The Relationship Between Periodontal Disease and Obesity: A 5 Year Review

Purpose: To expand upon the current evidence that there is an association between BMI and periodontal disease using a retrospective study design with a larger sample size, and thereby a greater statistical power than previously performed studies. We hypothesize that BMI is positively correlated with prevalence of periodontal disease. Materials and Methods: Data from the electronic health records maintained by the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine from August 2008 to February 2014 was extracted for variables including age, gender, ethnicity, smoking history, diabetes, probing depths, height, and weight. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the odds ratio for the association between periodontal disease status and all the other variables (BMI, age, ethnicity, gender, smoking status, and diabetes). Results: A total of 27,052 subjects were included in the data set. Multivariate analysis of the data showed that the odds ratio of having periodontal disease with a BMI greater than or equal to 30 versus less than 30 was 1.22 when accounting for all the other confounding variables (p=0.013). Furthermore, sex, age, ethnicity, and smoking were all associated with statistically significant odds ratio for development of periodontal disease when analyzed accounting for the other confounding variables (p<0.001). Only diabetes did not show a statistically significant correlation with periodontal disease (p=0.394). Conclusion: Our results reaffirm that increased BMI is positively correlated with periodontal disease prevalence

The study of glial scar formation after brain ischemia using in-vitro strategies

Reactive gliosis is a generic response to Central Nervous System (CNS) injury mediated by astrocytes and microglia. Following ischemic damage to the CNS parenchyma, the injured area becomes surrounded by a dense astroglial cell layer known as glial scar. Glial scar formation has been recognized for many decades as a major impediment for neuronal reconnection and a serious obstacle for functional recovery. However, more recent studies have shown that scar limits the area of damage, preventing the diffusion of blood-derived activated immune cells into the CNS that could cause a generalized proinflammatory-neurodegenerative response.\nIn spite that it has been morphologically recognized for many years since Ramon y Cajal times, to study the biochemical signaling cascades involved in glial scar formation has been difficult mostly because of the in vivo nature of the process.\nIn this context, we studied here the mechanisms of glial scar assembly/disassembly in vitro to identify potential pharmacological targets for therapeutic interventions. To achieve this goal we will use the classical 2-Dimensional (2D) astroglial cultures, but we will also develop 3-dimensional (3D) astroglial cultures by using nanotube matrixes to attempt to better reproduce the in vivo situation. The results of this thesis showed that meningeal macrophages or ischemia-activated macrophages induce astroglial retraction and formation of scar-like structures in vitro. Scar-forming astrocytes over-express GFAP, S100B and TLR2-4. Using the NF-?B antagonist BAY-11-7082 we demonstrated that scar formation and its density is partially NF-?B dependent. Finally, in 3D astroglial culture grown on hydromatrix nanotubes, we showed that DAMPs can induce astroglial polarization but not the formation of the glial scar in vitro. We conclude that TLR/ NF-?B pathway is probably implicated in the glial scar formation or stabilization and that DAMPs and macrophages are necessary for the formation of glial scars in vitro.Fil: Mannava, Raja Sekhar. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentin

Development in laser peening of advanced ceramic

Laser peening is a well-known process applicable to surface treat metals and alloys in various industrial sectors. Research in the area of laser peening of ceramics is still scarce and a complete laser-ceramic interaction is still unreported. This paper focuses on laser peening of SiC ceramics employed for cutting tools, armor plating, dental and biomedical implants, with a view to elucidate the unreported work. A detailed investigation was conducted with 1064nm Nd:YAG ns pulse laser to first understand the surface effects, namely: the topography, hardness, KIc and the microstructure of SiC advanced ceramics. The results showed changes in surface roughness and microstructural modification after laser peening. An increase in surface hardness was found by almost 2 folds, as the diamond footprints and its flaws sizes were considerably reduced, thus, enhancing the resistance of SiC to better withstand mechanical impact. This inherently led to an enhancement in the KIc by about 42%. This is attributed to an induction of compressive residual stress and phase transformation. This work is a first-step towards the development of a 3-dimensional laser peening technique to surface treat many advanced ceramic components. This work has shown that upon tailoring the laser peening parameters may directly control ceramic topography, microstructure, hardness and the KIc. This is useful for increasing the performance of ceramics used for demanding applications particularly where it matters such as in military. Upon successful peening of bullet proof vests could result to higher ballistic strength and resistance against higher sonic velocity, which would not only prevent serious injuries, but could also help to save lives of soldiers on the battle fields

The eyes don't see what the mind doesn't know: discovering monoclonal gammopathy of thrombotic or thrombocytopenic significance

A new scientific advancement in the field of medicine has been made thanks to the collaboration between the university of Michigan health and mayo clinic. A previously undiscovered illness has been named Monoclonal Gammopathy of Thrombotic/Thrombocytopenic Significance (MGTS) as a result of thorough investigation and the convergence of facts. The ramifications of this discovery for medical professionals are considerable, and they may lead to a radical change in how we approach patient care, diagnosis, and treatment

Role of silica nanoparticles in pathogenesis of Mesoamerican nephropathy

The authors have done an excellent job in shedding light on Mesoamerican nephropathy (MeN), a lesser-known variant of chronic kidney disease that affects agricultural workers in rural areas especially regions with hot climates like Central America, etc. The inclusion of social factors in the pathogenesis and highlighting the risks posed by nephrotoxic drugs and heat stress leading to subclinical rhabdomyolysis and uricosuria are crucial contributions to the understanding of MeN

Regional priorities for strengthening climate services for farmers in Africa and South Asia

This report captures a process of shared South-South learning and planning towards defining priorities for strengthening and scaling-up climate information and advisory services for agriculture and food security in West Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa, and South Asia. The process began at the international workshop on “Scaling up Climate Services for Farmers in Africa and South Asia” (Saly, Senegal, December 2012), where participants collectively identified critical gaps in the design, delivery and effective use of climate services for smallholder agriculture; and self-organized into working groups to develop a set of priority actions for strengthening climate services for smallholder farming communities within and across regions in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Following up on a commitment made at the workshop, USAID and CCAFS partnered to develop a small grants program and sponsor a set of guided planning workshops to enable the working groups that emerged from the Saly workshop to further develop their visions, and obtain resources to begin to implement them. Expert working groups from all regions prioritized improving the scientific capacity of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to develop location specific seasonal climate forecasts at the subnational scale, and enhancing institutional frameworks for collaboration between the different agencies involved in the production and communication of climate services. The Eastern and Southern Africa working group also emphasized the co-production with farmers of location-specific climate services, and the importance of assessing the added value of climate services for enhancing agricultural production and managing risk. The West Africa working group prioritized communications mechanisms for reaching marginalized groups, including rural radio and Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), and training farmers to access and use climate information. Building on the region’s existing strength in ICTs, the South Asia group emphasized efforts to identify appropriate ICT tools and build the capacity of smallholder farmers, women, poor and socially marginalized groups to access and utilize climate information services