Effect of a propolis extract on Streptococcus mutans counts in vivo

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antibacterial action of an extract of geopropolis produced by the bee Melipona compressipes fasciculata on the concentration of Streptococcus mutans colonizing the oral cavity of young patients. Forty-one young volunteers performed 21 mouth rinses divided into three rinses per day for 7 days, with no other changes in their oral hygiene and dietary habits. Saliva was collected at three time points: before the first rinse, and one hour and 7 days after the first rinse. A reduction in the concentration of S. mutans was observed in 49% of all samples collected after use of the extract, 26% showed no alterations, and an increasing in S. mutans was observed in 25%. Was performed with the Statistica for Windows 5.9 program using the Kruskal-Wallis test for analysis of variance and the Mann-Whitney U test, with the level of significance set at 5%. The propolis extract possesses in vivo antimicrobial activity against S. mutans present in the oral cavity and might be used as an alternative measure to prevent dental caries

Promising blood-derived biomarkers for estimation of the postmortem interval

A precise estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the most important topics in forensic pathology. However, the PMI estimation is based mainly on the visual observation of cadaverous pheno- mena (e.g. algor, livor and rigor mortis) and on alternative methods such as thanatochemistry that remain relatively imprecise. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the kinetic alterations of several bio- chemical parameters (i.e. proteins, enzymes, substrates, electrolytes and lipids) during putrefaction of human blood. For this purpose, we performed kinetic biochemical analysis during a 264 hour period. The results showed a significant linear correlation between total and direct bilirubin, urea, uric acid, transferrin, immunoglobulin M (IgM), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate transaminase (AST), calcium and iron with the time of blood putrefaction. These parameters allowed us to develop two mathematical models that may have predictive values and become important complementary tools of traditional methods to achieve a more accurate PMI estimationFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for his Investigator Grant (IF/01147/2013

Relação entre a perceção da imagem corporal e a obesidade em adolescentes

O presente projeto tem como objetivo determinar a relação entre a imagem corporal (através da perceção que os adolescentes têm da sua aparência física) e o efetivo índice de massa corporal (IMC), coadjuvado com o perímetro abdominal. A amostra será constituída por cerca de 300 crianças e adolescentes de ambos os sexos e com idades compreendidas entre os 13 e os 18 anos de idade. A avaliação da perceção da imagem corporal será realizada através de uma escala de silhuetas, que consiste no cálculo da insatisfação com a imagem corporal, tendo por base a diferença entre a imagem real e a ideal. Para estimar a prevalência de obesidade será calculado o IMC (através da medição do peso e altura) e medido o perímetro abdominal. Este projeto permitirá perceber a qualidade do peso corporal dos adolescentes, analisar e avaliar a discrepância entre a satisfação corporal e o efetivo IMC. Este estudo torna-se relevante para a motivação, no âmbito das aulas de Educação Física, no que respeita ao empenhamento motor, proporcionando não apenas o seu desenvolvimento motor, como também social, afetivo e cognitivo.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, UM (UI 317 da FCT

A step towards the validation of bacteria biotic indices using DNA metabarcoding for benthic monitoring

Environmental genomics is a promising field for monitoring biodiversity in a timely fashion. Efforts have increasingly been dedicated to the use of bacteria DNA derived data to develop biotic indices for benthic monitoring. However, a substantial debate exists about whether bacteria‐derived data using DNA metabarcoding should follow, for example, a taxonomy‐based or a taxonomy‐free approach to marine bioassessments. Here, we showcase the value of DNA‐based monitoring using the impact of fish farming as an example of anthropogenic disturbances in coastal areas and compare the performance of taxonomy‐based and taxonomy‐free approaches in detecting environmental alterations. We analysed samples collected near to the farm cages and along distance gradients from two aquaculture installations, and at control sites, to evaluate the effect of this activity on bacterial assemblages. Using the putative response of bacterial taxa to stress we calculated the taxonomy‐based biotic index microgAMBI. The distribution of individual amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), as a function of a gradient in sediment acid volatile sulphides, was then used to derive a taxonomy‐free bacterial biotic index specific for this data set using a de novo approach based on quantile regression splines. Our results show that microgAMBI revealed a organically enriched environment along the gradient. However, the de novo biotic index outperformed microgAMBI by providing a higher discriminatory power in detecting changes in abiotic factors directly related to fish production, whilst allowing the identification of new ASVs bioindicators. The de novo strategy applied here represents a robust method to define new bioindicators in regions or habitats where no previous information about the response of bacteria to environmental stressors exists.This work was partially funded by the project CGL2015-70136-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and the EU ERDF funding program. E.A. and S.C. are supported by funding from a collaboration between KAUST and Saudi Aramco within the framework of the Saudi Aramco –KAUST Center for Marine Environmental Observations. K.T.-G. is supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innnovación y Universidades through the Juan de la Cierva Incorporación program (IJCI-2017-34174)

