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Introduction: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been increasingly utilized in the assessment of spinal cord pathologies for various clinical applications. DTI surpasses conventional MRI in delineating the microstructural integrity of the spinal cord, thereby serving as a potent, non-invasive modality sensitive to white matter pathologies. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is acknowledged to be a consequence not only of peripheral nerve and root lesions but also of central nervous system abnormalities associated with such damage. Our premise posits that the manifestation of PHN may be linked to detectable spinal cord anomalies ascertained through DTI methodologies., Material and Methods: To study the spinal cord of the patients with post herpetic neuralgia (PHN) using DTI techniques, looking at the fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to compare the parameters of the patients that developed PHN with the parameters of the patients that presented herpes zoster (HZ) but didn't present secondary neuralgia. Fifteen patients (two male and thirteen female) were studied. Ten patients presented PHN: nine female and one male; age from 54y to 83y (mean = 72,2). Five patients had HZ without chronic pain: four female and one male with age from 34y to 81y (mean = 60,8)., Results: For ADC, we found higher values among the patients, significant differences in C5, T8, and T9 levels. For FA, we found lower values among the patients, significant differences in T7, T8, and T9 levels. On ROC curves, we identified that D8 was the single level with significant area under the curve (AUC) for discriminating patients with pain. For ADC, the AUC was 0.960 (95 %CI 0.865-1.000), p = 0.005. For FA, the AUC was 0.920 (95 %CI 0.764-1.000), p = 0.010. The cutoff value for pain on ADC was 2455.08, with a sensibility of 90 % and specificity of 100 %. For FA, the cutoff value for not having pain was 395.05, with sensibility of 100 %, and specificity of 90 %., Conclusion: This investigation highlights the potential for DTI parameters, specifically FA and ADC, to provide insight into the microstructural changes associated with PHN in patients following herpes zoster infection. Future research should continue to explore the implications of these findings in larger cohorts to further elucidate the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain in this population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim was to investigate the effects of different volumes of strength training (ST) in association with photobiomodulation (PBMt) in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) on insulin resistance (IR). Male Swiss albino mice were fed HFD and performed high- or low-volume (one-third) ST (3 days/week), associated with PBMt (660 nm + 850 nm; ~42 J delivered) or not (lights off). ST improved IR, lowered visceral adiposity and circulating cytokines, and increased skeletal muscle hypertrophy and mitochondrial activity. The smaller volume of ST did not interfere with the improvement in IR, mitochondrial activity, or inflammatory profile, but exerted a smaller effect on visceral adiposity and skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Association with PBMt further improved IR, regardless of ST volume, although it did not affect adiposity, mitochondrial activity, and the inflammatory profile. Interestingly, PBMt positively affected quadriceps, but attenuated gluteus maximus hypertrophy. The association with PBMt induced greater improvement than ST alone., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The complexity of the gastrointestinal system plays a crucial role in coordinating essential processes such as digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination. inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) pose significant treatment challenges due to their complex aetiology and varied symptoms. Conventional therapeutic approaches often involve pharmacological interventions, which may have side effects and limited efficacy. Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low-level light therapy, has emerged as a promising therapeutic or adjunctive alternative in the treatment of intestinal diseases. The search was conducted in the MEDLINE database via PubMed, SCOPUS, covering the period from 1990 to 2024. A total of 72 studies were selected, of which 9 focused on inflammatory bowel diseases IBD, including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Among these studies, 1 was clinical protocol while eight experimental. The results showed that PBM has a significant positive effect in IBD studies in rats, with reduction of intestinal inflammation, improvement of mucosal integrity, and modulation of the immune response. However, no clinical studies were found necessary to obtain results and establish effective and safe treatment protocols. Nevertheless, PBM holds potential as a non-invasive and complementary therapeutic approach for managing IBD, offering new perspectives for the treatment of chronic intestinal diseases. Therefore, this brief review emphasizes the need to transition from preclinical research to clinical research on this topic and highlights the scarcity of clinical studies., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background/objectives: The oral administration of hydrolyzed collagen peptides is a scientifically validated intervention for enhancing skeletal muscle health and performance. This integrative review consolidates the evidence supporting the use of low molecular weight collagen peptides (2000-3500 daltons) for their superior bioavailability and absorption. Our objective was to review the effects of collagen peptide or hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on muscle damage, recovery, and construction related to physical exercise., Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted in major English-language databases, including PubMed/Medline, using terms like "Peptides Collagen and Damage" and "collagen peptides AND Soreness Muscle". This review followed PRISMA guidelines, with bias risk assessed via the PEDro scale. The inclusion criteria were (a) randomized clinical trials, (b) randomized studies in humans with a control or placebo group, (c) studies assessing muscle damage or delayed onset muscle soreness via physiological markers or strength performance tests, and (d) studies using hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides., Results: Initially, 752 articles were identified. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, including duplicate removal, eight articles with 286 participants were included. Of these, 130 participants received collagen peptide supplementation, while 171 received a placebo or control., Conclusion: This integrative review supports the potential of collagen peptide supplementation to mitigate muscle stress from acute strenuous resistance training. However, due to the methodological heterogeneity among the studies, further clinical trials are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying muscle improvement with collagen supplementation.

