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Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) play a pivotal role in regenerative therapies. Recent studies show that factors secreted by MSC can replicate their biological activity, driving the emergence of cell-free therapy, likely to surpass stem cell therapy. Patents are an objective measure of R&D and innovation activities, and patent mapping allows us to verify the state of the art and technology, anticipate trends, and identify emerging lines of research. This review performed a search on Derwent World Patents Index™ and retrieved 269 patent families related to the MSC-derived cell-free products. Analysis reveals an exponential increase in patents from the mid-2010s, primarily focusing on exosomes. The patent's contents offer a great diversity of applications and associated technologies by using the products as medicinal agents or drug delivery systems. Nevertheless, numerous application branches remain unexplored, suggesting vast potential for cell-free technologies alone or combined with other approaches., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Gametocytes are the forms of the malaria parasite that are essential for the continuation of the transmission cycle to the vector Anopheles . This study aimed to evaluate the parasite density of Plasmodium spp gametocytes in samples from patients in the region of Porto Velho, Rondônia. Slides containing patient samples were selected from users who sought out care at the Center for Research in Tropical Medicine (CEPEM) during the period from January to December 2016. Samples of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum were selected for analysis of their respective gametocytes. In parallel, monitoring was performed in cultures of NF54 strain P. falciparum gametocytes. Of 248 thick smear slides (EG) evaluated in double blind, 142 (57.2%) were detected with P. vivax , of this total 47 (18.9%) had gametocytes, 1 (0.4%) with LVC negative diagnosis for gametocytes and 1 (0.4%) Pv + Pf (mixed malaria). Regarding P. falciparum , the total number of samples analyzed was 106 (42.7%), of which 20 (8.0%) had gametocytes detected, 6 (2.4%) LVC negative for gametocyte forms, and 3 (1.2%) Pv + Pf (mixed malaria), Plasmodium malariae species was not detected among the samples. The results showed that P. vivax gametocytes were present in the first days of symptoms, with a higher prevalence in patients with two crosses, a fact that was also observed in patients with P. falciparum regarding the prevalence of gametocytes. Faced with this problem, it is necessary to monitor the fluctuation of gametocytes, since these forms are responsible for continuing the malaria cycle within the mosquito vector., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestOn behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Tonantzitlolone B (TZL-B) is a diterpene isolated from the roots of Stillingia loranthacea . Its antinociceptive effects were investigated in male Swiss mice using the following models of pain: formalin test, inflammation induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA), tail flick test, and cold plate test. The influence of TZL-B on the opioid system was assessed in vivo , using opioid antagonists; in silico , investigating the chemical similarity among TZL-B and opioid agonists; and ex vivo , measuring preproenkephalin (PENK) gene expression in the spinal cord by RT-qPCR. TZL-B (10-1000 μg/kg) promoted antinociception in the four experimental models without impairing mice's motor function. TZL-B did not alter paw edema during CFA-induced inflammation. The antinociceptive effects of TZL-B in the tail flick and cold plate tests were diminished by the opioid antagonists naloxone (5 mg/kg), NOR-BNI (0.5 mg/kg), naltrindole (3 mg/kg), and CTOP (1 mg/kg), indicating the involvement of κ-, δ-, and μ-opioid receptors. TZL-B showed no significant chemical similarity to opioid agonists, but the treatment with TZL-B (1000 μg/kg) increased PENK gene expression in the spinal cord of mice. These data suggest that TZL-B promotes antinociception by enhancing the transcription of PENK, hence modulating the endogenous opioid system.

Cleomin, a 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione, was recently isolated from Neocalyptrocalyx longifolium , a species traditionally used for treating painful conditions. Reports about the pharmacological activities of cleomin are lacking. Here, the antinociceptive effects of cleomin were investigated using mice models of pain, namely the formalin, the cold plate, and the tail flick tests. Motor integrity was assessed in the rota-rod test. Antagonism assays and in silico docking analyses were performed to investigate the putative mechanisms of action. Cleomin (12.5-25 mg/kg), at doses that did not induce motor impairment, induced dose-dependent antinociception in both early and late phases of the formalin test and reduced nociceptive behaviors in both the cold plate and tail flick tests. Pretreatments with phaclofen and atropine attenuated the antinociceptive effects of cleomin, implicating the involvement of GABA B and muscarinic receptors. In silico docking studies suggested satisfactory coupling between cleomin and GABA B and M 2 receptors, hence corroborating their role in cleomin's activity. Pretreatments with naloxone, yohimbine, bicuculline, and methysergide did not affect the antinociception of cleomin. In silico pharmacokinetics prediction showed a good drug ability profile of cleomin. In conclusion, cleomin promoted antinociception mediated by GABA B and muscarinic receptors. These findings support further investigation of the analgesic potential of cleomin.

