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Mouth
Kinds of Mouth Terms modified by Mouth Selected AbstractsCell fate transitions during stomatal developmentBIOESSAYS, Issue 8 2009Laura Serna Abstract Stomata, the most influential components in gas exchange with the atmosphere, represent a revealing system for studying cell fate determination. Studies in Arabidopsis thaliana have demonstrated that many of the components, functioning in a signaling cascade, guide numerous cell fate transitions that occur during stomatal development. The signaling cascade is initiated at the cell surface through the activation of the membrane receptors TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM) and/or ERECTA (ER) family members by the secretory peptide EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR1 (EPF1) and/or a substrate processed proteolytically by the subtilase STOMATAL DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION1 (SDD1) and transduced through cytoplasmic MAP kinases (YODA (YDA), MKK4/MKK5, and MPK3/MPK6) towards the nucleus. In the nucleus, these MAP kinases regulate the activity of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins SPEECHLESS (SPCH), MUTE, and FAMA, which act in concert with the bHLH-Leu zipper protein SCREAM (SCRM) (and/or its closely related paralog, SCREAM2). This article reviews current insights into the role of this signaling cascade during stomatal development. [source] Photophysiology of Surface Phytoplankton Communities in a Transect from the Mouth of the Peene-Strom to the Arkona Sea (Baltic)INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Anna Maria Müller Abstract The potential of surface phytoplankton to withstand photostress was investigated in August 1998 along a transect from the mouth of the Peene-Strom (Pomeranian Bight) to the open Arkona Sea (Baltic). Photosynthetic efficiency, algal class composition and pigment pattern were determined. Algae were photoinhibited by artificial illumination and the kinetics of recovery were recorded. Under photoinhibitory treatment, algae from the estuary showed a low effective quantum yield but a high potential to recover their maximum photosynthetic efficiency. Contrary to this, the relatively high effective quantum yield of open sea algae under photoinhibitory treatment is accompanied by a low final recovery of maximum photosynthetic efficiency. These phenomena are discussed with respect to nutrient supply, algal class composition and to different strategies of algae to react to light stress. Literature data of summer primary productivity of open sea and coastal algae are compared with our data on electron transport rates. This revealed a low influence of photoinhibitory effects on productivity. [source] Asphyxiation by Occlusion of Nose and Mouth by Duct Tape: Two Unusual SuicidesJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2009Stephen DeRoux M.D. Abstract:, The most recent U.S. statistics (2005) determined that 22.2% of suicides are by suffocation. This number likely includes suicidal hanging. Based on previous reports the majority of nonhanging suicidal asphyxiations are accomplished by securing a plastic bag over the head. We report two instances of a far less common method of suicidal asphyxiation, occlusion of the nose and mouth by duct tape. One was a 47-year-old man with a history of paranoid schizophrenia with suicidal ideation and the other was a 52-year-old man who was depressed due to gambling debts. The value of scene investigation, including review of available video surveillance to determine the manner of death is highlighted. [source] Mouth and fin deformities in common carp: is there a genetic basis?AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006Martin Kocour First page of article [source] At the Mouth of the Cave: Listening to Thomas Cole's Kaaterskill FallsART HISTORY, Issue 3 2010Michael Gaudio First page of article [source] ,We Pray by His Mouth': Karl Barth, Erving Goffman, and a Theology of InvocationMODERN THEOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Matthew Boulton Rereading the opening question of the Westminster Catechism, "What is the chief end of man?", I contend in this essay that the act of invocation , giving God thanks, praise, and petitions , is the act in and through which human being itself is founded, constituted and achieved. I take important cues from Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics and The Christian Life, and from sociologist Erving Goffman's work on the shifting "footings" involved in everyday interactions. I argue for an account of the human being as a being-with-God, human acting as acting-with-God, and human salvation as a restoration to the genuine human partner's work , indeed, the true leitourgia, of thanks, praise and petition to God. [source] Mechanisms of genioglossus responses to inspiratory resistive load in rabbitsACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2002N. P. ALEKSANDROVA ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study has been to determine whether pharyngeal dilator muscles participate in inspiratory load compensatory responses and if so, to elucidate role of upper airway mechanoreceptors in these responses. The experiments were performed on anaesthetized rabbits. Each animal was tested in three ways by the imposition of inspiratory resistive load: (1) at upper airways via face mask, (2) at the tracheostomic cannula placed below larynx (all upper airway receptors were `bypassed') and (3) at the mouth after the section of the hypoglossus nerves (motor denervation of genioglossus muscle). The inspiratory load applied to the upper airways evoked significant increases in integrated genioglossus activity (to 129 ± 14.7% of control) and its inspiratory duration (to 113 ± 5% of control) already within the first loaded breath (P < 0.05). The increases in the inspiratory activity of musculius genioglossus were relatively greater than the simultaneous increases in the