Spatial Analysis of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic among Men Who Have Sex with Men in China, 2006–2015

Background: Studies have shown a recent upsurge in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, especially in urban areas. For intervention planning and resource allocation, spatial analyses of HIV/AIDS case-clusters were required to identify epidemic foci and trends among MSM in China. Methods: Information regarding MSM recorded as HIV/AIDS cases during 2006-2015 were extracted from the National Case Reporting System. Demographic trends were determined through Cochran-Armitage trend tests. Distribution of case-clusters was examined using spatial autocorrelation. Spatial-temporal scan was used to detect disease clustering. Spatial correlations between cases and socioenvironmental factors were determined by spatial regression. Results: Between 2006 and 2015, in China, 120 371 HIV/AIDS cases were identified among MSM. Newly identified HIV/AIDS cases among self-reported MSM increased from 487 cases in 2006 to >30 000 cases in 2015. Among those HIV/AIDS cases recorded during 2006-2015, 47.0% were 20-29 years old and 24.9% were aged 30-39 years. Based on clusters of HIV/AIDS cases identified through spatial analysis, the epidemic was concentrated among MSM in large cities. Spatial-temporal clusters contained municipalities, provincial capitals, and main cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. Spatial regression analysis showed that sociodemographic indicators such as population density, per capita gross domestic product, and number of county-level medical institutions had statistically significant positive correlations with HIV/AIDS among MSM. Conclusions: Assorted spatial analyses revealed an increasingly concentrated HIV epidemic among young MSM in Chinese cities, calling for targeted health education and intensive interventions at an early age

Development of adenovirus immobilization strategies for in situ gene therapy

Background Regenerative gene therapy using viral vectors enables transduced cells to express bioactive factors in vivo . Viral delivery with spatial control can enhance transduction efficiency and may limit systemic infection. Consequently, we tethered biotinylated adenovirus via interactions with avidin on chitosan surfaces to gain robust control for in situ transduction. Methods Avidin was either directly conjugated to chitosan (virus–biotin–avidin-material; VBAM) or indirectly docked on biotinylated chitosan surfaces (virus–biotin–avidin–biotin-material; VBABM) to tether biotinylated adenovirus. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and spectroscopic analysis were performed to demonstrate the binding profiles. Biotin-alkaline phosphatase and biotinylated adenovirus were used as different sized particles to evaluate binding efficiencies and were compared by the Sips isotherm adsorption method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination illustrated virus distribution, and the transduction efficiency was determined by in vitro cell transduction. Results ELISA and spectroscopic analysis both demonstrated that the VBAM system led to multilayer avidin formation on biomaterial surfaces, whereas VBABM formed a monolayer of avidin. Sips isotherm adsorption indicated that the VBAM method increased heterogeneity and steric hindrance of binding sites. By contrast, the VBABM method docked avidin on chitosan surfaces and orientated the binding sites to facilitate ligand binding. In addition, SEM images illustrated that the VBABM method led to more even viral distribution. In vitro cell infection experiments also demonstrated that the VBABM system enhanced virus immobilization and thus improved cell transduction efficiency over the VBAM system. Conclusions The VBABM strategy is a superior method for in situ transduction from biomaterials. This strategy could be adapted for use with a variety of biomaterials as well as viral vectors, and thus may be an alternative method for in vivo regenerative gene therapy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/60964/1/1233_ftp.pd

Enamel malformations associated with a defined dentin sialophosphoprotein mutation in two families

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90129/1/EOS_874_sm_FigS1-9.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90129/2/j.1600-0722.2011.00874.x.pd

The Associations of Maternal and Neonatal Vitamin D with Dental Development in Childhood