Background: The drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) is a condition clinically and pathologically similar to sarcoidosis but is induced by certain drugs. A few cases of DISR associated with the use of TNF-α antagonists have been reported in the literature., Case Report: A 49-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease under treatment with adalimumab presented with a 2-month-long ulcerated swelling in the left lower fornix. Histological analysis of the biopsy specimen revealed multiple non-caseating granulomas multinucleated cells and epithelioid macrophages surrounded by lymphocytes. The lesion is under symptomatic control with a topical corticosteroid, and the patient is being monitored for manifestation in other organs and systems., Conclusion: Lesions of DISR may occur isolated in the oral mucosa. Therefore, this complication must be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral granulomatous lesions in patients under treatment with anti-TNF-α drugs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there is no potential conflict of interest regarding this work., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the performance of ChatGPT in the differential diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases., Methods: Thirty-seven oral and maxillofacial lesions findings were presented to ChatGPT-3.5 and - 4, 18 dental surgeons trained in oral medicine/pathology (OMP), 23 general dental surgeons (DDS), and 16 dental students (DS) for differential diagnosis. Additionally, a group of 15 general dentists was asked to describe 11 cases to ChatGPT versions. The ChatGPT-3.5, -4, and human primary and alternative diagnoses were rated by 2 independent investigators with a 4 Likert-Scale. The consistency of ChatGPT-3.5 and - 4 was evaluated with regenerated inputs., Results: Moderate consistency of outputs was observed for ChatGPT-3.5 and - 4 to provide primary (κ = 0.532 and κ = 0.533 respectively) and alternative (κ = 0.337 and κ = 0.367 respectively) hypotheses. The mean of correct diagnoses was 64.86% for ChatGPT-3.5, 80.18% for ChatGPT-4, 86.64% for OMP, 24.32% for DDS, and 16.67% for DS. The mean correct primary hypothesis rates were 45.95% for ChatGPT-3.5, 61.80% for ChatGPT-4, 82.28% for OMP, 22.72% for DDS, and 15.77% for DS. The mean correct diagnosis rate for ChatGPT-3.5 with standard descriptions was 64.86%, compared to 45.95% with participants' descriptions. For ChatGPT-4, the mean was 80.18% with standard descriptions and 61.80% with participant descriptions., Conclusion: ChatGPT-4 demonstrates an accuracy comparable to specialists to provide differential diagnosis for oral and maxillofacial diseases. Consistency of ChatGPT to provide diagnostic hypotheses for oral diseases cases is moderate, representing a weakness for clinical application. The quality of case documentation and descriptions impacts significantly on the performance of ChatGPT., Clinical Relevance: General dentists, dental students and specialists in oral medicine and pathology may benefit from ChatGPT-4 as an auxiliary method to define differential diagnosis for oral and maxillofacial lesions, but its accuracy is dependent on precise case descriptions., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Neutrophilic asthma is generally defined by poorly controlled symptoms and high levels of neutrophils in the lungs. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are proposed as nonpharmacological therapy for allergic asthma, but their impact on the neutrophilic asthma lacks evidence. SCFAs regulate immune cell responses and impact the inflammasome NLRP3, a potential pharmacological target for neutrophilic asthma. Here, we explored the capacity of SCFAs to mitigate murine-induced neutrophilic asthma and the contribution of NLRP3 to this asthma. The objective of this study is to analyze whether SCFAs can attenuate lung inflammation and tissue remodeling in murine neutrophilic asthma and NLRP3 contribution to this endotype. Wild-type (WT) C57BL6 mice orotracheally received 10 μg of HDM (house dust mite) in 80 μL of saline on days 0, 6-10. To explore SCFAs, each HDM group received 200 mM acetate, propionate, or butyrate. To explore NLRP3, Nlrp3 KO mice received the same protocol of HDM. On the 14th day, after euthanasia, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs were collected to evaluate cellularity, inflammatory cytokines, and tissue remodeling. HDM group had increased BALF neutrophil influx, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17A, collagen deposition, and mucus secretion compared to control. SCFAs distinctively attenuate lung inflammation. Only features of tissue remodeling were Nlrp3-dependent such as collagen deposition, mucus secretion, active TGF-β cytokine, and IMs CD206 + . SCFAs greatly decreased inflammatory cytokines and tissue remodeling. Only tissue remodeling was dependent on NLRP3. It reveals the potential of SCFAs to act as an additional therapy to mitigate neutrophilic asthma and the NLRP3 contribution to asthma., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Post-stroke sequelae includes loss functions, such as cognitive and sensory-motor which lead to emotional and social problems, reducing quality of life and well-being. The main aim of our study was to investigate the effects of transcranial laser photobiomodulation together with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in post-stroke patients. We performed a clinical trial and an ex vivo study. For the clinical trial, hemiplegic patients were separated into two groups: Treated Group (TG): Hemiplegics treated with transcranial laser (on) associated with NMES (on) and; Placebo Group (PG): Hemiplegics treated with placebo transcranial laser (off) associated with NMES (on). The cluster prototype includes 12 diode laser beams (4 × 660 nm, 4 × 808 nm and 4 × 980 nm) with average power of 720 mW per cluster applied during one minute, leading to 43.2 J energy per cluster. Fifteen regions for all head were irradiated by cluster, leading to 648 J energy per session. The parameters of NMES of the paretic limbs to generate extension wrist and ankle dorsiflexion were symmetrical biphasic rectangular waveforms, 50 Hz frequency, 250 μs pulse duration, and adjustable intensity to maintain the maximum range of motion (amplitude between 0 and 150 mA). Our clinical trial showed improvement of cognitive function, pain relief, greater manual dexterity, enhancement of physical and social-emotional health which lead to better quality of life and well-being. There was also increased temperature in the treated regions with laser and NMES. For the ex vivo study, the distribution of infrared and red radiation after penetration through the cranium and hemihead of cadavers were showed. Therefore, transcranial laser photobiomodulation associated with NMES can be an important therapeutic resource for rehabilitation after stroke., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Activation of endothelial small conductance calcium-activated K+ channels (KCa2.3) and intermediate conductance calcium-activated K+ channels (KCa3.1) leads to vascular relaxation. We found endothelial KCa2.3 down-regulation in the corpus cavernosum diminishes erectile function., Aim: We hypothesized that in type-2 diabetic mice, the function of KCa2.3 and KCa1.1 channels is impaired in erectile tissue., Methods: Erectile function was measured, and corpus cavernosum strips were mounted for functional studies and processed for qPCR and immunoblotting., Outcomes: Effects of type 2 diabetes on erectile function, expression and function of calcium-activated potassium channels., Results: In anesthetized diabetic db/db mice, erectile function was markedly decreased compared to non-diabetic heterozygous db/+ mice, and the impairment was even more pronounced compared to normal C57BL/6 mice. qPCR revealed KCa2.3 and KCa1.1α channel expressions were upregulated in corpus cavernosum from db/db mice. Immunoblotting showed down-regulation of KCa2.3 channels in the corpus cavernosum from db/db mice. Acetylcholine relaxations were impaired while relaxations induced by the nitric oxide, donor SNP were unaltered in corpus cavernosum from db/db compared to C57BL/6 and db/+ mice. Apamin, a blocker of KCa2 channels, inhibited acetylcholine relaxation in corpus cavernosum from all experimental groups. In the presence of apamin, acetylcholine relaxation was markedly decreased in corpus cavernosum from db/db vs C57BL/6 and db/+ mice. An opener of KCa2 and KCa3.1 channels, NS309, potentiated acetylcholine relaxations in corpus cavernosum from db/+ and db/db mice. Iberiotoxin, a blocker of KCa1.1 channels, inhibited acetylcholine relaxation in corpus cavernosum from db/+ mice, while there was no effect in tissue from db/db mice., Clinical Translation: Erectile function in diabetic db/db mice was severely affected compared to heterozygous and control mice, findings suggesting the non-diabetic db/+ and diabetic db/db mice for translational purpose can be used for drug testing on, respectively, moderate and severe erectile dysfunction. The altered expressions and impaired acetylcholine relaxation in the presence of apamin compared to C57BL/6 mice may suggest decreased KCa1.1 channel function may underpin impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation and erectile dysfunction in diabetic db/db mice., Strengths & Limitations: The present study provides a mouse model for type 2 diabetes to test moderate and severe erectile dysfunction drugs. Decreased KCa1.1 channel function contributes to erectile dysfunction, and it is a limitation that it is not supported by electrophysiological measurements., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the contribution of iberiotoxin-sensitive KCa1.1 channels to relaxation is reduced in the corpus cavernosum, while apamin-sensitive KCa2.3 channels appear upregulated. The impaired KCa1.1 channel function may contribute to the impaired erectile function in diabetic db/db mice., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: One of the authors is Chief Scientific Officer and owner of shares in a biotech company, outside the submitted work. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2022, International Society for Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Symptoms of psychological distress and disorder have been widely reported in people under quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic; in addition to severe disruption of peoples' daily activity and sleep patterns. This study investigates the association between physical-activity levels and sleep patterns in quarantined individuals. An international Google online survey was launched in April 6 th , 2020 for 12-weeks. Forty-one research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western-Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, which was made available in 14 languages. The survey was presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" the confinement period. Participants responded to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. 5056 replies (59.4% female), from Europe (46.4%), Western-Asia (25.4%), America (14.8%) and North-Africa (13.3%) were analysed. The COVID-19 home confinement led to impaired sleep quality, as evidenced by the increase in the global PSQI score (4.37 ± 2.71 before home confinement vs. 5.32 ± 3.23 during home confinement) (p < 0.001). The frequency of individuals experiencing a good sleep decreased from 61% (n = 3063) before home confinement to 48% (n = 2405) during home confinement with highly active individuals experienced better sleep quality (p < 0.001) in both conditions. Time spent engaged in all physical-activity and the metabolic equivalent of task in each physical-activity category (i.e., vigorous, moderate, walking) decreased significantly during COVID-19 home confinement (p < 0.001). The number of hours of daily-sitting increased by ~2 hours/days during home confinement (p < 0.001). COVID-19 home confinement resulted in significantly negative alterations in sleep patterns and physical-activity levels. To maintain health during home confinement, physical-activity promotion and sleep hygiene education and support are strongly warranted., Competing Interests: All authors declare: no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years, no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © Biology of Sport 2021.)

