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Introduction: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a type of myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph), t(9;22), leading to the expression of the chimeric oncoprotein BCR-ABL1. The main treatment for CML consists of the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which have various adverse effects and drug resistance mechanisms. The search for new treatments becomes necessary to achieve shorter remission of the malignancy and a better quality of life for patients. The use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has demonstrated a high antitumor potential, through the induction of apoptosis, reduction of cell proliferation, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, due to their chemical characteristics, AMPs have high specificity, resulting in a reduction in adverse effects. Thus, the repositioning of AMPs emerges as a therapeutic alternative for CML. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity and potential interaction of synthetic AMPs with the BCR-ABL1 protein in the CML cell line K-562. Material and methods: Seven AMPs developed by the research group from the plant proteins Mo-CBP3 (chitin-binding protein), Rc-2S-Alb (2S albumin extracted from Ricinus communis seeds), and PepKAA (chitinase from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana) and selected for this study. Initially, the AntiCP server was used to analyze the physicochemical parameters and ProTox 3.0 to predict the toxicity of AMPs. In addition, molecular docking was performed using the Cluspro server with the ABL1 protein in its active form (2GQG), inactive form (2HYY), and with the presence of the T315I mutation (5MO4). Then, the cytotoxicity analysis was performed on the K-562 lineage using the Alamar Blue assay. Results: The 7 AMPs presented significant scores in the analyses of hydrophobicity (-0.34 - -0.13), isoelectric point (8.27-10.3), and electric charge (+1 - +3). Three AMPs were evaluated with class 5 toxicity, while the others ranged between 4 and 5. In the single-dose cytotoxicity assay, only AMPs 3 and 6 presented significant inhibition (p < 0.05), these presented 50% inhibition concentrations (IC50) of 48.31 and 164.8 μg/mL, respectively. Finally, the docking analysis demonstrated that the analyzed AMPs have high interaction energy (-598.0 to -739.4 kcal/mol) and the potential for structural modulation of the analyzed proteins, with RMSD ranging from 0.562 to 0.761. Discussion: The physicochemical parameters were favorable for the interaction between the peptide and the tumor cell, with positive charges, having strong attraction to the plasma membrane. The AMPs evaluated showed cytotoxic potential, with IC50 lower than other AMPs such as γ-thionine (290 μg/mL). In addition, they presented a class 5 toxicity prediction level, being considered safe. Molecular docking allowed the identification of potential targets of clinical interest in CML, demonstrating that AMPs interact with protein kinase ABL1 and alter its structure. Conclusion: Based on the results presented, we conclude that AMPs have significant potential as antileukemic agents, interacting with and modifying the structure of the protein kinase ABL1 and with antitumor potential in vitro. However, additional studies are needed to elucidate their mechanism of action.

The microbiota is composed of numerous resident microorganisms, which contribute to the health and illness of the individual. When the microbiota is in dysbiosis, it can cause some pathological processes and in men it can be correlated with male infertility, so the present study does a systematic review, identifying whether there is a correlation between the microbiota and seminal quality. We analyzed 7 papers published in PubMed, Medline and the Cochrane library databases, in English and published between 2012 and 2022. In men with normal semen parameters, a higher prevalence of Lactobacillus. There was a higher prevalence of Prevotella in patients who had some seminal alteration. We conclude that the microbiota is correlated with seminal quality, since the decrease in Lactobacillus and the increase in other species is seen in infertile men.

The vaginal microbiome is dominated by Lactobacillus spp. and the depletion of these microorganisms have been associated with adverse conditions that can affect women's health. Disturbance of the vaginal niche with a non-lactobacillary microbiota is associated with susceptibility to some diseases, such as obstetric alterations and infertility, resulting in failure in natural pregnancies and increased demand for assisted reproduction treatments. The present study sought to understand the influence of Lactobacillus spp. and fertility female. A systematic search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, SciELO and LILACS, using the keywords: "Microbiome"; "Lactobacillus" and "Female Infertility", published in the last five years. The search resulted in 92 articles; however, 38 articles were excluded due to duplicity, 23 articles were excluded in the selection title/abstract, leaving 31 articles for full reading. In the end, 18 articles were analyzed. The studies encompassed a total of 2,011 women, using 27 types of samples to verify the composition of the microbiome. The eighteen articles that reported the microbiome of fertile women were constituted by a dominance of Lactobacillus spp. who joined to positive predictive outcomes in reproduction, while infertile women showed a dysbiotic profile. Therefore, analyzing bacterial patterns would allow a personalized diagnosis, which could favor personalized therapy for prevention and treatment of certain diseases.

Objective: To verify from a systematic literature review the possible effects of thyroid diseases on assisted reproduction techniques., Data Sources: The studies were analyzed from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, LILACS databases., Selection of Studies: The articles selected for the review included: cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, and clinical trials that addressed the proposed theme and which were published within the period stipulated from January 1, 2012, to March 5, 2022, in English, Portuguese and Spanish. These would later have to go through stages of inclusion as a framework of the type of study and exclusion criteria that were review articles, case reports, abstracts, articles with animal models, and duplicate articles and letters to the editor., Data Collection: Author's name; Number of patients; Clinical outcome; Use of drugs; Control group (in case it had); Clinical outcome., Data Synthesis: In in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection it was verified that thyroid diseases can lead to effects such as a reduction in the rate of recovered oocytes, a decrease in the number of embryos, lower pregnancy rates, and increased chances of congenital anomalies in these patients and a reduction in the rate of implantation. Levothyroxine can increase the number of cycle cancellations., Conclusions: Thyroid diseases may have deleterious effects on the clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Recombination events have been described in the Coronaviridae family. Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a variable degree of selection pressure has acted upon the virus, generating new strains with increased fitness in terms of viral transmission and antibody scape. Most of the SC2 variants of concern (VOC) detected so far carry a combination of key amino acid changes and indels. Recombination may also reshuffle existing genetic profiles of distinct strains, potentially giving origin to recombinant strains with altered phenotypes. However, co-infection and recombination events are challenging to detect and require in-depth curation of assembled genomes and sequencing reds. Here, we present the molecular characterization of a new SARS-CoV-2 recombinant between BA.1.1 and BA.2.23 Omicron lineages identified in Brazil. We characterized four mutations that had not been previously described in any of the recombinants already identified worldwide and described the likely breaking points. Moreover, through phylogenetic analysis, we showed that the newly named XAG lineage groups in a highly supported monophyletic clade confirmed its common evolutionary history from parental Omicron lineages and other recombinants already described. These observations were only possible thanks to the joint effort of bioinformatics tools auxiliary in genomic surveillance and the manual curation of experienced personnel, demonstrating the importance of genetic, and bioinformatic knowledge in genomics., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Silva, Salvato, Gregianini, Gomes, Pereira, de Oliveira, de Menezes, Barcellos, Godinho, Riediger, Debur, de Oliveira, Ribeiro-Rodrigues, Miyajima, Dias, Abbud, Monte-Neto, Calzavara-Silva, Siqueira, Wallau, Resende, Fernandes and Alves.)