Achados da biomecânica de deglutição em pacientes com megaesôfago chagásico

O megaesôfago chagásico é uma alteração do trato gastrointestinal caracterizada pela destruição ou ausência de plexos nervosos intramurais do esôfago. Alterações nutricionais e da saúde pulmonar são descritas como consequentes a esse diagnóstico. Objetivo: descrever os achados das fases oral e faríngea da deglutição em indivíduos portadores de Megaesôfago Chagásico Metodologia: participaram desta pesquisa 26 voluntários com diagnóstico confirmado de doença de Chagas. Todos realizaram avaliação videofluoroscópica da deglutição, ao deglutir sólido, líquido, semilíquido e pastoso. Resultados: observou-se prevalência do sexo feminino (73,1%), e os graus I e II de classificação do megaesôfago foram os mais encontrados. A ausência de unidades dentárias posteriores esteve presente em mais de 90% na população e o tipo de mastigação anterior foi observado em 40,7% da amostra. Durante o exame videofluoroscópico , a presença de resíduo oral, faríngeo e em região de transição faringoesofágica foi mais encontrado na consistência semilíquida, além de um tempo de trânsito oral total aumentado para o sólido. Conclusão: escape posterior, resíduos orais, faríngeos e na transição faringoesofágica na consistência semi-líquida foram os achados mais encontrados no grupo estudado

A pancreatite aguda na visão do imunologista

The acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory process of the pancreas, resulting from the action of enzymes activated inappropriately,causing swelling, bleeding and even pancreatic necrosis and peripancreática. The acinar cells in the pancreas and stellar cellspancreatic has been the study as participants in shaping the inflammatory process along with other inflammatory cells. Severalcytokines are released during pancreatitis, and thus, the local inflammatory process initially, may have an important systemicimpact, and the patient may present hypovolemia, involvement of multiple organs and systems and the possibility of death. Theclinical condition of pancreatitis as mild or severe depends on the length of the process and the complications that may arise.A pancreatite aguda é um processo inflamatório do pâncreas, decorrente da ação de enzimas inadequadamente ativadas,que causam edema, hemorragia e até necrose pancreática e peripancreática. As células acinares presentes no pâncreasassim como as células estelares pancreáticas tem sido alvo de estudo como participantes na formação do processoinflamatório juntamente com outras células inflamatórias. Diversas citocinas são liberadas durante a pancreatite, e assim,o processo inflamatório inicialmente local, pode ter uma repercussão sistêmica importante, e o paciente poderá apresentarhipovolemia, comprometimento de múltiplos órgãos e sistemas e possibilidade de óbito. A condição clinica da pancreatitena forma leve ou grave dependerá da extensão do processo e das complicações que podem advir

Reactivity of paraquat with sodium salicylate: formation of stable complexes

Sodium salicylate (NaSAL) has been shown to be a promising antidote for the treatment of paraquat (PQ) poisonings. The modulation of the pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory pathways, as well as the antithrombogenic properties of NaSAL are probably essential features for the healing effects provided by this drug. Nevertheless, a possible direct chemical reactivity between PQ and NaSAL is also a putative pathway to be considered, this hypothesis being the ground of the present study. In accordance, it is shown, for the first time that PQ and NaSAL react immediately in aqueous medium and within 2–3 min in the solid state. Photographs and scanning electron photomicrographs indicated that a new chemical entity is formed when both compounds are mixed. This assumption was corroborated by the evaluation of the melting point, and through several analytical techniques, namely ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS), liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS) and infrared spectroscopy, which revealed that stable charge-transfer complexes are formed when PQ is mixed with NaSAL. LC/ESI/MS/MS allowed obtaining the stoichiometry of the charge-transfer complexes. In order to increase resolution, single value decomposition, acting as a filter, showed that the chargetransfer complexes withm/z 483, 643 and 803 correspond to the pseudo-molecular ions, respectively 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 (PQ:NaSAL). In conclusion, these results provided a new and important mechanism of action of NaSAL against the toxicity mediated by PQ

