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Effective strategies in prolonging life- and health span are increasingly recognized as acting as mild stressors. Micronutrients and other dietary compounds such as (poly)phenols may act as moderate stressors and confer protective effects

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease, but disease-modifying or preventive treatments are lacking. Physical activity is a modifiable factor that decreases the PD risk and improves motor symptoms in PD. Understanding which dimensions of gait performance correlate with physical activity in PD can have important pathophysiological and therapeutic implications. Clinical/demographic data together with physical activity levels were collected from thirty-nine PD patients. Gait analysis was performed wearing seven inertial measurement units on the lower body, reconstructing the subjects' lower body motion using 3D kinematic biomechanical models. Higher physical activity scores were significantly correlated with MDS-UPDRS part III scores (r = - 0.58, p value = 9.2 × 10

Resumo: Introdução: O envelhecimento é um acontecimento inerente ao ser humano e traz consigo diversas alterações fisiológicas e também a presença de patologias mais comuns a essa idade. Dentre essas alterações, podem ocorrer alterações na cognição, como o comprometimento cognitivo que pode afetar a funcionalidade e a percepção do paciente em alguns aspectos. Nesse sentido, a dor se apresenta como um sintoma subjetivo em que há certa dificuldade para se obter um relato tão preciso, Essa dificuldade pode ser ainda maior em pacientes com certo comprometimento cognitivo, o que torna o uso das escalas de mensuração da dor importantes para uma precisão maior.Objetivo: Analisar as peculiaridades da avaliação da dor no paciente idoso com algum grau de comprometimento cognitivo.Metodologia: Trata-se de um revisão integrativa realizada nas bases de dados SciELO, PubMed e Google Acadêmico. Os descritores utilizados para busca foram: avaliação AND dor AND idosos AND pacientes geriátricos, demência AND comprometimento cognitivo. Após aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, um total de 10 artigos tornaram-se elegíveis para a revisão.Resultados: Os estudos relatam que não há correlação direta entre a idade e a avaliação da dor. No entanto, o comprometimento cognitivo costuma ser um obstáculo para a sensibilidade dolorosa e sua qualificação. Assim, as escalas de avaliação da dor se mostraram ótimos instrumentos para contornar essas dificuldades e realizar uma avaliação minuciosa e eficaz.Considerações finais: Concluiu-se que o diagnóstico e a avaliação da dor em idosos com comprometimento cognitivo é dificultada devido às limitações dos pacientes em conseguir graduar a dor e, por isso, se faz necessária a utilização de recursos que contribuam para a melhor avaliação do quadro.

How much do schools differ in their effectiveness? Recent studies that seek to answer this question account for student sorting using random assignment generated by central allocation mechanisms or oversubscribed schools. However, the resulting estimates, while causal, may also reflect peer effects due to differences in peer quality of non-randomized students. We exploit universal random assignment of students to high schools in certain areas of South Korea to provide estimates of school effects that may better reflect the effects of school practices. We find significant effects of schools on scores in high-stakes college entrance exams: a 1 standard deviation increase in school quality leads to 0.06-0.08 standard deviations higher average academic achievement in Korean and English languages. Analogous estimates from areas of South Korea that do not use random assignment, and therefore include the effects of student sorting and peer effects, are substantially higher.

Objetivo deste trabalho foi fazer um levantamento bibliográfico para estabelecer um protocolo fotográfico aplicado à Harmonização Orofacial, de fácil execução e que seja útil ao cirurgião-dentista, e outros profissionais da área, porém respeitando os princípios básicos da fotografia. Revisão da literatura: Isso é importante, uma vez que, a foto digital é um recurso tecnológico que facilita o registro das imagens de interesse e tem sido bastante utilizada na odontologia. As imagens exercem um papel importante para o planejamento e para o acompanhamento do tratamento, tanto pelo profissional como pelo paciente, e ainda possibilita uma análise comparativa das fases do procedimento. Na Harmonização Orofacial (HOF), a padronização fotográfica é de extrema importância para se observar a evolução e mudanças proporcionadas pelos procedimentos realizados. Concluímos, então que há uma necessidade de se estabelecer uma normatização para o registro fotográfico na HOF, para que esta seja uma forma de documentação que componha o prontuário do paciente e possibilite a utilização das imagens de forma precisa e objetiva, permitindo a análise da evolução dos tratamentos realizados.

