Impact of xerostomia on the quality of life of patients submitted to head and neck radiotherapy

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the impact of xerostomia on the quality of life of patients who underwent radiotherapy in the head and neck region. This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study. The sample comprised 40 patients whose xerostomia was classified through the xerostomia inventory and the quality of life evaluated through the oral health impact profile questionnaire (OHIP). The majority of participants were male (75%), mean age 58.7 years. According to the degree of severity of the xerostomia, the average score among the participants was 36 points, this being considered moderate xerostomia. A significant impact was observed, with the median score 11 points, with the highest scores in the domains related to functional limitation, physical pain and physical disability. The majority of the participants (97.5%) had reduced salivary flow after the end of radiotherapy. There was a significant positive correlation between the degree of xerostomia and reduced quality of life, Pearson correlation 0.5421, (p< 0.05). Based upon the results it is concluded that xerostomia has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients who undergo radiotherapy in the head and neck region

Actividad biológica de la Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark.- revisión sistemática

ABSTRACT The Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark (Malvaceae) is a non-endemic plant, popularly known as mutamba. Its leaves and roots are used in home remedies against dysentery and diarrhea, in the treatment of prostate, as a uterine stimulant and other diseases. Due to the characteristics presented and the growing interest in this species, a systematic review was carried out on the possible pharmacological and toxicological effects of Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark. As active compounds, the articles cited the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds and steroids in different parts of the plant and extracted with different solvents. Regarding the experimental studies, no articles were found with clinical test, and only 4 in vivo studies. About the pharmacological effects we can mention activity against leishmaniasis, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase, anti-obesity, antiseptic, cicatrizant and anthelmintic. The registered toxicological tests were directed against lineages of cancer cells, proving effective, however, there is a need for studies to attest the safety of G. ulmifolia use by the population. Therefore, it is imperative to carry out further studies to ensure the use of this plant, to know doses and form of indication, as well as clinical studies in order to guarantee a correct therapy. Keywords: Guazuma ulmifolia, toxicity, medicinal plants. &nbsp; &nbsp;RESUMO A Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark (Malvaceae) é uma planta não endêmica, popularmente conhecida por mutamba. Suas folhas e raízes são empregadas em remédios caseiros contra disenteria e diarreias, no tratamento de próstata, como estimulante uterino e outras enfermidades. Em virtude das características apresentadas e o crescente interesse por esta espécie, tanto para fins medicinais como alimentício, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática sobre os possíveis efeitos farmacológicos e toxicológicos da Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark. Como compostos ativos, os artigos citaram a presença de flavonoides, saponinas, alcaloides, taninos, compostos fenólicos e esteróides em diferentes partes da planta e extraídos com diferentes solventes. Quanto aos estudos experimentais, não foram encontrados artigos com teste clínico e, apenas 4 estudos com testes in vivo. Dos efeitos farmacológicos encontrados, pode-se citar atividade contra leishmaniose, hipoglicemiante, antiinflamatório, anticolinesterásico, antiobesidade, antisséptico, cicatrizante e anti-helmíntico. Os testes toxicológicos registrados foram direcionados contra linhagens de células cancerígenas mostrando-se efetivo, porém, há necessidade de estudos para atestar a segurança de uso de G. ulmifolia pela população. Logo, apesar de utilizada, é imperativa a realização de mais estudos para assegurar o uso desta planta pela população e conhecer doses e forma de indicação, além de estudos clínicos que garantam uma correta terapêutica. Palavras-chave: Guazuma ulmifolia, toxicidade, plantas medicinais.RESUMEN La Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark (Malvaceae) es una planta no endémica, popularmente conocida por mutamba. Sus hojas y raíces son empleadas en remedios caseros contra disentería y diarreas, en el tratamiento de próstata, como estimulante uterino y otras enfermedades. En virtud de las características presentadas y el creciente interés por esta especie, tanto para fines medicinales como alimenticios, se realizó una revisión sistemática sobre los posibles efectos farmacológicos y toxicológicos de la Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark. Como compuestos activos, los artículos citaron la presencia de flavonoides, saponinas, alcaloides, taninos, compuestos fenólicos y esteroides en diferentes partes de la planta y extraídos con diferentes solventes. En cuanto a los estudios experimentales, no se encontraron artículos con prueba clínica y, sólo 4 estudios con pruebas in vivo. De los efectos farmacológicos encontrados, se puede citar actividad contra leishmaniasis, hipoglicemiante, antiinflamatorio, anticolinesterásico, antiobesidad, antiséptico, cicatrizante y antihelmíntico. Las pruebas toxicológicas registradas se dirigieron contra los linajes de las células cancerígenas que se mostraron efectivos, pero hay necesidad de estudios para certificar la seguridad de uso de G. ulmifolia por la población. Por lo tanto, a pesar de ser utilizada, es imperativa la realización de más estudios para asegurar el uso de esta planta por la población y conocer dosis y forma de indicación, además de estudios clínicos que garanticen una correcta terapéutica. Descriptores: Guazuma ulmifolia, toxicidad, plantas medicinales

The Fifteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: First Release of MaNGA-derived Quantities, Data Visualization Tools, and Stellar Library

Twenty years have passed since first light for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Here, we release data taken by the fourth phase of SDSS (SDSS-IV) across its first three years of operation (2014 July–2017 July). This is the third data release for SDSS-IV, and the 15th from SDSS (Data Release Fifteen; DR15). New data come from MaNGA—we release 4824 data cubes, as well as the first stellar spectra in the MaNGA Stellar Library (MaStar), the first set of survey-supported analysis products (e.g., stellar and gas kinematics, emission-line and other maps) from the MaNGA Data Analysis Pipeline, and a new data visualization and access tool we call "Marvin." The next data release, DR16, will include new data from both APOGEE-2 and eBOSS; those surveys release no new data here, but we document updates and corrections to their data processing pipelines. The release is cumulative; it also includes the most recent reductions and calibrations of all data taken by SDSS since first light. In this paper, we describe the location and format of the data and tools and cite technical references describing how it was obtained and processed. The SDSS website (www.sdss.org) has also been updated, providing links to data downloads, tutorials, and examples of data use. Although SDSS-IV will continue to collect astronomical data until 2020, and will be followed by SDSS-V (2020–2025), we end this paper by describing plans to ensure the sustainability of the SDSS data archive for many years beyond the collection of data

The 13th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the SDSS-IV Survey Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory

The fourth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV) began observations in July 2014. It pursues three core programs: APOGEE-2,MaNGA, and eBOSS. In addition, eBOSS contains two major subprograms: TDSS and SPIDERS. This paper describes the first data release from SDSS-IV, Data Release 13 (DR13), which contains new data, reanalysis of existing data sets and, like all SDSS data releases, is inclusive of previously released data. DR13 makes publicly available 1390 spatially resolved integral field unit observations of nearby galaxies from MaNGA,the first data released from this survey. It includes new observations from eBOSS, completing SEQUELS. In addition to targeting galaxies and quasars, SEQUELS also targeted variability-selected objects from TDSS and X-ray selected objects from SPIDERS. DR13 includes new reductions ofthe SDSS-III BOSS data, improving the spectrophotometric calibration and redshift classification. DR13 releases new reductions of the APOGEE-1data from SDSS-III, with abundances of elements not previously included and improved stellar parameters for dwarf stars and cooler stars. For the SDSS imaging data, DR13 provides new, more robust and precise photometric calibrations. Several value-added catalogs are being released in tandem with DR13, in particular target catalogs relevant for eBOSS, TDSS, and SPIDERS, and an updated red-clump catalog for APOGEE.This paper describes the location and format of the data now publicly available, as well as providing references to the important technical papers that describe the targeting, observing, and data reduction. The SDSS website, http://www.sdss.org, provides links to the data, tutorials and examples of data access, and extensive documentation of the reduction and analysis procedures. DR13 is the first of a scheduled set that will contain new data and analyses from the planned ~6-year operations of SDSS-IV.PostprintPeer reviewe

Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV: mapping the Milky Way, nearby galaxies, and the distant universe

We describe the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV), a project encompassing three major spectroscopic programs. The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2) is observing hundreds of thousands of Milky Way stars at high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratios in the near-infrared. The Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey is obtaining spatially resolved spectroscopy for thousands of nearby galaxies (median ). The extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) is mapping the galaxy, quasar, and neutral gas distributions between and 3.5 to constrain cosmology using baryon acoustic oscillations, redshift space distortions, and the shape of the power spectrum. Within eBOSS, we are conducting two major subprograms: the SPectroscopic IDentification of eROSITA Sources (SPIDERS), investigating X-ray AGNs and galaxies in X-ray clusters, and the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), obtaining spectra of variable sources. All programs use the 2.5 m Sloan Foundation Telescope at the Apache Point Observatory; observations there began in Summer 2014. APOGEE-2 also operates a second near-infrared spectrograph at the 2.5 m du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, with observations beginning in early 2017. Observations at both facilities are scheduled to continue through 2020. In keeping with previous SDSS policy, SDSS-IV provides regularly scheduled public data releases; the first one, Data Release 13, was made available in 2016 July

The 16th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: First Release from the APOGEE-2 Southern Survey and Full Release of eBOSS Spectra

This paper documents the 16th data release (DR16) from the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS), the fourth and penultimate from the fourth phase (SDSS-IV). This is the first release of data from the Southern Hemisphere survey of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2); new data from APOGEE-2 North are also included. DR16 is also notable as the final data release for the main cosmological program of the Extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS), and all raw and reduced spectra from that project are released here. DR16 also includes all the data from the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey and new data from the SPectroscopic IDentification of ERosita Survey programs, both of which were co-observed on eBOSS plates. DR16 has no new data from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey (or the MaNGA Stellar Library "MaStar"). We also preview future SDSS-V operations (due to start in 2020), and summarize plans for the final SDSS-IV data release (DR17)

The 16th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: First Release from the APOGEE-2 Southern Survey and Full Release of eBOSS Spectra

This paper documents the 16th data release (DR16) from the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS), the fourth and penultimate from the fourth phase (SDSS-IV). This is the first release of data from the Southern Hemisphere survey of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2); new data from APOGEE-2 North are also included. DR16 is also notable as the final data release for the main cosmological program of the Extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS), and all raw and reduced spectra from that project are released here. DR16 also includes all the data from the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey and new data from the SPectroscopic IDentification of ERosita Survey programs, both of which were co-observed on eBOSS plates. DR16 has no new data from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey (or the MaNGA Stellar Library "MaStar"). We also preview future SDSS-V operations (due to start in 2020), and summarize plans for the final SDSS-IV data release (DR17)

The 16th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys : First Release from the APOGEE-2 Southern Survey and Full Release of eBOSS Spectra

This paper documents the 16th data release (DR16) from the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS), the fourth and penultimate from the fourth phase (SDSS-IV). This is the first release of data from the Southern Hemisphere survey of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2); new data from APOGEE-2 North are also included. DR16 is also notable as the final data release for the main cosmological program of the Extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS), and all raw and reduced spectra from that project are released here. DR16 also includes all the data from the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey and new data from the SPectroscopic IDentification of ERosita Survey programs, both of which were co-observed on eBOSS plates. DR16 has no new data from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey (or the MaNGA Stellar Library "MaStar"). We also preview future SDSS-V operations (due to start in 2020), and summarize plans for the final SDSS-IV data release (DR17).Peer reviewe

The Fifteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: First Release of MaNGA-derived Quantities, Data Visualization Tools, and Stellar Library

Twenty years have passed since first light for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Here, we release data taken by the fourth phase of SDSS (SDSS-IV) across its first three years of operation (2014 July–2017 July). This is the third data release for SDSS-IV, and the 15th from SDSS (Data Release Fifteen; DR15). New data come from MaNGA—we release 4824 data cubes, as well as the first stellar spectra in the MaNGA Stellar Library (MaStar), the first set of survey-supported analysis products (e.g., stellar and gas kinematics, emission-line and other maps) from the MaNGA Data Analysis Pipeline, and a new data visualization and access tool we call "Marvin." The next data release, DR16, will include new data from both APOGEE-2 and eBOSS; those surveys release no new data here, but we document updates and corrections to their data processing pipelines. The release is cumulative; it also includes the most recent reductions and calibrations of all data taken by SDSS since first light. In this paper, we describe the location and format of the data and tools and cite technical references describing how it was obtained and processed. The SDSS website (www.sdss.org) has also been updated, providing links to data downloads, tutorials, and examples of data use. Although SDSS-IV will continue to collect astronomical data until 2020, and will be followed by SDSS-V (2020–2025), we end this paper by describing plans to ensure the sustainability of the SDSS data archive for many years beyond the collection of data