Impact of Personality Trait of Agreeableness on Oral Parafunctional Habits

OBJECTIVES To find the impact of agreeable personality trait on oral parafunctional habits.METHODOLOGY A Cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore, over 5 months, from July to November 2021. Data was collected using medical questionnaire and ten item personality inventory scale (TIPI). Kruskal Wallis test was to find the difference in the scores of agreeable personality trait across groups of oral parafunctional habits.RESULTSThere was a statistically significant difference in the agreeable personality trait across the parafunctional habits of tooth grinding (p=0.023) and biting on hard objects (p=0.013). A non-significant difference was seen in the personality trait across the habits of nail biting (p=0.495), tooth clenching (p=0.097) and habit of chewing gum (p=0.371). CONCLUSION The individuals who disagreed to having the habit of tooth grinding had the highest score for agreeableness and the least was seen in those who neither agreed nor disagreed to having the habit. The personality trait was the most prevalent in individuals who strongly agreed to having the habit of biting on hard objects and the least in those who agreed to having the habit

Deterministic Evolutionary Trajectories Influence Primary Tumor Growth: TRACERx Renal.

The evolutionary features of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have not been systematically studied to date. We analyzed 1,206 primary tumor regions from 101 patients recruited into the multi-center prospective study, TRACERx Renal. We observe up to 30 driver events per tumor and show that subclonal diversification is associated with known prognostic parameters. By resolving the patterns of driver event ordering, co-occurrence, and mutual exclusivity at clone level, we show the deterministic nature of clonal evolution. ccRCC can be grouped into seven evolutionary subtypes, ranging from tumors characterized by early fixation of multiple mutational and copy number drivers and rapid metastases to highly branched tumors with >10 subclonal drivers and extensive parallel evolution associated with attenuated progression. We identify genetic diversity and chromosomal complexity as determinants of patient outcome. Our insights reconcile the variable clinical behavior of ccRCC and suggest evolutionary potential as a biomarker for both intervention and surveillance

Tracking Cancer Evolution Reveals Constrained Routes to Metastases: TRACERx Renal.

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) exhibits a broad range of metastatic phenotypes that have not been systematically studied to date. Here, we analyzed 575 primary and 335 metastatic biopsies across 100 patients with metastatic ccRCC, including two cases sampledat post-mortem. Metastatic competence was afforded by chromosome complexity, and we identify 9p loss as a highly selected event driving metastasis and ccRCC-related mortality (p = 0.0014). Distinct patterns of metastatic dissemination were observed, including rapid progression to multiple tissue sites seeded by primary tumors of monoclonal structure. By contrast, we observed attenuated progression in cases characterized by high primary tumor heterogeneity, with metastatic competence acquired gradually and initial progression to solitary metastasis. Finally, we observed early divergence of primitive ancestral clones and protracted latency of up to two decades as a feature of pancreatic metastases

Presence of cholinergic and calcium channel blocking activities explains the traditional use of Hibiscus rosasinensis in constipation and diarrhoea

The aqueous-ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Hibiscus rosasinensis Linn. (Malvaceae) was studied for the possible presence of spasmogenic and spasmolytic constituents to rationalize its traditional use in gastrointestinal disorders. The crude extract (Hr.Cr) caused a concentration-dependent (1-10mg/mL) spasmogenic effect in isolated guinea-pig ileum, which was blocked in the presence of atropine (0.1 microM). In spontaneously contracting rabbit jejunum, the plant extract exhibited a weak stimulatory effect at lower doses (0.03-0.30 mg/mL) followed by an inhibitory effect at higher doses (1.0-3.0mg/mL). Pretreatment of the tissues with atropine blocked the stimulatory effect resulting in the potentiation of the spasmolytic effect. Hr.Cr (0.03-1.0mg/mL) also showed an inhibitory effect on K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions. The calcium channel blocking activity was confirmed when Hr.Cr shifted the Ca(2+) concentration-response curves to the right, similar to verapamil. Activity-directed fractionation revealed that the spasmolytic component(s) was separated in the ethyl acetate, while the spasmogenic in the petroleum ether fraction. The aqueous fraction exhibited a combination of weak spasmogenic and spasmolytic effects. These data indicate that the crude extract contains spasmogenic and spasmolytic constituents mediating their effect through cholinergic receptors activation and blockade of Ca(2+) influx, respectively, which may explain its traditional use in constipation and diarrhoea

