Correlation between dental classification and upper airway measurements using acoustic rhinometry and pharyngometry

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of Sleep Disturbances (SD) in children and to evaluate the correlation between dental classification and airway dimensions. METHODS: Children between 3 – 18 years at the Boston University Pediatric Oral Healthcare Center in Boston, Massachusetts were recruited for this study. Based on parents’ responses in a brief sleep-screening questionnaire, cases were identified as children with SD and controls were those without. Another detailed questionnaire was used to collect information on demographics and sleep patterns. Clinical and upper airway examinations were conducted using Eccovision Acoustic Rhinometer (AR) and Acoustic Pharyngometer (AP). Statistical differences in upper airway measurements by type of dental occlusion were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 281 children, the prevalence of SD was 38%. Upper airway measurements among 176 participants using AP showed significantly higher pharyngeal Minimum Cross-Sectional Area (MCA) for class III dental occlusion compared to class I (P=.036) in children with SD. Statistically significant differences in MCA, Airway Volume (AV), and minimum distance to MCA by type of dental occlusion were mainly observed among children with SD (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight a possible correlation between nasal and pharyngeal airway dimensions and dental classification among children with SD. Further analysis that include radiological examinations may help in confirming these findings

Pre- And post-adoption beliefs about the diffusion and continuation of biogas-based cooking fuel technology in Pakistan

A high level of acceptance and adoption is necessary to facilitate the widespread utilization of renewable energy technologies for cooking, as such utilization is essential for displacing the population's massive dependence on fossil fuels and solid biomass. Economic and demographic aspects have been the focus of recent literature in exploring the adoption phenomenon of biogas technology. However, literature to date has given little attention to the behavioral factors and the perceptions of the end-users. Our study does not only include behavioral factors, but it employs a hybrid model to explore the continued attentions of users based on their post-adoption beliefs and performance expectations. Using a survey conducted in Pakistan in 2017, the study conducts a multivariate analysis through structural equation modeling to measure the effect of pre- and post-adoption beliefs and expectation on adoption and the continuing intention of households towards biogas technology. Results show that the acceptance of the households towards biogas technology is highly influenced by their perceptions on the benefits, as well as their trust in the technology. The perceived cost and risk attached to the technology are found to be negatively correlated with the acceptance. Households' intentions to continue the use of biogas technology is highly influenced by the satisfaction level of the users of biogas technology. With the integrated model of adoption and continuation, the study illustrates the dynamic process in obtaining a deeper understanding of a user's behavior to better formulate the policies for increasing the rate of technology adoption

The Effect of Internal and External Factors of Banking to the SMEs Financing for BPRS in Indonesia

Small and Medium Enterprises had a strategic role in economic growth. One of the mainproblems faced by SMEs in Indonesia was the limited financial capital and access tofinance. Islamic Rural Banks (BPRS) could play a significant role in providing financingfor the development of the real sector through SMEs. This study aimed to analyze theinfluence of internal and external factors of banking to the SMEs financing for BPRS inIndonesia 2011-2016 periods using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) method. Inthe long-term of VECM estimation result showed that third party funds, FDR, inflation,and IPI had a significant positive effect on SMEs financing, while BOPO, NPF, ERP, andBSBIS variables negatively affected SMEs financing. This study recommended the importanceof increasing the proportion of SMEs financing in line with the increase in thenumber of third party funds and putting more funds in the real sector than in the monetarysector

Effect of Methotrexate on the Liver Enzymes and Lipid Profile in Adult Female Albino Mice

Methotrexate (MTX) was used for treatment of malignancies and now is widely used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In this research the evaluation of the effects of MTX on some liver enzymes and lipid profile was studied. Twenty four adult female mice divided into three groups (8 mice each). The first two groups were treated with MTX while the third group was used as a control. MTX was intraperitoneally given at 50 µg/ml and 75 µg/ml to the first and second groups respectively for 35 days ,whereas the control group was intraperitoneally injected with normal saline. The results showed a significant (

Taxonomic significance of leaf epidermal anatomy of selected Persicaria Mill. species of family Polygonaceae from Pakistan

Leaf epidermal anatomy of selected Persicaria Mill. species of the family Polygonaceae revealed variation in size and shape of epidermal cells, stomata, glandular and non glandular trichomes. This study proves to be taxonomically important tool in the delimitation of taxa. Epidermal cell shapes are variable but mostly polygonal. Five different stomatal patterns are reported for Persicaria Mill. Two types of non glandular trichomes are observed only in P. barbata, P. stagnina and P. orientalis which serve as their distinguishing characters. Glandular trichomes are 1, 2 and 4-celled peltate, capitate and spheroidal. Cluster analyses elucidate relationship among different taxa by utilization of leaf epidermal characters

Does ovarian cystectomy pose a risk to ovarian reserve and fertility?

Key content The impact of benign ovarian cysts on a woman’s fertility is dependent on the nature, size, number, bilaterality and risk of recurrence of the cyst(s). Children and adolescents presenting with pathological ovarian cysts require a multidisciplinary team approach and, where possible, fertility sparing treatment should be offered. Laparoscopic detorsion has the potential to preserve ovarian reserve and should remain the optimal treatment for ovarian torsion in girls and premenopausal women. Surgery for bilateral endometriomas has been shown to increase the risk of developing premature ovarian insufficiency. It is important to consider performing ovarian reserve assessments before any ovarian surgery in women who have not completed their family. Learning objectives To understand what factors need to be considered before making a decision to perform an ovarian cystectomy. To be aware of different surgical techniques and their impact on fertility outcomes. To take anatomical considerations into account to minimise damage to healthy ovarian tissue. Ethical issues The UK’s National Health Service does not routinely fund oocyte freezing for benign conditions

Chapter 9: Why do Interviewers Vary in Achieving Interview Privacy and Does Privacy Matter? Appendix 9

Appendix 9A Table A9A.1 Description and univariate distribution of measures used in models Appendix 9B Table A9B.1 Random Intercept Two Level Logistic Regression Model Predicting Third-party Presence during the Intervie

The Role of TLR2 and Bacterial Lipoprotein in Enhancing Airway Inflammation and Immunity

Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) colonizes the lower respiratory tract of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and also causes exacerbations of the disease. The 16-kDa lipoprotein P6 has been widely studied as a potential vaccine antigen due to its highly conserved expression amongst NTHI strains. Although P6 is known to induce potent inflammatory responses, its role in the pathogenesis of NTHI infection in vivo has not been examined. Additionally, the presence of an amino-terminal lipid motif on P6 serves to activate host Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling. The role of host TLR2 and NTHI expression of the lipoprotein P6 on the induction of airway inflammation and generation of adaptive immune responses following chronic NTHI stimulation was evaluated with TLR2-deficient mice and a P6-deficient NTHI strain. Absence of either host TLR2 or bacterial P6 resulted in diminished levels of immune cell infiltration within lungs of mice exposed to NTHI. Pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion was also reduced in lungs that did not express TLR2 or were exposed to NTHI devoid of P6. Induction of specific antibodies to P6 was severely limited in TLR2-deficient mice. Although mice exposed to the P6-deficient NTHI strain were capable of generating antibodies to other surface antigens of NTHI, these levels were lower compared to those observed in mice exposed to P6-expressing NTHI. Therefore, cognate interaction between host TLR2 and bacterial P6 serves to enhance lung inflammation and elicit robust adaptive immune responses during NTHI exposure. Strategies to limit NTHI inflammation while simultaneously promoting robust immune responses may benefit from targeting the TLR2:P6 signaling axis

Comparative analysis of regulatory elements in different germin-like protein gene promoters

Germin and germin-like proteins (GLPs) the members of cupin superfamily of proteins, which are functionally most diverse proteins. Germin and GLPs have some unique features as they are highly resistant to proteases and to degradation by heat, high pH and detergents like Sodium dodecylSulphate (SDS). They are water soluble extracellular enzymatic protein that may also have Oxalate Oxidase (OxO), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) or ADP-glucose pyrophosphate or phosphodiestrase (AGPPase) activities. At the moment seven GLP gene promoter from different organisms have been studied and published. These all promoter sequences have been analyzed in this study. It was observed that these promoters have important regulatory elements, which are involved in various important functions. These elements have been compared on the basis of location, copy number, and distributed on positive and negative strands. It was also observed that some of these elements are common and remained conserved among all GLP promoters during evolution. Such regulatory elements are commonly observed in seed storage proteins, dehydration in response to light, senescence observed on exposure to dark and in elements specific for expression in pollen. Moreover, these commonelements are reported to be expressed under environmental stresses (salt and pathogen attack) and to growth regulators

Phylogenetic analysis of Artemisia L. (Asteraceae) based on micromorphological traits of pollen grains

The phylogenetic relationships within the genus Artemisia have been very controversial. In order to recognize the systematic inference of pollen grains in this genus, the micromorphological characteristics of pollens from 22 taxa were examined by means of light microscopy (LM) and scanningelectron microscopy (SEM). A phylogenetic analysis of Artemisia based on 9 micromorphological characters of pollens was conducted using Wagner parsimony method. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, relationships among different Artemisia species are shown. This study also presents thephylogenetic associations among 4 sections within the genus Artemisia. The reunion of genus Seriphidum with Artemisia was also confirmed