Although recognised as effective measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and self-isolation have been suggested to generate a burden throughout the population. To provide scientific data to help identify risk factors for the psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 outbreak, an international cross-disciplinary online survey was circulated in April 2020. This report outlines the mental, emotional and behavioural consequences of COVID-19 home confinement. The ECLB-COVID19 electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists, following a structured review of the literature. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform and was promoted by thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North Africa, Western Asia and the Americas. Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" the confinement period. 1047 replies (54% women) from Western Asia (36%), North Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other continents (3%) were analysed. The COVID-19 home confinement evoked a negative effect on mental wellbeing and emotional status (P < 0.001; 0.43 ≤ d ≤ 0.65) with a greater proportion of individuals experiencing psychosocial and emotional disorders (+10% to +16.5%). These psychosocial tolls were associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours with a greater proportion of individuals experiencing (i) physical (+15.2%) and social (+71.2%) inactivity, (ii) poor sleep quality (+12.8%), (iii) unhealthy diet behaviours (+10%), and (iv) unemployment (6%). Conversely, participants demonstrated a greater use (+15%) of technology during the confinement period. These findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 home confinement period and provide a clear remit for the urgent implementation of technology-based intervention to foster an Active and Healthy Confinement Lifestyle AHCL)., Competing Interests: All authors declare no competing interest., (Copyright © 2020 Termedia.)

