Preterm birth alters the maturation of the GABAergic system in the human prefrontal cortex

Developmental changes in GABAergic and glutamatergic systems during frontal lobe development have been hypothesized to play a key role in neurodevelopmental disorders seen in children born very preterm or low birth weight, but the associated cellular changes have not yet been identified. Here we studied the molecular development of the GABAergic system specifically in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region that that has been implicated in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. The maturation state of the GABAergic system in this region was assessed in human post-mortem brain samples, from term infants ranging in age from 0 to 8 months (n=17 male, 9 female). Gene expression was measured for 47 GABAergic genes and used to calculate a maturation index. This maturation index was significantly more dynamic in male than female infants. To evaluate the impact of premature birth on the GABAergic system development, samples from one-month-old term (n=9 male, 4 female) and one-month corrected-age (n=8 male, 6 female) very preterm infants, were compared using the same gene list and methodology. The maturation index for the GABAergic system was significantly lower in male preterm infants, with major alterations in genes linked to GABAergic function in astrocytes, suggesting astrocytic GABAergic developmental changes as a new cellular mechanism underlying preterm brain injury.

Differences of anteroposterior facial dimensions in male and female children on intermediate mixed and early permanent dentition using Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Index

Introduction: Cervical vertebrae are one of the indicators for craniofacial bones maturation. Timing of craniofacial bone maturation determined achievement of orthodontic early treatment. Some previous researchers recommended cervical vertebral maturation to assess craniofacial growth. This study was aimed to analyse the differences of anteroposterior facial dimensions in male and female children on intermediate mixed and early permanent dentition using Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Index (CVMI). Methods: An analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted on the students of Islamic Elementary School (Madrasah Ibtidaiyah) in Depok district, Sleman, Yogyakarta, from July 2019 to January 2020. Subjects consisted of 22 males and 22 females aged 8-11 years, obtained by a consecutive sampling technique. The anteroposterior facial analysis was performed on the lateral cephalometry for measuring the distance of Sella turcica to Nasion (S-N) representing the anterior cranial base, Posterior Nasal Spine to Anterior Nasal Spine (PNS-ANS) representing the maxilla and Gonion-Menton (Go-Me) and Condylion-Gnathion (Co-Gn) represents the mandible. Assessment of CVMI was decided by the Hassel and Farman methods. Data were analysed by One Way ANOVA. Results: The mean value of S-N, PNS-ANS, Go-Me, and Co-Gn dimensions, generally were higher in males than females; however, only dimensions of maxillary and mandibular were showed significant difference (p<0.05), while the S-N dimension was not significantly different (p>0.05). At the interval of CVMI 3 and 4, the Go-Me and Co-Gn dimensions showed a significant difference (p<0.05) both in males and females. Conclusion: There was a difference in anteroposterior dimensions of the maxillary and mandibular in cervical vertebral maturation in children with intermediate mixed and early permanent dentition, however, no difference was found in the anterior cranial base.

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Epidemiology, Physiopathology, Clinical Manifestation and Diagnostic

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a term used to define a compilation of signs and symptoms arising from decreased estrogenic stimulation of the vulvovaginal and lower urinary tract. Among 27–84% of women in postmenopausal are affected for symptoms of GSM, and these can unquestionably impair health, sexual function, consequently the quality of life of these women. The main signs and symptoms of GSM include, among others, burning, irritation, vulvovaginal dryness, dyspareunia, urinary symptoms of urgency, dysuria, or recurrent urinary tract infection. The diagnosis can be made through anamnesis, questionnaires, physical exams, and, sometimes, complementary exams. Objective vaginal assessment is essential and can be complemented by using the Vaginal Health Index (VHI), Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI), or vaginal pH measurement. The acknowledgment of this condition by health professionals is crucial for its identification and proper management and exclusion of other conditions that make a differential diagnosis with it.

Influence of soil preparation and planting methods on watermelon productivity and quality

The productivity and quality of watermelon fruits can be influenced by several factors, edaphic or associated with cultural management, such as, the type and form of soil preparation and planting methods, which can be by direct sowing or through transplanted seedlings. The objective of this work was to evaluate productive characteristics and quality of watermelon fruits grown under different forms of soil preparation and planting methods. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, organized in a 2x3 factorial scheme, containing three replications, with 24 plants per plot. The evaluated factors were two forms of soil preparation and three forms of cultivation. The fruits were harvested when their tendrils showed visible signs of dryness, when their productive and qualitative characteristics were analyzed. The variables analyzed were the number of fruits per plant, fruit mass, transverse and longitudinal circumference of the fruits, total soluble solids (° Brix), total titratable acidity, maturation index (ratio) and total productivity. The planting methods do not alter the productive characteristics and the quality of the watermelon fruits, which proved to be adequate to the standard demanded by the national market. Conventional tillage, with plowing followed by harrowing, increases the number of fruits per plant and total productivity, reaching 30.7 Mg ha-1, a value 35.08% higher than the average for the state of Rondônia and 28.33 % above the national average.

