Effect of Bisphosphonates on the response to mechanical stimulation in children with osteogenesis imperfecta

Children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) are commonly treated with bisphosphonates. We investigated the skeletal response to mechanical stimulation in children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) before and after bisphosphonate treatment. Twelve children (5 boys; 7 girls), aged 4.5-14.9 years with mild OI and naïve to bisphosphonate treatment were recruited. They stood on a high-frequency (30 Hz), low-amplitude (50 to 200 μ) vibrating platform (Marodyne LivMD) for 10 minutes daily (2.5 minutes X 4 with interspersed 1-minute rest periods) for 7 days (whole body vibration [WBV] 1; day (D 1–7), followed successively by 5 weeks’ monitoring without intervention, 6 weeks’ risedronate treatment, 1 week of WBV (WBV2; D85–91), and 1 week without intervention (D92–98). Procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP), and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen cross-link (CTX) were measured at baseline and intervals bracketing periods of vibration and risedronate treatment. Both P1NP and CTX rose to D8 (18.4%, 13.8%, p < 0.05, respectively), plateaued, then rose again at D43 (19.8%, 19.2%, respectively, p < 0.05 versus baseline). At D85 (after risedronate) both P1NP and CTX had fallen to pre-WBV1 levels. A significantly smaller increase in P1NP was found after WBV2 (D85–91) at D92 (3.5%, 9.2%, respectively) and D99 versus after WBV1 (both p < 0.05). BSALP changed little after WBV1, fell during risedronate, and rose toward baseline after WBV2. We thus showed that WBV increased bone formation and resorption; that increase was attenuated after risedronate. The early increase in P1NP and CTX (D8) after WBV1 suggests increased osteoid formation within existing remodeling units but not increased mineralization. Later increases in P1NP/CTX (D42) suggesting creased remodeling cycle initiation after WBV. Risedronate suppressed both biomarkers. The lower increase in P1NP/CTX after WBV2 suggests limited capacity to increase osteoid formation from existing “early stage” osteoblasts and a possible “hangover” effect of risedronate on remodeling activation. These results provide insights into both the response to WBV, ie,mechanical stimulation, and the effect of antiresorptive therapy in children with OI

O papel do profissional de saúde oral no diagnóstico e sinalização de crianças vítimas de maus-tratos: Guideline para detetar e denunciar lesões de maus-tratos

Introdução: Numerosas pesquisas mostraram que 50-77% das crianças abusadas fisicamente apresentam sinais de abuso na região da cabeça e pescoço. Os profissionais de saúde oral encontram-se assim numa posição estratégica para detetar, diagnosticar, documentar e denunciar estes abusos às autoridades competentes. Objetivo: Definir o papel dos médicos dentistas (MD) na deteção de maus-tratos (MT) a crianças e definir uma guideline para facilitar o diagnóstico e a sinalização de maus-tratos a crianças. Materiais e Métodos: Uma pesquisa avançada com diferentes combinações de MeSH Terms no PubMed e no Scielo foi feita para encontrar artigos. Foram selecionados 16 artigos com menos de 10 anos (entre 2013 e 2023). Resultados: As lesões mais comuns encontradas pelos MD em crianças maltratadas são: equimoses, cortes, abrasões, queimaduras, dentes fraturados. Existem obstáculos à denúncia destes casos, tais como falta de conhecimento, medo das consequências para a criança, e falta de provas. Discussão: Foi criada uma guideline para ajudar os MD e profissionais de saúde em geral a diagnosticar lesões causadas por abuso a crianças, mas também para denunciar o abuso a crianças. Conclusão: Os MD têm um papel crucial na deteção de MT, então, é importante desenvolver formações durante e após o período universitário para permitir aos MD adquirirem mais conhecimentos para identificar mais facilmente as crianças vítimas de abuso.Introduction : Numerous surveys have shown that 50-77% of physically abused children show signs of abuse in the head and neck region. Oral health professionals are thus in a strategic position to detect, diagnose, document and report these abuses to the appropriate authorities. Objective : To define the role of the dentist in the detection of child maltreatment injuries, as well as to identify, when to act, to whom and how to report the abuse and to define a guideline to help dentists in the steps to follow. Materials and methods : An advanced search with different combinations of MeSH Terms in PubMed and Scielo was performed to find articles. Sixteen articles less than 10 years old (between 2013 and 2023) were selected. Results : The most common injuries found by dentists in abused children are: bruises, cuts, abrasions, burns, broken teeth. There are obstacles to reporting these cases, such as lack of knowledge, fear of the consequences for the child, and lack of evidence. Discussion : A guideline has been created to help dentists and health professionals in general to diagnose child abuse injuries, but also to report child abuse. Conclusion : Dentists have a very important role so it is important to develop trainings during and after the university period to enable dentists to acquire more knowledge to more easily identify abused children

Relationship between school environment and job dissatisfaction among secondary school teachers in Klang, Selangor

Job Dissatisfaction is defined as an unpleasant feeling of an employee towards their work. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the school environment and job dissatisfaction among secondary school teachers in Klang, Selangor. The study was conducted in four secondary schools in Klang, Selangor. In this study, quantitative method has been used where questionnaire was used in this study to obtain data from the respondents. School Environment was measured using the modified School-Level Environment Questionnaire (SLEQ) (Rentoul and Fraser.1983), where else questionnaire for Job Dissatisfaction was adopted from Hagedoorn.et.al. (1999). Total 181 questionnaires were collected and analyzed for the findings. The analysis showed the overall mean for job dissatisfaction is low (M=2.31, SD=.37), while the mean for school environment is at moderate level (M=3.08, SD=.38). Pearson correlation analysis found there is moderate negative relationship between School Environment and Job Dissatisfaction (r = -.640, p<.01). These findings shows that future studies should focus on the reasons teachers are dissatisfied with school environment and ways to overcome it

