Knowledge and attitudes of dentists regarding the treatment of renal transplant patients

Objectives: the objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of dentists towards the dental treatment of renal transplant patients through questionnaires. Methods: a total of 416 dentists were interviewed and respon­ded 10 multiple-choice questions. Results: most participants (214/416; 51.4%) felt uncomfortable extracting teeth in renal transplant patients. The great majority (354/416, 85%) would prescribe prophylactic antibiotics before simple dental extraction, whereas 43% would prescribe antibiotics, even before non-invasive procedures. Conclusions: our data showed that the interviewed dentists are unfamiliar with the management of renal transplant patients and most of them would prescribe prophylactic antibiotics inappropriately, despite the inexistence of scientific evidence supporting this practice.Objetivos: o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os conhecimentos e as atitudes de dentistas sobre tratamento odontológico de pacientes de transplantes renais, por meio de questionários. Métodos: ao todo, 416 dentistas foram entrevistados e responderam 10 questões de múltipla escolha. Resultados: a maioria dos participantes (214/416; 51.4%) se sentiu desconfortável na extração de dentes em pacientes com transplantes renais. A grande maioria (354/416, 85%) prescreveria antibioticoterapia profilática antes de uma exodontia simples, enquanto 43% prescreveriam antibióticos, mesmo antes de procedimentos não invasivos. Conclusões: nossos dados mostraram que os dentistas entrevistados não estão familiarizados com o manejo de pacientes de transplante renal, sendo que a maioria prescreveria antibióticos profiláticos erroneamente, apesar da inexistência de evidências científicas embasando tal prática

Um Safari no Brasil: evidências sobre o Ensino Baseado na Estrutura Conceitual

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo apresentar os resultados do uso do caso para ensino nominado Open Safari no curso de Ciências Contábeis de uma universidade pública brasileira, com o fim de obter evidências quanto à sua eficácia no desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências imprescindíveis à aprendizagem e ao emprego das International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), analisando os resultados à luz da Taxonomia de Bloom. O uso de casos para ensino tem se mostrado um mecanismo eficiente para desenvolvimento e aprimoramento de habilidades e competências, e o IFRS Education considera o método propício a esse intento no ensino com base na Estrutura Conceitual do International Accounting Standard Board (IASB). O levantamento empreendeu-se com a participação de 159 estudantes matriculados na disciplina Teoria da Contabilidade (TC) em 2013 e 2014. Além disso, constituíram-se cinco grupos focais, com a média de oito estudantes cada. Os resultados da pesquisa sugerem que, na percepção dos estudantes, o caso Open Safari auxilia no desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências, principalmente aquelas relacionadas ao exercício de julgamentos e escolhas contábeis, próprios às IFRS e à capacidade crítica de considerar diversas possibilidades, cenário típico do ambiente empresarial. As habilidades apontadas como as mais aprimoradas estão ligadas à capacidade de considerar mais de uma solução para os problemas reais, à interpretação de cenários, à consolidação de vários conteúdos da disciplina e do curso e à associação com a prática e desenvolvimento de senso crítico e de responsabilidade individual pelo próprio aprendizado. O caso mostrou-se até mesmo eficiente no acesso aos níveis mais sofisticados do Domínio Cognitivo de aquisição e consolidação de conhecimento da Taxonomia de Bloom. Este estudo contribui reforçando que o caso Open Safari cumpre com os objetivos da IFRS Education para o Ensino Embasado na Estrutura Conceitual.This study aims to present the results of using the Open Safari case for teaching in the Accounting Sciences course of a Brazilian public university, and obtain evidence regarding its effectiveness in developing the skills and competencies needed for learning and applying International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), by analyzing the results in light of the Bloom Taxonomy. The use of cases for teaching has been shown to be an efficient mechanism for developing and improving skills and competencies, and IFRS Education considers the method conducive to teaching based on the Conceptual Framework of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The research was carried out with the participation of 159 students enrolled in the Accounting Theory (AT) discipline in 2013 and 2014. In addition, five focus groups were formed, with an average of eight students each. The results of the research suggest that in the students’ perception the Open Safari case helps in developing skills and competencies, especially those related to exercising judgment and accounting choices associated with IFRS and the critical ability to consider different possibilities, which is a typical scenario in the corporate environment. The skills indicated as being the most improved are linked to the ability to consider more than one solution for real problems, to interpreting scenarios, to consolidating various contents of the discipline and the course, to associating these with practice, and developing critical thinking and an individual responsibility for one’s own learning. The case was even shown to be efficient in accessing more sophisticated levels of the Cognitive Domain of acquisition and consolidation of knowledge of the Bloom Taxonomy. This study contributes by reinforcing the idea that the Open Safari case fulfills the aims of IFRS Education for the Framework-Based Approach to Teaching

Microsatellite markers for studies with the carnivorous plant Philcoxia minensis (Plantaginaceae)

Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed for the critically endangered carnivorous species Philcoxia minensis (Plantaginaceae) for further population genetic studies aiming at its conservation. Methods and Results: We identifi ed 29 clones containing 40 microsatellites from a genomic enriched library. A total of 27 primer pairs were developed and evaluated in 30 individuals of a natural P. minensis population. Seventeen markers successfully presented amplifi cation products within the expected size range, of which 12 were polymorphic. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.03 to 0.65 and from 0.00 to 0.77, respectively. Positive transferability with the related species P. bahiensis was observed for the same 17 markers. Conclusions: The 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers are suitable for studies in genetic diversity and structure, mating system, and gene fl ow in P. minensis and also may be useful for similar issues regarding the related species P. bahiensis38CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPSem informaçãoSem informação2012/12927-

Microsatellite Markers For Studies With The Carnivorous Plant Philcoxia Minensis (plantaginaceae).

Microsatellite markers were developed for the critically endangered carnivorous species Philcoxia minensis (Plantaginaceae) for further population genetic studies aiming at its conservation. We identified 29 clones containing 40 microsatellites from a genomic enriched library. A total of 27 primer pairs were developed and evaluated in 30 individuals of a natural P. minensis population. Seventeen markers successfully presented amplification products within the expected size range, of which 12 were polymorphic. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.03 to 0.65 and from 0.00 to 0.77, respectively. Positive transferability with the related species P. bahiensis was observed for the same 17 markers. The 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers are suitable for studies in genetic diversity and structure, mating system, and gene flow in P. minensis and also may be useful for similar issues regarding the related species P. bahiensis.

Free 2-propen-1-amine derivative and inclusion complexes with beta-cyclodextrin: scanning electron microscopy, dissolution, cytotoxicity and antimycobacterial activity

Inclusion complexes and physical mixtures of isomeric mixture of E/Z (50:50) of 3-(4'-bromo-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2-propen-1-amine (BBAP) and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) in the molar proportion of 1:1 and 1:2 were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The dissolution behavior of BBAP and of the inclusion complexes were also evaluated for six hours. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was possible to observe an inclusion complex formed between BBAP and beta-CD by co-evaporation, either in the molar proportion of 1:1 or 1:2. In the physical mixtures, no complex was observed as previously detected by physicochemical analysis. The dissolution studies showed that the inclusion complexes BBAP/beta-CD 1:1 and 1:2 released respectively 49.07 ± 1.48 and 40.26 ± 3.90% of BBAP during six hours. Free BBAP was less soluble than the inclusion complex and reached 9.00 ± 0.75% of dissolution. Biological assays, such as cytotoxicity to J774 macrophages and to a permanent lung fibroblast cell line (V79), indicated that the BBAP does not exhibit any additional toxic effect with the beta-CD complexes. However, the complexes were less cytotoxic to V79 cells than the free form. The BBAP/beta-CD inclusion complexes were more effective (MIC) than the free compound on several mycobacteria strains. Similar behavior was observed for BBAP/beta-CD complexes and rifampicin, a front-line antitubercular drug, on M. tuberculosis H37Rv growing inside J774 macrophages.Complexos de inclusões e misturas físicas contendo mistura isomérica E/Z (50:50) de 3-(4'-bromo-[1,1'-bifenil]-4-il)-3-(4-bromofenil)-N,N-dimetil-2-propen-1-amina (BBAP) e beta-ciclodextrina (b-CD) nas proporções molares de 1:1 e 1:2 foram analisados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (SEM). O perfil de dissolução do BBAP e dos complexos de inclusões foram também avaliados durante 6 horas. Por microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi possível observar os complexos de inclusões formados entre BBAP e beta-CD por co-evaporação nas proporções molares de 1:1 e 1:2. Como previamente detectado pela caracterização físico-química, na mistura física não se observou a presença de complexo de inclusão. Os estudos de dissolução mostraram que os complexos de inclusões 1:1 e 1:2 liberaram, respectivamente 49.07 ± 1.48 e 40.26 ± 3.90% de BBAP durante 6 horas. BBAP na forma livre foi menos solúvel que os complexos de inclusões e atingiu 9.00 ± 0.75% de dissolução. Os ensaios de citotoxicidade em macrófagos J774 e em uma linhagem de células fibroblásticas de pulmão (V79) indicaram que o BBAP não exibiu efeito tóxico adicional quando complexado com beta-CD. Entretanto, os complexos de inclusões foram menos tóxicos para células V79 que BBAP na forma livre. Os complexos de inclusões BBAP/beta-CD foram mais efetivos (CIM) que o composto livre em várias cepas de micobactérias. Resultados semelhantes foram observados sobre M. tuberculosis H37Rv intracelular para os complexos de inclusões BBAP/b-CD e rifampicina, uma droga anti-tuberculose de primeira linha.682689Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Oxidative Stress Triggered by Apigenin Induces Apoptosis in a Comprehensive Panel of Human Cervical Cancer-Derived Cell Lines

Recently, the cytotoxic effects of apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), particularly its marked inhibition of cancer cell viability both in vitro and in vivo, have attracted the attention of the anticancer drug discovery field. Despite this, there are few studies of apigenin in cervical cancer, and these studies have mostly been conducted using HeLa cells. To evaluate the possibility of apigenin as a new therapeutic candidate for cervical cancer, we evaluated its cytotoxic effects in a comprehensive panel of human cervical cancer-derived cell lines including HeLa (human papillomavirus/HPV 18-positive), SiHa (HPV 16-positive), CaSki (HPV 16 and HPV 18-positive), and C33A (HPV-negative) cells in comparison to a nontumorigenic spontaneously immortalized human epithelial cell line (HaCaT). Our results demonstrated that apigenin had a selective cytotoxic effect and could induce apoptosis in all cervical cancer cell lines which were positively marked with Annexin V, but not in HaCaT (control cells). Additionally, apigenin was able to induce mitochondrial redox impairment, once it increased ROS levels and H2O2, decreased the Δψm, and increased LPO. Still, apigenin was able to inhibit migration and invasion of cancer cells. Thus, apigenin appears to be a promising new candidate as an anticancer drug for cervical cancer induced by different HPV genotypes

In Vitro

Stryphnodendron species, popularly named “barbatimão,” are traditionally used in Brazil as anti-inflammatory agents. This study aimed to investigate the effect of barbatimão and 11 other species on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated THP-1 cells, as well as their anti-arthritis activity. The extracts of Stryphnodendron adstringens, Stryphnodendron obovatum, Campomanesia lineatifolia, and Terminalia glabrescens promoted a concentration-dependent inhibition of TNF-α. Mice injected with LPS in the knee joint were treated per os with fractions from the selected extracts. Both the organic (SAO) and the aqueous (SAA) fractions of S. adstringens promoted a dose-dependent reduction of leukocyte migration and neutrophil accumulation into the joint, but none of them reduced CXCL1 concentration in the periarticular tissue. In contrast, treatment with C. lineatifolia and T. glabrescens fractions did not ameliorate the inflammatory parameters. Analyses of SAO by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) led to the identification of gallic acid along with 11 prodelphinidins, characterized as monomers and dimers of the B-type. Our findings contribute to some extent to corroborating the traditional use of S. adstringens as an anti-inflammatory agent. This activity is probably related to a decrease of leukocyte migration into the inflammatory site. Polyphenols like gallic acid and prodelphinidins, identified in the active fraction, may contribute to the observed activity