Complete denture hygiene solutions: antibiofilm activity and effects on physical and mechanical properties of acrylic resin

BACKGROUND

Appropriated denture hygiene is a predictive factor for longevity of rehabilitation treatment and maintenance of the oral mucosal health. Although, disinfectant solutions are commonly used as denture cleansers, the impact of these solutions on acrylic resin-based dentures remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate, in vitro, the antibiofilm activity of complete denture hygiene solutions and their effects on physical and mechanical properties of acrylic resin.

METHODOLOGY

For antibiofilm activity measurement acrylic resin specimens were contaminated with Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Streptococcus mutans. After biofilm growth, the specimens were assigned to the hygiene solutions: Distilled water (Control); 0.2% Sodium hypochlorite (SH); Efferdent Power Clean Crystals (EPC) and 6.25% Ricinus communis (RC). The viability of microorganisms was evaluated by agar plate counts. In parallel, physical, and mechanical properties of the acrylic resin were evaluated after simulating a 5-year period of daily immersion in the previously mentioned solutions. The changes in surface roughness, color, microhardness, flexural strength, impact strength, sorption and solubility were evaluated. Data were compared by ANOVA followed by the Tukey test or Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Dunn test depending on the distribution (α=0.05).

RESULTS

Regarding antibiofilm action, SH eliminated all microorganisms while EPC and RC exhibited moderate action against S. mutans (p=0.001) and C. glabrata (p<0.001), respectively. Relative to effects on the physical and mechanical properties of the acrylic resin, RC led to higher values of color change (p=0.030), hardness (p<0.001), surface roughness (p=0.006) and flexural strength (p<0.001). Moreover, RC induced the highest values of changes in solubility (p<0.001). EPC promoted greater changes in surface morphology, whereas immersion in SH retained the initial appearance of the acrylic resin surface. All hygiene solutions reduced the impact strength (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

SH presented the most effective antibiofilm activity. In addition, changes on properties were observed after immersion in RC, which were considered within acceptable limits.

Decoration of trastuzumab with short oligonucleotides: synthesis and detailed characterization

Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) is an FDA-approved therapeutic antibody currently employed in the treatment of metastatic stages of breast cancer. Herein, we propose a simple, fast and cost-effective methodology to conjugate trastuzumab with 22-mer 5' thiol-modified oligonucleotides using a bifunctional crosslinker. The conjugates were successfully characterized by MALDI-ToF MS and SDS-PAGE, obviating the need for enzymatic digestion and difficult chromatographic separations. Furthermore, ELISA was performed to ensure that trastuzumab activity is not affected by oligonucleotide conjugation.

Fatty acids profiles of some Spanish wild vegetables

Polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role in human nutrition, being associated with several health benefits. The analyzed vegetables, in spite of its low fat content, lower than 2%, present a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids of n-3, n-6 and n-9 series, such as α-linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids, respectively. Wild edible plants contain in general a good balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. The present study tries to contribute to the preservation and valorization of traditional food resources, studying the fatty acids profile of 20 wild vegetables by gas-liquid chromatography with flame ionization detection. Results show that species in which leaves are predominant in their edible parts have in general the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratios: Rumex pulcher (5.44), Cichorium intybus (5.14) and Papaver rhoeas (5.00). Due to the low n-6/n-3 ratios of the majority of the samples, they can be considered interesting sources of n-3 fatty acids, especially those with higher total fat amount, such as Bryonia dioica, Chondrilla juncea or Montia fontana, with the highest contents of α-linolenic acid (67.78, 56.27 and 47.65%, respectively). The wild asparaguses of Asparagus acutifolius and Tamus communis stand out for their linoleic acid content (42.29 and 42.45%, respectively). All these features reinforce the interest of including wild plants in diet, as an alternative to the variety of vegetables normally used.

Efficacy evaluation of educational sessions for patients with asthma and COPD

INTRODUCTION

Asthma and COPD are respiratory diseases in which a better knowledge and understanding of the pathology allows the patients to be more involved, which is crucial in their treatment. Holding educational sessions is a good way of imparting information to the patients.

AIM

To determine the efficacy of educational sessions in helping patients with Asthma and COPD to acquire a better understanding of their condition.

METHODS

Following a Portuguese Lung Foundation initiative to improve knowledge about respiratory health, educational sessions for patients suffering from Asthma or COPD were organized. 25 randomized patients with the disease were invited to participate. Each session lasted 60 minutes. Patient knowledge was tested by means of a multiple choice questionnaire before and after the session.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients with asthma attended the sessions, they had an average age of 36 years, of which 60% were female. Within the group 60% were able to name their pathology correctly. Seventeen patients with COPD attended the sessions, they had an average age of 69 years, of which 70% were males and only 3 (17,6%) patients were able to correctly name their pathology. In both groups, there was a statistically positive improvement (p<0,05) of correct answers to the questionnaire the end of each educational session.

CONCLUSION

Patient knowledge increased in each educational session. Patients with COPD were less well informed about their disease than patients with asthma and they also had more difficulty in correctly naming their disease.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its association with educational inequalities among Brazilian adults: a population-based study

The present study estimated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) according to the criteria established by the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and analyzed the contribution of social factors in an adult urban population in the Southeastern region of Brazil. The sample plan was based on multistage probability sampling according to family head income and educational level. A random sample of 1116 subjects aged 30 to 79 years was studied. Participants answered a questionnaire about socio-demographic variables and medical history. Fasting capillary glucose (FCG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides were determined and all non-diabetic subjects were submitted to the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), waist circumference and blood pressure (BP) were determined. Age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of MS was 35.9 and 43.2% according to NCEP-ATPIII and IDF criteria, respectively. Substantial agreement was found between NCEP-ATPIII and IDF definitions. Low HDL-C levels and high BP were the most prevalent MS components according to NCEP-ATPIII criteria (76.3 and 59.2%, respectively). Considering the diagnostic criteria adopted, 13.5% of the subjects had diabetes and 9.7% had FCG ≥100 mg/dL. MS prevalence was significantly associated with age, skin color, BMI, and educational level. This cross-sectional population-based study in the Southeastern region of Brazil indicates that MS is highly prevalent and associated with an important social indicator, i.e., educational level. This result suggests that in developing countries health policy planning to reduce the risk of MS, in particular, should consider improvement in education.

Effect of chronic ritonavir administration on pregnant rats and their fetuses

In view of the very important role played by ritonavir in the prevention of maternal-fetal HIV-vertical transmission, the aim of this experimental study was to evaluate its possible effects on several important obstetric parameters. Ritonavir was administered daily to three groups of pregnant rats (E1 = 20 mg/kg; E2 = 60 mg/kg; E3 = 180 mg/kg; n = 10 in every group) from 'zero' up to the 20th day of pregnancy. Controls (n = 10) were injected with the drug vehicle (propyleneglycol) in the same schedule. We evaluated the effects on fetal and maternal weight gain, placental weight, number of implantations and resorptions, malformations, fertility rate, and maternal and fetal death rates. Body weight gain of the E3 group was significantly lower than that of the other groups, most likely due to a toxic effect of the highest dose of ritonavir. Ritonavir did not affect the number of implantations. Group E3 had five resorptions and some reduction in fertility. The mortality rate was significantly affected by ritonavir (2/10 maternal deaths in E2 and 4/10 in E3). On the other hand, no alterations were observed in the fetuses, a finding which could be due at least in part to the protective action of placental P-glycoprotein.

Experimental endoscopic repair of gastric perforations with an omental patch and clips

BACKGROUND

The omental patch is a standard surgical treatment of gastroduodenal ulcer perforation. This is a report of an experimental method for endoscopic repair of anterior gastric perforations with an omental patch developed by using a porcine model.

METHODS

A standardized gastric perforation was created in 10 pigs. The omentum was pulled into the gastric lumen and fixed endoscopically to the muscularis propria layer of the stomach with metallic clips.

RESULTS

The postoperative course was normal in 9 animals. An ulcer was evident at the site of repair at follow-up endoscopy. At autopsy, the omentum was adherent to the external side of gastric wall. One animal died with peritonitis, presumably because the muscularis propria layer could not be seen during the procedure, and the clips attached the omentum only to the mucosa.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic repair with an omental patch appears to be an effective procedure for closure of gastric perforations.

[Psychology in national nursing scientific publications]

This study aimed, through a review of Nursing periodicals, at identifying elements of interaction between Nursing and Psychology. Authors selected 317 articles that met the criterion of approaching psychological issues. The analysis included: 1. the focussed theme; 2. authors' position; 3. references to Psychology works; 4. Psychology's theoretical frameworks and 5. methodology. Authors concluded that this interaction is occurring through a theoretical-methodological dialogue. The contacts among professionals with different academic backgrounds were scarce.

[Labor and mental hygiene: the process of discourse production in this field in Brazil]

This investigation of discourse production in Brazil's field of hygienic psychiatry between the years of 1925 and 1934 explores the relations between psychism and human labor, endeavoring to more precisely define the field's boundaries. We have chosen to designate the knowledge and practices which result from the intersection of these two areas as Labor and mental hygiene. My analytical procedure associated elements of Foucault's "archeology of knowledge" and "genealogy of power" (Foucault, 1995; 1990; 1987), while the Brazilian Mental Hygiene Archives served as the resarch source. The latter documents subsidized analysis of the Brazilian Mental Hygiene League's discourses on relations between labor and mental hygiene. Each one of the texts was analyzed with regard to the dimensions of object, concept, enunciation and theory. The study also explores how the authors and agents of this discourse viewed the social reproduction of the industrial labor force and the status quo.

[Prevalence of biliary lithiasis in cirrhotics: necropsy evaluation]

In order to investigate a possible association between hepatic cirrhosis and biliary lithiasis, an analysis on 3,332 necropsy report diagnosis was carried out. Gallstones were present in 19.5% of 123 cirrhotics and in 4.9% of 3,209 non-cirrhotics patients. We concluded that lithiasis is significantly more frequent in cirrhotics than in non-cirrhotics. Chronic hemolysis, slow emptying of the gallbladder, and defective bile acidification by the gallbladder would explain such association. The male-to-female ratio of lithiasis occurrence was 2.08:1 in the cirrhotic group and 2.4:1 among the non-cirrhotics. This difference was not significant. Pigmentary gallstones were commoner among cirrhotics and significantly more frequent in cirrhotics than in non-cirrhotics. This would be explained by chronic hemolysis and by bilirubin conjugation defects. Lithiasis was more frequent in secondary biliary cirrhosis, followed by postnecrotic cirrhosis of viral etiology.

CADEIA and REJECT. Codes to compute relevant gamma-gamma and gamma-X true-coincidence lines in absolute counting of gamma rays with a LEPD

CADEIA and REJECT are computer codes for generating gamma-gamma and gamma-X true-coincidence lines for calculation of correction factors for absolute counting of gamma rays in a low energy photon detector. They are written in FORTRAN 77. True-coincidence lines are generated by CADEIA; they are submitted to selection by REJECT according to the rejection criteria defined by L. Moens et al. and F. De Corte. Final relevant lines for true-coincidence correction factors are given as output of REJECT.

[A case of indigenous polycystic hydatidosis in Minas Gerais, Brazil]

Relata-se um caso de hidatidosepolicistica, em homem de 22 anos, clinicamente manifestada por dor no hipocôndrio direito, icterícia obstrutiva, hepatoesplenomegalia, perda de peso e, em estágio final, ascite. O diagnóstico foi após laparotomia exploradora, com biópsia hepática e peritoneal. O paciente evoluiu para o óbito, a despeito de ter sido tratado com mebendazol na dose de 1200 mg/dia, durante um ano. A necrópsia, constatou-se hidatidose do fígado, omento maior e peritônio diafragmático. Não se conseguiu identificar, à microscopia óptica, a espécie de Echinococcus envolvida; com base nos dados epidemiológicos e morfológicos disponíveis, o parasita em apreço poderia ser o Echinococcus vogeli ou o E. oligarthrus. Este parece ser o quarto caso de hidatidose policistica na literatura nacional e é, com muita probabilidade, autóctone de Minas Gerais.