Evaluation of quality of life, sleep, and sleepiness in dental students during active learning and remote emergency learning

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL), quality of sleep, and sleepiness index in undergraduate dentistry students between their active learning (AL) and emergency remote learning (ERL) due to social distancing imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Information was collected using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36-BR), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS-BR), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR) questionnaires administered before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A comparison regarding the type of education, demographic factors, academic performance, PSQI-BR, ESS-BR, and SF-36-BR between the groups was performed, considering a significance level of 0.05. Results: A total of 55 students were from AL, while 45 students were from ERL. The sample consisted of 74 women and 26 men aged 21–30 years. The academic coefficient of these students ranged from 7 to 8 points (AL= 38.2% and ERL= 57.8%).  In addition, a large proportion of the students reported having no failures (AL=60% and ERL= 66.7%). Regarding QoL, the students presented a greater impairment in functional capacity (p = 0.01), followed by limitations in social aspects, general health perception, body pain, and vitality. According to the ESS-BR scores (p = 0.04), the students presented a lower quality of sleep. Conclusion: Dentistry students had the worst QoL panoramas and poor relative sleep quality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, QoL instruments were reliable for quantifying health-related QoL in AL and ERL.

The cytotoxic effect of TiF4 and NaF on fibroblasts is influenced by the experimental model, fluoride concentration and exposure time.

OBJECTIVE: Titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) has shown promising effect in preventing tooth lesions. Therefore, we compared the cytotoxicity of TiF4 with sodium fluoride (NaF) (already applied in Dentistry) considering different fluoride concentrations, pH values and experimental models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Step 1) NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were exposed to mediums containing NaF or TiF4 (from 0.15 to 2.45% F), both at native and adjusted pH, for 6 h. Step 2) NIH/3T3 were exposed to NaF or TiF4 varnishes with 0.95, 1.95 or 2.45% F (native pH), for 6, 12 or 24 h. We applied MTT (1st and 2nd steps) and Hoescht/PI stain (2nd step) assays. Step 3) NIH/3T3 were exposed to NaF or TiF4 varnish (2.45% F), at native pH, for 6 or 12 h. The cell stiffness was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). RESULTS: Step 1) All cells exposed to NaF or TiF4 mediums died, regardless of the F concentration and pH. Step 2) Both varnishes, at 1.90 and 2.45% F, reduced cell viability by similar extents (33-86% at 6 h, 35-93% at 12 h, and 87-98% at 24 h) compared with control, regardless of the type of fluoride. Varnishes with 0.95% F did not differ from control. Step 3) TiF4 and NaF reduced cell stiffness to a similar extent, but only TiF4 differed from control at 6 h. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the 3 experimental steps, we conclude that TiF4 and NaF have similar cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity was dependent on F concentration and exposure time. This result gives support for testing the effect of TiF4 varnish in vivo

The role of fluoride on different osteoblastic cell line from different mice strains with distinct bone density: Study on MC3T3-E1, C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J

Sabe-se que o flúor causa alterações químicas e celulares no osso, dependendo da dosagem e do tempo de exposição a esse elemento. Já foi demonstrado que alterações clínicas importantes, como a osteoporose, osteopetrose e esclerose óssea, podem ser geradas pela ingestão de flúor. Sabe-se que o flúor pode guiar os osteoblastos ao crescimento, sob doses e tempos de exposição específicos. A sensibilidade dos tecidos mineralizados ao fluoreto responde a mecanismos genéticos inerentes a cada população. Dentro de uma mesma espécie, diferentes linhagens apresentam um comportamento distinto frente a esse fármaco. Durante várias décadas, os estudos com fluoretos resumiram-se ao fluoreto de sódio, amplamente utilizado na prevenção das cáries dentárias. Recentemente, outras fontes de fluoretos como TiF4 e SnF2 têm sido buscadas, com intuito de potencializar as vantagens desse elemento. Porém não existem estudos ainda sobre o efeito do AlF3 sobre o tecido ósseo até a presente data. Desse modo, achamos oportuno investigar seu papel, quando administrado a células ósseas e para tal, investigamos a viabilidade e padrão de atividade das fosfatases desse sal (AlF3) quando administrado às células da linhagem pré-osteblástica MC3T3, em comparação ao NaF. Além disso, sabendo que diferentes células apresentam comportamento distinto ao tratamento com fluoretos, estudamos o papel do NaF quando administrado a duas linhagens celulares de camundongos com densidades ósseas distintas e com diferentes susceptibilidades ao fluoreto: C3H/HeJ e C57BL/6J (C3H e C57, alta e baixa densidades ósseas, respectivamente). As células também foram avaliadas quanto à viabilidade celular e ao perfil das fosfatases. Todos os resultados foram submetidos à Análise de Variância a três critérios e nos permitiu identificar que entre os sais de fluoreto, apenas o NaF promoveu alterações na viabilidade celular das células MC3T3. O AlF3 não exerceu influência na atividade da fosfatase alcalina quando consideramos as células pré-osteoblásticas, no entanto, o efeito desse fluoreto sobre a atividade das fosfatases ácidas totais e ácida resistente ao tartarato ocorre de modo dicotômico. Quando consideramos uma população celular heterogênea, coletada de calvária, como foi o caso das linhagens C3H e C57, verificamos que o NaF interferiu tanto sobre a proliferação, quanto a atividade das fosfatases de modo bastante distinto para ambas linhagens celulares. Assim concluimos que o NaF é capaz de exercer efeitos mais diversificados em diferentes tipos celulares, alterando viabilidade celular e atividade de enzimas; em contrapartida, o AlF3 produz efeitos mais especifícos e delimitados em pré-osteoblastos.It is well known that fluoride causes chemical and cellular alteration on bone tissue, depending on the dosage and time of exposure to this element. Several studies have been conducted to show that some bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteopetrosis and esclerosis, can occur as a consequence of the excessive fluoride uptake. Fluoride can lead osteoblast to proliferate, under certain conditions as time and dosage. The same way, excessive dosages of fluoride can alter protein activity in osteoblasts, by changing the expression of retated genes. Sensitivity of mineralized tissues to fluoride depends on a genetic background inherent to each population. Within the same specie, different lineages present distint behavior to the ingestion of this íon. Over several decades, many researches focused on the study of NaF as the only source of fluoride, once it is wide spread used to the prevention of dental caries. More recently, different sources of fluoride have been assessed, like TiF4 e SnF2</sub, with the main aim to enhance biochemical and physical benefits of this element. Despite of this, none of these formulations have been tested to evaluate their effect on the bone tissue. Thus, we believe it is advisable to investigate viability and phosphatases activities of pre-osteoblast MC3T3 cells treated with Aluminium fluoride, compared to NaF treatments. Besides this, facing the knowledge that different cell lines have distinct behavior when treated with fluoride, we used two inbred strains of mice with distint mineral bone densities, C3H/HeJ (C3H, high bone density) and C57BL/6J (C57, low bone density), to assess the viability and phosphatases activities after the treatment with NaF. Overall results were tested by 3 way- Anova. AlF3 did not exibit influence over on alkaline phosphatase when pre-osteoblast cells are considered, but the effect of this fluoride salt on the activity of total and tartarate resistant acid phosphatases ocurrs on a dicotomic way. When we consider a mixed cell population, collected from calvária as for the C3H and C57 assays, NaF did interfered as with the proliferation rate as phosphatase activities on a very distinct fashion between the two lineages. Thus, it is possible to conclude that NaF is able to exert variable effects in different cell types and enzyme activities; on the other hand, AlF3 effects are more specific and surrounded in pre-osteblastic cells

Rely XTM U200 versus Rely XTM ARC: uma comparação da resistência à microtração

Resumo Introdução Os cimentos resinosos são extensivamente utilizados na fixação de restaurações indiretas de cerâmica e cerômero, sendo classificados em duas categorias: os cimentos resinosos convencionais, que não apresentam uma adesão inerente à estrutura dental e requerem o uso de um sistema adesivo e os cimentos resinosos autoadesivos, que não requerem um tratamento adesivo prévio do substrato dentário. Objetivo Avaliar a resistência de união de dois cimentos resinosos, convencional e autoadesivo, quando utilizados na cimentação de restaurações cerâmicas e ceroméricas, trazendo elementos para propiciar melhor compreensão da interação adesiva em procedimentos de cimentação com as referidas categorias de cimentos resinosos. Material e método Dentes humanos (n=20), cedidos pelo banco de dentes da Universidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL), foram preparados para que cilindros de cerâmica ou de cerômero fossem cimentados utilizando-se dois tipos de cimentos resinosos (autoadesivo e convencional). Após a cimentação, 20 palitos foram obtidos e submetidos ao teste de tração, avaliando-se a força necessária para a fratura. Os valores obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística empregando-se a análise de variância (ANOVA) e o teste de Tukey. Resultado As forças mínimas e máximas necessárias ao rompimento do cimento convencional foram superiores às mesmas requeridas para o rompimento da união promovida pelo cimento autoadesivo, bem como as medianas e as médias aritméticas, independentemente do material restaurador empregado. O teste de Tukey demonstrou que as diferenças entre os cimentos empregados são estatisticamente significantes, independentemente do material restaurador. Conclusão Os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que o material utilizado para a confecção dos corpos de prova (cerâmica ou cerômero) não influenciou na resistência à tração, sendo que o cimento convencional apresentou valores superiores de resistência