activity of the diaphragm. Motor denervation of the pharynx dilator muscles (including m. genioglossus) increased airway resistance to 184 ± 19% of control (P < 0.05) and induced obstructive alterations in the breathing pattern during unloaded breathing: decrease in maximal inspiratory flow (,13%) and increase in the level of negative oesophageal pressure (+14%) and the peak diaphragm activity (+6%). After nervi hypoglossus sections additional increases in motor and pressure outputs were required in order to maintain unaltered ventilation at the same degree of loading as before denervation. The results indicate that the pharyngeal dilator muscles have a role in compensation of added inspiratory load. Activation of these muscles facilitate the load compensating function of `pump' muscles by decreasing airway resistance. Tracheostomy did not reduce the genioglossus response to inspiratory loading, ruling out any role for upper airways receptors in the genioglossus response to inspiratory load compensations. [source] Replantation after extended dry storage of avulsed permanent incisors: report of a caseDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Funda Kont Cobankara Abstract,,, A 15-year-old boy lost his maxillary right and left central incisor teeth in a bicycle accident. He was referred to our clinic 1 week after the injury. The crown-root integrities of both the teeth were not damaged. Although the teeth were stored under dry conditions for 1 week, reimplantation of the teeth was planned to retain the teeth in the mouth for as long a period as possible because of the patient's age. Following the debridement and sterilization of root surfaces in 2.5% NaOCl, root canals were prepared and filled with calcium hydroxide. Then, about 2 mm of the apexes were resected to ensure that the roots easily seated in the alveolar socket and the prepared cavities in root ends were obturated with the amalgam. The teeth were placed into their respective sockets and splinted temporarily. The root canal therapy was completed 5 weeks later. Ankylosis was observed radiographically after 10 months. The patient is now 23 years old and he is still able to use both the central incisors functionally. However, there is a pink appearance on the cervical buccal surface of left central incisor because of progressive replacement resorption. In this case, the new treatment plan is to perform a permanent restoration with dental implants following the extraction of both teeth. Even though the long-term prognosis is uncertain, this treatment technique has provided an advantage for the patient in his adolescent period by maintaining the height of alveolar bone and making the provision of an aesthetically acceptable permanent restoration at a later age possible. [source] Prevalence of oral trauma in children with bilateral cleftsDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2005Juliana Yassue Barbosa Da Silva Abstract,,, The main object of this study is to analyze the prevalence of oral trauma in subjects with complete bilateral clefts, with anterior projection of the premaxilla. A total of 106 children aging 6 months to 9 years were analyzed. The caretakers answered a specific questionnaire, in order to report the presence or absence of trauma to the soft and/or hard tissues of the child's mouth. Whenever there was a history of trauma, the patients were submitted to clinical examination. The prevalence of oral trauma was 53%, being 91% of soft tissue lesions, 8.9% of avulsion, 7% of luxation and 1.8% of intrusion. For the males, the prevalence was 56% and for the females it was 47%, with no statistical significance. Regarding the following aspects:period of time spent with the parents and at school, and presence or absence of siblings, no statistical difference could be found. Among the traumatized individuals, 80% aged less than 3 years by the moment of the trauma, 89% suffered the trauma at home, 75% presented lesions in the soft tissue at the premaxilla, 16% in the maxillary incisors, and 8.9% presented lesions in both structures. It was noticed that 45% of the permanent incisors that succeeded the traumatized deciduous teeth presented alterations, being 48% of structure and 52% of structure and position. The prevalence of trauma in this sample was superior to that observed in the literature, without any positive associations between the evaluated aspects. These results suggest that the projection of the premaxilla brings about a higher risk of oral trauma around this area. [source] Atomoxetine treatment in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and comorbid social anxiety disorderDEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 3 2009Lenard A. Adler M.D. Abstract Background: To evaluate the effect of atomoxetine (ATX) on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid social anxiety disorder in adults. Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, conducted in adults with ADHD and social anxiety disorder. Patients received 40,100,mg ATX (n=224) or placebo (n=218) for 14 weeks following a 2-week placebo lead-in period. Efficacy measures included the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale: Investigator-Rated: Screening Version (CAARS:Inv:SV), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Clinical Global Impression-Overall-Severity (CGI-O-S), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report (SAS), and Adult ADHD Quality of Life Scale-29 (AAQoL). Safety and tolerability were also assessed. Results: ATX mean change (,8.7±10.0) from baseline (29.6±10.4) on CAARS:Inv:SV Total ADHD Symptoms score was significantly greater than placebo mean change (,5.6±10.2) from baseline (31.2±9.4; P<.001). ATX mean change (,22.9±25.3) from baseline (85.3±23.6) on LSAS Total score was significant compared to placebo mean change (,14.4±20.3) from baseline (82.1±21.3; P<.001). The visit-wise analysis revealed greater improvement on the CAARS:Inv:SV Total ADHD Symptoms score and LSAS Total score for ATX at every time point throughout the study (P values ,.012). Mean changes in CGI-O-S, STAI-Trait Anxiety scores, and AAQoL Total score were significantly greater for ATX compared to placebo. Mean change for both groups on STAI-State Anxiety scores was comparable. Improvement on SAS for ATX compared to placebo was not significant. Rates of insomnia, nausea, dry mouth, and dizziness were higher with ATX than with placebo. Discontinuation rates due to treatment-emergent adverse events were similar between groups. Conclusions: ATX monotherapy effectively improved symptoms of ADHD and comorbid social anxiety disorder in adults and was well tolerated. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. Published 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Open trial of nefazodone among Hispanics with major depression: Efficacy, tolerability, and adherence issuesDEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 3 2001J. Arturo Sánchez-Lacay M.D., M.P.H. Abstract The efficacy and tolerability of nefazodone in the treatment of major depression among Spanish-monolingual Hispanics was examined and compared to historical controls among English-speaking, predominantly non-Hispanic subjects. Fifty monolingual Hispanic outpatients with major depression and a HAM-D17 score ,18 were treated with nefazodone in a flexible-dose 8-week open-label protocol. Sixty-three percent of the intent-to-treat (ITT) sample with ,1 efficacy visit were considered responders according to CGI-I criteria, falling within the range of response rates (58,69%) reported in six prior nefazodone trials with non-Hispanic subjects. Significant improvement was found for the ITT and completer samples in HAM-D17, HAM-D28, and SCL-90 scores and in two measures of psychosocial functioning. Endpoint mean dose in the ITT sample was 379 mg/day (SD=170), also within the range of previous trials (321,472mg/day). Adverse effects were not elevated, with only dry mouth (8%) reported by >6% of subjects. However, 42% of the sample dropped out of treatment before study termination, usually because of side effects or due to family or work difficulties, a higher rate than previously reported for nefazodone (21,33%). This open trial finds nefazodone to be an efficacious treatment for major depression among monolingual Hispanics, with comparable efficacy to previous controlled trials among non-Hispanic subjects. Double-blind studies are required to confirm this comparable efficacy. Mean endpoint doses and adverse effect rates similar to previous trials do not support the need for reduced doses of nefazodone among Hispanics. However, an elevated rate of treatment discontinuation threatens treatment efficacy among this population. Causes for this elevated rate require explanation, given the apparently unremarkable pattern of adverse effect reports. Depression and Anxiety 13:118,124, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Myobloc (Botulinum Toxin Type B) for the Treatment of Palmar HyperhidrosisDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 3 2005Leslie Baumann MD Background Palmar hyperhidrosis is a problem of unknown etiology that affects patients both socially and professionally. Botulinum toxin type B (Myobloc), approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of cervical dystonia in the United States in December 2000, has subsequently been used effectively in an off-label indication to treat hyperhidrosis. There are sparse data, however, in the literature evaluating the safety and efficacy of BTX-B for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Objective We evaluated the safety and efficacy of Myobloc in the treatment of bilateral palmar hyperhidrosis. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to report on the safety and efficacy of Myobloc. Methods Twenty participants (10 men, 10 women) diagnosed with palmar hyperhidrosis were injected with either Myobloc (5,000 U per palm) or a 1.0 mL vehicle (100 mM NaCl, 10 mM succinate, and 0.5 mg/mL human albumin) into bilateral palms (15 Myobloc, 5 placebo). The participants were followed until sweating returned to baseline levels. The main outcome measures were safety, efficacy versus placebo, and duration of effect. Results A significant difference was found in treatment response at day 30, as determined by participant assessments, between 15 participants injected with Myobloc and 3 participants injected with placebo. The duration of action, calculated in the 17 participants who received Myobloc injections and completed the study, ranged from 2.3 to 4.9 months, with a mean duration of 3.8 months. The single most reported adverse event was dry mouth or throat, which was reported by 18 of 20 participants. The adverse event profile also included indigestion or heartburn (60%), excessively dry hands (60%), muscle weakness (60%), and decreased grip strength (50%). Conclusion Myobloc proved to be efficacious for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Myobloc had a rapid onset, with most participants responding within 1 week. The duration of action ranged from 2.3 to 4.9 months, with a mean of 3.8 months. The adverse event profile included dry mouth, indigestion or heartburn, excessively dry hands, muscle weakness, and decreased grip strength. MYOBLOC WAS PROVIDED FOR THIS STUDY BY ELAN PHARMACEUTICALS. [source] Modified Von Bruns' Technique for Total Lower Lip ReconstructionDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 3 2004Neta Adler MD Background. Large defects of the lower lip represent a challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. The reconstructed lip should be sensate, retain muscle function, allow sufficient mouth opening for dentures, and have an acceptable aesthetic appearance. Many surgical techniques for lower lip reconstruction have been reported. We describe a modification of von Bruns' technique for reconstruction of the lower lip and both commissures. Objective. To present a surgical technique for reconstruction of the lower lip and both commissures, which we applied in a patient with a huge squamous cell carcinoma of the total lower lip and part of the upper lip. Methods. Two upper nasolabial flaps, one above the other, were used. The surgical technique is discussed. Conclusion. The technique is simple and is one stage. It provides complete support to the reconstructed lower lip and commissures. [source] The art and science of oral examinationDERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 3 2010Rania Agha ABSTRACT Performing an accurate oral examination is an integral part of a complete dermatological evaluation. As dermatologists, we are frequently asked to assess and treat numerous oral pathologies, which include, but are not limited to, normal variants, infections, ulcers, granulomas, lymphomas, as well as primary and metastatic tumors of the mouth and lips. The oral mucosa can be the window through which one can see and make numerous systemic diagnoses. Some clinicians are apprehensive about performing this evaluation, or feel that this examination is outside of their realm of expertise. These concerns may reflect limited exposure and education during training. Therefore, this article aimed to educate the readers on how to complete an oral examination, demonstrate normal variants, and highlight potential pitfalls and limitations of performing oral biopsies. [source] Examination of the oral cavity and identification of normal variantsDERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 3 2002Carl M. Allen The purpose of this article is to systematically describe the techniques that are used in examining the oral cavity. A detailed explanation of how each area of the mouth should be examined is provided and common variations of normal anatomy are illustrated. [source] Anterior regeneration in the hemichordate Ptychodera flavaDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 11 2008Amanda L. Rychel Abstract Ptychodera flava is a hemichordate whose anterior structures regenerate reproducibly from posterior trunk pieces when amputated. We characterized the cellular processes of anterior regeneration with respect to programmed cell death and cell proliferation, after wound healing. We found scattered proliferating cells at day 2 of regeneration using a proliferating cell nuclear antigen antibody. On day 4, most proliferating cells were associated with the nerve tract under the epidermis, and on day 6, a small proboscis derived from proliferated cells was regenerated, and a mouth had broken though the epidermis. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase,mediated deoxyuridinetriphosphate nick end-labeling) detected elevated levels of apoptosis in the endoderm that began furthest away from the region of wound healing, then moved anteriorly over 8 days. Posterior to anterior apoptosis is likely to remove digestive endoderm for later differentiation of pharyngeal endoderm. We hypothesize that P. flava regeneration is nerve dependent and that remodeling in the gut endoderm plays an important role in regeneration. Developmental Dynamics 237:3222,3232, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Drooling in cerebral palsy: hypersalivation or dysfunctional oral motor control?DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2009CORRIE E ERASMUS MD Aim, To investigate whether drooling in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in general and in CP subtypes is due to hypersalivation. Method, Saliva was collected from 61 healthy children (30 males, mean age 9y 5mo [SD 11mo]; 31 females, mean age 9y 6mo [1y 2mo]) and 100 children with CP who drooled (57 males, mean age 9y 5mo [3y 11mo], range 3,19y; 43 females, mean age 10y 1mo [4y 9mo], range 4,19y), of whom 53 had spastic, 42 had dyskinetic, and five had ataxic CP. Almost all children were affected bilaterally, and 90 of them were at Gross Motor Function Classification System levels III or higher. The saliva was collected by the swab saliva collection method. The intensity of drooling was evaluated using the drooling quotient. Results, No difference was found in the flow rates, age, or sex between healthy children and children with CP who drooled. On additional subgroup analysis, the flow rates of children with dyskinetic CP differed statistically from those of healthy children (submandibular p=0.047, parotid p=0.040). Interpretation, This study supports the finding in previous studies that no hypersalivation exists in children with CP who drool. Dysfunctional oral motor control seems to be responsible for saliva overflow from the mouth, whereas increased unstimulated salivary flow may occur in children with dyskinetic CP as a result of hyperkinetic oral movements. [source] Understanding and beliefs of diabetes in the UK Bangladeshi populationDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009S. M. Choudhury Abstract Aims, To examine the understanding and beliefs of people with diabetes from the Bangladeshi community living in the UK. Methods, Structured interviews were carried out with 14 people invited to a peer educational programme. All interviews were on a one-to-one basis and were in Sylheti or in English. Interviews were transcribed and analysed by two independent researchers. Results, The majority of participants did not know what caused diabetes. Knowledge of the management of diabetes was linked to controlling sugar intake and a number of participants reported eating bitter foods such as bitter gourd to control their diabetes. There was little access to information as many participants did not speak English and did not have a Bengali-speaking doctor. The majority of participants felt that education classes should teach them what the doctor thought was important and that these classes would best be advertised by word of mouth. Therefore, participants were quite passive about their own self management and relied very strongly on the doctor's views and recommendations. Conclusions, Findings from this study can be used to help health professionals working with Bangladeshi people. There is a need for improved information for Bangladeshi people and much of this information might need to come from health professionals. In addition, there is a need for increased awareness by health professionals of practices used by Bangladeshi people, such as eating bitter gourd (which may enhance the effects of rosiglitazone), and the influence these practices could have on the individual's diabetes management. [source] A critical review of ontogenetic development in Terebellidae (Polychaeta)ACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010André R. S. Garraffoni Abstract Garraffoni, A.R.S. and Lana, P.C. 2009. A critical review of ontogenetic development in Terebellidae (Polychaeta). ,Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 390,401. This study reviews the ontogenetic variability of the head, the first segments and the uncini in Terebellidae, based on primary literature and development series of four terebellid species. We test hypotheses on character homologies and indicate informative characters for future phylogenetic analyses. The prostomium, identified as the region above the prototroch band of the larva, in addition to being the region of origin of the buccal tentacles, contains a series of nerves originating from the cerebrum. The peristomium, which contains the mouth, is innervated by the stomogastric nerve and consists of upper and lower lips and an internal pharynx. The loss of the first notochaetae and neurochaetae in the course of development is a recurrent pattern in terebellids. The claviform chaetae disappear with age and growth, and can be used to define the larval stage. Chaetogenesis shows that the long shaft-shaped manubrium and posterior process develop from different regions. The uncini terminology ,double rows' was reinterpreted and renamed ,inverted rows', which better reflects the inversion of chaetal positions during ontogenetic development. [source] The emergence of the chordate body plan: some puzzles and problemsACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 1 2010Thurston C. Lacalli Abstract Lacalli, T.C. 2010. The emergence of the chordate body plan: some puzzles and problems. ,Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 4,10 Rather than being sessile filter feeders, ancestral chordates are now thought to have evolved from more active benthic animals, possibly hemichordate-like, that took to swimming, to generate something resembling modern amphioxus. This general picture conceals a number of specific problems that underline how little we understand the transition in detail. I will address three. First, and closest to resolution is the issue of dorsoventral inversion, which has implications for understanding how an internalized brain evolved. This is because the mouth, dorsal after inversion, has first to be moved out of the way. Its migration down the left side of the head during amphioxus development may be a recapitulation of this event. Two other puzzles, both further from resolution are: (1) the significance, if any, of the neurenteric canal, which may be telling us something important about the true nature of deuterostomy, specifically whether hemichordates and echinoderms are deuterostomes for a different reason than chordates, and (2) whether the functional digestive tract of chordates is a secondary replacement of an earlier structure whose fate remains unexplained. Resolving these latter two issues will require a better understanding of molecular level events during development in protochordates and their immediate invertebrate relatives. [source] A new endoscopic technique for suspension of esophageal prosthesis for refractory caustic esophageal stricturesDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 3 2008E. Ancona SUMMARY., There is no clear consensus concerning the best endoscopic treatment of benign refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion. Different procedures are currently used: frequent multiple dilations, retrievable self-expanding stent, nasogastric intubation and surgery. We describe a new technique to fix a suspended esophageal silicone prosthesis to the neck in benign esophageal strictures; this permits us to avoid the frequent risk of migration of the expandable metallic or plastic stents. Under general anesthesia a rigid esophagoscope was placed in the patient's hypopharynx. Using transillumination from the optical device, the patient's neck was pierced with a needle. A n.0 monofilament surgical wire was pushed into the needle, grasped by a standard foreign body forceps through the esophagoscope and pulled out of the mouth (as in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure). After tying the proximal end of the silicone prosthesis with the wire, it was placed through the strictures under endoscopic view. This procedure was successfully utilized in four patients suffering from benign refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion. The prosthesis and its suspension from the neck were well-tolerated until removal (mean duration 4 months). A postoperative transitory myositis was diagnosed in only one patient. One of the most frequent complications of esophageal prostheses in refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion is distal migration. Different solutions were proposed. For example the suspension of a wire coming from the nose and then fixed behind the ear. This solution is not considered optimal because of patient complaints and moreover the aesthetic aspect is compromised. The procedure we utilized in four patients utilized the setting of a silicone tube hanging from the neck in a way similar to that of endoscopic pharyngostomy. This solution is a valid alternative both for quality of life and for functional results. [source] The club-shaped gland of amphioxus: export of secretion to the pharynx in pre-metamorphic larvae and apoptosis during metamorphosisACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 