Background: Vitamin D influences the formation and mineralization of teeth. Objective: To investigate the association of maternal and neonatal vitamin D concentrations with the dental development of 10-y-old children, in a population-based prospective cohort study among 3,770 mothers and children in the Netherlands. Methods: Maternal venous blood samples were collected in the second trimester (median 20.4 weeks of gestation; range: 18.5-23.2 wk) whereas umbilical cord blood samples were collected immediately after delivery (median 40.1 weeks of gestation; range 35.9-42.3 wk). Dental development was defined using the Demirjian method. Multivariate regression models were built to analyze the studied associations. Results: High concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] during midpregnancy (beta: -0.04; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.01) and at birth (beta: -0.06; 95% CI: -0.10, -0.02) were associated with a lower dental age in children. The children of mothers with severe vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D /=75.0 nmol/L). Children with vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D 25.0-49.9 nmol/L] at birth exhibited a higher dental age (beta: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.20), higher developmental stages of the mandibular second premolar (beta: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.51), and higher developmental stages of the mandibular second molar (beta: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.48) compared with children with sufficient-to-optimal values of 25(OH)D (>/=50.0 nmol/L) at birth. Conclusion: Higher maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with decelerated dental development in childhood. The lower the vitamin D level during midpregnancy or at birth, the higher the dental age of children, and the higher the developmental stages of the mandibular teeth

A comprehensive review of techniques for biofunctionalization of titanium

A number of surface modification techniques using immobilization of biofunctional molecules of Titanium (Ti) for dental implants as well as surface properties of Ti and Ti alloys have been developed. The method using passive surface oxide film on titanium takes advantage of the fact that the surface film on Ti consists mainly of amorphous or low-crystalline and non-stoichiometric TiO2. In another method, the reconstruction of passive films, calcium phosphate naturally forms on Ti and its alloys, which is characteristic of Ti. A third method uses the surface active hydroxyl group. The oxide surface immediately reacts with water molecules and hydroxyl groups are formed. The hydroxyl groups dissociate in aqueous solutions and show acidic and basic properties. Several additional methods are also possible, including surface modification techniques, immobilization of poly(ethylene glycol), and immobilization of biomolecules such as bone morphogenetic protein, peptide, collagen, hydrogel, and gelatin

IL-33 guides osteogenesis and increases proliferation and pluripotency marker expression in dental stem cells

Objectives Soluble IL-33 (interleukin (IL)-1-like cytokine) acts as endogenous alarm signal (alarmin). Since alarmins, besides activating immune system, act to restore tissue homeostasis, we investigated whether IL-33 exerts beneficial effects on oral stem cell pull. Materials and Methods Clonogenicity, proliferation, differentiation and senescence of stem cells derived from human periodontal ligament (PDLSCs) and dental pulp (DPSCs) were determined after in vitro exposure to IL-33. Cellular changes were detected by flow cytometry, Western blot, immunocytochemistry and semiquantitative RT-PCR. Results IL-33 stimulated proliferation, clonogenicity and expression of pluripotency markers, OCT-4, SOX-2 and NANOG, but it inhibited ALP activity and mineralization in both PDLSCs and DPSCs. Higher Ki67 expression and reduced beta-galactosidase activity in IL-33-treated cells were demonstrated, whereas these trends were more conspicuous in osteogenic medium. However, after 7-day IL-33 pretreatment, differentiation capacity of IL-33-pretreated cells was retained, and increased ALP activity was observed in both cell types. Results showed that IL-33 regulates NF-kappa B and beta-catenin signalling, indicating the association of these molecules with changes observed in IL-33-treated PDLSCs and DPSCs, particularly their proliferation, pluripotency-associated marker expression and osteogenesis. Conclusions IL-33 treatment impairs osteogenesis of PDLSCs and DPSCs, while increases their clonogenicity, proliferation and pluripotency marker expression. After exposure to IL-33, osteogenic capacity of cells stayed intact. NF-kappa B and beta-catenin are implicated in the effects achieved by IL-33 in PDLSCs and DPSCs

Epithelial maturation and molecular biology of oral HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is widespread and can cause latent infection in basal cells, with low HPV DNA copy-number insufficient for transmission of infection; can cause subclinical infection that is active but without clinical signs; or can cause clinical infection leading to benign, potentially malignant or malignant lesions. The HPV cycle is influenced by the stage of maturation of the infected keratinocytes, and the production of virions is restricted to the post-mitotic suprabasal epithelial cells where all the virus genes are expressed

