Efficiency of Invisalign First® to promote expansion movement in mixed dentition: a retrospective study and systematic review

Aim

The present study aimed: i) to retrospectively evaluate the expansion movement predicted by the Clincheck® software and the achieved expansion using Invisalign First® in children needing maxillary expansion to correct malocclusions; and ii) to critically compare these clinical results with the outcomes obtained for maxillary expansion using conventional removable and cemented expanders.

Material and Methods

The 3D digital models of the dental arches of 24 children undergoing orthodontic treatment exclusively with Invisalign First® aligners between 2018 and 2021 were sequentially selected for this study. Three digital models were analysed: pre-treatment (P0), the Clincheck®-predicted tooth positions (P1), and post-treatment (P2) models. The maxillary dental arch width and expansion efficiency were measured andcalculated. An in-depth review of the available literature on maxillary expansion was performed following PRISMA guidelines.

Results

Invisalign First® was able to achieve a total effectiveness of maxillary expansion of 62.6%, compared to the predicted movement. Similarly, the total effectiveness of mandibular expansion was 61.6%.

Conclusions

Our data shows that Invisalign First® system can increase the arch width with maxillary expansion effectiveness, providing similar results to those achieved with conventional removable appliances. However, neither Invisalign First® aligners nor conventional removable expanders are as much efficient as cemented-retained appliances.

Multi-functional Ti6Al4V-CoCrMo implants fabricated by multi-material laser powder bed fusion technology: A disruptive material's design and manufacturing philosophy

A home-made 3D Multi-Material Laser Powder Bed Fusion (3DMMLPBF) technology was exploited to manufacture novel multi-material Ti6Al4V-CoCrMo parts. This multi-material concept aims to bring to life a new and disruptive material's design concept for the acetabular cup. Only using a layer-by-layer approach it is possible to manufacture an acetabular cup capable to combine CoCrMo alloy wear resistance and Ti6Al4V alloy bone-friendly nature, in a single component, fabricated at once. This system works with multiple powder deposition functions and vacuum cleaning procedures allowing to use two different powders (Ti6Al4V and CoCrMo) in each layer and thus, allowing to construct 3D Multi-Material transition between distinct materials, point-by-point and layer-by-layer. In this sense, the manufacturing strategies and the functional transition between Ti6Al4V and CoCrMo with a mechanical interlocking were analyzed and discussed both from mechanical and metallurgical point of view. A small diffusion area and no evidence of defects or cracks can be found in the transition's regions between the distinct materials which are strong evidences of a solid metallurgical bonding at the interfacial regions of Ti6Al4V and CoCrMo materials. A functional transition is also obtained through a design capable to provide a 3D mechanical interlocking with potential of assuring, simultaneously, tensile and compressive strength. This proof of concept might be a step-ahead in Laser Powder Bed Fusion in which the most desired intrinsic of individual materials can be combined in a single component targeting biomedical disruptive solutions.

RHCE variant alleles and risk of alloimmunization in Brazilians

Variant RHCE alleles are found mainly in Afro-descendant individuals, as well as in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The most common variants are related to the RHCE*ce allele, which can generate partial e and c antigens. Although RHCE variant alleles have been extensively studied, defining their clinical significance is a difficult task. We evaluated the risk of RhCE alloimmunization as a consequence of partial antigens in patients with a positive phenotype transfused with red blood cell (RBC) units with the corresponding antigen. A retrospective study was performed with Brazilian patients, evaluating the number of antigen-positive transfused RBC units (incompatible due to partial antigen) in 27 patients with SCD carrying RHCE variant alleles who did not develop antibodies as well as evaluating the variants present in 12 patients with partial phenotype and correlated antibody (one patient with SCD and 11 patients with other pathologies). Two patients showed variant alleles with molecular changes that had not yet been described. Variant RHCE alleles were identified in a previous study using molecular methods. RHCE*ceVS.01 was the most frequent allele found among the patients without antibodies. Six patients with partial c antigen had a mean of 3.8 c+ RBC units transfused, and 10 patients with partial e antigen were exposed for a mean of 7.2 e+ RBC units. Among the variant alleles found in alloimmunized patients, the most frequent was RHCE*ceAR, which was found in five patients; the antibodies developed were anti-hr^S and/or anti-c. Our results showed that RHCE*ceVS.01 is indeed the most frequent variant allele in our cohort of patients with SCD, but the partial antigens that were identified have low risk of alloimmunization. RHCE*ceAR is the most impactful variant in the Brazilian population with high risk of alloimmunization and clinically significant anti-hr^S formation.

Development of a novel hybrid Ti6Al4V-ZrO2 surface with high wear resistance by laser and hot pressing techniques for dental implants

The development of implant metal-free surfaces has gained attention since non-benefic results have been reported related to the metallic ions released from metal implants to the human body. Ceramic coatings have been proposed as a possible solution however, the detachment of these coatings, during implantation or even in function, can compromise its function. In order to overcome this problem, this work proposes a novel hybrid Ti6Al4V-ZrO2 surface, starting with laser texturing of the Ti6Al4V substrate by Laser Nd:YV04, followed by the allocation of the zirconia (ZrO2) powder and its subsequent sintering by hot pressing process. Results revealed that zirconia strongly adheres to titanium textured surfaces since no detachment was found under tribological and adhesion scratch tests. Moreover, the tribological results showed that the incorporation of zirconia into textured titanium surface reduces significantly the wear rate of titanium (≈93%), which is a good indicator of low metallic particles/ions released to the body. These results suggest that this novel surface with good aesthetic properties and improved wear resistance (given by zirconia) and mechanical resistance (from titanium) can be a promising solution for dental implants, especially for implant/abutment or abutment/ceramic contact zones, and thus have a huge impact on the long-term performance of implants.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy mitigates left ventricular remodeling, upregulates MMP-2 and VEGF, and inhibits the induction of MMP-9, TGF-β1, and TNF-α in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat heart

AIMS

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy has been widely used for the adjunctive treatment of diabetic wounds, and is currently known to influence left ventricular (LV) function. However, morphological and molecular repercussions of the HBO in the diabetic myocardium remain to be described. We aimed to investigate whether HBO therapy would mitigate adverse LV remodeling caused by streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.

MAIN METHODS

Sixty-day-old Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Control (n = 8), HBO (n = 7), STZ (n = 10), and STZ + HBO (n = 8). Diabetes was induced by a single STZ injection (60 mg/kg, i.p.). HBO treatment (100% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres absolute, 60 min/day, 5 days/week) lasted for 5 weeks. LV morphology was evaluated using histomorphometry. Gene expression analyzes were performed for LV collagens I (Col1a1) and III (Col3a1), matrix metalloproteinases 2 (Mmp2) and 9 (Mmp9), and transforming growth factor-β1 (Tgfb1). The Immunoexpression of cardiac tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also quantified.

KEY FINDINGS

HBO therapy prevented LV concentric remodeling, heterogeneous myocyte hypertrophy, and fibrosis in diabetic rats associated with attenuation of leukocyte infiltration. HBO therapy also increased Mmp2 gene expression, and inhibited the induction of Tgfb1 and Mmp9 mRNAs caused by diabetes, and normalized TNF-α and VEGF protein expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

HBO therapy had protective effects for the LV structure in STZ-diabetic rats and ameliorated expression levels of genes involved in cardiac collagen turnover, as well as pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic signaling.

Selective Laser Melting of Ti6Al4V sub-millimetric cellular structures: Prediction of dimensional deviations and mechanical performance

Ti6Al4V sub-millimetric cellular structures arise as promising solutions concerning the progress of conventional orthopedic implants due to its ability to address a combination of mechanical, physical and topological properties. Such ability can improve the interaction between implant materials and surrounding bone leading to long-term successful orthopedic implants. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) capability to produce high quality Ti6Al4V porous implants is in great demand towards orthopedic biomaterials. In this study, Ti6Al4V cellular structures were designed, modeled, SLM produced and characterized targeting orthopedic implants. For that purpose, a set of tools is proposed to overcome SLM limited accuracy to produce porous biomaterials with desired dimensions and mechanical properties. Morphological analyses were performed to evaluate the dimensional deviations noticed between the model CAD and the SLM produced structures. Tensile tests were carried out to estimate the elastic modulus of the Ti6Al4V cellular structures. The present work proposes a design methodology showing the linear correlations found for the dimensions, the porosity and the elastic modulus when comparing the model CAD designs with Ti6Al4V structures by SLM.

In silico evaluation of the stress fields on the cortical bone surrounding dental implants: Comparing root-analogue and screwed implants

Tooth loss is a problem that affects both old and young people. It may be caused by several conditions, such as poor oral hygiene, lifestyle choices or even diseases like periodontal disease, tooth grinding or diabetes. Nowadays, replacing a missing tooth by an implant is a very common process. However, many limitations regarding the actual strategies can be enumerated. Conventional screwed implants tend to induce high levels of stress in the peri-implant bone area, leading to bone loss, bacterial bio-film formation, and subsequent implant failure. In this sense, root-analogue dental implants are becoming promising solutions for immediate implantation due to their minimally invasive nature, improved bone stress distribution and because they do not require bone drilling, sinus lift, bone augmentation nor other traumatic procedures. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare, by means of FEA, the stress fields of peri-implant bone around root-analogue and screwed conventional zirconia implants. For that purpose, one root-analogue implant, one root-analogue implant with flaps, two conventional implants (with different threads) and a replica of a natural tooth were modelled. COMSOL was used to perform the analysis and implants were subjected to two simultaneous loads: 100 N axially and 100 N oblique (45°). RESULTS: revealed that root-analogue implants, namely with flaps, should be considered as promising alternatives for dental implant solutions since they promote a better stress distribution in the cortical bone when compared with conventional implants.

Novel laser textured surface designs for improved zirconia implants performance

The development of new surface designs to enhance the integration process between surgically placed implants and biological tissues remains a challenge for the scientific community. In this way and trying to overcome this issue, in this work, laser technology was explored to produce novel textures on the surface of green zirconia compacts produced by cold pressing technique. Two strategies regarding line design (8 and 16 lines design) and different laser parameters (laser power and number of laser passages) were explored to assess their influence on geometry and depth of created textures. The produced textures were evaluated with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and it was observed that well-defined textured surfaces with regular geometric features (cavities or pillars) were obtained by laser combining different strategies lines design and parameters. The potential of proposed textures was also evaluated regarding surface wettability, friction performance (static and dynamic coefficient of friction evolution) against bone, aging resistance and flexural strength. Results demonstrated that all the produced textures display a super hydrophilic or hydrophilic behavior. Regarding the friction behavior, it was experimentally observed a high initial static coefficient of friction (COF) for all produced textures. Concerning the aging resistance, all the textured surfaces revealed a low monoclinic content, less than 25% after 5 h of hydrothermal aging. The flexural strength results showed that the mechanical resistance of zirconia was not significantly compromised with the laser action. Based on the obtained results, it is possible to prove that the processing route used for manufacturing the new and different surface designs (cold pressing technique followed by laser texturing) showed to be particularly effective for the production of zirconia implants with customized surface designs according to the properties required in a specific application. These new surface designs besides to enhance the surface wettability and also to improve the fixation at the initial moment of the implantation, do not significantly compromise the resistance to aging and the mechanical performance of zirconia. Hence, a positive impact on the long-term performance of the zirconia implants may be expected with the proposed novel laser textured surface designs.

Y-TZP/porcelain graded dental restorations design for improved damping behavior - A study on damping capacity and dynamic Young's modulus

The development of dental restorative materials that mimic tooth-like properties provided by graded structures, aesthetics and properties such as strength, damping capacity and the ability for a continuous remodeling according to the biomechanical solicitation is a great challenge. In this work, damping capacity and dynamic Young's modulus of Y-TZP/porcelain composites for all-ceramic dental restorations were studied. These mechanical properties were assessed by dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) at frequencies of 1, 5 and 10 Hz, over a temperature ranging from 0 to 60 °C, simulating extreme conditions when a cold or hot drink is experienced. The results showed that porcelain and porcelain-matrix composites exhibited higher damping capacity while Y-TZP and Y-TZP-matrix composites presented higher dynamic Young's modulus. Furthermore, while damping capacity is strongly influenced by the temperature, no significant difference in dynamic Young's modulus was found. For both damping and modulus properties, no significant influence of frequency was found for the tested materials. Based on the obtained results and also on the known advantages of the graded Y-TZP/porcelain structures over traditional bi-layer solutions (e.g., improved bending strength, enhanced mechanical and thermal stress distribution), a novel design of all-ceramic restoration with damping capacity has been proposed at the end of this study. A positive impact on the long-term performance of these all-ceramic restorations may be expected.

Tribological behavior of bioactive multi-material structures targeting orthopedic applications

The following study proposes a multi-material solution in which Ti6Al4V cellular structures produced by Selective Laser Melting are impregnated with bioactive materials (hydroxyapatite or β-tricalcium phosphate) using press and sintering technique. To assess the tribological response of these structures, an alumina plate was used as a counterpart in a flat-on-flat reciprocating sliding test. Ti6Al4V cellular structures impregnated with bioactive materials displayed the highest wear resistance when compared with the unreinforced structures. Among the bioactive structures, Ti6Al4V cellular structures impregnated with βTCP were the ones with higher wear resistance, having the lowest weight loss. Hence, these structures are promising multifunctional solutions for load-bearing applications by gathering suitable mechanical properties (strength and stiffness); bioactive properties and in addition an improved wear performance.

Sliding behavior of zirconia porous implant surfaces against bone

Different zirconia porous layers were produced on zirconia dense zirconia substrates by slip casting using powder with different mean sizes: 40 μm (Z40), 70 μm (Z70), and 100 μm (Z100). The dynamic and static coefficients of friction against bovine femoral bone, mimicking the implantation process, were conducted using a ball-on-flat reciprocating sliding tribometer under 3 N of normal load. Additionally, the porous layers were assessed with regard to their low temperature degradation (aging). Results revealed that the porous layers were able to keep their integrity during the sliding testes against bone, with no zirconia particles being transferred to the bone. Results did not show significant differences (p > 0.05) in kinetic and static COF values for Z40, Z70, Z100, and GRAD specimens, ranging from 0.53 to 0.77 and 0.65 to 0.90, respectively. The aging tests revealed that all surfaces were prone to low temperature degradation (~49% of monoclinic content after 18 h). In conclusion, the cohesive integrity of the layers and relatively high COF observed reveled that zirconia porous layers may be considered for replacing the current implant surfaces, and are expected to improve their primary stability. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1113-1121, 2019.

Traditional knowledge and uses of medicinal plants by the inhabitants of the islands of the São Francisco river, Brazil and preliminary analysis of Rhaphiodon echinus (Lamiaceae)

This study aimed to carry out an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by inhabitants of the Rodeadouro Island, Jatoba Island and Massangano Island, located in The Submedium São Francisco River Valley. Also phytochemicals and preliminary pharmacological tests were performed to species most cited by the community. Ethnobotanical data were collected through observation visits and semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants. We calculated the relative importance (RI), the percentage of agreement related to the main uses (cAMU) and use value (UV). The aerial parts of Rhaphiodon echinus (Ness & Mart.) Schauer were used to obtain the lyophilizate (LYO-Re), crude ethanol extract (CEE-Re) and their hexanic (HEX-Re), chloroform (CLO-Re) and ethyl acetate (EA-Re) fractions. The microdilution technique was used for determining Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for selected microorganisms. Already the spasmolytic effect was evaluated in isolated uterus fragments of Wistar rats, pre contracted with KCl 60 mM. We found 34 species cited, belonging to 22 families. The most plants were grown by locals. There were 51 different diseases, but the main indication was infectious and parasitic diseases. The species R. echinus was the most reported and it was indicated for urinary tract infection and dysmenorrhea. The screening revealed a higher prevalence of flavonoids, tannins, lignans and saponins in LYO-Re and AE-Re. Already terpene compounds were more present in HEX-Re and CLO-Re. The RE-Re fraction stood out with strong effect against E. coli and S. aureus while CEE-Re has moderate effect against gram-negative bacteria. The evaluation of the spasmolytic activity showed that LYO-Re, CEE-Re and HEX-Re fractions have similar activity, with partial effect and concentration-dependent response. This work brought about knowledge and use of medicinal plants by the riparian of the São Francisco River. It also revealed the importance of other methodologies for scientific evidence for the popular use of R. echinus.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Traps Improve the Light-Trapping of Anopheline Mosquitoes

Numerous advantages over the standard incandescent lamp favor the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as an alternative and inexpensive light source for sampling medically important insects in surveillance studies. Previously published studies examined the response of mosquitoes to different wavelengths, but data on anopheline mosquito LED attraction are limited. Center for Disease Control and Prevention-type light traps were modified by replacing the standard incandescent lamp with 5-mm LEDs, one emitting at 520 nm (green) and the other at 470 nm (blue). To test the influence of moon luminosity on LED catches, the experiments were conducted during the four lunar phases during each month of the study period. A total of 1,845 specimens representing eight anopheline species were collected. Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) evansae (35.2%) was the most frequently collected, followed by An. (Nys.) triannulatus (21.9%), An. (Nys.) goeldii (12.9%), and An. (Nys.) argyritarsis (11.5%). The green LED was the most attractive light source, accounting for 43.3% of the individuals collected, followed by the blue (31.8%) and control (24.9%) lights. The LED traps were significantly more attractive than the control, independent of the lunar phase. Light trapping of anopheline mosquitoes was more efficient when the standard incandescent lamp was replaced with LEDs, regardless of the moon phase. The efficiency of LEDs improves light trapping results, and it is suggested that the use of LEDs as an attractant for anopheline mosquitoes should be taken into consideration when sampling anopheline mosquitoes.

Effect of HAp and β-TCP incorporation on the tribological response of Ti6Al4V biocomposites for implant parts

Titanium and its alloys have been widely used in many engineering areas due to their properties. Despite having a high implant-tissue osseointegration time, Ti6Al4V has been extensively used in prosthesis and articular implants. To promote a faster bone ingrowth and consequently reduce the implant fixation time, the addition of a bioactive phase to form a biocomposite seems to be an excellent solution. Because of their bioactivity and similarity in composition with the human bone, HAp and β-TCP are two of the most widely used calcium phosphates in biomedical applications. To guarantee a strong adhesion of the previous bioactive materials in the implants surface, samples of Ti6Al4V, Ti6Al4V+HAp (10 vol %) and Ti6Al4V+β-TCP (10 vol %) TCP were processed by the hot pressing technique. Tribological tests against Al₂ O_3, lubricated in PBS at 37°C were carried out on a ball-on-flat reciprocating sliding geometry. Loads in the range of 3 N to 30 N were applied and their effect on the friction behavior and wear resistance of the tested materials was evaluated. Values of the coefficient of friction as well as the wear rate tend to increase with the addition of a bioactive phase to the Ti alloy. Micrographs of the worn surfaces showed that abrasion and plastic deformation are the prevailing wear mechanisms in the studied tribosystems. For biocomposites, particularly in the case of Ti6Al4V+HAp, pull-out of bioactive particle clusters has a determinant role on the tribological response, increasing both the friction coefficient and the specific wear rate. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 1010-1016, 2018.

Bioactive materials driven primary stability on titanium biocomposites

The Ti6Al4V alloy constitutes an alternative choice to the most common metal-polymer solutions for total hip arthroplasty (THA) due to good biocompatibility, optimal mechanical properties and high load bearing capacity. However, as Ti6Al4V is not bioactive in its conventional form, hydroxyapatite (HAp) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) have been widely used as coatings of metal prostheses due to their osteogenic properties and ability to form strong bonds with bone tissue. A promising approach consists in creating a bioactive surface metal matrix composite Ti6Al4V+β-TCP or Ti6Al4V+HAp, obtained by hot pressing (HP) of powders. In this work, the tribological performance of Ti6Al4V+β-TCP and Ti6Al4V+HAp composites is studied to evaluate the frictional response and surface damage representative of prosthesis implantation, key factors in bone fixation. Biocomposites with 10vol% β-TCP and 10vol% Hap, as well as base titanium alloy, were prepared by HP with two surface finishing conditions - polished (Ra=0.3-0.5μm) and sandblasted (Ra=2.1-2.5μm) - for tribological testing against bovine cortical bone tissue. The static friction increases with surface roughness (from 0.20 to 0.60), whereas the kinetic regime follows an inverse trend for the biocomposites. In contrast with current knowledge, this study shows that an implant design solution based on Ti6Al4V+β-TCP or Ti6Al4V+HAp biocomposites with polished surfaces results in an improved primary stability of implants, when compared to traditional rough surfaces. Moreover, it is also expected that the secondary stability will improve due to the adhesion between bone and HAp/β-TCP, increasing the overall stability of the implant.

An Evaluation of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Traps at Capturing Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a Livestock Area in Brazil

A study to evaluate the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as an attractant for phlebotomine sand flies at two animal pens in a livestock area in Brazil was performed. Light-suction traps were operated overnight with the following light sources: green, blue, and incandescent (control) lights. In total, 22 individual collections were made at each site and 44 with each trap type. In total, 2,542 specimens belonging to 14 phlebotomine species were collected. The most abundant species in the light traps were Nyssomyia whitmani, Evandromyia evandroi, Micropygomyia goiana, Lutzomyia longipalpis, and Bichromomyia flaviscutellata Taking the two sites together, the green-LED light was the most attractive, followed by the blue and incandescent lights, and the difference between the green-LED and the control was statistically significant. Most species were green-biased at both sites, but some species-specific differences were observed. However, even with these differences, the standard incandescent light was outcompeted by LEDs. The green-LED-biased response observed in the present study, together with numerous advantages in favor of LEDs, suggests that the green-LED light source can be used as an effective substitute for the currently used incandescent bulb in monitoring traps for phlebotomine sand flies in Brazil.

The Influence of Weather and Lunar Phases on the Flight Activity of Paederus Rove Beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Despite the medical importance of Paederus beetles, no studies have studied the influence of the abiotic factors on the flight activity and nighttime dispersal of these insects in Brazil. Therefore, the influence of both climatic factors and moon phase on black-light catches of Paederus rove beetles was investigated. Paederus beetles were attracted to a black light source hourly from 1800 to 0600 hours, and data on weather conditions as well as moon phase data were taken for every sampling date. Overall, 543 individuals of Paederus beetles belonging to four species were captured: P. protensus, P. columbinus, P. brasiliensis, and P. mutans. Paederus beetles were mostly active in the warmest parts of the studied nights. Variations in nighttime temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, cloud cover, and moon phases appear not to affect Paederus flight. The diurnal temperature was observed to affect the night hourly dispersal of Paederus rove beetles as well as their distribution pattern during the entire period of study. The true environmental condition responsible for Paederus beetles seasonal pattern and daily night dispersal in northeastern Brazil were the annual moisture and drought cycles and the diurnal maximum temperatures, respectively. Significant trap catches were observed in the earliest hours after sunset (1800-2100), and people must be aware of this fact, as it can notably increase the risk of acquiring linearis dermatitis from the contact with large numbers of active Paederus.

Estrogen receptor αlpha gene (ESR1) PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms are associated to metabolic and proinflammatory factors in polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder that involves multiple factors. Although the etiology of PCOS is unknown, there is an involvement of sex steroid hormones in the pathophysiology of this syndrome. Therefore, polymorphisms in genes involved in the action of estrogen may contribute to a woman's susceptibility to PCOS.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the polymorphisms PvuII and XbaI in the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene and the occurrence of PCOS. The study also aimed to assess the influence of these polymorphisms on the metabolic and inflammatory profiles of women with PCOS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This case-control study included 99 women with PCOS, diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria, and 104 age-matched healthy women. The polymorphisms were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTS

No association between the ESR1 gene polymorphisms and the presence of PCOS was observed. However, we found associations between the PvuII polymorphism and C-reactive protein levels, testosterone levels, family history of diabetes, and waist circumference. The XbaI polymorphism was associated with fasting glucose and a family history of hypertension.

CONCLUSION

These polymorphisms are not associated with PCOS development, but they are involved in the phenotype of complications of the syndrome. Therefore, prior knowledge of these genomic variants might contribute to taking preventive measures that could delay the metabolic and reproductive complications commonly seen in women with PCOS.

Abundance and Night Hourly Dispersal of the Vesicating Beetles of the Genus Paederus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Attracted to Fluorescent, Incandescent, and Black Light Sources in the Brazilian Savanna

Paederus beetles are cosmopolitan medically important insects that cause dermatitis linearis to humans. In Brazil, despite the medical importance of these beetles, no studies focusing directly on the abundance and ecological features of harmful species exist. Therefore, this study aims at determining the abundance and the nocturnal hourly dispersal of Paederus species attracted to fluorescent, incandescent, and black light sources in the Brazilian savanna. Paederus species were captured from May to September for three consecutive years, between 2011 and 2013. The specimens were caught hourly, from 1800 to 0600 hours. Paederus beetles were attracted to incandescent, fluorescent, and black light lamps as light sources. A total of 959 individuals of five species were collected. The collected species were Paederus protensus Sharp (59.85%), Paederus columbinus Laporte de Castelnau (29.20%), Paederus mutans Sharp (7.09%), Paederus brasiliensis Erichson (3.34%), and Paederus ferus Erichson (0.52%). The black light was the most attractive source, and the darkest collecting point was the most representative for the number of individuals. The lowest catches were captured at full moon, and the highest catches were between 2200 and 0100 hours. Future investigations are needed to better understand the role of night temperature and soil humidity affecting the seasonal growth of Paederus beetle populations of northeastern Brazil.

Seasonal abundance of livestock-associated Culicoides species in northeastern Brazil

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are of great medical and veterinary importance because the haematophagous females of some species can transmit diseases to humans and animals. In order to determine the presence and seasonal abundance of the bluetongue virus (BTV) vector Culicoides insignis Lutz at domestic animal sheds in northeastern Brazil, insects were collected once a month between January and December 2010. Light traps were set from 18.00 to 06.00 hours at a pigsty, chicken coop and bovine corral. Culicoides insignis accounted for 81% of the 22,316 specimens collected. Other well-represented species were: Culicoides paucienfuscatus Barbosa (3246 individuals), Culicoides diabolicus Hoffman (308), Culicoides leopoldoi Ortiz (224) and Culicoides duartei Tavares and Luna Dias (221). The remainder accounted for 4% of the total sample. Culicoides insignis occurred mostly at the cattle corral, 98.2% in the rainy season. This study confirms the presence and close association of C. insignis with cattle in Maranhão state, northeastern Brazil and emphasizes the risk of bluetongue infections spreading in the area.

Efeito do ultrassom terapêutico sobre as propriedades mecânicas do gastrocnêmio em ratos

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar de algumas controvérsias quanto à sua utilização, o ultrassom terapêutico (UST) é um recurso comumente aplicado na reabilitação desportiva para aceleração do reparo tecidual de lesões musculares. Sabe-se que lesões musculares influenciam negativamente as propriedades mecânicas da musculatura estriada esquelética e algumas evidências demonstram que o UST poderia ter efeitos benéficos sobre o reparo muscular e, consequentemente, sobre suas propriedades mecânicas.OBJETIVO: Analisar o efeito do UST no reparo tecidual por meio das propriedades mecânicas musculares de ratos após trauma por criolesão.MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados no estudo 30 ratos da linhagem Wistar, os quais foram divididos em três grupos: grupo controle intacto (GC), grupo lesionado sem tratamento (GL), e grupo lesionado e estimulado com UST (frequência de 1 MHz; intensidade de 0,5 W/cm2; ciclo de trabalho de 50%; por quatro minutos diários), durante sete dias consecutivos (GLUST). As propriedades mecânicas obtidas através de ensaio mecânico de tração foram avaliadas em uma máquina universal de ensaios.RESULTADOS: Foram analisados estatisticamente, com nível de significância de 95% (P<0,05). Após sete sessões de tratamento, houve melhora estatisticamente significativa nas propriedades mecânicas de carga no limite de proporcionalidade, carga no limite máximo e resiliência para o GLUST em relação ao GL (p<0,05).CONCLUSÃO: O UST foi eficaz no processo de reparo tecidual, conferindo ao tecido muscular maior resistência à tração e absorção de energia.

Tadalafil analgesia in experimental arthritis involves suppression of intra-articular TNF release

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We investigated the effect of the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, tadalafil, on the acute hypernociception in rat models of arthritis.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Rats were treated with either an intra-articular injection of zymosan (1 mg) or surgical transection of the anterior cruciate ligament (as an osteoarthritis model). Controls received saline intra-articular or sham operation respectively. Joint pain was evaluated using the articular incapacitation test measured over 6 h following zymosan or between 4 and 7 days after anterior cruciate ligament transection. Cell counts, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and the chemokine, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1) were measured in joint exudates 6 h after zymosan. Groups received tadalafil (0.02-0.5 mg·kg⁻¹ per os) or saline 2 h after intra-articular zymosan. Other groups received the µ-opioid receptor antagonist naloxone or the cGMP inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo [4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) before tadalafil.

KEY RESULTS

Tadalafil dose-dependently inhibited hypernociception in zymosan and osteoarthritis models. In zymosan-induced arthritis, tadalafil significantly decreased cell influx and TNF-α release but did not alter IL-1 or CINC-1 levels. Pretreatment with ODQ but not with naloxone prevented the anti-inflammatory effects of tadalafil.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Therapeutic oral administration of tadalafil provided analgesia mediated by guanylyl cyclase and was independent of the release of endogenous opioids. This effect of tadalafil was associated with a decrease in neutrophil influx and TNF-α release in inflamed joints.

MTP -493G/T gene polymorphism is associated with steatosis in hepatitis C-infected patients

The reduction of hepatic microsomal transfer protein (MTP) activity results in fatty liver, worsening hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The G allele of the MTP gene promoter, -493G/T, has been associated with lower transcriptional activity than the T allele. We investigated this association with metabolic and histological variables in patients with CHC. A total of 174 untreated patients with CHC were genotyped for MTP -493G/T by direct sequencing using PCR. All patients were negative for markers of Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis and autoimmune diseases and had current and past daily alcohol intake lower than 100 g/week. The sample distribution was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Among subjects with genotype 1, 56.8% of the patients with fibrosis grade 3+4 presented at least one G allele versus 34.3% of the patients with fibrosis grade 1+2 (OR = 1.8; 95%CI = 1.3-2.3). Logistic regression analysis with steatosis as the dependent variable identified genotypes GG+GT as independent protective factors against steatosis (OR = 0.4, 95%CI = 0.2-0.8; P = 0.01). The results suggest that the presence of the G allele of MTP -493G/T associated with lower hepatic MTP expression protects against steatosis in our CHC patients.

Biochemical and microbiological tools for the evaluation of environmental quality of a coastal lagoon system in Southern Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the environmental quality of surface water of the Maricá Lagoon System through physicochemical, biochemical and microbiological parameters, in order to assess its environmental quality. Marine influence over the system was evidenced by the salinity and temperature gradients, where the most distant point, in Maricá Lagoon, presented the largest protein, lipid and biopolymeric carbon concentrations. Biopolymers, with predominance of lipids, presented a pattern that differs from the literature for coastal sediments. The concentration of thermotolerant coliforms characterised Maricá Lagoon and Boqueirão Channel as unfit for bathing (60.0 and 66.3 cells.mL-1, respectively). The bacterioplankton in the system proved to be predominantly heterotrophic, a consumer of organic matter, with fermentative, denitrifying and sulfate-reducing metabolism. No esterase enzyme activity was detected, despite the presence of active metabolism, measured by the electron transport system (average of 0.025 µgO2.h-1.mL-1). The bacterial biomass (autotrophic, heterotrophic and coliforms), bacterial respiratory activity and biopolymer parameters evinced a spatial degradation pattern in the Maricá Lagoon System, where the points with less water renewal are the most impacted.

Genetic diversity in native and commercial breeds of pigs in Portugal assessed by microsatellites

Population structure and genetic diversity in the Portuguese native breeds of pigs Alentejano (AL), Bísaro (BI), and Malhado de Alcobaça (MA) and the exotic breeds Duroc (DU), Landrace (LR), Large White (LW), and Pietrain were analyzed by typing 22 microsatellite markers in 249 individuals. In general, the markers used were greatly polymorphic, with mean total and effective number of alleles per locus of 10.68 and 4.33, respectively, and an expected heterozygosity of 0.667 across loci. The effective number of alleles per locus and expected heterozygosity were greatest in BI, LR, and AL, and least in DU. Private alleles were found in 9 of the 22 markers analyzed, mostly in AL, but also in the other breeds, with the exception of LW. The proportion of loci not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in each breed analyzed ranged between 0.23 (AL) and 0.41 (BI, LW, and Pietrain), mostly because of a less than expected number of heterozygotes in those loci. With the exception of MA, all breeds showed a significant deficit in heterozygosity (F(IS); P < 0.05), which was more pronounced in BI (F(IS) = 0.175) and AL (F(IS) = 0.139), suggesting that inbreeding is a major concern, especially in these breeds that have gone through a genetic bottleneck in the recent past. The analysis of relationships among breeds, assessed by different methods, indicates that DU and AL are the more distanced breeds relative to the others, with the closest relationship being observed between LR and MA. The degree of differentiation between subpopulations (F(ST)) indicates that 0.184 of the total genetic variability can be attributed to differences among breeds. The analysis of individual distances based on allele sharing indicates that animals of the same breed generally cluster together, but subdivision is observed in the BI and LR breeds. Furthermore, the analysis of population structure indicates there is very little admixture among breeds, with each one being identified with a single ancestral population. The results of this study confirm that native breeds of pigs represent a very interesting reservoir of allelic diversity, even though the current levels of inbreeding raise concerns. Therefore, appropriate conservation efforts should be undertaken, such as adopting strategies aimed at minimizing inbreeding, to avoid further losses of genetic diversity.

A quantitative approach to measure joint pain in experimental osteoarthritis--evidence of a role for nitric oxide

OBJECTIVES

To describe a method to study joint pain in experimental osteoarthritis (OA) and to study nitric oxide (NO) participation in experimental OA.

DESIGN

Rats were subjected to anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) (OA group) of the right knee and evaluated during 28 days. A sham group was false operated and a naive group received no manipulation. Joint pain was measured by recording the time the right hind paw fails to touch the surface while walking. Cell influx (CI) and nitrite levels were measured in joint exudates. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in synovia was detected by immunostaining. For the specific purpose of pharmacological manipulation, groups received either indomethacin (2 mg/kg/day s.c. (subcutaneous)), meloxicam (6 mg/kg/day s.c.), morphine (200 microg intra-articularly), the non-selective NOS inhibitor L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 30 mg/kg/bid i.p. (intra-peritoneal)) or the selective iNOS inhibitor 1400W (0.5 mg/kg/day s.c.), given 30 min prior (prophylactic) or 4 days after (therapeutic) ACLT, until sacrifice, at 7 days. The respective non-treated groups received the vehicles.

RESULTS

The OA group developed joint pain, as compared to sham and control groups (P<0.05). Significantly increased nitrite levels and iNOS immunostaining were seen in the OA group. Both indomethacin and meloxicam inhibited joint pain (P<0.05). Morphine inhibited joint pain, whereas this effect was blocked by co-administration of the mu-opioid receptor naloxone. CI was similar among all groups. Prophylactic but not therapeutic L-NAME or 1400W reduced joint pain.

CONCLUSION

We describe a method to quantitate joint pain associated to weight bearing in the ACLT model. The joint pain is sensitive to classical antinociceptive compounds. NO release is associated to joint pain though NOS inhibition does not inhibit ongoing pain.

Neck haematoma and airway obstruction in a patient with goitre: complication of internal jugular vein cannulation

Attempted jugular vein cannulation in a patient with a discrete goitre resulted in a rapid growing haematoma and airway obstruction. This life-threatening complication is rare, and is usually related to two conditions: pre-existing coagulopathy and/or arterial puncture by a large bore cannula or vessel dilator. None of these was present in this patient. Investigations revealed a retrosternal goitre causing tracheal compression and major changes in the calibre and the anatomical relationships of neck vessels. Possible origin and mechanism for the sudden haematoma are discussed, as well as the airway management. This case clearly illustrates how internal jugular vein cannulation using the traditional blind technique, guided by external landmarks, can be extremely hazardous in patients with distorted anatomy of the neck.

Population dynamics of euglossinae bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in an early second-growth forest of Cajual Island, in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

A study was conducted in an early second-growth forest aiming at knowing the richness, relative abundance, seasonal distribution, and hourly frequency of euglossine bees, and their association with scent baits. Male bees were attracted to cineole, vanillin, methyl salicylate, and eugenol. The baits were hooked 1.5 m high and 6 m from one another. The specimens were collected from December 1997 to November 1998, once a month, from 7:00 to 17:00 h. A total of 339 male euglossine bees were caught, accounting for 19 species and four genera. The most common species was E. cordata, making up 69.9% of the individuals, followed by E. truncata (2.3%), E. violaceifrons, and E. smaragdina (2.1%). The most attractive scent was cineole, which baited 87% of the specimens and 73.7% of the species. Vanillin, the second most visited bait, eured 7.6% of the specimens and 26.3% of the species. E. surinamensis was only collected with this bait. Methyl salicylate and eugenol baited combined 2.6% of the specimens. However, by species numbers Methyl salicylate attracted 21% whereas eugenol was attractive for 15.8% of them. In general, the species were more abundantly found in the rainy season (January-June). The hourly activity data showed that the euglossine bees were attracted to the baits all day long, but at a higher frequency in the morning period, peaking between 8:00 and 10:00 h.

Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the Amazônia of Maranhão. V. Seasonal occurrence in ancient colonization area and endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis

In this paper, the seasonal abundance of 25 sandfly species (1 of the Brumptomyia genus and 24 of the Lutzomyia genus) found at P1V5, municipal district of Buriticupu, Maranhão State, is discussed. The capture was carried out from 18:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M., once a month, from January to December 1996. CDC light traps were set up in the forest, in the peri and intradomicile environments. Five species were only found in the rainy season (January to June), being represented by one or two individuals; eight species occurred only in the dry season (July to December) and eleven species appeared in both seasons. The most frequent species in the dry period were: L. whitmani (26.3%), L. serrana (23%), L. choti (22.8%), L. evandroi (7.5%), L. longipalpis (5.8%), L. termitophila (3.3%), L. shannoni (3%) and L. migonei (2.5%). In the rainy season, L. whitmani was the prevailing species (74%), followed by L. termitophila (4%), L. umbratilis (3.4%), L. serrana (2.8%), L. evandroi (2,8%) and L. claustrei (2.4%). L. whitmani was thought to be an annual species, occurring in the entire year of study. The others species, with exception to L. serrana and L. evandroi, showed a seasonal, punctual or peripheric pattern.

[Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Lagoas, a city of Buriticupu, Amazonia of Maranhão. I. The richness and relative abundance of the species in an area of recent colonization]

In this study the diversity of the species and relative abundance of the sand flies in the Amazonian community of Lagoas, in Buriticupu, Maranhão State, was determined. The study consisted of adult sandflies captured with CD light-traps, Shannon-trap and manual aspiration tube, between 18 PM and 6 AM, once a month, from December/95 to January/97, in a forest fragment and in the domestic environment (peri and intra). In all, 9,393 specimens were captured (4,302 males and 5,140 females) distributed among 38 species (1 Brumptomyia and 37 Lutzomyia). The diversity and abundance of species was higher in the forest, followed by the peri and intra. The predominance in the wild ambient is a consequence of the potentialities found in the remaining fragments of the forest which have survived the lumber yard exploitation and agricultural activities. In the forest environment Lutzomyia whitmani (64.9%), L. migonei (27%) and L. serrana (3.6%) were the most frequent species. In the peri and intra domicile L. evandroi predominated (55.4% and 97.9%). The species, L. whitmani (33.4%) and L. migonei (6.4%), were important in the peri domicile. The peridomestic habit of 7.7% of the sand flies showed the greatest epidemiologic importance, due to the existence of patients with leishmaniasis ulcers, who believe they were infected near their habitations.

[Sandflies (Diptera, psychodidae) in a secondary forest area in the Paco do Lumiar city, Maranhao, Brazil: a leishmaniasis transmission area]

This paper analyzes the wealth of species, relative abundance, seasonal fluctuation, and nocturnal activity of sandflies. The field survey was conducted in a "capoeira" (secondary forest) area in the county of Paço do Lumiar, Maranhão, where cutaneous and transmission of visceral leishmaniasis frequently occurs. Sandflies were captured by CDC-type light traps from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, once a month, from March 1997 to February 1998. A total of 489 specimens were collected (251 males and 238 females), distributed among 10 species: Lutzomyia antunesi (45.19%), Lutzomyia whitmani (29.4%), Lutzomyia longipalpis (7.56%), Lutzomyia sordelli (6.34%), Lutzomyia flaviscutellata (4.5%), Brumptomyia avellari (4.09%), Lutzomyia evandroi (1.85%), Lutzomyia umbratilis (0.61%), Lutzomyia corossoniensis (0.41%), and Lutzomyia trispinosa (0.41%). The sandflies were present year round, with higher abundance during the rainy season. They were present in all intervals studied, with the highest frequency between 12:00 PM and 1:00 AM (31%).

[Sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) from an endemic leishmaniasis area in the cerrado region of the State of Maranhão, Brazil]

This article presents a list of ten sandfly species from the genus Lutzomyia França, 1924 found in the counties of Aldeias Altas, Capinzal do Norte, Caxias, Codó, Coelho Neto, Timbiras, Timon and Tuntum in northeastern Maranhão, Brazil. Presence of sandflies was associated with cases of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Some 377 specimens were captured indoors with CDC light traps and 1491 specimens in the peridomicile. The species were: Lutzomyia cortelezii, Lutzomyia evandroi, Lutzomyia goiana, Lutzomyia intermedia, Lutzomyia lenti, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lutzomyia longipennis, Lutzomyia squamiventris, Lutzomyia termitophila and Lutzomyia whitmani. The most abundant species was L. longipalpis (67. 4% and 70.2%) followed by L. whitmani (31.0% and 24.7%). L. longipalpis was captured both indoors and outdoors in all the months studied.

[Distribution of Aedes aegypti and dengue in the State of Maranhão, Brazil]

Dengue and Aedes aegypti are widespread in the State of Maranhão. During 1995, 87 of the 136 of the State's counties, including 176 towns and 480,687 households, were studied, of which 30 counties (34. 4%), 118 towns (67.0%) and 10,357 households (2.1%) were positive for Aedes aegypti. The positive counties are distributed as follow: 3 on São Luís Island, 7 in the Amazonia of Maranhão, 12 in the southern zone of the cerrados or savannas, and 5 in the mixed forest/savanna/palm grove zone. One positive county for Ae. aegypti was located in each of the following: alluvial fields, forest/palm grove, and sand dune/shoals areas. The Ae. aegypti-positive household rates were higher in the Amazonia of Maranhão (3.5%) and on São Luís Island (2.5%), because they are the most heavily traveled migratory and trade routes between Maranhão and neighboring states and are also the State's main economic centers. Household infestation rates for Ae. aegypti and reported dengue case rates were higher during the rainy season, showing the importance of rain in forming prime breeding sites for Aedes and spreading dengue.

[Phlebotomus (Diptera, Phlebotominae) from Saint Luis Island, Maranhão Gulf region, Brazil]

This study lists 32 species of sand flies, 1 of them belonging to the genus Brumptomyia and 31 to the genus Lutzomyia, distributed among the following subgenera: Psychodopygus (6), Nyssomyia (5), Pressatia (3), Evandromyia (2), Psathyromyia (2), Sciopemyia (2), Lutzomyia (1), Micropygomyia (1), Viannamyia (1), and the groups Oswaldoi (5) and Migonei (3). The sand flies were captured in the wild (forest) and in peridomicile (pigpen, hen house and stable) and intradomicile (bedroom) areas from 06:00 PM to 06:00 AM, once a month, for 4 years on the Island of São Luis, Maranhão. All species sampled were present in the forest. Among them, 16 were found in the peridomicile, while 11 were found inside the houses. A total of 22,581 specimens were captured, 65.1% of them in the peridomicile, 17.5% in the forest and 17.4% in the intradomicile. The most common species was Lutzomyia longipalpis (66.4% of the captured specimens), followed by Lutzomyia whitmani (24%) and Lutzomyia evandroi (5.9%). The remaining 29 species represented 3.7% of the total sample.

[Mouth opening limitation from hypertrophy of the coronoid apophysis]

Bilateral generalized enlargement of the coronoid processes is an unusual and rarely reported condition. In the presented case the alleviation of restriction in mandibular movement was only dependent on bilateral coronoidectomies. There is a need for clarification of the condition regarding cause, diagnosis and probably terminology as well as possible relationship to osteochondroma of the coronoid processes.