Intramuscular myxoma of the thigh: A case report

Intramuscular Myxomas are rare benign soft tissue tumors which usually occur between the ages 40 and 70 years and are more common among females. A thorough history and examination can help with diagnosis and it can be confirmed via histological examination. A 40-year-old female presented with a swelling in the medial aspect of right thigh which measured about 5 × 5 cm. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathology examination confirmed the diagnosis and a complete surgical resection was performed to remove the mass. Intramuscular myxoma should be included in differential diagnosis of sarcomas, hemangioma, desmoid tumor, clear cell sarcoma, and lipomas. Magnetic resonance imaging should be the investigation of choice, and histopathology remains the gold standard of investigation. Complete surgical excision with negative margins is the treatment of choice

Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation on sleep disturbance in athletes

Background: Athletes have general complaints about sleep disturbance which is important for body recovery, healthy brain and body functions, tissue wear and tear, and the body's immune system. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) on sleep disturbance in athletes. Methodology: N=24 athletes aged 18 to 36 years participating in a competition were included in a randomized controlled trial. Athletes who were training for a competition, aged between 18 -and 36 years, and athletes with sleep disturbance score (SDS) falling above 4 on the Athletic Sleep Screening Questionnaire were included. Athlete sleep screening questionnaire (ASSQ) was used to assess sleep disturbance score (SDS). Athletes were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=12) and control (n=12) groups. The experimental group was given progressive muscle relaxation and re-assessed the next day for SDS. Results: The pre-post analysis showed that progressive muscle relaxation reduced the athletes' sleep disturbance score significantly one day after the intervention with a large effect size (p=0.006 Cohen's d= 1.44) in the experimental group. The mean of the mean differences of SDS of both groups were compared which showed a group had a significantly improved sleep disturbance score compared to a control group with a large effect size. (Mean= 1.41 ±1.44 v/s 0.00±1.85, p≤ 0.01, Cohen's d= 1.66). Conclusion: Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercises can be a non-pharmacological method to help athletes sleep by simple head-to-toe muscles contract and relax technique. Clinical Trail No: NCT0569509

Berberis vulgaris root bark extract prevents hyperoxaluria induced urolithiasis in rats.

Berberis vulgaris is a widely used plant for the treatment of urolithiasis. To evaluate its antiurolithic potential, the crude aqueous-methanol extract of Berberis vulgaris root bark (Bv.Cr) was tested in an animal model of urolithiasis, developed in male Wistar rats by adding 0.75% ethylene glycol in drinking water. Bv.Cr (50 mg/kg) inhibited CaOx crystal deposition in renal tubules and protected against associated changes including polyuria, weight loss, impaired renal function and the development of oxidative stress in kidneys. Activity-guided fractionation revealed the concentration of antiurolithic constituent(s) mainly in the aqueous fraction. These data, indicating the presence of antiurolithic activity in Berberis vulgaris root bark, rationalize its medicinal use for the treatment or urolithiasis

Tracking Cancer Evolution Reveals Constrained Routes to Metastases: TRACERx Renal.

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) exhibits a broad range of metastatic phenotypes that have not been systematically studied to date. Here, we analyzed 575 primary and 335 metastatic biopsies across 100 patients with metastatic ccRCC, including two cases sampledat post-mortem. Metastatic competence was afforded by chromosome complexity, and we identify 9p loss as a highly selected event driving metastasis and ccRCC-related mortality (p = 0.0014). Distinct patterns of metastatic dissemination were observed, including rapid progression to multiple tissue sites seeded by primary tumors of monoclonal structure. By contrast, we observed attenuated progression in cases characterized by high primary tumor heterogeneity, with metastatic competence acquired gradually and initial progression to solitary metastasis. Finally, we observed early divergence of primitive ancestral clones and protracted latency of up to two decades as a feature of pancreatic metastases