Observing the inner parsec-scale region of candidate neutrino-emitting blazars

Context. Many questions concerning the nature of astrophysical counterparts of high-energy neutrinos remain unanswered. There is increasing evidence of a connection between blazar jets and neutrino events, with the flare of the γ-ray blazar TXS 0506+056 in spatial and temporal proximity of IC 170922A representing one of the most outstanding associations of high-energy neutrinos with astrophysical sources reported so far. Aims. With the purpose of characterising potential blazar counterparts to high-energy neutrinos, we analysed the parsec-scale regions of γ-ray blazars in spatial coincidence with high-energy neutrinos, detected by the IceCube Observatory. Specifically, we intended to investigate peculiar radio properties of the candidate counterparts related to the neutrino production, such as radio flares coincident with the neutrino detection or features in jet morphology (limb brightening, transverse structures). Methods. We collected multi-frequency, very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) follow-up observations of candidate counterparts of four high-energy neutrino events detected by IceCube between January 2019 and November 2020, with a focus on γ-ray-associated objects. We analysed their radio characteristics soon after the neutrino arrival in comparison with archival VLBI observations and low-frequency radio observations. We discussed our results with respect to previous statistical works and studies on the case of TXS 0506+056. Results. We identified and analysed five potential neutrino-emitting blazars in detail. Our results suggest an enhanced state of activity for one source, PKS 1725+123. However, the lack of adequate monitoring prior to the neutrino events was a limitation in tracing radio activity and morphological changes in all the sources. Conclusions. We suggest that PKS 1725+123 is a promising neutrino source candidate. For the other sources, our results alone do not reveal a strong connection between the radio activity state at the neutrino arrival. A larger number of VLBI and multi-wavelength follow-up observations of neutrino events are now essential to our understanding of the neutrino production mechanisms in astrophysical sources.© ESO 2022.We thank the referee for her/his useful suggestions. J.M. and MPT acknowledge financial support from the State Agency for Research of the Spanish MCIU through the “Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa” award to the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (SEV-2017-0709) and through grants RTI2018-096228-B-C31 and PID2020-117404GB-C21 (MICIU/FEDER, EU). S.B. acknowledges financial support by the European Research Council for the ERC Starting grant MessMapp, under contract no. 949555. B.W.S. is grateful for the support by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of Korea (NRF-2020K1A3A1A78114060). We thank to L. Petrov for granting permission for using data from the Astrogeo VLBI FITS image database. The European VLBI Network is a joint facility of independent European, African, Asian, and North American radio astronomy institutes. Scientific results from data presented in this publication are derived from the following EVN project codes: RG011, EG108. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. This work made use of the Swinburne University of Technology software correlator, developed as part of the Australian Major National Research Facilities Programme and operated under licence. e-MERLIN is a National Facility operated by the University of Manchester at Jodrell Bank Observatory on behalf of STFC. This research has made use of data from the MOJAVE database that is maintained by the MOJAVE team (Lister et al. 2018). This research has made use of the CIRADA cutout service at URL cutouts.cirada.ca, operated by the Canadian Initiative for Radio Astronomy Data Analysis (CIRADA). CIRADA is funded by a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation 2017 Innovation Fund (Project 35999), as well as by the Provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, the US National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. This research has made use of the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED), which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.Peer reviewe

Root Canal Anatomy of Maxillary and Mandibular Teeth

It is a common knowledge that a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of the internal anatomy of teeth is imperative to ensure successful root canal treatment. The significance of canal anatomy has been emphasized by studies demonstrating that variations in canal geometry before cleaning, shaping, and obturation procedures had a greater effect on the outcome than the techniques themselves. In recent years, significant technological advances for imaging teeth, such as CBCT and micro-CT, respectively, have been introduced. Their noninvasive nature allows to perform in vivo anatomical studies using large populations to address the influence of several variables such as ethnicity, aging, gender, and others, on the root canal anatomy, as well as to evaluate, quantitatively and/or qualitatively, specific and fine anatomical features of a tooth group. The purpose of this chapter is to summarize the morphological aspects of the root canal anatomy published in the literature of all groups of teeth and illustrate with three-dimensional images acquired from micro-CT technology.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio