Bruxism in children with nasal obstruction

Introduction: Bruxism is characterized by repeated tooth grinding or clenching. The condition can occur in all age ranges and in both genders, being related or not to other oral habits. Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of bruxism in children with nasal obstruction and to determine its association with other factors. Methods: Sixty children with nasal obstruction seen at the Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital. of Ribeirao Preto participated in the study. The data were obtained using a pre-established questionnaire applied to the person responsible and by orofacial evaluation of the patient. The participants were divided into two groups: group with bruxism (GB) as reported by the relatives and with the presence of tooth wear detected by clinical evaluation, and group without bruxism (GWB), consisting of children with none of the two symptoms of bruxism mentioned above. Results: The presence of bruxism exceeded its absence in the sample studied (65.22%). There was no significant difference (P < 0.05) between groups regarding gender, phase of dentition, presence of hearing diseases, degree of malocclusion, or child behavior. Conclusion: Bruxism and deleterious oral habits such as biting behavior (objects, tips and nails) were significantly present, together with the absence of suction habits, in the children with nasal obstruction. (c) 2007 Elsevier Iretand Ltd. All. rights reserved.

Early motor and electrophysiological changes in transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and gender differences on clinical outcome

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive degenerative disorder affecting motoneurons and the SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice are widely employed to study disease physiopathology and therapeutic strategies. Despite the cellular and biochemical evidences of an early motor system dysfunction, the conventional behavioral tests do not detect early motor impairments in SOD1 mouse model. We evaluated early changes in motor behavior of ALS mice by doing the analyses of tail elevation, footprint, automatic recording of motor activities by means of an infrared motion sensor activity system and electrophysiological measurements in male and female wild-type (WT) and SOD1(G93A) mice from postnatal day (P) 20 up to endpoint. The classical evaluations of mortality, weight loss, tremor, rotometer, hanging wire and inclined plane were also employed. There was a late onset (after P90) of the impairments of classical parameters and the outcome varied between genders of ALS mice, being tremor, cumulative survival, weight loss and neurological score about 10 days earlier in male than female ALS mice and also about 20 days earlier in ALS males regarding rotarod and hanging wire performances. While diminution of hindpaw base was 10 days earlier in ALS males (P110) compared to females, the steep length decreased 40 days earlier in ALS females (P60) than ALS males. The automatic analysis of motor impairments showed substantial late changes (after P90) of motility and locomotion in the ALS females, but not in the ALS males. It was surprising that the scores of tail elevation were already decreased in ALS males and females by P40, reaching the minimal values at the endpoint. The electrophysiological analyses showed early changes of measures in the ALS mouse sciatic nerve, i.e., decreased values of amplitude (P40) and nerve conduction velocity (P20), and also an increased latency (P20) reaching maximal level of impairments at the late disease phase. The early changes were not accompanied by reductions of neuronal protein markers of neurofilament 200 and ChAT in the ventral part of the lumbar spinal cord of P20 and P60 ALS mice by means of Western blot technique, despite remarkable decreases of those protein levels in P120 ALS mice. In conclusion, early changes of motor behavior and electrophysiological parameters in ALS mouse model must be taken into attention in the analyses of disease mechanisms and therapeutic effects. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Schizophrenia Modifying the Expression of Gender Identity Disorder

According to the Brazilian Federal Medical Association, transsexualism is recognized as a gender identity disorder if a long-term diagnostic therapeutic process has demonstrated that the transposition of gender roles is irreversible, and if only hormonal and surgical procedures are appropriate to relieve the stress associated with the gender identity. Although such treatment will only be initiated with caution and after a long phase of intense diagnostic screening, the differentiation between pure identity disorders and transsexual feelings secondary to an ongoing psychopathologic process, such as schizophrenia, can be arduous for many health professionals. To report a case of a female patient with schizophrenia and transsexualism and the risks of a potential diagnostic confusion. A 19-year-old black woman, with an 8-year history of undifferentiated schizophrenia and intense gender dysphoria, was referred for sex reassignment surgery evaluation in the Ambulatory for the Treatment of Sexual Disorders of the ABC Medical School. After a more adequate antipsychotic treatment, her masculine behavior has persisted, but her desire to change her own genital organs has decreased. A better acceptance of the multiplicity of possible genders should neither contribute to inadequate interpretations of the signs and symptoms of our patients nor facilitate dangerous clinical or surgical recommendations. Baltieri DA, and De Andrade AG. Schizophrenia Modifying the expression of gender identity disorder. J Sex Med **;**:**-**.

S100 beta Protein Expression: Gender- and Age-Related Daily Changes

S100 beta is a soluble protein released by glial cells mainly under the activation of the 5-HT1A receptor. It has been reported as a neuro-trophic and -tropic factor that promotes neurite maturation and outgrowth during development. This protein also plays a role in axonal stability and the plasticity underlying long-term potentiation in adult brains. The ability of S100 beta to rapidly regulate neuronal morphology raises the interesting point of whether there are daily rhythm or gender differences in S100 beta level in the brain. To answer this question, the S100 beta expression in adult female and male rats, as well as in adult female CD-21 and S100 beta -/- female mice, were investigated. Scintillation counting and morphometric analysis of the immunoreactivity of S100 beta, showed rhythmic daily expression. The female and male rats showed opposite cycles. Females presented the highest value at the beginning of the rest phase (5:00 h), while in males the maximum value appeared in the beginning of the motor activity period (21:00 h). These results confirm previous S100 beta evaluations in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid reporting the protein`s function as a biomarker for brain damage (Gazzolo et al. in Clin Chem 49:967-970, 2003; Clin Chim Acta 330:131-133, 2003; Pediatr Res 58:1170-1174, 2005), similar behavior was also observed for GFAP in relation to Alzheimer Disease (Fukuyama et al. in Eur Neurol 46:35-38, 2001). The data should be taken into account when considering S100 beta as a biomarker of health condition. In addition, the results raise questions on which structure or condition imposes these rhythms as well as on the physiological meaning of the observed gender differences.

Phase transitions in biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and poly (vinyl alcohol)

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the hydrolysis degree (HD) and the concentration (C PVA) of two types of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and the effect of the type and the concentration of plasticizers on the phase properties of biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and PVA, using a response-surface methodology. The films were made by casting and the studied properties were their glass (Tg) and melting (Tm) transition temperatures, which were determined by diferential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For the data obtained on the first scan, the fitting of the linear model was statistically significant and predictive only for the second melting temperature. In this case, the most important effect on the second Tm of the first scan was due to the HD of the PVA. In relation to the second scan, the linear model could be fit to Tg data with only two statistically significant parameters. Both the PVA and plasticizer concentrations had an important effect on Tg. Concerning the second Tm of the second scan, the linear model was fit to data with two statistically significant parameters, namely the HD and the plasticizer concentration. But, the most important effect was provoked by the HD of the PVA.

Características de carcaça de suínos de três linhagens genéticas em diferentes idades ao abate

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as características da carcaça de suínos de diferentes linhagens genéticas, em diferentes idades ao abate. Foram utilizados 88 suínos por linhagem, fêmeas e machos castrados, com idade e peso médio iniciais de 74 dias e 30kg, respectivamente, pertencentes a três linhagens genéticas distintas, designadas de AgroceresPic, Dalland e Seghers. A etapa experimental foi dividida em quatro fases (Crescimento I, Crescimento II, Terminação I e Terminação II). Ao final de cada etapa, foram abatidos 60 animais (10 por linhagem/sexo), para as caracterizações: Peso (PCQ) e Rendimento de Carcaça Quente (RCQ), Área de Olho de Lombo (AOL) e Espessura de Toucinho (ET). Na análise dos resultados foi utilizado um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com desdobramento dos graus de liberdade em esquema fatorial 4 x 3 x 2, sendo quatro idades ao abate (90, 119, 150 e 186 dias), três linhagens (AgroceresPic, Dalland e Seghers) e dois sexos (fêmea e macho castrado), com 10 repetições por tratamento, sendo utilizado o pacote PROC MIXED do Softwear SAS. Os valores médios de peso vivo apresentaram diferença entre as linhagens e interação entre fase e linhagem (P<0,05). Os valores médios das demais variáveis estudadas apresentaram diferença e a interação (P<0,05) entre fase, linhagem e sexo, sendo que de maneira geral as principais diferenças ocorreram a partir da fase de Terminação I, em que as fêmeas das linhagens AgroceresPic e Dalland apresentaram melhores resultados (P<0,05) de RCQ (80,4 e 80,7%, respectivamente) em comparação com os machos (78,8 e 78,7%, respectivamente) e além disso as fêmeas Dalland apresentaram valores superiores (P<0,01) de AOL e ET (45,7cm² e 11,4mm x 38,3cm² e 18,3mm). Conclui-se que as linhagens genéticas avaliadas apresentaram características de carcaça muito interessantes para o mercado atual e que as fêmeas suínas podem ser utilizadas em programas que visem o abate de animais mais pesados.

