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Objetivo: Analisar o comportamento da força de preensão manual em pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica durante uma sessão de hemodiálise, estratificado por sexo. Métodos: Aplicou-se o teste de força de preensão manual antes da sessão de hemodiálise, com uma hora de tratamento, com duas horas, três horas e quatro horas, além de uma ficha sociodemográfica e de saúde (aplicada antes da sessão de hemodiálise) em 38 pacientes de uma Clínica Renal localizada no Noroeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. As informações obtidas dos ensaios de teste de força de preensão manual foram analisadas por histogramas com representação dos valores médios e desvio-padrão e pelo teste de Mann-Whitney e Wilcoxon em cinco diferentes momentos para cada paciente estudado que estivessem independentes ou ligados, respectivamente. O intervalo de confiança adotado foi de 95% (p≤0,05). Resultados: Evidenciou-se que a força de preensão manual no momento pré-hemodiálise foi significativamente maior nos homens, quando comparados às mulheres e que houve uma redução significativa em todos os momentos do estudo para todos os sujeitos (antes da hemodiálise, após uma hora, duas horas, três horas e quatro horas de tratamento). Esta redução também ocorreu quando os dados foram estratificados por sexo, salienta-se que os homens tiveram valores superiores em todos os momentos. Conclusão: Estes achados mostram que o tratamento hemodialítico interfere negativamente na força de preensão manual de pessoas com insuficiência renal crônica, sendo necessárias estratégias para incremento desta valência física para auxiliar no tratamento e no dia a dia das pessoas em hemodiálise.

The search for an effective etiologic treatment to eliminate Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, has continued for decades and yielded controversial results. In the 1970s, nifurtimox and benznidazole were introduced for clinical assessment, but factors such as parasite resistance, high cellular toxicity, and efficacy in acute and chronic phases of the infection have been debated even today. This study proposes an innovative strategy to support the controlling of the T. cruzi using blue light phototherapy or blue light-emitting diode (LED) intervention. In in vitro assays, axenic cultures of Y and CL strains of T. cruzi were exposed to 460 nm and 40 µW/cm2 of blue light for 5 days (6 h/day), and parasite replication was evaluated daily. For in vivo experiments, C57BL6 mice were infected with the Y strain of T. cruzi and exposed to 460 nm and 7 µW/cm2 of blue light for 9 days (12 h/day). Parasite count in the blood and cardiac tissue was determined, and plasma interleukin (IL-6), tumoral necrosis factor (TNF), chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and IL-10 levels and the morphometry of the cardiac tissue were evaluated. Blue light induced a 50% reduction in T. cruzi (epimastigote forms) replication in vitro after 5 days of exposure. This blue light-mediated parasite control was also observed by the T. cruzi reduction in the blood (trypomastigote forms) and in the cardiac tissue (parasite DNA and amastigote nests) of infected mice. Phototherapy reduced plasma IL-6, TNF and IL-10, but not CCL2, levels in infected animals. This non-chemical therapy reduced the volume density of the heart stroma in the cardiac connective tissue but did not ameliorate the mouse myocarditis, maintaining a predominance of pericellular and perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltration with an increase in polymorphonuclear cells. Together, these data highlight, for the first time, the use of blue light therapy to control circulating and tissue forms of T. cruzi. Further investigation would demonstrate the application of this promising and potential complementary strategy for the treatment of Chagas disease.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is characterized by thickening of the valve leaflets and omega-3 (ω-3) supplementation has been associated with modulation of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate, improvement of doppler echocardiographic indices, antiarrhythmic, anti-inflammatory and anti-dislipidemic effects in dogs and humans, although prospective studies of it single use are still absent in the veterinary literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of ω-3 supplementation in dogs with MMVD. Twenty-nine dogs were followed quarterly for 12 months by clinical evaluation, arterial blood pressure, electrocardiography, doppler echocardiography, thoracic radiography and laboratory tests including inflammatory mediators and cardiac biomarker blood concentrations. The dogs were classified in stages B2 and C, according to the classification proposed by ACVIM 2019. They were randomly assigned to either ω-3 group (ω-3G) or control group (CG). The ingestion of ω-3 reduced the chance of developing arrhythmias by 2.96 times (p = 0.003). The vertebral heart size (VHS) measurements were higher in the control group (p = 0.033). In conclusion, at the dosages used in this study, ω-3 dietary supplementation reduces the volumetric overload, has antiarrhythmic effect and keeps dogs with B2 and C stages of MMVD in milder stages of the disease.

Background The knowledge of how owners view the body condition of their animals is an important factor for the success of the prevention/treatment of obesity and the engagement/adherence to nutritional interventions, which are fundamental to improve the animal prognosis. For this reason, the objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of the owners regarding the body condition score of their animals, compare the perception between cat vs. dog owners, and owners from the countryside vs. metropolitan region of São Paulo State in Brazil. Results 601 dogs and 110 cats were included in this study. There was no significant difference in body condition score assigned by owners by species. Owners of dogs and cats classified by the veterinarian as ideal, overweight, and obese who disagree with body condition score assigned by veterinarian mainly underestimate the body condition score of their animals, while lean dogs’ owners overestimate it. Countryside dog owners had a higher rate of disagreement with the veterinarian and more often underestimate the body condition score than owners from the metropolitan region. The owners of lean cats have the same judgments with veterinarians. Conclusions Owners of dogs and cats have difficulty assessing the body condition score, especially owners from countryside.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T10:58:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-01 Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (A-PDT) is a modern and non-invasive therapeutic modality. Nanostructures like the polymeric nanocapsules (NC) has proved to be a system that has enormous potential to improve current antimicrobial therapeutic practice. NC of Zinc phenyl-thio-phthalocyanine and Amphotericin B association (NC/ZnS4Pc + AMB) built with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 50:50 using the preformed polymer interfacial deposition method were developed at a 0.05 mg mL− 1 theoretical concentration to improve antifungal activity with two actives association and assistance from PDTa. It showed an average particle diameter of 253.8 ± 17.3, an average polydispersity index of 0.36 ± 0.01, and a negative Zeta potential average of -31.03 ± 5.54 for 158 days. UV–vis absorption and emission spectroscopy analyses did not show changes in photophysical properties in the steady-state of NC/ZnS4Pc + AMB counterparts free ZnS4Pc. The encapsulation percentage of actives was 89.24 % and 7.40 % for ZnS4Pc and AMB, respectively. Cell viability assay using NIH/3T3 ATCC® CRL-1658 ™ cells line showed no cytotoxicity for the concentrations tested. The photodynamic activity assay using NC/ZnS4Pc + AMB diluted showed fungal toxicity against Candida albicans yeast with energetic fluences of 12 J.cm-2 and 25 J.cm-2 by a decrease in cell viability. The MFC assay demonstrated a fungistatic activity for the conditions employed in the PDTa assay. The results show that NC/ZnS4Pc + AMB is a promising nanomaterial for antimicrobial inactivation using PDT. Department of Engineering of Bioprocess and Biotechnology School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University - UNESP Department of Drugs and Medicines School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University - UNESP Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Colloids Department of Physical Chemistry Institute of Chemistry São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Chemistry Center of Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering – Photobiology and Photomedicine Research Group Faculty of Philosophy Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto University of São Paulo - USP Department of Engineering of Bioprocess and Biotechnology School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University - UNESP Department of Drugs and Medicines School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University - UNESP Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Colloids Department of Physical Chemistry Institute of Chemistry São Paulo State University (UNESP)

