Psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics, orthodontic treatment needs, and self-esteem in amazonian adolescents

This study aimed to evaluate the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics on the quality of life associated with normative and subjective orthodontic treatment needs and the self-esteem of adolescents living in the Brazilian Amazon region. It is a cross-sectional observational study conducted with 212 adolescents of both sexes enrolled in public schools in Boca do Acre (Amazonas, Brazil). The Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) assessed the psychosocial impact of malocclusion, and the Global Negative Self-Evaluation (GSE) scale evaluated the adolescents\u27 self-esteem. The assessment of normative and subjective orthodontic treatment needs used the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), including its dental health (DHC) and aesthetic (AC) components. Initial descriptive analyses of the data used absolute and relative frequencies, medians, and interquartile ranges. Poisson regression models with robust variance estimators appraised the prevalence ratios - with respective confidence intervals (95% CI) - of the associations with the PIDAQ. The prevalence of adolescents needing normative orthodontic treatment (IOTN-DHC) was 76.4%, and the subjective orthodontic treatment need prevalence (IOTN-AC) was 9.0%. Adolescents with low self-esteem reported a more significant impact on dental aesthetics (PR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.14-1.36; p < 0.05). The study concluded that self-esteem and the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics on the quality of life of Amazonian adolescents are significantly associated

Improving accelerated aging and electrical conductivity tests to assess popcorn seed vigor

Laboratories constantly evaluate seed lot quality under controlled conditions; however, these tests may overestimate actual field values, making vigor tests indispensable. This study fine-tuned the methods for testing electrical conductivity and accelerated aging to determine popcorn seed vigor. Four lots of hybrid AP8203 popcorn seeds underwent testing for the parameters of germination, first germination count, seedling length, emergence, emergence speed index, water content, electrical conductivity (immersion of 50 or 100 seeds in 50, 75, and 100 ml of distilled water for two, four, five, eight, and 24 hours), and accelerated aging (conventional with water, unsaturated NaCl solution, and saturated NaCl solution). The study had a completely randomized design. The accelerated aging test efficiently aged popcorn seeds using a conventional solution for 48 hours and a saturated saline solution for 72 hours. The electrical conductivity test effectively discriminated seed lots into vigor classes when using 50 popcorn seeds in 50 ml of water at 25°C after six hours of imbibition

Epiphytic and endophytic bacteria for the control of Botrytis cinerea in vitro and in grape berries of cv. sauvignon blanc in southern Brazil

Botrytis bunch rot (BBR) in grapevines caused by Botrytis cinerea is a pre- and post-harvest disease that leads to significant losses in southern Brazil. This study aimed to assess the potential of epiphytic and endophytic bacteria to control B. cinerea in vitro and in vivo in the cv. Sauvignon Blanc (SB). B. cinerea and epiphytic and endophytic bacterial isolates were obtained from the grape clusters and leaf phyllosphere (epiphytic and endophytic) of the SB variety, respectively. Four epiphytic and two endophytic isolates that showed the highest antibiosis indices in vitro and in vivo were identified using phenotyping and DNA sequencing. Treatments were carried out in a completely randomized experimental design with five replications, including (a) control, (b) B. cinerea, (c) commercial product (EcoshotÒ) with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, (d) epiphytic bacteria, and (e) endophytic bacteria. Among the 52 isolates, 4 epiphytic and 2 endophytic isolates showed the highest degree of inhibition and significantly inhibited the growth of B. cinerea. The UEP40, UEP43, UEN13, and UEN14 isolates yielded positive reactions for urea and indole. The epiphytic isolates UEP43 (identified as Serratia marcescens) and UEP51 (Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens) and the endophytic isolate UEN13 (Staphylococcus equorum) reduced the severity of BBR on detached grape berries by ~55% and 49% between 72 and 168 h after inoculation, respectively. These bacterial isolates are potential biocontrol agents against B. cinerea. However, more research is needed to confirm their efficacy in vineyards in southern Brazil.A podridão cinzenta (PC) em videiras, causada pelo Botrytis cinerea, é uma doença de pré e pós-colheita que causa perdas significativas no sul do Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial de bactérias epifíticas e endofíticas no controle do B. cinerea in vitro e in vivo na variedade \u27Sauvignon Blanc\u27 (SB). Os isolados de  B. cinerea e bactérias epifíticas e endofíticas foram obtidos de cachos de uva e do filoplano da variedade SB, respectivamente. Quatro isolados epifíticos e dois endofíticos que mostraram os maiores índices de antibiose in vitro e in vivo foram identificados usando fenotipagem e sequenciamento de DNA. Os tratamentos foram realizados em um delineamento experimental completamente casualizado com cinco repetições, incluindo: a) controle; b) B. cinerea; c) produto comercial - Ecoshot® com Bacillus amyloliquefaciens; d) bactérias epifíticas e e) bactérias endofíticas. Entre os 52 isolados, quatro epifíticos e dois endofíticos, apresentaram os maiores grau de inibição e inibiram significativamente o crescimento do B. cinerea. Os isolados UEP40, UEP43, UEN13 e UEN14 apresentaram reações positivas para ureia e indol. Os isolados epifíticos UEP43 e UEP51 e o isolado endofítico UEN13 reduziram a severidade da BBR em bagas de uva destacadas em aproximadamente 55% e 49% entre 72 e 168 horas após a inoculação, respectivamente. Esses isolados foram identificados como Serratia marcescens, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens e Staphylococcus equorum, respectivamente. Esses isolados bacterianos são agentes potenciais de biocontrole de B. cinerea. No entanto, mais pesquisas são necessárias para confirmar sua eficácia em vinhedos no sul do Brasil

Prevalence of red, orange, and green microbial complexes in periodontal pockets of chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To verify the prevalence of specific microorganisms of red, green, and orange microbiological complexes in periodontal pockets of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on hemodialysis. This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. The search strategy included two independent reviewers who searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and Lilacs databases in August 2024, using MeSH terms and keywords defined with the PICOS acronym. The studies included were cross-sectional and published from 2007-2017 in English. The risk of bias and quality of evidence were assessed with the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies. Quantitative analysis with proportion meta-analysis was also performed. 4,737 studies were initially selected, and five were included. The study verified the prevalence of the green complex - Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (6.69%); the orange complex - Prevotella intermedia (16.85%) and Prevotella nigrescens (37.51%); and the red complex - Treponema denticola (29.11%), Porphyromonas gingivalis (49.45%), and Tannerella forsythia (56.37%), the most predominant microorganism. In the subgingival microbiota of CKD patients on hemodialysis, the red complex showed higher rates and prevalences, and Tannerella forsythia was the most common pathogen

Genetic diversity analysis and simple sequence repeat fingerprint construction of Acer truncatum bunge germplasm from udantara natural reserve, China

Acer truncatum Bunge is an ecologically and economically indigenous tree species in China, which is valued for ornamental, medicinal, and ecological contributions. As a major natural population of A. truncatum in China, the Udantara Natural Reserve harbors critical genetic resources for this species. To enhance genetic understanding and support conservation efforts, we analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of 104 A. truncatum germplasm from Udantara using 20 pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers. Totally, 137 alleles were amplified, including 58.060 effective alleles. The average number of alleles (Na), effective number of alleles (Ne), observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and Shannon’s information index (I) were 6.850, 2.903, 0.424, 0.591, and 1.182, respectively, and the polymorphism information content (PIC) of the markers ranged between 0.293–0.839, with an average of 0.548, indicating moderate-to-high informativeness. The structure analysis partitioned the germplasm into two distinct genetic groups (28 and 76 individuals, respectively). Additionally, five SSR primers were identified as sufficient for generating unique genetic fingerprints for all 104 germplasm. Based on these findings, we propose a dual conservation strategy that integrates in situ protection of natural habitats within Udantara and ex situ preservation through a nationwide germplasm repository. Further recommendations include expanding the genetic representation by collecting germplasm across China and developing novel variants via hybridization and selective introduction. This study provides foundational genetic insights and actionable strategies to safeguard the biodiversity of A. truncatum, ensuring its ecological resilience and sustainable utilization in China

Mechanical and physical properties of dental floss: a comparative cost analysis

The aim of this study was to measure the mechanical and physical properties of 18 commercially available dental flosses produced by global and Brazilian manufacturing and to correlate these parameters with their cost. Eighteen dental flosses available were tested: Bianco Delicare, Colgate, Colgate Menta, Colgate Total, Dauf Oral Care, Hillo, Jade Pro, Johnson and Johnson Essencial, Johnson and Johnson Expansion Plus, Kess, Needs Oral Care, Oral Nexter, Oral-B Essential Floss, Oral-B Pro Saúde, Power Dent Classic Floss, Power Dent Classic Floss Extra Fino, Sanifill Clássico, and Sanifill Infinite. The maximum load (N) and elongation (mm) were measured using a universal testing machine (Instron EL3000). The dental floss width (µm) and filament diameter (µm) were measured using a scanning electron microscope. The cost of each dental floss was correlated with the mechanical and physical properties. The results showed that there was no correlation between the cost of the dental floss and the maximum load (R² = 0.04) or the filament diameter (R² = 0.08). There was a moderate negative correlation between the cost of dental floss and the capacity of elongation (R² = 0.46) and moderate positive correlation between the price and dental floss width (R² = 0.43). It can be concluded that the dental tapes generally cost more per meter and have the lowest elongation capacity. Dental flosses with low cost presented good values for maximum load and elongation, making them suitable for dental hygiene protocols in developing countries

Influence of planting region and soil chemical properties on medicinal compound contents in Cistanche tubulosa

