The relative frequency of odontogenic tumors : a study of 376 cases in a Brazilian population

Odontogenic tumors (OTs) are rare lesions, exclusive of the jaws, that are derived from epithelial and/or ectomesenchymal elements of the tooth-forming apparatus. Their biological behavior is heterogeneous, including hamartomatous tissue proliferation, benign nonaggressive and aggressive neoplasms, and malignant tumors with metastatic capacity. The aim of this study was to describe the relative frequency of odontogenic tumors in a Brazilian population. In addition, a review of the literature identified studies on odontogenic tumors that follow the 2005 World Health Organization. A total of 376 cases of odontogenic tumors from an oral pathology service were reviewed about age, gender, anatomic site and histologic diagnosis. Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (31.6%) were the most common, followed by ameloblastoma (28.5%), and odontoma (22.6%). The mean age was 32.2 years, and more than half the patients (52.1%) were in the second and third decades of life. The male to female ratio was 1:1.37, with a maxilla to mandible ratio of 1:2.08. The variation in relative frequency of tumors observed among the several series, including the present study, is probably due in part to cultural differences between geographic areas but also to the study design

Hemoglobin is present as a canonical α2β2 tetramer in dopaminergic neurons

AbstractHemoglobin is the oxygen carrier in blood erythrocytes. Oxygen coordination is mediated by α2β2 tetrameric structure via binding of the ligand to the heme iron atom. This structure is essential for hemoglobin function in the blood. In the last few years, expression of hemoglobin has been found in atypical sites, including the brain. Transcripts for α and β chains of hemoglobin as well as hemoglobin immunoreactivity have been shown in mesencephalic A9 dopaminergic neurons, whose selective degeneration leads to Parkinson's disease. To gain further insights into the roles of hemoglobin in the brain, we examined its quaternary structure in dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that (i) in mouse dopaminergic cell line stably over-expressing α and β chains, hemoglobin exists as an α2β2 tetramer; (ii) similarly to the over-expressed protein, endogenous hemoglobin forms a tetramer of 64kDa; (iii) hemoglobin also forms high molecular weight insoluble aggregates; and (iv) endogenous hemoglobin retains its tetrameric structure in mouse mesencephalon in vivo. In conclusion, these results suggest that neuronal hemoglobin may be endowed with some of the biochemical activities and biological function associated to its role in erythroid cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxygen Binding and Sensing Proteins

Radiomics in Cross-Sectional Adrenal Imaging: A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment Study

In this study, we aimed to systematically review the current literature on radiomics applied to cross-sectional adrenal imaging and assess its methodological quality. Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science were searched to identify original research articles investigating radiomics applications on cross-sectional adrenal imaging (search end date February 2021). For qualitative synthesis, details regarding study design, aim, sample size and imaging modality were recorded as well as those regarding the radiomics pipeline (e.g., segmentation and feature extraction strategy). The methodological quality of each study was evaluated using the radiomics quality score (RQS). After duplicate removal and selection criteria application, 25 full-text articles were included and evaluated. All were retrospective studies, mostly based on CT images (17/25, 68%), with manual (19/25, 76%) and two-dimensional segmentation (13/25, 52%) being preferred. Machine learning was paired to radiomics in about half of the studies (12/25, 48%). The median total and percentage RQS scores were 2 (interquartile range, IQR = −5–8) and 6% (IQR = 0–22%), respectively. The highest and lowest scores registered were 12/36 (33%) and −5/36 (0%). The most critical issues were the absence of proper feature selection, the lack of appropriate model validation and poor data openness. The methodological quality of radiomics studies on adrenal cross-sectional imaging is heterogeneous and lower than desirable. Efforts toward building higher quality evidence are essential to facilitate the future translation into clinical practice

Solução Paralela em Agregado de PCs de um Código de Elementos Finitos Aplicado à Elasticidade Linear

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados comparativos de desempenho de códigos paralelos, baseados no método dos elementos finitos aplicado à elasticidade linear para problemas estruturais, que utilizam o método dos gradientes conjugados para solução do sistema de equações. Os programas foram executados em um agregado de PCs, por ser uma opção economicamente viável, já que utiliza tecnologia depurada de alta disponibilidade e confiabilidade e softwares de domínio público. Foram implementadas duas versões utilizando PVM e MPI. O desempenho dos programas paralelos foi medido pelos tempos de execução e speedup relativo, em função do tamanho do problema e do número de processadores

Intralesional corticosteroid injections in the treatment of central giant cell lesions of the jaws: a meta-analytic study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of treatment of central giant cell lesion to intral - esional corticosteroid injections. Study Design: Review of articles indexed in PubMed on the topic between the years 1988 and 2011, and develop - ment of a descriptive meta-analysis of the results. Results: Sample of 41 patients primarily treated with intralesional corticosteroid injections was obtained, with a male female ratio of 1:0.95, being 23 aggressive and 18 non-aggressive central giant cell lesions. Triamcinolone acetonide and triamcinolone hexacetonide were the drugs used, and 78.0% cases were considered as good result, 14.6% were considered as moderate response and 7.3% were considered as negative result to treatment. Consider - ing the aggressiveness, 88.9% of non-aggressive lesions presented a good response to treatment, in aggressive central giant cell lesions, 69.6% presented a good response to intralesional corticosteroid injections. Conclusion: In view of the results analyzed, intralesional corticosteroid injections could be considered as first treat - ment option for central giant cell lesion

Intralesional corticosteroid injections in the treatment of central giant cell lesions of the jaws

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of treatment of central giant cell lesion to intralesional corticosteroid injections. Study Design: Review of articles indexed in PubMed on the topic between the years 1988 and 2011, and development of a descriptive meta-analysis of the results. Results: Sample of 41 patients primarily treated with intralesional corticosteroid injections was obtained, with a male female ratio of 1:0.95, being 23 aggressive and 18 non-aggressive central giant cell lesions. Triamcinolone acetonide and triamcinolone hexacetonide were the drugs used, and 78.0% cases were considered as good result, 14.6% were considered as moderate response and 7.3% were considered as negative result to treatment. Considering the aggressiveness, 88.9% of non-aggressive lesions presented a good response to treatment, in aggressive central giant cell lesions, 69.6% presented a good response to intralesional corticosteroid injections. Conclusion: In view of the results analyzed, intralesional corticosteroid injections could be considered as first treatment option for central giant cell lesion

REDES DE ATENÇÃO E PRÁTICAS DE CUIDADOS EM SAÚDE À CRIANÇAS E ADOLESCENTES COM DOENÇAS CRÔNICAS EM TEMPOS DE COVID-19

It aims to identify the care practices and supports performed to chronic conditions in children and adolescents in the Health Care Network (SAN). This is a descriptive study with a mixed approach, conducted from April to August 2021, at the reception of the outpatient clinics of a tertiary pediatric hospital in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Fifty children and adolescents participated, as well as their guardians, chosen randomly, non-probabilistically, and in person. Inclusion criteria were: children and adolescents, both genders, from 5 to 18 years of age, with a diagnosis of chronic disease, being followed up or treated at the hospital where the research was being carried out. An interview form was used as an instrument. For analysis, the data were treated by Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. The majority were female, students of the Elementary School II, coming from the countryside of Ceará and had a mean age of 11.8 years. Of the chronic diseases, the prevalent one was cancer and all were accompanied in the reference hospital by the mother. In the pandemic, it was evident the presence of clinical manifestations among the participants, sometimes with the need to seek services in the RAS, such as medical consultation in tertiary care. It is concluded that in the search for care supports carried out in the RAS, there were difficulties of access, impairment in the continuity of care of children and adolescents with chronic diseases.El objetivo es identificar las prácticas y los soportes de los cuidados realizados en las condiciones crónicas de los niños y adolescentes en la Red de Atención a la Salud (RAS). Trata de un estudio de naturaleza descriptiva, de abordaje mista, realizado en el período de abril a agosto de 2021, en la recepción de los ambulatorios de un Hospital pediátrico, de nivel terciario, en Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Participaron 50 niños y adolescentes, además de sus tutores, elegidos de forma aleatoria, no probabilística y presencial. Los criterios de inclusión fueron elegidos de la siguiente manera: niños y adolescentes, de ambos sexos, de 5 a 18 años incompletos, con diagnóstico de enfermedad crónica, en seguimiento o tratamiento en el citado hospital donde se realizaba la investigación. Se utilizó como instrumento un formulario de entrevista. Para el análisis, los datos fueron tratados mediante el análisis temático de Braun y Clarke. La mayoría eran mujeres, estudiantes de la Escuela Primaria II, procedentes del campo de Ceará y tenían una edad media de 11,8 años. De las enfermedades crónicas, la más prevalente fue el cáncer y todas ellas fueron acompañadas en el hospital de referencia por la madre. Se concluye que en la búsqueda de soportes de cuidados realizados en el RAS, existen dificultades de acceso, prejuicio en la continuidad del cuidado de los niños y adolescentes con enfermedades crónicas.Objetiva-se identificar as práticas e suportes de cuidados realizadas às condições crônicas em crianças e adolescentes na Rede de Atenção à Saúde (RAS). Trata-se de um estudo de natureza descritiva, de abordagem mista, realizado no período de abril a agosto de 2021, na recepção dos ambulatórios de um Hospital pediátrico, de nível terciário, em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Participaram 50 crianças e adolescentes, além dos seus responsáveis, escolhidos de maneira aleatória, não probabilística e presencial. Foram eleitos como critérios de inclusão: crianças e adolescentes, ambos os sexos, de 5 a 18 anos incompleto, com diagnóstico de doença crônica; em acompanhamento ou tratamento no referido hospital onde a pesquisa estava sendo realizada. Utilizou-se um formulário de entrevista como instrumento. Para análise, os dados foram tratados pela análise temática de Braun e Clarke. A maioria era do sexo feminino, estudante do Ensino Fundamental II, procedentes do interior do Ceará e tinham uma média de idade de 11,8 anos. Das doenças crônicas, a prevalente foi o câncer e todos acompanhados no hospital de referência, acompanhados pela mãe. Na pandemia, evidenciou-se a presença de manifestações clínicas entre os participantes, algumas vezes com necessidade de buscar serviços na RAS, como consulta médica na atenção terciária. As representações de desenhos e expressões verbais de vivências particulares, são aspectos do momento atual sobre a crise da pandemia pela COVID-19. Conclui-se que na busca por suportes de cuidados realizadas na RAS, existiram dificuldades de acesso, prejuízo na continuidade do cuidado das crianças e adolescentes com doenças crônicas.Objetiva-se identificar as práticas e suportes de cuidados realizadas às condições crônicas em crianças e adolescentes na Rede de Atenção à Saúde (RAS). Trata-se de um estudo de natureza descritiva, de abordagem mista, realizado no período de abril a agosto de 2021, na recepção dos ambulatórios de um Hospital pediátrico, de nível terciário, em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Participaram 50 crianças e adolescentes, além dos seus responsáveis, escolhidos de maneira aleatória, não probabilística e presencial. Foram eleitos como critérios de inclusão: crianças e adolescentes, ambos os sexos, de 5 a 18 anos incompleto, com diagnóstico de doença crônica; em acompanhamento ou tratamento no referido hospital onde a pesquisa estava sendo realizada. Utilizou-se um formulário de entrevista como instrumento. Para análise, os dados foram tratados pela análise temática de Braun e Clarke. A maioria era do sexo feminino, estudante do Ensino Fundamental II, procedentes do interior do Ceará e tinham uma média de idade de 11,8 anos. Das doenças crônicas, a prevalente foi o câncer e todos acompanhados no hospital de referência, acompanhados pela mãe. Na pandemia, evidenciou-se a presença de manifestações clínicas entre os participantes, algumas vezes com necessidade de buscar serviços na RAS, como consulta médica na atenção terciária. As representações de desenhos e expressões verbais de vivências particulares, são aspectos do momento atual sobre a crise da pandemia pela COVID-19. Conclui-se que na busca por suportes de cuidados realizadas na RAS, existiram dificuldades de acesso, prejuízo na continuidade do cuidado das crianças e adolescentes com doenças crônicas

Modeling acquired resistance to the second-generation androgen receptor antagonist enzalutamide in the TRAMP model of prostate cancer

Enzalutamide (MDV3100) is a potent second-generation androgen receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in chemotherapy-naïve as well as in patients previously exposed to chemotherapy. However, resistance to enzalutamide and enzalutamide withdrawal syndrome have been reported. Thus, reliable and integrated preclinical models are required to elucidate the mechanisms of resistance and to assess therapeutic settings that may delay or prevent the onset of resistance. In this study, the prostate cancer multistage murine model TRAMP and TRAMP-derived cells have been used to extensively characterize in vitro and in vivo the response and resistance to enzalutamide. The therapeutic profile as well as the resistance onset were characterized and a multiscale stochastic mathematical model was proposed to link the in vitro and in vivo evolution of prostate cancer. The model showed that all therapeutic strategies that use enzalutamide result in the onset of resistance. The model also showed that combination therapies can delay the onset of resistance to enzalutamide, and in the best scenario, can eliminate the disease. These results set the basis for the exploitation of this "TRAMP-based platform" to test novel therapeutic approaches and build further mathematical models of combination therapies to treat prostate cancer and CRPC.Significance: Merging mathematical modeling with experimental data, this study presents the "TRAMP-based platform" as a novel experimental tool to study the in vitro and in vivo evolution of prostate cancer resistance to enzalutamide