Background Nipple pain is the second most common reason for early weaning, exceeded only by the insufficient milk supply. Nipple fissures can bring other problems, acting also as a portal for bacteria and leading to mastitis. This work proposes the breast protector composite development using materials with tissue repair and moisturizing properties, aligned with a low-cost procedure, aiming not only to relieve pain, but also to heal the nipple fissures caused by breastfeeding. Materials and methods For the dressings, production was used Natural Latex extracted from the rubber tree and glycerol. The Samples were evaluated chemically and physically by the techniques of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mechanical traction, and contact angle. The samples were also biologically evaluated by the hemolytic and cytotoxic activity assays. Results From the physical-chemical assays, the matrix with glycerol has high pore density; the natural latex and glycerol do not covalently interact, indicating that the glycerol can be released; the glycerol addition makes the matrix more elastic but fragile, and increase the wettability. From the biological assays, both materials showed no hemolytic effects; and the cytotoxicity results showed that glycerol did not present cytotoxicity in the fibroblasts, but show a dose-dependent influence in the keratinocytes. Conclusion The material developed for application in breast fissures has mechanical properties similar to those found for materials for dermal applications, present high wettability and pore density. Furthermore, the material showed no cytolytic activity and the tests with skin cell cultures demonstrated the biocompatibility.

Introduction Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare disease characterized by gingival enlargement, normal color with benign and firm consistency. This growth may be exacerbated by use of drugs and plaque build-up. The treatment for this clinical condition is surgical excision of the enlarged gingival tissue or the extraction of all teeth. Case report A 20-year-old Brazilian female handicapped patient with a chief complaint of exaggerated gingival enlargement who had been prescribed Carbamazepine and Gardenal was referred to our center. According to the clinical presentation and family history, the final diagnosis of gingival enlargement was HGF. Full dental treatment was performed, including basic periodontal treatment, restorations, sealants, and gingivoplasty with internal bevel. Special care was taken to ensure that there was no change in patient's anticonvulsant medication. The patient has been monitored for seven years without signs of recurrence of gingival hyperplasia due to constant professional and home control of plaque.

Introduction: Foot extensor tendon injuries account for 1% of all tendon injuries. Extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon lacerations are even less common, and studies on the subject are limited to a small number of case reports and series. Objective: The objective of this report is to show the possibility of using the plantaris muscle as a graft option for the reconstruction of the extensor hallucis longus tendon in cases of damage due to chronic injury. Methods: The subject was a 30-year-old male factory worker who had had a laceration in the dorsal region of the right foot for approximately 2 months. He showed a deficit in hallux extension. Given the indication for surgical treatment and due to the distances between the stumps, we chose to use the plantaris muscle as a graft. Results: The patient was evaluated 6 months after surgery, and we observed a satisfactory outcome with improvements in hallux extension and functional gait. Conclusion: We chose the plantaris tendon as a graft because we believe it is easily harvested, has low morbidity at the donor site, has no or minimal loss of function and meets the needs for the desired reconstruction. Because this is a large graft, we solved the problem of the smaller diameter by performing double-band reconstruction. We concluded that the plantaris is a viable option for neglected EHL injuries or rerupture that offers low morbidity with no significant loss of function in the donor region.

With the aim of improving phototherapy for neonatal jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia), this study investigates the degradation of unconjugated bilirubin under irradiance by conventional light and by white, red, green, and blue LED sources in vitro. The absorption spectra of bilirubin under these different light sources are compared. The results demonstrate that white LED phototherapy promotes more efficient bilirubin degradation than conventional blue-light therapy. This study provides a basis for the design of novel phototherapy devices for the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia.

The treatment of skin wounds is a worldwide problem due to possible complications of healing process, such as infections, sepsis and even death. Current treatment strategies involves the use of dressings, bandages and topical application of antibiotic to the wound. An ideal dressing should protect against bacterial contamination, while covering the wound. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of chitosan membranes associated to banana peel for potential wound dressing application, since both materials have previously demonstrated antimicrobial properties. The active principles of banana peel were extracted by two methods: decoction and drying. Membranes were prepared by chitosan association with the extracts of first and third days of decoction and with different concentrations of dried extract, by the casting/solvent evaporation techniques. All obtained membranes were uniform, flexible and easily unmolded. Antibacterial activity studies were performed by the Surface Plating technique. Inhibition of bacterial growth was evaluated against two bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, usually present in skin wounds. All membranes were able to inhibit S. aureus e E. coli growth by contacting. In addition to contacting inhibition of E. coli growth, an inhibition halo of 0.5 cm diameter was also observed around the chitosan-unripe banana peel membrane prepared with the extract of first day of decoction.

Progressive deterioration and loss of articular cartilage are the final degenerative events common to osteoarthritis (OA). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in this chondrocyte catabolic activity, leading to cell death and matrix components breakdown. Intra-articular corticosteroid injections such as triamcinolone acetonide have been used to control pain and inflammation associated with OA. New treatments for OA, platelet-rich plasma and pentosan polysulphate sodium have also been used and further investigations are necessary to determine their safety in joint cells. In this in vitro study, the use of these three substances (triamcinolone acetonide, platelet-rich plasma, and pentosan polysulphate sodium) in healthy chondrocytes did not alter the antioxidant status when compared to control groups, indicating that they could be considered safe in healthy conditions. RESUMO: A deterioração progressiva e perda da cartilagem articular são os eventos finais da osteoartrite (OA). Espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) têm papel importante na atividade catabólica de condrócitos, levando a morte celular e quebra dos componentes da matriz. Injeções intra-articulares de corticosteroides, como com o acetonido de triancinolona, são usadas para controle da dor e inflamação associadas à OA. Novos tratamentos para a OA, como o plasma rico em plaquetas e o pentosano polissulfato sódico, também tem sido utilizados e necessitam de maiores investigações para determinar sua segurança para as células articulares de equinos. Neste estudo in vitro, o uso destas três substâncias (acetonido de triancinolona, pentosan polissulfato de sódio de plasma rico em plaquetas) em condrócitos saudáveis de equinos não alterou o status antioxidante quando comparado aos grupos controle, indicando que puderam ser considerados seguros em condições saudáveis.

Sepsis is a big health problem and one of the most common causes of acute lung injury (ALI) leading to high mortality. Pro-resolving mediators play an important role in abrogating the inflammation and promoting tissue homeostasis restoration. ALI treatment is still a clinical health problem, so new therapies are needed. Here, we evaluated the effect of photobiomodulation treatment on the resolution process of ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Male Balb/c mice were submitted to LPS (ip) or vehicle and irradiated or not with light emitting diode (LED) 2 and 6 h after LPS or vehicle injection, and the parameters were investigated 3 and 7 days after the injections. Our results showed that after 3 days of LED treatment the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells as well as interleukins (IL) including IL-6 and IL-17 were reduced. No differences were observed in the bone marrow cells, tracheal reactivity, and lipoxin A4 and resolvin E2. Indeed, after 7 days of LED treatment the bone marrow cells, lymphocytes, and lipoxin A4 were increased, while IL-6, IL-17, and IL-10 were decreased. No differences were observed in the blood cells and tracheal reactivity. Thus, our results showed that LED treatment attenuated ALI induced by sepsis by modulating the cell mobilization from their reserve compartments. In addition, we also showed later effects of the LED up to 7 days after the treatment. This study proposes photobiomodulation as therapeutic adjuvant to treat ALI.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T16:04:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T15:01:17Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1516-14392018000600207.pdf: 5767388 bytes, checksum: ec46d42a9613a5d9eb8daa06e6a952cc (MD5) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) In this paper, a novel wound dressing membrane for controlled release of gentamicin (GE), while covering and protecting the wound was investigated. Chitosan (CHI) was associated with methoxy polyethylene glycol - polycaprolactone copolymer (mPEG-PCL) to prepare the blended wound dressing membranes. The use of copolymer mPEG-PCL was necessary to improve the compatibility between CHI and PCL. The association of CHI and PCL was required to control the water retention and release rate of encapsulated GE. In vitro release studies were performed with the mPEG-PCL/ CHI-GE membranes in order to evaluate the effect of copolymer concentration on the kinetics of GE release and water uptake. Reduced burst release rates and swelling ratios were observed for the 1/2 and 1/4 mPEG-PCL/CHI-GE membranes. In addition, all gentamicin-loaded membranes inhibited S. aureus and E. coli growth, and demonstrated color, moisture and thermal stability. Therefore, mPEG-PCL/CHI-GE membranes showed important features for potential wound dressing and drug delivery applications. Univ Fed Alfenas, Inst Ciencia & Tecnol, Pocos De Caldas, MG, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Quim, Araraquara, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Campinas, Fac Engn Quim, Campinas, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Quim, Araraquara, SP, Brazil

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T02:00:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01 Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) are of great interest for application in magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) due to their heat generation capability in an external alternating magnetic field, besides biocompatibility, and surface properties. MFH has emerged as a promisor therapeutic approach for cancer treatment and is based in controlled heating tumor tissue through the accumulation of SPIONs within cancer cells. This work describes a new route for the preparation of folate-conjugated PEGylated SPIONs, which involves the attachment of such molecules at the surface through polycondensation reactions, without the need for coupling agents or prior modification on the species involved. The size of iron oxide cores obtained by transmission electron microscopy was about 12 nm. The conjugation of folate onto SPIONs was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The folate conjugated nanoparticles were colloidal stable in PBS, presenting a hydrodynamic diameter of 109 ± 1 nm and PDI 0.148. The obtained folate-targeted PEGylated SPIONs showed superparamagnetic behavior with a saturation magnetization of 73.1 emu•g-1 at 300 K. Their specific absorption rate (SAR) ranged from 32.8 to 15.0 W g-1 in an alternating magnetic field of 10-16 kA m-1 and frequency of 420-203 kHz. The heat generated was sufficient to raise the sample temperature to the therapeutic range used in MFH establishing this system as promising candidates for use in MFH treatment. Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Colloids Department of Physical Chemistry Institute of Chemistry Saõ Paulo State University (UNESP) Instituto Federal Goiano Instituto de Física Núcleo de Física Aplicada Universidade de Brasília Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Catholic University of Brasília, Federal District Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Colloids Department of Physical Chemistry Institute of Chemistry Saõ Paulo State University (UNESP)

e20073 Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an infrequent entity with a poor prognosis. Standard first line chemotherapy therapy is based on pemetrexed and cisplatin, however, there is no established standard second-line therapy. We report our experience with patients treated at a third-level referral center in Mexico, making emphasis in the use of oral vinorelbine. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of MPM patients treated between 2012 and 2018 at the Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, a third-level referral center in Mexico City. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of different second-line chemotherapy schemes in MPM patients. Results: A total of 143 patients were included. There were 47 women (32.8%) and 96 men (67.1%). Median age was 64 (range 39 - 86). The histological subtypes comprised of 73.4 % epitheloid, 9 % with a sarcomatoid component and 17.4% not otherwise specified. The majority of patients presented with advanced disease 32.1 stage III and 63.6 stage IV. 72% of patients had performance status 0-1, however 9.7% of patients had performance status 3-4 at diagnosis, and received only palliative care as treatment. A total of 125 patients received first-line chemotherapy, and 40 patients underwent second-line therapy. Usual schemes were based on pemetrexed, paclitaxel, gemcitabine and oral vinolrebine. Overall, partial response rate was 5% and stable disease was 35%. There were no statistical differences in response rates between schemes (p = 0.75). The most usual second-line scheme was oral vinolrebine. Progression-free survival was 4 months in vinolrebine-treated patients vs 2 months (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.86 – 1.25, p = 0.63) as compared with patients treated with other schemes. Conclusions: Our results are comparable with similar series in the second-line scenario. Oral-vinolrebine treatment progression-free survival was similar to other, more toxic drugs. However, we included few patients. More work is needed to identify the characteristics of benefitting patients.

Several cements are used as biomaterials. Biopolymers such as chitosan and collagen exhibit excellent biocompatibility and can be used in the remodeling of bone tissue. The cement must have high mechanical strength and compatibility with original tissue. In this context, the objective of this study was to extract, characterize and cross-link collagen from bovine tendon, forlater associate it with chitosan and calcium phosphate to obtain cements for bone regeneration. Glutaraldehyde was used as cross-linker in 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 10% concentration. Infrared analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups characteristic of collagen, whereas the capacity of water absorption decreased with the increasing of cross-linking degree. Denaturation temperatures of collagen samples were obtained by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy showed the fiber structure characteristics of collagen, which were more organized for high degree of cross-linking samples.

Biomolecules labeled with superparamagnetic nanoparticles can be selectively removed from complex reaction mixtures using an external magnetic field. Amino-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (amino-SPION) were co-aggregated with penicillin G acylase and then cross-linked, generating magnetic cross-linked enzymes aggregates (M-CLEAs) that were quickly and efficiently recovered from the reaction medium by applying an external magnetic field. M-CLEAs and cross-linked enzymes aggregates (CLEAs) prepared under the same reaction conditions were characterized and compared. The best recovered activities were obtained for M-CLEAs prepared using polyethylene glycol 600 as precipitant and the most stable M-CLEA were obtained using tert-butanol. Successive penicillin G hydrolysis reactions were carried out using the same M-CLEA in a 50 mL reactor (3 reaction cycles), after the reactions the derivate was magnetically recovered without loss of activity demonstrating a total magnetic recovery. Line-scan energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the amino-SPIONs were homogeneously dispersed within the structure of the M-CLEA.

Objectives/Hypothesis To identify the association between surgeon/hospital volume with outcomes in surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a nationally representative sample. We hypothesized that surgeons/hospitals with lower patient volumes would have: higher mortality rates, longer hospital length of stay (LOS), and higher postoperative complication rates and hospitalization charges. Study Design Secondary data analysis of the 2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Methods We selected 24,298 adults undergoing OSA surgery. The data analysis included trend test, regression, and multivariate models that were adjusted by demographic and clinical variables. Results The patients were mostly White (76.43%), male (78.26%), with a mean age of 46 years. Patients treated by surgeons with low volume of procedures (1 procedure/year) had significantly higher mortality rate (odds ratio [OR] 3.05; confidence interval [CI], 1.96-4.77), longer average LOS (increased until 8.16 hours), and higher hospitalization charges (increased up to $1701.75) versus medium- and high-volume surgeons (2–4 procedures/year; greater than/or equal to 5 procedures/year, respectively). Patients treated at hospitals with low volume of procedures (0–5/year) had significantly higher occurrence of oxygen desaturation (OR, 2.12; CI, 1.50–2.99), longer LOS (increased until almost 2 hours) and higher hospitalization charges (at least $951.50 more expensive) versus patients treated at high-volume hospitals (greater than/or equal to 18 procedures/year). Conclusion Our investigation validates the hypothesis that lower volume standards (surgeon/hospital) are associated with increase of LOS following surgery to treat OSA, as well as lower surgeon volume associated with increase of mortality and hospitalization charges and lower hospital volume with occurrence of oxygen desaturation as postoperative complication. Level of Evidence 2c. Laryngoscope, 124:320–328, 2014

Complex behavior patterns may underlie symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which, in turn, seem to contribute to the maintenance of symptoms, hinder its management, and interfere with the client’s compliance with treatment. Although the evidence-based choice for treating OCD is cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), such treatment might prove ineffective if it is not accompanied by a careful and thorough investigation of the contingencies involved in the onset and maintenance of symptoms; and this might take longer than predicted by treatment manuals. We present a case study of the treatment of "Angela," a client with OCD who suffered from sub-clinical symptoms for 20 years and did not obtain relief with antidepressant medication. Angela underwent cognitive-behavioral therapy for three and a half years and was treated by the first author in weekly sessions. The difficult management of symptoms, the contingencies involved in them, and the development of the therapeutic relationship are discussed. Treatment results indicated a significant decrease in symptoms, anxiety, and discomfort. We believe this case illustrates limitations associated with a strict, manual-driven treatment with a pre-determined number of sessions. Key-words: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); cognitive-behavior therapy; contingencies; therapeutic relationship; exposure and response prevention; cognitive re-structuring; case study; clinical case study _____________________________________________________________________________ 1. CASE CONTEXT AND METHOD This article aims to present the case of "Angela," a client diagnosed with OCD, who had sub-clinical sexual and contamination obsessions and cleaning rituals, in order to illustrate the development of the cognitive-behavioral treatment, especially the contingencies involved in the maintenance of symptoms, the difficulty in managing them, and the importance of the therapeutic relationship to the development of treatment. Angela was treated by the first author, an experienced cognitive behavior therapist, in her private practice. The second author is also an experienced cognitive behavioral therapist with whom the development of the case was discussed in peer-supervision. The therapeutic program consisted of weekly sessions for three and a half years, including intervals of two or three weeks during holidays. The possibility of “Functional” Sub-Clinical Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms 82 and Their Challenges: The Case of "Angela" L.M.M. Pontes & R.F. Pereira Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy, http://pcsp.libraries.rutgers.edu Volume 9, Module 1, Article 4, pp. 81-97, 02-17-13 [copyright by authors] using data from the treatment for the publication of a case study was discussed with Angela. She was informed about all the ethical procedures and the safeguard of her identity and her written consent was obtained.