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) results in progressive destruction of the jawbones, and advanced cases demand surgical intervention. The total removal of necrotic bone is required to prevent recurrence and infection. However, determining the limits between necrotic and healthy bone is a challenge. The use of fluorescence to detect tissue alterations and determine necrosis extension is a promising method to avoid inadequate bone debridement. In the literature, there are several studies and reported cases that successfully use fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) of MRONJ. The objective of this study was to present a critical review of the literature regarding the intraoperative use of optic fluorescence to differentiate healthy and necrotic bone in MRONJ. Studies that evaluated the intraoperative use of optic fluorescence to determine the surgical margins of MRONJ were searched in Pubmed/Medline and Scopus databases using the following terms: "medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws" and "fluorescence". Eighteen papers describing the intraoperative use of FGS in ONJ management were selected, totalizing 218 patients. Of those 18 papers, only 5 were prospective studies, and the other 13 were isolated case reports, case series, and technical notes. The use of FGS to delimitate the resection margin of MRONJ is a promising method. There is no need for the application of exogenous fluorophore to perform FGS and the most often used light device was the VELScope® system. Further prospective studies with larger samples are still required to ascertain the fluorescence validity as a supporting method in MRONJ surgical treatment and to establish clinical protocols., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this research is to verify the yeast species isolated from oral mucosa in street mixed-breed dogs and to determine the antifungal profiles. After capturing and sedating the animals, oral mucosa samples were collected from fifty dogs and the materials were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol. Forty-three yeast strains were isolated and identified trough the API-20C AUX method. Thirty-seven (86.1%) of the yeasts belonged to genus Candida, five (11.6%) to genus Trichosporon and only one strain (2.3%) to genus Malassezia. The sensitivity profiles to anifungals (amphotericin B, itraconanole, ketoconazole, fluconazole and variconazole) were determined through Etest® method. This study found resistance of some yeasts to amphotericin B and a good susceptibility to voriconazole and ketoconazole. Some of these antifungals are used in veterinary medical practice. This research is the first investigation on street mixed-breed dogs regarding yeast identifications and antifungals profiles., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

This theoretical paper depicts the clinics of work as a subdisciplinary and interdisciplinary field of the social psychology of work and organizations, interested in analyzing and intervening from a critical-clinical perspective in the subjectivity-work-context relationship, in the context of discomfort, suffering, and pleasure, and thus, in the mental health within this field. Consequently, it separates from traditional occupational health, which ignores subjective singularities. The subdiscipline of CW develops the determinants of pleasure, discomfort, and suffering at work, standing out in the process as a possible alternative of occupational health, based on research practice and intervention from a critical perspective.

The objectives were to evaluate the effects of two non-fibrous carbohydrate sources and the rate of body weight gain on puberty status in ewe lambs. Sixty ewe lambs (½ Dorper × ½ Santa Ines) with an initial body weight of 25.1 ± 4.1 kg and 102.8 ± 1.5 days old were distributed in a randomized complete block design with 10 blocks and 3 treatments. The trial lasted 119 days, in which performance was evaluated on days 28, 56, 84, and 119, and puberty status was every week evaluated by progesterone concentration. The treatments were characterized by the inclusion of different carbohydrate sources in the diets in order for ewe lambs to reach different rates of body weight gain: CORN, total diet containing 46% of corn (% DM); PCP, total diet containing 46% of pelleted citrus pulp (% DM); and HAY, total diet containing 80% of coastcross hay (% DM). The CORN- and PCP-based diets were formulated for an average daily gain (ADG) of 0.200 kg/day and a HAY-based diet for an ADG of 0.100 kg/day. There was an interaction between treatments and experimental periods for dry matter intake (DMI) (P < 0.01), in which lambs in the CORN treatment presented DMI similar to PCP in the first and second periods, but lambs from the PCP treatment presented lower DMI than the CORN treatment in subsequent periods. In all periods, the body weight, average daily gain, and feed efficiency of CORN lambs were similar to PCP lambs, but higher than HAY lambs. The age at puberty was not affected by treatments; however, lambs fed with non-fibrous carbohydrate sources reached puberty heavier (P < 0.0001) than lambs from the HAY treatment. Despite the high increase in body weight for lambs fed with non-fibrous carbohydrate sources, it did not affect the age of puberty.

