The pesticides use and the risk for head and neck cancer:a review of case-control studies

Tobacco, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection are the most common risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC). Despite of this, recent evidences are growing on the association between long-term exposure to pesticides and the risk of chronic diseases, including different types of cancer. The present review evaluated in current literature evidence of an association between exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of HNCs. A literature search of the case-control studies was conducted in the PubMed, Web of science and Cochrane databases. Methodological quality of each study was rated with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN 50) checklist. One thousand and thirty-five studies were identified and twelve met all criteria and, therefore, considered for quality assessment and data extraction. According to SIGN 50 criteria, six studies received an overall high-quality. All the studies considered of high quality found a positive association between exposure to pesticides and different HNC sites, including larynx, pharynx and nasal cavity. In addition, the increased risk was associated with the frequency of exposure. Finally, improving pesticide users' awareness of their risks and proper handling, as well as adopting protective measures such as the use of personal protective equipment, appear to be effective in reducing human health damage

Antimicrobial effect of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts against oral pathogens and cellular viability in human leukocytes / Efeito antimicrobiano de adutos de Morita-Baylis-Hillman contra patógenos orais e viabilidade celular em leucócitos de humanos

The aim of this work was to evaluate Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct (MBHA) antimicrobial effect against oral pathogens and related cell viability in human leukocytes. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using microdilution method. Cell viability was assessed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using the resazurin assay. For S. aureus (ATCC 15656) and S. mutans (UA 159) MIC values of 2,000 ?g/mL were reported for the A1 Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts. The MICs of the A2 and A3 adducts were not found for the bacterial strains. MIC values for the A1 adduct was 125 ?g/mL, A2 1,000 ?g/mL and A3 to 15.6?g/mL against the C. albicans strain (ATCC 11006). PBMCs showed cell viability greater than 50 % when in contact with concentrations 10x higher than MIC of MBHA. It is concluded that MBHA A1, A2 and A3 present potential antimicrobial effects against C. albicans without presenting substantial cytotoxic effects in human cells, highlighting adduct A3 for future therapeutic applications

Awareness on oral cancer among patients attending dental school clinics in Brazil

Oral cancer is considered a public health problem worldwide. Dental schools may play an important role in educating patients about oral cancer. This study aimed at evaluating the knowledge of patients attending clinics at two dental schools in Brazil. From March 2017 to April 2017, 251 patients who were attending clinics at two dental schools in Recife, Brazil, were included in the study. Patients were contacted in the waiting rooms of the clinic. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire, which consists of 21 questions, including socio-demographic and specific information on the disease. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a chi-square test (with a 5% significance level) was used to assess the correlation between the variables, education and family income and other variables. Most participants were women (64.9%) with a mean age of 42.72 years. Most participants were knowledgeable about oral cancer and identified tobacco use (48.6%), alcohol consumption (25.1%), and solar radiation (12%) as the primary risk factors for the disease. Only 36.7% of the participants reported having received counselling on oral cancer, of which 18.3% received the information from a dentist. All patients with an income higher than six minimum wages were aware about oral cancer (p = 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of educational programs in dental schools as well providing integrated services for patients seeking care at school clinics, including population?s awareness on oral cancer

Caracterização e estudo antimicrobiano in vitro de micro e nanofibras de PLA/PVP incorporadas com óleo de copaíba produzidas através da fiação por sopro em solução