Chilling Resistance and Physio -Chemical Changes during Cold Acclimation in Foxtail Millet Genotypes

Millets are known as poor man crops, because they grow well in rain-fed or dry land conditions with insufficient soil fertility and water. Food shortages could become more severe in the coming years as the world population rises and arable land is depleted. As a result, various strategies are needed to ensure food security. Millets are also notable for their short growth season. They can reach maturity in as little as 85 days after being sowing. Low temperature is a major environmental factor that can limiting the plant anabolic, metabolic processes and yield globally. Temperature is an extremely important growth limiting factor because it regulates plant physiological and biochemical activity throughout the growth cycle. A field study was scheduled to estimate the low temperatures effect on plant processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, water absorption, chlorophyll stability, and yield. It was done in Rabi’ 2020 and 2021 with factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications. The present study was conducted to determine the low temperature effect on growth analysis and yield of tenai genotypes screening at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur. Temperature stress, particularly high or low temperatures, can disrupt plant metabolism and shorten the time of distinct plant growth phases. Plants' responses to low temperature exposure can have a significant impact on various growth parameters such as leaf area, leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative water content, photosynthetic efficiency, days to 50% flowering, number of tillers, number of grains per tiller, total dry matter production, and yield. Tenai genotypes TNSi 375 and TNSi 375 recorded higher values of specific leaf area, crop growth rate, specific leaf weight, total chlorophyll content and grain yield than other genotypes under low temperature condition, Tiruvannamali district and Jawathu hill region of Vellore district.&nbsp

Effect of cultivar mixtures of Finger millet [Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.] on blast [Pyricularia grisea (Cooke) Sacc.] disease development under field conditions

The study aimed to assess the impact of different combinations of cultivar mixtures on finger millet blast epidemics without affecting yield. The research employed Disease Progress Curves (DPCs) such as AUDPC, rAUDPC, and sAUDPC to evaluate leaf, neck and finger blast epidemics' severity at various time intervals. Treatments involved mixtures of pre-released cultures and commercial varieties, combined with resistant cultivars in ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 to combat blast disease. These mixtures were compared with monoculture performances (resistant and susceptible checks) and fungicide treatments. The mixture of pre-released cultures (TNEc 1285 + TNEc 1294 + TNEc 1310) combined with the resistant cultivar GE4449 at a 1:1 ratio demonstrated the most significant impact in reducing the Area Under Disease Progressive Curve (AUDPC) values for all three blast types while maintaining consistent yield. This treatment exhibited results comparable to fungicide (Tricyclazole 75% WP) sprays across trials conducted from September to December in both 2020 and 2021. Economically, the cost-benefit ratio favoured the culture composite despite its delayed onset and slower progression during disease epidemics under field conditions. The mixture of cultures demonstrated sustainable yield without requiring significant additional input costs or frequent fungicidal application in both trial periods. This suggests a promising and cost-effective approach to managing finger millet blast epidemics while maintaining yield stability in agricultural practices

Author Correction: Deficiency of TET3 leads to a genome-wide DNA hypermethylation episignature in human whole blood (npj Genomic Medicine, (2021), 6, 1, (92), 10.1038/s41525-021-00256-y):Deficiency of TET3 leads to a genome-wide DNA hypermethylation episignature in human whole blood (npj Genomic Medicine, (2021), 6, 1, (92), 10.1038/s41525-021-00256-y)

In this article the author name Siddharth Banka was incorrectly written as Sidharth Banka. The original article has been corrected

Deficiency of TET3 leads to a genome-wide DNA hypermethylation episignature in human whole blood

TET3 encodes an essential dioxygenase involved in epigenetic regulation through DNA demethylation. TET3 deficiency, or Beck-Fahrner syndrome (BEFAHRS; MIM: 618798), is a recently described neurodevelopmental disorder of the DNA demethylation machinery with a nonspecific phenotype resembling other chromatin-modifying disorders, but inconsistent variant types and inheritance patterns pose diagnostic challenges. Given TET3’s direct role in regulating 5-methylcytosine and recent identification of syndrome-specific DNA methylation profiles, we analyzed genome-wide DNA methylation in whole blood of TET3-deficient individuals and identified an episignature that distinguishes affected and unaffected individuals and those with mono-allelic and bi-allelic pathogenic variants. Validation and testing of the episignature correctly categorized known TET3 variants and determined pathogenicity of variants of uncertain significance. Clinical utility was demonstrated when the episignature alone identified an affected individual from over 1000 undiagnosed cases and was confirmed upon distinguishing TET3-deficient individuals from those with 46 other disorders. The TET3-deficient signature - and the signature resulting from activating mutations in DNMT1 which normally opposes TET3 - are characterized by hypermethylation, which for BEFAHRS involves CpG sites that may be biologically relevant. This work expands the role of epi-phenotyping in molecular diagnosis and reveals genome-wide DNA methylation profiling as a quantitative, functional readout for characterization of this new biochemical category of disease