Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder In Subjects with Temporomandibular Disorder

To determine the frequency and degree of orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) in a sample of patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD), the dental records of 240 patients with a diagnosis of TMD were reviewed. Mean patient age and mean TMD duration, gender frequency, complaints, and signs and symptoms were calculated. The results showed that the sample studied was quite characteristic of a TMD group. The presence of the following signs/symptoms was significant: muscular pain, TMJ pain, joint noise, at least one otologic symptom, headache, and neck and shoulder pain. Most subjects presented some degree of OMD, with grade high prevailing over grade low. The importance of evaluating the stomatognathic structures and functions during the clinical examination of patients with TMD is emphasized.

Otologic symptoms of temporomandibular disorder and effect of orofacial myofunctional therapy

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of otologic symptoms and their relationship to orofacial signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), and the effect of orofacial myofunctional therapy. The study was conducted on eight asymptomatic subjects (Group C) and 20 subjects with articular TMD, randomly distributed over two groups: one treated using orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT Group) and a control group with TMD (Group CTMD). Patient selection was based upon the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD). All subjects submitted to a clinical examination with self-reporting of symptom severity, and to orofacial myofunctional and electromyographic evaluation at diagnosis and again, at the end of the study. Correlations were calculated using the Pearson test and inter- and intragroup comparisons were made (p<0.05). In the diagnosis phase, subjects with TMD reported earache (65%), tinnitus (60%), ear fullness (90%), and 25% of the asymptomatic subjects reported tinnitus. The otologic symptoms were correlated with tenderness to palpation of the temporomandibular muscles and joints and with orofacial symptoms. Only the OMT group showed a reduction of otologic and orofacial symptoms, of tenderness to palpation and of the asymmetric index between muscles. OMT may help with muscle coordination and a remission of TMD symptoms.

Food aversion: A critical balance between allergen-specific IgE levels and taste preference

Animals sensitized to allergens change their feeding behavior and avoid drinking the otherwise preferred sweetened solutions containing the allergens. This phenomenon, known as food aversion, appears to be mediated by allergen-specific IgE antibodies. Here we investigated food aversion in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, which differ in their allergic responses to the allergen ovalbumin as well as in their preference for sweet taste. BALB/c mice present higher levels of IgE and a natural lower preference for sweet flavors when compared to C57BL/6 mice. Specifically, we studied a conflicting situation in which animals simultaneously experienced the aversive contact with the allergen and the attractive sweet taste of increasing concentrations of sucrose. We found that BALB/c mice were more prone to develop food aversion than C57BL/6 mice and that this aversive behavior could be abolished in both strains by increasing the palatability of the solution containing the allergen. In both strains food aversion was positively correlated with the levels of allergen-specific IgE antibodies and inversely correlated with their preference for sucrose sweetened solutions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Low Intensity Laser Therapy in Temporomandibular Disorder: a Phase II Double-Blind Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) and its influence on masticatory efficiency in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). This study was performed using a random, placebo-controlled, and double-blind research design. Fourteen patients were selected and divided into two groups (active and placebo). Infrared laser (780 nm, 70 mw, 60s, 105J/cm(2)) was applied precisely and continuously into five points of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area: lateral point (LP), superior point (SP), anterior point (AP), posterior point (PP), and posterior-inferior point (PIP) of the condylar position. This was performed twice per week, for a total of eight sessions, To ensure a double-blind study, two identical probes supplied by the manufacturer were used: one for the active laser and one for the inactive placebo laser. They were marked with different letters (A and B) by a clinician who did not perform the applications. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a colorimetric capsule method were employed. Data were obtained three times: before treatment (Ev1), shortly after the eighth session (Ev2), and 30 days after the first application (Ev3). Statistical tests revealed significant differences at one percent (1%) likelihood, which implies that superiority of the active group offered considerable TMJ pain improvement. Both groups presented similar masticatory behavior, and no statistical differences were found. With regard to the evaluation session, Ev2 presented the lowest symptoms and highest masticatory efficiency throughout therapy. Therefore, low intensity laser application is effective in reducing TMD symptoms, and has influence over masticatory efficiency [Ev2 (0.2423) and Ev3 (0.2043), observed in the interaction Evaluations x Probes for effective dosage].

Order and disorder in fiction labyrinths: the librarians` representations in some contemporary cultural productions

This paper, first result of a larger research, proposes a query about some aspects of social representation of libraries and librarians, as they appear in literary and cinematographic productions. Little by little, this query, which arose from purposes of organizing catalogues, revealed elements that established different series, in which the narrative genre (literary or cinematographic) has no relevance to either libraries or librarians` representations. The presence of these elements seems to show some expectations and utopias in relation to the common knowledge, independently from narratives being located in the past, in the present or in the future, stimulating reflection on some medieval and baroque traditions about the library universe and its main characters, the librarians. The cinematographic material selected for research was The time machine, Farenheit 451, The day after tomorrow, Star Wars - episode II and the novels Martin Eden, The man without qualities, The time machine and La sombra del viento.

The use of spray drying technology to reduce bitter taste of casein hydrolysate

The utilization of protein hydrolysates in food systems is frequently hindered due to their bitterness and hygroscopicity. Spray drying technology could be an alternative for reducing these problems. The aim of this work was to reduce or to mask the casein hydrolysate bitter taste using spray drying and mixtures of gelatin and soy protein isolate (SPI) as carriers. Six formulations were studied: three with 20% of hydrolysate and 80% of mixture (gelatine/SPI at proportions of 50/50, 40/60 and 60/40%) and three with 30% of hydrolysate and 70% of mixture (gelatine/SPI at proportions of 50/50, 40/60 and 60/40%). The spray-dried formulations were evaluated by SEM, hygroscopicity, thermal behavior (DSC), dissolution, and bitter taste, by a trained sensory panel using a paired-comparison test (free samples vs. spray-dried samples); all samples were presented in powder form. SEM analysis showed mostly spherically shaped particles, with many concavities and some particles with pores. All formulations were oil and water compatible and showed lower hygroscopicity values than free casein hydrolysate. At Aw 0.83, the free hydrolysate showed Tg about 25 degrees C lower than the formulations, indicating that the formulations may be more stable at Aw >= 0.65 since the glass transition should be prevented. The sensory panel found the formulations, tasted in the powder form, to be less bitter (P < 0.05) than the free casein hydrolysate. These results indicated that spray drying of casein hydrolysate with mixtures of gelatin and SPI was successful to attenuate the bitterness of casein hydrolysate. Thus, spray drying widens the possibilities of application of casein hydrolysates. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Beneficial Effects of Physical Training on the Cardio-Inflammatory Disorder Induced by Lung Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rats

Our laboratory demonstrated that training program attenuated the inflammatory responses in lung ischemia/reperfusion (IR). Considering the importance of the inflammatory responses on the cardiovascular system, we evaluate the effect of physical training on the vascular responsiveness and its underlying mechanism after lung IR. Male Wistar rats were submitted to run training and lung IR. Concentration-response curves for relaxing and contracting agents were obtained. Protein expressions of SOD-1 and p47(phox), plasma nitritre/nitrate (NO (x) (-) ) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were evaluated. A decreased in the potency for acetylcholine and phenylephrine associated with an upregulation of the p47(phox) expression were found after Lung IR as well as an increase in IL-6 and NO (x) (-) levels. Run training attenuated the vascular dysfunction that was accompanied by reduction of the p47(phox) protein expression and IL-6 levels. Our findings show the beneficial effect of training on the vascular function that was associated with reduction in inflammatory response in lung IR.

Nutrient Selection in the Absence of Taste Receptor Signaling

When allowed to choose between different macronutrients, most animals display a strong attraction toward carbohydrates compared with proteins. It remains uncertain, however, whether this food selection pattern depends primarily on the sensory properties intrinsic to each nutrient or, alternatively, metabolic signals can act independently of the hedonic value of sweetness to stimulate elevated sugar intake. Here we show that Trpm5(-/-) mice, which lack the cellular mechanisms required for sweet and several forms of L-amino acid taste transduction, develop a robust preference for D-glucose compared with isocaloric L-serine independently of the perception of sweetness. Moreover, a close relationship was found between glucose oxidation and taste-independent nutrient intake levels, with animals increasing intake as a function of glucose oxidation rates. Furthermore, microdialysis measurements revealed nutrient-specific dopaminergic responses in accumbens and dorsal striatum during intragastric infusions of glucose or serine. Specifically, intragastric infusions of glucose induced significantly higher levels of dopamine release compared with isocaloric serine in both ventral and dorsal striatum. Intragastric stimulation of dopamine release seemed to depend on glucose utilization, because administration of an anti-metabolic glucose analog resulted in lower dopamine levels in striatum, an effect that was reversed by intravenous glucose infusions. Together, our findings suggest that carbohydrate-specific preferences can develop independently of taste quality or caloric load, an effect associated with the ability of a given nutrient to regulate glucose metabolism and stimulate brain dopamine centers.

Clinical significance of lifetime panic disorder in the course of bipolar disorder type I

Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of lifetime panic disorder (PD) diagnosis in a sample of patients with bipolar disorder type I (BPI), evaluating clinical and demographic variables. Methods: Ninety-five outpatients from the Bipolar Disorder Research Program at the Institute of Psychiatry of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School were enrolled. Twenty-seven BPI patients with PD were compared to 68 BPI patients without any anxiety disorders regarding clinical and demographic variables. Results: Compared to BPI patients without any anxiety disorders, patients with BPI + PD presented significantly higher number of mood episodes (18.9 +/- 13.8 vs 8.5 +/- 7.8; P < .001), depressive episodes (10.8 +/- 8.2 vs 4.6 +/- 4,8; P = .001), and manic episodes (7.4 +/- 7.3 vs 3.6 +/- 3.6; P = .008). Patients with BPI + PD had more frequently a depressive episode as their first one compared to BPI patients without anxiety disorders (94.1% vs 57.5%; P = .011). Patients with BPI + PD had more comorbidity with lifetime diagnosis of drug abuse or dependence (33.3% vs 8.8%; P = .010) and eating disorders (29.6% vs 6.0%; P = .004). Conclusions: The higher number of mood episodes in general presented by patients with BPI + PD when compared with BPI patients without any anxiety disorders, along with the higher frequencies of drug misuse and eating disorders, indicates that PD comorbidity is associated with a poorer Course and outcome of BPI. The higher frequency of depression as the onset mood episode and the higher number of manic episodes in the group with PD may have important treatment implications and should be further investigated. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Exciton behavior in GaAs/AlGaAs coupled double quantum wells with interface disorder

In this work, we present a detailed study on the optical properties of two GaAs/Al(0.35)Ga(0.65)As coupled double quantum wells (CDQWs) with inter-well barriers of different thicknesses, by using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The two CDQWs were grown in a single sample, assuring very similar experimental conditions for measurements of both. The PL spectrum of each CDQW exhibits two recombination channels which can be accurately identified as the excitonic e(1)-hh(1) transitions originated from CDQWs of different effective dimensions. The PL spectra characteristics and the behavior of the emissions as a function of temperature and excitation power are interpreted in the scenario of the bimodal interface roughness model, taking into account the exciton migration between the two regions considered in this model and the difference in the potential fluctuation levels between those two regions. The details of the PL spectra behavior as a function of excitation power are explained in terms of the competition between the band gap renormalization (BGR) and the potential fluctuation effects. The results obtained for the two CDQWs, which have different degrees of potential fluctuation, are also compared and discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface spin disorder in nickel ferrite nanomagnets studied by in-field Mossbauer spectroscopy

The magnetic structure of NiFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles has been investigated by means of Mossbauer spectra at T=4.2 K in applied fields up to 12 T. Four samples were studied, with mean particle diameters ranging from 4.3 to 8.9 nm. All spectra could be decomposed into three sextets, two corresponding to the ferrimagnetic sublattices of Fe ions in the spinel structure (core) and the third one to randomly frozen spins near the particle surface (shell). The shell thickness, calculated from the fraction of disordered spins, was found to be about one-third of the particle radius at H (app)=e0 and to decrease with the applied field toward a common limit of similar to 0.4 nm. The mean canting angle relative to the field was also found to decrease for increasing fields, at a rate inversely correlated to the particle size.

Structural, electronic, and magnetic entropy contributions of the orbital order-disorder transition in LaMnO(3)

Measurements of X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, and magnetization are reported across the Jahn-Teller phase transition in LaMnO(3). Using a thermodynamic equation, we obtained the pressure derivative of the critical temperature (T(JT)), dT(JT)/dP = -28.3 K GPa(-1). This approach also reveals that 5.7(3)J(mol K)(-1) comes from the volume change and 0.8(2)J(mol K)(-1) from the magnetic exchange interaction change across the phase transition. Around T(JT), a robust increase in the electrical conductivity takes place and the electronic entropy change, which is assumed to be negligible for the majority of electronic systems, was found to be 1.8(3)J(mol K)(-1).

Disorder-based graphene spintronics

The use of the spin of the electron as the ultimate logic bit-in what has been dubbed spintronics-can lead to a novel way of thinking about information flow. At the same time single-layer graphene has been the subject of intense research due to its potential application in nanoscale electronics. While defects can significantly alter the electronic properties of nanoscopic systems, the lack of control can lead to seemingly deleterious effects arising from the random arrangement of such impurities. Here we demonstrate, using ab initio density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green`s functions calculations, that it is possible to obtain perfect spin selectivity in doped graphene nanoribbons to produce a perfect spin filter. We show that initially unpolarized electrons entering the system give rise to 100% polarization of the current due to random disorder. This effect is explained in terms of different localization lengths for each spin channel which leads to a new mechanism for the spin filtering effect that is disorder-driven.

Effects of torsional disorder on poly-para-phenylene

We study the effect of thermal disorder on the electronic structure of one-dimensional poly-para-phenylene (PPP). In a real chain the torsion angles between rings are bound to be distributed over a range of values, which depend on temperature, and thus the chain is intrinsically disordered. In this study we simulated this kind of thermally induced off-diagonal disorder through the simple Huckel method. We base our Hamiltonian on ab initio results for the effect of temperature on torsion angles, and the effect of torsion angles on the energy gap. We analyze the electronic structure of 200-monomer-long chains focusing on the density of states, and the associated localization character (measured by the inverse participation ratio). Our results contrast with the usually assumed Gaussian-shaped density of localized states for disordered systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Joint Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of Order Disorder Effects in Cubic BaZrO(3) Assembled Nanoparticles under Decaoctahedral Shape

Periodic first-principles calculations based on density functional theory at the B3LYP level has been carried out to investigate the photoluminescence (PL) emission of BaZrO(3) assembled nanoparticles at room temperature. The defect created in the nanocrystals and their resultant electronic features lead to a diversification of electronic recombination within the BaZrO(3) band gap. Its optical phenomena are discussed in the light of photoluminescence emission at the green-yellow region around 570 nm. The theoretical model for displaced atoms and/or angular changes leads to the breaking of the local symmetry, which is based on the refined structure provided by Rietveld methodology. For each situation a band structure, charge mapping, and density of states were built and analyzed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, UV-vis measurements, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images are essential for a full evaluation of the crystal structure and morphology.