Existem diversos estudos sobre preditores da não adesão, mas poucos mostram estratégias efetivas para lidar com esse problema. Uma revisão da literatura sobre desistência em psicoterapia mostrou que quase metade dos pacientes que ingressam num atendimento não o concluem. A medida na psicoterapia em geral é a de não adesão, ou desistência do tratamento; no presente trabalho serão apresentados dados relativos à adesão ao tratamento da enurese com alarme de urina. A taxa de desistência em um grupo de 61 crianças e adolescentes foi levantada considerando três condições: suas famílias não compareceram aos atendimentos, não responderam ao contato telefônico ou relataram ter abandonado os procedimentos. A desistência correspondeu a 19,6% da amostra e a idade do grupo dos desistentes era significativamente inferior, quando comparada à daqueles que aderiram ao tratamento. A já demonstrada associação entre a intolerância parental e a idade do filho explica os resultados e aponta para a necessidade de trabalho educativo intenso com os pais de adolescentes portadores de enurese. Although there are several studies about adherence prevalence and predictors, few of them demonstrate efficient strategies to deal with this issue. A literature review found that about half of the patients that initiate psychotherapy do not conclude the process. Therefore, the measure of adherence is usually non-adherence, assessed by treatment dropout. In this paper, we present data related to dropout of alarm treatment for nocturnal enuresis. Sixty-one children and adolescents that initiated alarm treatment were included. Families missing appointments, not replying to phone calls or stating that treatment procedures were abandoned characterized dropout. Twelve families dropped out from treatment, corresponding to 19.6% of the sample. Only age was significantly related to dropout: younger children were more likely to abandon treatment. The already known relation between age and parents’s intolerance explains the results and determinates the necessity of an intense informative work with parents of enuretic children. Il existe plusieurs études sur l’adhésion avec une ênfase dans la prévalence et les facteurs prédictifs de non-adhésion, mais peu de ces montre des stratégies efficaces pour faire face à ce problème. Une revue de la littérature sur l'abandon dans la psychothérapie a montré que près de la moitié des patients admis dans un soin de ne pas conclure. La mesure de la psychothérapie en général cést la non adhésion, représenté par l'abandon ou la cessation du traitement. Le document présente des données sur le traitement d'énurésie nocturne avec l’alarm de urine. Nous avons mené une enquête sur les niveaux de retrait d'un groupe de 61 enfants et adolescents. Lorsque les familles n'ont pas assisté aux séances, ne répondent pas au téléphone ou auraient abandonné les procédures ont été considérés comme des décrocheurs. Le retrait est intervenu dans 12 des 61 cas, représentant 19,6% de l'échantillon. Considérant l'âge moyen des participantesverifica que ceux qui ont abandonné le traitement étaient significativement plus jeunes. L'association précédemment établie entre l'intolérance des parents et l'âge de l'enfant explique les résultats et les points à la nécessité d'un travail pédagogique intensif avec les parents d'adolescents atteints d'énurésie. Hay diversos estudios sobre la prevalencia y predictores de la no adhesión, pero pocos muestran estrategias efectivas para hacer frente a este problema. Una revisión de la literatura sobre la deserción en la psicoterapia mostró que casi la mitad de los pacientes que ingresan en la atención no la concluyen. La medida en la psicoterapia en general es la de no adhesión, representada por el abandono o deserción del tratamiento. En este trabajo serán presentados datos relativos a la deserción al tratamiento de la enuresis través de la alarma de orina. Fue realizada una investigación sobre los niveles de la deserción de un grupo de 61 niños y adolescentes. Cuando las familias no comparecerán a las sesiones, no contestarán al telefono, o relatabán tener abandonado los procedimientos, fueron considerados desertores. La deserción ocurrió en 12 de 61 casos, lo que representa 19,6% de la muestra. La asociación ya establecida entre la intolerancia de los padres y la edad del niño explica los resultados y señala la necesidad de una intensa labor educativa con los padres de los adolescentes con enuresis.

Objective/Hypothesis: To compare cold and mixed (electrocautery tonsillectomy with curettage adenoidectomy) adenotonsillectomies in children in terms of hospital medications' and materials' costs, surgical time, aspirated blood volume, and postoperative pain. Study Design: Randomized clinical trial in community hospitals. Methods: Seventy-two patients aged 3 to 12 years, undergoing adenotonsillectomy, were randomized in two groups through sealed envelopes that were opened just prior to the procedure. Surgical time and aspirated blood volume were measured by a staff nurse. Hospital medication and material costs were supplied by the hospital's accounting department. A validated facial pain scale was used from the day of surgery to the 10th postoperative day to quantify pain. Results: Bicaudal t test showed that materials' cost was lower in the mixed technique. Surgical time and aspirated blood volume were also lower with the mixed technique. The postoperative pain was more intense in the cold technique on the day of surgery, but was more intense in the mixed technique from the 4th day to the 6th day. Linear regression showed a weak association between materials' cost and aspirated blood volume. Conclusions: Mixed technique reduces the costs of materials while offering the patient and the surgeon a safer and faster method to perform adenotonsillectomy, although it is slightly more painful than the cold technique in the latter part of the postoperative period. Laryngoscope, 2010

Purposes: To investigate the efficacy of alarm treatment in a sample of Brazilian children and adolescents with nocturnal enuresis and relate treatment success to age and type of clinical support. Materials and Methods: During 32 weeks, 84 children and adolescents received alarm treatment together with weekly psychological support sessions for individual families or groups of 5 to 10 families. Results: 71% of the participants achieved success, defined as 14 consecutive dry nights. The result was similar for children and adolescents and for individual or group support. The time until success was shorter for participants missing fewer support sessions . Conclusions: Alarm treatment was effective for the present sample, regardless of age or type of support. Missing a higher number of support sessions, which may reflect low motivation for treatment, increased the risk of failure. Key words: enuresis; behavior therapy; child; adolescent; group therapy Int Braz J Urol. 2010; 36: 332-8

O objetivo do estudo foi investigar o efeito do tratamento para enurese sobre os escores de outros problemas de comportamento. Foram coletadas as informações de 97 prontuários de crianças e adolescentes atendidos no período de 2002 a 2006 em uma clínica-escola de psicologia, em programa específico para enurese com uso do alarme de urina. Os dados sobre problemas de comportamento foram avaliados por meio do Child Behavior Checklist, respondido pelas mães antes e depois do tratamento. Foi encontrada uma redução significativa nos escores de problemas de comportamento, independentemente do sucesso ou não no tratamento para enurese. This work aimed to investigate the treatment effect for enuresis on other behavior problems' scores. Clinical records of 97 enuretic children and adolescents, receiving urine alarm treatment in a university clinic center from 2002 to 2006, were analyzed. Behavior problems' data were assessed through the Child Behavior Checklist, filled by the mothers at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. Results indicate a significant reduction on behavior problems' scores at the end of treatment, despite of enuresis treatment outcome.