Cistanche tubulosa is a valuable herbal remedy in China. In this study, we aimed to identify and analyze how bioactive compounds are affected by planting region and soil properties. Plant and soil samples in desert and alkaline-saline environments were collected, and measurements were obtained for (i) dry weight and medicinal compounds of plant samples and (ii) soil salinity and pH of soil samples. The effect of soil salinity on the medicinal compounds revealed that the dry weight per plant of C. tubulosa was relatively high in low salinity soil. However, under high salinity conditions, echinacoside and verbascoside contents increased. No visible effects of individual soil pH were found on dry weight and echinacoside, verbascoside, and mannitol contents. Regarding the interaction between soil salinity and pH, only mannitol content showed a significant difference. The mannitol content was unaffected by pH in the presence of slight salinity conditions; meanwhile, in severe salinity conditions, high pH dramatically lowered the mannitol content. In loam with saline soil, a lower dry weight per plant was observed but the planting density was higher. The good water and fertilizer retention abilities of loam can lead to a higher yield per unit area. To improve yield and quality simultaneously in the introduction regions, the crucial points for cultivation techniques of C. tubulosa in seashore saline land include a high seed dosage of C. tubulosa and moderate soil salinity

Impact of social capital and clinical factors on the oral health-related quality of life of vulnerable children and their families

This study assessed the impact of individual social capital and clinical variables on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of vulnerable children and their families. This cross-sectional observational study included children of both sexes and their parents or guardians. The OHRQoL was assessed using the Brazilian version of the ECOHIS questionnaire. Individual social capital was evaluated through participation in community, school, and religious activities. The criteria recommended by the WHO were used to analyze dental caries and malocclusion. Adjusted logistic regression models estimated the odds ratios at a 95% CI; the multiple regression model included variables with p < 0.20 in the individual analyses, and those with p ≤ 0.05 remained in the final model. Younger children with caries occurrence and lower social capital are 1.74 (95% CI: 1.13-2.68), 2.89 (95% CI: 1.88-4.45), and 3.69 (95% CI: 2.36-5.78) times more likely to experience a higher impact on OHRQoL (p < 0.05). Families of children with caries occurrence and lower social capital are 2.31 (95% CI: 1.52-3.50) and 3.56 (95% CI: 2.29-5.54) times more likely to experience a higher impact on OHRQoL (p < 0.05). Families of children with caries experience and lower social capital are 2.11 (95% CI: 1.40-3.19) and 3.55 (95% CI: 2.89-5.50) times more likely to show a higher impact on total OHRQoL (p < 0.05). Dental caries experience and lower individual social capital were associated with a higher impairment of the OHRQoL of children and their families in conditions of social vulnerability

Remote sensing in the estimation of evapotranspiration of tomato cultivation for industrial processing

This study evaluated the performance of the SAFER and METRIC algorithms to estimate the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) of irrigated tomato crops for industrial processing in the south-central region of Goiás, Brazil. The research was conducted in eight tomato-producing areas using center-pivot irrigation during the 2018 and 2019 harvests. Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS satellite images (temporal resolution of 16 days) helped estimate ETa through the SAFER e METRIC models compared with FAO methods, using the single crop coefficient (Kc) of the FAO-56/Embrapa and the soil water balance (BHS) method based on statistical indices. The analyzed algorithms presented spatiotemporal variations for ETa during the tomato crop cycle for industrial processing. The maximum evapotranspiration estimated by SAFER was 5.20 mm d-1, and by METRIC was 5.00 mm d-1. The algorithms were accurate compared with the standard methods, mainly the FAO using Embrapa’s Kc. The mean squared error was lower than 0.59 mm d-1 for SAFER and lower than 0.73 mm d-1 for METRIC. The ETa estimated by both models in the vegetative and fructification phases was lower than the mean absolute error of 0.24 mm d-1 compared with the standard methods. The SAFER model showed higher agreement with standard practices than the METRIC model, with an index between 0.64 and 0.99. This study demonstrated that algorithms may effectively estimate ETa in tomato crops for industrial processing in the analyzed region

Association of skin temperature, cumulative dose of radiation, and the diagnosis of radiodermatitis

Radiotherapy is one of the treatments of cancer, and radiodermatitis is one of the side effects, with a negative impact on the patient\u27s quality of life, which can lead to limitation dose of radiation, delay in completion, or discontinuation of treatment. Recent studies show evidence that thermography can be useful in this context of radiodermatitis, as it is a technology that has been improved, there are still few studies showing thermal response and mapping of radiation dermatitis. This study analyzed the association between skin temperature, cumulative radiation dose, and the appearance of radiodermatitis. The research was carried out with 76 participants with skin, head or neck cancer and thermographic recording immediately before and after irradiation. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scale was used to diagnose radiodermatitis. As the main results in our sample, 70% of the participants had some degree of radiodermatitis, and significant differences in skin temperature were observed when compared to participants without (32.88 °C) and with radiodermatitis (thermal difference in average temperature greater than 1.0 °C for both grade I and grade II radiodermatitis). The ideal time for thermographic evaluation would be after receiving the daily dose, where we found a moderate correlation (0.474) between the temperature of the affected side after irradiation and the pre-irradiation cumulative dose. Our results demonstrate that radiodermatitis change skin temperature and thermographic analysis can quantify. Finally, to improve early diagnosis, we recommend that scales be constructed with greater definitions for the classification of radiation toxicity, without overlapping symptoms, considering quantitative criteria