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Bennett Tochukwu Amaechi,1 Thais Santiago Phillips,1 Veronica Evans,1 Chidera Precious Ugwokaegbe,2 Minh Nguyet Luong,1 Linda Oge Okoye,3 Frederic Meyer,4 Joachim Enax4 1Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA; 2Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; 3Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; 4Research Department, Dr. Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, GermanyCorrespondence: Bennett Tochukwu AmaechiDepartment of Comprehensive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USATel +1 210 567 3185Email amaechi@uthscsa.eduPurpose: The effectiveness of a hydroxyapatite (HAP) toothpaste and a fluoride toothpaste in preventing root tissue demineralization (root caries) was compared using an established pH-cycling caries model.Materials and Methods: Sixty dentin blocks were produced from the root tissue of extracted human teeth and were assigned to 3 test groups (n=20/group): 10% hydroxyapatite toothpaste (HAP), 1450 ppm fluoride toothpaste (fluoride), and artificial saliva (artsaliva). Early root caries lesions were developed in each sample by 7-day demineralization using a pH-cycling caries model. The daily cyclic treatment regimen consists of two 2-minute toothpaste-slurry treatment periods, one 6-hour acid challenge using acidified gel (pH 4.5), and then storage in remineralizing solution (artsaliva) for the rest of the time. Demineralization was assessed as the amount of mineral loss (∆z) using transverse microradiography (TMR). Pairwise comparisons (between treatments) were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and then Tukey’s HSD for multiple comparisons. All p-values are considered significant if p< 0.05.Results: Both ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD indicated no significant (ANOVA; n=20) difference in mean ∆z among the groups, with least ∆z (±Sd) in the HAP (1117± 366) compared to fluoride (1392± 334) and artsaliva (1406± 223). Relative to control, HAP and fluoride inhibited root demineralization by 21% and 6%, respectively.Conclusion: Within the limit of the present study, the tested toothpaste containing 10% HAP is an effective root caries control toothpaste. Toothpaste containing 10% HAP was slightly more effective in preventing tooth demineralization than 1450 ppm fluoride provided as sodium fluoride. Thus, this study shows that HAP toothpastes can serve as an effective alternative to fluoride toothpastes for root caries management.Keywords: hydroxyapatite, fluoride, pH cycling, artificial saliva, demineralization, toothpaste

Shaquir Salduker1, Eugene Allers2, Sudha Bechan3, R Eric Hodgson4, Fanie Meyer5, Helgard Meyer6,7, Johan Smuts8, Eileen Vuong9, David Webb10 1Durban Pain Clinic, St Augustine Hospital, Durban, South Africa; 2Glynview Multiprofessional Practice, Gauteng, South Africa; 3Department of Anaesthesiology, Head Clinical Unit, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa; 4Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa; 5Optima Psychiatric Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa; 6Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; 7Wilgers MR & Medical Centre, Pretoria, South Africa; 8Faculty of Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; 9South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), PTSD Program, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; 10Houghton House Group, Gauteng, South AfricaCorrespondence: Shaquir SaldukerDurban Pain Clinic, St Augustines Hospital, Chelmsford 1, Durban, South AfricaEmail shaquir@shrink.co.zaAbstract: Chronic pain of uncertain etiology often presents a challenge to both patients and their health care providers. It is a complex condition influenced by structural and physiological changes in the peripheral and central nervous systems, and it directly influences, and is modulated by, psychological well-being and personality style, mood, sleep, activity level and social circumstances. Consequently, in order to effectively treat the pain, all of these need to be evaluated and addressed. An effective management strategy takes a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial approach, with review of all current medications and identification and careful withdrawal of those that may actually be contributing to ongoing pain. The management approach is primarily nonpharmacological, with carefully considered addition of medication, beginning with pain-modulating treatments, if necessary. In this article, we present a primary care approach to the assessment and management of a patient with chronic pain where the cause cannot be identified.Keywords: etiology, biopsychosocial, central sensitization, chronic, pain

Abstract Background In idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), peripheral airway obstruction is frequent. This is partially attributed to the mediator dysbalance, particularly an excess of endothelin-1 (ET-1), to increased pulmonary vascular and airway tonus and to local inflammation. Bosentan (ET-1 receptor antagonist) improves pulmonary hemodynamics, exercise limitation, and disease severity in IPAH. We hypothesized that bosentan might affect airway obstruction. Methods In 32 IPAH-patients (19 female, WHO functional class II (n = 10), III (n = 22); (data presented as mean ± standard deviation) pulmonary vascular resistance (11 ± 5 Wood units), lung function, 6 minute walk test (6-MWT; 364 ± 363.7 (range 179.0-627.0) m), systolic pulmonary artery pressure, sPAP, 79 ± 19 mmHg), and NT-proBNP serum levels (1427 ± 2162.7 (range 59.3-10342.0) ng/L) were measured at baseline, after 3 and 12 months of oral bosentan (125 mg twice per day). Results and Discussion At baseline, maximal expiratory flow at 50 and 25% vital capacity were reduced to 65 ± 25 and 45 ± 24% predicted. Total lung capacity was 95.6 ± 12.5% predicted and residual volume was 109 ± 21.4% predicted. During 3 and 12 months of treatment, 6-MWT increased by 32 ± 19 and 53 ± 69 m, respectively; p < 0.01; whereas sPAP decreased by 7 ± 14 and 10 ± 19 mmHg, respectively; p < 0.05. NT-proBNP serum levels tended to be reduced by 123 ± 327 and by 529 ± 1942 ng/L; p = 0.11). There was no difference in expiratory flows or lung volumes during 3 and 12 months. Conclusion This study gives first evidence in IPAH, that during long-term bosentan, improvement of hemodynamics, functional parameters or serum biomarker occur independently from persisting peripheral airway obstruction.

Abstract Background Random community genomes (metagenomes) are now commonly used to study microbes in different environments. Over the past few years, the major challenge associated with metagenomics shifted from generating to analyzing sequences. High-throughput, low-cost next-generation sequencing has provided access to metagenomics to a wide range of researchers. Results A high-throughput pipeline has been constructed to provide high-performance computing to all researchers interested in using metagenomics. The pipeline produces automated functional assignments of sequences in the metagenome by comparing both protein and nucleotide databases. Phylogenetic and functional summaries of the metagenomes are generated, and tools for comparative metagenomics are incorporated into the standard views. User access is controlled to ensure data privacy, but the collaborative environment underpinning the service provides a framework for sharing datasets between multiple users. In the metagenomics RAST, all users retain full control of their data, and everything is available for download in a variety of formats. Conclusion The open-source metagenomics RAST service provides a new paradigm for the annotation and analysis of metagenomes. With built-in support for multiple data sources and a back end that houses abstract data types, the metagenomics RAST is stable, extensible, and freely available to all researchers. This service has removed one of the primary bottlenecks in metagenome sequence analysis – the availability of high-performance computing for annotating the data. http://metagenomics.nmpdr.org

The local valence orbital structure of solid glycine, diglycine, and triglycine is studied using soft X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering (RIXS) maps, and spectra calculations based on density-functional theory. Using a building block approach, the contributions of the different functional groups of the peptides are separated. Cuts through the RIXS maps furthermore allow monitoring selective excitations of the amino and peptide functional units, leading to a modification of the currently established assignment of spectral contributions. The results thus paint a new-and-improved picture of the peptide bond, enhance the understanding of larger molecules with peptide bonds, and simplify the investigation of such molecules in aqueous environment.

In cross-country ski skating, both the G2 and G4 sub-techniques involve one pole push for every second ski push but are used at largely different speed-slope ranges. The aim of this study was to compare temporal and kinematic patterns between G2 and G4 at both identical and different speed-slope conditions. A mixed model was used to analyse spatio-temporal parameters, while a combination of dynamic time warping and statistical parametric mapping was used to compare time traces. Main spatio-temporal parameters, such as cycle time, ski contact time and swing time, differed between G2 and G4 (all p < 0.01). Moreover, two forward and more pronounced acceleration phases of the centre of mass (CoM) were visible in G4 while only one acceleration phase was present in G2. The more continuous propulsion in G2 allows for maintaining a more constant speed at steep slopes and low speeds where this sub-technique is preferred. In contrast, the achievement of high speeds while skiing on flatter terrain seem to require more dynamic motion with shorter, more explosive propulsion periods allowed for in G4. In conclusion, G2 and G4 are two unique movements as characterised by fundamentally different CoM motion and should be denoted as two different sub-techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]