Knowledge of family structure and behavioral dynamics of out-of-treatment drug users under poverty becomes relevant, because of the role that the family plays in drug use and rehabilitation. Hypotheses 1. The perception of drug users about their family functioning reveals a dysfunctional organization and communication–connection problems with their families; and 2. the family system of cocaine base paste (CBP) users presents greater dysfunctionality than cocaine hydrochloride (CH) users. Method Cross-sectional descriptive design of primary users of CH ( n = 236) and primary users of CBP ( n = 231) during the last month, out-of-substance abuse treatment during the last 6 months. Instruments Risk Behavior Questionnaire and How-Is-Your-Family Questionnaire. Results The total sample presented 72.9% of families with risk functioning; CBP users registered a more deteriorated family structure and communication–connection than CH users. Conclusions CBP and CH users, who are hidden from health treatment services, do indeed present a high degree of family dysfunction; and the CBP group, compared to the CH group, presented various indicators of greater risk in their family dysfunction.

Surface modifications have been applied in endosteal bone devices in order to improve the osseointegration through direct contact between neoformed bone and the implant without an intervening soft tissue layer. Surface characteristics of titanium implants have been modified by addictive methods, such as metallic titanium, titanium oxide and hydroxyapatite powder plasma spray, as well as by subtractive methods, such as acid etching, acid etching associated with sandblasting by either AlO2 or TiO2, and recently by laser ablation. Surface modification for dental and medical implants can be obtained by using laser irradiation technique where its parameters like repetition rate, pulse energy, scanning speed and fluency must be taken into accounting to the appropriate surface topography. Surfaces of commercially pure Ti (cpTi) were modified by laser Nd:YVO4 in nine different parameters configurations, all under normal atmosphere. The samples were characterized by SEM and XRD refined by Rietveld method. The crystalline phases αTi, βTi, Ti6O, Ti3O and TiO were formed by the melting and fast cooling processes during irradiation. The resulting phases on the irradiated surface were correlated with the laser beam parameters. The aim of the present work was to control titanium oxides formations in order to improve implants osseointegration by using a laser irradiation technique which is of great importance to biomaterial devices due to being a clean and reproducible process.

Enuresis (NE) is a clinical condition of multifactorial etiology that leads to difficulties in child/adolescent social interaction. This was a prospective study on the impact of multidisciplinary assessment of 6- to 17-year-old patients with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE), including a structured history, clinical/neurological examination, bladder and bowel diaries, sleep diary and questionnaires, psychological evaluation [Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and PedsQL 4.0 questionnaires], urinary sonography, blood and urine laboratory tests, polysonography (PSG), and balance evaluation. A total of 140 enuretic participants were evaluated, of whom 27 were diagnosed with NE complicated by urinary disorder, four with hypercalciuria, three with nephropathy and one with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Among the 87 participants who underwent PSG, six were diagnosed with severe apnea. Of the 82 MNE patients who underwent full assessment, 62 were male (75.6 %), and the mean age was 9.5 (±2.6) years. A family history of NE was diagnosed in 91.1 % of first- and second-degree relatives, constipation in 89.3 % and mild/moderate apnea in 40.7 %. Balance control alteration was identified by physical therapy evaluation of MNE patients. Participants’ quality of life evaluation scores were significantly lower than those of their parents. Enuresis is a multifactorial disorder that requires a structured diagnostic approach.

The aim of the present study is to investigate in vitro antioxidant activity of Cunila microcephala Benth infusion (Poejo) in erythrocytes from individuals with HIV/AIDS. Erythrocytes were used from seventeen patients of both sexes, with HIV/AIDS, receiving antiretroviral therapy and the control group consisted of erythrocytes of HIV/AIDS free individuals belonging to both sexes. The erythrocytes were treated in vitro for an hour with infusions of Poejo at the following concentrations: 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 g/L After treatment, the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), carbonylated proteins (CPs), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured. A reduction in lipoperoxidation and protein carbonylation was observed after treatment with poejo tea at the concentrations of 5, 10, 25 and 50g/L. In addition, a reduction of GSH at such concentrations was observed. Poejo infusion appears to perform an antioxidant activity in lipid oxidation and in the protein carbonylation found in individuals with HIV/AIDS.

Knowledge of wild species embryonic development is important for their maintenance in captivity or the wild. The objective of the present study was to characterize the external morphology and define the biometry of greater rhea embryos and fetuses at different stages of development. A total of 41 embryos and fetuses were analyzed to describe their external morphology using a stereoscopic microscope. The crown-rump (CR), total length (TL), cephalocaudal length (CCL), biparietal diameter (BPD), beak, humerus and tibio-tarsal lengths were measured by digital pachymeter, millimetric scale ruler and cotton thread. The weight of the embryos and fetuses was measured on digital scales. The greater rhea embryos at 5, 6 and 7 days incubation presented a "C" shape. At 9, 10 and 11 days the eyes were big and pigmented. At 11, 12 and 13 days the eyelid covered more than half the eye, resulting in an oval slit. In 14 and 15 day-old embryos, the skin was still thin and the ribs evident, but at 18 days this structure was thicker. In embryos at 21 and 27 days of development closed eyelids were observed forming an eyelid slit, and the eye ball was less pronounced at 27 days. Weight gain presented an exponential growth curve, while measurements such as TL, DBP, beak, humerus and tibio-tarsal length had linear growth over time. Thus it was possible to characterize the greater rhea embryos and fetuses at several incubation ages using their external morphology and morphometric analyses.

In this paper, we report our experimental design in searching a smart and easy-to-read dosimeter used to detect 6MV X-rays for improving patient safety in radiation oncology. The device was based on an organic emissive solutions of poly(2-methoxy-5(2′-ethylhexyloxy)- p -phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV), aluminum-tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq 3 ) and additive components which were characterized by UV–Vis absorption, photoluminescence and CIE color coordinate diagram. The optical properties of MEH-PPV/Alq 3 solutions have been examined as function of radiation dose over the range of 0–100Gy. It has shown that MEH-PPV/Alq 3 solutions are specifically sensitive to X-rays, since the effect of radiation on this organic system is strongly correlated with the efficient spectral overlap between Alq 3 emission and the absorption of degraded MEH-PPV, which alters the color and photoemission of MEH-PPV/Alq 3 mixtures from red to yellow, and then to green. The rate of this change is more sensitive when MEH-PPV/Alq 3 is irradiated in the presence of benzoyl peroxide than when in the presence of hindered phenolic stabilizers, respectively, an accelerator and an inhibitor to activate or inhibit free radical formation. This gives rise to optimize the response curve of the dosimeter. It is clear from the experimental results that organic emissive semiconductors have potential to be used as dedicated and low-cost dosimeters to provide an independent check of beam output of a linear accelerator and therefore to give patients the opportunity to have information on the dose prescription or equipment-related problems a few minutes before being exposed to radiation.