The early diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) is challenging. The use of fluorescence visualization (FV) has been improved as an auxiliary method to early detect alterations in the oral mucosa suggestive of malignancy or pre-malignancy. However, perhaps due to some misinterpretation regarding the clinical purpose of this method, its applicability may have been underestimated. The purpose of this review is to comment on the challenges within the prevention and early diagnosis of OSCC and OPMDs; to contextualize the use of fluorescence-based methods in the diagnosis of human cancers; and to critically analyze the methods and results of studies that evaluated the FV to detect OSCC and OPMDs, and how this method might be applicable in the clinical practice. The current evidence available in the scientific literature indicates that the FV has the potential to improve the early detection of OSCC and OPMDs. Its use in primary healthcare by general practice dentists, oral hygienists, and oral health therapists is recommended, although more research in the population screening scenario is still required., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lichen sclerosus is an uncommon chronic inflammatory disease, which rarely affects the oral mucosa. Here, we describe the occurrence of oral lichen sclerosus with gingival destruction in a 12-year-old female patient. After diagnostic confirmation by histopathology, intralesional injection of corticosteroid was performed, producing satisfactory remission of the lesion., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Scientific literature shows the great potential of fluorescence visualization (FV) in the detection of lesions in the skin and mucosa, though its use has been intermitant. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the detection of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) with and without the use of fluorescence visualization in population screening., Patients and Methods: During a population screening for oral cancer and OPMD, general practice dentists (GPD) performed conventional oral examination (COE) in the first year, and in the second year the FV was inserted in the oral examination. When detecting any suspicious lesion in oral mucosa either by COE or FV, patients were referred for final diagnosis by a specialist in oral medicine. Biopsy was performed in cases of high-risk lesions to confirm the diagnosis, presence of epithelial d (ED), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)., Results: During the oral cancer prevention campaign in the first year, benign neoplasms were the oral lesions with higher diagnosis rate (26.2%), followed by non-neoplastic proliferative processes (23.8%) and potentially malignant disorders (21.4%). During the second year, with the implementation of the use of FV, OPMD were the lesions with higher diagnosis rate (37.7%). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the detection of potentially malignant disorders were respectively equal to 94.4%, 96.2% and 96.1%. The detection of lesions with epithelial dysplasia for these amounts were respectively equal to 100%, 92.4% and 92.6%., Conclusion: FV presented high diagnostic values when used by GPD and improved the detection of OPMD in population screening. FV has potential to be used as an adjunctive method for early diagnosis of oral high-risk lesions., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Galactia glaucescens leaves are popularly used against snakebites in Brazil. The hydroethanolic extract from aerial parts of G. glaucescens (HEGg) was assayed against the neurotoxicity and myotoxicity induced by Bothrops jararacussu venom. A traditional myographic technique was applied for neurotoxicity and the resulting muscles were treated routinely by light microscopy analysis for myotoxicity. Additionally, the antimicrobial potential of HEGg was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, as well as Rutin was isolated for the first time in this specie using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and its antiophidian property was assessed. HEGg totally prevents the neurotoxicity and myotoxicity effects caused by B. jararacussu , but did not show any antimicrobial effect. Concluding, HEGg and Rutin were able to counteract the toxic effects of the venom and confirmed the antiophidian potential, but not antimicrobial, of G. glaucescens as an alternative for neutralization of B. jararacussu venom.

To identify the best low level laser photobiomodulation application site at the same irradiation time to increase the viability of the skin flap in rats. Eighteen male rats (Rattus norvegicus: var. Albinus, Rodentia Mammalia) were randomly distributed into three groups (n = 6). Group I (GI) was submitted to simulated laser photobiomodulation; group II (GII) was submitted to laser photobiomodulation at three points in the flap cranial base, and group III (GIII) was submitted to laser photobiomodulation at 12 points distributed along the flap. All groups were irradiated with an Indium, Galium, Aluminum, and Phosphorus diode laser (InGaAlP), 660 nm, with 50 mW power, irradiated for a total time of 240 s in continuous emission mode. The treatment started immediately after performing the cranial base random skin flap (10 × 4 cm 2 dimension) and reapplied every 24 h, with a total of five applications. The animals were euthanized after the evaluation of the percentage of necrosis area, and the material was collected for histological analysis on the seventh postoperative day. GII animals presented a statistically significant decrease for the necrosis area when compared to the other groups, and a statistically significant increase in the quantification of collagen when compared to the control. We did not observe a statistical difference between the TGFβ and FGF expression in the different groups evaluated. The application of laser photobiomodulation at three points of the flap cranial base was more effective than at 12 points regarding the reduction of necrosis area.

Photodynamic therapy is an alternative form of cancer treatment that meets the desire for a less aggressive approach to the body. It is based on the interaction between a photosensitizer, activating light, and molecular oxygen. This interaction results in a cascade of reactions that leads to localized cell death. Many studies have been conducted to discover an ideal photosensitizer, which aggregates all the desirable characteristics of a potent cell killer and generates minimal side effects. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) implemented in the program Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package, new chlorin derivatives with different functional groups were simulated to evaluate the different absorption wavelengths to permit resonant absorption with the incident laser. Gaussian 09 program was used to determine vibrational wave numbers and Natural Bond Orbitals. The chosen drug with the best characteristics for the photosensitizer was a modified model of the original chlorin, which was called as Thiol chlorin. According to our calculations it is stable and is 19.6% more efficient at optical absorption in 708 nm in comparison to the conventional chlorin e6. Vibrational modes, optical and electronic properties were predicted. In conclusion, this study is an attempt to improve the development of new photosensitizer drugs through computational methods that save time and contribute to decrease the numbers of animals for model application., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

[Purpose] This study aimed to develop and validate an assessment tool for Moiré topogram made specifically with the Shadow Moiré technique of the dorsum. [Subjects and Methods] In the analysis of topograms, frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes of individuals' dorsal were considered. Two instructor evaluators analyzed the topograms at different times in the day and on different days. The measurements of intra- and inter- (intra- and interday) reliability were calculated. [Results] Of the three planes analyzed, in all analyses, good (0.61 to 0.80) and/or excellent (0.81 to 1) concordances were observed. [Conclusion] This analysis framework can be recommended to evaluate the topograms obtained with SMT.

Intra and inter-cellular calcium signaling is present in all types of cells and body tissues. In the human brain, calcium currents and waves are related to mental activities, including emotions. We present a theoretical interpretation of these phenomena suggesting their involvement in chronic emotional patterns and in the pathology of cancer. Recent developments on biophysics, translational biology and psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology (PNEI) can support explanatory hypotheses about the link between emotional stresses and the origin and development of different types of tumor cells. Chronic stresses may cause perturbations of rhythms of the PNEI system, excessive activation of HPA axis and abnormal activation of calcium signals in somatic tissues, with deleterious effects on different parts of the body. The increasing of calcium signaling inside cells may lead to a deregulation of different pathways and epigenetic systems that promote the production of genomic mutations in a second phase. In particular, the hyperactivation of the transcription nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB), if is not counterbalanced by the following activation of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NFE2L2 or Nrf2), increases the production of oxidative catabolites, as the advanced glycation end products (AGE), which play a key role in the progression of different types of cancer and other degenerative diseases. Cortisol binding to glucocorticoid receptor (GR) reduces the activity of both NF-κB and Nrf2 inside the cells but inhibits the cellular immunity and the anabolic processes of tissue regeneration. The tissue atrophy and the defective anti-ageing mechanisms promotes the tumoral cells growth and their escape from the immune-surveillance.

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a metabolic bone illness that may complicate celiac disease (CD). It can lead to devastating consequences because of low bone mass and fragility fractures., Purpose: To study the OP prevalence in a group of Brazilian patients with CD and the value of a gluten free diet (GFD)., Methods: Retrospective study of celiac female patients from a single University Center followed with bone densitometries. Results from densitometry made at first visit were compared with a second study after a median time of 5 years. During this period, patients were submitted to a GFD according to orientations from special program training. Calcium and vitamin D were prescribed to those patients who did not reach the minimal daily requirement through diet., Results: Forty-one celiac female patients, mean age 46.1 ± 14.8 years, were included. The prevalence of osteopenia at first visit was 56.1% and that of osteoporosis 29.2%. Osteoporosis was associated with longer disease duration (p = 0.01). The second densitometry was performed in a median time of 5 years (range 1 to 13 years) and disclosed 58.9% osteopenia and 28.2% osteoporosis. The GFD improved bone mass, mainly at (of) spine (comparison of T score with p = 0.03 and of bone mass in g/cm2 with p = 0.02), but it was not sufficient to reduce the number of osteopenic (p = 0.9) and osteoporotic patients (p = 0.4). During the follow up period 25% of osteoporotic patients developed low impact fractures., Conclusion: Bone health is notably impaired at baseline in CD patients, especially in those with a diagnostic delay. A GFD modestly improved bone mass density with low impact fractures occurring in one third of patients during the follow up period.

Background: The chronic use of steroid hormones can lead to alterations in the lipid profile such as an increase in LDL and decrease in HDL levels . The effect of flaxseed on lipid profiles has been widely investigated., Aim: Evaluate the lipid profile of adult male Wistar rats fed with flax based meals and submitted to androgenic hyperstimulation., Material and Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals: the Control group (CG); Flax group (FG) fed a flaxseed flour-based meal; Induced group (IG); and the Induced group (IGF) that was fed a flaxseed flour-based meal. The induction was done by using silicone pellets filled with testosterone propionate (1mg), sealed with a surgical adhesive and substituted every 4 weeks., Results: Triglycerides (FG: 71.16 ± 21.95; IG: 99.16 ± 26.00 and IGF: 86.33 ± 27.16 mg/dL) and HDL-cholesterol (FG: 23.05 ± 1.67; IG: 29.06 ± 7.24 and IGF: 26.06 ± 3.56 mg/dL) were significantly lower in the experimental groups. The FG and IGF (41.16 ± 3.97 and 49.66 ± 11.25 mg/dL, respectively) showed significantly lower levels of cholesterol than the other groups(CG: 78,85 ± 11.58 and IG: 70,83 ± 14.85 mg/dL). Regarding LDL levels, the IG showed significantly higher concentrations (21,93 ± 8,84 mg/dL) than the others groups (CG: 7,81 ± 5,37; FG: 3,88 ± 1,32 and IGF: 6,66 ± 7,24 mg/dL)., Conclusions: The flaxseed has a relevant effect on the lipid profile of animals submitted to androgenic hyperstimulation., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the modification effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on the association between acute exposure to particulate matter less than 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) and mortality in Bogota, Colombia., Materials and Methods: A time-series ecological study was conducted (1998-2006). The localities of the cities were stratified using principal components analysis, creating three levels of aggregation that allowed for the evaluation of the impact of SES on the relationship between mortality and air pollution., Results: For all ages, the change in the mortality risk for all causes was 0.76% (95%CI 0.27-1.26) for SES I (low), 0.58% (95%CI 0.16-1.00) for SES II (mid) and -0.29% (95%CI -1.16-0.57) for SES III (high) per 10µg/m³ increment in the daily average of PM10 on day of death., Conclusions: The results suggest that SES significantly modifies the effect of environmental exposure to PM10 on mortality from all causes and respiratory causes.