SKELETAL MATURATION EVALUATION USING MANDIBULAR SECOND MOLAR CALCIFICATION STAGES

Objective: To examine the relationship between skeletal maturity and mandibular second molar calcification stages and assessing mandibular second molar as a diagnostic tool for skeletal maturity evaluation. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Orthodontic department, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, from Jan to Jun 2019. Methodology: The sample size of the study 240 comprised of equal number of males and females. Inclusion criteria was defined to include the patients (male and female) with the age from 9-16 years; on the same time, patients without facial asymmetry and without prior history of facial or neck trauma/injury or surgery were considered for the present study. Exclusion criteria was defined to exclude those patients from the study hoe had the history of bone disease and major illness in past; known cases of muscular dystrophy; any congenital malformation of cervical vertebrae and tooth caries; Low quality x-ray with poor contrast. Results: The study revealed association between Demirjian Index and Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Index stages (0.875) with the statistical significance. Demirjian Index Stage H indicated the greater percentage distribution at stage 4 and 6 of Cervical Vertebrae Maturation for males. Similarly, in females, demirjian index stages G and H showed the greater percentage at stage 4 and 6 of cervical vertebrae maturation index respectively. Conclusion: Analysis indicated that cervical vertebrae maturation index and Demirjian Index (DI) occurred earlier in femalesthan males.

Correlation between different methods of assessing bone maturation

<p><strong>Introduction</strong>: the skeletal maturity of na individual can be evaluated through different methods and it is an important tool to the<br />diagnostic and treatment in othodontics. <strong>Objective</strong>: to verify the correlation between different methods of assessing bone maturation:<br />Carpal Maturation Index (CMI), Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Stages (CVM) and Dental Mineralization Stages (DM). <strong>Methodology</strong>:<br />the sample consisted of digitalized images of cephalometric, panoramic and hand and wrist radiographs of 73 patients. 50 were<br />selected for analysis. Two examiners were properly calibrated, through images analysis from another database. Inter and intraexaminer<br />reliability was measured by Kappa coefficient. The images were assessed according to Fishman (1982), Baccetti, Franchi and<br />McNamara Junior (2002) and Nolla (1960) methods. All images were coded and data of all analyzes was transferred to spreadsheets.<br />The data was processed in Matlab program for Windows, version 7.10.0, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.<br /><strong>Results</strong>: the results demonstrated a positive correlation among bone maturity methods (CMI, CVM and DM), as well as between those<br />methods and chronological age. Females showed precocity in reaching the stages of skeletal maturation indicators and CVM compared<br />to males. It was observed that there was a correspondence between maturation methods for both genders. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: there was<br />a correlation between skeletal maturation assessment methods and dental mineralization in patients. Significant differences were<br />observed between genders for skeletal maturity assessment methods. There was a relation between the methods used for skeletal<br />maturation and dental mineralization, as well as chronological age.</p>

Effect of irrigation practices upon yield and fruit quality of four grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Mac.) cultivars

Two strategies of irrigation were applied during the phase of fruit growth in 30-year-old grapefruit trees (Citrus paradisi Mac.) of four varieties (cv. Marsh SRA 8, cv. Shambar SRA 22, cv. Frost Marsh, cv. Ruby). For the first strategy (T1), the trees were irrigated every week at 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc), while for the second strategy (T2) at 60% ETc. At harvest time tree yield was estimated, along with fruit quality and water productivity. T1 strategy significantly increased the tree yield, the fruit weight and the juice content. Although, an increase in water productivity (crop yield/total water use) was achieved during the water stress experiment for the three out of four varieties. The main effect of the T2 strategy was a significant increase of qualitative (commercial and nutritional) attributes like Total Soluble Solids (TSS), citric acid, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and phenolic content. In addition, strategy T2 increased the maturation index and the fruits had sweeter flavor for two varieties. These results lead to the conclusion that in mature grapefruit trees, optimal irrigation practice provided better fruit yield, while water stress practices favor the accumulation of specific nutritional elements and improve specific fruit quality parameters, especially for cv. Ruby.

High-Resolution Drone-Acquired RGB Imagery to Estimate Spatial Grape Quality Variability

Remotesensing techniques can help reduce time and resources spent collecting samples of crops and analyzing quality variables. The main objective of this work was to demonstrate that it is possible to obtain information on the distribution of must quality variables from conventional photographs. Georeferenced berry samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory, and RGB images were taken using a low-cost drone from which an orthoimage was made. Transformation equations were calculated to obtain absolute reflectances for the different bands and to calculate 10 vegetation indices plus two new proposed indices. Correlations for the 12 indices with values for 15 must quality variables were calculated in terms of Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Significant correlations were obtained for 100-berries weight (0.77), malic acid (−0.67), alpha amino nitrogen (−0.59), phenolic maturation index (0.69), and the total polyphenol index (0.62), with 100-berries weight and the total polyphenol index obtaining the best results in the proposed RGB-based vegetation index 2 and RGB-based vegetation index 3. Our findings indicate that must variables important for the production of quality wines can be related to the RGB bands in conventional digital images, potentially improving and aiding management and increasing productivity.