The objective of the study was to verify how, in the population of a university Hospital in Sao Paulo, the children are in the development range expected for their ages. For this, 50 parents or caregivers of children between 1 and 60 months old were interviewed, answering to questionnaires elaborated based on Marie Leiner’s boards about the child development. This questionnaire contained sentences about motor, social and intellectual abilities that are expected in several ages, with “yes” and “no” options and “observations”. The data collected was analyzed with the SPSS soft ware’said. The basic motor and intellectual abilities had the higher “yes” rates,while the fine motor and language abilities had a lower frequency. In general, all areas had a high rate of development according to expectation. The age had no significant correlation with any other variable. Key words: child development, evaluation, hospitalization.

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, or AAS, is an analytical technique commonly used for the quantitative and qualitative determination of elements in samples such as aqueous solutions, waters, sea-waters, metals and alloys, glass, drugs, food, environmental samples, industrial wastes, biological samples among others. This technique is based on measuring the amount of electromagnetic energy of a particular wavelength (ultraviolet or visible region), which is absorbed as it passes through a cloud of atoms of a particular chemical element (the analyte) coming from samples and standards. An appropriate mathematical treatment allows relating the amount of absorbed energy to the number of absorbed atoms by providing a measurement of the element concentration in the sample. This technique is established, relatively quickly, economically affordable and allows to determine more than 60 chemical elements from a huge type of samples. It is used by most of research laboratories and industry quality control around the world. The aim of this text is to present concisely this powerful technique providing basic information about fundamental concepts, instrumentation and application. Relevant and effective techniques will be shown including flame atomization, hydride generation, cold vapor and electrothermic atomization or graphite furnace. Fundamental and theoretical details will not be presented on mechanical components, electronic, software and data processing. They are deeply discussed in specific literature.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of three different formulations containing Betamethasone Valerate versus placebo in the topical treatment of phimosis. As a secondary goal, we compared the outcomes after 30 and 60 days of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred twenty boys aged 3 to 10 years old with clinical diagnosis of phimosis were enrolled. Patients were randomized to one of the following groups: Group 1: Betamethasone Valerate 0.2% plus Hyaluronidase; Group 2: Betamethasone Valerate 0.2%; Group 3: Betamethasone Valerate 0.1% or Group 4: placebo. Parents were instructed to apply the formula twice a day for 60 days and follow-up evaluations were scheduled at 30, 60 and 240 days after the first consultation. Success was defined as complete and easy foreskin retraction. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-five patients were included at our final analysis. Group 1 (N = 54), 2 (N = 51) and 3 (N = 52) had similar success and improvement rates, all treatment groups had higher success rates than placebo(N = 38). After 60 days of treatment, total and partial response rates for Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 54.8% and 40.1%, respectively, while placebo had a success rate of 29%. Success and improvement rates were significantly better in 60 days when compared to 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Betamethasone Valerate 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.2% in combination with Hyaluronidase had equally higher results than placebo in the treatment of phimosis in boys from three to ten years-old. Patients initially with partial or no response can reach complete response after 60 days of treatment.

Patients submitted for prostatectomy were evaluated regarding their quality of life, behavioral problems, and marital adjustment. Thirty-two patients aged 54-76 years old were included. The results indicated that prostatectomy does not prevent normal psychological functioning, although there is a relationship between smoking and lower quality of life in these patients.Different types of monotherapy for prostate cancer leads to impairment in urinary and sexual functions, but prostatectomy seems to have worse results in physical functioning when compared with other treatments. Nevertheless, patients report high quality of life (QOL) levels, even when there are comments about the impact of sexual dysfunction on psychological health. The objectives of this work were to analyze levels of QOL, marital adjustment (MA), and behavioral problems (BP) of patients submitted to prostatectomy.Thirty-two patients from 54 to 76 years of age who underwent radical prostatectomy were evaluated during their follow-up appointments with the medical staff at the urology department of a private medical school. QOL scores were obtained from the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument, short version. BP scores of patients younger than 60 years of age were assessed through the Adult Self-Report, whereas patients older than 60 years were assessed through the Older Adult Self-Report. MA scores were obtained by using the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test.The patients reported relatively high levels of QOL and MA, along with low BPs. Marital support was associated with higher levels of QOL. BPs were associated with lower physical and total QOL scores. Smoking habits were associated with lower levels of MA, psychological health, and QOL. Erectile dysfunction was related to lower MA levels and lower QOL scores.Overall, the patients had high self-reported QOL levels, which indicated that physical impairments related to surgery did not prevent patients to return to normal functioning.

Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-28T14:11:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WOS000298428100001.pdf: 2782141 bytes, checksum: 8067758589a974d34b21e2a02bf28462 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T19:10:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000298428100001.pdf: 2782141 bytes, checksum: 8067758589a974d34b21e2a02bf28462 (MD5) WOS000298428100001.pdf.txt: 8 bytes, checksum: 8d1b69dd9bdc9df4a8073c7a8193c7af (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T14:20:32Z No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000298428100001.pdf: 2782141 bytes, checksum: 8067758589a974d34b21e2a02bf28462 (MD5) WOS000298428100001.pdf.txt: 8 bytes, checksum: 8d1b69dd9bdc9df4a8073c7a8193c7af (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T14:20:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000298428100001.pdf: 2782141 bytes, checksum: 8067758589a974d34b21e2a02bf28462 (MD5) WOS000298428100001.pdf.txt: 8 bytes, checksum: 8d1b69dd9bdc9df4a8073c7a8193c7af (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Antimicrobial bacterial cellulose-silver nanoparticles composite membranes have been obtained by in situ preparation of Ag nanoparticles from hydrolytic decomposition of silver nitrate solution using triethanolamine as reducing and complexing agent. The formation of silver nanoparticles was evidenced by the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and absorption in the UV-Visible (350nm to 600 nm). Thermal and mechanical properties together with swelling behavior for water were considered. TEA concentration was observed to be important in order to obtain only Ag particles and not a mixture of silver oxides. It was also observed to control particle size and amount of silver contents in bacterial cellulose. The composite membranes exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. São Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Chem, BR-14801970 Araraquara, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Alfenas UNIFAL MG, Inst Ciência & Tecnol ICT, BR-37130000 Alfenas, MG, Brazil Uniara, BR-14801320 Araraquara, SP, Brazil São Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Chem, BR-14801970 Araraquara, SP, Brazil