Objective: To analyze the association between daily mortality from different causes and acute exposure to particulate matter less than 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), in Bogota, Colombia., Materials and Methods: A time-series ecological study was conducted from 1998 to 2006. The association between mortality (due to different causes) and exposure was analyzed using single and distributed lag models and adjusting for potential confounders., Results: For all ages, the cumulative effect of acute mortality from all causes and respiratory causes increased 0.71% (95%CI 0.46-0.96) and 1.43% (95%CI 0.85-2.00), respectively, per 10µg/m³ increment in daily average PM10 with a lag of three days before death. Cumulative effect of mortality from cardiovascular causes was -0.03% (95%CI -0.49-0.44%) with the same lag., Conclusions: The results suggest an association between an increase in PM10 concentrations and acute mortality from all causes and respiratory causes.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate echocardiography-based indices of myocardial function and markers of vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in the early phases of severe sepsis., Material and Methods: Forty-five adult patients (67% women; age 51 ± 18 years; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System II score, 23 ± 7) admitted to the intensive care unit up to 24 hours after fulfilling criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock were studied. Clinical, laboratorial (endothelin 1 [ET1], vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1), and echocardiographic data were collected within the first 24 hours and again 72 hours and 7 days after admission., Results: Intrahospital mortality was 33% (15 deaths). Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (LV ejection fraction <55%) was identified in 15 (33%) patients, whereas right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (RV tissue Doppler peak systolic velocity [RV-Sm] <12 cm/s) was present in 14 (30%) patients. LogET1 was increased in patients with LV dysfunction (2.3 ± 0.6 vs 1.8 ± 0.4 pg/mL; P = .01) and RV dysfunction (2.5 ± 0.5 vs 1.8 ± 0.4 pg/mL; P < .001) and had negative correlations with LV ejection fraction (r = -0.50; P = .002) and RV-Sm (r = -0.67; P < .001). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, RV-Sm, and diastolic dysfunction were able to discriminate survivors from nonsurvivors, and the combination of these parameters identified groups of very low and high risk., Conclusion: Both LV and RV systolic dysfunctions are prevalent in severe sepsis, being directly associated with markers of endothelial dysfunction. Left ventricular nondilation, RV dysfunction, and diastolic dysfunction seem related to poor prognosis in this scenario., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The association of gender with health status (HS) response to long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in very severe COPD is unclear. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare dyspnea perception and HS between male and female with very severe COPD at baseline and (2) to provide a prospective assessment of HS response to LTOT, according to gender., Patients and Methods: Hypoxemic COPD (n = 97, age: 65.5 ± 9.6 years, 53% males) were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study over 12 months or until death. St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and baseline dyspnea index (BDI) were assessed., Results: At baseline, HS impairment and dyspnea sensation were similar between genders. After 12 months of LTOT, women presented improvement in symptom (64.1 ± 20.6 versus 40.6 ± 22.9; P < 0.0001) and total SGRQ scores. Men also showed improvement in symptoms after 12 months (62.7 ± 23.3 versus 49.6 ± 22.8; P < 0.0005); however, they presented deterioration of activity, impact and total scores during the study period, with markedly decline of activity domain (68.5 ± 20.0 versus 75.9 ± 16.9; P = 0.008). BDI did not show significant difference by gender over the study period., Conclusions: Our results show that the HS course in very severe COPD patients differs according to gender, as females show greater response longitudinally to LTOT., (Copyright © 2010 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

The use of medicines during pregnancy deserves special attention from dentists due to the potential risks to fetal development. The prescription of antimicrobial drugs during this period must be based not only on the etiology of the disease but also on the drug's effect on the embryo, which may be toxic, possibly leading to irreversible lesions. Interest in studies of the teratogenic effects of drugs increased in response to reports of the high incidence of phocomelia in patients treated with thalidomide. Although teratogenicity has long been known, pregnant women today are still exposed to this risk. The effects of drugs depend on the level of susceptibility of the fetus and on the period of exposure during pregnancy. In this context, and considering the paucity of studies on this subject in dentistry, the aim of this review was to offer an up-to-date compilation of data on the antimicrobial drugs most frequently used during pregnancy and the effects of their use.

This study aimed to: survey the number of nursing theses and dissertations produced between 1975 and 2001 with a social representation approach (RS); characterize the products with regard to the institution of origin, country region, study subjects and representation objects; to group in to theme categories and research lines in nursing. The data were collected from the Center of Studies and Research in Nursing at the Brazilian Nursing Association. The result evidenced 131 studies with RS support, originated in 1990, with higher production in the year 2000, mainly in the South East (83.1%). It registered 145 subjects; the most common objects are "disease", "health-disease process", "nurses' professional practice" and "care delivery". In the thematic categorization, the care area joins the greatest quantity of studies. In short, nursing has been seeking to appropriate itself of this theoretical-methodological framework as the basis and guide for part of its knowledge production.

This descriptive, exploratory, retrospective survey, carried out at a family planning service, aimed to identify nursing phenomena during nursing visits according to the ICNP, Beta version 2. Data were collected based on 52 records of nursing visits, realized from October 2001 to December 2002. To conduct the cross-mapping process, all identified nursing phenomena were joined, organized and compared according to the ICNP's terms. Of the 51 identified nursing phenomena/diagnoses, 46 (90.2%) showed exact and partial concordance. The identified nursing phenomena can be used to assist nurses to provide care for clients in family planning services. The ICNP showed to be a comprehensive program, although some terms need to be reviewed and others enhanced. However, considering that it is an international classification applicable to several countries, the mapping process and cross-references were very satisfactory.

The tuberculostatic drug rifampicin has been described as a scavenger of reactive species. Additionally, the recent demonstration that oral therapy with a complex of rifampicin and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was more effective than rifampicin alone, in an animal model of experimental leprosy, suggested the importance of redox reactions involving rifampicin and their relevance to the mechanism of action. Hence, we studied the oxidation of rifampicin catalyzed by HRP, since this enzyme may represent the prototype of peroxidation-mediated reactions. We found that the antibiotic is efficiently oxidized and that rifampicin-quinone is the product, in a reaction dependent on both HRP and hydrogen peroxide. The steady-state kinetic constants Km(app) (101+/-23 micromol/l), Vmax(app) (0.78+/-0.09 micromol/l.s(-1)) and kcat (5.1+/-0.6 s(-1)) were measured (n=4). The reaction rate was increased by the addition of co-substrates such as tetramethylbenzidine, salicylic acid, 5-aminosalicylic acid and paracetamol. This effect was explained by invoking an electron-transfer mechanism by which these drugs acted as mediators of rifampicin oxidation. We suggested that this drug interaction might be important at the inflammatory site.

Unlabelled: Changes in nutritional status are important in clinical practice because they relate to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Studies about nutritional problems in hospitalized adults have been reported since the 1970s. The prevalence of malnutrition has varied from 10 to 70%, depending on the diagnostic criteria used. The hospital studied and the duration of admission., Aim: To assess, in the first day of hospital stay, the nutritional status of adults admitted to undergo elective surgery in a public hospital of the State of Acre, Amazon Region, Brazil., Study Design: Sectional study from April 7 to May 22, 2002., Patients and Methods: 155 consecutive nutritional evaluations were performed using several parameters-global subjective assessment (GSA), anthropometric measurement and some laboratory tests. For the diagnosis of malnutrition the Index Suggestive of Malnutrition (ISM), as proposed by Waitzberg, was adopted. In the evaluation of obesity the BMI (Body Mass Index), with cutoffs suggested by WHO was used., Results: 75.2% were women. Average age was 34.4 +/- 10.1 years. Mulatto (63.1%) was the prevailing racial group. Gynecological (43.6%) was the most frequent surgery. ISM disclosed a 12.1% prevalence of malnutrition. BMI classified 2.0% of the patients as grade I overweight and 15.4% as being obese. Among 76 patients classified as normal by BMI, 15 (19.7%) were considered malnourished by ISM criteria. Concordance between ISM and BMI was weak (k = 0.07). GSA classified 100% of the cases as well nourished., Conclusion: Lack of a golden standard to make the diagnosis of changes in nutritional status has been one of the determinants of the wide variations observed in the pertinent literature and it has hindered valid comparisons. The present study suggests that BMI should be used as an indicator of proportion and not of nutritional status. GSA underestimates the diagnosis of malnutrition. This paper concludes that establishing uniform standards for diagnostic criteria for malnutrition is urgently required and suggests preferring IMS (Index Suggestive of Malnutrition) because of its easy use, low coast and high sensitivity.

Spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 were developed at 62 degrees C on 32 media composed of various amounts of 11 components: D-glucose, L-glutamic acid, yeast extract, peptone, sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, potassium phosphate, calcium chloride, ferrous sulfate and manganese sulfate. Statistical models were used and demonstrated a strong interaction of yeast/peptone/ammonium phosphate, contributing positively to the best sporulation yield (6-7 log10 spores). The most influential medium components on the thermal resistance (at 121 degrees C) of spores in suspension (calcium acetate, pH 9.7) were yeast extract (positively) and potassium phosphate (negatively), both creating the positive interaction, for spores from a 6-day incubation period. However, the strong negative effect of sodium chloride decreased the D-value from 1.81 min to 0.57 min upon increasing the incubation period (62 degrees C) from 3 days to 6 days. The D-glucose and peptone exhibited greater effects than the yeast extract and potassium phosphate interaction on D-values for 3-day spores on strip, just as the highly joint-positive peptone/sodium chloride effect maintained the thermal resistance of 6-day spores on strips. The spores on strip system showed less stability than the spores in suspension. The most stable spore system confirmed D-values at 121 degrees C at a range between 1.5 min and 1.9 min, which were obtained by keeping sodium chloride and potassium phosphate at minimum concentrations and yeast extract and peptone at maximum concentrations, regardless of the 3- to 6-day sporulation.

Objectives: To determine the microbial load found on used critical medical devices (5 spinal anesthesia needles, 21 catheters, and 28 sheaths) prior to sterilization and to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide gas plasma against inoculated Bacillus subtilis var globigii (American Type Culture Collection 9372) spores., Methods: Membrane filter and pour-plate methods were applied to estimate total microbial loads (aerobic and anaerobic, mesophilic and thermophilic, vegetative and spore forms). Spinal anesthesia needles (102 units) and sheath components (61 units) were inoculated with a suspension of B. subtilis spores. After drying, the devices were sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas plasma., Results: Higher counts of aerobic, mesophilic, and fungal organisms were recovered when the drying period was insufficient. Anaerobic spores were not found in any analyzed presterilization items. The hydrogen peroxide gas plasma effected a 5 to 7 log10-fold reduction in B. subtilis spore counts in well-dried needles and sheath components., Conclusions: The success of hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization depends mostly on educating the staff to assure well-cleaned and dried reusable medical devices, allowing penetration of the hydrogen peroxide gas plasma into the critical points of the items and providing a reduction in organisms.