Interaction between otorhinolaryngology and orthodontics: correlation between the nasopharyngeal airway and the craniofacial complex

In terms of pathophysiology, an anatomically narrow airway is a predisposing factor for obstruction of the upper respiratory tract. The correlation between the nasopharyngeal airway and the craniofacial structures is discussed in this context. Thus a mutual interaction between the pharynx and the mandibular position was demonstrated, whereby the transverse dimension of the nasopharynx was significantly larger in patients with prognathism than in patients with retrognathism. The influence of chronic obstruction of the nasal airway on craniofacial development was also discussed. The form-and-function interaction, which ought to explain the causal relationship between nasal obstruction and craniofacial growth, appears to be of a multifactorial rather than a one-dimensional, linear nature. It is not disputed, however, that expanding the maxilla improves not only nasal volume and nasal flow, but also the subjective sensation of patients, although it is not possible to make a prognostic statement about the extent of this improvement because of the differing reactions of individuals. Orthodontic appliances for advancing the mandible can also be successfully used in the treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This treatment method should be considered particularly for patients who are unwilling to undergo or cannot tolerate CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment

Characterisation of the autoinmune antibody repertoire of Parkinson's disease patients by systematic screening of protein arrays

Comunicaciones a congreso

Skeletal Muscle - one year on

Background: Skeletal muscle differentiation is required for the regeneration of myofibers after injury. The differentiation capacity of satellite cells is impaired in settings of old age, which is at least one factor in the onset of sarcopenia – the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and major cause of frailty. One important cause for impaired regeneration is increased TGF-beta accompanied by reduced Notch signaling. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are also upregulated in ageing which led us hypothesize their potential contribution to impaired regeneration in sarcopenia. Thus, we have further analysed the muscle differentiation-inhibition pathway by pro-inflammatory cytokines in human skeletal muscle cells Methods: We studied the modulation of human skeletal muscle cell (HuSKMCs) differentiation by pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha. Grade of differentiation was determined by either imaging (fusion index) or creatine kinase (CK) activity, a marker of muscle differentiation. Secretion of TGF-beta proteins during differentiation was assessed by using a TGF-beta responsive reporter gene assay and further identified by means of pharmacological and genetic inhibitors. In addition, signaling events were monitored both in HuSKMC cultures as well as samples from a rat sarcopenia study by Western Blots and RT-PCR. Results: The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α and TNF-α block differentiation of human myoblasts into myotubes. This anti-differentiation effect requires the activation of TAK-1. Using pharmacological and genetic inhibitors, the TAK-1 pathway could be traced to p38 and NFkappaB. Surprisingly, the anti-differentiation effect of the cytokines required the transcriptional upregulation of Activin A, which in turn acted through its established signaling pathway – ActRII/ALK/SMAD. Inhibition of Activin A signaling is able to rescue human myoblasts treated with IL-1alpha or TNF-α, resulting in normal differentiation into myotubes. Studies in aged rats as a model of sarcopenia confirmed that this pro-inflammatory cytokine pathway identified is activated during aging. Conclusions: This study demonstrates an unexpected connection between cytokine and Activin signaling, demonstrating a new mechanism by which cytokines affect skeletal muscle, establishing the physiologic relevance of this pathway in sarcopenia

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Role Conflicts Among Interpreters Working With Refugee Clients: The Role Conflicts Questionnaire

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess interpreters’ role conflicts and the challenging aspects within the triad of practitioner, interpreter and refugee client. Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on previous literature. Its factor structure and construct validity were assessed in an online survey of 164 interpreters working with refugee clients. Psychological distress (BSI-18), work-related exhaustion (CBI), and secondary traumatic stress (ProQOL) were measured to test the questionnaire’s convergent validity. Results: Exploratory structural equation modeling for categorical variables resulted in 23 items across four subscales. The scores of all subscales had good or excellent reliability (ω = 0.81 to ω = 0.93) and correlation analyses indicated convergent validity. Conclusion: The final questionnaire (RoCo) showed four clearly interpretable subscales and may help to identify emotional distress due to role conflicts among interpreters. Future studies should validate the questionnaire in different samples

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Role Conflicts Among Interpreters Working With Refugee Clients: The Role Conflicts Questionnaire

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess interpreters’ role conflicts and the challenging aspects within the triad of practitioner, interpreter and refugee client.Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on previous literature. Its factor structure and construct validity were assessed in an online survey of 164 interpreters working with refugee clients. Psychological distress (BSI-18), work-related exhaustion (CBI), and secondary traumatic stress (ProQOL) were measured to test the questionnaire’s convergent validity.Results: Exploratory structural equation modeling for categorical variables resulted in 23 items across four subscales. The scores of all subscales had good or excellent reliability (ω = 0.81 to ω = 0.93) and correlation analyses indicated convergent validity.Conclusion: The final questionnaire (RoCo) showed four clearly interpretable subscales and may help to identify emotional distress due to role conflicts among interpreters. Future studies should validate the questionnaire in different samples

Transcriptome and proteome analysis of tyrosine Kinase inhibitor treated canine mast cell tumour cells identifies potentially kit signaling-dependent genes.

