The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of facial convexity on the perception of social attributes in a young adult population. Nine models were asked to pose for a 3 dimensional photograph that was then modified to represent ideal, retrognathic, and prognathic facial convexity angles. Survey evaluators were shown digital videos of models with ideal and non-ideal profiles and asked to rate their perception of the following 4 social attributes: intelligence, athleticism, popularity, and leadership ability using a visual analog scale. Results gathered from 271 evaluators showed that the model images with ideal facial convexity angles were rated higher on average than the same model images with retrognathic and prognathic profiles. The differences in ratings between ideal and non-ideal profiles were significant for intelligence (P = 0.0009), athleticism (P = 0.0002), and leadership ability (P = 0.0008). Differences in perceived popularity (P = 0.2169) showed no significant differences among facial convexities.

Text message reminders have proven effective for positive behavioral changes in medicine, but their influence on oral hygiene compliance has never been tested. This study aimed to determine if text message reminders about oral hygiene have an influence on the level of compliance. In this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial, 42 orthodontic patients were assigned to a text message or control group. Parents of patients assigned to the text message group received a reminder text message one weekday each week. Oral hygiene compliance was measured using bleeding index, modified gingival index, plaque index, and visual examination of white spot lesion development at baseline (T0), two appointments after baseline (T1), and four appointments after baseline (T2). Bleeding index, modified gingival index, and plaque index scores were significantly lower in the text message group than the control group at T2. A text message reminder system is effective for improving oral hygiene compliance in orthodontic patients.

Heparin is a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan with potent anticoagulant, antimetastatic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Polymeric and polyanionic nature of heparin makes dosing and side effects a nightmare for healthcare professionals. Our laboratory has proposed appropriately designed, small, highly sulfated aromatic molecules as potential mimetics of heparin. These easier-to-synthesize small molecules have been shown to possess interesting pharmacological and improved toxicological profiles. However, the detection and characterization of these highly sulfated molecules is challenging. A robust RP-IP UPLC-MS method was developed to successfully retain, resolve and quantify sulfated non-saccharide GAG mimetics without the requirement of pre- or post- column derivatization. Comparative analysis reveals intricate dependence of resolution and ionization on the structure of ion-pairing agents. This is the first report showing systematic use of MS cone voltage to fingerprint sulfated GAG mimetics, perhaps eliminating the need for tandem MS techniques.

Purpose: To determine possible differences in the pain level and soft tissue anesthesia duration of plain polocaine versus epinephrine-containing articaine and lidocaine during intraoral injections. Methods: Forty-eight subjects received plain polocaine and one epinephrine-containing anesthetic. Injections were randomized according to the first injection a)left or right buccal sulcus and b)epinephrine or not. The second injections were the opposite conditions. Subjects then recorded discomfort on a VAS and the time anesthesia wore off. Result: The second injection’s pain rating was influenced by the first. This carry-over effect makes it impossible to analyze all of the data. An analysis of the first injection showed no significant difference between the three anesthetics. The duration of anesthesia for epinephrine-containing anesthetic was significantly longer than plain polocaine. Conclusion: This pilot study was intended to create a sample size for a pediatric population. However, due to the carry-over effect, future split-mouth studies may not be justified.

The bacterium Streptococcus sanguinis is a primary member of the human oral microflora and also has been recognized as a key player in the bacterial colonization of the mouth. It is considered the most common viridians streptococcal species implicated in infective endocarditis. In all kingdoms of life, ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are essential to many cellular functions. Sequencing of the SK36 genome provided the opportunity to study ABC transporter mutants and their relationship with acidity of the oral environment. Despite numerous studies that have focused on carbohydrate uptake systems in closely related streptococcal species such as S. mutans, S. pneumonia and S. pyogenes, the mechanism of the response of these ABC transporters to acidic conditions in S. sanguinis is still unknown. The capability of S. sanguinis to adapt in these harsh environments suggests this bacterium is capable of responding to various environmental stimuli. The purpose of this study was to examine ABC mutants to identify functions that contribute to acid tolerance in S. sanguinis. This study demonstrates that two acid-sensitive mutant genes, SSA_1507 and SSA_1508, identify genes involved in acid tolerance. The two mutants grew on different sugars and none of them showed a defect in sugar utilization at acid pH. We couldn’t recognize any significant differences in sugar uptake for the two acid sensitive mutants or in mutants of their neighboring genes. Thus, the observed acid sensitivity is not due to a failure to take up any of the common sugars tested. The cytoplasmic pH of S. sanguinis was studied with the fluorescent pH indicator (BCECF) and SK36 was observed to have a wider pH range than either of the two acid-sensitive mutants SSA_1507 or SSA_1508. In these two mutants, intracellular pH was not as well maintained. At all pH values tested, the mutants displayed a lower intracellular pH than the wild type. These observations indicate that the cell membrane of these two mutants is unable to protect the interior components from adverse effects of higher pH values and lower pH values, and prove that these two mutant genes SSA_1507 and SSA_1508 are unable to grow in lower pH values. These results support a role for these ABC transporters in proton pump or export and indicate that the mutants are less able to pump out protons.

If gutta-percha cartridges are contaminated with bacteria prior to obturation then contamination of the root canal system may result. Successful treatment not only depends on bacterial elimination but also depends on prevention of recontamination. This study was motivated by the observation that endodontists frequently use single use gutta-percha cartridges on multiple patients. The goal of this study was to determine if cross contamination occurred when a single gutta-percha cartridge in the Calamus™ Flow System was used on multiple patients. An effective recovery method was established during a pilot study using Enterococcus faecalis as a sample bacterium. Microbial recovery was obtained using standard media. The Calamus™ heated gutta-percha delivery system was evaluated to determine the percentage of cartridges with recoverable microorganism under four conditions. Results showed that for cartridges tested immediately after removal from manufacturer’s packaging, the observed negative outcome was 0/10 (0%). For cartridges used on a single patient with an alcohol wipe after use, the negative outcome was 0/20 (0%). For cartridges used on a single patient with no alcohol wipe after use, the negative outcome was 1/20 (5%). For cartridges used on three patients with an alcohol wipe after each use, the number of observed negative outcomes was 0/20 (0%). Using 95% score confidence intervals, the results indicate that the percentage of cartridges with recoverable microorganism under the four conditions is below 27.8% for cartridges sampled from manufacturer’s packaging, 16.1% for cartridges used on a single patient with a alcohol wipe after use, 23.6% for cartridges used on a single patient with no alcohol wipe after use, and 16.1% for cartridges used on three patients with an alcohol wipe after each use. Evidence from this study indicates using Calamus™ flow cartridges on multiple patients vs. single patient does not lead to an increased contamination risk.

African American women represent one of the largest groups disproportionately living with and affected by HIV/AIDS yet African American women have largely been unrepresented in the federal-state rehabilitation system. As pharmaceutical treatment options improve and individuals with HIV/AIDS are living longer and healthier lives, research exploring the appropriateness of rehabilitation services has increased. Accordingly, it has become more necessary to address the needs of this population. As the largest service provider for people with disabilities, the state-federal rehabilitation system has the potential to be a vital resource for African American women living with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study is to identify and examine variables related to and predictive of the utilization of rehabilitative services among a sample of African American women living with HIV/AIDS in the United States who volunteered to complete the National Working Positive Coalition - Vocational Development and Employment Needs Survey (NWPC-VDENS). The sample for this study was 313 African American women living with HIV/AIDS who were recruited from AIDS service organizations and national networks throughout the United States. Participants voluntarily completed the NWPC - VDENS, which explored their needs in the areas of education, training, employment, and health. The behavioral model for vulnerable populations was utilized as a framework to organize and examine predisposing, enabling and need constructs as they related to the utilization of rehabilitative services among African American women living with HIV/AIDS. This study used descriptive, bivariate and binary hierarchical logistic regression statistical analyses to determine the extent to which the constructs were predictive of the use of vocational rehabilitative services. The bivariate analyses produced no statistically significant differences between users and non-users of vocational rehabilitation services for either the predisposing or need variables. Three enabling characteristics, receipt of income benefits, knowledge of services, and reasonable access were all found to have statistical significance in the bivariate analyses. At least one variable from each construct was statistically significant in the regression model. Receipt of income benefits and knowledge of rehabilitation services were found to be predictive of the utilization of vocational rehabilitation services. Study findings framed from previous research, study limitations, implications, and recommendations for future research were acknowledged.

Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), neuroinflammation contributes to the secondary injury. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), and when activated can exert either protective or detrimental effects on surrounding tissue. They are often segregated into subpopulations based on their type of activation, either pro- inflammatory (M1, classically activated), or anti-inflammatory (M2, alternatively activated). Minocycline, an anti-inflammatory drug, is known to be neuroprotective and to have effect on microglia. However, the effect of minocycline on subpopulations of inflammatory cells in the acute stage following injury is unclear. It is also unclear whether minocycline has a different treatment effect on injury-induced inflammatory responses in young and aged populations. In this study, we compared the effect of minocycline treatments on the microglial markers and the M2 subtype in both young (3-month-old) and aged (20-month-old) rats, sacrificed at three days after a moderate controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury. Minocycline treatments were either given beginning at 30 minutes post-injury or 4 hours post-injury for three days. Inflammatory cell markers ED1, OX6, and Iba1, as well as Arginase 1, a marker for alternatively activated macrophages/microglia, were used to label inflammatory cells. Staining intensity of each marker was analyzed in both the peri-lesion cortical tissue and the ipsilateral hippocampus regions. Our findings have found that 3-day minocycline treatment significantly attenuated TBI- induced inflammatory cell response especially in the aged rats. Minocycline treatment did not show any significant changes in the prevalence of the M2 phenotype. Our findings suggest that minocycline may exert its anti-inflammatory effect mostly on inhibition of M1 phenotype rather than promoting M2 phenotype.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to create an experimental design to compare the regimen of ketamine-midazolam to chloral hydrate-meperidine-hydroxyzine for moderate oral conscious sedation. Methods: Patients between 36 and 83 months of age have been randomly assigned to receive 1 of the 2 regimens. Dosages, times, and vital signs will be recorded. Procedures will be recorded on video for assessment of sedation level and behavior. Patients will be contacted to evaluate postoperative sleeping, discomfort, and amnesia. Data will be analyzed using two-group t-tests (TOST) of equivalence in means to compare the two groups across the study period. Results: Patient enrollment of the study has begun. In order not to break the blind randomized code, future data analysis is pending final data collection. Conclusions: This study will assist clinicians by establishing if a regimen of ketamine-midazolam is a comparable alternative to a regimen of chloral hydrate-meperidine-hydroxyzine for sedations.

Occupational therapists theorize that behavioral responses to sensory stimuli are reflective of a child’s underlying ability to process sensory information in a manner that allows the child to engage in childhood occupations meaningfully. If a child’s ability to process sensory information is compromised, then occupational performance is compromised. Similarly if coping skills are less than adequate, successful engagement in occupations is limited. What is less clear is how sensory modulation and coping interact to influence occupational performance. This study examined the interplay between sensory modulation, coping, and occupational performance in a sample of children referred for sensory processing difficulties. Two hundred sixty children, ages 4 – 9 years of age, referred to Occupational Therapy Associates at The Koomar Center in Watertown, MA, for sensory processing concerns were examined for Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD), coping abilities, and occupational performance. Results indicate that while sensory modulation is a strong predictor of occupational performance, it only accounts for approximately 20% of the variance in this model. As such, there are additional factors that contribute to occupational performance; these were not identified in the current study. Children with SMD appear to have mild coping deficits, and the interaction between the two, SMD and coping, remains unclear. Additional exploratory analyses revealed significant overlap between subtypes of SMD. Findings from this study laid the foundation for an emerging model reflecting the coping process of children with SMD. Testing the model in future studies will help elucidate these relationships.