An online cross-sectional study on COVID-19 vaccination adhesion was conducted in Portugal nine months after vaccination rollout (September-November 2021). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with hesitancy to take the COVID-19 vaccine in the community-based survey, "COVID-19 Barometer: Social Opinion". Hesitancy was 11%; however, of those, 60.5% stated that they intended to take the vaccine. Hesitancy was associated with factors such as lower monthly household income; no intention of taking the flu vaccine this year; perceived reasonable health status; having two or more diseases; low confidence in the health service response; worse perception of the adequacy of anti-COVID-19 government measures; low or no perceived risk of getting COVID-19; feeling agitated, anxious or sad some days; and lack of trust in the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. Confidence in vaccines, namely against COVID-19, is paramount for public health and should be monitored during vaccination rollout. Clear communication of the risks and benefits of vaccination needs improvement to increase adherence and public confidence.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of topical ozone therapy as an adjuvant treatment in the healing of lower limb ulcers through a systematic literature review., Data Sources: Three databases were used to search for studies conducted in the period up to and including September 2020: PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science., Study Selection: The search identified 44 studies, 7 of which met the eligibility criteria and were evaluated., Data Extraction: Study design, study location, number of patients, patient age, type of control, wound type, intervention type, equipment used to generate ozone (ozone generation), evaluation methodology, and main results were extracted from each study., Data Synthesis: A total of 506 patients 18 years or older with chronic wounds, such as venous or diabetic ulcers, on the lower limbs were enrolled. The majority of studies addressed diabetic foot ulcers., Conclusions: The ozone therapy protocols demonstrated a healing effect in all included studies, and none reported adverse effects. This reinforces the need for more controlled and randomized clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of this treatment and establish clinical criteria for its use., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The present study investigated the erosive potential of children's mouthrinses on glass ionomer cement (GIC) samples after simulated toothbrushing., Study Design: Forty round-shaped samples of GIC were divided into 3 groups: G1- cetylpyridinium chloride, G2- xylitol and triclosan and G3-Malva sylvestris and xylitol and G4-distilled water as a control group. Prior to the main tests, the samples were submitted to the surface roughness measurement (Ra) and weight analysis (W). Afterward, they were brushed twice day (2× / day) for 15 days and immersed in mouthrinses after the last daily brushing. The final surface roughness (R2) and weight (W2) were determined after completing the tooth brushing-mouth rinsing cycles and the real increase in roughness (ΔRa) and real weight loss (ΔW) were calculated. In addition, stereoscopic images taken at 30× magnification. The data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey-test post hoc tests for intergroup comparison and the T-test for dependent samples (α = 0.05)., Results: Only group G2 showed increased in roughness ΔRa (1.53 ± 0.94) whereas ΔW values were not significant. However, evident cracks and voids were verified for all tested children's rinses., Conclusion: Thus, children's mouthrinse containing xylitol / triclosan increased the GIC roughness, especially when associated with brushing.

Carvacrol is a monoterpene present in the essential oil of a number of plants and has been widely used in traditional medicine because it is considered to have a range of therapeutic effects including in relation to respiratory disease. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of carvacrol when used in the treatment of respiratory disorders. A comprehensive literature search using Scopus, MEDLINE-PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science was undertaken. Papers related to the anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties of carvacrol in the treatment of an injury in the respiratory system in in vivo studies and published in the period up to and including August 2019. A total of 152 studies were initially identified, with only 17 meeting the inclusion criteria. Five of the studies were performed in humans, and 12 were performed in rodents. Among the 17 studies included in the systematic review, we performed the meta-analysis with nine of the studies with animals. Carvacrol had a positive effect on the reduction of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-8 and malondialdehyde (MDA); however, the analysis indicated that carvacrol had no effect on IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), probably due to the methodological quality of the studies and their heterogeneity. Current evidence supports the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of carvacrol, but its relationship with the reduction of some inflammatory mediators in animals with lung injury needs further elucidation., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

