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Sex steroids can determine several responses in the clinical evolution of malaria. Seventy Balb-c mice were randomly distributed into 7 groups (10 mice per group): G1 to G6 corresponding to castrated females, castrated females that received estradiol cypionate, uncastrated females, castrated males, castrated males that received intramuscular testosterone decanoate and uncastrated males infected with Plasmodium berghei, and G7, the control group. The mice were evaluated with regard to survival, parasitemia, temperature, body weight, hemoglobin level (anemia) and splenic index. Castrated infected females had lower rates of survival. In the castrated male, the administration of testosterone had a negative influence on survival. There was a progressive increase in parasitemia without repercussions for survival. Castration had a significant influence on weight gain in females. Weight loss was observed in all mice, except those in groups G2 and G5, although this bore no direct relation to parasitemia. A significant and progressive decline in temperature and hemoglobin levels occurred in mice over the course of their infection, which differed from the G7 group. The weight of the spleen in relation to total body weight did not differ among the groups of infected mice, but was significantly higher than it was for the control group., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to verify the diversity of Culicidae species and their frequency of infection with flaviviruses and alphaviruses in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Mosquitoes were captured with Nasci aspirators and hand net in 200 census tracts, identified alive at species level and pooled in one-20 (11,090 mosquitoes, 14 species). Female pools (n = 610) were subjected to multiplex seminested-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for 11 flavivirus and five alphavirus. Positive pools were tested by single RT-PCR followed by nucleotide sequencing, by RT-PCR for E1 gene [Mayaro virus (MAYV)] and by inoculation in Vero cells (MAYV) or C6/36 cells (flaviviruses). One/171 Aedes aegypti was positive for dengue virus (DENV)-1, 12/403 Culex quinquefasciatus, and four/171Ae. aegypti for MAYV, which was isolated from two pools containing two nonengorged females of Ae. aegypti and two of Cx. quinquefasciatus. DENV-4 was detected in 58/171 pools of Ae. aegytpi, 105/403 Cx. quinquefasciatus, two/five Psorophora sp., two/11 Psorophora varipes/Psorophora albigenu, one/one Sabethes chloropterus, two/five Culex bidens/Culex interfor, and one/one Aedes sp. DENV-4 was isolated from two pools containing three and 16 nonengorged Cx. quinquefasciatus females. Phylogenetic analysis revealed MAYV belongs to genotype L, clustering with human samples of the virus previously identified in the city. Cuiabá has biodiversity and ecosystem favourable for vector proliferation, representing a risk for arbovirus outbreaks.

Cottonseed meal (CSM) is an alternative source of protein, and previous studies have been shown that it can replace soybean meal (SBM) without decrease animal performance. However, Brazilian CSM has a different chemical composition compared with the usual CSM reported in the literature. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of replacing SBM for Brazilian CSM on performance and energy balance of mid-lactating dairy cows. Forty-two Holstein cows were used in a replicate 3 × 3 Latin square design. Increasing contents of CSM (0, 15, and 30% of dry matter (DM)) were fed in diets to replace SBM. Milk yield and feed efficiency were linearly reduced with the replacement of CSM for SBM (P = 0.001). Milk fat content tended to increase quadratically (P = 0.07) with CSM addition. Replacing SBM for CSM affected milk protein content quadratically (P = 0.05). Milk urea nitrogen and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) tended to respond quadratically (P = 0.06 and 0.10) when CSM replaced SBM to the diets. Variation in body weight (BW) also responded quadratically as CSM replaced SBM (P = 0.05). Altogether, the findings suggest better performance when cows receive SBM diet compared with the Brazilian CSM diet.

Background: Major thoracic surgery is characterized by release of inflammatory markers.The objective of this study was to assess the preoperative and postoperative systemic inflammatory markers of patients undergoing lung cancer resection., Methods: This is a prospective follow up study conducted with 48 patients submitted to lung cancer resection.All patients were assessed before and 1 month after surgery through measurement of fibrinogen and C-reative protein(CRP), pulmonary function tests, 6- minute Walk Test (6 MWT), maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) and maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax), anxiety and depression scale and karnofsky performance status scale., Results: Both fibrinogen and CRP were higher 1 month after surgery, although only the change in CRP was statistically significant (p= 0.03). The following functional parameters: 6 MWT, PImax, PEmax, FEV1(%) and FVC(%) decreased after surgery with p ≤ 0.001 for all the parameters. Anxiety and depression improved and Karnofsky decrease after surgery (p= 0.03, p= 0.01 and p= 0.02; respectively). Change in CRP score following lung resection correlated significantly with changes in fibrinogen (r= 0.40; p= 0.003), change in Karnofsky scale (r= -0.50; p< 0.001) and a borderline significant trend with the 6 MWT (r= -0.28; p= 0.05). With the exception of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), who had a significantly lower fibrinogen level 1 month after surgery compared with thoracotomy (p= 0.01), no significant differences in fibrinogen or CRP were noted in other subgroups of patients considered at increased risk for higher levels of inflammation compared with lower risk counterparts., Conclusion: Lung cancer resection surgery was associated with increased level of CRP, 1 month after surgery, and correlated directly with change in fibrinogen and inversely with measurement of performance status. VATS provided lower level of fibrinogen after surgery.

Randomness is ubiquitous in nature. From single-molecule biochemical reactions to macroscale biological systems, stochasticity permeates individual interactions and often regulates emergent properties of the system. While such systems are regularly studied from a modeling viewpoint using stochastic simulation algorithms, numerous potential analytical tools can be inherited from statistical and quantum physics, replacing randomness due to quantum fluctuations with low-copy-number stochasticity. Nevertheless, classical studies remained limited to the abstract level, demonstrating a more general applicability and equivalence between systems in physics and biology rather than exploiting the physics tools to study biological systems. Here the Fock space representation, used in quantum mechanics, is combined with the symbolic algebra of creation and annihilation operators to consider explicit solutions for the chemical master equations describing small, well-mixed, biochemical, or biological systems. This is illustrated with an exact solution for a Michaelis-Menten single enzyme interacting with limited substrate, including a consideration of very short time scales, which emphasizes when stiffness is present even for small copy numbers. Furthermore, we present a general matrix representation for Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an arbitrary number of enzymes and substrates that, following diagonalization, leads to the solution of this ubiquitous, nonlinear enzyme kinetics problem. For this, a flexible symbolic maple code is provided, demonstrating the prospective advantages of this framework compared to stochastic simulation algorithms. This further highlights the possibilities for analytically based studies of stochastic systems in biology and chemistry using tools from theoretical quantum physics.