Background Canine mast cell tumor proliferation depends to a large extent on the activity of KIT, a tyrosine kinase receptor. Inhibitors of the KIT tyrosine kinase have recently been introduced and successfully applied as a therapeutic agent for this tumor type. However, little is known on the downstream target genes of this signaling pathway and molecular changes after inhibition. Results Transcriptome analysis of the canine mast cell tumor cell line C2 treated for up to 72 hours with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor masitinib identified significant changes in the expression levels of approximately 3500 genes or 16% of the canine genome. Approximately 40% of these genes had increased mRNA expression levels including genes associated with the pro-proliferative pathways of B- and T-cell receptors, chemokine receptors, steroid hormone receptors and EPO-, RAS and MAP kinase signaling. Proteome analysis of C2 cells treated for 72 hours identified 24 proteins with changed expression levels, most of which being involved in gene transcription, e.g. EIA3, EIA4, TARDBP, protein folding, e.g. HSP90, UCHL3, PDIA3 and protection from oxidative stress, GSTT3, SELENBP1. Conclusions Transcriptome and proteome analysis of neoplastic canine mast cells treated with masitinib confirmed the strong important and complex role of KIT in these cells. Approximately 16% of the total canine genome and thus the majority of the active genes were significantly transcriptionally regulated. Most of these changes were associated with reduced proliferation and metabolism of treated cells. Interestingly, several pro-proliferative pathways were up-regulated, which may represent attempts of masitinib treated cells to activate alternative pro-proliferative pathways. These pathways may contain hypothetical targets for a combination therapy with masitinib to further improve its therapeutic effect

Understanding atom movement during lateral manipulation with the STM tip using a simple simulation method

Kühnle A, Meyer G, Hla SW, Rieder K-H. Understanding atom movement during lateral manipulation with the STM tip using a simple simulation method. Surface Science. 2002;499(1):15-23.We report on a fast simulation method to investigate the movement of an atom induced by the tip during lateral manipulation with a scanning tunneling microscope. The simulation is based on a model assuming the atom moving in the combined potential of tip and surface. The pathway of the tip is subdivided in small steps, and the atomic position for each step is calculated by an iterative algorithm searching for the closest energetic minimum. The method is demonstrated for manipulation on the (111) surface of an fcc metal. Our model calculations predict which energetic minima of the surface are attained by the atom during manipulation. The details of the modelled manipulation curves allow a precise description of the atomic pathway in dependence on manipulation direction and positioning of the tip relative to the atom. Furthermore, the simulation predicts a transition from the so-called pulling to sliding manipulation mode upon reducing tip-surface distance, well in agreement with general experimental observations. To test our algorithm we present experimental results for the manipulation of iodine on Cu(I 11) along the [211] direction and compare them to simulated manipulation curves. The comparison allows for a complete understanding of all details in atomic movements during manipulation along a complicated path. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V

A framework for a European network for a systematic environmental impact assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMO)

The assessment of the impacts of growing genetically modified (GM) crops remains a major political and scientific challenge in Europe. Concerns have been raised by the evidence of adverse and unexpected environmental effects and differing opinions on the outcomes of environmental risk assessments (ERA). The current regulatory system is hampered by insufficiently developed methods for GM crop safety testing and introduction studies. Improvement to the regulatory system needs to address the lack of well designed GM crop monitoring frameworks, professional and financial conflicts of interest within the ERA research and testing community, weaknesses in consideration of stakeholder interests and specific regional conditions, and the lack of comprehensive assessments that address the environmental and socio economic risk assessment interface. To address these challenges, we propose a European Network for systematic GMO impact assessment (ENSyGMO) with the aim directly to enhance ERA and post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of GM crops, to harmonize and ultimately secure the long-term socio-political impact of the ERA process and the PMEM in the EU. These goals would be achieved with a multi-dimensional and multi-sector approach to GM crop impact assessment, targeting the variability and complexity of the EU agro-environment and the relationship with relevant socio-economic factors. Specifically, we propose to develop and apply methodologies for both indicator and field site selection for GM crop ERA and PMEM, embedded in an EU-wide typology of agro-environments. These methodologies should be applied in a pan-European field testing network using GM crops. The design of the field experiments and the sampling methodology at these field sites should follow specific hypotheses on GM crop effects and use state-of-the art sampling, statistics and modelling approaches. To address public concerns and create confidence in the ENSyGMO results, actors with relevant specialist knowledge from various sectors should be involved