A novel bioactive glass-ceramic for treating dentin hypersensitivity

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a painful response to stimulus applied to the open dentinal tubules of a vital tooth. It's a common oral condition, however, without an ideal treatment available yet. This work evaluated in vitro the effect of micron-sized particles from a novel bioactive glass-ceramic (Biosilicate) in occluding open dentinal tubules. A dentin disc model was employed to observe comparatively, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dentinal tubule occlusion by different products and deposition of hydroxyl carbonate apatite (HCA) on dentin surface by Biosilicate, after a single application: G1 - Dentifrice with potassium nitrate and fluoride; G2 - Two-step calcium phosphate precipitation treatment; G3 - Water-free gel containing Biosilicate particles (1%); G4 - Biosilicate particles mixed with distilled water in a 1:10 ratio; all of them after 1, 12 and 24 hours of immersion in artificial saliva. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to detect HCA formation on dentin discs filled with Biosilicate after 2 minutes, 30 minutes and 12 hours of immersion in artificial saliva. SEM showed a layer of HCA formed on dentin surface after 24 hours by G4. G1, G2 and G3 promoted not total occlusion of open dentinal tubules after 24 hours. FTIR showed HCA precipitation on the dentin surface induced by Biosilicate after 30 minutes. The micron-sized particles from the bioactive glass-ceramic thus were able to induce HCA deposition in open dentinal tubules in vitro. This finding suggests that Biosilicate may provide a new option for treating DH.

Genetic evaluation of the mating system in the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna, Aves, Psittacidae) by DNA fingerprinting

More than 90% of birds are socially monogamous, although genetic studies indicate that many are often not sexually monogamous. In the present study, DNA fingerprinting was used to estimate the genetic relationships between nestlings belonging to the same broods to evaluate the mating system in the socially monogamous macaw, Ara ararauna. We found that in 10 of 11 broods investigated, the nestlings showed genetic similarity levels congruent with values expected among full-sibs, suggesting that they shared the same parents. However, in one brood, the low genetic similarity observed between nestlings could be a result of intraspecific brood parasitism, intraspecific nest competition or extra-pair paternity. These results, along with available behavioral and life-history data, imply that the blue-and-yellow macaw is not only socially, but also genetically monogamous. However, the occurrence of eventual cases of extra-pair paternity cannot be excluded.

Doen��a granulomatosa cr��nica: diagn��stico no primeiro epis��dio infeccioso

OBJETIVO: Relatar caso ilustrativo de doen��a granulomatosa cr��nica cujo diagn��stico ocorreu durante o aparecimento do primeiro epis��dio infeccioso, colaborando com a iniciativa do Brazilian Group for Immunodeficiency para a sensibiliza����o do pediatra geral em rela����o ao diagn��stico precoce das imunodefici��ncias prim��rias, o que est�� associado a melhor qualidade de vida e maior sobrevida desses indiv��duos. DESCRI����O DE CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 39 dias de vida, admitido em pronto-socorro pedi��trico por febre alta h�� cinco dias e irritabilidade. No dia seguinte, observou-se abscesso cervical, isolando-se Staphylococcus aureus comunit��rio. Durante a interna����o, ocorreram outros abscessos superficiais e em cadeias ganglionares profundas, al��m de resposta lenta aos antimicrobianos. Solicitou-se investiga����o para imunodefici��ncias, que confirmou a hip��tese de doen��a granulomatosa cr��nica por quantifica����o dos ��nions super��xido e teste de redu����o do nitrobluetetrazolio. Paciente foi encaminhado a servi��o especializado, no qual identificou-se doador de medula ��ssea compat��vel, realizando-se o transplante seis meses ap��s o diagn��stico. Quatro meses ap��s o transplante, ocorreu normaliza����o do burst oxidativo, indicando sucesso. COMENT��RIOS: O paciente mostrou apresenta����o t��pica da doen��a, o que permitiu seu diagn��stico por pediatras gerais j�� na primeira infec����o, tendo como consequ��ncia o acompanhamento por especialistas em imunodefici��ncias prim��rias, a introdu����o da profilaxia antimicrobiana e a procura bem sucedida de doador de medula HLA-compat��vel.