A 17-year-old Brazilian male presented with progressive dyspnea for 15 days, worsening in the last 24 hours, and was admitted in respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock, with multiple organ dysfunctions. Echocardiography showed a left ventricle ejection fraction of 11%, severe diffuse hypokinesia, and a systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 50mmHg, resulting in the need for hemodynamic support with dobutamine (20mcg/kg/min) and noradrenaline (1.7mcg/kg/min). After 48 hours with no clinical or hemodynamic improvement, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was implanted. The patient presented with hemodynamic, systemic perfusion and renal and liver function improvements; however, his cardiac function did not recover after 72 hours, and he was transfer to another hospital. Air transport was conducted from Salvador to Recife in Brazil. A heart transplant was performed with rapid recovery of both liver and kidney functions, as well as good graft function. Histopathology of the explanted heart showed chronic active myocarditis and amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. The estimated global prevalence of T. cruzi infections declined from 18 million in 1991, when the first regional control initiative began, to 5.7 million in 2010. Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease due to infectious or non-infectious conditions. Clinical manifestation is variable, ranging from subclinical presentation to refractory heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Several reports suggest that the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients presenting with severe refractory myocarditis is a potential bridging therapy to heart transplant when there is no spontaneous recovery of ventricular function. In a 6-month follow-up outpatient consult, the patient presented well and was asymptomatic.

The objective of this study is to report the clinical use of 2% Uncaria tomentosa gel against denture stomatitis (DS) as an alternative treatment. The patient was a 65-year-old, denture-wearing woman. At the clinical examination, her palate showed hyperplasic and erythematous mucosa indicating DS type II. DS is a chronic oral disease that affects denture wearers. It occurs as an inflammatory reaction in denture-wearing patients under maxillary prostheses. Candida albicans has been reported as the principal etiological agent. An alternative treatment, the topical application of a gel of 2% U. tomentosa three times a day for 1 week was given to the patient. After 1 week of this treatment, she had significantly reduced signs of the disease. Despite the existence of a great number of antifungal agents, treatment failure is observed frequently. Phytotherapy is becoming more popular worldwide. Currently, the most promising medicinal Amazonian herb is U. tomentosa (Willd.) DC., known as Cat's Claw. Studies of the chemical and pharmacological properties of this medicinal plant have allowed researchers to develop indications for its use. This report demonstrates the effectiveness of U. tomentosa against DS., (© 2015 by the American College of Prosthodontists.)

This study aimed to identify metalloproteins that lose their metal ions in the presence of mercury (Hg) and bind to Hg in breast milk samples collected from the riverine population of the Madeira River, a tributary of the Amazon River. Initially, total Hg was determined from the hair of lactating women to identify individuals who were contaminated followed by a proteomic analysis of breast milk samples through two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after acetone precipitation. The presence of Hg in the obtained protein spots was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. These determinations indicated the presence of Hg in one protein spot, which was then characterized through electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Based on searches in the UniProt database, this protein spot was identified as lysozyme C.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of a self-etching adhesive system containing an antimicrobial quaternary ammonium methacrylate polymer (QAMP) on the vascular permeability using Evans blue and laser-Doppler flowmetric methods., Design: Forty rats were anesthetized and divided into groups: saline solution; Clearfil™ Protect Bond; Clearfil™ SE Bond; Clearfil™ SE Bond containing QAMP. Injections of Evans blue were administrated intravenously and the substances were injected intradermally. Immediately before injection and after 3 and 6h, was evaluated the blood flow. The animals were killed 3 and 6h after injection. The dorsal skin was dissected and experimental sites were obtained. The vascular permeability was evaluated by dye extravasation area, the dye was extracted and absorbance measured., Results: Concerning the Evans blue method, Clearfil™ SE Bond containing QAMP showed an extravasation area statistically similar to Clearfil™ SE Bond and lower than Clearfil™ Protect Bond. No statistical difference was verified among experimental groups for the amount of dye extracted. Clearfil™ SE Bond containing QAMP provided better laser-Doppler flowmetric parameters than Clearfil™ Protect Bond immediately and 3h after injection., Conclusion: The QAMP had lower effect on the exudative phase of the inflammatory process., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of copaiba oil as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic substance on survival of rats subjected to cecal ligation and puncture, describing histopathological and oxidative stress findings., Methods: Forty rats (Ratus norvegicus) were distributed into five study groups (N=8): Sham group (ShG): normal standard animals; Sepse group (SepG): submitted a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP); Pre group (PreG): administered copaiba oil once daily by subcutaneous injection for five days before carrying out CLP; Post CLP group (PostG): administered copaiba oil once daily by subcutaneous injection from the first day of CLP until death by sepsis; and Pre/Post group (Pre/PostG): administered copaiba oil once daily by subcutaneous injection for five days before carrying out CLP and from the first day of CLP until de death by sepsis. After the death of the animals, blood was collected for assessment of oxidative stress and histological analysis were performed. The Kaplan-Meier curves of surviving time were realized., Results: Survival analysis demonstrated that animals treated with copaiba oil prior to the execution of the CLP (PreG and Pre/Post groups) had longer survival compared to the sepsis group (p<0.0001) whereas animals receiving copaiba only after the completion of CLP (PostG) showed no statistically significant difference compared to the sepsis group. However, when comparing the two groups in which was administered copaiba previously (PreG and Pre/PostG groups), there was no statistical significance between the groups (p=0.4672). There was no statistical difference between histopathological findings or the levels of oxidative stress., Conclusion: Prophylactic subcutaneous administration of copaiba increases survival of rats subjected to severe sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture.

We described the selection of a novel nucleic acid antibody-like prostate cancer (PCa) that specifically binds to the single-stranded DNA molecule from a 277-nt fragment that may have been partially paired and bound to the PCA3 RNA conformational structure. PCA3-277 aptamer ligands were obtained, and the best binding molecule, named CG3, was synthesized for validation. Aiming to prove its diagnostic utility, we used an apta-qPCR assay with CG3-aptamer conjugated to magnetic beads to capture PCA3 transcripts, which were amplified 97-fold and 7-fold higher than conventional qPCR in blood and tissue, respectively. Histopathologic analysis of 161 prostate biopsies arranged in a TMA and marked with biotin-labeled CG3-aptamer showed moderate staining in both cytoplasm and nucleus of PCa samples; in contrast, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) samples presented strong nuclear staining (78% of the cases). No staining was observed in stromal cells. In addition, using an apta-qPCR, we demonstrated that CG3-aptamer specifically recognizes the conformational PCA3-277 molecule and at least three other transcript variants, indicating that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is processed after transcription. We suggest that CG3-aptamer may be a useful PCa diagnostic tool. In addition, this molecule may be used in drug design and drug delivery for PCa therapy.

The aims of this survey were to determine the flock-level and animal-level prevalences of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil, and to identify risk factors. Blood samples were collected from 540 sheep in 63 flocks in 14 municipalities in the Sertão mesoregion. To serologically diagnose T. gondiii nfection, the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used. Flocks with at least one seropositive animal were considered positive. Among the 63 flocks, 28 (44.44%) were positive, and 60 (11.11%) of the 540 animals were seropositive. Variable flock size > 25 animals was identified as a risk factor (odds ratio = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.09 - 9.34; P = 0.033). The results from this survey demonstrate that T. gondii is spread among sheep in the State of Paraíba.