Polymeric nanostructures can be produced by various techniques, including solution blow spinning (SBS), which can be used to produce micro and nanofibers at lower cost compared to other techniques. One of the most commonly used polymers for this purpose is poly (lactic acid) PLA, due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, because of their hydrophobicity, lower degradation rate compared with other polyesters and low surface reactivity, considered unfavorable characteristics for biomedical use, PLA has been blended with other polymers. The aim of this study was to produce micro and nanofibers of PLA and PLA/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blends, in different proportions, using the SBS technique, with and without the addition of copaiba oil, herbal medicine with known antimicrobial activity. Produced mats were characterized by SEM, TGA, DSC, XRD, FTIR and contact angle. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was tested by agar diffusion. Results showed that, in all the proportions tested, produced blends were immiscible. The addition of PVP and copaiba oil led to a reduction in PLA crystallinity. The addition of PVP increased PLA hydrophilicity, reducing contact angle, unlike oil, that increased hydrophobicity. Fiber diameter was influenced by the addition of both PVP and oil. However, its morphology remained unchanged. Agar diffusion tests showed that all blends containing copaiba oil presented antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, this activity was proportional to both the increase of PVP amount in the blends and to a reduction in the crystalline structure of the blends. It can be concluded micro- and nanofibers of PLA and PLA/PVP blends with the addition of copaiba oil were successfully produced by the SBS technique. Moreover, these fibers have antimicrobial activity and can be potentially used as a drug delivery system in biomedical applications.NenhumaNanoestruturas poliméricas podem ser produzidas por diversas técnicas, entre elas a fiação por sopro em solução (SBS), que permite a produção de fibras micro e nanométricas com menor custo em relação às demais técnicas. Um dos polímeros mais utilizados para essa finalidade é o poli(ácido lático), PLA, devido suas propriedades de biodegradabilidade e biocompatibilidade. No entanto, devido a sua hidrofobicidade, baixa taxa de degradação em relação a outros poliésteres e baixa reatividade superficial, características consideradas desvantajosas para uso biomédico, o PLA tem sido utilizado em conjunto com outros polímeros, através da produção de blendas. O objetivo desse trabalho foi produzir micro e nanofibras de blendas de PLA e poli(vinilpirrolidona), PVP, em diferentes proporções, utilizando a técnica SBS, com e sem a adição do óleo de copaíba (Copaifera sp.), fitoterápico com atividade antimicrobiana conhecida. Após a produção, as mantas foram caracterizadas por MEV, TGA, DSC, DRX e FTIR, além da verificação de seu ângulo de contato e de sua atividade antimicrobiana in vitro, através da difusão em ágar. Os resultados mostraram que, para todas as proporções testadas, a blenda produzida foi de natureza imiscível. A adição do PVP bem como do óleo de copaíba geraram a redução da cristalinidade do PLA. Além disso, o PVP tornou o PLA mais hidrofílico, com redução de seu ângulo de contato, ao contrário do óleo, que o tornou ainda mais hidrofóbico. O diâmetro da fibra foi influenciado tanto pela adição do PVP quanto do óleo, o mesmo não pode ser afirmado para sua morfologia, que se manteve inalterada. Os testes de difusão em ágar mostraram que todas as blendas contendo o óleo de copaíba mostraram atividade antimicrobiana contra o microrganismo Gram-positivo Staphylococcus aureus, onde o aumento dessa atividade foi relacionado ao aumento na quantidade de PVP na blenda, bem como à redução na estrutura cristalina das blendas. Em geral, pode-se concluir que a técnica de SBS foi adequada para a produção de micro e nanofibras de PLA/PVP com adição do óleo de copaíba e que as mesmas apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana, apresentando potencial para uso em dispositivos de liberação controlada em aplicações biomédicas

Evaluation of Hemagglutination Activity of Chitosan Nanoparticles Using Human Erythrocytes

Chitosan is a polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed chains of β-(1-4) D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This compound is obtained by partial or total deacetylation of chitin in acidic solution. The chitosan-based hemostatic agents have been gaining much attention in the management of bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro hemagglutination activity of chitosan nanoparticles using human erythrocytes. The preparation of nanoparticles was achieved by ionotropic gelification technique followed by neutralization with NaOH 1 mol/L−1. The hemagglutination activity was performed on a solution of 2% erythrocytes (pH 7.4 on PBS) collected from five healthy volunteers. The hemolysis determination was made by spectrophotometric analysis. Chitosan nanoparticle solutions without NaOH addition changed the reddish colour of the wells into brown, suggesting an oxidative reaction of hemoglobin and possible cell lysis. All neutralized solutions of chitosan nanoparticles presented positive haemagglutination, without any change in reaction color. Chitosan nanoparticles presented hemolytic activity ranging from 186.20 to 223.12%, while neutralized solutions ranged from 2.56 to 72.54%, comparing to distilled water. Results highlight the need for development of new routes of synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles within human physiologic pH

Dental knowledge and attendance of schoolchildren according to the type of institution (public or private)

Objective: To evaluate the dental knowledge and attendance of elementary schoolchildren according to the type of institution (public or private). Method: The sample was composed of 800 children from the 5th to 8th grades of the elementary education. The research instrument was a questionnaire composed of open questions referring to the last recall visit, type and importance of the recall visit, and knowledge of dental caries and periodontal disease. Descriptive statistical analysis was done and the chisquared test was used with a significance level of 5%. Results: There was statistically significant difference between the students from the different institutions regarding the time (p=0.001) and main reason (p=0.001) of the last visit to the dentist, knowledge of the need of periodic visits to the dentist (p=0.001), importance (p=0.001) and frequency (p=0.001) of periodic recalls, and knowledge of dental caries (p=0.001) and periodontal disease (p=0.001). Conclusion: The adolescents presented different dental knowledge and attendance, according to the type of teaching institution