A teaching-learning proposal using gamification: MATCH BASED LEARNING / Uma proposta de ensino-aprendizagem utilizando gamificação: MATCH BASED LEARNING

Match Based Learning is a new proposal for active learning strategies, based on gamification, which is justified by the need for innovation compared to what is currently used in the classroom. The methodology is based on a game of dispute between teams, which elaborates questions related to the class subject, and, in the sequence, the teacher analyzes and selects the questions that will be used in the duel between the teams. The proposal follows the stages: the teaching of the topic by the professor, division of teams, question elaboration, discussion of questions and answers, appointment of teams and selection of game leaders, and the game itself, where there are duels between members of each team, using the questions previously selected by the teacher. For each duel, it is possible to assign a value. The subject teaching in the new methodology can be associated with other types of teaching methods such as station rotation, inverted classroom, traditional class, dialog class, practical class, and others that can be used according to the professor's need. It is regarded that this methodology favors the participation and interaction of the students, as well as the interest in the proposed subject. Also, it places the student as the center of learning, using the game as a facilitator of their academic development, providing knowledge. It is believed that Match Based Learning contributes positively, so that classroom objectives are achieved, providing the student with building knowledge and developing skills and attitudes.O Match Based Learning é uma nova proposta de metodologia ativa de ensino, baseada em gamificação, que se justifica pela necessidade de inovação frente ao que é atualmente utilizado em sala de aula. A metodologia é baseada em um jogo de disputa entre equipes, as quais elaboram questões relacionadas à temática da aula e, na sequência, o professor analisa e seleciona as questões que serão utilizadas no duelo entre as equipes. A proposta segue as seguintes etapas: exposição do tema pelo professor, divisão das equipes, elaboração das questões, discussão das perguntas e respostas, nomeação das equipes e seleção dos líderes do jogo, e, o jogo em si, em que há duelos entre os integrantes de cada equipe, utilizando como perguntas as questões previamente selecionadas pelo docente. Para cada duelo, pode-se atribuir um valor. A nova metodologia pode ser associada a outros tipos de métodos de ensino como rotação por estações, sala de aula invertida, aula expositiva, aula dialogada, aula prática e outras que poderão ser inseridas conforme a necessidade do professor na apresentação do tema. Considera-se que esta metodologia favorece a participação e interação dos alunos, bem como o interesse pelo tema proposto. Além disso, coloca o aluno como centro do aprendizado, utilizando o jogo como facilitador do seu desenvolvimento acadêmico, propiciando a geração de conhecimento. Acredita-se que o Match Based Learning contribui de forma positiva para que os objetivos traçados em sala de aula sejam alcançados, proporcionando ao aluno a construção de conhecimento e desenvolvimento de habilidades e atitudes

Prevalence of Periodontal Bone Loss in Brazilian Adolescents through Interproximal Radiography

Purpose. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of alveolar bone loss in Brazilian adolescents through the interproximal X-rays analysis. Methods. Bilateral and standardized interproximal (bitewing) X-rays were performed in 15-year-old adolescents (), and the processing of films and measurements of alveolar bone levels were accomplished by a single examiner. A distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the alveolar bone crest more than 2 mm was considered as periodontal bone loss. Results. The results showed percentage of bone loss of 10.4% with predominance of horizontal defects (8.9%) over the vertical types (1.5%). It was verified higher individual distribution of one lesion (67.6%) than two (26.5%) or three lesions (5.6%), and higher occurrence was detected in men (14.95) than in women (8.21). Conclusion. It can be concluded that the interproximal radiography was an efficient method for the detection of alveolar bone loss, revealing low prevalence in adolescents and predominance of horizontal bone defects

Efeito da secção do nervo isquiático sobre a atividade da acetilcolinesterase em medula espinal e músculos esqueléticos da rã-touro Lithobates catesbeianus

Sciatic nerve transection (SNT), a model for studying neuropathic pain, mimics the clinical symptoms of “phantom limb”, a pain condition that arises in humans after amputation or transverse spinal lesions. In some vertebrate tissues, this condition decreases acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the enzyme responsible for fast hydrolysis of released acetylcholine in cholinergic synapses. In spinal cord of frog Rana pipiens, this enzyme’s activity was not significantly changed in the first days following ventral root transection, another model for studying neuropathic pain. An answerable question is whether SNT decreases AChE activity in spinal cord of frog Lithobates catesbeianus, a species that has been used as a model for studying SNT-induced neuropathic pain. Since each animal model has been created with a specific methodology, and the findings tend to vary widely with slight changes in the method used to induce pain, our study assessed AChE activity 3 and 10 days after complete SNT in lumbosacral spinal cord of adult male bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus. Because there are time scale differences of motor endplate maturation in rat skeletal muscles, our study also measured the AChE activity in bullfrog tibial posticus (a postural muscle) and gastrocnemius (a typical skeletal muscle that is frequently used to study the motor system) muscles. AChE activity did not show significant changes 3 and 10 days following SNT in spinal cord. Also, no significant change occurred in AChE activity in tibial posticus and gastrocnemius muscles at day 3. However, a significant decrease was found at day 10, with reductions of 18% and 20% in tibial posticus and gastrocnemius, respectively. At present we cannot explain this change in AChE activity. While temporally different, the direction of the change was similar to that described for rats. This similarity indicates that bullfrog is a valid model for investigating AChE activity following SNT.A transecção do nervo isquiático (SNT), um modelo para estudar dor neuropática, simula os sintomas clínicos do “membro fantasma”, uma condição dolorosa que ocorre nos humanos após amputação ou secção completa da medula espinal. Essa condição muda a atividade da acetilcolinesterase (AChE), a enzima responsável pela rápida hidrólise da acetilcolina liberada nas sinapses colinérgicas, em alguns tecidos de vertebrados. Em medula espinal de rã Rana pipiens, a atividade da AChE não foi significativamente alterada nos primeiros dias após a secção da raiz ventral, outro modelo para o estudo da dor neuropática. Uma questão ainda não respondida é se a SNT diminui a atividade da AChE na medula espinal de rã Lithobates catesbeianus, uma espécie que vem sendo usada como modelo em estudos da dor neuropática induzida por SNT. Como cada modelo animal é criado a partir de metodologia específica, e seus resultados tendem a variar com pequenas mudanças na metodologia de indução da dor, o presente estudo avaliou a atividade da AChE em medula espinal lombossacral de rã-touro Lithobates catesbeianus, adultos, machos, 3 e 10 dias após a completa SNT. Como há diferenças temporais na maturação de placas motoras em músculos esqueléticos de ratos, nosso estudo ainda demonstrou, na rã-touro, os efeitos da SNT sobre a atividade da AChE nos músculos esqueléticos tibial posticus, um músculo postural, e gastrocnêmio, um músculo frequentemente usado em estudos do sistema motor. A atividade da AChE não mudou significativamente na medula espinal aos 3 e 10 dias após a SNT. Nos músculos, a atividade não alterou significativamente aos 3 dias após a lesão, mas reduziu de forma significativa aos 10 dias após a SNT. Aos 10 dias, a diminuição foi 18% no músculo tibial posticus e 20% no gastrocnêmio. No momento, nós não temos explicação para essa mudança na atividade da AChE. Embora temporalmente diferente, o sentido da mudança é similar ao que é descrito em ratos. Esta similaridade torna a rã-touro um modelo válido para se estudar questões ainda não respondidas da SNT sobre a AChE

Histopathological Features of Dental Pulp in Teeth with Different Levels of Chronic Periodontitis Severity

Purpose. To evaluate the histopathological condition of the pulp in teeth with different levels of chronic periodontitis in humans. Methods. Twenty-five single-root nondecayed teeth were divided into three groups as follows: group 1, clinical attachment level (CAL) 3 to 4 mm and alveolar bone loss (BL) from 4 to 6 mm without reaching the tooth apex; group 2, CAL ≥ 5 mm and BL > 6 mm without reaching the tooth apex; group 3, CAL ≥ 5 mm and BL > 6 mm up to the tooth apex. Histological analyses were accomplished after laboratorial processing. Results. The mean of CAL was 3.2 ± 0.7 mm in group 1, 7.6 ± 2.0 mm in group 2, and 12.1 ± 2.8 mm in group 3, while for BL it was 4.8 ± 0.9 mm, 7.6 ± 2.2 mm, and 11.9 ± 2.1 mm, respectively. Histopathological data in the pulpal chambers were similar among the three groups showing normal aspects, and, the radicular pulps showed variable levels of reactive dentin, fibrosis, dystrophic mineralizations, atrophy, and mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate. Conclusions. Gradual progression of the chronic periodontitis led to changes in the histopathological aspects of the radicular pulp with progressive involvement

Effects of N-acetylcysteine on spinal cord oxidative stress biomarkers in rats with neuropathic pain

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibits nociceptive transmission. This effect has been associated partly with its antioxidant properties. However, the effect of NAC on the levels of lipid hydroperoxides (a pro-oxidant marker), content of ascorbic acid (a key antioxidant molecule of nervous tissue) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is unknown. Thus, our study assessed these parameters in the lumbosacral spinal cord of rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, one of the most commonly employed animal models of neuropathic pain. Thirty-six male Wistar rats weighing 200–300 g were equally divided into the following groups: Naive (rats did not undergo surgical manipulation); Sham (rats in which all surgical procedures involved in CCI were used except the ligature), and CCI (rats in which four ligatures were tied loosely around the right common sciatic nerve). All rats received intraperitoneal injections of NAC (150 mg kg–1 day–1 ) or saline for 1, 3, or 7 days. Rats were killed 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery. NAC treatment prevented the CCI-induced increase in lipid hydroperoxide levels only at day 1, although the amount was higher than that found in naive rats. NAC treatment also prevented the CCI-induced increase in ascorbic acid content, which occurred at days 1, 3, and 7. No significant change was found in TAC with NAC treatment. The changes observed here may be related to the antinociceptive effect of NAC because modulation of oxidative-stress parameters seemed to help normalize the spinal cord oxidative status altered by pain

Treatment with ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol modulates oxidative-stress markers in the spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain

Vitamin E (vit. E) and vitamin C (vit. C) are antioxidants that inhibit nociception. The effect of these vitamins on oxidative-stress markers in the spinal cord of rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve is unknown. This study investigated the effect of intraperitoneal administration of vit. E (15 mg kg–1 day–1) and vit. C (30 mg kg–1 day–1), given alone or in combination, on spinal cord oxidative-stress markers in CCI rats. Adult male Wistar rats weighing 200–250 g were divided equally into the following groups: Naive (rats did not undergo surgical manipulation); Sham (rats in which all surgical procedures involved in CCI were used except the ligature), and CCI (rats in which four ligatures were tied loosely around the right common sciatic nerve), which received injections of vitamins or vehicle (saline containing 1% Tween 80) for 3 or 10 days (n=6/each group). The vitamins prevented the reduction in total thiol content and the increase in superoxide-anion generation that were found in vehicle-treated CCI rats. While nitric-oxide metabolites increased in vehicle-treated CCI rats 3 days after surgery, these metabolites did not show significant changes in vitamin-treated CCI rats. In all rats, total antioxidant capacity and hydrogenperoxide levels did not change significantly. Lipid hydroperoxides increased 25% only in vehicle-treated CCI rats. These changes may contribute to vit. C- and vit. E-induced antinociception, because scavenging reactive oxygen species seems to help normalize the spinal cord oxidative status altered by pain

Effects of methanol fraction from leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius raddi on nociception and spinal-cord oxidative biomarkers in rats with neuropathic pain

We determined the antioxidant potential of fractions obtained from leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius, a medicinal plant known in Brazil as aroeira, to select the fraction with the best yield and antioxidant performance. These qualities were found in themethanol fraction (MeF), which was administered intraperitoneally (20mg/kg/day) for 3 and 10 days to rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, a model of neuropathic pain. The MeF increased the mechanical and thermal thresholds that had been lowered by CCI. In parallel, the lumbosacral spinal cord showed an increase in superoxide dismutase but a decrease in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in saline- and MeF-treated CCI rats. Catalase activity decreased only in salinetreated CCI rats for 10 days. Total thiols decreased in saline- andMeF-treated CCI rats. Ascorbic acid increased in these rats at day 3 but only in saline-treated CCI rats at day 10. No change was found in hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxide. Open-field and elevated plus-maze tests and blood parameters of liver function did not change.Thus, theMeF from leaves of S. terebinthifolius has an antinociceptive action with no toxic effects, and it affects oxidant biomarkers in the spinal cord of rats with CCI

N-acetylcysteine downregulates phosphorylated p-38 expression but does not reverse the increased superoxide anion levels in the spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain

We determined the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the expression of the phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) protein and superoxide anion generation (SAG), two important players in the processing of neuropathic pain, in the lumbosacral spinal cord of rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain. The sciatic functional index (SFI) was also measured to assess the functional recovery post-nerve lesion. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided equally into the following groups: Naive (rats did not undergo surgical manipulation); Sham (rats in which all surgical procedures involved in CCI were used except the ligature), and CCI (rats in which four ligatures were tied loosely around the right common sciatic nerve), which received 2, 4, or 8 intraperitoneal injections of NAC (150 mg kg–1 day–1 ) or saline beginning 4 h after CCI. Rats were sacrificed 1, 3, and 7 days after CCI. The SFI was measured on these days and the lumbosacral spinal cord was used for analysis of p-p38 expression and SAG. CCI induced a decrease in SFI as well as an increase in p-p38 expression and SAG in the spinal cord. The SFI showed a partial recovery at day 7 in saline-treated CCI rats, but recovery was improved in NAC-treated CCI rats. NAC induced a downregulation in p-p38 expression at all time-points evaluated, but did not reverse the increased SAG induced by CCI. Since p-p38 is a mediator in neuropathic pain and/or nerve regeneration, modulation of this protein may play a role in NAC-induced effects in CCI rats

AVALIAÇÃO DO EFEITO DE EXTRATO AQUOSO DAS FOLHAS DE LUEHEA DIVARICATA NA ATIVIDADE ANTIOXIDANTENO FÍGADO DE RATOS COM DOR NEUROPÁTICA.

As plantas medicinais têm sido utilizadas no tratamento da dor, por possuírem diferentes propriedades analgésicas e antioxidantes. A Luehea divaricata tem se demostrado um alvo promissor no tratamento da dor neuropática. Avaliar os efeitos tóxicos da planta medicinal no fígado é fundamental para que o seu uso seja seguro. O estudo avaliou o efeito do tratamento com extrato aquoso de folhas de L. divaricata no fígado de ratos com dor neuropática. Após aprovação pelo Comitê de Ética (#31394), 69 ratos Wistar machos, pesando 200-300 g, foram divididos em 3 grupos experimentais: Naive (animais não submetidos à manipulação cirúrgica), Sham (animais que sofreram incisão dos tecidos para a visualização do nervo isquiático) e SNT (animais que tiveram o nervo isquiático direito isolado e recebeu em seu tronco comum quatro amarraduras). Cada grupo foi divido em subgrupos (n=6), que receberam por gavage extrato (500 mg/kg/dia) ou veículo (água de beber) por 3 e 10 dias. Foram realizadas técnicas para determinação da atividade da enzima glutationa transferase (GST), superóxido dismutase (SOD) e catalase no figados dos ratos. Os resultados demostraram que tratamento não provocou alterações significativas em nenhum desses parâmetros no fígado. Com isto, concliu se que o extrato não possui efeito tóxico no figado de ratos