Analysis of the physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity and volumetric changes of AH Plus, MTA Fillapex and TotalFill BC Sealer

To evaluate the physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity of AH Plus, MTA Fillapex and TotalFill BC Sealer. Volumetric changes were also evaluating using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Radiopacity and flow were evaluated in accordance with the ISO 6876, while setting time was evaluated in accordance with the ASTM- C266-08 specifications. The release of Ca2+ ions and pH were measured with spectrophotometer and pH meter, respectively, after different time intervals (1h, 3h, 24h, 72h, 168h, and 360h). Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT reduction assay to check 3T3 cells viability at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Volumetric change was evaluated by micro-CT, by using 30 acrylic teeth, filled with gutta-percha cones and the tested root canal sealer. The samples were evaluated after 168h, 360h and 720h of immersion in distilled water. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey test or by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (P<0.05). MTA Fillapex and TotalFill BC Sealer showed lower radiopacity than AH Plus (P<0.05). The MTA Fillapex showed the highest flow, while AH Plus showed the lowest flow (P<0.05). The initial and final setting time of AH Plus were lower than MTA Fillapex and TotalFill BC Sealer (P<0.05). In general, TotalFill BC Sealer presented higher Ca2+ ion release and pH than the other tested sealers. TotalFill BC Sealer also showed overall lower cytotoxicity when compared to the other sealers. Volumetric change of AH Plus and TotalFill BC Sealer was lower than MTA Fillapex (P<0.05). AH Plus, MTA Fillapex and TotalFill BC Sealer showed slight differences in the physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity, but all suitable for an endodontic sealer. However, AH Plus and TotalFill BC Sealer showed low volumetric changes when compared to MTA Fillapex

Determinants of intensive insulin therapeutic regimens in patients with type 1 diabetes: data from a nationwide multicenter survey in Brazil

Background: To evaluate the determinants of intensive insulin regimens (ITs) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).Methods: This multicenter study was conducted between December 2008 and December 2010 in 28 public clinics in 20 Brazilian cities. Data were obtained from 3,591 patients (56.0% female, 57.1% Caucasian). Insulin regimens were classified as follows: group 1, conventional therapy (CT) (intermediate human insulin, one to two injections daily); group 2 (three or more insulin injections of intermediate plus regular human insulin); group 3 (three or more insulin injections of intermediate human insulin plus short-acting insulin analogues); group 4, basal-bolus (one or two insulin injections of long-acting plus short-acting insulin analogues or regular insulin); and group 5, basal-bolus with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Groups 2 to 5 were considered IT groups.Results: We obtained complete data from 2,961 patients. Combined intermediate plus regular human insulin was the most used therapeutic regimen. CSII was used by 37 (1.2%) patients and IT by 2,669 (90.2%) patients. More patients on IT performed self-monitoring of blood glucose and were treated at the tertiary care level compared to CT patients (p < 0.001). the majority of patients from all groups had HbA1c levels above the target. Overweight or obesity was not associated with insulin regimen. Logistic regression analysis showed that economic status, age, ethnicity, and level of care were associated with IT (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Given the prevalence of intensive treatment for T1D in Brazil, more effective therapeutic strategies are needed for long term-health benefits.Farmanguinhos/Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz/National Health MinistryBrazilian Diabetes SocietyFundacao do Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de JaneiroConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Estado Rio de Janeiro, Unit Diabet, BR-20551030 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBaurus Diabet Assoc, São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo State, Diabet Unit, São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ Hosp Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilUniv Hosp São Paulo, Diabet Unit, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilSanta Casa Misericordia, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilSanta Casa Misericordia São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, BrazilHosp Geral de Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHosp Univ Clementino Fraga Filho IPPMG, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Hosp São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilFac Ciencias Med Santa Casa São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Crianca, Hosp Clin, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Hosp Clin, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilAmbulatorio Fac Estadual Med Sao Jose Rio Preto, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilEscola Paulista Med, Ctr Diabet, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilClin Endocrinol Santa Casa Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Estadual Londrina, Londrina, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, Hosp Clin, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilInst Crianca Com Diabet Rio Grande Sul, Rio Grande Do Sul, RS, BrazilGrp Hosp Conceicao, Inst Crianca Com Diabet, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilHosp Univ Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, BrazilInst Diabet Endocrinol Joinville, Joinville, BrazilHosp Reg Taguatinga, Brasilia, DF, BrazilHosp Geral Goiania, Goiania, Go, BrazilCtr Diabet & Endocrinol Estado Bahia, Goiania, Go, BrazilUniv Fed Maranhao, Sao Luis, BrazilCtr Integrado Diabet & Hipertensao Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Fed Sergipe, Aracaju, BrazilHosp Univ Alcides Carneiro, Campina Grande, BrazilHosp Univ Joao de Barros Barreto, Belem, Para, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo State, Diabet Unit, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Hosp São Paulo, Diabet Unit, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Hosp São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilEscola Paulista Med, Ctr Diabet, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Effect of aroira extract in the process of proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts in vitro

Em virtude do uso indiscriminado de antimicrobianos, a resistência de microrganismos patogênicos à diversas drogas tem aumentado nos últimos anos. Essa situação tem forçado pesquisadores a procurarem por novas drogas, tais como os medicamentos fitoterápicos que são preparações farmacêuticas (extratos, tinturas, pomadas e cápsulas) de ervas medicinais, utilizadas para o tratamento de inúmeras doenças. Uma das espécies brasileiras do cerrado que tem despertado o interesse de várias áreas é a aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva), por apresentar ação antiinflamatória, antiproliferativa, antioxidante e antimicrobiana. Dessa maneira o objetivo deste trabalho foi de avaliar o efeito do extrato hidroalcoólico de aroeira na viabilidade celular dos osteoblastos humanos e analisar a influência do extrato hidroalcoólico de aroeira na expressão de metaloproteinase de matriz 2 (MMP-2) e anquilose progressiva humana (ANKH). Nesse estudo foram utilizados osteoblastos humanos cultivados em Meio de Eagle modificado por Dulbecco (DMEM) adicionado de 10% de soro fetal bovino (SFB). Após atingirem a subconfluência as células foram plaqueadas e tratadas com diferentes concentrações do extrato hidroalcoólico de aroeira (Extrato Bruto; 1:10; 1:100; 1:1.000; 1:10.000). Após 24, 48, 72, 96 horas foi realizada a análise da viabilidade celular por meio da redução do MTT (brometo de 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-yl)-2,5- difeniltetrazólio), captação do vermelho neutro e cristal violeta. Também foi feita a redução do MTT após 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias de tratamento com o extrato, para verificar se as células permaneciam viáveis nesses períodos. A análise da expressão gênica de MMP-2 e ANKH foi realizada pelo RT-PCR em tempo real nos períodos de 24, 48, 72 horas, 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias. Os ensaio de viabilidade celular (redução do MTT, captação do vermelho e cristal violeta) mostraram que houve o aumento da viabilidade celular nos grupos tratados com o extrato a 1:10.000; e a diminuição da viabilidade dos osteoblastos humanos nos grupos com extrato bruto e com 1:10. Com relação à expressão de MMP-2 e ANKH, os resultados mostraram que o extrato promoveu uma modulação da expressão desses genes no decorrer dos períodos em comparação com o grupo controle. De um modo geral o extrato, em maiores concentrações (1:100), inibiu a expressão de MMP-2 e aumentou a expressão de ANKH. Tendo em vista os resultados obtidos concluímos que o extrato hidroalcoólico de aroeira em altas concentrações promove redução e/ou morte celular dos osteoblastos humanos e ainda modulam a expressão de MMP-2 e ANKH.Due to the indiscriminate use of antimicrobial, the resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to various drugs has increased in recent years. This situation has forced researchers to search for new drugs, such as herbal medicines that are pharmaceutical preparations (extracts, tinctures, ointments and capsules) medicinal herb, used for the treatment of numerous diseases. One species of the Brazil that has aroused interest in many areas is the aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva) because of its anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antioxidant and antimicrobial. Thus the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of aroeira on cell viability of human osteoblasts and to analyze extract on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and human progressive ankylosis (ANKH) . In this study, we used human osteoblasts cultured in Eagle\'s medium modified by Dulbecco (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). After reaching subconfluence cells were plated and treated with different concentrations of the aroeira extract hydroalcoholic (brute extract , 1:10, 1:100, 1:1.000, 1:10:000). After 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours analysis was performed of cell viability by the reduction of MTT (3 - (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5 - diphenyltetrazolium bromide) uptake of neutral red and crystal violet. It was also made MTT reduction after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of treatment with the extract, to check if the cells remained viable during these periods. The analysis of the gene expression of MMP-2 and ANKH was performed by Real Time RT-PCR in periods of 24, 48 hours, 72 hours, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The cell viability assay (MTT reduction, uptake of neutral red and crystal violet) showed that there was a tendency of increased cell viability in the groups treated with the extract 1:10.000, and decreased viability of human osteoblast cells in groups with brute extract and 1:10. With respect to expression of MMP-2 and ANKH, the results showed that the extract promoted a modulation of expression of these genes during the periods, compared to the control group. Generally extract at higher concentrations (1:100) both inhibited the expression of MMP-2 and increased rhe expression of ANKH. Given the results we conclude that the hydroalcoholic extract of aroeira in high concentrations causes a reduction and / or cell death of human osteoblasts and also modulate the expressio of MMP-2 and ANKH

Evaluation of the antiproliferative effect of apocynin and diapocynin on human osteosarcoma cells

O osteossarcoma (OS) é o tumor maligno primário mais comum do tecido ósseo, caracterizado pela formação de osteócitos anormais. Apesar do avanço nas terapias convencionais (quimioterapia e retirada do tumor), essas não conseguem eliminar totalmente as células tumorais e impedir a progressão da doença. Recentemente, agentes derivados de fontes naturais ganharam considerável atenção por causa de sua segurança, eficácia e disponibilidade imediata. Nesse sentido, a apocinina, inibidor do complexo NADPH-oxidase, vem sendo estudada como agente antitumoral em alguns tipos de câncer como: pâncreas, próstata, pulmão e mama. Apocinina é um pró-fármaco e sua ação parece estar relacionada à sua conversão produzindo a diapocinina, a qual se mostrou mais efetiva do que a apocinina. Portanto, o objetivo desse estudo é avaliar, in vitro, o potencial antitumoral da apocinina e diapocinina em células de osteossarcoma humano. Para isso, foram utilizados osteoblastos humanos normais (HOb) e osteossarcoma humano imortalizadas (SaOS-2) tratados ou não com apocinina e diapocinina em diversas concentrações. Foram realizados os ensaios de viabilidade celular, alterações morfológicas, apoptose celular, produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), formação de colônias, migração, invasão e expressão do fator indutor de hipóxia-1alfa (HIF-1). Também foram conduzidos ensaios para verificar a atividade de metaloproteinase de matriz (MMP) 2 e 9. Os resultados em SaOS-2 mostraram que o tratamento com apocinina nas concentrações de 1,5 e 3 mM; e diapocinina nas concentrações de 0,75 e 1,5 mM reduziram a viabilidade; aumentaram o número de células em apoptose e diminuíram a produção de EROs; sem causar danos às células HOb. Além disso, essas mesmas concentrações inibiram a migração e invasão celular; diminuíram a expressão de HIF-1; e reduziram a atividade de MMP-2 em SaOS-2. Considerando os resultados obtidos, concluímos que a apocinina e diapocinina podem atuar como possíveis moduladores de células tumorais, sendo que a diapocinina mostrou ser mais efetiva nos parâmetros testados.Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone tissue, characterized by the formation of abnormal osteocytes. Despite advances in conventional therapies (chemotherapy and surgery) they cannot completely eliminate tumor cells and prevent the progression of the disease. Recently, agents derived from natural sources have achieved considerable attention because of their safety, efficacy and immediate availability of therapies. In this way, apocynin, an inhibitor of the NADPH-oxidase complex, has been studied as an antitumor agent in some types of cancer, such as pancreas, prostate, lung and breast. Apocynin is a prodrug and its action indicate to be related to its conversion to diapocynin, which has been shown to be more efficient than apocynin itself. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate, in vitro, the antitumor potential of apocynin and diapocynin in human osteosarcoma cells. For this, normal human osteoblasts (HOb) and immortalized human osteosarcoma cells (SaOS-2) were treated or no-treated with apocynin and diapocynin in various concentrations. Cell viability assay, morphological alterations, cellular apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, colony formation, migration, invasion and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1) were performed. We also performed assays to verify the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9. The results in SaOS-2 showed that treatment with apocynin at concentrations of 1,5 e 3 mM; and diapocynin at concentrations of 0,75 e 1,5 mM reduced cell viability; increased the number of cells in apoptosis and decreased the production of ROS; without damaging HOb cells. Moreover, these same concentrations inhibited cell migration and invasion; decreased HIF-1 expression; and reduced MMP 2 activity in SaOS-2. Considering the results, we suggest that apocynin and diapocynin may act as possible modulators of tumor cells, and diapocynin has been shown to be more effective

ECONOMIA SOLIDÁRIA E DESENVOLVIMENTO LOCAL SUSTENTÁVEL: UM ESTUDO DE CASO EM UM SISTEMA DE AGRICULTURA FAMILIAR

The purpose of this study was to analyze the dynamic of dimensions that characterize an undertaking of solidarity economy in a family farming system, especially in the ambit of principles of sustainable development, namely, self-management, direct democracy, effective participation, educational actions, cooperation at work, and equalitarian distribution of results and benefits. A qualitative case study was performed at the Association of Aquaculture and Artisanal Fishermen of Guassussê in the countryside of the State of Ceará, Brazil. According to results, it was possible to reveal the existence of the analyzed dimensions, as well as their relationships and effects. Therefore, we emphasize that this association configures as a reliable undertaking which has found objective and creative solutions for issues which affect the northeast of the State of Ceará in a self-managed, autonomous and pioneer way