Global climate changes affect biodiversity and cause species distribution shifts, contractions, and expansions. Climate change and disease are emerging threats to primates, and approximately one-quarter of primates' ranges have temperatures over historical ones. How will climate changes influence Atlantic Forest primate ranges? We used habitat suitability models and measured potential changes in area and distributions shifts. Climate change expected in 2100 may change the distribution area of Atlantic Forest primates. Fourteen species (74%) are predicted to lose more than 50% of their distribution, and nine species (47%) are predicted to lose more than 75% of their distribution. The balance was negative, indicating a potential future loss, and the strength of the reduction in the distribution is related to the severity of climate change (SSP scenarios). Directional shifts were detected to the south. The projected mean centroid latitudinal shift is ~ 51 km to the south for 2100 SSP5-8.5 scenario. The possibility of dispersal will depend on suitable routes and landscape configuration. Greenhouse gas emissions should be urgently reduced. Our results also emphasize that no more forest loss is acceptable in Atlantic Forest, and restoration, canopy bridges, friendly agroecosystems, and monitoring of infrastructure projects are urgent to enable dealing with climate change., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Continuous vector surveillance and sustainable interventions are mandatory in order to prevent anopheline proliferation (or spread to new areas) and interrupt malaria transmission. Anopheline abundance and richness were evaluated in urban and peri-urban malaria foci at a medium-sized city in the Brazilian Amazon, comparing the protected human landing catch technique (PHLC) and alternative sampling methods over different seasonal periods. Additional information was assessed for female feeding behaviour and faunal composition., Methods: Anophelines were sampled bimonthly in four urban and peri-urban sites in the city of Porto Velho, state of Rondônia, Brazil. The average number of captured mosquitoes was compared between an PHLC (gold standard), a tent trap (Gazetrap), and a barrier screen by means of generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), which also included season and environment (peri-urban/urban) as predictors., Results: Overall, 2962 Anopheles individuals belonging to 12 species and one complex were caught; Anopheles darlingi represented 86% of the individuals. More mosquitoes were captured in the peri-urban setting, and the urban setting was more diverse. The model estimates that significantly more anophelines were collected by PHLC than by the Screen method, and Gazetrap captured fewer individuals. However, the Screen technique yielded more blood-engorged females. The peak hours of biting activity were from 6 to 7 p.m. in urban areas and from 7 to 8 p.m. in peri-urban areas., Conclusions: Although peri-urban settings presented a greater abundance of anophelines, Shannon and Simpson diversities were higher in urban sites. Each technique proved to be useful, depending on the purpose: PHLC was more effective in capturing the highest anopheline densities, Gazetrap caught the greatest number of species, and the barrier screen technique captured more engorged individuals. There was no seasonal effect on Anopheles assemblage structure; however, a more diverse fauna was caught in the transitional season. Biting activity was more intense from 6 to 8 p.m., with a predominance of An. darlingi., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Despite the various perceptual-motor deficits documented in strabismus, there is a paucity of studies evaluating visual illusions in patients with strabismus. The aim of this study was to examine how the illusionary perception occurs in children/adolescents (10-15 years old) with strabismus with referral for surgery to correct ocular deviations. A controlled cross-sectional study was carried out in which 45 participants with strabismus and 62 healthy volunteers aged 10-15 years were evaluated. The behavioral response to three geometric illusions [Vertical-Horizontal illusion, Müller-Lyer illusion (Bretano version) and Ponzo illusion] and respective neutral stimuli (non-illusory images) regarding the estimation of image size and response time were measured using the Method of Adjustment. To analyze the influence of secondary factors: type of ocular deviation (convergent, divergent or associated with vertical deviation); amount of eye deviation; presence of amblyopia and stereopsis, a one-way ANOVA was performed. Among the tested illusions, children with strabismus showed greater susceptibility ( p = 0.006) and response time ( p = 0.004) to Ponzo's illusory images. Children with strabismus and preserved stereopsis, on the other hand, showed similar susceptibility and response time to control group patients to the Ponzo illusion ( p < 0.005). Patients with amblyopia showed overcorrection in the estimate of non-illusory Ponzo images ( p = 0.046). Children with horizontal ocular deviation (esotropia or exotropia) associated with vertical deviation (hypertropia, DVD and/or alphabetical anisotropy) showed higher susceptibility to vertical adjustment images for the Müller-Lyer illusion (Brentano version) ( p = 0.017). Individuals with strabismus tended to overcorrect the length of the straight-line segment adjusted for non-illusory images when testing non-illusory images in the Müller-Lyer test (Brentano version) ( p = 0.009), as well as for the neutral images in the Vertical-Horizontal test ( p = 0.000). The findings indicated impairment in the perception of geometric illusions and neutral figures, especially for the Ponzo illusion test by children with strabismus. As the behavioral response to illusory images may indirectly reflect the visual and morphofunctional alterations present in these individuals, we suggest that the investigation of visual illusory perception can be used as a new research strategy in the field of investigating the visual function in strabismus., 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 Rohr, Isaac, de Lima, Garcia, dos Santos and Tavares.)