The distribution of tree species in tropical forests is generally related to the occurrence of disturbances and shifts in the local environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and biotic factors. Thus, the distribution of pioneer tree species is expected to vary according to the gap characteristics and with human disturbances. We asked whether there was variation in the distribution of a pioneer species under different environmental conditions generated by natural disturbances, and between two forests with contrasting levels of human disturbance. To answer this question, we studied the distribution patterns and population persistence of the pioneer tree species Croton floribundus in the size and age gap range of a primary Brazilian forest. Additionally, we compared the plant density of two size-classes between a primary and an early successional human-disturbed forest. Croton floribundus was found to be widespread and equally distributed along the gap-size gradient in the primary forest. Overall density did not vary with gap size or age (F-ratio = 0.062, P = 0.941), and while juveniles were found to have a higher density in the early successional forest (P = 0.021), tree density was found to be similar between forests (P = 0.058). Our results indicate that the population structure of a pioneer tree species with long life span and a broad gap-size niche preference varied between natural and human-disturbed forests, but not with the level of natural disturbance. We believe this can be explained by the extreme environmental changes that occur after human disturbance. The ecological processes that affect the distribution of pioneer species in natural and human-modified forests may be similar, but our results suggest they act differently under the contrasting environmental conditions generated by natural and human disturbances.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) for wet brewer's grains (WBG) or urea on the performance of lactating dairy cows. The second investigated whether WBG ensiled with corn kept animal performance in low- and high-producing dairy cows compared with WBG. In experiment I, 40 Holstein cows were used in 4 × 4 Latin square design. The treatments comprised WBG or urea as partial replacement for SBM, as follows: control (diet based on SBM and 1 % of urea), 10 % of WBG, 20 % of WBG, and 2 % of urea. Dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected by treatments. WBG increased milk yield linearly, but it decreased with urea. Milk fat content responded quadratically to WBG levels. Milk protein content decreased, while plasma urea nitrogen increased with high urea addition. In experiment II, 42 Holstein cows were divided into two groups according to production levels. Eighteen cows composed the group of low producing, while the high-producing group comprised 24 cows. The experimental design was a crossover with two periods of 14 days. The experimental treatments consisted of feeding WBG or WBG ensiled with ground corn. Regardless of the production level, no difference in milk yield and milk composition between treatments was observed.

Objectives: This in vivo study evaluated pulp temperature (PT) rise in human premolars during exposure to a light curing unit (LCU) using selected exposure modes (EMs)., Methods: After local Ethics Committee approval, intact first upper premolars, requiring extraction for orthodontic reasons, from 8 volunteers, received infiltrative and intraligamental anesthesia. The teeth (n=15) were isolated using rubber dam and a minute pulp exposure was attained. A sterile probe from a wireless, NIST-traceable, temperature acquisition system was inserted directly into the coronal pulp chamber, and real time PT (°C) was continuously monitored while the buccal surface was exposed to polywave light from a LED LCU (Bluephase 20i, Ivoclar Vivadent) using selected EMs allowing a 7-min span between each exposure: 10-s either in low (10-s/L) or high (10-s/H); 5-s-turbo (5-s/T); and 60-s-high (60-s/H) intensities. Peak PT values and PT increases from baseline (ΔT) after exposure were subjected to one-way, repeated measures ANOVAs, and Bonferroni's post hoc tests (α=0.05). Linear regression analysis was performed to establish the relationship between applied radiant exposure and ΔT., Results: All EMs produced higher peak PT than the baseline temperature (p<0.001). The 60-s/H mode generated the highest peak PT and ΔT (p<0.001), with some teeth exhibiting ΔT higher than 5.5°C. A significant, positive relationship between applied radiant exposure and ΔT (r(2)=0.916; p<0.001) was noted., Significance: Exposing intact, in vivo anesthetized human upper premolars to a polywave LED LCU increases PT, and depending on EM and the tooth, PT increase can be higher than the critical ΔT, thought to be associated with pulpal necrosis., (Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Rising sea levels, owing to climate change, are a threat to fresh water coastal aquifers. This is because saline intrusions are caused by increases and intensification of medium-large scale influences including sea level rise, wave climate, tidal cycles, and shifts in beach morphology. Methods are therefore required to understand the dynamics of these interactions. While traditional borehole and galvanic contact resistivity (GCR) techniques have been successful they are time-consuming. Alternatively, frequency-domain electromagnetic (FEM) induction is potentially useful as physical contact with the ground is not required. A DUALEM-421 and EM4Soil inversion software package are used to develop a quasi two- (2D) and quasi three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic conductivity images (EMCI) across Long Reef Beach located north of Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The quasi 2D models discern: the dry sand (<10 mS/m) associated with the incipient dune; sand with fresh water (10 to 20 mS/m); mixing of fresh and saline water (20 to 500 mS/m), and; saline sand of varying moisture (more than 500 mS/m). The quasi 3D EMCIs generated for low and high tides suggest that daily tidal cycles do not have a significant effect on local groundwater salinity. Instead, the saline intrusion is most likely influenced by medium-large scale drivers including local wave climate and morphology along this wave-dominated beach. Further research is required to elucidate the influence of spring-neap tidal cycles, contrasting beach morphological states and sea level rise., (© 2014, National Ground Water Association.)

Our previous study has shown that mangiferin (MGF), a glucosylxanthone from Mangifera indica, exerts gastrointestinal prokinetic action involving a cholinergic mechanism. Postoperative ileus (POI) is a temporary disturbance in gastrointestinal motility following surgery, and intestinal inflammatory response plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of POI. The present study investigated to know whether MGF having anti-inflammatory and prokinetic actions can ameliorate the intestinal inflammation and impaired gastrointestinal transit seen in the mouse model of POI. Experimental POI was induced in adult male Swiss mice by standardized small intestinal manipulation (IM). Twenty-four hours later, gastrointestinal transit was assessed by charcoal transport. MGF was administered orally 1 h before the measurement of GIT. To evaluate the inflammatory response, plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and chemokine MCP-1, and the myeloperoxidase activity, nitrate/nitrite level, and histological changes of ileum were determined in mice treated or not with MGF. Experimental POI in mice was characterized by decreased gastrointestinal transit and marked intestinal and systemic inflammatory response. MGF treatment led to recovery of the delayed intestinal transit induced by IM. MGF in ileum significantly inhibited the myeloperoxidase activity, a marker of neutrophil infiltration, and nitrate/nitrite level and reduced the plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 as well. MGF treatment ameliorates the intestinal inflammatory response and the impaired gastrointestinal motility in the mouse model of POI.

Distance and discrete geographic barriers play a role in isolating populations, as seed and pollen dispersal become limited. Nearby populations without any geographic barrier between them may also suffer from ecological isolation driven by habitat heterogeneity, which may promote divergence by local adaptation and drift. Likewise, elevation gradients may influence the genetic structure and diversity of populations, particularly those marginally distributed. Bathysa australis (Rubiaceae) is a widespread tree along the elevation gradient of the Serra do Mar, SE Brazil. This self-compatible species is pollinated by bees and wasps and has autochoric seeds, suggesting restricted gene dispersal. We investigated the distribution of genetic diversity in six B. australis populations at two extreme sites along an elevation gradient: a lowland site (80-216 m) and an upland site (1010-1100 m.a.s.l.). Nine microsatellite loci were used to test for genetic structure and to verify differences in genetic diversity between sites. We found a marked genetic structure on a scale as small as 6 km (F ST = 0.21), and two distinct clusters were identified, each corresponding to a site. Although B. australis is continuously distributed along the elevation gradient, we have not observed a gene flow between the extreme populations. This might be related to B. australis biological features and creates a potential scenario for adaptation to the different conditions imposed by the elevation gradient. We failed to find an isolation-by-distance pattern; although on the fine scale, all populations showed spatial autocorrelation until ∼10-20 m. Elevation difference was a relevant factor though, but we need further sampling effort to check its correlation with genetic distance. The lowland populations had a higher allelic richness and showed higher rare allele counts than the upland ones. The upland site may be more selective, eliminating rare alleles, as we did not find any evidence for bottleneck.

High meat intake has been related to chronic diseases such as cancer and CVD. One hypothesis is that heterocyclic amines (HCA), which are formed during the cooking process of meat, can generate reactive species. These compounds can cause oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA, resulting in oxidative stress, cell damage and loss of biological function. This association has been seen in vitro; however, it remains unclear in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between oxidative stress and HCA intake, and oxidative stress and meat intake. Data were from the Health Survey for Sao Paulo--ISA-Capital (561 adult and elderly). Food intake was estimated by one 24-h dietary recall (24HR) complemented by a detailed FFQ with preferences of cooking methods and level of doneness for meat. HCA intake was estimated linking the meat from the 24HR to a database of HCA. Oxidative stress was estimated by malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the plasma, after derivatisation with thiobarbituric acid and quantification by HPLC/diode array. Analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regressions adjusted for smoking, sex, age, BMI, skin colour, energy intake, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity. A positive association between HCA intake and MDA concentration (OR 1·17; 95% CI 1·01, 1·38) was observed, showing that HCA from meat may contribute to increase oxidative stress, and may consequently increase the risk of chronic diseases.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the Nd:YAG laser, ultrasound, the ProTaper Universal system (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), and the CanalBrush (Coltene Whaledent, Langenau, Germany) methods for the removal of the smear layer from the apical third of root canals., Methods: Fifty distal root canals from extracted human mandibular first molars were instrumented up to ProTaper Universal F5 and divided randomly into 5 groups (n = 10) according to the following final irrigation agitation techniques: no agitation (control), ProTaper Universal file, ultrasound, CanalBrush, and Nd:YAG laser. Specimens were observed under a scanning electron microscope. The presence of the smear layer was evaluated using a 3-grade scoring system. The data were analyzed with Cohen kappa, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests. A level of significance of .05 was adopted., Results: The ultrasound group performed significantly better than the rest of the groups; 56.6% of the specimens revealed no smear layer, 44.4% showed the presence of a moderate smear layer, and no heavy smear layers were observed. In the Nd:YAG laser group, 30% of the specimens presented with no smear layer, 70% showed the presence of a moderate smear layer, and no heavy smear layers were observed. In contrast, a heavy smear layer was observed on the surfaces of the root canals in the CanalBrush (23.4%), ProTaper Universal (13.4%), and control (86.6%) groups. Statistically significant differences were observed (P < .05)., Conclusions: None of the agitation methods completely removed the smear layer. However, the ultrasound method performed significantly better followed by the Nd:YAG laser, the CanalBrush, and the ProTaper Universal system. Agitation of the irrigant improved smear layer removal in the apical third of the canal., (Copyright © 2015 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between triglyceride (TG) serum levels in obese and non-obese patients in a simulated postprandial state. Both groups showed TG levels < 150 mg/dL when fasting. After 12 h fasting, the subjects ingested a lipid overload diet and blood samples were collected. The variation between fasting and the postprandial TG peak levels were analyzed. The peak of postprandial TG levels occurred 4 h after the lipid overload in both groups. When the subjects were not fasting, the majority of non-obese subjects remained within the range of normal TG values, but the values for the obese group remained elevated. There was a significant correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and TG at each time point until 2 h after the meal, but the data did not show a correlation after 3 h. According to the receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve, postprandial TG values were not a good predictor of obesity (based on BMI), but they were a predictor of non-obesity. This study reinforces the importance of measuring non-fasting TG levels in obese and non-obese subjects, because some non-obese patients probably had altered fat metabolism, indicating that this examination could be an indicator of metabolic risk.

This work involved the optimization and validation of two methods according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC directives for determining fluoroquinolones residues in samples of poultry muscle and kidney: ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, enrofloxacin, flumequine, marbofloxacin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid and sarafloxacin. The extraction procedure was based on a QuEChERS approach, whose optimization employed a Box-Behnken 3(3) factorial design. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) was developed for determining the twelve analytes using the multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). Accuracy, evaluated by recovery studies, varied from 88.8 to 112.2% for the selected levels with RSD values lower than 12.3%. The second validated method employed high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) performed in the single ion monitoring mode (SIM), determining nine among twelve analytes. The validation parameters were evaluated as satisfactory, with recoveries from 82.5 to 114.4% and RSD lower than 8.7%. Decision limits and detection capabilities for both methods were reported. The two methods were statistically compared using the Student's t test, at 95% confidence level, resulting in no significant difference., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Dengue is the most prevalent arboviral disease in tropical areas. In Mato Grosso, outbreaks are reported every year, but studies on dengue in this state are scarce., Methods: Natural transovarial infection of Aedes aegypti by a flavivirus was investigated in the Jardim Industriário neighborhood of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Eggs were collected with ovitraps during the dry, intermediate, and rainy seasons of 2012. After the eggs hatched and the larvae developed to adulthood, mosquitoes (n = 758) were identified and allocated to pools of 1-10 specimens according to the collection location, sex, and climatic period. After RNA extraction, multiplex semi-nested RT-PCR was performed to detect the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes, yellow fever virus, West Nile virus and Saint Louis encephalitis virus., Results: DENV-4 was the only flavivirus detected, and it was found in 8/50 pools (16.0%). Three of the positive pools contained females, and five contained males. Their nucleotide sequences presented 96-100% similarity with DENV-4 genotype II strains from Manaus, Amazonas. The minimum infection rate was 10.5 per 1000 specimens, and the maximum likelihood estimator of the infection rate was 11.6 (95% confidence interval: 4.8; 23.3)., Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence of natural transovarial infection by DENV-4 in Ae. Aegypti in Mato Grosso, suggesting that this type of infection might serve as a mechanism of virus maintenance during interepidemic periods in Cuiabá, a city where dengue epidemics are reported every year. These results emphasize the need for efficient vector population control measures to prevent arbovirus outbreaks in the state.

This paper presents CA2JU, a hardware/software tool that aims to help individuals with severe speech or language problems in their communication in order to promote their social and digital inclusion. CA2JU is composed of two applications: CA2JU Accelerated, which makes typing faster by suggesting potential words to the user; and CA2JU Illustrated, which automatically converts a sentence of words into a sequence of pictographic symbols, allowing a user familiar with the symbols to verify whether the written sentence is correct. We have implemented, evaluated in a controlled scenario, and deployed CA2JU in a real environment with children with cerebral palsy. In the controlled settings, the results confirm CA2JU Accelerated speed up typing by reducing the number of clicks made by users, and CA2JU Illustrated obtained high accuracy by suggesting the correct pictograms from sentences. In the real scenario, the two use cases show that the children improved their communication and linguistic abilities.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of starch levels in diets with the replacement of citrus pulp for corn on milk yield, milk composition, and energy balance of lactating dairy cows. Twenty-eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in seven 4 × 4 Latin squares conducted concurrently, and each experimental period consisted of 20 days (16 days for adaptation and 4 days for sampling). The experimental treatments comprised four starch levels: 15, 20, 25, and 30% in the diet. The dry matter intake increased linearly with increasing starch levels. The milk yield and 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield showed quadratic response to increasing starch levels. The milk protein content and milk total solids content responded linearly to increasing starch levels. The feed efficiency, milk lactose content, milk urea nitrogen, plasma urea nitrogen, and plasma glucose concentration were not affected by starch levels. The estimated net energy for lactation (NEL) intake increased linearly as the starch level was raised. Although the milk NEL output per kilogram of milk was not affected by starch, the milk NEL output daily responded quadratically to starch levels. In addition, the NEL in body weight gain also responded quadratically to increasing starch levels. The efficiency of energy use for milk yield and the NEL efficiency for production also responded quadratically to increasing starch levels. Diets for mid-lactating dairy cows producing around 30 kg/day of milk should be formulated to provide around 25% starch to optimize performance.

Herbal compounds rich in triterpenes are well known to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism and to have beneficial effects on metabolic disorders. The present study investigated the antiobesity properties of resin from Protium heptaphyllum (RPH) and the possible mechanisms in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 15 weeks. Mice treated with RPH showed decreases in body weight, net energy intake, abdominal fat accumulation, plasma glucose, amylase, lipase, triglycerides, and total cholesterol relative to their respective controls, which were RPH unfed. Additionally, RPH treatment, while significantly elevating the plasma level of ghrelin hormone, decreased the levels of insulin, leptin, and resistin. Besides, HFD-induced increases in plasma levels of proinflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 were significantly lowered by RPH. Furthermore, in vitro studies revealed that RPH could significantly inhibit the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (measured by Oil-Red O staining) at concentrations up to 50 μg/mL. These findings suggest that the antiobese potential of RPH is largely due to its modulatory effects on various hormonal and enzymatic secretions related to fat and carbohydrate metabolism and to the regulation of obesity-associated inflammation.

Leishmaniasis is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the infectious parasitic diseases endemic of great relevance and a global public health problem. Pentavalent antimonials used for treatment of this disease are limited and new phytochemicals emerge as an alternative to existing treatments, due to the low toxicity and cost reduction. Usnic acid is uniquely found in lichens and is especially abundant in genera such as Alectoria, Cladonia, Evernia, Lecanora, Ramalina, and Usnea. Usnic acid has been shown to exhibit antiviral, antiprotozoal, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of usnic acid on Leishmania infantum chagasi promastigotes and the occurrence of drug-induced ultrastructural damage in the parasite. Usnic acid was effective against the promastigote forms (IC50=18.30±2.00 µg/mL). Structural and ultrastructural aspects of parasite were analyzed. Morphological alterations were observed as blebs in cell membrane and shapes given off, increasing the number of cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cellular and mitochondrial swelling, with loss of cell polarity. We concluded that the usnic acid presented antileishmanial activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania infantum chagasi and structural and ultrastructural analysis reinforces its cytotoxicity. Further, in vitro studies are warranted to further evaluate this potential.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of chronic pain and its association with socioeconomic and demographic status, and leisure physical activity in the elderly population., Methods: This study is part of an epidemiological cross-sectional population-based household survey called EpiFloripa Elderly 2009-2010, which was conducted with 1,705 elderly individuals (≥ 60 years) residents of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. From the positive response to chronic pain, the associations with the variables were investigated through a structured interview. Descriptive statistics were conducted, including ratio calculation and 95% confidence intervals. In crude and adjusted analysis, Poisson regression was utilized, estimating prevalence ratios, with 95% confidence intervals and ≤ 0.05 p-values., Results: Among the subjects, 29.3% (IC95% 26.5 - 32.2) reported chronic pain. Adjusted analysis showed that being female, having less years of schooling, and being in worse economic situation were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of chronic pain. Being physically active during leisure time was significantly associated with lower prevalence of the outcome., Conclusions: Therefore, it is clear that chronic pain affects a considerable amount of elderly individuals. Social inequalities are a harmful influence in these individuals' quality of life, inasmuch as those inequalities increase the frequency with which chronic pain afflicts them. At the same time, physical activity during leisure time decreases chronic pain frequency. It is fundamental that public health policies subsidize multidisciplinary pain management programs, which should include health targeted physical activity for the elderly, thus preventing the decrease in quality of life that chronic pain brings to this population.

The objective of this study was to compare the use of an external marker titanium dioxide (TiO₂) as an alternative to chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃) in dairy cows. Four dairy cows were allocated in individual pens and fed concentrate supplement and Pennisetum purpureum cv. Cameroon cut daily. Fecal excretion, forage and total dry matter (DM) intakes, and digestibility were measured and estimated with TiO₂ and Cr₂O₃. Chromic oxide overestimated and TiO₂ tended to overestimate fecal excretion compared with total fecal collection. Forage and total DM intakes were overestimated by Cr₂O₃. The apparent DM digestibility was underestimated by Cr₂O₃ and TiO₂. The organic matter (OM) digestibility was underestimated by both markers. There were greater mean bias, mean squared prediction error, and root of the mean squared prediction errors for all parameters estimated with Cr₂O₃. In conclusion, estimates using TiO₂ were more precise and accurate indicating that it can replace Cr₂O₃ as an external marker for grazing dairy cows.

Objectives: Human intrapupal tooth temperature is considered to be similar to that of the body (≈37 °C), although the actual temperature has never been measured. This study evaluated the in vivo, human, basal, coronal intrapulpal temperature of anesthetized upper first premolars., Methods: After approval of the local Ethics Committee was obtained (protocol no. 255,945), upper right and left first premolars requiring extraction for orthodontic reasons from 8 volunteers, ranging from 12 to 30 years old, received infiltrative and intraligamental anesthesia. The teeth (n=15) were isolated using rubber dam and a small, occlusal preparation was made using high-speed handpiece, under constant air-water spray, until a minute pulp exposure was attained. The sterile probe from a wireless, NIST-traceable, temperature acquisition system (Thermes WFI) was inserted directly into the coronal pulp. Once the probe was properly positioned and stable, real-time temperature data were continuously acquired for approximately 25 min. Data (°C) were subjected to 2-tailed, paired t-test (α=0.05), and the 95% confidence intervals for the initial and 25-min mean temperatures were also determined., Results: The initial pulp temperature value (31.8±1.5 °C) was significantly lower than after 25-min (35.3±0.7 °C) (p<0.05). The 95% confidence interval for the initial temperature ranged from 31.0 to 32.6 °C and from 35.0 to 35.7 °C after 25 min. A slow, gradual temperature increase was observed after probe insertion until the pulp temperature reached a plateau, usually after 15 min., Significance: Consistent coronal, human, in vivo temperature values were observed and were slightly, but significantly below that of body core temperature., (Copyright © 2014 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of .12% chlorhexidine applied via spray and the acceptance. A total of 26 individuals with mental health issues, aged 7-14, were included into two groups: placebo (control, n = 13) and chlorhexidine (experimental, n = 13). Both groups received two daily applications of spray during 2 months. The periodontal conditions were evaluated by the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) and gingival index (GI). The evaluation of acceptance of the application method (spray) was assessed by questionnaire. Data were analyzed with nonparametric tests, with a significance level of 5%. Regarding the OHI-S index, only the experimental group showed significant change during the evaluations (p < 0.001). Regarding the GI, both groups showed significant changes during the evaluations. The method of application was well accepted by patients and caregivers, and .12% chlorhexidine solution applied via spray significantly reduced the rates of dental and gingival biofilm., (© 2014 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction: Hospitals are important for vector control of endemic diseases., Methodology: To investigate the presence of dengue vectors, 30 locations at a university hospital in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil, were monitored from January to December 2009 for mosquito eggs using ovitraps placed in high-traffic internal and external areas., Results: A total of 2,302 eggs were obtained. Positivity rate at different sites ranged from 50.0% to 0.0%, with the highest indices in external areas. The presence of eggs correlated with increasing humidity (r = 9.81; p = 0.0013)., Discussion: The study aimed to detect and verify the infestation level of the dengue vector and the influence of abiotic factors., Conclusions: The results indicate that this hospital may be considered an environment for the spread of dengue and hence strategic actions, including control measures and programs aimed at preventing the transmission of this vector, must be implemented.

Background and Objective: It has been demonstrated that periodontitis induces systemic inflammation, which may impair endothelial function leading to increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on systemic inflammatory markers and endothelial dysfunction induced by periodontitis., Material and Methods: Wistar rats were subjected to ligature-induced experimental periodontitis. Eight days after the procedure, the ligature and sham groups were randomly assigned to receive simvastatin or vehicle once a day until the 14th day, when the effects of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on blood pressure were evaluated. Blood samples were collected and evaluated for plasma interleukin-6C, -reactive protein and lipids. The maxilla and mandible were removed for bone loss analysis., Results: Simvastatin treatment reduced systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction induced by periodontitis. Furthermore, simvastatin improved the blood lipid profile and reduced alveolar bone loss., Conclusion: Simvastatin treatment, in addition to the improvement on serum lipid profile, may reduce other predictors of cardiovascular events associated with periodontitis., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Curative treatment of upper gastrointestinal tract neoplasms is complex and associated with high morbidity and mortality. In general, the patients are already malnourished, and early postoperative enteral nutrition is recommended. However, there is no consensus concerning the best enteral access route in these cases., Methods: A prospective randomized trial was performed from 2008 to 2012 with 59 patients who underwent esophagectomy, total gastrectomy, or pancreaticoduodenectomy. In all, 4 patients declined to participate, and 13 did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded. Of the 42 included patients, 21 had nasoenteric tubes, and 21 had a jejunostomy., Results: The two groups were similar in demographic and clinical aspects. The nasoenteric (NE) and jejunostomy groups underwent early enteral therapy in 71 and 62 % of cases (p > 0.05), respectively. The median length of enteral therapy use was less in the NE group (5.0 vs. 8.5 days), but the difference was not statistically significant. The NE group required introduction of parenteral therapy more frequently than the jejunostomy group (p < 0.05). Complications related to the enteral route occurred in 38.0 and 28.5 % of patients (p > 0.05) in the NE and jejunostomy groups, respectively. In the NE group, there were four losses and four tube obstructions. In the jejunostomy group, there were two losses, four obstructions, and two cases of leakage around the tube. In the latter group, patients who underwent therapy for a longer time had tubal complications (p < 0.05) and longer intensive care unit and hospital stays (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The two enteral routes were associated with the same number of complications. However, the presence of a jejunostomy allowed enteral therapy for longer periods, especially in patients with complications, thus avoiding the need for parenteral nutrition.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of copaiba oil administered by different routes on survival of mices subjected to cecal ligation and puncture., Methods: Thirty two mice were distributed into four study groups (N=8): Sham group: normal standard animals;, Control Group: submitted a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP); Gavage group: submitted a CLP, and treat with copaiba oil by gavage; and Subcutaneous group: submitted a CLP, and treat with copaiba oil by subcutaneous injection. After the death of the histological analysis were performed. The Kaplan-Meier curves of surviving time were realized., Results: All animals that received copaiba, regardless of the route used, survived longer when compared to the control group (p<0.0001), whereas the survival time ranged from 20 hours for the control group up to 32 hours for the animals of gavage group and 52 for subcutaneous group. The animals that received gavage copaiba lived about and about 20 hours unless the subcutaneous group (p=0.0042). There was no statistical difference when compared the intensity of inflammatory response (p>0.05) CONCLUSION: Prophylactic subcutaneous administration of copaiba in mice subjected to severe sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture, resulted in a survival time higher than non-use or use of this oil by gavage.

Objective: This study determined the efficacy of LED-laser treatment and the control of sensitivity caused by in-office bleaching., Background Data: Auxiliary power sources (halogen light, arc plasma, LED, LED-laser, and laser) are used in in-office teeth bleaching techniques to accelerate the redox reaction of the whitening gel to increase ease of use, to improve comfort and safety, and to decrease the procedure time., Methods: Sixteen volunteers participated in this randomized, blinded and split-mouth clinical study. The volunteers were divided into two groups: GL, activation with LED; and GLL, activation with LED-laser (300 mW/cm2). The upper and lower arches were bleached in accordance with each treatment. Tooth sensitivity was recorded by a verbal pain scale and the color analysis was evaluated by the VITA scale, up to 6 months after bleaching. Tooth sensitivity and color change were compared between groups at each time period using the Wilcoxon and NcNemar tests. The sensitivity and color within the same group at different periods were analyzed using the Friedman test or Cochran's Q test., Results: The intensity of sensitivity was similar for both groups at different periods, with no statistical difference between them (p>0.05). There were no significant differences in the color change comparing the two techniques (p>0.05); however, it was significant within each group at the different evaluation periods between the groups (p<0.05)., Conclusions: LED-laser treatment was not able to prevent or reduce the sensitivity of teeth and did not improve the efficacy of bleaching.

Background: Due to students' initial inexperience, slides are frequently broken and blood smears are damaged in microscopy training, leading to the need for their constant replacement. To minimize this problem a method of preparing blood smears on transparent acetate sheets was developed with the goal of implementing appropriate and more readily available teaching resources for the microscopic diagnosis of malaria., Methods: Acetate sheets derived from polyester were used to standardize the preparation and staining of thin and thick blood smears on transparent acetate sheets. Thick and thin blood smears were also prepared using the conventional method on glass slides. The staining was conducted using Giemsa staining for the thick and thin smears., Results: Microscopic examination (1,000x) of the thin and thick blood smears prepared on transparent acetate produced high-quality images for both the parasites and the blood cells. The smears showed up on a clear background and with minimal dye precipitation. It was possible to clearly identify the main morphological characteristics of Plasmodium, neutrophils and platelets. After 12 months of storage, there was no change in image quality or evidence of fungal colonization., Conclusion: Preparation of thin and thick blood smears in transparent acetate for the microscopic diagnosis of malaria does not compromise the morphological and staining characteristics of the parasites or blood cells. It is reasonable to predict the applicability of transparent acetate in relevant situations such as the training of qualified professionals for the microscopic diagnosis of malaria and the preparation of positive specimens for competency assessment (quality control) of professionals and services involved in the diagnosis of malaria.

Interfacial interactions between conjugated polymers and carbon nanotubes are pivotal in determining the device performance of nanotube-based polymer electronic devices. Here, we report on interfacial structures and crystallization kinetics of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in the presence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in anisole by means of transmission electron microscope (TEM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy. Confined on SWNT surfaces, the P3HT forms nanofibril crystals perpendicular to the long axis of SWNTs. The equilibrium dissolution temperature of the P3HT crystals in anisole is determined to be 381 ± 10 K according to the Hoffman-Weeks extrapolation approach. Upon cooling, the polymer solution spontaneously undergoes a time-dependent chromism. Various kinetics factors such as crystallization temperature, concentration, and SWNT loading have been investigated. It is found that the growth rate (G) of the crystals scales with concentration (C) as G ∝ C(1.70±0.16). The Avrami model is utilized to analyze the nucleation mechanism and the Avrami exponents vary between 1.0 and 1.3. The Lauritzen-Hoffman theory is applied to study the chain-folding process. The fold surface free energy is calculated to be (5.28-11.9) × 10(-2) J m(-2). It is evident that the addition of 0.30 wt % SWNTs reduces the fold surface free energy by 55.6%.

The main threats to natural populations in terrestrial ecosystems have been widly recognized to be the habitat fragmentation and the exploitation of forest products. In this study, we compared the density of the populations and the structure of three tropical palm species, Astrocaryum aculeatissimum, Euterpe edulis and Geonoma schottiana. For this, we selected five forest fragments of different sizes (3 500ha, 2 400ha, 57ha, 21ha and 19ha) where palms were censused in nine 30 x 30m plots. We tracked the palms survival from 2005 to 2007, and recorded all new individuals encountered. Each individual was assigned in one of the five ontogenetic stages: seedling, infant, juvenile, immature and reproductive. The demographic structure of each palm species was analyzed and compared by a generalized linear model (GLM). The analysis was performed per palm species. The forest fragment area and the year of observation were explanatory variables, and the proportion of individuals in each ontogenetic class and palm density were response variables. The total number of individuals (from seedlings to reproductives, of all species) monitored was 6 450 in 2005, 7 268 in 2006, and 8 664 in 2007. The densities of two palm species were not influenced by the size of the fragment, but the population density of A. aculeatissimum was dependent on the size of the fragment: there were more individuals in the bigger than in the smaller forest fragments. The population structure of A. aculeatissimum, E. edulis, and G. schottiana was not altered in the smaller fragments, except the infants of G. schottiana. The main point to be drawn from the results found in this study is that the responses of density and population structure seem not to be dependent on fragment size, except for one species that resulted more abundant in bigger fragments.

Malva sylvestris L. is widely used in medicine for treatment of inflammatory processes. The plant has anti-inflammatory properties due to substances such as mucilage, flavonoids, and tannins. A mouthwash with leaves from the plant can be used for the treatment of wounds in the oral mucosa. The aim of this study was to assess the wound healing effect of Malva sylvestris L. on a palate mucosa wound in rats. After intraperitoneal anesthesia, a 4-mm-diameter excisional wound was made in the center of the palatal mucosa of 136 rats, using a punch-out biopsy tool. Eight animals were used as baseline wound. The remaining rats were divided into four groups: CO, control; OB, orabase vehicle; CX, 2% chlorhexidine; and MA, 20% Malva in orabase. At 24 h postoperatively, the animals were immobilized without anesthetic to apply 25 mg of each substance twice a day, totaling 50 mg daily. The wound areas were measured photographically and the reepithelialization rates were determined histologically (%) after 0, 3, 7, 15, and 21 days. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. Similar healing pattern was observed among the groups (P>.05; ANOVA). According to the methodology, Malva sylvestris L. extract had no effect on wound healing in the palatal mucosa of rats.

Anxiolytic agents, mainly benzodiazepines, have been used to treat symptomatic disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Our aim was to evaluate the effect of diazepam on the TMJ of rats with increased occlusal vertical dimension (iOVD). Forty male rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control rats were given sham iOVD plus saline solution daily for 7 days. The first experimental group was given sham iOVD plus diazepam 2.5mg/kg/intramuscularly daily for 7 days (diazepam alone group); the second had iOVD induced in molars for 7 days plus saline daily for 7 days (iOVD alone group); and the third had iOVD induced in molars for 7 days plus diazepam 2.5mg/kg/intramuscularly daily for 7 days (iOVD plus diazepam group). At the end of each experiment the animals were killed and their bilateral TMJs were removed, randomly stained with haematoxylin and eosin and sirius-red, and immunoassayed. The thickness of condylar cartilage and of fibrous, proliferating, mature, and hypertrophic layers, number of collagen fibres, and the articular area were measured. Proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α) were also measured. ANOVA and Tukey's tests or the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare data among groups (α=5%). Condylar cartilage was thicker in the control group than in the other groups, the diazepam alone group being thicker than the other 2 experimental groups. There were fewer collagen fibres in the 2 groups given diazepam than in the other 2 groups, and there were no significant differences in the area of cartilage among groups. The controls had lower concentrations of all cytokines (p<0.05) than the 3 experimental groups, except for IL-6. Both iOVD groups had higher concentrations of IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6 than the diazepam alone group. Diazepam alone was associated with increased concentrations of all cytokines except IL-6. We conclude that both iOVD and diazepam induced significant changes in rats' articular cartilage., (Copyright © 2014 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Quantification of parasite density is an important component in the diagnosis of malaria infection. The accuracy of this estimation varies according to the method used. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between the parasite density values obtained with the assumed value of 8,000 cells/μL and the automated WBC count. Moreover, the same comparative analysis was carried out for other assumed values of WBCs. The study was carried out in Brazil with 403 malaria patients who were infected in different endemic areas of the Brazilian Amazon. The use of a fixed WBC count of 8,000 cells/μL to quantify parasite density in malaria patients led to overestimated parasitemia and resulted in low reliability when compared to the automated WBC count. Assumed values ranging between 5,000 and 6,000 cells/μL, and 5,500 cells/μL in particular, showed higher reliability and more similar values of parasite density when compared between the 2 methods. The findings show that assumed WBC count of 5,500 cells/μL could lead to a more accurate estimation of parasite density for malaria patients in this endemic region.

The present study reports the first isolation of Actinobacillus seminis from a goat in Brazil. A four-year-old Moxotó breeding goat in a flock of 70 goats and 65 sheep reared together in the county of Patos, semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil, showed clinical signs of unilateral orchitis and epididymitis. Diagnosis of A. seminis infection was confirmed by association of clinical findings, bacterial isolation and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. This result suggests that A. seminis may be an additional cause of infertility in goats, and that sheep may be the source of infection because the mixed farming system allows the contact between sheep and goats in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil.