Effect of gender on training-induced vascular remodeling in SHR

There is accumulating evidence that physical inactivity, associated with the modern sedentary lifestyle, is a major determinant of hypertension. It represents the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for both men and women. In addition to involving sympathetic overactivity that alters hemodynamic parameters, hypertension is accompanied by several abnormalities in the skeletal muscle circulation including vessel rarefaction and increased arteriole wall-to-lumen ratio, which contribute to increased total peripheral resistance. Low-intensity aerobic training is a promising tool for the prevention, treatment and control of high blood pressure, but its efficacy may differ between men and women and between male and female animals. This review focuses on peripheral training-induced adaptations that contribute to a blood pressure-lowering effect, with special attention to differential responses in male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Heart, diaphragm and skeletal muscle arterioles (but not kidney arterioles) undergo eutrophic outward remodeling in trained male SHR, which contributed to a reduction of peripheral resistance and to a pressure fall. In contrast, trained female SHR showed no change in arteriole wall-to-lumen ratio and no pressure fall. On the other hand, training-induced adaptive changes in capillaries and venules (increased density) were similar in male and female SHR, supporting a similar hyperemic response to exercise.

The anticancer drug tamoxifen is active against Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro but ineffective in the treatment of the acute phase of Chagas disease in mice

The activity of the antineoplastic drug tamoxifen was evaluated against Trypanosoma cruzi. In vitro activity was determined against epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of CL14, Y and Y benznidazole resistant T. cruzi strains. Regardless of the strain used, the drug was active against all life-cycle stages of the parasite with a half maximal effective concentration ranging from 0.7-17.9 µM. Two experimental models of acute Chagas disease were used to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of treatment with tamoxifen. No differences in parasitemia and mortality were observed between control mock-treated and tamoxifen-treated mice.

Cation size effects-modified phase and PTCR development in Er3+ and Ca2+ co-doped BaTiO3 ceramics during sintering

Development of the positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTCR) in Er3+ and Ca2+ co-doped ferroelectric BaTiO3 was studied in this work, with Er3+ being used to act as a donor doping. Irrespective of all the materials showing high densities after sintering at 1200 to 1300 ºC, these revealed insulator at the lowest sintering temperature, changing to semiconducting and PTCR-type materials only when the sintering temperature was further increased. Observations from X-ray diffraction help correlating this effect with phase development in this formulated (Ba,Ca,Er)TiO3 system, considering the formation of initially two separated major (Ba,Ca)TiO3- and minor (Ca,Er)TiO3-based compounds, as a consequence of cation size-induced stress energy effects. Thus, appearance and enhancement here of the semiconducting and PTCR responses towards higher sintering temperatures particularly involve the incorporation of Er3+ into the major phase, rendering finally possible the generation and "percolative-like" migration of electrons throughout the whole material.

Drug consumption among medical students in São Paulo, Brazil: influences of gender and academic year

OBJECTIVE: To analyze alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among medical students. METHOD: Over a five-year period (1996-2001), we evaluated 457 students at the Universidade de São Paulo School of Medicine, located in São Paulo, Brazil. The students participated by filling out an anonymous questionnaire on drug use (lifetime, previous 12 months and previous 30 days). The influence that gender and academic year have on drug use was also analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period, there was an increase in the use of illicit drugs, especially inhalants and amphetamines, among the medical students evaluated. Drug use (except that of marijuana and inhalants) was comparable between the genders, and academic year was an important influencing factor. DISCUSSION: Increased inhalant use was observed among the medical students, especially among males and students in the early undergraduate years. This is suggestive of a specific behavioral pattern among medical students. Our findings corroborate those of previous studies. CONCLUSION: Inhalant use is on the rise among medical students at the Universidade de São Paulo School of Medicine. Because of the negative health effects of illicit drug use, further studies are needed in order to deepen the understanding of this phenomenon and to facilitate the development of preventive measures.