There is growing evidence that there is a relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD), also simply known as "depression", and inflammatory processes. Selective serotonin inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, are used as a first-line treatment for depression, and it is hypothesized that its use can reduce levels of proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to enable a better understanding of how treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine modulates inflammation, and the roles of the main cytokines in this process. Risk of bias (RoB) in the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized studies (RoBANS). In the meta-analysis, standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as a summary statistic and grouped statistics using the generic inverse variation method in RevMan 5 with random effects model. Heterogeneous changes in cytokine levels were also evaluated from the SMD forest plot of individual studies. After analysis, we observed that fluoxetine was able to decrease TNF-α levels (SMD ± 0.90, 95% CI = 0.16, 1.165, Z ± 2.40, p = 0.02), but not change IL-6 levels (SMD ± 0.37, 95% CI = 0.21, 0.95, Z ± 1.25, p = 0.21).Fluoxetine acts by modulating neuroimmunology, and not only by acting only on the independent restoration of neurotransmission and neuroinflammation pathways., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Breast cancer is the first cause of cancer-related death in Portuguese women. This study aimed to characterize female breast cancer mortality in Portugal in the period between 2002 and 2013, with a special focus on spatiotemporal patterns., Material and Methods: The breast cancer mortality rate was studied using descriptive analysis (unadjusted and age-adjusted), and spatiotemporal clustering analyses., Results: In 2002 - 2013 the breast cancer mortality rate was 28.47/100 000 inhabitants and the age-adjusted mortality rate was 19.46/100 000 inhabitants. In this period the Lisbon region (urban), Alentejo and Algarve (rural) presented higher breast cancer mortality rate, but Madeira (urban), Lisbon and Algarve had higher age-adjusted mortality rate. In the spatiotemporal analysis, the overall mortality rate showed an increasing trend of 1.218%/year, without spatial variations. Also, different patterns were detected in the < 50, 50 - 64 and ≥ 65 age-groups (+ 0.725%, - 1.781% and + 0.896%, respectively). One temporal (2004 - 2006) and one spatiotemporal cluster (North coast) presented significantly lower mortality rate than expected for the period and/or area (26.2 and 16.1/100 000 inhabitants, respectively). Conversely, two spatiotemporal clusters, located in the city of Lisbon (2002 - 2007) and in the Centre region (2008 - 2013), presented significantly higher breast cancer mortality rate than expected (48.6 and 34.9/100 000 inhabitants, relative risk: 1.74 and 1.26, respectively)., Discussion: The annual female crude and adjusted breast cancer mortality rate matched previous publications. However the annual increase detected in the unadjusted rate clashes with the published literature. Overall, the presence of spatiotemporal clusters supports the uneven distribution of the breast cancer mortality reported previously in the different Portuguese regions., Conclusion: This study identified areas and trends of the female breast cancer mortality rate, showing high spatiotemporal variations that must support further detailed studies/interventions.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent malignancy in Portuguese women, and more than half of the registered cases live in the south of the country. The main of this study was to characterize patients with locoregional and metastatic incident BC living in the Southern Portuguese and Madeira regions in 2005-2012 according to demographic, clinical and contextual characteristics. Additionally it aimns to find the associations and relative influences of these factors with locoregional or metastatic disease at diagnosis. After a descriptive approach, binary logistic regression models were used to estimate factors related to the presence of metastatic disease at diagnosis. A final multiple regression model was developed and presented graphically as a nomogram. The median age at diagnosis was 60.84 years, being statistically lower in locoregional cases (P < 0.001). Most patients presented a locoregional disease (78.4%) of unspecified location (44.5%) and had a ductal carcinoma (73.1%). The Lisbon region represented 50.5% of the analyzed cases. Metastatic disease significantly decreased over the period under analysis ( ≈ 7%/year). Demographic (age at diagnosis ≥ 50 years), clinical (lobular and 'other' morphologies, unspecified location) and contextual (residence in Portalegre) characteristics were statistically correlated with the presence of metastatic disease at the time of BC diagnosis in univariate logistic regression, with all but the last maintaining their significance in a multivariate model. Cases with metastatic BC disease at diagnosis are decreasing; however, additional information on their characteristics can improve the alignment of public health strategies, thus strengthening this trend, and contributing to the development of a graphically tailored screening tool.

Background: Nowadays, the use of whitening toothpastes is a common habit, especially among young adults, due to aesthetic appeal. On the other hand, little is known regarding the effects of brushing with those newly dentifrices on wear properties of resin composites., Material and Methods: Thirty specimens of nanoparticle composite resin were fabricated and stored in distilled water for 24 h at 370C. After this, the roughness analysis was performed and submitted to the simulated brushing technique using three types of toothpastes: conventional (GI), and two with whitening effect (GII and GIII) for a period of 15 days, with 2 brushing sessions per day for 2 minutes each. The final surface roughness was analyzed after completing all the brushing cycles and stereoscopic images were taken for each group. The data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey-test post hoc for intergroup comparison and the T-test for dependent samples as well (α = 0.05)., Results: However showing an increase of roughness for all groups after the brushing cycles ( p = 0.01), no statistically significant differences among the groups after simulated brushing was verified ( p = 0.17). Yet, just some cracks of the stereoscopic images were shown, demonstrating no distinct visual effects among the studied groups., Conclusions: After simulated brushing with the whitening toothpastes, similar degree of roughness was verified on the composite resin tested. Key words: Composite resin, toothpastes, whitening., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement:The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exist.