4 2009Nicholas D. Holland Abstract In amphioxus larvae, the club-shaped gland is a tube connecting the pharyngeal lumen with the external environment. The functions of the gland and its fate during the larva-to-juvenile metamorphosis have long been controversial. Here we use a fixative including ruthenium red to preserve extracellular secretions (presumably glycoproteins) in late pre-metamorphic larvae. This procedure reveals reddish, fibrogranular material in the lumen of the club-shaped gland and in the pharynx adjacent to the gland's inner opening. This finding strengthens the idea that secretions of the club-shaped gland are exported to the pharyngeal lumen to help form a mucous trap for capturing food particles entering the mouth. We also use the terminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay to study apoptosis in the tissues of metamorphosing larvae. One of the earliest events of metamorphosis is the massive apoptotic destruction of the club-shaped gland. Therefore, despite some previous opinions to the contrary, the cells of the gland do not survive to participate in the genesis of the definitive endostyle or any other post-larval structures. [source] Successfully treated case of cervical abscess and mediastinitis due to esophageal perforation after gastrointestinal endoscopyDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 3 2002S. Sato SUMMARY. Perforations of the esophagus are uncommon complications of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy. Perforations after endoscopy are likely to occur in the cervical esophagus, where fiber insertion is difficult anatomically. The diagnosis should be made as soon as possible, because mediastinitis and sepsis frequently develop following esophageal perforations. The surgical strategies are dependent on the location of the perforations and the condition of the patients. For a successful outcome, surgery is a preferred treatment for most perforation cases, and non-operative treatment, such as antibiotics, parental nutrition, and no food intake by mouth, should be applied carefully. [source] Review of bupropion for smoking cessationDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 2 2003ROBYN RICHMOND Abstract The advent of bupropion hydrochloride sustained release (Zyban) has heralded a major change in the options available for smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. Bupropion is a selective re-uptake inhibitor of dopamine and noradrenalin which prevents or reduces cravings and other features of nicotine withdrawal. Bupropion is a useful oral and non-nicotine form of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation. For this review a total of 221 papers were reviewed plus poster presentations. This review examines in detail original clinical trials on efficacy, categorised according to whether they were acute treatment trials in healthy smokers; studies in specific populations such as people with depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cardiovascular disease; or relapse prevention studies. Overall, these studies in varying populations comprising over four thousand subjects, showed bupropion consistently produces a positive effect on smoking cessation outcomes. The evidence highlights the major public health role that bupropion has in smoking cessation. The methodological issues of published clinical trials reporting one year outcomes were examined in detail including: completeness of follow-up; loss to follow-up; intention to treat analysis; blindness of assessment; and validation of smoking status. The review discusses contraindications, adverse effects, dose and overdose, addictive potential, and the role of bupropion in reducing cessation-related weight gain. Bupropion combined with or compared to other pharmacotherapies (nicotine patch; nortriptyline) is considered. Impressive evidence exists for the use of bupropion in smoking cessation among difficult patients who are hard-core smokers such as those with cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and depression. Bupropion reduces withdrawal symptoms as well as weight gain and is effective for smoking cessation for people with and without a history of depression or alcoholism. Serious side effects of bupropion use are rare. The major safety issue with bupropion is risk of seizures (estimated at approximately 0.1%) and it should not be prescribed to patients with a current seizure disorder or any history of seizures. In clinical trials of bupropion for smoking cessation no seizures were reported. Allergic reactions occur at a rate of approximately 3% and minor adverse effects are common including dry mouth and insomnia. [source] Morphodynamics of the exit of a cutoff meander: experimental findings from field and laboratory studies,EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 3 2010J. Le Coz Abstract The morphological evolution of the entrances and exits of abandoned river channels governs their hydrological connectivity. The study focusses on flow and sediment dynamics in the exit of a cutoff meander where the downstream entrance is still connected to the main channel, but the upstream entrance is closed. Two similar field and laboratory cases were investigated using innovative velocimetry techniques (acoustic Doppler profiling, image analysis). Laboratory experiments were conducted with a mobile-bed physical model of the Morava River (Slovakia). Field measurements were performed in the exit of the Port-Galland cutoff meander, Ain River (France). Both cases yielded consistent and complementary results from which a generic scheme for flow patterns and morphological evolution was derived. A simple analogy with flows in rectangular side cavities was used to explain the recirculating flow patterns which developed in the exit. A decelerating inflow deposits bedload in the downstream part of the cavity, while the upstream part is eroded by an accelerating outflow, leading to the retreat of the upstream bank. In the field, strong secondary currents were observed, especially in the inflow, which may enhance the scouring of the downstream corner of the cavity. Also, fine sediment deposits constituted a silt layer in a transitional zone, located between the mouth of the abandoned channel and the oxbow-lake within the cutoff meander. Attempts at morphological prediction should consider not only the flow and sediment conditions in the cavity, but also the dynamics of the main channel. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] Spatial distribution and environmental correlates of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphinsECOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2006Guido J. Parra We present data on the spatial distribution of Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins using boat-based line transect surveys in three adjacent bays located in the Far Northern Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, northeast Queensland. We used Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and both randomization and Mantel tests to examine the relationship between the spatial distribution of the dolphins and three simple, readily quantified, environmental variables: distance to land, distance to river mouth, and water depth. Mantel tests allowed us to make clear inferences about the correlation of the species' distributions with environmental variables, while taking into account spatial autocorrelation and intercorrelation among variables. Randomization tests indicated snubfin and humpback dolphins occur closer to land than would be expected at random. Two-sample randomization tests indicated snubfin dolphins were found closer to river mouths than were humpback dolphins. Taking spatial autocorrelation into account, Mantel tests indicated all environmental variables were correlated with the spatial distribution of snubfin and humpback dolphins. Interspecific differences in spatial distribution appeared to be related to proximity to river mouths. Preference by snubfin and humpback dolphins for nearshore, estuarine waters is likely related to the productivity of these tropical coastal areas. This spatial analysis suggests that existing protected areas in this region may not include the most critical habitats for snubfin and humpback dolphins. The techniques used here shown relationships between the spatial distribution of the dolphins and environmental features that should facilitate their management and conservation. [source] Areca nut dependence among chewers in a South Indian community who do not also use tobaccoADDICTION, Issue 7 2010Shrihari J. S. Bhat ABSTRACT Aims Previously reported research suggests a dependence syndrome for areca nut use, though well-designed studies are virtually non-existent. The goal of this study was to examine evidence of areca dependence in a sample of areca-only (i.e. no tobacco) chewers using modified measurement scales. Design A purposive sample of chewers, identified via local informants and advertisements, was surveyed from January to March of 2005. Setting Six villages in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka State, India. Participants Fifty-nine daily areca chewers who do not also currently use any form of tobacco. Measurements Questionnaires included modified versions of the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire, Cigarette Dependence Scale (CDS-5) and the Smokeless Tobacco Dependence Scale (STDS). Additional questions assessed demographic characteristics and patterns of use. Findings Approximately half of respondents reported 1,3 chews/day (mean = 1.9; SD = 0.98). The average number of chewing episodes/day was 4.4 (SD = 3.4) and the average number of nuts/day was 1.2 (SD = 1.1). Users' typical chew lasts up to 20 minutes and includes spitting out the juices and rinsing the mouth with water. Overall, the levels of reported dependence symptoms were quite low, but approximately 44% of chewers endorsed at least one of the following items: continued use despite illness or mouth wounds, difficulty refraining from chewing in forbidden places, or craving during periods of abstinence. Approximately 15.4% of chewers reported at least one intentional quit attempt and a subset had summary scores indicative of dependence (13.6% had scores >16 on the CDS-5 and 5.3% had scores >11 on the STDS). Dependence scores were positively correlated with frequency of chews/day. Conclusions The symptoms of dependence observed in a subset of areca-only chewers warrant further investigation. Next steps should include well-controlled laboratory evaluation of dependence features. [source] A practical protocol to assess impacts of unplanned disturbance: a case study in Tuggerah Lakes Estuary, NSWECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION, Issue 2003A. J. Underwood Summary Environmental managers are often confronted with unplanned or accidental disturbances that may lead to environmental impacts. Procedures for detecting or measuring the size of such impacts are complicated because of the lack of data available before the disturbance and because of the intrinsic variability of most natural measures. Here, a protocol for detecting impacts is illustrated for single-measure variables (numbers of individual species) and multivariate measures (relative abundances of invertebrates in assemblages). The present paper describes a case concerning drainage of acidified water into an estuary due to construction of a drainage channel in an area of wetland for which there had been no prior investigations (i.e. no ,before' data). The spatial extent of any impact was also unknowable. Sampling was, therefore, designed to allow for impacts of only a few tens of metres (using control sites 50 m from the mouth of the channel) and impacts covering much larger areas (500 m and 1 km from the mouth of the channel). Invertebrates in the mud around the channel and in control sites were sampled in replicated cores and the