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Aim: To evaluate the incidence of root dentinal microcracks after two extraction techniques through micro‐computed tomographic (micro‐CT) analysis. Methodology: Thirty pairs of premolars, extracted for orthodontic reasons, were assigned to two experimental groups, following a split‐mouth design (n = 30): traumatic technique group (TTG) – teeth extracted following a conventional protocol using forceps, and an atraumatic technique group (ATG) – teeth extracted following an atraumatic technique protocol in which the root was gently detached from the periodontal ligament using a periotome. All teeth were immediately immersed in distilled water and scanned in a micro‐CT device within 72 h following the extraction. The assessment of the images was completed on cross‐section images by two masked evaluators. The Mann–Whitney test was used to assess the significant differences between the groups regarding the number of cross‐sections displaying microcracks whilst the Fischer's exact test was used to assess differences in the frequency of specimens with defects (P < 0.05). Results: A total of 52 750 micro‐CT cross‐sectional images were evaluated. A total of 352 cross‐sections had at least one dentinal defect. Microcracks were observed in five teeth of the TTG group (n = 352 slices) and in two teeth of the ATG group (n = 103 slices). The statistical analysis used was unable to detect a significant difference between the groups in terms of the number of dentinal microcracks (P = 0.233) and in the frequency of teeth displaying microcracks (P = 0.424). Conclusion: A small number of sound teeth without endodontic treatment had dentinal microcracks regardless of the extraction technique applied. No difference was noticed between the traumatic and atraumatic techniques in the incidence of microcracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algae with nutritional value have great potential for production of algal biomass for addition in products. Bread is one of the most consumed foods and one of the major sources of calories in diets in many countries, it has therefore been the target of many enrichment studies. In this work, conventional breads added with 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% of Cladophora spp. and Ulva spp. macroalgal biomass were developed and evaluated. In the breads with macroalgal biomass, the nutrient composition, caloric value, technological and sensory evaluation were determined. The addition of macroalgal biomass resulted in protein content increase, ranging from 16 to 18% (w.w-1), fibers increase from 1 to 2% (w.w-1) and a decrease of lipids from 17 to 12% (w.w-1). The sensory and technological characteristics changed slightly in relation to the control bread. The results show the potential use macroalgal biomass in the formulation of conventional bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC) from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear to be phenotypically and functionally similar to BM-MSC from healthy sources in vitro, the impact of COPD on MSC metabolism and mitochondrial function has not been evaluated. In this study, we aimed to comparatively characterize MSC from healthy and emphysematous donors (H-MSC and E-MSC) in vitro and to assess therapeutic potential of these MSC and their EV (H-EV and E-EV) in an in vivo model of severe emphysema. C57BL/6 mice received intratracheal porcine pancreatic elastase once weekly for 4 weeks to induce emphysema. Control animals received saline under the same protocol. Twenty-four hours after the last instillation, animals received saline, H-MSC, E-MSC, H-EV or E-EV intravenously. In vitro characterization demonstrated that E-MSC present downregulation of anti-inflammatory (TSG-6, VEGF, TGF-β and HGF) and antioxidant (CAT, SOD, Nrf2 and GSH) genes and their EV had larger median diameter and lower average concentration. Compared to H-MSC, E-MSC mitochondria also exhibited higher respiration rate, were morphologically elongated, expressed less dynamin-related protein-1, and produced more superoxide. When co-cultured with alveolar macrophages, both H-MSC and E-MSC induced an increase in iNOS and arginase-1 levels, but only H-MSC and their EV were able to enhance IL-10 levels. In vivo, emphysematous mice treated with E-MSC or E-EV demonstrated no amelioration in cardiorespiratory dysfunction. On the other hand, H-EVs, but not H-MSCs, improved lung inflammation and morphometry, as well as reduced pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction induced by severe emphysema. Based on these results, we also compared naïve E-MSC and mitocepted E-MSC with H-MSC mitochondria (E-MSCMITO1:1), revealing that E-MSCMITO1:1 exhibited a higher respiration rate, an increase in gene expression of antioxidant mediators (CAT, SOD, Nrf2 and GSH-Px), mitofusin-2 and Miro1 (related to mitochondrial transfer) compared to naïve E-MSC. E-MSC and E-EV were unable to reverse cardiorespiratory dysfunction; however, E-MSC with mitochondrial reinforcement was found to have a more antioxidant profile and appears to benefit mitochondrial transfer more than naive E-MSC, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach that could potentiate the prognosis of autologous transplantation in severe COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf galls induced by a still undescribed new species of Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) are frequent on leaves of Clusia arrudae Planchon & Tirana (Clusiaceae) in the rupestrian fields at 1400 m a.s.l. in Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Galls were 7.1 ± 0.7 mm in diameter, one chambered with only one larva inside. Gall tissue is green and soft. Assessments of photosynthetic capacity using chlorophyll-a fluorescence measurements revealed that photosynthetic performance of gall tissue and healthy leaf tissue were rather similar. Hence, the morphological changes due to gall development were not associated with significant changes in the photosynthetic capacity of the tissue.

Objectives: To investigate the serum levels of VEGF in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of long duration., Methods: Serum VEGF levels were measured in 118 patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis according to the ACR criteria (mean duration 12 years). The disease activity score was evaluated by the method of van der Heijde et al., Results: Serum levels of VEGF in patients with RA were significantly higher than in healthy controls. VEGF levels showed no correlation with CRP, SAA amyloid protein, or the disease activity score., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, contrary to the results reported in patients with early onset RA, where VEGF appears to play an active part in joint inflammation, in long-standing RA elevated VEGF serum levels may be an independent marker although its significance remain to be established.