Brazilian Patent Office and changes to patenting deadlines

Eduardo Mercadante and Ken Shadlen discuss the potential negative effects of the recent proposals from the Brazilian Patent Office to change the deadlines for the prosecution of patent applications

Novel non-invasive adjunctive techniques for early oral cancer diagnosis and oral lesions examination

Oral cancer is a potentially fatal disease with an increasing incidence and an unchanged 5-year mortality rate. Unfortunately, oral cancer is often still late diagnosed, which leads to an increase in the likelihood of functional impairment due to treatment and mortality rate. Definitive diagnosis of oral cancer must be confirmed by scalpel biopsy and histological assessment. However despite its benefits, scalpel biopsy is invasive and it is burdened by a potential morbidity. Furthermore, previous studies have suggested a high degree of intraobserver and interobserver variability regarding the histological evaluation of malignancy. As a consequence, in recent years there has been a growing and persisting demand towards developing new non-invasive, practical diagnostic tools that might facilitate the early detection of oral cancer. The most investigated non-invasive adjunctive techniques are vital staining, autofluorescence, chemiluminescence, narrow band imaging, and exfoliative cytology. Aim of the review is to critically describe these adjunctive aids and, after considering the literature data, an expert opinion on the effectiveness and the possible use of each technique will be provided

Changes of QTc interval after opioid switching to oral methadone.

Abstract A consecutive sample of patients who were switched from strong opioids to methadone in a period of 1 year was surveyed. QTc was assessed before switching (T0) and after achieving adequate analgesia and an acceptable level of adverse effects (Ts). Twenty-eight of 33 patients were switched to methadone successfully. The mean initial methadone doses at T0 were 67.1 mg/day (SD \ub180.2, range 12-390). The mean QTc interval at T0 was 400 ms (SD \ub130, range 330-450). The mean QTc interval at Ts (median 5 days) was 430 ms (SD \ub126, range 390-500). The difference (7.7 %) was significant (p\u2009<\u20090.0005). Only two patients had a QTc of 500 ms. No serious arrhythmia was observed. At the linear regression analysis, there was no significant association between mean opioid doses expressed as oral morphine equivalents and QTc at T0 (p\u2009=\u20090.428), nor between mean methadone doses and QTc at Ts (p\u2009=\u20090.315). No age differences were found with previous opioid doses (p\u2009=\u20090.917), methadone doses (p\u2009=\u20090.613), QTc at T0 (p\u2009=\u20090.173), QTc at Ts (p\u2009=\u20090.297), and final opioid-methadone conversion ratio (p\u2009=\u20090.064). While methadone used for opioids switching seems to be an optimal choice to improve the opioid response in patients poorly responsive to the previous opioid, the possible QTc prolongation should be of concern despite not producing clinical consequences in this group of patients. A larger number of patients should be assessed to quantify the risk of serious arrhythmia

Breakthrough pain in patients with abdominal cancer pain.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Characterization of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in patients with abdominal cancer is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of BTcP in patients with abdominal cancer pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an observational cohort study, from a consecutive sample of patients admitted to a pain relief and supportive care unit for a period of 13 months, patients with abdominal disease due to cancer, including primary cancer or metastases, were assessed for the presence of chronic abdominal pain; its mechanism, intensity of background pain, and pain flares, which were distinguishable from the baseline pain, were recorded. Patients presenting with pain flares were assessed regarding the causes and the possible factors associated with it. Patients were reassessed when background pain control was considered optimal. RESULTS: From a sample of 522 patients admitted to an acute pain relief and palliative care unit in a period of 13 months, 100 patients with abdominal disease were available. The mean age was 65.3 years (SD\ub111.4); of the 100 patients, 45 (45%) were males. The mean Karnofsky status was 47.7 (SD\ub111.1). At admission (T0), 67 patients (67%) had background pain with mean pain intensity of 4.9 (SD\ub11.6). Sixty-one patients of those with background pain (91%) had superimposed and well-distinguished pain flares. After analgesic optimization (T1), the mean background pain intensity was 1.7 (SD\ub11.2), and 55.2% of patients had BTcP episodes. The difference with T0 was significant (P<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study provides new insights on the characteristics of BTcP in a subclass of patients with abdominal disease. It has been estimated that about 55% of patients with well-controlled background pain will develop BTcP episodes. This percentage was higher (about 90%) in patients who presented with uncontrolled background pain, underlying the need to better characterize patients with BTcP, only after a careful optimization of basal pain, as considered by the definition of BTcP

2000 Commencement Program

Contains the names of degree recipients and commencement speakers, an order of exercises, and other related information.https://digitalcommons.assumption.edu/commencement-programs/1054/thumbnail.jp

The National Science and Technology Institute in Child and Adolescence Developmental Psychiatry: a new paradigm for Brazilian Psychiatry focused on our children and their future

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Departamento de PsiquiatriaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsiquiatriaUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Departamento de PsiquiatriaUNIFESP, Depto. de PsiquiatriaSciEL

Development of a novel micro-assay for evaluation of peroxyl radical scavenger capacity: Application to carotenoids and structure–activity relationship

AbstractA micro-assay was developed and validated, using a microplate reader in 96-well format, C11–BODIPY581/591 as fluorescent probe and AIBN as ROO generator. The structure–activity relationship was established for 15 carotenoid standards, indicating that the opening of the β-ionone ring and the increase of chromophore extension in the carotenoid structure were the major factors leading to the increase of ROO scavenging capacity. The values for ROO scavenging capacity were calculated using α-tocopherol as reference compound. Among the studied carotenoids, all-trans-lycopene was the most efficient ROO scavenger (8.67±0.74) followed by all-trans-astaxanthin (6.50±0.62). All the carotenoids showed to be more effective ROO scavengers than α-tocopherol and some hydrophilic compounds. Finally, the method was successfully applied to assay the ROO scavenging capacity of carotenoid extracts from two Amazonian fruits, peach palm (7.83±0.21) and mamey (6.90±0.44)

Antibody response to heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine (CLB-3mg) in hemodialysis patients and occupational risk personnel: a one year follow-up

A resposta imune contra vacina de hepatite B (CLB-3mg) foi avaliada em 59 pacientes de hemodiálise e 20 funcionários de risco em adquirir infecção. A soroconversão foi observada em 52,5% e 70,0%, respectivamente. Um ano após a primeira dose, os níveis de anticorpos anti-HBs foram determinados em 37.5% dos pacientes e 60.0% dos funcionários. Os níveis de anticorpos foram expressos em unidades de radioimunoensaio (SRU = contagem da amostra sobre o controle negativo). Considerando apenas os indivíduos que responderam à vacina, no grupo de pacientes, 38.7% tiveram resposta baixa de anticorpos (2,1 - 9,9 SRU), 32,3% resposta média e 29,0% uma resposta elevada (>; SRU), enquanto que no pessoal de risco, os valores foram 14,3%, 64,3% e 21.4%, respectivamente. Os autores sugerem o uso de vacinas de HBV com concentrações de HBsAg mais elevada ou um reforço no esquema de imunização para melhorar a resposta de anti-HBs, não só para pacientes como também para pessoas sadias.Immune response against hepatitis B vaccine (CLB 3mg) was evaluated in 59 hemodialysis patients and 20 occupational risk personnel. Seroconversion was induced in 52.5% and 70.0% respectively. Twelve months after the first dose, 37.5% of patients and 60.0% of occupational risk personnel had detectable anti-HBs level. Antibody level was expressed in sample ratio units (SRU). Considering only the responders, in the patients group 38.7% had a low anti-HBs response (2.1-9.9 SRU) 32.3% a medium response (10-99.9 SRU) and 29.0% a high response (>;100 SRU) while in occupational risk personnel these values were 14.3%, 64.3% and 21.4% respectively. The authors suggest the use of HBV vaccines with more elevated HBsAg concentration or a reinforced immunization schedule to improve the anti-HBs response not only for patients but also for healthy persons