Colon adenocarcinoma is a disease expanding worldwide. Cancer of colon and rectum are among the top ten most insidious types in Brazil. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the hormone melatonin to prevent and reduce tumor growth. However, there are only few studies addressing the action of melatonin on Caco-2 cells. Thus, the cytotoxic effect of melatonin on the ultrastructure of Caco-2 cells was investigated. The MTT colorimetric method was used to assess the cytotoxicity. A total of 2×10(6)cells/mL were seeded in microplates and incubated at 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.56, 0.78 and 0.0 (control) μg/mL of melatonin. For ultrastructural analysis concentrations with low, medium and high cytotoxicity plus the control were used for ultrastructural analysis. The concentrations 50, 1.56 and 0.78 μg/mL of melatonin showed low, medium and high cytotoxicity, respectively. Ultrastructurally, the control tumor cells were shown to be preserved. Caco-2 cells showed morphological changes at 50 μg/mL of melatonin, with numerous vacuoles, mitochondrial degeneration and reduced glycogen. However, Caco-2 cells also showed altered morphology in treatments at 1.56 and 0.78 μg/mL of melatonin with characteristics of cells in degeneration by the presence of numerous vacuoles, absence of microvilli, mitochondrial degeneration and nuclear fragmentation. Thus, one can infer that concentrations of 1.56 and 0.78 μg/mL of melatonin promote cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells, which can probably be related to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Some studies have suggested that preoperative chemotherapy for hepatic colorectal metastases may cause hepatic injury and increase perioperative morbidity and mortality., Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatic steatosis in patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer., Methods: Observational retrospective cohort study in which 166 patients underwent 185 hepatectomies for metastatic colorectal cancer with or without associated preoperative chemotherapy from 2004 to 2011. The data were obtained from a review of the medical records and an analysis of the anatomopathological report on the non-tumor portion of the surgical specimen. The study sample was divided into two groups: those who were exposed and those who were unexposed to chemotherapy., Results: From the hepatectomies, 136 cases (73.5%) underwent preoperative chemotherapy, with most (62.5%) using a regimen of 5-fluorouracil + leucovorin. A 40% greater risk of cell damage was detected in 62% of the exposed group. The predominant histological pattern of the cell damage was steatosis, which was detected in 51% of the exposed cases. Exposure to chemotherapy increased the risk of steatosis by 2.2 fold. However, when the risk factors were controlled, only the presence of risk of hepatopathy was associated with steatosis, with a relative risk of 4 (2.7-5.9)., Conclusion: Patients exposed to chemotherapy have 2.2 times the risk of developing hepatic steatosis, and its occurrence is associated with the presence of predisposing factors such as diabetes mellitus and hepatopathy.

Graphene is a material that has attracted attention with regard to sensing and biosensing applications in recent years. Here, we report a novel treatment (using ultrasonic bath and ultrasonic tip) to obtain graphene oxide (GO) and a new stable conducting film using reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and dihexadecylphosphate film (DHP). The GO was obtained by chemical exfoliation and it was reduced using NaBH4. Subsequently, RGO-DHP dispersion was prepared and it was dropped onto a glassy carbon electrode by casting technique. The electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical spectroscopy impedance. The voltammetric behavior of the RGO-DHP/GC electrode in the presence of estradiol was studied, and the results reported an irreversible oxidation peak current at 0.6V. Under the optimal experimental conditions, using linear sweep adsorptive stripping voltammetry, the detection limit obtained for this hormone was 7.7×10(-8)mol L(-1). The proposed electrode can be attractive for applications as electrochemical sensors and biosensors., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective and Design: To evaluate the effects of simvastatin in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytokines profiles and correlate with the disease state of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients., Methods: The PBMC from 22 RA patients were purified and stimulated or not stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin and were treated with simvastatin in different doses. Cytokine levels were quantified by ELISA and patients were assessed for clinical and laboratory variables. This assessment included disease activity measures [Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Disease Activity Score for 28 joints (DAS28)] and a Health Assessment Questionnaire., Results: The IL-17A, IL-6, IL-22 and IFN-γ were significantly reduced in a dose response after simvastatin treatment (50 μM, p = 0.0005; p < 0.0001; p < 0.02; p = 0.0005, respectively). The IL-17A and IL-6 cytokines were also significantly reduced in lower concentrations of simvastatin (10 μM) compared to controls (p = 0.018; p = 0.04) and compared to the standard drug (p = 0.007; p = 0.0001). The results also showed that only RA patients with severe disease (DAS28 >5.1 and CDAI >22) had poor response to simvastatin in reducing cytokines levels, mainly for IL-17A and IL-22 cytokines (p = 0.03; p = 0.039, respectively)., Conclusion: The RA patients in clinical remission, mild or moderate had lower levels of all cytokines analyzed after simvastatin treatment, showing that these patients have better response to treatment. Our findings suggest that the simvastatin therapy modulates different cytokines in a dose dependent manner and its effect is associated with stratification of patients according to disease activity.

Twenty-two propolis samples produced by Apis mellifera L. in an area of the Semiarid region the the State of Bahia (Agreste of Alagoinhas), Brazil, were palynologically analyzed and quantified regarding their levels of total phenolic compounds. These samples were processed using the acetolysis technique with the changes suggested for use with propolis. We found 59 pollen types belonging to 19 families and 36 genera. The family Fabaceae was the most representative in this study with nine pollen types, followed by the family Asteraceae with seven types. The types Mikania and Mimosa pudica occurred in all samples analyzed. The types Mimosa pudica and Eucalyptus had frequency of occurrence above 50% in at least one sample. The highest similarity index (c. 72%) occurred between the samples ER1 and ER2, belonging to the municipality of Entre Rios. Samples from the municipality of Inhambupe displayed the highest (36.78±1.52 mg/g EqAG) and lowest (7.68 ± 2.58 mg/g EqAG) levels of total phenolic compounds. Through the Spearman Correlation Coefficient we noticed that there was a negative linear correlation between the types Mimosa pudica (rs = -0.0419) and Eucalyptus (rs = -0.7090) with the profile of the levels of total phenolic compounds of the samples.

Background and Objective: It has been demonstrated that periodontitis induces a systemic inflammation, which may impair endothelial function. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important enzyme in the inflammatory process and is responsible for prostacyclin production. We hypothesised that in periodontitis, an increase in vascular COX-2 expression may occur, which in turn may have a role in vascular homeostasis. Thus, we evaluated the vascular effects of COX-2 inhibition in an experimental rat model of periodontitis., Material and Methods: Experimental periodontitis was induced in rats by placing a cotton ligature around the cervix of both sides of the mandibular first molars and maxillary second molars. Sham-operated rats had the ligature removed immediately after the procedure. Mesenteric vessels were obtained for the study of COX-2 expression, and blood samples were collected for nitric oxide quantification. In another set of experiments, animals received etoricoxib (10 mg/kg/d, v.o.) or vehicle, and alveolar bone loss and cardiovascular parameters were evaluated., Results: We observed an increase in COX-2 expression in mesenteric vessels harvested from animals with periodontitis, which was accompanied by a reduction in nitric oxide content. Etoricoxib treatment impaired the endothelium-dependent reduction in blood pressure in rats with periodontitis., Conclusion: Periodontitis increases vascular COX-2 expression, which is important in the maintenance of vascular homeostasis in this model. Despite the limitations of an animal study, these findings may have important implications regarding the safety of using selective COX-2 inhibitors in patients with periodontitis., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)