Anticonvulsant properties of Euterpe oleracea in mice.

Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a highly consumed fruit in Amazon, is from a common palm with remarkable antioxidant properties. Because oxidative stress and seizures are intimately linked, this study investigated the potential neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effects of commercial clarified açai juice (EO).

Quasi-polaritons in Bose-Einstein condensates induced by Casimir-Polder interaction with graphene.

We consider the mechanical coupling between a two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate and a graphene sheet via the vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field which are at the origin of the so-called Casimir-Polder potential. By deriving a self-consistent set of equations governing the dynamics of the condensate and the flexural (out-of-plane) modes of the graphene, we can show the formation of a new type of purely acoustic quasi-particle excitation, a quasi-polariton resulting from the coherent superposition of quanta of flexural and Bogoliubov modes.

Behavioural, biochemical and molecular changes induced by chronic crack-cocaine inhalation in mice: The role of dopaminergic and endocannabinoid systems in the prefrontal cortex.

Crack-cocaine addiction has increasingly become a public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. However, no studies have focused on neurobiological mechanisms underlying the severe addiction produced by this drug, which seems to differ from powder cocaine in many aspects. This study investigated behavioural, biochemical and molecular changes in mice inhaling crack-cocaine, focusing on dopaminergic and endocannabinoid systems in the prefrontal cortex.

E-cadherin, β-catenin, and α2β1 and α3β1 integrin expression in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma and its regional metastasis.

To investigate E-cadherin, β-catenin, and α2β1 and α3β1 integrins in 40 samples of non-metastatic and metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with positive cervical lymph nodes (LN). Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate expression in the lesion center (LC) and invasive tumor front (ITF) of non-metastatic (n=18) and metastatic (n=22) OSCC and in the LN on the metastatic neoplastic cells (MNC; n=22). In metastatic OSCC, E-cadherin and β-catenin presented significantly lower cytoplasmic membrane expression in the ITF and MNC when compared to the LC and lower cytoplasmic expression in MNC when compared to the LC and ITF (p<0.

Is ultrasound a better target than clinical disease activity scores in rheumatoid arthritis with fibromyalgia? A case-control study.

Objectives: Our goal is to study the correlations among gray-scale seven-joint ultrasound score (GS-US7), power Doppler seven-joint ultrasound score (PD-US7), disease activity score-28 joints (DAS28), simplified disease activity index (SDAI) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) in patients with and without fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: A matched case-control study included all patients consecutively seen in the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Clinic. Participants were allocated into one of two groups: RA with FM and RA without FM.

[The modified US7 score in the assessment of synovitis in early rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To evaluate the modified US7 score (MUS7 score SYN) in the assessment of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA). In addition, dorsal and palmar recesses of the wrists as well as of small joints of the hands and feet were examined for the presence of synovitis by means of a global assessment of joints.

Methods: The study sample comprised 32 patients treated for arthritis, with an average disease duration of 13 months.

Effectiveness of Different Mechanical Methods on Dentin Caries Removal: Micro-CT and Digital Image Evaluation.

Purpose: To determine the caries removal effectiveness (CRE) and minimal invasive potential (MIP) of caries excavation methods using digital imaging and microtomography analyses.

Methods: Twelve human molars with occlusal caries lesions in dentin were randomly divided into three groups (carbide bur, exacavator, and polymer bur). They were sectioned mesiodistally, and standardized digital and computed microtomography x-ray (micro-CT) images were taken from each section before and after caries excavation.

Transcriptome sequencing in prostate cancer identifies inter-tumor heterogeneity.

Given the dearth of gene mutations in prostate cancer, [1] ,[2] it is likely that genomic rearrangements play a significant role in the evolution of prostate cancer. However, in the search for recurrent genomic alterations, "private alterations" have received less attention. Such alterations may provide insights into the evolution, behavior, and clinical outcome of an individual tumor.

Protocol to cryopreserve and isolate nuclei from adipose tissue without dimethyl sulfoxide.

Cryopreservation injuries involve nuclear DNA damage. A protocol for cryopreserving and isolating adipocyte nuclei is proposed. Adipose tissue samples were directly analyzed (NoCRYO-0h), or stored at -196°C for 7 days without 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (CRYO-WO-DMSO) or with DMSO (CRYO-W-DMSO).

Polyphenol-enriched cocoa protects the diabetic retina from glial reaction through the sirtuin pathway.

Cocoa is rich in flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants with established benefits for cardiovascular health but unproven effects on neurodegeneration. Sirtuins (SIRTs), which make up a family of deacetylases, are thought to be sensitive to oxidation. In this study, the possible protective effects of cocoa in the diabetic retina were assessed.

[Differences of spectral Doppler in psoriatic arthritis and onychomycosis].

Objective: To evaluate the use of the spectral Doppler (SDoppler) to quantify inflammatory activity and to detect nail echotextural differences in patients with psoriatic arthritis and onychomycosis.

Methods: Two patients, one with psoriatic arthritis but with no joint pain nor nail clinical change and the other with onychomycosis and rheumatoid arthritis were included. The gray scale ultrasound study, showed changes in the regular presence of echotexture at the nail insertion, thickening of the nail bed and loss of trilaminar nail pattern.

Effect of oxalic acid pre-treatment in restorations of non-carious cervical lesions: A randomized clinical trial.

Context: Non-carious cervical lesions are usually associated with dentin hypersensitivity. The use of oxalic acid in restorations of these lesions could be beneficial in relieving pain.

Aims: To evaluate the use of oxalic acid in restorations of non-carious cervical lesions.

Biological restorations as an alternative to reconstructing posterior teeth: a case report.

This article reports on a three-year follow-up of two biological restorations performed on a 15-year-old female patient. After clinical evaluation, tooth fragments from extracted permanent molars were obtained from a Human Teeth Bank and were autoclaved, adjusted to the prepared cavity, and bonded to the remaining tooth structure with dual resin cement. The technical aspects are described and the benefits and disadvantages of biological restorations as an alternative treatment for rehabilitation of severely destroyed permanent molars are discussed.

Management of gillnet fisheries in the south coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Gillnetting is one of the most practiced fishing methods adopted in the South of Brazil and has been increasingly expanding over the last years. This paper presents the characterization of the activity and discusses its management, in accordance to results from the discussions on the development of regulations on net fisheries in the South Coast Marine Protected Area (APAMLS) in the state of São Paulo. Gillnet fleets are formed by small-scale boats, with low autonomy, and lower fishing capacity, when compared to boats from other ports in the South and Southeast.

Serum markers of oxidative stress and endometriosis.

Purpose Of Investigation: To assess the changes secondary to chronic inflammation in women with and without pelvic endometriosis by the determination of serum thiols and carbonyls.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-seven women with endometriosis consecutively submitted to laparoscopy and 41 women without endometriosis consecutively submitted to tubal ligation (control group) were selected. Serum levels of total thiols and carbonyls were determined in both groups.

Articular ultrasonography: interobserver reliability in rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Ultrasonography (US) has a recent use in Rheumatology, and the reliability of the method in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients has yet to be clarified.

Objective: To test, in a RA survey, the reproducibility of musculoskeletal US performed by rheumatologists with one-year training through re-analysis by a Rheumatologist experienced in the method.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study included consecutive RA patients from our tertiary center.

Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) as novel therapeutics for prostate cancer.

Mislocalization of proteins is a common feature of cancer cells. Since localization of proteins is tightly linked to its function, cancer cells can inactivate function of a tumor suppressor protein through mislocalization. The nuclear exportin CRM1/XPO 1 is upregulated in many cancers.

[Anomalous pulmonary venous return in a pregnant woman identified by cardiac magnetic resonance].

Anomalous pulmonary venous return (APVR) is a rare cardiac anomaly defined as one or more pulmonary veins draining into a structure other than the left atrium, with venous return directly or indirectly to the right atrium. The most common form is partial APVR, in which one to three pulmonary veins drain into systemic veins or into the right atrium. We report the case of a woman diagnosed with partial APVR by magnetic resonance imaging during pregnancy.

Combining the pan-aurora kinase inhibitor AMG 900 with histone deacetylase inhibitors enhances antitumor activity in prostate cancer.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors. While most studies have focused on the reexpression of silenced tumor suppressor genes, a number of genes/pathways are downregulated by HDACIs. This provides opportunities for combination therapy: agents that further disable these pathways through inhibition of residual gene function are speculated to enhance cell death in combination with HDACIs.

Management of fishing of the broadband anchovy (Anchoviella lepidentostole) (Fowler, 1911), in south São Paulo State, Brazil.

The broadband anchovy (Anchoviella lepidentostole) is one of the most important fishery resources for economic and social development of Iguape City and for the whole of the south coast of São Paulo state. Nowadays this activity involves over 2,500 fishermen. This paper aims to evaluate its fishing, and discuss how the activity is managed.

Molecularly imprinted fibers with renewable surface for solid-phase microextraction of triazoles from grape juice samples followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis.

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a new molecularly imprinted solid-phase microextraction fiber able to renew its selective binding sites because of the gradual thermal decomposition of the polymeric network. The injector of the chromatograph operates at 300 °C, and during the desorption step of the analytes (in a short period), the polymeric network is degraded from the surface to the core in volatile compounds that do not interfere with the analysis. The renewable MIP fiber was successfully employed to extract triazole fungicides (triadimenol, tebuconazole, and metconazole) from grape juice samples followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis.

Effect of surface pretreatments on the microtensile bond strength of lithium-disilicate ceramic repaired with composite resin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ceramic surface treatments and silane drying temperature on the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of a resin composite to a lithium disilicate ceramic. Twenty blocks (7x7x5 mm) of lithium disilicate-based hot-pressed ceramic were fabricated and randomly divided into 4 groups: G1: acid etching with 9.5% hydrofluoric acid for 20 s and drying silane with room-temperature air; G2: acid etching with 9.

A retrospective evaluation of the survival rates of splinted and non-splinted short dental implants in posterior partially edentulous jaws.

Background: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the survival rate and bone loss around short implants (≤10 mm) supporting splinted or non-splinted posterior prostheses during a follow-up period of 3 to 16 years.

Methods: A total of 453 implants from 198 patients was divided into splinted or non-splinted groups. Implant survival rate was calculated for each group, and potential risk was represented as odds ratio (OR).