Evaluation of a simple hyphenated system for flow injection solid-phase pre-concentration and capillary electrophoresis

In this work, the development and evaluation of a hyphenated flow injection-capillary electrophoresis system with on-line pre-concentration is described. Preliminary tests were performed to investigate the influence of flow rates over the analytical signals. Results revealed losses in terms of sensitivity of the FIA-CE system when compared to the conventional CE system. To overcome signal decrease and to make the system more efficient, a lower flow rate was set and an anionic resin column was added to the flow manifold in order to pre-concentrate the analyte. The pre-concentration FIA-CE system presented a sensitivity improvement of about 660% and there was only a small increase of 8% in total peak dispersion. These results have confirmed the great potential of the proposed system for many analytical tasks especially for low concentration samples.

Gas-phase solvolysis type reactions of SiCl3+ cations

Gas-phase SiCl3+ ions undergo sequential solvolysis type reactions with water, methanol, ammonia, methylamine and propylene. Studies carried out in a Fourier Transform mass spectrometer reveal that these reactions are facile at 10-8 Torr and give rise to substituted chlorosilyl cations. Ab initio and DFT calculations reveal that these reactions proceed by addition of the silyl cation to the oxygen or nitrogen lone pair followed by a 1,3-H migration in the transition state. These transition states are calculated to lie below the energy of the reactants. By comparison, hydrolysis of gaseous CCl3+ is calculated to involve a substantial positive energy barrier.

Solid-phase microextraction for determination of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone in water

Solid-phase microextraction, using on-line bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide derivatisation, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry, was evaluated in the quantification of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) in water samples. Fibres encompassing a wide range of polarities were used with headspace and direct immersion sampling. For the immersion procedure, various parameters affecting MX extraction, including pH, salinity, temperature, and extraction time were evaluated. The optimised method (polyacrylate fibre; 20% Na2SO4; pH 2.0; 60 min; 20 °C) was applied for reservoir chlorinated water samples-either natural or spiked with MX (50 ng L-1 and 100 ng L-1). The recovery of MX ranged from 44 to 72%. Quantification of MX in water samples was done using external standard and the selected ion monitoring mode. Correlation coefficient (0.98%), relative standard deviation (5%), limit of detection (30 ng L-1) and limit of quantification (50 ng L-1) were obtained from calibration curve.

Periodontal outcomes and social, racial and gender inequalities in Brazil: a systematic review of the literature between 1999 and 2008

The objective of this study was to review the Brazilian epidemiologic literature on periodontal outcomes and socio-demographic factors, assessing bibliographic and methodological characteristics of this scientific production, as well as the consistency and statistical significance of the examined associations. A systematic review was carried out in six bibliographic sources. The review was limited to the period between 1999 and 2008, without any other type of restriction. Among the 410 papers identified, 29 were included in the review. An increasing number of articles, specifically in the last four years of study, was observed. However, there is a concentration of studies in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil, and many of them are not closely connected to theoretical formulations in the field. In spite of these shortcomings, the review findings corroborate the idea that poor socioeconomic conditions are associated with periodontal outcomes, as demonstrated primarily by income and schooling indicators.

Gender and schooling inequalities in risk and protective factors for chronic diseases among Brazilian adults, through telephone survey

OBJECTIVES: To assess risk and protective factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD) and to identify social inequalities in their distribution among Brazilian adults. METHODS: The data used were collected in 2007 through VIGITEL, an ongoing population-based telephone survey. This surveillance system was implemented in all of the Brazilian State capitals, over 54,000 interviews were analyzed. Age-adjusted prevalence ratios for trends at different schooling levels were calculated using Poisson regression with linear models. RESULTS: These analyses have shown differences in the prevalence of risk and protective factors for CNCD by gender and schooling. Among men, the prevalence ratios of overweight, consumption of meat with visible fat, and dyslipidemia were higher among men with more schooling, while tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle, and high-blood pressure were lower. Among women, tobacco use, overweight, obesity, high-blood pressure and diabetes were lower among men with more schooling, and consumption of meat with visible fat and sedentary lifestyles were higher. As for protective factors, fruit and vegetables intake and physical activity were higher in both men and women with more schooling. CONCLUSION: Gender and schooling influence on risk and protective factors for CNCD, being the values less favorable for men. vigitel is a useful tool for monitoring these factors amongst the Brazilian population.