This manuscript presents an experimental and modeling approach in order to characterize the stiffness loss of bioabsorbable polymer filaments due to hydrolysis. In this regard, bioabsorbable suture yarns (poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid—PLGA) were chosen as a representative material for the present investigation. The observed mechanical response was characterized by means of a thermodynamically consistent constitutive variational framework. Usually, two different damage variables are assumed to take place in this class of materials: a hydrolytic damage (long-term degradation) and a strain-driven damage (short-term degradation). This work concerns the proposition of a constitutive model that only considers the hydrolytic damage, in which a specific strain energy and a proper dissipation damage potential were tailored to model the tested material. A nonlinear curve fitting procedure based on Particle Swarm Optimization was performed to identify the constitutive parameters. A set of numerical simulations demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed constitutive model to predict damage-induced creep and damage-induced stress relaxation, behaviors that can be used as design criteria in absorbable implants. The main achieved results show that the proposed constitutive approach leads to a simple but effective model capable to drive the first steps in the design of absorbable biomedical devices. The present variational framework can be extended to study the constitutive response of other bioabsorbable polymers, accounting for viscous and/or plastic behaviors.

The generation of free radicals is a physiological event resulting mainly from the cellular respiration process and the overactivation of the NOX leads to an excess production of ROS that is associated with oxidative stress. Chrysobalanus icaco, a medicinal plant that belongs to the Chrysobalanaceae family, possesses a high number of polyphenols, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. Due to its phytochemical composition, this study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of Chrysobalanus icaco (HECi) and the inhibitory potential of its main flavonoids against NOX. The in silico predictions of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), drug-likeness properties, and molecular docking with the enzyme NOX (PDB code 2CDU) were also performed to support the experimental results. The phytochemical screening of the HECi showed the presence of phenols and flavonoids. HECi performed an excellent antioxidant activity (IC50 = 8.1 μg/mL), probably due to its rich phenolic (220.11 ± 0.4 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (110.98 ± 0.37 mg QE/g) constitution. The ADMET prediction indicated that myricetin and quercetin had the best pharmacokinetic parameters. The molecular docking results showed that myricetin and especially quercetin had strong docking score on NOX (ΔG = –8.1 kcal/mol and ΔG = –8.3 kcal/mol, respectively). Frontier Orbital’s analyzes (HOMO and LUMO) suggested that quercetin has better antioxidant properties than myricetin. Our results demonstrate for the first time the in silico action of quercetin against NOX, as well as reiterate the antioxidant potential of C. icaco. La abundante constitución fenólica de Chrysobalanus icaco despierta interés en su uso como antioxidante, ya que los compuestos fenólicos reducen el daño oxidativo. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el potencial antioxidante del extracto hidroalcohólico de las hojas de Chrysobalanus icaco (HECi) y el potencial inhibidor de sus principales flavonoides sobre la NADPH-oxidasa (NOX). Así, se realizaron los siguientes métodos: prospección fitoquímica, perfil cromatográfico, cuantificación de fenoles y flavonoides y ensayo de secuestro de DPPH. Los estudios in silico realizados para los principales flavonoides presentes en C. icaco evaluaron los parámetros ADMET, simulaciones de acoplamiento molecular (código NOX - PDB: 2CDU) y orbitales límite (HOMO y LUMO). El cribado fitoquímico de HECi mostró la presencia de fenoles y flavonoides. HECi mostró una excelente actividad antioxidante (IC50 = 8,1 μg/mL), probablemente debido a su rica constitución fenólica (220,11 ± 0,4 mg GAE/g) y flavonoides (110,98 ± 0,37 mg QE/g). La predicción de ADMET indicó que la miricetina y la quercetina tenían los mejores parámetros farmacocinéticos. Los resultados del acoplamiento molecular mostraron que miricetina y especialmente quercetina se unían fuertemente al NO (ΔG = –8,1 kcal/mol y ΔG = –8,3 kcal/mol, respectivamente). La evaluación de los orbitales límite (HOMO y LUMO) sugirió que la quercetina tiene mejores propiedades antioxidantes que la miricetina. Nuestros resultados demuestran por primera vez la acción in silico de la quercetina contra la NOX, así como reiteran el potencial antioxidante de C. icaco. A geração de radicais livres é um evento fisiológico resultante principalmente do processo de respiração celular e a superativação da NOX leva a um excesso de produção de EROs que está associado ao estresse oxidativo. Chrysobalanus icaco, uma planta medicinal pertencente à família Chrysobalanaceae, possui uma grande quantidade de polifenóis, incluindo ácidos fenólicos e flavonóides. Por isso, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial antioxidante do extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas de Chrysobalanus icaco (HECi) e o potencial inibitório de seus principais flavonoides frente à NOX. As previsões in silico de absorção, distribuição, metabolismo, excreção e toxicidade (ADMET), druglikeness e docagem molecular com a enzima NOX (código PDB 2CDU) também foram realizadas para explicar os resultados experimentais. A triagem fitoquímica do HECi mostrou a presença de fenois e flavonoides. O HECi apresentou excelente atividade antioxidante (IC50 = 8,1 μg/mL), provavelmente devido à sua rica constituição fenólica (220,11 ± 0,4 mg GAE/g) e de flavonoides (110,98 ± 0,37 mg QE/g). A previsão ADMET indicou que a miricetina e a quercetina apresentaram os melhores parâmetros farmacocinéticos. Os resultados de docagem molecular mostraram que a miricetina e especialmente a quercetina ligaram-se fortemente à NOX (ΔG = –8,1 kcal/mol e ΔG = –8,3 kcal/mol, respectivamente). As análises dos orbitais de fronteira (HOMO e LUMO) sugeriram que a quercetina tem melhores propriedades antioxidantes do que a miricetina. Nossos resultados demonstram pela primeira vez a ação in silico da quercetina contra a NOX, bem como reiteram o potencial antioxidante de C. icaco.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most prominent bioresorbable materials, currently used in several medical applications (screws, craniofacial plates etc.). Looking to extend the knowledge about the thermomechanical behavior of bioresorbable medical materials, this research presents a series of experiments and results based on nonhomogeneous compression tests for the polymer PLGA 85/15. Instead of focusing on tensile and bending conditions for compression-molded products, such as usually presented in the literature, attention is given to compression tests and samples machined from injection-molded parts. Additionally, PLGA strain rate sensitivity, which is an issue less discussed in the literature, is analyzed. In the current study, this material is tested by observing the main features related to resorbable medical materials. The effects of a material heat treatment that are associated with PLGA shape-memory properties are investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was also employed in the thermal characterization. A finite element analysis of the compression testing provides a complementary overview of the mechanical behavior of PLGA 85/15. Results indicate that PLGA has a linear rate-insensitive response for small strains but presents a strong rate dependence for strains beyond the material yielding. PLGA shows a remarkable post-yielding strain-softening behavior, with a steep descent slope. Samples present significant mechanical changes after heat treatment at temperatures above $T_{g}$, with reduction of 35% in the material elastic modulus and 30% in the upper-yielding stress and no significant changes for further heat-treatment procedures. DSC analysis confirmed the existence of significant residual stress in PLGA specimens. Mechanical deformation and manly heat treatment seem to reduce this residual stress caused by molecular orientation and rapid solidification. Finally, finite element simulations show that the limit of the homogeneity hypothesis is associated with the yield strain, after which highly non-uniform stresses develop.

