Effect of radiotherapy on the radiopacity and flexural strength of a composite resin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy on the radiopacity and flexural strength of composite resin. Forty Z250 composite resin specimens were polymerized using a halogen light-curing unit and divided into 5 groups, in accordance with the radiotherapy dose: G1- without irradiation, G2- 30 Gy, G3- 40 Gy, G4- 50 Gy and GS- 60 Gy Digital images were obtained using a GE 100 X-ray. Radiopacity values were obtained with the Digora digital imaging system and the flexural strength was evaluated with an EMIC universal testing machine. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey 's test. G1 presented the highest radiopacity value, followed by G3, G5, G4 and G2. For flexural strength, G1 presented the lowest value, followed by G2, G5, G3 and G4. Differences were no significant (p>0.05). The commonly used dosage of radiotherapy treatment, did not cause alteration in the radiopacity and flexural strength of resin-based composites.

Microbiological assay for cefoxitin sodium in dosage form

A microbiological assay applying the cylinder-plate method is described for determination of the activity of cefoxitin sodium in injectables. Using a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12226 as the test organism, cefoxitin sodium was measured in concentrations ranging from 50.0 to 200.0 mu g/mL. The validation showed that the method was linear (r = 0.9998), precise (RSD 0.81%), and accurate. It was concluded that the microbiological assay is satisfactory for quantitation of cefoxitin sodium in injectables.

Cytogenetic damage in circulating lymphocytes and buccal mucosa cells of head-and-neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

This study evaluated cytogenetic damage by measuring the frequency of micronucleated cells (MNC) in peripheral blood and buccal mucosa of head-and-neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.MNC frequencies were assessed in 31 patients before, during, and after radiotherapy, and in 17 C, healthy controls matched for gender, age, and smoking habits. Results showed no statistically significant difference between patients and controls prior to radiotherapy in cytokinesis-blocked lymphocytes or buccal mucosa cells. During treatment, increased MNC frequencies were observed in both cell types. Micronucleated lymphocyte levels remained high in samples collected 30 to 140 days after the end of treatment, while MNC frequency in buccal mucosa decreased to values statistically similar to baseline values. There is controversy over the effects of age, smoking habit, tumor stage, and/or metastasis on MNC frequency. However, increased frequency of micronucleated buccal mucosa cells was seen in patients under 60 years old and in those with tumors >4cm.In conclusion, the data show that radiotherapy has a potent clastogenic effect in Circulating lymphocytes and buccal mucosa cells of head-and-neck cancer patients, and that the baseline MNC frequency in these two tissues is not a sensitive marker for head-and neck neoplasm.

Occurrence of yeasts, pseudomonads and enteric bacteria in the oral cavity of patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Heterogeneity correction in the construction of optimized planning in radiotherapy using linear programming

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Periodontal changes in patients undergoing radiotherapy

Background: the purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the periodontium in patients who received head and neck radiation therapy.Methods: Periodontal clinical parameters (probing depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession, plaque index, and bleeding on probing) were assessed on 27 patients before and 6 to 8 months following radiation therapy in the head and neck area.Results: the greatest changes occurred in clinical attachment level: overall, 70.3% of the patients showed a loss, with 92% evincing loss in the mandible. Attachment loss was directly related to the field of radiation and was greater when the jaws were actually included in the irradiated area.Conclusion: Periodontal status should be evaluated prior to and following radiation therapy in the oral-maxillary-facial region to help ensure that periodontal health is maintained in oncology patients.

Voltammetric assay of albendazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms

A simple, rapid inexpensive voltammetric method have been developed for the quantitative determination of albendazole (ABZ) as the pure assay, by direct dissolution of commercial tablets in HCl solutions. Studies with linear sweep (LSV), square-wave (SWV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were carried out ABZ in aqueous medium at a glassy carbon electrode. A well defined irreversible oxidation peak current was obtained at 1,00V vs. SCE. The method permits a precise quantitative determination of ABZ using the standard addition method. The detection limits for the three voltammetric techniques were found to be 3.0 x 10(-5) M (LSV), 6.2 x 10(-5) M (SWV) and 4.0 x 10(-5) M (DPV).

Occurrence of severe and moderate traumatic brain injury in patients attended in a Brazilian teaching hospital - Epidemiology and dosage of alcoholemy

This study aimed at observing aspects of epidemiology in order to investigate the use of alcohol in patients older than 18 with severe and moderate traumatic brain injury, which were attended in the Clinics Hospital of the University of Uberlandia. Positive alcoholemy was found in 39.3% of the patients. of the 33 positive exams alcoholemy was found higher than 60 mg/dL in 28 (84.6%). There was not significant relation between alcoholemy levels and trauma severity. The major prevalence occurred on Saturdays nights. The most frequent types of external causes were transportation accidents (64.74) followed by accidental falls (17.27%) and physical aggression (16.55%). 93.9% of the patients with positive alcoholemy were men aged 20-29. 24.2% of the ones with positive alcoholemy died yet no significant difference was found in the study of the ones with negative alcoholemy (n=51) (p=0.93); RR= 0.9; IC95%=0.40-2.08.

Porosity measurement of solid pharmaceutical dosage forms by gamma-ray transmission

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

LC-DAD Determination of Fleroxacin in Bulk and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)