A Study of 6--36 Month old Children in Manyara, Tanzania.

Children with low birth weight show an increased prevalence of developmental defects of enamel in the primary dentition that subsequently may predispose to early childhood caries (ECC).Focusing 6--36 months old, the purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of enamel defects in the primary dentition and identify influences of early life course factors; socio-demographics, birth weight, child's early illness episodes and mothers' perceived size of the child at birth, whilst controlling for more recent life course events in terms of current breastfeeding and oral hygiene. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the high fluoride area of Manyara, northern Tanzania including 1221 child-mother pairs who attended Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) clinics for immunization and/or growth monitoring. After the primary caregivers had completed face to face interviews at the health care facility, children underwent oral clinical examination whereby ECC and developmental defects of enamel were recorded using field criteria. All erupted teeth were examined and the enamel defects were assessed on buccal surfaces according to the modified DDE Index. The prevalence of enamel defects was 33.3%. Diffuse opacities were the most common defects identified (23.1%), followed by hypoplasia (7.6%) and demarcated opacities (5.0%). The most frequently affected teeth were the upper central incisors (29.0% - 30.5%), whereas lower central incisors (4.3% to 4.5%) were least frequently affected. Multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for confounding the factors revealed that having normal birth weight (equal or more than 2500 g) associated with lower odds of having enamel hypoplasia [OR 0.22 (95% CI 0.1-0.7)]. No statistically significant association occurred between birth weight and diffuse opacities, demarcated opacities or combined DDE. Children with the history of low birth weight were more likely than their normal birth weight counterparts to present with enamel hypoplasia. In view of the frequent occurrence of enamel defects and the fact that hypoplasia may constitute a risk factor for future ECC, enamel defects should be included as a dental health indicator in epidemiological studies of children in northern Tanzania

Incidence of Dental Caries and Associated Factors in the School Period in a Municipality in Southern Brazil

Objective: To estimate the incidence of dental caries and associated factors in the school period from six/seven to ten years of age. Material and Methods: A longitudinal study involving 168 children was followed up between 2015 and 2019 in the municipality of Palhoça, Brazil. The dependent variable was the caries incidence rate in the mixed dentition. The independent variables included information regarding demographic and socioeconomic status. Multivariate analyzes were carried out using Poisson Regression with a robust estimator. Variables with p <0.20 in the bivariate analysis were included in the adjusted model. Relative risks were estimated, as well as 95% confidence intervals. Results: Of 168 followed schoolchildren, 32 developed the disease, providing an incidence rate of 19.0%. Female children had a 10% higher risk [RR = 1.10 (95% CI 1.03; 1.18)] of developing caries than males. Also, children born from fathers with ≤ 8 years of schooling at baseline had a 9% higher risk [RR = 1.09 (95% CI 1.01; 1.16)] of developing dental caries compared to fathers with higher education. Conclusion: The incidence of dental caries in a four-year period was 19.0%. Females and children born from fathers with a lower level of education showed higher incidence rates

Relationship between CD14 and IgA Levels with the Early Childhood Caries Event Children Age 3–5 Years

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a problem in the field of dental health that occurs in infants and toddlers around the world. AIM: This study aims to relationship between CD14 and IgA levels with the ECC event children age 3–5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This type of research is an observational cross-sectional comparative design between children with caries and non-caries. Samples are children aged 3–5 years with a history of consuming bottle milk. The number of samples was 28 people for each group (caries and non-caries) so that the total sample was 56 people. The CD14 and IgA levels measured using the ELISA method. The statistical test used is an independent t-test. p < 0.05 was said to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean of CD14 levels was higher in the group caries than in the non-caries, while IgA levels were higher in the group non-caries than in the caries group. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that early caries childhood caries event children age 3–5 years increased the levels of IgA and decreased CD14 levels

Influence of sweeteners in the biodistribution of radiopharmaceutical and laboratory tests in rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of sucralose and fructose on the metabolism of adolescent rats. Eighteen male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control group (GC), fructose group (GF) treated with 50 mg/kg of fructose, and sucralose group (GS) receiving 50 mg/kg of sucralose for 24 days. The weight and feed intake were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, some biochemical parameters, histopathology of the liver and biodistribution of the radiotracer 99mTc-sodium phytate in liver and blood were analyzed. The GF showed higher body weight only in the first week compared with GS and GC (p<0.05). Histopathology and % ATI/g radiotracer 99mTc-sodium phytate in liver and blood were not different between the groups. The GF showed higher values of aspartate aminotransferase activity, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase activity and gamma glutamyl transferase activity, compared with the other groups (GC and GS) (p<0.05). Activity of alanine aminotransferase and albumin level of GF were higher than GS (p<0.05). For other parameters, no statistical difference was observed. It was concluded that the use of fructose during the experiment was able to alter hepatic enzymes, but on the other hands, the use of sucralose caused no change.Keywords: Sucralose, fructose, adolescent rats, radiopharmaceutica

Rinsing solutions containing natural extracts and fluoride prevent enamel erosion in vitro

Polyphenols interact with salivary proteins and thus can improve the pellicle’s erosion protective properties. This effect could be exploited to create rinsing solutions with polyphenols as active ingredients for erosion prevention. Different from the current gold standard for erosion protective rinsing solutions, these rinses would not rely on stannous ions. This would offer alternatives for patients with concerns regarding the composition of rinsing solutions and preferring bio-products. Objective: To develop an erosion-preventive rinsing solution containing natural polyphenol-rich extracts. Methodology: Solutions were prepared with polyphenols from either grapeseed extract or cranberry extract, 500 ppm fluoride added, and additionally flavors and sweeteners. Controls were deionized water, 500 ppm fluoride solution, and the gold standard rinse in the field (Sn2+/F-). In total, 135 enamel specimens (n=15/group) were subjected to five cycles of salivary pellicle formation (30 min, 37°C), modification with the solutions (2 min, 25°C), further salivary pellicle formation (60 min, 37°C), and erosive challenge (1 min, 1% citric acid, pH 3.6). Relative surface microhardness (rSMH), surface reflection intensity (rSRI), and amount of calcium release (CaR) were investigated. Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests (α=0.05). Results: The polyphenol solutions containing fluoride, as well as additional flavors, protected enamel better than fluoride alone, and similar to the Sn2+/F- solution, when investigating both rSMH and CaR. When measuring rSRI, Sn2+/F- showed the best protection, while the polyphenol solutions were similar to fluoride. Conclusion: For two of the three assessed parameters (rSMH and CaR), both developed polyphenol-rich rinsing solutions were able to protect enamel from erosion, improving/potentializing the effect of fluoride and matching the protection offered by the current gold standard rinsing solution

Selective imitation impairments differentially interact with language processing

Whether motor and linguistic representations of actions share common neural structures has recently been the focus of an animated debate in cognitive neuroscience. Group studies with brain-damaged patients reported association patterns of praxic and linguistic deficits whereas single case studies documented double dissociations between the correct execution of gestures and their comprehension in verbal contexts. When the relationship between language and imitation was investigated, each ability was analysed as a unique process without distinguishing between possible subprocesses. However, recent cognitive models can be successfully used to account for these inconsistencies in the extant literature. In the present study, in 57 patients with left brain damage, we tested whether a deficit at imitating either meaningful or meaningless gestures differentially impinges on three distinct linguistic abilities (comprehension, naming and repetition). Based on the dual-pathway models, we predicted that praxic and linguistic performance would be associated when meaningful gestures are processed, and would dissociate for meaningless gestures. We used partial correlations to assess the association between patients' scores while accounting for potential confounding effects of aspecific factors such age, education and lesion size. We found that imitation of meaningful gestures significantly correlated with patients' performance on naming and repetition (but not on comprehension). This was not the case for the imitation of meaningless gestures. Moreover, voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping analysis revealed that damage to the angular gyrus specifically affected imitation of meaningless gestures, independent of patients' performance on linguistic tests. Instead, damage to the supramarginal gyrus affected not only imitation of meaningful gestures, but also patients' performance on naming and repetition. Our findings clarify the apparent conflict between associations and dissociations patterns previously observed in neuropsychological studies, and suggest that motor experience and language can interact when the two domains conceptually overla