Differential neuroprotection by A(1) receptor activation and A(2A) receptor inhibition following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus

Aiming at a better understanding of the role of A(2A) in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), we characterized the effects of the A(2A) antagonist SCH58261 (7-(2-phenylethyl)-5-amino-2(2-furyl)-pyrazolo-[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c] pyrimidine) on seizures and neuroprotection in the pilocarpine model. the effects of SCH58261 were further analyzed in combination with the A(1) agonist R-Pia (R(-)-N-6-(2)-phenylisopropyl adenosine). Eight groups were studied: pilocarpine (Pilo), SCH + Pilo, R-Pia + Pilo, R-Pia + SCH + Pilo, Saline, SCH + Saline, R-Pia + Saline, and R-Pia + SCH + Saline. the administration of SCH58261, R-Pia, and R-Pia + SCH58261 prior to pilocarpine increased the latency to SE, and decreased either the incidence of or rate of mortality from SE compared with controls. Administration of R-Pia and R-Pia + SCH58261 prior to pilocarpine reduced the number of Fluoro-Jade B-stained cells in the hippocampus and piriform cortex when compared with control. This study showed that pretreatment with R-Pia and SCH58261 reduces seizure occurrence, although only R-Pia has neuroprotective properties. Further studies are needed to clarify the neuroprotective role of A(2A) in TLE. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Neurol & Neurocirurgia, BR-04039032 São Paulo, BrazilINSERM, U666, Fac Med, Strasbourg, FranceUniv Brasilia, Dept Genet & Morfol, Inst Ciencias Biol, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Neurol & Neurocirurgia, BR-04039032 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Evaluation of Satisfaction of Adolescents Treated by Dental Students

Objective: To evaluate the satisfaction of adolescents undergoing dental treatment between 2016 and 2018 at the Dental School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (FAO UFMG). Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study using the Oral Health Services Satisfaction Assessment Questionnaire (QASSaB). The structured questionnaire has eleven questions divided among the dimensions: dentist / patient relationship, relationship with other professionals, effectiveness, accessibility/availability, technical-scientific quality, cleanliness and physical environment, acceptability, effectiveness/resolution, each with five response options. Descriptive data analysis was performed using absolute and relative frequencies. Results: A total of 145 adolescents participated in this study, 60 males and 85 females; 74.85% of adolescents rated dental treatment received as excellent, 76.7% reported having no symptoms after treatment, 46.2% considered it easy/very easy to get treatment, 65.6% reported that waiting time was short/very short, 90% considered dental equipment modern/very modern, 98% regarded the cleanliness of the waiting room and bathrooms as being excellent, 83.4% reported that they always received an explanation about the treatment, and 51.57% were totally satisfied with the appearance of the treated teeth and their chewing capacity. Conclusion: It was possible to observe that the adolescents, users of FAO UFMG, were satisfied with the service in the studied dimensions: human relations, effectiveness, accessibility/availability, technical-scientific quality, physical environment/cleanliness, acceptability and resolvability/effectiveness

Evaluation of Satisfaction of Adolescents Treated by Dental Students

Objective: To evaluate the satisfaction of adolescents undergoing dental treatment between 2016 and 2018 at the Dental School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (FAO UFMG). Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study using the Oral Health Services Satisfaction Assessment Questionnaire (QASSaB). The structured questionnaire has eleven questions divided among the dimensions: dentist / patient relationship, relationship with other professionals, effectiveness, accessibility/availability, technical-scientific quality, cleanliness and physical environment, acceptability, effectiveness/resolution, each with five response options. Descriptive data analysis was performed using absolute and relative frequencies. Results: A total of 145 adolescents participated in this study, 60 males and 85 females; 74.85% of adolescents rated dental treatment received as excellent, 76.7% reported having no symptoms after treatment, 46.2% considered it easy/very easy to get treatment, 65.6% reported that waiting time was short/very short, 90% considered dental equipment modern/very modern, 98% regarded the cleanliness of the waiting room and bathrooms as being excellent, 83.4% reported that they always received an explanation about the treatment, and 51.57% were totally satisfied with the appearance of the treated teeth and their chewing capacity. Conclusion: It was possible to observe that the adolescents, users of FAO UFMG, were satisfied with the service in the studied dimensions: human relations, effectiveness, accessibility/availability, technical-scientific quality, physical environment/cleanliness, acceptability and resolvability/effectiveness

