Sensitivity and accuracy of panoramic radiography in identifying calcified carotid atheroma plaques

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause death and physical and/or mental disabilities. It represents a serious public health problem owing to the high healthcare costs involved in rehabilitating patients. Among the different methods available for diagnosing atherosclerotic disease, color Doppler examination may be considered the “gold standard.” On the other hand, panoramic radiography of the jaws (PRJ) is a diagnostic resource commonly used by dentists, and the obtained images allow examining other structures apart from the maxilla and the mandible. Aim: To evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of panoramic radiography in identifying calcified carotid atheroma, and compare the results to those obtained with color Doppler examination. Methods: Forty-two cervical regions were evaluated in panoramic radiographs and color Doppler scans. The kappa test (p < 0.05) was used to assess agreement between the examinations. Data were tested for sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value, as well as positive and negative likelihood ratios. Results: The kappa value was 0.11. The sensitivity and specificity of PRJ were 73.9 and 36.8%, respectively, and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1.2 and 0.7, respectively. Conclusions: Although a low correlation between PRJ and color Doppler examination was observed, as shown by the kappa test, the sensitivity of PRJ in identifying calcified carotid atheroma was considered acceptable

Sensitivity and accuracy of panoramic radiography in identifying calcified carotid atheroma plaques

clerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause death and physical and/or mental disabilities. It represents a serious public health problem owing to the high healthcare costs involved in rehabilitating patients. Among the different methods available for diagnosing atherosclerotic disease, color Doppler examination may be considered the gold standard. On the other hand, panoramic radiography of the jaws (PRJ) is a diagnostic resource commonly used by dentists, and the obtained images allow examining other structures apart from the maxilla and the mandible. Aim: To evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of panoramic radiography in identifying calcified carotid atheroma, and compare the results to those obtained with color Doppler examination. Methods: Forty-two cervical regions were evaluated in panoramic radiographs and color Doppler scans. The kappa test (p < 0.05) was used to assess agreement between the examinations. Data were tested for sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value, as well as positive and negative likelihood ratios. Results: The kappa value was 0.11. The sensitivity and specificity of PRJ were 73.9 and 36.8%, respectively, and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1.2 and 0.7, respectively. Conclusions: Although a low correlation between PRJ and color Doppler examination was observed, as shown by the kappa test, the sensitivity of PRJ in identifying calcified carotid atheroma was considered acceptable

Effects of Vitamin C on the Prevention of Ischemia-Reperfusion Brain Injury: Experimental Study in Rats

Background. Reperfusion syndrome after carotid endarterectomy is a complication associated with cerebrovascular self-regulation in a chronically hypoperfused cerebral hemisphere, leading to severe neurological damage. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant in brain metabolism that has shown some neuroprotective actions. Objective. To investigate the potential effects of vitamin C on cerebral reperfusion in comparison with placebo (saline) in rats. Methods. Male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: (i) Sham (n=4), animals exposed to carotid arteries dissection without clamping; (ii) Control (n=4), animals that received an intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% saline solution (0.1 mL/kg) and underwent carotid arteries dissection with temporary clamping; (iii) Vitamin C (n=4), animals that received an intraperitoneal injection of vitamin C (750 mg/kg) and underwent carotid arteries dissection with temporary clamping. Behavioral assessment was then performed in all groups, which included the open field, Morris water maze and rotarod tests. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the hippocampus and striatum were measured using a fluorometric assay. Results. Rats treated with vitamin C presented with a similar behavior as compared to the Sham group in all the three tests (p>0.05), but it was significantly different from controls (p<0.05). Vitamin C was also found to reduce MDA levels in both hippocampus and striatum when compared to placebo (p<0.05). Conclusion. In the present study, vitamin C was associated with behavioral and motor preservation as well as decreased cerebral MDA levels after induced cerebral ischemia in rats

Análise da cicatrização na Linha Alba com uso de extrato aquoso de Orbignya phalerata (babaçu): estudo controlado em ratos Analysis of healing in the Alba Linea with the use of Orbignya phalerata (babassu) water extract: controlled study in rats

INTRODUÇÃO: O mesocarpo do babaçu (Orbignya phalerata) tem sido utilizado em estudos experimentais para verificar a sua ação antiinflamatória. No Maranhão, é muito utilizado como alimento e como remédio popular para cicatrização de ferimentos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar macroscópica, histológica e tensiometricamente, a ação do extrato de Orbygnia phalerata no processo de cicatrização de laparotomias medianas em ratos. MÉTODOS: Quarenta ratos da linhagem Wistar, adultos, machos, foram utilizados em procedimento experimental que consistiu em uma incisão na linha alba e síntese em plano único com pontos separados de fio de polipropileno 5-0. Após esse procedimento comum, os animais foram distribuídos em dois grupos de 20. Ao grupo chamado controle, foi utilizado injeção intraperitoneal, em dose única de 1mL de soro fisiológico para cada quilo de peso. Ao grupo experimento, utilizou-se solução aquosa de babaçu na dose de 50 mg por quilo de peso. Os animais foram acompanhados e mortos após três e sete dias, procedendo-se, a seguir, à análise tensiométrica e histológica. RESULTADOS: O exame macroscópico não mostrou presença de aderências importantes entre a linha alba e os órgãos intra-abdominais nos grupos de estudo. A avaliação histológica mostrou efeito marginalmente significativo (p=0,086) para inflamação aguda nos grupos controle e experimento de três dias e efeito significativo (p=0,003) para a reação gigantocelular (p=0,003). Diferença significativa (p-=0,023) foi observada para inflamação aguda no grupos controle experimento de sete dias. Na análise intra-grupo (controle três e sete), foi observado efeito marginalmente significativo (p=0,094 e p=0,05) respectivamente para as variáveis inflamação aguda e crônica. Na análise somente entre os grupos experimentos, as variáveis reação gigantocelular (0,002) e colagenização (0,016) apresentaram resultado significativo. A avaliação tensiométrica mostrou diferença significativa em relação ao grupo experimento de sete dias, que ofereceu melhor resistência do que os outros grupos. CONCLUSÃO: As avaliações histológica e macroscópica não mostraram diferenças significativas entre o extrato e a solução salina; quanto à tensiométrica, o grupo experimento de sete dias apresentou diferença significativa em relação ao grupo controle de mesmo período de pós-operatório, sugerindo indícios de que o uso do extrato administrado intraperitonealmente favorece o processo de cicatrização.<br>INTRODUCTION: The babassu mesocarp (Orbignya phalerata) has been used in experimental research studies focused on its antiinflammatory action. In state of Maranhão - Brazil it is widely used not only as food, but also as popular medicine in wound healing process. PURPOSE: To evaluate the action of Orbignya phalerata extract in macroscopic, histologicic and tensiometric aspects in the healing process of median laparotomy in rats. METHODS: Forty male adult Wistar rats were submitted to an incision in the alba linea, sutured back in one plan with separated stitches of polypropilene 5-0. After regular procedure, the animals were divided into two groups of 20 rats each. To the group named control an intraperitoneal, dose of 1,0 ml of saline solution per kilogram of body weight was done. To the experimental group, the same thing was also done, but instead of saline solution it was injected water solution of babassu, in a dose of 50 mg/kg. The animals were observed in the following days. All of them were killed within a three and seven day post-operative period schedule, and then a histological and tensiometric analysis was carried out. RESULTS: On macroscopic examination no relevant adherence, between the alba linea and the abdominal organs in the study groups, was found. Histological evaluation presented marginal significant effects (p=0,86) to acute inflammation and significant effects (p=0,003) to giant cell reaction in both control and experimental three days groups. Significant difference was observed to acute inflammation in both seven days control and experimental groups. In the intragroup analysis (control three and seven) some marginal significant effect was in relationship to acute and chronic inflammation. In the interexperimental groups analysis, only the giant cell reactions (0,002) and colagenization had significant results. The tensiometric evaluation showed in the seven day experimental group more resistence then others. CONCLUSION: The macroscopic and histological evaluation didn't show any significant difference between the experimental and control groups, but the tensiometric evaluation at the 7th day experimental group had significant difference compared to the control group, signalizing that the use of the extract of babassu intraperitoneally injected can improve the healing process

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora