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Objective  To analyze the serum levels of TNF-alpha and its TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 receptors in the blood of patients with low-impact fractures due to osteoporosis, comparing between genders and with healthy patients. Methods  The present study was conducted with a blood sample of 62 patients, divided into patients with osteoporosis and healthy patients. The results were obtained using the ELISA method. Cytokine concentrations were determined based on the absorbance values obtained. Results  Serum TNF-alpha levels were undetectable in female patients, while in males they were found only in one patient, with no significant difference. Similar results were found in the analyses of TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 levels, a significant increase in levels of TNF-alpha receptors in the groups of patients with osteoporosis compared with the control group in both sexes. There was no significant difference between the sexes in the dosage of both receptors within the group with osteoporosis. There was also a positive and significant correlation in the levels of TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 only in women. Conclusion The significant increase in TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 levels in women with osteoporosis suggest that the release and expression of these receptors may be contributing differently to the development of osteoporosis in men and women., Competing Interests: Conflito de Interesses Os autores não têm conflitos de interesse a declarar., (Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge about scoliosis in teachers of municipal public schools., Methods: In total, 126 professionals were interviewed using a standard questionnaire containing issues related to scoliosis., Results: 31% of interviewees did not know what scoliosis is. Of those who knew 89.65% were partially correct about the definition. Of those who claimed to know how the scoliosis diagnosis is made, only 25.58% were completely correct. When questioned about the Adams test, 84.9% did not know it. Among the interviewees, 57.9% answered that it is impossible to identify scoliosis by a simple examination of their students and, off these, 86.3% stated the lack of knowledge about the subject; and 92.1% considered that training for the diagnosis and early identification of scoliosis in students., Conclusion: This study holds social impact since the interviewed teachers were not knowledgeable about the subject and had difficulty in providing a definition of the condition and in how to proceed with the investigation. Continuous education activities and the inclusion of this subject on the curricula of teacher education programs would improve the early diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis, with high success rates. Level of Evidence IV, Economic and Decision Analyses. , Competing Interests: All authors declare no potential conflict of interest related to this article.

Objective  The present study aims to evaluate the influence of hormonal levels of vitamin D, calcitonin, testosterone, estradiol, and parathyroid in patients with fractures attributed to osteoporosis when compared with young patients with fractures resulting from high-impact accidents. Methods  Blood samples were collected from 30 elderly patients with osteoporosis-attributed fractures (T-score ≤ -2.5) (osteoporotic group), and from 30 young patients with fractures resulting from high-impact accidents (control group). Measurement of 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D (Kit Diasorin, Saluggia, Italy), calcitonin (Kit Siemens, Tarrytown, NY, USA), testosterone, estradiol, and parathyroid hormone (Kit Beckman Couter, Indianapolis, IN, United States) was performed using a chemiluminescence technique. Data were inserted into a Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp., Armonk, WA, USA) spreadsheet and analyzed using Statview statistical software. Results showing non-normal distribution were analyzed with nonparametric methods. The Mann-Whitney test was applied for group comparison, and a Spearman test correlated hormonal levels. Statistical significance was set at p  < 0.05. All analyzes compared gender and subjects with and without osteoporosis. Results  Women with osteoporosis had significantly lower levels of estradiol and vitamin D ( p  = 0.047 and p  = 0.0275, respectively). Men with osteoporosis presented significantly higher levels of parathyroid hormone ( p  = 0.0065). There was no significant difference in testosterone and calcitonin levels. Conclusion  Osteoporosis patients presented gender-related hormonal differences. Women had significantly lower levels of estradiol and vitamin D, whereas men had significantly higher parathyroid hormone levels, apparently impacting the disease., Competing Interests: Conflito de Interesses Os não têm conflito de interesses a declarar., (Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

The Binder of SPerm 1 (BSP1) protein is involved in the fertilization and semen cryopreservation processes and is described to be both beneficial and detrimental to sperm. Previously, the relationship of BSP1 with freezability events has not been completely understood. The objective of this work was to determine the differential abundance of the forms of the BSP1 protein in cryopreserved seminal plasma of Bos taurus indicus bulls with different patterns of semen freezability using proteomics. A wide cohort of adult bulls with high genetic value from an artificial insemination center was used as donors of high quality, fresh semen. Nine bulls presenting different patterns of semen freezability were selected. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed differential abundance in a group of seven protein spots in the frozen/thawed seminal plasma from the bulls, ranging from 15 to 17 kDa, with pI values from 4.6 to 5.8. Four of these spots were confirmed to be BSP1 using mass spectrometry, proteomics, biochemical, and computational analysis (Tukey's test at P < 0.05). The protein spot weighing 15.52 ± 0.53 kDa with a pI value of 5.78 ± 0.12 is highlighted by its high abundance in bulls with low semen freezability and its absence in bulls presenting high semen freezability. This is the first report showing that more than two forms of BSP1 are found in the seminal plasma of Nelore adult bulls and not all animals have a similar abundance of each BSP1 form. Different BSP1 forms may be involved in different events of fertilization and the cryopreservation process., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The large consumption of biodegradable films from cassava starch acetate (FCSA) as ingredients in food and pharmaceutical products requires the assessment of the possible toxicity of these products. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of biodegradable film from cassava starch acetate after oral exposure of Wistar rats for 90 days. The amount of food consumed and the body weight were weekly monitored. Blood and urine samples were obtained for the assessment of serum parameters and renal function. Histopathological analyses in target organs were also performed. No evidence of clinical toxicity in hematological, biochemical, or renal parameters in the FCSA-treated animals was found. In addition, relative organ weight and histopathological evaluations did not differ between groups treated with FCSA and control. Data obtained suggest that the subchronic exposure to FCSA does not cause obvious signs of toxicity in Wistar rats, indicating possible safety of this biofilm.

Unlabelled: Many score methods have been created to measure paranasal sinus abnormalities seen under CT scan. Currently, the Lund-Mackay staging system is widely accepted. However, its results may be affected by the development in children., Aim: To assess the precision and accuracy of a new tomography score, called "opacification-development ratio". It translates the percentage of sinus area that is opaque., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was prospectively conducted in patients ranging from 0-18 years of age who underwent CT scan assessment of rhinosinusitis. Two independent radiologists examined each scan twice, using both the Lund system and the ratio herein proposed., Results: The opacification-development ratio reached substantial intra and inter-examiner agreement, similar to the Lund system (Kappa > 0.60). Considering the Lund system as the gold standard, the most accurate cut-off point was approximately 15 (sensitivity and specificity approach 90%). There was a strong linear correlation between the two methods (r > 90)., Conclusions: opacification-development ratio is precise and correlates with the Lund system. A cut-off point set at 15 could be used to call a test positive.