Pain and inflammatory disorders are significant health problems because of prevalence and associated disabilities. In this context, LASSBio-596 is a hybrid compound able to modulate TNF-α and phosphodiesterases 4 and 5, exhibiting an anti-inflammatory effect in the pulmonary inflammatory model. Aiming at a better description of the activities of LASSBio-596, we initially conducted nociception tests (acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, glutamate, and formalin-induced nociception and hot plate test) and later inflammatory tests (acute, peritonitis; and chronic, arthritis) that directed us to this last one. In the abdominal writhing test, there was a dose-dependent inhibition, whose response occurred at the maximum dose (50 mg/kg, p.o.), used in the subsequent tests. LASSBio-596 also inhibited nociception induced by chemical (glutamate by 31.9%; and formalin, in both phases, 1st phase: 25.7%; 2nd phase: 23.9%) and thermal agents (hotplate, by increased latency for pain at two different times). These effects were independent of the motor function, legitimated in rotarod. As there was a response in the inflammatory component of nociception, we performed the peritonitis test, in which migration was inhibited by LASSBio-596 by 39.9%. As the inflammatory process is present in autoimmune diseases, we also performed the arthritis test. LASSBio-596 reduced paw edema from the 15th day to the 21st day of treatment (no liver changes and with fewer paw injuries). In addition, LASSBio-596 decreased serum levels of TNF-α by 67.1%. These data demonstrated the antinociceptive effect of LASSBio-596 and reinforces its anti-inflammatory property (i.e., RA), amplifying the therapeutic potential of this molecule., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The order Phallales ( Basidiomycota ) is represented by gasteroid fungi with expanded and sequestrate basidiomata, known as stinkhorns and false truffles. In phalloids, the first DNA sequence was published in 1997, and after that, some studies aimed to resolve phylogenetic conflicts and propose new species based on DNA markers; however, the number of families and genera in the order still generates controversies among researchers. Thus, this work aims to provide an overview of Phallales diversity represented by selected DNA markers available in public databases. We retrieved Phallales sequences from DNA databases (GenBank and UNITE) of seven markers: ITS (internal transcribed spacer), nuc-LSU (nuclear large subunit rDNA), nuc-SSU (nuclear small subunit rDNA), mt-SSU (mitochondrial small subunit rDNA), ATP 6 (ATPase subunit 6), RPB 2 (nuclear protein-coding second largest subunit of RNA polymerase), and TEF 1-α (translation elongation factor subunit 1α). To compose our final dataset, all ITS sequences retrieved were subjected to BLASTn searches to identify additional ITS sequences not classified as Phallales . Phylogenetic analyses based on Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches using single and combined markers were conducted. All ITS sequences were clustered with a cutoff of 98% in order to maximize the number of species hypotheses. The geographic origin of sequences was retrieved, as well as additional information on species lifestyle and edibility. We obtained a total of 1,149 sequences, representing 664 individuals. Sequences of 41 individuals were unidentified at genus level and were assigned to five distinct families. We recognize seven families and 22 genera in Phallales , although the delimitation of some genera must be further revisited in order to recognize only monophyletic groups. Many inconsistencies in species identification are discussed, and the positioning of genera in each family is shown. The clustering revealed 118 species hypotheses, meaning that approximately 20% of all described species in Phallales have DNA sequences available. Information related to geographic distribution represents 462 individuals distributed in 46 countries on all continents, except Antarctica. Most genera are saprotrophic with only one putative ectomycorrhizal genus, and 2.1% of the legitimate specific names recognized in Phallales are confirmed edible species. Great progress in the molecular analyses of phalloids has already been made over these years, but it is still necessary to solve some taxonomic inconsistencies, mainly at genus level, and generate new data to expand knowledge of the group., 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 © 2021 Melanda, Silva-Filho, Lenz, Menolli, Lima, Ferreira, Assis, Cabral, Martín and Baseia.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Since drugs currently used to manage pain and inflammatory conditions present several side effects, the investigation of new anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive agents from folk-medicine plants is an important approach. Costus spiralis (Costaceae) has been used in Brazilian medicinal teas to treat urinary infection, cough, inflammation, arthritis, among others., Aim of the Study: The current study focused on investigating anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of fractions from C. spiralis leaves using animal models., Materials and Methods: Adults Swiss mice were used in the following experimental models: acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, formalin-induced nociception, hot plate, zymosan-induced peritonitis, and arthritis induced by complete Freund's adjuvant., Results: The presence of steroids was confirmed in all fractions. Flavonoids, condensed tannins and saponins were observed in EFL. In methanolic fraction leaves (MFL), the presence of flavonoids and pentacyclic triterpenoids was confirmed. Orally administered leaf fractions significantly reduced abdominal writhing. Fractions were ineffective in the neurogenic stage of the formalin test, but in the inflammatory stage, ethyl acetate fraction levaes (AcFL), ethanolic fraction leaves (EFL), and MFL significantly reduced paw licking time by 69.6 ± 11.9%, 58.2 ± 9.4%, and 79.6 ± 8.3%, respectively. In the hot plate test, the reaction latency was similar for treated animals and controls. However, in the peritonitis test, cell migration was significantly reduced in animals treated with chloroform fractions leaves ClFL (61.8 ± 11.4%), AcFL (58.7 ± 8.3%), EFL (39.2 ± 5.0%), and MFL (64.8 ± 4.4%). This was similar to the result observed in the chronic inflammation model, this time only the chloroform fraction was able to reduce paw edema., Conclusion: Our results show that leaf fractions of Costus spiralis are capable of modulating peripheral nociceptive and inflammatory responses without effects on central nervous system being potential substrates for phytochemical purification, structural and mechanistic studies., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Monogenic Diabetes (MFD) represents close to 2% of all the cases of diabetes diagnosed in people younger than 45 years old. Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), neonatal diabetes, and several syndromic forms of diabetes are included among the most accounts for about typical forms of MDF. MODY is the most frequent type of MFD, with MODY 1, 2, 3, and 5 being the most prevalent forms. The aim of this narrative review is to describe pregnancy associated changes in the pharmacological profile of the antidiabetic drugs used in women with the most frequent MODY subtypes., Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out to identify eligible studies from MEDLINE/ PubMed, EMBASE, and SCIELO databases from 1970 to 2019 first semester., Results: Pregnancy introduces changes in the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile of some of the treatments used in MODY. MODY 3 (also known as HNF1-A MODY) is the most frequent MDF. MODY 3 patients are highly sensitive to Sulfonylureas (SU). This is also the case for MODY pregnant women. This high sensitivity to SU is also registered in patients with MODY 1 (HNF4-A MODY). Pharmacodynamic changes have been proposed to explain this behavior (Epac2 hyperactivity). However, changes in expression/activity of the metabolizing CYP2C9 cytochrome and/or alterations in the drug transporters oatp1 (Slc21a1), Lst-1 (Slc21a6), OATPD (SLC21A11), and oat2 may better explain, at least in part, this phenomenon by an increase in the concentration of the active drug., Conclusion: The impact of changes in the pharmacological behavior of drugs like SU and other metabolized/transported by mechanisms altered in a pregnancy complicated by MODY is unknown. However, switching-to-insulin recommendation formulated for MODY 1 and 3 seems to be justified. Further research in this field is needed for a better understanding of changes in drug activity associated with this particular subset of patients with MFD., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: The 360° feedback tool emerges as one of the most effective techniques for the assessment of humanistic qualities and communication skills of medical trainees, providing effective feedback. A valid Spanish version of this tool has not yet been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity, reliability and feasibility rates of the Mini-peer Assessment Tool (Mini-PAT), a 360° feedback instrument, translated into Spanish applied on a cardiology residency program., Methods: : We translated the Mini-PAT questionnaire into Spanish. The validation sample included all residents in our cardiology program (n = 19). Each resident was evaluated by 8 raters chosen by themselves, through a 4-point Likert scale. Validity was evaluated with factor analysis and reliability by analyzing internal consistency using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Feasibility was defined by a minimum of 80% of the raters responding the questionnaire., Results: The factor analysis clearly identified five item groupings, similar to the theoretical attributes predefined in the original questionnaire, providing evidence of the validity of the Spanish version. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92, indicating high internal consistency of the items included. All the evaluators proposed completed the electronic form (152 surveys) demonstrating feasibility to implement., Discussion: This study provides evidence of reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the 360° feedback tool Mini-PAT performed in a cardiology residency program to assess global performance and humanistic qualities., Competing Interests: None

Introduction: The multiple mini-interview (MMI) model can be useful to evaluate non-cognitive domains and guide the selection process in medical residency programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and acceptability of the MMI model for the selection of residents in a cardiology residency program., Methods: We conducted an observational and prospective study. It was performed in a tertiary-care center specialized in cardiology and included candidates for the cardiology residency program in March 2018. Ten stations were developed to evaluate different non-cognitive domains. Reliability was evaluated by the generalizability G coefficient. Candidates and interviewers were surveyed to evaluate the acceptability of the MMI model., Results: Nine faculty members were trained and 22 candidates were evaluated. The G study showed a relative G coefficient between 0.56 and 0.73, according to the design. 91% of the candidates stated that they preferred MMI over other types of interviews as a selection method for admission to the residency program, and all the interviewers considered they had enough time to evaluate the candidates and their strengths as future residents., Conclusion: The MMI is a reliable model to evaluate candidates for a residency program in cardiology with high acceptability among residents and observers., (Copyright: © Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.)

Primates play an important role in ecosystem functioning and offer critical insights into human evolution, biology, behavior, and emerging infectious diseases. There are 26 primate species in the Atlantic Forests of South America, 19 of them endemic. We compiled a dataset of 5,472 georeferenced locations of 26 native and 1 introduced primate species, as hybrids in the genera Callithrix and Alouatta. The dataset includes 700 primate communities, 8,121 single species occurrences and 714 estimates of primate population sizes, covering most natural forest types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and some other biomes. On average, primate communities of the Atlantic Forest harbor 2 ± 1 species (range = 1-6). However, about 40% of primate communities contain only one species. Alouatta guariba (N = 2,188 records) and Sapajus nigritus (N = 1,127) were the species with the most records. Callicebus barbarabrownae (N = 35), Leontopithecus caissara (N = 38), and Sapajus libidinosus (N = 41) were the species with the least records. Recorded primate densities varied from 0.004 individuals/km 2 (Alouatta guariba at Fragmento do Bugre, Paraná, Brazil) to 400 individuals/km 2 (Alouatta caraya in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Our dataset reflects disparity between the numerous primate census conducted in the Atlantic Forest, in contrast to the scarcity of estimates of population sizes and densities. With these data, researchers can develop different macroecological and regional level studies, focusing on communities, populations, species co-occurrence and distribution patterns. Moreover, the data can also be used to assess the consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and disease outbreaks on different ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, species invasion or extinction, and community dynamics. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this Data Paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data., (© 2018 by the The Authors. Ecology © 2018 The Ecological Society of America.)

Background: To investigate the skeletal development of HIV infected children through a morphological analysis of the cervical vertebrae (CV) in lateral cephalometric radiographs., Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 86 lateral cephalometric radiographs of male and female children aged between 6 and 14 years old. The radiographs were equally distributed in groups 1 (HIV infected children) and 2 (non-infected children, paired by sex and age). Two examiners analyzed the CV according to the method of Hassel and Farman (1995). Spearman correlation coefficient was used to associate age and skeletal development within groups, while Mann-Whitney test compared the skeletal development between groups., Results: The correlation of age and skeletal development in group 1 reached 0.17, 0.27 and 0.27 (p>0.05) for C2, C3 and C4, respectively, while in group 2 it reached 0.65, 0.54 and 0.60, respectively (p<0.001). Differences were not significant between groups (p>0.05)., Conclusions: HIV infected and non-infected children showed a similar development of the CV. However, the weak correlation between age and CV development in HIV infected children highlights the need for careful decisions prior to therapeutic approaches - especially those founded on the prediction of skeletal development, such as maxillofacial surgeries, and orthopedic and orthodontic procedures.

Purpose: To analyze the voice-related quality of life of children with dysphonia and without voice disorders in a population sample of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil., Methods: Study participants were 420 children, 98 with dysphonia and 322 without voice disorders, aged six to 10 years, enrolled in public and private elementary schools. The random sample was divided into two groups: dysphonic children (study group - SG) and children without vocal disorders (control group - CG). Assessment of the children's voices was performed by four voice-expert speech-language pathologists with more than 10 years of experience in this field, using the auditory-perceptual parameter of overall severity of dysphonia graded in four points. The results were analyzed based on the evaluation of children's voices conducted by the speech-language pathologist that presented the highest intra-rater agreement, using the Kappa statistical method. The Pediatric Voice-related Quality-of-Life (PVRQoL) survey was answered by the children's parents/legal guardians. Descriptive statistical analysis of the data was conducted using the Student's t-Test., Results: Of the 420 children evaluated, 98 were dysphonic (SG) and 322 presented no voice alteration (CG). Analysis of the three PVRQoL scores (total, physical, and social-emotional) showed no difference between the groups tested (SG and CG). No difference was observed in PVRQoL values regarding the degree of vocal deviation., Conclusion: Dysphonia does not have a negative impact on the voice-related quality of life of children considering the response of secondary informants.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of taste in HIV-infected patients., Method: One hundred males and females (11 to 60 years old) were divided into two groups (50 patients infected by HIV and 50 controls) and evaluated for gustatory function., Results: The results revealed that the mean score in the evaluation of taste was significantly lower in individuals with HIV when compared to controls for both sides of the tongue (p < 0.05). Patients with HIV infection had difficulty recognizing the bitter taste, followed by salty and sweet. When each side of the tongue was evaluated separately and compared, the Wilcoxon test showed that there was no significant difference on the tongue of individuals with HIV. The prevalence of hypogeusia was 20% in individuals with this disease., Conclusions: Individuals with HIV infection may have a deficit in taste that can affect your general and oral health., (© 2016 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate cytopathological changes in epithelial cells of the oral mucosa of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) compared with patients without OLP., Subjects and Methods: Swabs were collected from the oral mucosa of 20 patients with OLP (case group) and 20 patients without OLP (control group) using liquid-based cytology. After Papanicolaou staining, the smears were characterized based on Papanicolaou classification and degree of maturation. Nuclear area (NA) measurements, cytoplasmic area (CA) measurements, and the NA/CA ratio were determined from 50 epithelial cells per slide. For quantification of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), the smears were stained with silver nitrate, and the number of AgNORs was counted in 100 cells., Results: In both groups, there was a predominance of Papanicolaou Class I nucleated cells in the superficial layer. The average values of NA (p>0.05) and CA (p=0.000) were greater in the case group (NA=521.6, CA=22,750.3) compared with the control group (NA=518.9, CA=18,348.0). The NA/CA ratio was 0.025 for the case group and 0.031 for the control group (p=0.004). There was no significant difference between the mean AgNORs values of both groups (p>0.05)., Conclusion: The oral mucosa of patients with OLP exhibited significant cytomorphometric changes. However, there was no evidence of malignancy., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study is to compare the immunoexpression of metalloproteinases 1 and 8 in giant-cell fibroma, inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia and normal mucosa. Twenty-two cases of giant-cell fibroma, inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia and oral mucosa (control) each were subjected to immunohistochemistry using anti-metalloproteinase-1 and anti-metalloproteinase-8 antibodies. Eight images of each case were captured and analysed through the a) application of a count grid to count the number of positive neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, fibroblasts and blood vessels to obtain the percentage of staining and b) semi-automated segmentation quantifying the stained area in square micrometres. Statistical tests included ANOVA Two-way, Kruskal Wallis and Games-Howell, with a significance level of 5%. An increased percentage of metalloproteinase-1-immunopositive blood vessels were observed in giant-cell fibroma (26.6±22.4; p=0.02) and inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (34.3±31.5; p=0.01) compared with the control group (19.6±9.2). No significant differences in inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and total area of metalloproteinase-1 and -8 were noted among the three groups. Metalloproteinase-1 apparently acts within the pathogenesis of giant-cell fibroma and inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Asthma is a multifactorial disease and a serious public health problem. Environmental factors and poverty are the main determinants of this disease., Objective: To describe the spatial and temporal distribution of asthma-related hospitalizations and identify the areas with the highest prevalence of and vulnerability to severe asthma in a major Brazilian city., Methods: An ecological study of hospitalizations for asthma from 2002 to 2012, in children and adolescents under 15 years of age, living in Belo Horizonte, Southeast Brazil. All events were geocoded by residence address using Hospital Information System data. The socioeconomic vulnerability of residence address was ranked using the Health Vulnerability Index. Raster surfaces were generated and time-series plots were constructed to determine spatial and time trends in the frequency of asthma-related hospitalizations, respectively., Results: Asthma-related hospitalization rates were highest in children aged 0-4 years and in boys. There was a decreasing trend in the number of asthma-related hospitalizations across the study period. Approximately 48% of all hospitalizations were children living in health vulnerable areas. Seasonal trends showed a hospitalization peak in March, April, and May, coinciding with the post-rainy period., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that social and environmental factors may be determinants of disparities in severe asthma.

Background: Benzodiazepines (BZDs), the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs with anxiolytic action, may cause hyposalivation. It has been previously shown that BZDs can cause hypertrophy and decrease the acini cell number. In this study, we investigated the effects of BZDs and pilocarpine on rat parotid glands, specifically on acinar, ductal, and myoepithelial cells., Methods: Ninety male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups. Control groups received a saline solution for 30 days (C30) and 60 days (C60), and pilocarpine (PILO) for 60 days. Experimental groups received lorazepam (L30) and midazolam (M30) for 30 days. Another group (LS60 or MS60) received lorazepam or midazolam for 30 days, respectively, and saline for additional 30 days. Finally, other groups (LP60 or MP60) received either lorazepam or midazolam for 30 days, respectively, and pilocarpine for additional 30 days. The expression of calponin in myoepithelial cells and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in acinar and ductal cells were evaluated., Results: Animals treated with lorazepam showed an increase in the number of positive staining cells for calponin as compared to control animals (p < 0.05). Midazolam administered with pilocarpine (MP60) induced an increase in the proliferation of acinar and ductal cells and a decrease in the positive staining cells for calponin as compared to midazolam administered with saline (MS60)., Conclusion: We found that myoepithelial cells might be more sensitive to the effects of BZD than acinar and ductal cells in rat parotid glands.

Background: Treatment of advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) was recently improved with the approval of vandetanib and cabozantinib. However, there is still a need to explore sequential therapy with more than one tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and to explore alternative therapies when vandetanib and cabozantinib are not available. This study reports the authors' experience with sorafenib as a treatment for advanced MTC., Methods: This is a retrospective longitudinal study of 13 patients with progressive metastatic MTC treated with sorafenib 400 mg twice daily between December 2011 and January 2015. The primary endpoints were to evaluate response and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients treated with sorafenib outside a clinical trial. The secondary endpoint was an assessment of the toxicity profile. One patient was excluded because of a serious allergic skin rash one week after starting sorafenib., Results: The analysis included 12 patients with metastatic MTC (median age 48 years), 10 with sporadic and 2 with hereditary disease. The median duration of treatment was 11 months, and the median follow-up was 15.5 months. At data cutoff, 2/12 (16%) patients were still on treatment for 16 and 34 months. According to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors analysis, 10 (83.3%) patients showed stable disease, and two (16.6%) had progression of disease; no partial response was observed. The median PFS was nine months. However, three patients with extensive and rapidly progressive disease died within three months of sorafenib treatment. The median PFS excluding these three patients was 12 months. Adverse events (AE) occurred in nine (75%) patients. The main AEs were skin toxicity, weight loss, and fatigue. Five (41.6%) patients needed dose reduction, and one patient discontinued treatment because of toxicity., Conclusions: Treatment with sorafenib in progressive metastatic MTC is well tolerated and resulted in disease control and durable clinical benefit in 75% of patients. Sorafenib treatment could be considered when vandetanib and cabozantinib are not available or after failing these drugs.

Purpose: To analyze the intra-urban differentials related to the outcome of the Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS) of children living in Belo Horizonte tested in a reference service using the Health Vulnerability Index (HVI)., Methods: cross-sectional study with children living in Belo Horizonte evaluated by a Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Service (NHSRS) between 2010 and 2011. The HVI of the census tract of each child was obtained by the georeferencing of their respective addresses. Multivariate analysis was conducted using the decision tree technique, considering a statistical model for each response. A thematic map of points representing the geographic distribution of the children evaluated by the NHS program was also developed., Results: The NHS failure rate for children living in areas with very high HVI, or without HVI data, was 1.5 times higher than that for children living in other census tracts. For children living in areas of low, medium, and high HVI, who underwent NHS after 30 days of life, the NHS failure rate was 2.1 times higher in children that presented Risk Indicator for Hearing Loss (RIHL) (17.2%) than in those who did not (8.1%). Uneven distribution was observed between areas for children that underwent the NHS and those who failed it., Conclusion: Significant intra-urban differentials were found in Belo Horizonte, indicating correlation between health vulnerability and NHS outcomes.

There is little scientific evidence that urban upgrading helps improve health or reduce inequities. This article presents the design for the BH-Viva Project, a "quasi-experimental", multiphase, mixed-methods study with quantitative and qualitative components, proposing an analytical model for monitoring the effects that interventions in the urban environment can have on residents' health in slums in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A preliminary analysis revealed intra-urban differences in age-specific mortality when comparing areas with and without interventions; the mortality rate from 2002 to 2012 was stable in the "formal city", increased in slums without interventions, and decreased in slums with interventions. BH-Viva represents an effort at advancing methodological issues, providing learning and theoretical backing for urban health research and research methods, allowing their application and extension to other urban contexts.

This study assesses the prevalence of poor self-rated health and investigates its association with individual and environmental characteristics in adults with and without reported morbidity. A household survey assessed 4,048 adults in two districts of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. We used Poisson regression with robust variance stratified by the presence of reported morbidity. Prevalence of poor self-rated health was 29.9% (42.6% in those with morbidity and 13.1% in the group without morbidity). All assessed domains were associated with self-rated health in subjects with reported morbidity. In the group without reported morbidity, the following were associated with self-rated health: social environment, socio-demographic factors, lifestyle, and psychological health. Perceived problems in the environment were associated with poor self-rated health in both groups, even after hierarchical adjustment. The results suggest the importance of investigating self-rated health stratified by reported morbidity and reinforce the need to include variables that characterize the physical and social environment.

This study analyzed leisure-time physical activity among 1,621 adults who were non-users of the Academias da Cidade Program in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, but who lived in the vicinity of a fitness center in operation (exposed Group I) or in the vicinity of two sites reserved for future installation of centers (control Groups II and III). The dependent variable was leisure-time physical activity, and linear distance from the households to the fitness centers was the exposure variable, categorized in radial buffers: < 500m; 500-1,000m; and 1,000-1,500m. Binary logistic regression was performed with the Generalized Estimation Equations method. Residents living within < 500m of the fitness center gave better ratings to the physical environment when compared to those living in the 1,000 and 1,500m buffers and showed higher odds of leisure-time physical activity (OR = 1.16; 95%CI: 1.03-1.30), independently of socio-demographic factors; the same was not observed in the control groups (II and III). The findings suggests the program's potential for influencing physical activity in the population living closer to the fitness center and thus provide a strategic alternative for mitigating inequalities in leisure-time physical activity.

Obesity prevalence is rapidly increasing in developing countries. Existing research investigating social patterning of obesity and its risk factors in Latin American urban contexts has inconsistent findings. This study analyzed a multistage household survey in adults in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Marginal models were used to examine the association of education and household and neighborhood income with body mass index (BMI), obesity, physical inactivity, and low fruit and vegetable intake after adjusting for age and ethnicity and stratifying by sex. BMI and obesity were inversely associated with education in women. BMI was positively associated with household and neighborhood income in men. Additionally, physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetable intake were inversely associated with education and household income in both men and women, and physical inactivity was inversely associated with neighborhood income in men. Understanding the drivers of these patterns will allow for development of appropriate policy and interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in large cities in Latin America.

This study analyzes the profile of deaths from road traffic accidents in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, by linking two public databases, the Information System of the Urban Transportation and Transit Company (BH10) and the Mortality Information System (SIM). The linked database (n = 306) identified a 24% under-recording rate for deaths and differed in the age distribution from the BH10 database and in roadway user category when compared to the mortality database. The mortality rate for road traffic accidents within the city limits was 10.2 per 100,000 thousand, and was higher among men, young adults, and the elderly. Poisson multivariate regression showed a higher mean death rate for motorcycle occupants (rate ratio - RR: 1.81); pedestrians (RR: 1.32); males (RR: 1.24); single/divorced (RR: 1.27); young adults 18-29 years of age (RR: 1.75); elderly (RR: 1.59); and deaths at the crash site (RR: 1.39) when compared to the reference categories. The study unveils the city's traffic violence, expressed by the large proportion of deaths at the crash site and within the first 24 hours, and confirms the relevance of database linkage for characterizing vulnerable groups and traffic accident mortality in the urban setting.

The present study aimed to evaluate factors associated with overweight among adults living in urban areas, with the income of the census tract as a context variable. The survey assessed individuals from two health districts of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Excess weight was determined by body mass index > 25kg/m2. Multilevel logistic regression was used. The sample comprised 2,935 individuals aged 20 to 60 years. The prevalence of overweight was 52.3% (95%CI: 49.9-54.8), similar between men and women. Higher schooling proved to be protective against overweight in women and a risk for men. Living in census tracts with higher income was associated with excess weight only in males. Report of the consumption of diet soft drinks was positively associated with overweight in both sexes. The occurrence of this event seems to be influenced by different factors or to interrelate differently in men and women.

The Belo Horizonte Observatory for Urban Health (OSUBH), housed in an academic setting, was founded in 2002 as part of a broader agenda to strengthen local and national health systems. Its mission is to build the capacity of the workforce in research on population health and to conduct studies on urban issues that can guide the planning of activities aimed at improving the health of populations, especially in heavily urbanized areas, associated with intra-urban inequalities. It focuses on the acquisition of advanced knowledge on urban health (metric) through scientific research, to contribute to public policies that may interfere with health, both at individual and community levels. During its lifetime, many partnerships and studies have been developed, but many challenges still exist in order for it to consolidate its position as a legitimate space and as a tool to generate systematic information for governments and populations.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity and investigate its association with contextual characteristics of the social and physical environment in different socioeconomic statuses, using a household survey in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (2008-2009). Leisure-time physical activity was measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; and the social and physical environment by scales arising from perception of neighborhood attributes. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed separately for each socioeconomic status stratum. The overall prevalence of leisure-time physical activity was 30.2%, being 20.2% amongst participants of low socioeconomic status, 25.4% in the medium and 40.6% in the high socioeconomic status group. A greater perception of social cohesion was associated with increased leisure-time physical activity only amongst participants of the lowest socioeconomic status even after adjusting for individual characteristics. The results demonstrate the importance of social cohesion for the promotion of leisure-time physical activity in economically disadvantaged groups, supporting the need to stimulate interventions for enhancing social relationships in this population.

This observational study aimed to estimate the prevalence of speeding on urban roadways and to analyze associated factors. The sample consisted of 8,565 vehicles circulating in areas with and without fixed speed cameras in operation. We found that 40% of vehicles 200 meters after the fixed cameras and 33.6% of vehicles observed on roadways without speed cameras were moving over the speed limit (p < 0.001). Motorcycles showed the highest recorded speed (126km/h). Most drivers were men (87.6%), 3.3% of all drivers were using their cell phones, and 74.6% of drivers (not counting motorcyclists) were wearing their seatbelts. On roadway stretches without fixed speed cameras, more women drivers were talking on their cell phones and wearing seatbelts when compared to men (p < 0.05 for both comparisons), independently of speed limits. The results suggest that compliance with speed limits requires more than structural interventions.

We conducted a survey of the malaria vectors in an area where a power line had been constructed, between the municipalities of Porto Velho and Rio Branco, in the states of Rondônia and Acre, respectively. The present paper relates to the results of the survey of Anopheles fauna conducted in the state of Rondônia. Mosquito field collections were performed in six villages along the federal highway BR 364 in the municipality of Porto Velho, namely Porto Velho, Jaci Paraná, Mutum Paraná, Vila Abunã, Vista Alegre do Abunã, and Extrema. Mosquito captures were performed at three distinct sites in each locality during the months of February, July, and October 2011 using a protected human-landing catch method; outdoor and indoor captures were conducted simultaneously at each site for six hours. In the six sampled areas, we captured 2,185 mosquitoes belonging to seven Anopheles species. Of these specimens, 95.1% consisted of Anopheles darlingi, 1.8% An. triannulatus l.s., 1.7% An. deaneorum, 0.8% An. konderi l.s., 0.4 An. braziliensis, 0.1% An. albitarsis l.s., and 0.1% An. benarrochi. An. darlingi was the only species found in all localities; the remaining species occurred in sites with specific characteristics.

Introduction: Newborn hearing screening (NHS) programs are implemented across the globe to detect early hearing impairment. In order to meet this objective, the quality of these programs should be monitored using internationally recognized indicators., Objective: To evaluate a newborn hearing screening service (NHSS) using international quality indicators., Methods: A retrospective cohort study on the NHSS of Minas Gerais was conducted, analyzing the services performed between 2010 and 2011. Results were analyzed according to criteria from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing., Results: This study assessed 6987 children. The proportions of cases that were referred for a retest, that followed through with retest, and that were referred for diagnosis were 8.0%, 71.9%, and 2.1%, respectively. The proportion of assessed newborn children in the first 30 days of life in this study was 65%. The median age of those children who failed both the NHS and the retest was significantly higher than the other children. The chance of a child with a hearing impairment risk indicator to fail the NHS was 2.4 times higher than of those without a risk indicator., Conclusion: NHSS achieved three of four evaluated indicators. Despite this, it is still necessary to perform NHS earlier and to ensure that the subsequent steps are followed., (Copyright © 2014 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Objective. This study identified environmental variables associated with obesity in the adult population of a city in Brazil. Methods. It was conducted using the Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey from 2008 to 2010. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated from the participants' self-reported weight and height. Obesity was defined as a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. The food establishments, georeferenced areas conducive to physical activity, total income of the neighbourhood, homicide rate and population density were used to characterise the environment. In addition, individual variables were considered. A multilevel logistic regression was performed. Results. A total of 5273 individuals were evaluated. The odds of obesity was found to be significantly decreased with increases in the number of establishments that sell healthy food, number of restaurants, number of places for physical activity and total income - in different models. In addition, these associations remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, education and consumption of meat with visible fat. Conclusions. This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex interaction between environmental and individual determinants of obesity and may aid in the development of effective interventions, such as the expansion of obesity control programmes.

Objective: To analyze the contribution of three data sources in the description of traffic accidents in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil., Methods: Exploratory study of databases: BHTRANS (metropolitan traffic and transportation authority), Hospital Admissions and Mortality Information Systems, with estimation of proportions, coefficients and odds ratios., Results: Incomplete data was observed in the three sources, especially regarding alcohol consumption by drivers and use of safety equipment. The victim profile among the sources was consistent: young adults, males, motorcycle riders and pedestrians. In addition to the high mortality rate (19.4 per 100.000 inhabitants), an increase in the number of non-fatal accidents was observed. An increase of 34% in hospital admissions and of 53% in hospital costs was evidenced. The motorcycle accident rate is higher than expected given the fleet composition. Male drivers have the highest risk of injury or death; relative to drivers, passengers or pedestrians have a 1,8 times higher risk of death. There was a 12% increase in the number of deaths at the site of the accident, 55% of which showed positive evidence of alcohol use and 50% higher risk of fatal accidents on weekends., Conclusions: Despite some incomplete record keeping and non-specific death registry codes, it was possible to characterize the main factors associated with accidents: elderly pedestrians, motorcycle riders, alcohol consumption and speeding. The study demonstrated the complementarity of the three data sources, with their different goals, and revealed important features of the traffic accident event-chain and victim profile, providing key data for the development of mitigation strategies.

Benzodiazepines (BZDs), the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs with anxiolytic action, may cause hyposalivation. Therefore, this study sought to quantify the acini (N) in parotid glands of Wistar rats treated chronically with two BZDs (Lorazepam and Midazolan) and to verify the action of the pilocarpine when administered with these drugs. Ninety male Wistar rats were distributed in 9 groups according to the administration of: a) S30 - saline solution for 30 days; b) S60 - saline solution for 60 days; c) P60 - pilocarpine for 60 days; d) L30 - Lorazepam for 30 days; e) M30 - Midozolam for 30 days; f) LS60 - Lorazepam for 60 days and, after this period, 30 more days of saline solution; g) MS60 - Midazolam for 30 days and, after this period, 30 more days of saline solution; h) LP60 - Lorazepam and Pilocarpine for 60 days; i) MP60 - Midazolam and Pilocarpine for 60 days. A surgery was performed on the animals to remove the glands. After this, histological cuts were stained by hematoxylin and eosin, from which the N was quantified. The ANOVA and Games-Howell tests were used for statistical analysis. The L30 and M30 groups presented less N than did the S30 group (p<0.05). The LS60, MS60, and LP60 groups presented less N than did the S60 and P60 groups (p<0.05). No differences could be observed between the MP60 and S60 groups. The chronic administration of Midazolam and Lorazepam reduced acini, which may well have collaborated in the reduction of salivary flow previously verified. The association of Midazolam with Pilocarpine led to the reestablishment of acinar cells, which may have favored the restoration of the salivary flow formerly shown.

Purpose: To identify and systematize the main studies on the transition from enteral to oral feeding in preterm infants., Research Strategy: Articles that describe the transition from oral to enteral feeding in preterm infants were located in MEDLINE, LILACS, and SciELO databases., Selection Criteria: Original studies, with available abstract, published in the last 10 years were included., Data Analysis: Analysis of the methodology and the main results of the studies, and meta-analysis of the effects of sensory-motor-oral stimulation at the time of transition to full oral feeding and duration of hospitalization were conducted., Results: Twenty-nine national and international publications were considered. Most studies were clinical trials (44.8%) and did not use rating scales to start the transition process (82.7%). In the meta-analysis, positive effect of stimulation of the sensory-motor-oral system was observed with respect to the transition time to oral diet (p=0.0000), but not in relation to the length of hospital stay (p=0.09). However, heterogeneity between studies was found both in the analysis of the transition time to full oral feeding (I2=93.98) and in the length of hospital stay (I2=82.30)., Conclusion: The transition to oral feeding is an important moment, and various physical and clinical characteristics of preterm infants have been used to describe this process. Despite the impossibility of generalizing the results due to the heterogeneity of the studies, we have noted the importance of strategies for stimulation of sensory-motor-oral system to decrease the period of transition to full oral feeding system.

Purpose: The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of bifid mandibular canals in patients treated at the Dental Clinic of the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil., Methods: The sample consisted of 3,024 panoramic radiographs from male (n = 1,155) and female (n = 1,869) patients (mean age 30 years). An experienced radiologist analyzed the panoramic radiographs according to the study of Langlais et al. (J Am Dental Assoc 110:923-926, 1985), which classifies bifid mandibular canals into four different types., Results: Sixty patients (1.98 %) presented bifid mandibular canals. Specifically, 50 patients revealed bifid mandibular canals type I, while 10 patients revealed bifid mandibular canals type II. All the variations were unilateral. In addition, statistically significant results were not observed for gender distribution., Conclusion: The present findings indicate a low prevalence of morphologic alterations of the mandibular canal in the studied population. However, the present outcome highlights the clinical relevance of investigating the radiologic morphology of the mandibular canal prior to surgical interventions.

Background: Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection that affects skin and subcutaneous tissue. Lesions can be classified in tumorous, verrucous, cicatricial and plaque type. The cellular immune response in the severe form of the disease seems to correlate with a Th2 pattern of cytokines. The humoral immune response also seems to play a role. We intended to explore the populations of regulatory T cells and the Th17 pattern., Methodology: Twenty-three biopsies of verrucous form were obtained from patients with clinical, culture and histopathological diagnostic of chromoblastomycosis, without treatment. It was performed an immunohistochemistry method to detect Foxp3, CD25, TGF-β, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23., Principal Findings: IL-17 was the only cytokine with high expression in CBM when compared to normal skin. The expression of Treg cells, TGF- β, IL-6 and IL-23 were similar to normal skin., Conclusions/significance: The constitution of a local immune response with high expression of IL-17 and low expression of other cytokines could be at least in part, an attempt to help the immune system against fungal infection. On the other hand, high levels of local immune response mediated by Th17 profile could overcome the role of Treg cells. The inefficient immunomodulation as a consequence of the unbalance by Treg/Th17 cells seems to corroborate with the less effective immune response against fungi.

There is a growing interest in evaluating the impact of neighborhood characteristics on health. The definition of neighborhood involves two main strategies, one using artificial boundaries, usually created for administrative purposes, and the other based on the individual's definition, namely the perceived neighborhood. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with heterogeneity in the perceived neighborhood among participants in a health survey in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine and quantify this association. Larger size of the perceived neighborhood was associated with better socioeconomic status, positive employment status, positive assessment of aesthetic aspects and mobility within the neighborhood, active identification of problems in the neighborhood, less involvement in sports/leisure activities, and knowing more neighbors. The study's results can help produce more significant neighborhood definitions that are more consistent with residents' own perceptions, thereby favoring more accurate estimates of neighborhood impact on health.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are characterized by expression of CD123 and BDCA-2 (Blood Dendritic Cell Antigen 2) (CD303) molecules, which are important in innate and adaptive immunity. Chromoblastomycosis (CBM), lacaziosis or Jorge Lobo's disease (JLD), and paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), are noteworthy in Latin America due to the large number of reported cases. The severity of lesions is mainly determined by the host's immune status and in situ responses. The dendritic cells studied in these fungal diseases are of myeloid origin, such as Langerhans cells and dermal dendrocytes; to our knowledge, there are no data for pDCs. Forty-three biopsies from patients with CBM, 42 from those with JLD and 46 diagnosed with PCM, were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Plasmacytoid cells immunostained with anti-CD123 and anti-CD303 were detected in 16 cases of CBM; in those stained with anti-CD123, 24 specimens were obtained from PCM. We did not detect the presence of pDCs in any specimen using either antibody in JLD. We believe that, albeit a secondary immune response in PCM and CBM, pDCs could act as a secondary source of important cytokines. The BDCA-2 (CD303) is a c-type lectin receptor involved in cell adhesion, capture, and processing of antigens. Through the expression of the c-lectin receptor, there could be an interaction with fungi, similar to other receptors of this type, namely, CD207 in PCM and CD205 and CD209 in other fungal infections. In JLD, the absence of expression of CD123 and CD303 seems to indicate that pDCs are not involved in the immune response.

Completely and partially edentulous patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) experience severe hyposalivation, xerostomia, and considerable difficulty in using tissue-supported prosthesis. This clinical paper describes the management, treatment, and 6-year follow-up of a patient diagnosed with SS type II, who uses corticosteroids and antihyperglycemic drugs. The patient received restorative, periodontal, and surgical treatments followed by implant-supported fixed prosthesis. Radiographic evaluation and probing depth showed gingival health and no bone loss after 6 years. Treatment with implant-retained dental prosthesis greatly increased comfort and function, offering an alternative to patients with SS.