Stem cells and their applications in Dentistry: a Literature Review

Since stem cells were discovered, professionals in many different areas of healthcare have been using them as an important tool for fighting diseases, particularly diseases for which science has been unable to find cures. A stem cell is an undifferentiated unit with powerful self-renewal properties that is capable of organizing other cell types in the body. Many studies have shown the utility of embryonic or adult stem cells for forming teeth and for regeneration of bone and soft tissues. In view of the importance of the subject, this article provides a review of the literature on studies of stem cells and their potential applications in dentistry

Early release from prison in time of COVID-19: Determinants of unfavourable decisions towards Black prisoners

On the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the overcrowding in prisons led to efforts to decarcerate in order to prevent and control outbreaks in prisons. This study analyses how public support for such exceptional measures are determined by cognitive and ideological factors known to create and maintain racial biases in the criminal system. Participants were asked to express their level of agreement with the early-release of hypothetical prisoners. Results showed participants to be less favourable to the early-release of Black compared to White prisoners, when they had committed a stereotypically Black crime. As expected, the congruency between the crime stereotypicality and the colour of the prisoner's skin did not emerge for White prisoners. Moreover, the difference between the agreement with the release of the Black vs. the White prisoner when both committed a stereotypically Black crime was higher as the level of endorsement of Meritocracy increased. Contrastingly, Anti-egalitarianism only predicted an overall disagreement with prisoners' early-release. This paper highlights the cumulative explanation by different levels of analysis of this current problem and implications for the development of the public opinion on penal subjects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of I-FABP as a biomarker of intestinal barrier dysfunction driven by gut microbiota changes in obesity

Financial support from Fundacao para Ciencia e Tecnologia (PTDC/AGR-TEC/2227/2012 and SFRH/BD/93073/2013) is gratefully acknowledged.Background: Intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (I-FABP) is expressed in epithelial cells of the mucosal layer of the small intestine tissue. When intestinal mucosal damage occurs, I-FABP is released into the circulation and its plasma concentration increases. In the context of obesity, the gut barrier integrity can be disrupted by dietary fat while intestinal permeability increases. Objective: To investigate whether intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) is a suitable plasma marker of intestinal injury and inflammation in obesity. Methods: Twelve male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups of six animals each: standard (St) and high-fat (HF) diet fed groups for 12 weeks. Results: HF fed animals developed obesity, insulin resistance and seemed to present increased plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines (MCP-1 and IL1 beta). The gut microbiota composition of these animals was also altered, with lower number of copies of Bacteroidetes, Prevotella spp. and Lactobacillus spp., in comparison with those from St diet group. Fecal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations tended to be increased in HF fed animals. Intestinal expression of TLR4 seemed to be also increased in HF fed animals suggesting that HF diet-induced dysbiosis may be behind the systemic inflammation observed. However, in contrast to other intestinal inflammatory diseases, plasma I-FABP levels were decreased in HF fed rats whereas I-FABP expression in jejunum tended to be increased. Conclusions: HF diet-induced obesity is characterized by dysbiosis, insulin resistance and systemic inflammation. In this context, plasmatic I-FABP should not be used as a marker of the intestinal barrier dysfunction and the low-grade chronic inflammatory status.publishersversionpublishe

Monotonia no consumo de frutas e hortaliças e características do ambiente alimentar

OBJETIVO: Analisar a quantidade e a diversidade do consumo de frutas e hortaliças, assim como sua relação com características da aquisição e do ambiente alimentar do consumidor. MÉTODOS: Estudo da linha de base oriundo de ensaio comunitário controlado e aleatorizado que investigou amostra representativa de serviços da atenção primária à Saúde (Programa Academia da Saúde) de Belo Horizonte, MG. Analisou-se o consumo de frutas e hortaliças em porções/dia, e sua diversidade por Questionário de Frequência Alimentar. Os usuários também foram questionados sobre frequência, local de compra e disponibilidade dos alimentos no domicílio. Para aferir o ambiente alimentar do consumidor, realizou-se auditoria dos estabelecimentos comerciais dentro de um raio de 1,6 km ao redor das unidades amostradas do programa. RESULTADOS: Investigaram-se 3.414 adultos e idosos (88,1% mulheres) e 336 estabelecimentos comerciais em 18 unidades do Programa Academia da Saúde. O consumo médio de frutas e hortaliças foi adequado [5,4 (DP = 2,1) porções/dia], porém monótono, com ingestão média diária de dois tipos. Nos estabelecimentos auditados, observou-se boa diversidade (77,7% e 85,0%) e variedade (74,5% e 81,4%) de frutas e hortaliças, mas com qualidade inferior de hortaliças (60,4%). Após ajuste por variáveis sociodemográficas, identificou-se que o conhecimento sobre safras de alimentos (p = 0,006), aumento da disponibilidade mensal de frutas nos domicílios (p < 0,001), maior variedade de frutas (p = 0,03) e qualidade das hortaliças (p = 0,05) nos estabelecimentos comerciais poderiam melhorar o consumo quantitativo de frutas e hortaliças, enquanto a maior variedade de frutas (p = 0,008) poderia ampliar a diversidade do consumo. CONCLUSÕES: O consumo de frutas e hortaliças foi quantitativamente adequado, porém monótono, sendo influenciado pelo ambiente do consumidor. Tais resultados evidenciam a necessidade de aperfeiçoar as ações educativas nos serviços e programas de saúde, além de atuar sobre o ambiente do consumidor, visando promover e manter o consumo adequado e diversificado, conforme preconizado pelas diretrizes brasileiras para a alimentação adequada e saudável.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the quantity and diversity in the consumption fruits and vegetables, as well as its relationship with the consumer’s purchase characteristics and food environment. METHODS: Baseline study stemming from a controlled and randomized community trial investigating a sample representative of Primary Health Care services (Health Academy Program) of Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais. The intake of fruits and vegetables was analyzed in servings/day, whereas diversity was assessed by the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Users were also questioned on the frequency, purchase location and availability of these foods at their households. To assess the consumer’s food environment, commercial establishments within a 1.6 km radius around the program unit sampled were audited. RESULTS: 3,414 adults and older adults (88.1% women) were investigated, as well as 336 commercial establishments, in 18 units of the Health Academy Program. The average consumption of fruits and vegetables was adequate [5.4 (SD = 2.1) servings/day] but monotonous, with average daily intake of two different types. In the establishments audited, a good diversity (77.7% and 85.0%) and variety (74.5% and 81.4%) of fruits and vegetables was observed, although with lower quality of vegetables (60.4%). After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, we identified that knowledge on food crops (p = 0.006), increased monthly availability of fruits at households (p < 0.001), and greater variety of fruits (p = 0.03) and quality of vegetables (p = 0.05) in commercial establishments could improve the quantitative intake of fruits and vegetables, whereas a greater variety of fruits (p = 0.008) would increase consumption diversity. CONCLUSIONS: The intake of fruits and vegetables was quantitatively adequate but monotonous, being influences by the consumer environment. Such results highlight the need for improving educational actions in health services and programs, in addition to acting on the consumer environment, aiming to promote and maintain the adequate and diversified consumption, as recommended by Brazilian guidelines for proper and healthy eating

Sludge retention time impacts on polyhydroxyalkanoate productivity in uncoupled storage/growth processes

SFRH/BD/104767/2014 program ( GA 773375 ) UIDP/04378/2020 UIDB/04378/2020The process involving mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) and waste-based substrates emerged as an alternative solution to reduce the market price of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The selection of an efficient MMC that displays a significant PHA accumulation potential and a high growth rate is considered a key factor for the MMC PHA production feasibility. This study used a pilot plant to investigate the dynamics of growth vs storage in a mixed culture fed with fermented fruit waste under uncoupled carbon and nitrogen feeding. Varying sludge retention times (SRTs) (2 and 4 d) and organic loading rates (OLRs) (from 2.6 to 14.5 gCOD.L−1.d−1) were imposed for this purpose. Results showed that, regardless of the OLR imposed, cultures selected at lower SRT grew faster and more efficiently using stored PHA. However, they had inferior specific storage rates and accumulation capacity, resulting in lower PHA productivity. Additionally, the polymer storage yield was independent of the SRT, and was directly linked with the abundance of putative PHA-storers in the MMC. The high PHA productivity (4.6 ± 0.3 g.L−1.d−1) obtained for the culture selected at 4 d of SRT was 80% above that obtained for the lower SRT tested, underlining the importance of achieving a good balance between culture growth and accumulation capacity to increase the viability of the PHA-producing process from wastes.publishersversionpublishe

Os benefícios dos “alcoólicos anônimos” na recuperação de alcoolistas

O presente estudo teve como objetivo compreender o processo de construção da identidade de um alcoolista, como também, a importância dos Alcoólicos Anônimos (AA) para a reintegração dos dependentes em seu meio social. Para tanto, fez-se necessário trilhar um caminho metodológico de natureza qualitativa, onde se utilizou a entrevista semiestruturada e a observação participante em um grupo de AA, como meios de apuração. Pôde-se apreender que os participantes acreditam na importância do programa como meio terapêutico na ajuda para deixar o uso do álcool, através do grupo puderam ter uma nova compreensão sobre a sobriedade. Já no que se refere à identidade social, os entrevistados mostraram-se incomodados, pois os alcoolistas são vistos como fracos, descontrolados, motivo de riso dos outros, desocupados e até vagabundos. Era sempre esclarecido em meio às reuniões que os alcoolistas eram doentes e não marginais. Precisam de um tratamento apropriado e uma força de vontade de mudar enorme. Por fim, para os sujeitos entrevistados sair daquela posição estigmatizada, marginalizada era muito mais que ser aceitos socialmente, era também uma questão de saúde.&nbsp

Iron and zinc retention in common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) after home cooking

Background : According to the World Health Organization (WHO), iron, iodine, and Vitamin A deficiencies are the most common forms of malnutrition, leading to severe public health consequences. The importance of iron and zinc in human nutrition and the number of children found to be deficient in these nutrients make further studies on retention in cooked grains and cooked bean broth important. Objectives : This work aimed to evaluate iron and zinc retention in six common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars under the following conditions: raw beans, regular pot cooking, pressure cooking, with and without previous water soaking, and broth. Design : Determination of iron and zinc content in the raw, cooked bean grains and broth samples was carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Optical Emission Spectrometry (Spectro Analytical Instrument – Spectroflame P). All experiments and analyses were carried out in triplicate. Results : Overall, regardless of the cooking method, with or without previous water soaking, the highest zinc concentration was found in the cooked bean grains. However, pressure cooking and previous water soaking diminished iron retention in the cooked grains, while increasing it in the bean broth. Conclusion : The common bean was confirmed to be an excellent source of iron and zinc for human consumption, and it was suggested that beans should be consumed in a combined form, i.e. grain with bean broth

O impacto das técnicas de biologia molecular na resolução de crimes / The impact of molecular biology techniques on crime resolution

A junção das técnicas de biologia molecular com as ciências forenses trouxe inúmeros benefícios na resolução de crimes. Em cenas de crimes, os investigadores podem obter fluidos corporais, tecidos moles e ossos para extração do material genético. O DNA (Ácido desoxirribonucleico) possui regiões repetitivas que formam uma sequência única em cada indivíduo. Essas sequências são nomeadas conforme seu comprimento, chamadas de VNTRs (Variable Number of Tandem Repeat), que são os LTRs (Long Tandem Repeat) e STRs (Short Tandem Repeat) ou de acordo com as variações presentes na sequência, como os SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism). Em investigações, sejam elas criminais ou civis, o DNA fornece informações que vão desde a identificação de cadáveres a confirmação em testes de paternidade. Através delas, obtêm-se informações como, perfil genético, análises de DNA mitocondrial e cromossomo Y, testes de ancestralidade biogeográfica e pesquisa familiar. As técnicas utilizadas na identificação dos indivíduos são: PCR (Polymerase chain reaction), sendo a mais aplicada para amplificação de material genético, onde por meio de primers e variações de temperatura ocorre a desnaturação, anelamento e polimerização da fita na fase da extensão; Eletroforese, técnica que permite a segregação de fragmentos de DNA por tamanho ou peso molecular; Southern blot, conhecida por permitir a hibridização do DNA, facilitando assim, a detecção de STRs, VNTRs e SNPs. Tais técnicas se mostraram imprescindíveis para o desenvolvimento de bancos genéticos, como no Brasil que é usado o BNPG, o qual possui mais de 100 mil perfis já cadastrados e ajudou na resolução de 75 mil casos.

Contribuições do tratamento não farmacológico para Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2.

Background and Objective: Considering the type 2 diabetes an important public health problem, with high and increasing number of cases in the country and of its consequences, it has become necessary investment in new areas of research to strengthen the use of alternative therapies, relating benefit cost with lower rates of adverse effects. Thus, this study aimed to identify the benefits of physical activity and specific balanced diet in the control of diabetes mellitus type 2. Such strategies are recognized in the literature as non-pharmacological treatment and used as election therapy or as an adjunct to classical pharmacological treatment. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study at the Center for Diabetic Care and Hypertension in a Bahian in a city of Bahia in 2014, based on consultation records and questionnaire. The sample consisted of 56 adult individuals of both sexes, aged >40, with diabetes mellitus type 2, , registered and accompanied by the institution for disease control. Results: The average age of participants was 62 years, most are female, with low socioeconomic status, and reported no use of tobacco or alcohol. (85,7%), carbohydrates. Most participants had a mean age of 62 years, female, with low socioeconomic status, and reported no use of tobacco or alcohol. Best of glucose levels also predominated in the sample (85.7%), along with a low daily intake of fat and sugar / sweet carbohydrates, physical inactivity, overweight and previous guidance of oral hygiene. Most also said never done gingival treatment and tooth loss report was almost 100%. Conclusion: The results of this study point to a better relationship between glycemia and non-pharmacological therapies such as guided oral hygiene, physical activity and BMIJustificativa e Objetivo: Considerando a diabetes do tipo 2 como um importante problema de saúde pública, com elevado e crescente número de casos no país e dos agravos decorrentes, tem se tornado necessário o investimento em novas áreas de pesquisa visando reforçar o emprego de terapêuticas alternativas, relacionando custo benefício com menores taxas de efeitos adversos. Dessa forma, este estudo objetivou-se identificar os benefícios da atividade física e dieta balanceada específica no controle da Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2. Tais estratégias são reconhecidas na literatura como tratamento não-farmacológico e empregadas como terapêutica de eleição ou como coadjuvante ao tratamento farmacológico clássico. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo piloto do tipo transversal no Centro de Atendimento ao Diabético e Hipertenso em um município baiano em 2014, com base na consulta de prontuários e aplicação de questionário. A amostra foi composta por 56 indivíduos adultos, de ambos os sexos, com idade ≥ 40 anos, com Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2, cadastrados e acompanhados pela instituição para controle de doença. Resultados: A idade média dos participantes foi 62 anos, a maioria é do sexo feminino, com nível socioeconômico baixo, e não relataram uso de fumo ou álcool. Melhores níveis glicêmicos também predominou na amostra (85,7%), juntamente a uma baixa ingesta diária de gordura e carboidratos, sedentarismo, sobrepeso e orientação prévia de higiene bucal. A maioria também afirmou nunca ter realizado tratamento gengival e o relato de perda dentária foi de quase 100%. Conclusão: Os resultados dessa pesquisa apontam para uma relação entre melhores índices glicêmicos e terapias não-farmacológicas, tais como higiene bucal orientada, atividade física e IM