The effect of botulinum toxin type A injection in the viability of dorsal flap in rats

Purpose: Botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) increased the viability of skin flap in healthy rats. Most of the studies injected this substance some days (7-15) before the flap surgery. This treatment is used only for elective surgery, there was no data about the efficacy of BontA when injected in the surgical period. This study aimed to analyze the effect of BontA on the viability of Random flap in a intra surgical injection. Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats (250–300 g) were randomly divided into four groups: saline injection 15 days prior the surgery (G1), BoNTA injection 15 days prior the surgery (G2), saline injection intraoperative period (G3), BoNTA injection intraoperative (G4). A dorsal cutaneous flap (3×10cm) was performed. Survival area and total area of the flaps were measured. Lumen diameter, external arterial diameter and lumen/wall thickness ratio were recorded. Results: Viable area increased in Bonta 15days group when compared to saline-15days (1080.7 ± 307.5 mm2 vs. 1594.5 ± 419.7mm2, p= 0.01) and in the Bonta –intraoperative injection when compared to saline intraoperative injection (1133.3 ± 462.0 mm2 vs. 1389.9 ± 320.4 mm2, p=0.014). The ratio viable area/total area showed similar results (G1 versus G2, 0.43 vs. 0.74; p<0.001, respectively) and G3 versus G4 (0.44 vs. 0.61 p= 0,04). We did not find any difference in the microscopic analysis (lumen diameter, external arterial diameter and lumen/wall thickness ratio). Conclusion: BoNTA injected fifteen days before the surgery increased skin flap viability. However, BontA injected intraoperatory time did not increased the flap viability

Is late-onset Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) a valid diagnosis in adults?

INTRODUÇÃO: O paradigma atual do Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) o entende como um transtorno do neurodesenvolvimento de início na infância, que pode persistir na vida adulta. Entretanto, foi levantada a hipótese de uma síndrome de TDAH de início tardio (idade de início >12 anos). OBJETIVO: Avaliar o atual estado do conhecimento em relação ao TDAH de início tardio. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Revisão sistemática da literatura usando as bases de dados PubMed (MEDLINE) e SCOPUS. RESULTADOS: Nós encontramos seis estudos que relatam dados corroborando a existência do TDAH de início tardio: cinco da busca no PubMed e um dos artigos sem sobreposição da busca no SCOPUS. DISCUSSÃO: Apesar do pequeno número de estudos, das diferenças de metodologia entre eles e da presença de limitações em todos eles, os dados relativos a aspectos clínicos oferecem alguma sustentação para a validade de conteúdo do diagnóstico de TDAH em adultos de início tardio. CONCLUSÕES: Embora muitas controvérsias ainda existam e estudos confirmando sua validade de construto são necessários, TDAH de início tardio pode ser um diagnóstico válido em adultos. Portanto, clínicos devem considerar o diagnóstico e tratamento de TDAH em adultos de início tardio ao invés de simplesmente negligencia-lo devido ao critério de idade de início.INTRODUCTION: The current Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) paradigm understands it as a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder that can persist into adult life. However, it has been raised the possibility of a late-onset ADHD syndrome. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the current state of knowledge regarding late-onset (i.e. age-of-onset > 12 years) ADHD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systematic literature review using PubMed (MEDLINE) and SCOPUS databases. RESULTS: We found six studies reporting data offering some support for the existence of late-onset ADHD: five from the PubMed search and one from the non-overlapping articles in the SCOPUS search. DISCUSSION: Despite the small number of studies, the differences in methodology among them and the presence of limitations in all of them, data regarding clinical aspects offer some support for the content validity of late-onset ADHD diagnosis in adults. CONCLUSIONS: Although many controversies still exist and studies supporting its construct validity are needed, late-onset ADHD may be a valid diagnosis in adults. Thus, clinicians should consider diagnosing and treating late-onset ADHD in adults, instead of just neglecting this possibility because of the age-of-onset criterion

Surgery vs. biopsy in the treatment of butterfly glioblastoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

: Butterfly glioblastomas (bGBM) are grade IV gliomas that spread to bilateral hemispheres by infiltrating the corpus callosum. Data on the effect of surgery are limited to small case series. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare resection vs. biopsy in terms of survival outcomes and postoperative complications. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases through March 2021 in accordance with the PRISMA checklist. Pooled hazard ratios were calculated and meta-analyzed in a random-effects model including assessment of heterogeneity. Out of 3367 articles, seven studies were included with 293 patients. Surgical resection was significantly associated with longer overall survival (HR 0.39, 95%CI 0.2-0.55) than biopsy. Low heterogeneity was observed (I2: 0%). In further analysis, the effect persisted in extent of resection subgroups of both ≥80% and <80%. No statistically significant difference between surgery and biopsy was detected in terms of postoperative complications, although these were numerically larger for surgery. In patients with bGBM, surgical resection was associated with longer survival prospects compared with biopsy

Effect of antileukotriene treatment on capsular contracture: an experimental study

Introduction: 40% of patients undergoing radiotherapy after breast reconstruction by silicone prosthesis implant may develop prosthesis encapsulation. Several strategies have already been tested to prevent capsule contracture with unsatisfactory results. This study analyzed the effect of topical antileukotriene (AL) on capsular contracture formation in rats with silicone implants associated with irradiation. Methods: Silicone blocks were implanted in the dorsal region in 20 female rats Wistar with weights ranging from 200-250g. The animals were divided into two groups: control (injection of 0.9% saline solution into the tissue around the implant) and intervention group (injection of 10mg of AL into the tissue around the implant). Immediately after surgery, the animals were irradiated with a single dose of 10Gy. After two months, we collected capsule samples for histological analysis and gene expression analysis of the following biomarkers: iNOS, VEGF-a and MMP-9. Results: Vascular density was lower in the AL group when compared to the control group (55.4±30.0 vs. 81.8±26.7, p=0.05, respectively). Similarly, VEGF-a had the same behavior (control group - 0.34±0.1 vs. group Al - 0.02±0.001, p=0.04). Conclusion: This study suggested that treatment with AL decreases angiogenesis in animals submitted to silicone implants and underwent radiotherapy

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field