Association between Genetic Variants in NOS2 and TNF Genes with Congenital Zika Syndrome and Severe Microcephaly

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in individuals exposed prenatally. Here, we investigated polymorphisms in VEGFA, PTGS2, NOS3, TNF, and NOS2 genes as risk factors to CZS. Forty children with CZS and forty-eight children who were in utero exposed to ZIKV infection, but born without congenital anomalies, were evaluated. Children with CZS were predominantly infected by ZIKV in the first trimester (p < 0.001) and had mothers with lower educational level (p < 0.001) and family income (p < 0.001). We found higher risk of CZS due the allele rs2297518[A] of NOS2 (OR = 2.28, CI 95% 1.17–4.50, p = 0.015). T allele and TT/CT genotypes of the TNF rs1799724 and haplotypes associated with higher expression of TNF were more prevalent in children with CZS and severe microcephaly (p = 0.029, p = 0.041 and p = 0.030, respectively). Our findings showed higher risk of CZS due ZIKV infection in the first trimester and suggested that polymorphisms in NOS2 and TNF genes affect the risk of CZS and severe microcephaly

CROP YIELD AND PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ACEROLA CLONES GROWN IN THE ALTA PAULISTA REGION, BRAZIL

This paper aimed to evaluate crop yield and physical and chemical characteristics of acerola (Malpighia emarginata Sessé &amp; Mociño ex DC) clones grown in the Alta Paulista region, Brazil. The evaluation comprised 7 clones, namely: Olivier, BRS 238-Frutacor, BRS 236-Cereja, BRS 235-Apodi, BRS 237-Roxinha, Okinawa, and Waldy-CATI 30, studied from October 2018 to April 2019. Crop yield was analyzed based on the accumulated production of 12 harvests, with fresh mass expressed in kg fruit·plant-1. Considering the capacity of 30 harvests per plant within the complete cropping period, total fruit mass (in kg fruit·plant-1) and crop yield (in t ha-1) were estimated. Samples were collected from 4 of the 12 harvests in order to determine average fruit mass (g); average fruit size, fruit height/diameter ratio, and pulp yield (%). Regarding fruit pulp, the analysis consisted of quantifying the soluble solids, expressed in degrees Brix, and the technological index (i.e. pulp yield x °Brix/100). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with 7 treatments and 4 repetitions. The obtained data were statistically processed by analysis of variance using the F test, and the means were compared using the Tukey’s test at the 0.05 significance level. The study concluded that, given the soil and weather conditions of the Alta Paulista region, Olivier, Apodi and Frutacor are the clones mainly recommended for the agro-industrial market, being the Olivier cultivar the first option among the three and appearing in a greater proportion in the area of the commercial orchard studied. Regarding the acerola production for fresh consumption, Olivier and Roxinha are the most suitable clones. Olivier stands out for its good fruit yield, adequate physical and chemical characteristics, and easy manual harvesting

NUTRICOSMETICS: AN INNOVATIVE CONCEPT.

Devido à grande expansão do segmento de cosméticos novos produtos são lançados no mercado em velocidade acelerada. Para se destacar entre tantos lançamentos é necessário possuir um diferencial. Nos últimos anos este diferencial surgiu como um novo conceito de produto, os nutricosméticos. Conhecidos como pílulas da beleza são a combinação de alimento, cosmético e medicamento e promovem a boa aparência através de um organismo saudável. O grande diferencial dos nutricosméticos em relação aos cosméticos convencionais é que ele é administrado por via oral e não topicamente, por isso diz ser capaz de promover a beleza de dentro para fora. São suplementos alimentares que contém ingredientes ativos capazes de produzir variados efeitos no organismo como ação antienvelhecimento cutâneo, antiacne, redução da adiposidade cutânea, fotoproteção, antiqueda capilar, entre outros. Embora seja notável o esforço da comunidade científica em comprovar a eficácia destes compostos ainda se faz necessário muitos estudos nesta área, principalmente tratando-se da segurança destes produtos. Esta revisão tem como objetivo elucidar o conceito de nutricosméticos, bem como apresentar estudos clínicos que comprovam a eficácia de determinados compostos ativos. Esclarecer como a agência de vigilância sanitária (ANVISA) classifica estes novos produtos e qual é o perfil do consumidor e as estratégias de marketing para atingi-lo. Todos os aspectos desta revisão contribuem para um entendimento holístico do impacto deste novo conceito no mercado cosmético

Functional polymorphisms in the p53 pathway genes on the genetic susceptibility to zika virus teratogenesis

Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) occurs in up to 42% of individuals exposed to ZIKV prenatally. Deregulation in gene expression and protein levels of components of the p53 signaling pathway, such as p53 and MDM2, due to ZIKV infection has been reported. Here, we evaluate functional polymorphisms in genes of the p53 signaling pathway as risk factors to CZS. Forty children born with CZS and forty-eight children exposed to ZIKV, but born without congenital anomalies were included in this study. Gestational and sociodemographic information as well as the genotypic and allelic frequencies of functional polymorphisms in TP53, MDM2, MIR605 and LIF genes were compared between the two groups. We found children with CZS exposed predominantly in the first trimester and controls in the third trimester (p<0.001). Moreover, children with CZS were predominantly from families with a lower socioeconomic level (p=0.008). We did not find a statistically significant association between the investigated polymorphisms and development of CZS; however, by comparing individuals with CZS and lissencephaly or without lissencephaly, we found a significative difference in the allelic frequencies of the TP53 rs1042522, which is associated with a more potent p53-induced apoptosis (p=0.007). Our findings suggest that the TP53 rs1042522 polymorphism should be better investigate as a genetic risk factor for the development of lissencephaly in children with CZS

Nasal and systemic inflammatory profile after short term smoking cessation

SummaryIntroductionSmoking cessation promotes health benefits and, despite cigarette smoking be an important pro inflammatory stimulus, there are few studies concerning the nasal and systemic inflammation; as well as the mucociliary clearance behavior in smokers after short period of smoking cessation.AimTo evaluate the nasal and systemic inflammatory markers and mucociliary clearance behavior after 30 days of cigarette smoking abstinence.MethodsTwenty-five smokers were included and divided into two groups: abstinent smokers (n = 14) and current smokers (n = 11). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were measured on nasal lavage and blood serum samples by ELISA at baseline and after 30 days. The mucociliary clearance, exhaled carbon monoxide (exCO) and carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) were also measured at the same moments.ResultsThere was a decrease of TNF-α level only in blood serum at 30 days of abstinence compared to current smokers. The mucociliary clearance improved and there was a reduction in exCO and HbCO (p < 0.05 for all) after 30 days of smoking cessation.ConclusionThe short term smoking abstinence decreased systemic inflammation and improved nasal mucociliary clearance, despite not having changed the nasal inflammation

Indicações para início de diálise na doença renal crônica: Indications for dialysis initiation in chronic kidney disease

A decisão de iniciar a diálise é baseada na presença de sinais e sintomas relacionados à uremia, na taxa de filtração glomerular estimada (eGFR) e na taxa de declínio da eGFR. A decisão de quando iniciar a diálise permanece complexa, e há grande variabilidade no momento do início da diálise entre os pacientes.&nbsp;Isso ocorre porque os sintomas urêmicos geralmente são vagos e inespecíficos, e a perda da função renal é altamente variável e pode ocorrer rapidamente.&nbsp;As indicações absolutas para iniciar a diálise crônica incluem pericardite ou pleurite urêmica e encefalopatia urêmica progressiva. Os sinais e sintomas comuns que fornecem indicação para o início da diálise incluem declínio do estado nutricional, sobrecarga de volume persistente ou difícil de tratar, fadiga e mal-estar, comprometimento cognitivo leve e anormalidades laboratoriais refratárias, incluindo acidose, hipercalemia e hiperfosfatemia