The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of mutans streptococci (MS - sessile form) on complete maxillary dentures after use of a specific denture paste, and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and maximum inhibitory dilution (MID) of 3 oral mouthrinses: Cepacol, Plax and Periogard. Seventy-seven complete denture wearers were randomly assigned into 2 groups, according to the product used for denture cleaning: Control group - conventional dentifrice (Kolynos-Super White); and Test group: experimental denture cleaning paste. Denture biofilm was collected at baseline and after 90 and 180 days after treatment by brushing the dentures with saline solution. After decimal serial dilution, samples were seeded onto agar sucrose bacitracin to count colonies with morphological characteristics of MS. MS identification was performed by the sugar fermentation tests. After this procedure, brain heart infusion broth (BHI) was added to oral mouthrinses (Plax, Cepacol e Periogard) and seeded on Petri dishes. The colonies were seeded using the Steers multiplier and, after the incubation, the MIC and MID of the mouthrinses were calculated. The results showed an incidence of 74.0% (n=57) of MS in the 77 complete dentures examined in the study, being 76.3% (n=29) of the Control group (conventional dentifrice) and 71.8% (28) of the Test group (experimental denture cleaning paste). In both groups, the number of positive cases for MS decreased from day 0 to day 180. In the Test group there was a slight decrease in the incidence of Streptococcus mutans 90 days after use of the experimental denture cleaning paste, which was not observed in the Control group. As regards to mouthrinses, for both groups, Periogard showed antimicrobial action with the highest dilution, followed by Cepacol and Plax. In conclusion, the incidence of MS in complete dentures was high and Periogard was the mouthrinse with the strongest antimicrobial action against MS. The experimental denture cleaning paste showed a slight action against S. mutans after 90 days of treatment. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a incidência de estreptococos do grupo mutans (forma séssil) de próteses totais superiores após o uso de uma pasta específica para higienização de próteses totais, bem como determinar a concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) e diluição inibitória máxima (DIM) de 3 enxaguatórios bucais: Cepacol, Plax e Periogard. Setenta e sete usuários de próteses totais foram distribuídos em 2 grupos: (A) grupo Controle: dentifrício convencional (Kolynos Super Branco) e (B) grupo Teste: pasta experimental para higiene de próteses (1). O biofilme das próteses foi coletado no início e após 90 e 180 dias dos tratamentos, por meio de escovação das próteses com solução salina. Após a diluição decimal seriada, as amostras foram semeadas em agar sacarose bacitracina para a contagem de colônias características de estreptococos do grupo mutans. A identificação dos estreptococos do grupo mutans foi realizada por meio de testes de fermentação de açúcares. Após este procedimento, o caldo de infusão de cérebro e coração (BHI) foi adicionado aos antissépticos (Plax, Cepacol e Periogard) e semeado em placas de Petri. As colônias foram semeadas usando o mutiplicador de Steers e após a incubação, a concentração inibitória mínima e a concentração inibitória máxima dos enxaguatórios foram calculadas. Os resultados mostraram que a incidência de estreptococos do grupo mutans nas 77 próteses totais examinadas foi de 74,0% (n=57), sendo 76,3% (n=29) do grupo Controle (pasta convencional) e 71,8% (n=28) do grupo Teste (pasta experimental). Em ambos os grupos, o número de casos positivos para estreptococos do grupo mutans diminuiu, do início (0 dias) para 180 dias. Houve uma pequena diminuição da incidência de Streptococcus mutans após 90 dias do uso da pasta experimental, o que não foi observado no grupo controle. Com relação aos enxaguatórios, para ambos os grupos, o Periogard apresentou atividade antimicrobiana com diluições maiores, seguido do Cepacol e Plax. Pôde-se concluir que a incidência de estreptococos do grupo mutans em próteses totais foi elevada e que o Periogard foi o enxaguatório com melhor ação antimicrobiana contra os estreptococos do grupo mutans. A pasta experimental mostrou uma pequena ação contra S. mutans após 90 dias de tratamento.

The present work details, to our knowledge, the first examination of the influence of blue-light radiation on the optical properties of organic luminescent films in attempting to develop an indicator dosimeter for phototherapy of neonatal jaundice. Jaundice is the most common problem encountered in newborns due to immature functioning in the liver. The operating principle of the device is based on the optical response of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylene (MEH-PPV) and tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum (Alq3) materials dispersed in polystyrene (PS) matrix (denoted as PS/MEH-PPV/Alq3). It is observed a blue-shift on the photoluminescence of PS/MEH-PPV/Alq3 system from red to orange-yellow, and then to green as function of the blue-light radiation exposure time. The result is attributed to the spectral overlap between emission of Alq3 and absorption of MEH-PPV. The optical response of PS/MEH-PPV/Alq3 to radiation was investigated to design a low-cost (< US$ 0.05) “smart” sensor to represent easily the radiation dosage normally used in blue-light phototherapy. The basic idea behind this concept considers the sensor as a traffic light device, where red represents underdose and green the prescription dose or overdose, while orange-yellow suggests that radiation therapy is an ongoing process. This personal real-time radiation dosimeter appears here as a key requirement for successful development of innovations in effective management of the radiation dose planning before treatment of neonatal where control of dose absorption of infants is extremely important.

Hydrated bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes obtained from cultures of Acetobacter xylinum were used in the preparation of silver nanoparticles containing cellulose membranes. In situ preparation of Ag nanoparticles was achieved from the hydrolytic decomposition of silver triethanolamine (TEA) complexes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns both lead to the observation of spherical metallic silver particles with mean diameter of 8 nm well adsorbed onto the BC fibriles. Fil: Barud, Hernane. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Barrios, Celina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentina. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Regiane, Tais. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Marques, Rodrigo. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Verelst, Marc. Université Toulouse III; Francia Fil: Dexpert Ghys, Jeannette. Université Toulouse III; Francia Fil: Messaddeq, Younes. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Ribeiro, Sidney. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil