Clinical Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Different Bleaching Therapies in Vital Teeth

The aims of this in vivo study were to compare the effectiveness and color stability of at-home and in-office bleaching techniques and to evaluate whether the use of light sources can alter bleaching results. According to preestablished criteria, 40 patients were selected and randomly divided into four groups according to bleaching treatment: (1) at-home bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide, (2) in-office bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) without a light source, (3) in-office bleaching with 35% HP with quartz-tungsten-halogen light, and (4) in-office bleaching with 35% HP with a light-emitting diode/laser. Tooth shade was evaluated using the VITA Classical Shade Guide before bleaching as well as after the first and third weeks of bleaching. Tooth shade was evaluated again using the same guide 1 and 6 months after the completion of treatment. The shade guide was arranged to yield scores that were used for statistical comparison. Statistical analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant differences among the groups for any time point (P > .01). There was no color rebound in any of the groups. The bleaching techniques tested were equally effective. Light sources are unnecessary to bleach teeth. (Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2012;32:303-309.)

Prevalência e fatores de risco de leptospirose bovina no Estado do Maranhão

Silva F.J., Conceicao W. L. F., Fagliari J.J., Girio R.J.S., Dias R. A., Borba M. R. & Mathias L. A. 2012. [Prevalence and risk factors of bovine leptospirosis in the State of Maranhao, Brazil.] Prevalencia e fatores de risco de leptospirose bovina no Estado do Maranhao. Pesquisa Veterineria Brasileira 32(4): 303-312. Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria Preventiva e Reproducao Animal, Faculdade de Ciencias Agrarias e Veterinarias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Zona Rural, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil. E-mail: fjsepi@gmail.com Prevalence and risk factors of bovine leptospirosis in the State of Maranhao were investigated. Based on production parameters that vary across different production systems, management practices, the purpose of exploitation, the average size of herds and market systems, the state was divided in four sampling circuits. The study aimed to investigate the epidemiological features of bovine leptospirosis in the State of Maranhao, in order to determine the prevalence of the infection in cattle and herds, to determine the occurrence of serovars of Leptospira spp., to identify risk factors associated with leptospirosis in cattle and to differentiate the livestock circuits itself regarding the prevalence of leptospirosis. The survey was conducted in 136 herds in the circuit I, in which 841 >= 24 months old females were analyzed; 238 in the circuit II and 2,582 females were analyzed; 122 in the circuit III and 869 females were analyzed; 77 in the circuit IV and 540 females were analyzed; a total of 573 herds and 4,832 females were analyzed. The presence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. was verified by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Of the 4,832 cows examined, 1,904 (35.94%, CI 95% = 33.01% -38.98%) were positive. Of the 573 herds, 380 (64.81%, CI 95% = 61.10% -68.35%) were positive. Serovars Hardjo and Wolffi were the most frequent in the state. The circuit III showed the lowest prevalence of leptospirosis in all comparisons. The variables presence of horses (p = 0.000), presence of capybaras (p = 0.034) and herds with up to 32 adult females (p = 0.002) were identified as risk factors for leptospirosis.

Rho-kinase inhibition attenuates airway responsiveness, inflammation, matrix remodeling, and oxidative stress activation induced by chronic inflammation

Possa SS, Charafeddine HT, Righetti RF, da Silva PA, Almeida-Reis R, Saraiva-Romanholo BM, Perini A, Prado CM, Leick-Maldonado EA, Martins MA, Tiberio ID. Rho-kinase inhibition attenuates airway responsiveness, inflammation, matrix remodeling, and oxidative stress activation induced by chronic inflammation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 303: L939-L952, 2012. First published September 21, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajplung.00034.2012.-Several studies have demonstrated the importance of Rho-kinase in the modulation of smooth muscle contraction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and inflammation. However, the effects of repeated treatment with a specific inhibitor of this pathway have not been previously investigated. We evaluated the effects of repeated treatment with Y-27632, a highly selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, on airway hyperresponsiveness, oxidative stress activation, extracellular matrix remodeling, eosinophilic inflammation, and cytokine expression in an animal model of chronic airway inflammation. Guinea pigs were subjected to seven ovalbumin or saline exposures. The treatment with Y-27632 (1 mM) started at the fifth inhalation. Seventy-two hours after the seventh inhalation, the animals' pulmonary mechanics were evaluated, and exhaled nitric oxide (E-NO) was collected. The lungs were removed, and histological analysis was performed using morphometry. Treatment with Y-27632 in sensitized animals reduced E-NO concentrations, maximal responses of resistance, elastance of the respiratory system, eosinophil counts, collagen and elastic fiber contents, the numbers of cells positive for IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, inducible nitric oxide synthase, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, transforming growth factor-beta, NF-kappa B, IFN-gamma, and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha contents compared with the untreated group (P < 0.05). We observed positive correlations among the functional responses and inflammation, remodeling, and oxidative stress pathway activation markers evaluated. In conclusion, Rho-kinase pathway activation contributes to the potentiation of the hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, the extracellular matrix remodeling process, and oxidative stress activation. These results suggest that Rho-kinase inhibitors represent potential pharmacological tools for the control of asthma.

Rates of Change in the Visual Field and Optic Disc in Patients with Distinct Patterns of Glaucomatous Optic Disc Damage

Purpose: To investigate the rate of visual field and optic disc change in patients with distinct patterns of glaucomatous optic disc damage. Design: Prospective longitudinal study. Participants: A total of 131 patients with open-angle glaucoma with focal (n = 45), diffuse (n = 42), and sclerotic (n = 44) optic disc damage. Methods: Patients were examined every 4 months with standard automated perimetry (SAP, SITA Standard, 24-2 test, Humphrey Field Analyzer, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) and confocal scanning laser tomography (CSLT, Heidelberg Retina Tomograph, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) for a period of 4 years. During this time, patients were treated according to a predefined protocol to achieve a target intraocular pressure (IOP). Rates of change were estimated by robust linear regression of visual field mean deviation (MD) and global optic disc neuroretinal rim area with follow-up time. Main Outcome Measures: Rates of change in MD and rim area. Results: Rates of visual field change in patients with focal optic disc damage (mean -0.34, standard deviation [SD] 0.69 dB/year) were faster than in patients with sclerotic (mean - 0.14, SD 0.77 dB/year) and diffuse (mean + 0.01, SD 0.37 dB/year) optic disc damage (P = 0.003, Kruskal-Wallis). Rates of optic disc change in patients with focal optic disc damage (mean - 11.70, SD 25.5 x 10(-3) mm(2)/year) were faster than in patients with diffuse (mean -9.16, SD 14.9 x 10(-3) mm(2)/year) and sclerotic (mean -0.45, SD 20.6 x 10(-3) mm(2)/year) optic disc damage, although the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.11). Absolute IOP reduction from untreated levels was similar among the groups (P = 0.59). Conclusions: Patients with focal optic disc damage had faster rates of visual field change and a tendency toward faster rates of optic disc deterioration when compared with patients with diffuse and sclerotic optic disc damage, despite similar IOP reductions during follow-up. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. Ophthalmology 2012; 119: 294-303 (C) 2012 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Prevalência e fatores de risco de leptospirose bovina no Estado do Maranhão

Foram investigados a prevalência e os fatores de risco da leptospirose bovina no Estado do Maranhão. O Estado foi dividido em quatro circuitos amostrais com base em parâmetros de produção distintos que variam conforme os diferentes sistemas de produção, as práticas de manejo, a finalidade de exploração, o tamanho médio dos rebanhos e os sistemas de comercialização. Objetivou-se estudar as características epidemiológicas da leptospirose bovina no Estado do Maranhão, de modo a determinar a prevalência em bovinos e em rebanhos, detectar as sorovariedades de Leptospira spp. presentes, identificar os fatores de risco eventualmente associados à leptospirose em bovinos e diferenciar os circuitos pecuários entre si no que se refere à prevalência de leptospirose. A pesquisa foi realizada em 136 propriedades rurais pertencentes ao circuito I, no qual 841 fêmeas bovinas com idade igual ou superior a 24 meses foram analisadas; 238 do circuito II, com 2.582 fêmeas analisadas; 122 do circuito III, com 869 fêmeas analisadas; e 77 do circuito IV, com 540 fêmeas analisadas; no total, 573 propriedades e 4.832 fêmeas foram estudadas. A presença de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. foi verificada pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM). Das 4.832 fêmeas bovinas analisadas, 1.904 (35,94%; IC 95% = 33,01% - 38,98%) foram reagentes. Das 573 propriedades analisadas, 380 (64,81%; IC 95% = 61,10% - 68,35%) foram consideradas positivas. As sorovariedades Hardjo e Wolffi foram as mais frequentes em todo o Estado. O circuito III foi o que apresentou menor prevalência de leptospirose em todas as comparações. As variáveis identificadas como fatores de risco de leptospirose foram: presença de equinos (p = 0,000), presença de capivaras (p = 0,034) e rebanhos bovinos com 32 ou mais fêmeas adultas (p = 0,002).

Density and rheological parameters of goat milk

The rheological behavior and density of goat milk was studied as a function of solids concentration (10.5 to 50.0%) and temperature (273 to 331 k). Newtonian behavior was observed for values of total solids (TS) between 10.5 and 22.0% and temperatures from 276 to 331 k changing to pseudoplastic behavior without yield stress for TS from 25.0 to 39.4% at the same range of temperature. Goat milk with TS between 44.3 to 50.0% and temperatures of 273 to 296 k showed yield stress in addition to pseudoplastic behavior. At 303 to 331 k the power law model was observed again, without yield stress. The density of goat milk ranged from 991.7 to 1232.4 kg.m-3.

Implantação da Norma Regulamentadora 32 e o controle dos acidentes de trabalho

OBJETIVO: Identificar os acidentes de trabalho com exposição à material biológico ocorridos em um hospital universitário, discutindo os resultados com o processo de implementação das medidas de segurança e saúde dos trabalhadores, exigidas pela Norma Regulamentadora NR-32. MÉTODOS: Estudo exploratório de abordagem quantitativa dos dados. Foram realizados levantamento dos acidentes de trabalho, as entrevistas com o coordenador do Serviço de Segurança e Medicina do Trabalho e a análise de dados documentais do Programa de Prevenção de Riscos Ambientais e do Programa de Controle Médico de Saúde Ocupacional. RESULTADOS: O percentual de acidentes de trabalho reduziu ao longo do período, no qual várias exigências dessa norma foram sendo adotadas. Acidentes com material perfurocortante foram os mais frequentes, não havendo em todos os setores do hospital o oferecimento dos dispositivos de segurança exigidos pela NR-32. CONCLUSÃO: Houve redução de acidentes de trabalho com material biológico no hospital estudado entre 2007 e 2009. Contudo, não é quantitativamente significativa, apesar da implantação de várias diretrizes da NR-32 ao longo dos anos. É necessária a colaboração entre gestores, serviços de segurança e trabalhadores na promoção da saúde no trabalho.

Two-Phase Frictional Pressure Drop and Flow Boiling Heat Transfer for R245fa in a 2.32-mm Tube

Experimental two-phase frictional pressure drop and flow boiling heat transfer results are presented for a horizontal 2.32-mm ID stainless-steel tube using R245fa as working fluid. The frictional pressure drop data was obtained under adiabatic and diabatic conditions. Experiments were performed for mass velocities ranging from 100 to 700 kg m−2 s−1 , heat flux from 0 to 55 kW m−2 , exit saturation temperatures of 31 and 41◦C, and vapor qualities from 0.10 to 0.99. Pressures drop gradients and heat transfer coefficients ranging from 1 to 70 kPa m−1 and from 1 to 7 kW m−2 K−1 were measured. It was found that the heat transfer coefficient is a strong function of the heat flux, mass velocity, and vapor quality. Five frictional pressure drop predictive methods were compared against the experimental database. The Cioncolini et al. (2009) method was found to work the best. Six flow boiling heat transfer predictive methods were also compared against the present database. Liu and Winterton (1991), Zhang et al. (2004), and Saitoh et al. (2007) were ranked as the best methods. They predicted the experimental flow boiling heat transfer data with an average error around 19%.