Estudo de filtros RC para baixas e altas freq����ncias por meio de um circuito para superposi����o de sinais

Apresentamos nesse trabalho, um experimento realizado nos Laborat��rios did��ticos do Instituto de F��sica da USP, relacionado ao estudo do funcionamento de filtros RC para baixas e altas freq����ncias. Para tal, foi especialmente projetado um circuito que efetua a superposi����o de um sinal gerado internamente, a uma onda senoidal externa. V��rias situa����es experimentais podem ser geradas, por meio da varia����o da freq����ncia, tanto do sinal interno quanto da onda senoidal externa. Um estudo das componentes de freq����ncia de Fourier �� tamb��m realizado para se estabelecer os par��metros de funcionamento dos filtros. O funcionamento dos circuitos como integradores e diferenciadores tamb��m �� explorado. Os estudantes s��o, portanto, levados a compreender a efic��cia desses filtros mais simples, dependendo das freq����ncias dos sinais de entrada e correspondentes componentes de Fourier, e das freq����ncias de corte estabelecidas.

Estudo experimental do movimento de part��culas carregadas em campos el��tricos e magn��ticos: seletor de velocidades

Neste trabalho �� apresentado um experimento inclu��do no contexto de experimentos longos adotado nas disciplinas experimentais de eletricidade, magnetismo e ��ptica, e consiste na caracteriza����o de um seletor de velocidades que funciona com campos el��tricos e magn��ticos cruzados. Utiliza-se um tubo de raios cat��dicos para gerar um feixe de el��trons. As placas de deflex��o vertical do tubo geram o campo el��trico e um par de bobinas, com os eixos perpendiculares ao eixo do tubo, gera o campo magn��tico. S��o realizados estudos de trajet��ria dos el��trons com aux��lio de um programa de simula����o de el��trons.

A an��lise por inje����o sequencial (SIA): vinte anos em uma perspectiva brasileira

The year of 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the development of Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) by Ruzicka and Marshall. Considered the second generation of the flow injection methods, this article briefly describes the history, the basic principles of the technique and reviews all papers developed by Brazilian scientists aiming the divulgation of this automation technique in Analytical Chemistry.

Development of a flow through photo-reactor to study degradation of organic compounds by Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA)

This work describes a photo-reactor to perform in line degradation of organic compounds by photo-Fenton reaction using Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) system. A copper phthalocyanine-3,4',4<FONT FACE=Symbol><FONT FACE=Symbol>��</FONT></FONT>,4<FONT FACE=Symbol><FONT FACE=Symbol>����</FONT></FONT>-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt dye solution was used as a model compound for the phthalocyanine family, whose pigments have a large use in automotive coatings industry. Based on preliminary tests, 97% of color removal was obtained from a solution containing 20 ��mol L-1 of this dye.

Ocorr��ncia de Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae) e fauna associada, no Paran��

Nyssomyia intermedia s. lat. tem sido citada por v��rios autores no Paran��. No entanto, alguns estudos apontam que esse t��xon corresponde a Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto). Em coletas realizadas em galinheiro e em ambiente de mata, com armadilhas, entre novembro de 2005 e outubro de 2006, em Adrian��polis, Morretes e Pontal do Paran��, localizados na regi��o de Mata Atl��ntica na Serra do Mar e no litoral do Paran��, sete f��meas de Nyssomyia intermedia s. str. (Lutz & Neiva) foram encontradas juntamente com outras 14 esp��cies de flo ebotom��neos, confirmando a ocorr��ncia de N.intermedia em ��rea de costa e de mata Atl��ntica do Paran��.

Diversidade, distribui����o e abund��ncia de flebotom��neos (Diptera: Psychodidae) no Paran��

Devido �� crescente expans��o da leishmaniose visceral americana (LVA) no Brasil, o presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar as esp��cies de flebotom��neos em ��reas vulner��veis �� transmiss��o dessa parasitose, bem como em outras sem qualquer informa����o sobre a presen��a desses d��pteros no Paran��. As coletas de flebotom��neos foram realizadas em 46 localidades distribu��das em 37 munic��pios do Paran��, no per��odo de mar��o de 2004 a novembro de 2005. Em cada uma das localidades foram instaladas armadilhas de Falc��o, durante tr��s noites consecutivas, em vegeta����o natural e ambientes antr��picos (intra e peridomic��lio). Ocasionalmente, foram instalas armadilhas de Shannon e feitas inspe����es de paredes e aspira����o em domic��lio, peridomic��lio e extradomic��lio. O tratamento dos dados baseou-se na estimativa das freq����ncias e abund��ncia das esp��cies, segundo cinco regi��es de distintas paisagens originais. Coletaram-se 38.662 flebotom��neos de 23 esp��cies. Predominaram Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) (75.6%), Ny. whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho) (10.1%), Migonemyia migonei (Fran��a) (7.8%), Expapillata firmatoi (Barreto et al.) (2.1%) and Pintomyia fischeri (Pinto) (1,6%); representando juntas 97,2% dos flebotom��neos coletados. Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) o principal vetor da LVA n��o foi encontrado. No entanto, capturou-se Lu. gaminarai (Cordero et al.), cujas f��meas s��o morfologicamente semelhantes ��s de Lu. longipalpis. As esp��cies mais freq��entes e abundantes t��m sido apontadas como vetores da leishmaniose tegumentar no Paran�� e em outras ��reas das Regi��es Sudeste e Sul do Brasil. A presen��a de Lu. gaminarai no Paran�� suscita a necessidade de estudos do seu comportamento, inclusive em rela����o �� sua compet��ncia vetorial do agente da leishmaniose visceral.

Methodology of a nationwide cross-sectional survey of prevalence and epidemiological patterns of hepatitis A, B and C infection in Brazil

Um inqu��rito de base populacional foi conduzido na popula����o urbana de todas as capitais e do Distrito Federal no Brasil para fornecer informa����es sobre a preval��ncia de hepatites virais e fatores de risco, entre 2005 e 2009. Este artigo descreve o delineamento e a metodologia do estudo que envolveu a popula����o com idade entre 5 e 19 anos para hepatite A e 10 a 69 anos para hepatite B e C. As entrevistas e amostras de sangue foram obtidas atrav��s de visitas domiciliares e a amostra selecionada a partir de uma amostragem estratificada em m��ltiplos est��gios (por conglomerado) com igual probabilidade para cada dom��nio de estudo (regi��o e faixa et��ria). Nacionalmente, 19.280 resid��ncias e ~31.000 indiv��duos foram selecionados. O tamanho da amostra foi suficiente para detectar uma preval��ncia em torno de 0,1% e para avaliar os fatores de risco por regi��o. A metodologia apresentou-se vi��vel para distinguir entre diferentes padr��es epidemiol��gicos da hepatite A, B e C. Estes dados ser��o de valia para a avalia����o das pol��ticas de vacina����o e para o desenho de estrat��gias de controle.

Resurrection of Anopheles goeldii from synonymy with Anopheles nuneztovari (Diptera, Culicidae) and a new record for Anopheles dunhami in the Brazilian Amazon

Nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA and partial sequences of the cytochrome coxidase subunit I (COI) mtDNA and white gene nDNA were obtained from specimens of Anopheles nuneztovari A collected in Macap�� (state of Amap��), ��bidos, Prainha and Almeirim (state of Par��), Itacoatiara and Parintins (state of Amazonas), Brazil, and compared with previously published sequences of A. nuneztovari s.l. Results of the Bayesian phylogenetic analyses performed using either COI or combined ITS2, COI and white gene sequences suggest that An. nuneztovari B/C is distinct from specimens obtained in the Amazonas/Solim��es River basin. Anopheles goeldii, currently in synonymy with An. nuneztovari, was described from individuals collected in Belterra (= Fordl��ndia) in the Tapaj��s River, state of Par��, Southern Amazonas River. Morphological comparisons of the characteristics of the male genitalia indicated that An. nuneztovari A and An. goeldii are similar but distinct from An. nuneztovariB/C by the apex of the aedeagus. In considering the results of the phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons, An. goeldii is resurrected from synonymy with An. nuneztovari. Additionally, Anopheles dunhamiis reported for the first time in Parintins. This species can be distinguished from An. goeldiiby characters of the male genitalia and molecular data

Prote����o de Bromeliaceae para evitar a forma����o de criadouros de Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

As plantas da fam��lia bromeliaceae constituem criadouros de Aede aegypti. O presente estudo de campo mostrou que medidas mec��nicas podem ser uma solu����o para o controle do mosquito nessas plantas. Na regi��o norte do estado do Paran��, ��rea de infesta����o por Ae. aegypti, q5 brom��lias foram monitoradas durante um ano ap��s receberem tratamento com palha de madeira e cascas de ��rvore. Nesse per��odo n��o foram observadas formas imaturas de mosquitos, o que sugere que o uso deste material natural pode servir como medida complementar aos programas de controle vetorial.

Population-based multicentric survey of hepatitis B infection and risk factor differences among three regions in Brazil

This multicentric population-based study in Brazil is the first national effort to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and risk factors in the capital cities of the Northeast, Central-West, and Federal Districts (2004-2005). Random multistage cluster sampling was used to select persons 13-69 years of age. Markers for HBV were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The HBV genotypes were determined by sequencing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Multivariate analyses and simple catalytic model were performed. Overall, 7,881 persons were included; < 70 per cent were not vaccinated. Positivity for HBsAg was less than 1 per cent among non-vaccinated persons and genotypes A, D, and F co-circulated. The incidence of infection increased with age with similar force of infection in all regions. Males and persons having initiated sexual activity were associated with HBV infection in the two settings; healthcare jobs and prior hospitalization were risk factors in the Federal District. Our survey classified these regions as areas with HBV endemicity and highlighted the risk factors differences among the settings

The impact of obstructive sleep apnea on metabolic and inflammatory markers in consecutive patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is tightly linked to some components of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). However, most of the evidence evaluated individual components of the MetS or patients with a diagnosis of OSA that were referred for sleep studies due to sleep complaints. Therefore, it is not clear whether OSA exacerbates the metabolic abnormalities in a representative sample of patients with MetS. Methodology/Principal Findings: We studied 152 consecutive patients (age 48 +/- 9 years, body mass index 32.3 +/- 3.4 Kg/m(2)) newly diagnosed with MetS (Adult Treatment Panel III). All participants underwent standard polysomnography irrespective of sleep complaints, and laboratory measurements (glucose, lipid profile, uric acid and C-reactive protein). The prevalence of OSA (apnea-hypopnea index >= 15 events per hour of sleep) was 60.5%. Patients with OSA exhibited significantly higher levels of blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, cholesterol/HDL ratio, triglycerides/HDL ratio, uric acid and C-reactive protein than patients without OSA. OSA was independently associated with 2 MetS criteria: triglycerides: OR: 3.26 (1.47-7.21) and glucose: OR: 2.31 (1.12-4.80). OSA was also independently associated with increased cholesterol/HDL ratio: OR: 2.38 (1.08-5.24), uric acid: OR: 4.19 (1.70-10.35) and C-reactive protein: OR: 6.10 (2.64-14.11). Indices of sleep apnea severity, apnea-hypopnea index and minimum oxygen saturation, were independently associated with increased levels of triglycerides, glucose as well as cholesterol/HDL ratio, uric acid and C-reactive protein. Excessive daytime sleepiness had no effect on the metabolic and inflammatory parameters. Conclusions/Significance: Unrecognized OSA is common in consecutive patients with MetS. OSA may contribute to metabolic dysregulation and systemic inflammation in patients with MetS, regardless of symptoms of daytime sleepiness.