amount of seagrass in each core was weighed. Average abundances of invertebrate animals and weights of seagrass were compared, as was variation among samples in potentially impacted and control sites (using univariate analyses of variance). Sets of species were compared using multivariate methods to test the hypothesis that there was an impact at one of the scales examined. In fact, there was no evidence for any sort of impact on the fauna or seagrasses; the disturbance was a short-term pulse without any obvious or sustained ecological response. One consequence of the study was that the local council was able to demonstrate no impact requiring remediation and no penalties were imposed for the unapproved construction of the channel. The implications of this type of study after an environmental disturbance are discussed. The present study identifies the need for clear definition of relevant hypotheses, coupled with rigorous planning of sampling and analyses, so that reliable answers are available to regulators and managers. [source] The relation between different dimensions of alcohol consumption and burden of disease: an overviewADDICTION, Issue 5 2010Jürgen Rehm ABSTRACT Aims As part of a larger study to estimate the global burden of disease and injury attributable to alcohol: to evaluate the evidence for a causal impact of average volume of alcohol consumption and pattern of drinking on diseases and injuries; to quantify relationships identified as causal based on published meta-analyses; to separate the impact on mortality versus morbidity where possible; and to assess the impact of the quality of alcohol on burden of disease. Methods Systematic literature reviews were used to identify alcohol-related diseases, birth complications and injuries using standard epidemiological criteria to determine causality. The extent of the risk relations was taken from meta-analyses. Results Evidence of a causal impact of average volume of alcohol consumption was found for the following major diseases: tuberculosis, mouth, nasopharynx, other pharynx and oropharynx cancer, oesophageal cancer, colon and rectum cancer, liver cancer, female breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, alcohol use disorders, unipolar depressive disorders, epilepsy, hypertensive heart disease, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, conduction disorders and other dysrhythmias, lower respiratory infections (pneumonia), cirrhosis of the liver, preterm birth complications and fetal alcohol syndrome. Dose,response relationships could be quantified for all disease categories except for depressive disorders, with the relative risk increasing with increased level of alcohol consumption for most diseases. Both average volume and drinking pattern were linked causally to IHD, fetal alcohol syndrome and unintentional and intentional injuries. For IHD, ischaemic stroke and diabetes mellitus beneficial effects were observed for patterns of light to moderate drinking without heavy drinking occasions (as defined by 60+ g pure alcohol per day). For several disease and injury categories, the effects were stronger on mortality compared to morbidity. There was insufficient evidence to establish whether quality of alcohol had a major impact on disease burden. Conclusions Overall, these findings indicate that alcohol impacts many disease outcomes causally, both chronic and acute, and injuries. In addition, a pattern of heavy episodic drinking increases risk for some disease and all injury outcomes. Future studies need to address a number of methodological issues, especially the differential role of average volume versus drinking pattern, in order to obtain more accurate risk estimates and to understand more clearly the nature of alcohol,disease relationships. [source] Molecular and morphological characterization of the association between bacterial endosymbionts and the marine nematode Astomonema sp. from the BahamasENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007Niculina Musat Summary Marine nematode worms without a mouth or functional gut are found worldwide in intertidal sandflats, deep-sea muds and methane-rich pock marks, and morphological studies show that they are associated with endosymbiotic bacteria. While it has been hypothesized that the symbionts are chemoautotrophic sulfur oxidizers, to date nothing is known about the phylogeny or function of endosymbionts from marine nematodes. In this study, we characterized the association between bacterial endosymbionts and the marine nematode Astomonema sp. from coral reef sediments in the Bahamas. Phylogenetic analysis of the host based on its 18S rRNA gene showed that Astomonema sp. is most closely related to non-symbiotic nematodes of the families Linhomoeidae and Axonolaimidae and is not closely related to marine stilbonematinid nematodes with ectosymbiotic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. In contrast, phylogenetic analyses of the symbionts of Astomonema sp. using comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that these are closely related to the stilbonematinid ectosymbionts (95,96% sequence similarity) as well as to the sulfur-oxidizing endosymbionts from gutless marine oligochaetes. The closest free-living relatives of these gammaproteobacterial symbionts are sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from the family Chromatiaceae. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the bacterial symbionts completely fill the gut lumen of Astomonema sp., suggesting that these are their main source of nutrition. The close phylogenetic relationship of the Astomonema sp. symbionts to known sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as well as the presence of the aprA gene, typically found in sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, indicates that the Astomonema sp. symbionts use reduced sulfur compounds as an energy source to provide their hosts with nutrition. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||