Congenital myasthenic syndromes are disorders of the neuromuscular junction resulting from genetic defects in its components. Clinical presentations are diverse and virtually always of early onset. We herein report a 67-year-old female patient first presenting with episodes of sudden respiratory failure. A diagnosis of seronegative myasthenia gravis was put forward based on the presence of a limb-girdle pattern of muscle weakness with pathological decremental responses on repetitive nerve stimulation. Lack of response to steroids, intravenous human immunoglobulin and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors lead us to test for classical congenital myasthenic syndrome genes. A c.1378dup heterozygotic mutation in DOK7 was found, classically (albeit not exclusively) described as pathogenic only when inherited in a homozygotic fashion. Patients with such a single, heterozygous mutation have been previously described, but these have been left unexplained. Thus, under certain still poorly understood circumstances, an heterozygotic state may allow for disease manifestation. These patients may benefit from tailored therapies akin to those normally reserved to homozygotic/compound heterozygotic patients. Awareness for and recognition of such conditions are expected to allow for better provided care and improved quality of life.

Sydenham's chorea is an autoimmune chorea emerging after a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infection, i.e. a rheumatic chorea with or without the presence of carditis or arthritis. The disorder, defined by the presence of chorea, is also associated with cognitive and behavioral symptoms, including emotional lability, anxiety, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The authors review the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, and available evidence on therapeutic strategies, the latter including the secondary prevention of GABHS infections, reduction of chorea, and immune modulation. Sydenham's chorea has been regarded as a model for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders, however, the field is marked by conflicting results and controversies. Regarding therapeutics, there are limited high-quality interventional studies and the selection of treatment strategy often relies on the clinician's experience. A serial treatment algorithm is presented based upon the severity of clinical presentation and response to symptomatic pharmacotherapy.