Color stability, surface roughness and microhardness of composites submitted to mouthrinsing action

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mouth rinse solutions Lion color stability, surface roughness and microhardness of two composite resins. Material and Methods: Fifty test specimens of each composite (Filtek Z250 and Z350; 3M ESPE) were made using a teflon matrix (12x2 mm). Color, surface roughness and Knoop microhardness baseline measurements of each specimen were made and specimens (n=10) were immersed in 5 mouth rinse solutions: G1: distilled water (control), G2: Plax Classic, G3: Plax alcohol-free; G4: Periogard, and G5: Listerine. Final measurements of color, roughness and microhardness were performed and the results submitted to statistical analysis (2-way ANOVA, Bonferroni's test; p<0.05). Results: The most significant color change was observed for Z250 when immersed in Listerine (p<0.05). Z350 showed greater color change when immersed in Plax alcohol-free (p<0.05), but with no significant difference for Listerine (p>0.05). With regard to roughness, both composites showed significant changes when immersed in Listerine in comparison with Plax alcohol-free (p<0.05). Microhardness of Z350 was shown to be significantly changed when the composite was immersed in Plax alcohol-free (p<0.05). Conclusion: Composite changes depended on the material itself rather than the mouth rinse solution used

Association of interleukin 1 beta polymorphisms and haplotypes with Alzheimer's disease

Our study aimed to associate IL-1 beta and IL-1RN polyrnorphisms with AD disease in comparison with elderly control group from São Paulo - Brazil. We genotyped 199 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 165 elderly control and 122 young control samples, concerning VNTR (IL-1RN) and -511C>T and -31T>C (IL-1 beta) polymorphisms. Our findings revealed that -511C/-31T/2-repetitions VNTR haplotype had a protective effect for AD when compared to EC (p=0.005), whereas -511C/-31C/1-repetition VNTR haplotype was associated as a risk factor for AD (p=0.021). Taken together, we may suggest that there is a relevant role of IL-1 genes cluster in AD pathogenesis in this Brazilian population. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade do Sagrado Coracao de BauruConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Faculdade de Medicina de Marilia (FAMEMA)USC, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med UNIFESP EPM, Dept Morfol, Disciplina Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med UNIFESP EPM, Disciplina Neurol Ambulatorio Neurol Comportament, São Paulo, BrazilFac Med Marilia FAMEMA, Hemoctr, Disciplina Genet, São Paulo, BrazilFac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Nucleo Pesquisa Bioquim & Biol Mol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Marilia UNIMAR, Fac Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med UNIFESP EPM, Dept Morfol, Disciplina Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med UNIFESP EPM, Disciplina Neurol Ambulatorio Neurol Comportament, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 06/07240-3FAPESP: 09/15857-9FAPESP: 04/15273-3Web of Scienc

Auditory stimulation with Mozart sonata k-448 and heavy metal music improves short-term memory in rats

Objectives. We aimed to assess the effect of both classical and heavy metal music on short-term and long-term memory. Methods. Male rats were separated into three groups: Mozart (n=14), rats were exposed to Mozart´s K-448 piano sonata; Heavy Metal (n=15), rats were exposed to Psychosocial (band: Slipknot), and Control (n=12), rats were exposed to ambient sounds in an acoustically isolated room. The animals were exposed to the music for 8 hours per day, between 10:00 pm to 06:00 am, with an intensity of 50-75 dB, for 61 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the final day of adjustment to the enclosure the animals were individually exposed for 5 minutes in the enclosure to explore two identical objects. Ninety minutes after the object recognition training session, the animals were submitted to the short-term memory test and twenty-eight days after the object recognition training session, the animals were submitted to a long-term memory test. Results. There was no modification amongst the three groups during the object recognition training. Regarding the short-term memory test both Mozart (U=33.00, p=0.016, FDR-corrected) and Heavy Metal (U=44.00, p=0.033, FDR-corrected) groups revealed a higher percentage value of significance compared to the control group. In contrast, there was no significant change in relation to the long-term memory test. Conclusion. Mozart Sonata K-448 and heavy metal music achieved beneficial effects on the short-term memory in rats

<i>In vitro</i> antiviral activity of the anti-HCV drugs daclatasvir and sofosbuvir against SARS-CoV-2, the aetiological agent of COVID-19

BackgroundCurrent approaches of drug repurposing against COVID-19 have not proven overwhelmingly successful and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to cause major global mortality. SARS-CoV-2 nsp12, its RNA polymerase, shares homology in the nucleotide uptake channel with the HCV orthologue enzyme NS5B. Besides, HCV enzyme NS5A has pleiotropic activities, such as RNA binding, that are shared with various SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Thus, anti-HCV NS5B and NS5A inhibitors, like sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, respectively, could be endowed with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity.MethodsSARS-CoV-2-infected Vero cells, HuH-7 cells, Calu-3 cells, neural stem cells and monocytes were used to investigate the effects of daclatasvir and sofosbuvir. In silico and cell-free based assays were performed with SARS-CoV-2 RNA and nsp12 to better comprehend the mechanism of inhibition of the investigated compounds. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was generated to estimate daclatasvir's dose and schedule to maximize the probability of success for COVID-19.ResultsDaclatasvir inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero, HuH-7 and Calu-3 cells, with potencies of 0.8, 0.6 and 1.1 μM, respectively. Although less potent than daclatasvir, sofosbuvir alone and combined with daclatasvir inhibited replication in Calu-3 cells. Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir prevented virus-induced neuronal apoptosis and release of cytokine storm-related inflammatory mediators, respectively. Sofosbuvir inhibited RNA synthesis by chain termination and daclatasvir targeted the folding of secondary RNA structures in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Concentrations required for partial daclatasvir in vitro activity are achieved in plasma at Cmax after administration of the approved dose to humans.ConclusionsDaclatasvir, alone or in combination with sofosbuvir, at higher doses than used against HCV, may be further fostered as an anti-COVID-19 therapy

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure &lt;= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

VARIAÇÃO GENÉTICA E FENOTÍPICA DAS SEMENTES DE UMA PALMEIRA EM REMANESCENTES DA MATA ATLÂNTICA

A Mata Atlântica tem sido impactada pela perda de habitat e fragmentação, afetando dispersores de sementes, com os grandes frugívoros sendo os primeiros a desaparecer. A extinção local pode influenciar a estrutura espacial, demográfica e genética de espécies com frutos carnosos. O objetivo foi testar a hipótese de que a dispersão de sementes de Euterpe edulis e de seus genes é mais limitada em áreas fragmentadas, onde os grandes frugívoros foram extintos, do que em áreas preservadas, e associar esta perda à redução do tamanho das sementes. O trabalho foi conduzido em duas áreas fragmentadas e em duas áreas de reserva. Para avaliar a diversidade genética foram comparados os parâmetros de heterozidozidade, riqueza alélica e Fis entre adultos reprodutivos e sementes dispersas, utilizando oito marcadores de microssatélites. Não foram encontradas diferenças na diversidade genética entre adultos e sementes ao se comparar áreas fragmentadas e defaunadas e reservas, porém o tamanho das sementes se mostrou menor nos fragmentos

Participation of kallikrein-kinin system in different pathologies

The general description of kinins refers to these peptides as molecules involved in vascular tone regulation and inflammation. Nevertheless, in the last years a series of, evidences has shown that local hormonal systems, such as the kallikrein-kinin system, may be differently regulated and are of pivotal importance to pathophysiological control. The combined interpretations of many recent studies allow us to conclude that the kallikrein-kinin system plays broader and richer roles than those classically described until recently. In this review, we report findings concerning the participation of the kallikrein-kinin system in inflammation, cancer, and in pathologies related to cardiovascular, renal and central nervous systems. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant envelope protein 2 antigen for diagnosis of Chikungunya virus

Abstract Background Chikungunya (CHIKV) virus is an important mosquito-borne virus causing outbreaks of acute febrile illness with arthropathy. The detection of specific antibodies against CHIKV is used for diagnosis after the acute viremic phase of the disease. However, a major challenge for serologic diagnosis of CHIKV and other alphaviruses is the cross-reactivity of antibodies to common antigens among these viruses. In the present study, we have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbend assay using a recombinant envelope protein 2 of CHIKV produced in Escherichia coli system, as a capture antigen. Results High titers (1600 to 12,800) of anti-CHIKV antibodies were detected in human sera analyzed by the CHIKV assay, suggesting it may detect low levels of the antibodies presence. On the other side, cross-reactivity was not observed in mouse hyperimmune sera to Mayaro virus and other alphaviruses analyzed by the CHIKV immunosorbend assay, suggesting it is a CHIKV-specific test. Fifty-nine human serum samples of CHIKV infection suspected cases were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies detection using the CHIKV immunosorbend assay. A total of 44% (26/59) of samples were positive for IgG to CHIKV, determining 89.66% sensitivity and 100% specificity when the assay is compared to a CHIKV-specific neutralization assay. In addition, 40.6% (24/59) of samples were positive for IgM, determining 92.48% sensitivity and 79.04% specificity by a Bayesian method in the absence of a gold standard. Moreover, CHIKV immunosorbend assay showed similar sensibilities to a commercial immunochromatography assay (Lumiquick, USA) for CHIKV IgG and IgM detection. Conclusion In short, we have developed a rapid, simple, specific and sensitive CHIKV immunosorbend assay for IgG and IgM detection and our results showed potential applicability on the diagnosis of infections by this virus