Vertical relapse after orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment in a patient with myotonic dystrophy

Patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD), a neuromuscular multisystem disease characterised by progressive muscular weakness, often present with an anterior open bite associated with excessive facial vertical development. These aberrations in vertical craniofacial growth may be due to the reduced function of the masticatory muscles and the lowered position of the tongue. Well-planned and executed treatment of these patients, with orthodontics and orthognathic surgery, can provide satisfactory results. The long-term stability of these treatment results however remains undocumented. This paper describes a case of severe anterior open bite in a patient with MD treated with orthodontics and orthognathic surgery, with an acceptable post-treatment result. Long-term follow-up however revealed a highly unstable outcome. Reasons for this include the continued overeruption of posterior teeth due to the weakened masticatory musculature, mandibular posture, or problems with TMJ adaptation and remodeling. Possible ways to minimise this instability are discussed, namely lifelong skeletal retention or postponing treatment until a later age.

Interstellar ^{60}Fe on the Surface of the Moon

A dying massive star ends in a supernova explosion ejecting a large fraction of its mass into the interstellar medium. If this happens nearby, part of the ejecta might end on Solar System bodies and, in fact, radioactive ^{60}Fe has been detected on the Pacific ocean floor in about 2 Ma old layers. Here, we report on the detection of this isotope also in lunar samples, originating presumably from the same event. The concentration of the cosmic ray produced isotope ^{53}Mn, measured in the same samples, proves the supernova origin of the ^{60}Fe. From the ^{60}Fe concentrations found we deduce a reliable value for the local interstellar fluence in the range of 1×10^{8}  at/cm^{2}. Thus, we obtain constraints on the recent and nearby supernova(e).

In situ X-ray study of the structural evolution of gold nano-domains by spray deposition on thin conductive P3HT films

Gold (Au) nanoparticles are deposited from aqueous solution onto one of the most used conductive polymers, namely poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), using airbrush deposition. We report on the structure formation and packing of the Au nanoparticles after a 5 s spray cycle. In situ grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) measurements with 20 ms time resolution allow a real-time observation of the emergence and evolution of the microstructure during a spray cycle and subsequent solvent evaporation. The results reveal multistage nanoscale ordering of the Au nanoparticles during the spray cycle. Further ex situ atomic force microscopy measurements of the sprayed films showed the formation of Au monolayer islands on top of the polymer film. Our study suggests that the solvent-substrate interaction as well as solvent evaporation kinetics are important factors that need to be taken into consideration in order to grow a compact uniform monolayer film for the fabrication of ultrathin films using airbrush deposition.

Note: Comparison of grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering of a titania sponge structure at the beamlines BW4 (DORIS III) and P03 (PETRA III)

Grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) is a powerful technique for morphology investigation of nanostructured thin films. GISAXS measurements at the newly installed P03 beamline at the storage ring PETRA III in Hamburg, Germany, are compared to the GISAXS data from the beamline BW4 at the storage ring DORIS III, which had been used extensively for GISAXS investigations in the past. As an example, a titania thin film sponge structure is investigated. Compared to BW4, at beamline P03 the resolution of larger structures is slightly improved and a higher incident flux leads to a factor of 750 in scattered intensity. Therefore, the acquisition time in GISAXS geometry is reduced significantly at beamline P03.

Joule heating and spin-transfer torque investigated on the atomic scale using a spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope

The influence of a high spin-polarized tunnel current onto the switching behavior of a superparamagnetic nanoisland on a nonmagnetic substrate is investigated by means of spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. A detailed lifetime analysis allows for a quantification of the effective temperature rise of the nanoisland and the modification of the activation energy barrier for magnetization reversal, thereby using the nanoisland as a local thermometer and spin-transfer torque analyzer. Both the Joule heating and spin-transfer torque are found to scale linearly with the tunnel current. The results are compared to experiments performed on lithographically fabricated magneto-tunnel junctions, revealing a very high spin-transfer torque switching efficiency in our experiments.

In situ observation of cluster formation during nanoparticle solution casting on a colloidal film

We present a real-time study of the nanostructuring and cluster formation of gold nanoparticles deposited in aqueous solution on top of a pre-structured polystyrene colloidal thin film. Cluster formation takes place at different length scales, from the agglomerations of the gold nanoparticles to domains of polystyrene colloids. By combining in situ imaging ellipsometry and microbeam grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering, we are able to identify different stages of nanocomposite formation, namely diffusion, roughness increase, layer build-up and compaction. The findings can serve as a guideline for nanocomposite tailoring by solution casting.

Magnetization reversal of nanoscale islands: how size and shape affect the arrhenius prefactor

The thermal switching behavior of individual in-plane magnetized Fe/W(110) nanoislands is investigated by a combined study of variable-temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy and Monte Carlo simulations. Even for islands consisting of less than 100 atoms the magnetization reversal takes place via nucleation and propagation. The Arrhenius prefactor is found to strongly depend on the individual island size and shape, and based on the experimental results a simple model is developed to describe the magnetization reversal in terms of metastable states. Complementary Monte Carlo simulations confirm the model and provide new insight into the microscopic processes involved in magnetization reversal of smallest nanomagnets.

[Parkinson syndromes in geriatrics]

Geriatric teams are more and more in front of patients presenting Parkinson syndromes. The frailty of the geriatric patient could be responsible of the non recognition of the diagnosis of the Parkinson and related diseases. A diagnostic approach is proposed in order to better define a care plan and to target the priorities. In collaboration with the general practitioner, the neurologist and the caregivers, an appropriate diagnosis allows to optimize and/or to adapt the treatment, to prevent the functional decline, to decrease the caregiver's burden, and eventually to improve the end of life.

[Children born with a cleft: treatment at the CHUV in Lausanne]

A cleft can be labial, labial-maxillary, unilateral or bilateral labial-maxillary-palatal, or isolated palatal. A multidisciplinary team includes several specialists who will handle the diverse problems of children born with a cleft. This team will follow the child through each developmental stage and assemble an optimal treatment plan, thus reducing the onus on the family. Depending on the type of cleft and the age of the child, feeding, speech, ORL, dental, orthodontic, esthetic and possibly also psychological problems will be taken care of. This is why cleft treatment starts at the time it is diagnosed, before or after birth, and ends when the child is fully grown. It requires a complete interdisciplinary team and the collaboration with obstetricians and geneticians.

Current-induced magnetization switching with a spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope

Switching the magnetization of a magnetic bit by injection of a spin-polarized current offers the possibility for the development of innovative high-density data storage technologies. We show how individual superparamagnetic iron nanoislands with typical sizes of 100 atoms can be addressed and locally switched using a magnetic scanning probe tip, thus demonstrating current-induced magnetization reversal across a vacuum barrier combined with the ultimate resolution of spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Our technique allows us to separate and quantify three fundamental contributions involved in magnetization switching (i.e., current-induced spin torque, heating the island by the tunneling current, and Oersted field effects), thereby providing an improved understanding of the switching mechanism.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in agoraphobia, panic disorder, major depression and normal controls

BACKGROUND

Much interest has been drawn to the investigation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT)-axis in patients suffering from depression or panic disorder. However, there is no data concerning agoraphobia.

METHODS

Patients with panic disorder, agoraphobia, major depression were compared to normal controls (total n=88) in respect to HPT axis, obtaining basal TSH and administering a TRH test.

RESULTS

Normal controls and agoraphobics showed significantly higher Delta(max) TSH than depressives and panic patients. There were no differences between agoraphobics and normal controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Agoraphobia, unlike depression or panic disorder, seems to be less biologically determined in respect to the HPT-axis.

Indications for combined orthodontic and surgical (orthognathic) treatments of dentofacial deformities in cleft lip and palate patients and their impact on velopharyngeal function

Malformations, deformations and abnormal intermaxillary relationships varying in severity can be found in cleft lip and/or palate children. Such multiple deformities have an influence on speech resonance and articulation, as well as on masticatory, auditive and respiratory functions. Therefore, a multidisciplinary team should monitor these patients from birth on to adulthood. This article describes our treatment protocol, discusses the limitations of dental orthopedic action and the indications for orthognathic surgery. Timing and techniques of different surgical interventions are presented and the impact of these procedures on velopharyngeal function is evaluated.