Dental bleaching gels do not alter the surface roughness and microhardness of feldspathic porcelain

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate whether two different bleaching gels affect the microhardness and surface roughness of feldspathic ceramic specimens, in vitro. Methods: A total of 48 feldspathic porcelain IPS In Line (Ivoclar-Vivadent) discs (16/treatment group) were immersed in distilled water (Group I, Untreated control, UN), or treated with the bleaching gels: Opalescence (15% carbamide peroxide; OPA) and Opalescence Xtra Boost (38%hydrogen peroxide; OPAXB), for 1h or 6h daily for 14 days. Surface roughness (Ra) and microhardness (Knoop, or KNP) measurements were made before and after treatment, and data were subjected to statistical analysis by paired Student’s t-test (p < 0.05). Results: Treatments using Opalescence and Opalescence Xtra Boost did not altered surface roughness (p=0.6199861) or microhardness (p=0.14286744) of the feldspathic porcelain tested in this study. Conclusion: Bleaching treatments using Opalescence and Opalescence Xtra Boost may be suitable for treatment in patients having ceramic prosthodontic treatment. Conclusion: Bleaching treatments using Opalescence and Opalescence Xtra Boost may be suitable for treatment in patients having ceramic prosthodontic treatment

COVID-19 na Estratégia Saúde da Família: uma análise de como a população percebe e adota as medidas de prevenção

Strategies to fight Covid-19 in Primary Health Care (PHC) encompass users and professionals, requiring the adoption of measures to reduce the spread of the virus and reorganize services in the context of the current pandemic. This study sought to analyze how the population enrolled in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) perceived and adopted the Covid-19 prevention measures. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study with users of the FHS in Rondonópolis, MT. The data was collected at family health units through the application of a structured questionnaire with questions that addressed the sociodemographic aspects, perception, practices and prevention for COVID-19. Seventy users participated in this survey. A frequency of 85.71% considers COVID-19 to be severe or very severe. The most adopted prevention measure were the use of masks (68.57%), frequent hand washing (37.14%), the use of hand sanitizers (37.14%) and partial social isolation (37.14%). A total of 39 (55.71%) users reported that the FHS team did not carry out actions aimed at preventing the new coronavirus. Most of the FHS population realizes the severity of COVID-19, however, does not adopt all protective measures. It is necessary to expand prevention strategies against COVID-19 by health services in the territories of PHC.As estratégias de enfrentamento à COVID-19 na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) abrangem os usuários e os profissionais, sendo necessária a adoção de medidas que busquem reduzir a disseminação do vírus e reorganizar os serviços de saúde no contexto da pandemia. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar como a população adscrita à Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) percebe e adota as medidas de prevenção ao contágio da COVID-19. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo e quantitativo com usuários da ESF de Rondonópolis, MT. Os dados foram coletados nas Unidades de Saúde da Família com a aplicação de um questionário estruturado com questões que abordavam os aspectos sociodemográficos, percepção e práticas de prevenção à COVID-19. Participaram da pesquisa 70 usuários, desses 85,71% consideraram a COVID-19 grave ou muito grave. As medidas de prevenção mais adotadas foram uso de máscara (68,57%), lavagem frequente das mãos (37,14%), uso de álcool gel (37,14%) e isolamento social parcial (37,14%). Trinta e nove usuários (55,71%) relataram que a equipe de saúde da ESF não realizou ações voltadas para a prevenção do novo coronavírus. A maioria da população da ESF percebe a gravidade da COVID-19, porém não adota todas as medidas de proteção. Torna-se necessária uma ampliação das estratégias de prevenção à COVID-19 por parte dos profissionais e serviços de saúde nos territórios da APS

Catalytic signature of a heat-stable, chimeric human alkaline phosphatase with therapeutic potential.

Recombinant alkaline phosphatases are becoming promising protein therapeutics to prevent skeletal mineralization defects, inflammatory bowel diseases, and treat acute kidney injury. By substituting the flexible crown domain of human intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) with that of the human placental isozyme (PLAP) we generated a chimeric enzyme (ChimAP) that retains the structural folding of IAP, but displays greatly increased stability, active site Zn²⁺ binding, increased transphosphorylation, a higher turnover number and narrower substrate specificity, with comparable selectivity for bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), than the parent IAP isozyme. ChimAP shows promise as a protein therapeutic for indications such as inflammatory bowel diseases, gut dysbioses and acute kidney injury