Vitiligo is a disorder of the skin that causes depigmentation and asymptomatic macules whose exact cause is still unclear. Although its aetiology is not fully elucidated, the main theory of its pathomechanism is that it is associated with the autoimmune process. There is few summarized information about the role of inflammatory mediators, as interleukins, in vitiligo, so our aim was to present a systematic review of the role of interleukins in vitiligo, focusing on interleukins. In this review, we included all studies assessing interleukin levels in vitiligo patients conducted up to June 2017. Quality assessment of these studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The interleukins mainly involved were IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17. The studies highlight the crucial role of IL-17 in the onset and progression of the disease, and its synergistic action with IL-2, IL-6 and IL-33. Dysregulated levels of the interleukins were also correlated with the stage of disease, the affected skin surface area, and indicated as the main factor for lymphocyte infiltration found in depigmented regions. These findings illustrate the growing need for new therapies targeting vitiligo and further research into the role of interleukins as an area of particular interest., (© 2018 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: When prescribing antiplatelet agents, physicians face the challenge of protecting patients from thromboembolic events without inducing bleeding damage. However, especially in the perioperative period, the use of these medications requires a carefully balanced assessment of their risks and benefits., Objective: To conduct a systematic review to check whether the antiplatelet agent is to be maintained or suspended in the perioperative period of noncardiac surgeries., Search Strategy: A comprehensive literature search using Science Direct, Scopus, MEDLINE-PubMed, and Web of Science was undertaken., Selection Criteria: Clinical trials of noncardiac surgeries with patients taking regular anti-platelet therapy, published between 2013 and 2018., Results: A total of 1,302 studies were initially identified, with only four meeting the inclusion criteria. The selected studies were conducted in different countries such as, including India (2), Serbia (1), and the USA (1). The age group was similar in all studies, from 61 to 75 years. The most frequent surgery was related to tooth extraction and transurethral resection of bladder cancer. There was a group of patients who used single antiplatelet agents and groups who used single therapy and double therapy. Acetylsalicylic acid was the common drug in all studies., Conclusion: It was concluded that the clinical trials were classified as good quality and that it was not necessary to suspend antiplatelet therapy prior to surgical procedures such as dental extraction and transurethral resection of bladder cancer. It should be noted that it is necessary to jointly evaluate the type of antiplatelet agent, the thrombotic risk of the patient, and the hemorrhagic risk of the surgical procedure., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

The diabetic key enzymes inhibition, nutritional, antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds identification of Passiflora subpeltata fruit pulp were investigated. Fifteen polyphenolic compounds including protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, eriodictyol and quercetin-3-glucoside were identified in the pulp of this species by using UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS analysis. The total carbohydrates and crude protein contents in fruit pulp were 2.62 mg glucose equivalent/g sample fruit pulp and 8.80 mg BSA equivalent/g sample fruit pulp, respectively. The fresh fruit pulp of P. subpeltata contained high total phenolic (724.76 mg GAE/g sample) content and it revealed very high DPPH • (IC 50 of 5.667 μg/mL) and ABTS +• (6794.96 μM trolox equivalent/g sample) scavenging activities. In the key enzymes assays useful for diabetic inhibition the fresh fruit pulp characterized maximum inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase IC 50 of 18.69 and 32.63 μg/mL, respectively. Thus, these results lead to conclude that this fruit specie could be very useful source in nutraceutical products preparations for Type 2 diabetic suffering humans., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The widespread use of mouthwashes, specially in children, is a concern, since the long-term use may modify the topography of dental materials. However, this process still unclear regarding the wear related to infant mouthwashes on glass ionomer cement. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was evaluate the erosive potential of infant mouthwashes on glass ionomer cement specimens., Material and Methods: Forty round-shaped specimens were divided into 4 groups (N=10) and submitted to erosive cycling for 15 days, being exposed 2X/day in the following children's active agents mouthwash solutions: G1- cetylpyridinium chloride, G2- xylitol and triclosan and G3 - Malva sylvestris and xylitol. Prior to cycling, the specimens were submitted to the surface roughness measurement. After erosive cycling, the specimens were reanalyzed, and calculated the increase of roughness (∆Ra). Additionally, it was adopted distilled water as a negative control (G4). As an extra analysis, the mouthwashes had their pH values measured. The results were submitted to T-test and ANOVA followed by Tukey test at 5%., Results: In relation to pH values, G2 presented the most acidic pH value (pH = 6.83) in comparison to other substances. Regarding the comparison of the final roughness values (R) among the groups, it was verified that the mouthwashes showed significant roughness increase in comparison to control group, especially to G3 group (Rf = 1.67 ± 0.14) as well the ΔRa values with statistical difference in comparison to distilled water. Still, with exception of control group outcome, an increase of roughness of each mouthwash was verified after the studied period., Conclusions: Active agents present in infant mouthwashes were capable of roughness increased of glass ionomer cement surface, demonstrating an erosive potential of this material largely used in pediatric dentistry. Key words: Dental erosion, dental cements, mouthwash., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare have declared that no conflicts of interest exist.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of dental prophylaxis techniques on surface roughness of composite resins., Materials and Methods: A total of 36 nanohybrid resin composite test specimens were fabricated and divided into three groups (n = 12). They were kept in distilled water at 37°C for 24 hours and submitted to the finishing and polishing technique. For the prophylactic techniques, in group G1, a mixture of pumice stone and distilled water was used with the aid of a rubber cup; in group G2, Herjos-F prophy paste was used with a rubber cup; and in group G3, a bicarbonate jet spray was used. Afterward, all the samples were repolished using the Soflex pop-on disks. A roughness meter was used to measure surface roughness at three points in time: Before the prophylactic techniques (1st evaluation), afterward (2nd evaluation), and following repeat polishing (3rd evaluation)., Results: It was found that roughness values changed significantly between the 1st and 2nd evaluations (p < 0.05) and between the 2nd and 3rd evaluations (p < 0.05), showing that the change in roughness depended on the type of prophylactic treatment. Roughness was significantly higher after the bicarbonate jet (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Prophylaxis using the sodium bicarbonate jet significantly altered the roughness of nanoparticle-reinforced resin., Clinical Significance: Dental prophylaxis is the most common practice employed to remove bacterial plaque and other coatings. However, one side effect of the cleaning may be a rougher surface subject to degradation and staining. The correct use of prophylactic devices and avoiding prolonged use on resin restorations reduce surface roughness.

Introduction: Vitiligo is one of the most important acquired depigmentation disorders, with an average worldwide prevalence of 0.5-2.0%. The exact etiology of vitiligo is not fully understood, but the principle theories focus on the mechanism responsible for the destruction of melanocytes, which is proposed to be autoimmune, neurogenic, or self-destructive. There is no cure for vitiligo and the results of current treatments vary between individuals, being unsatisfactory in most cases. Despite being a cosmetic disease, the disorder can be psychologically devastating and stigmatizing. Areas covered: In this review, the authors summarize new synthetic drugs for the treatment of vitiligo developed between 2010 and 2015, which include MC1 R agonists and peptides, as well as considering new approaches and strategies using existing drugs. Expert opinion: In conclusion, we found significant advancement in this field of research, demonstrating the growing interest of academic and industrial groups in developing successful products for the treatment of vitiligo. New therapeutic options could contribute to improving the quality of life of patients and advance the search for a truly effective treatment of vitiligo.

Objective: The aim of this in vivo study was to radiographically evaluate the proximal contour of composite resin restorations performed using different matrix systems., Materials and Methods: Patients with premolars needing class II type resin composite restorations involving the marginal ridge were selected. Thirty premolars were selected and randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 each) to receive restorations using different matrix systems: group 1: metal matrix coupled to a carrier matrix and wood wedge (G1-MMW); group 2: sectioned and precontoured metal matrix and elastic wedge (G2-SME); and group 3: a polyester strip and reflective wedge (G3-PMR). After the restorative procedure, bitewing radiographs were performed and analyzed by three calibrated professionals. The quality of the proximal contact and marginal adaptation of the proximal surfaces was classified as either correct or incorrect (undercontour/overcontour)., Results: The Pearson Chi-square statistical test (α = 5%) revealed a statistically difference between frequencies of correct and incorrect restorations (α(2) = 6.787, p < 0.05). The group G2 SME produced a higher frequency of correct proximal contours (90%), while G1-MMW and G3-PMR had a ratio of 40% correct and 60% incorrect contours respectively., Conclusion: None of the matrix systems was able to prevent the formation of incorrect proximal contours; however, the sectioned and precontoured metal matrix/elastic wedge configuration provided better results as compared to the other groups.

The aim of this study was evaluate in vitro the influence of simplified adhesive systems (etch-and-rinse and self-etching) and 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) on the microshear bond strength (μ-SBS) of composite resins on primary molars and incisors. Forty primary molars and forty incisors vestibular enamel was treated with either the self-etching Clearfil SE Bond (CSE, Kuraray) or etch-and-rinse Adper Single Bond 2 (SB2, 3M/ESPE) adhesive system. Each group was subdivided based on the prior treatment of the enamel with or without the topical application of 1.23% APF. Thereafter, matrices were positioned and filled with composite resin and light cured. After storage in distilled water at 37 ± 1°C for 24 h, the specimens were submitted to μ-SBS in a universal testing machine. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p < 0.05) showed that the prior application of 1.23% APF led to a significant reduction in bond strength. The type of adhesive exerted no significant influence bond strength. In the inter-group analysis, however, significantly bond strength reduction was found for the incisors when CSE was employed with APF. Adhesive failure was the most common type of fracture. The bond strength was affected by the prior application of 1.23% APF and type of tooth.

Macronutrients are essential elements for plant growth and development. In natural, non-cultivated systems, the availability of macronutrients is not a limiting factor of growth, due to fast recycling mechanisms. However, their availability might be an issue in modern agricultural practices, since soil has been frequently over exploited. From a crop management perspective, the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are three important limiting factors and therefore frequently added as fertilizers. NPK are among the nutrients that have been reported to alter post-embryonic root developmental processes and consequently, impairs crop yield. To cope with nutrients scarcity, plants have evolved several mechanisms involved in metabolic, physiological, and developmental adaptations. In this scenario, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as additional key regulators of nutrients uptake and assimilation. Some studies have demonstrated the intrinsic relation between miRNAs and their targets, and how they can modulate plants to deal with the NPK availability. In this review, we focus on miRNAs and their regulation of targets involved in NPK metabolism. In general, NPK starvation is related with miRNAs that are involved in root-architectural changes and uptake activity modulation. We further show that several miRNAs were discovered to be involved in plant-microbe symbiosis during N and P uptake, and in this way we present a global view of some studies that were conducted in the last years. The integration of current knowledge about miRNA-NPK signaling may help future studies to focus in good candidates genes for the development of important tools for plant nutritional breeding.

Objectives: We aimed to survey the published literature for articles that describe the use of herbal supplements by elderly patients and to summarize important aspects of selected studies, including most commonly used supplements, study type, study location, and potential hazards of herbal supplement use., Methods: Literature searches were conducted on three scientific/medical databases: Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus. Search results were examined for articles involving the use of herbal products in the elderly population that met selection criteria., Results: Initial searches yielded 1297 articles. Of these original results, only 16 met specific selection criteria. Twelve (75%) of studies identified were performed in North America. Nine studies (56.25%) were conducted in the United States. Seven of the studies were cross-sectional (43.8%). The most commonly reported were gingko biloba, garlic, ginseng, aloe vera, chamomile, spearmint, and ginger. Of these, gingko and garlic are the most commonly used among community-dwelling elderly. Both of these supplements have the potential to interact with anticoagulants and produce bruising or bleeding problems., Conclusions: The use of herbal supplements is common among the elderly, a population that takes a disproportionate share of prescription medications compared to that taken by younger populations. Among the problems uncovered by these studies was a lack of dialog between medical professionals and patients about the use of herbal supplements. Prescribers need to consider the use of herbal supplements and discuss the matter with their elderly patients when making decisions about pharmacological treatments., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)