Spatial distribution of human visceral leishmaniasis cases in Cametá, Pará, Eastern Amazon, Brazil

Introduction: Human visceral leishmaniasis is considered a major public health problem in the municipality of Cametá, Pará, Brazil. Methods: This ecological study was conducted using data obtained from official Brazilian agencies. Spatial analysis of the variables was performed using the kernel interpolation technique and the bivariate Global Moran’s Index. Results: The spatial distribution of the disease was not homogeneous, and it was associated with socio-environmental risk factors and public policies. Conclusions: Different relationships were observed between the variables studied and disease occurrence.Laboratory of Epidemiology and Geoprocessing and Postgraduate Program in Parasitic Biology in the Amazon of the University of the State of Pará, Brazil, and Center for Didactic Research and Technology for the Training of Trainers (ref. UID / CED / 00194/2013) of the University of Aveiro, Portugal

Use of SPAD-502 in the evaluation of chlorophyll contents and nutritional status of herbaceous cotton to nitrogen, sulphur, iron and manganese

A aplicação do medidor indireto de clorofila SPAD-502 tem sido estudada para diversas culturas e com resultados satisfatórios, para predição do estado nutricional de nitrogênio. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o emprego do SPAD-502 na avaliação dos teores foliares de clorofila, N, S, Fe e Mn, em algodão herbáceo, cultivado em casa de vegetação. Foram instalados quatro experimentos, e foram estudadas doses de N (1,5, 7,5, 15 e 22,5 mM L-1), S (0,2, 1, 2 e 3 mM L-1), Fe (10, 50, 100 e 150 mmol L-1) e Mn (10, 50, 100 e 150 mmol L-1), equivalentes em todos os casos a 0,1, 0,5, 1,0 e 1,5 vez a concentração normal da solução Hoagland & Arnon, respectivamente. A clorofila a se relaciona mais fortemente com as leituras SPAD do que as clorofilas b. As leituras SPAD correlacionaram-se, positivamente, com os teores foliares de N e negativamente com os de S. Os teores foliares de Fe e Mn não apresentaram correlação com as leituras SPAD.The application of indirect meter of chlorophyll SPAD-502 has been studied for several cultures and with satisfactory results in evaluation of the nutritional state of nitrogen. This work aimed at evaluating the employment of SPAD-502 in the leaf content analysis of chlorophyll, N, S, Fe and Mn in herbaceous cotton under greenhouse conditions. Four experiments were installed to study doses of N (1.5, 7.5, 15 and 22.5 mM L-1), S (0.2, 1, 2 and 3 mM L-1), Fe (10, 50, 100 and 150 µmol L-1) and Mn (10, 50, 100 and 150 µmol L-1), equivalent in all cases to 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 times the normal concentration of the solution Hoagland & Arnon, respectively. The SPAD index had a better correlation with chlorophyll a than with clorophyll b. The SPAD indexes were positively correlated to N leaf content and negatively correlated to S. Leaf contents of Fe and Mn did not correlate to SPAD index

Mental health of dentistry students in pernambuco related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The adaptation of control measures such as social distancing and isolation during the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused dentistry students to experience emotional vulnerability and psychological distress. Objective: To investigate the factors affecting the mental health of dentistry students in Pernambuco, Brazil during social isolation, and to identify possible injuries and mitigating factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in public and private institutions in Pernambuco using an electronic questionnaire. The study included 261 dentistry students of both genders from the first to the tenth period (over 18 years old). Results: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lifestyles, academic situation, and mental health of dentistry students participating in the survey affirmed the predominance of anxiety, stress, and negative thinking. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the quality of life, academic progress, and mental health of dentistry students. Prevention and management strategies are necessary to minimize the impacts of psychological suffering