Quercetin Reduces Inflammatory Pain: Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Cytokine Production

Quercetin (1) is known to have both antioxidant and antinociceptive effects. However, the mechanism involved in its antinociceptive effect is not fully elucidated. Cytokines and reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the cascade of events resulting in inflammatory pain. Therefore, we evaluated the antinociceptive mechanism of 1 focusing on the role of cytokines and Oxidative stress. Intraperitoneal and oral treatments with 1 dose-dependently inhibited inflammatory nociception induced by acetic acid and phenyl-p-benzoquinone and also the second phase of formalin- and carrageenin-induced mechanical hypernociception. Compound I also inhibited the hypernociception induced by cytokines (e.g., TNF alpha and CXCL1), but not by inflammatory mediators that directly sensitize the nociceptor such as PGE(2) and dopamine. On the other hand, 1 reduced carrageenin-induced IL-1 beta production as well as carrageenin-induced decrease of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. These results suggest that I exerts its analgesic effect by inhibiting pro-nociceptive cytokine production and the oxidative imbalance mediation of inflammatory pain.

A standardized measurement technique may improve the reliability of measurements of endometrial thickness and volume

Objective To investigate whether standardization of the multiplanar view (SMV) when evaluating the uterus using three-dimensional ultrasonography (3D-US) improves intra-and interobserver reliability and agreement with regard to endometrial measurement. Methods Two-dimensional (2D) and 3D-US was used to measure endometrial thickness by two observers in 30 women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. Endometrial volume was measured with Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL (TM)) in the longitudinal (A) and coronal (C) planes using an unmodified multiplanar view (UMV) and a standardized multiplanar view (SMV). Measurement reliability was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and agreement was examined using Bland-Altman plots with limits of agreement (LoA). The ease of outlining the endometrial-myometrial interface was compared between the A-and C-planes using subjective assessment. Results Endometrial volume measurements using the SMV and A-plane were more reliable (intra-and interobserver ICCs, 0.979 and 0.975, respectively) than were measurements of endometrial thickness using 2D-US (intra-and interobserver ICCs, 0.742 and 0.702, respectively) or 3D-US (intra-and interobserver ICCs, 0.890 and 0.784, respectively). The LoAs were narrower for SMV than for UMV. Reliability and agreement were not much different between the A- and C-planes. However the observers agreed that delineating the endometrial-myometrial interface using the A-plane was easier (first and second observer, 50.0 and 46.7%, respectively) or `comparable` (50 and 53.3%, respectively), but never more difficult than using the C-plane. Conclusions Endometrial volume measurements are more reliable than endometrial thickness measurements and are best performed using SMV and the A-plane. Copyright (C) 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparison between the reliability levels of manual palpation and pressure pain threshold in children who reported orofacial pain

The aim of this study was to compare the intra-and inter-rater reliability of pressure pain threshold (PPT) and manual palpation (MP) of orofacial structures in symptomatic and symptom-free children for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Fourteen children reporting pain in masticatory muscles or the temporomandibular joint and 16 symptom-free children were randomly assessed on three different occasions: by rater-1 in the first and third session and by rater-2 in the second session. The trained raters applied algometry and MP as recommended by the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. Intraclass correlation coefficients and the Kappa statistic were used to assess the levels of reliability of PPT and MP, respectively. Excellent intra-and inter-rater reliability levels were observed for PPT values at most of the examined sites for symptom-free children and excellent and moderate reliability levels for children reporting pain. For MP, moderate and poor intra-rater and inter-rater reliability levels were observed for most sites in both groups. Algometry showed higher reliability levels for both groups of children and is recommended for pain assessment in children in association with MP. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preliminary Reliability and Repeatability of the Brazilian Version of the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale

The aim of this study was to create an adaptation of the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale (RKPPS) for the Brazilian population, as well as to apply the instrument with statistical analysis to verify the preliminary intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and repeatability of the instrument. The instructions presented by Beaton et al. regarding adaptation of instruments were followed to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the RKPPS. A preliminary test of the Portuguese version was performed on 18 children with no motor, cognitive or sensory impairment. The video recordings of this administration were analysed on two separate occasions by two examiners within a 5-month interval, using the scores suggested by Pfeifer. The Spearman`s test was used in the statistical analysis of the obtained data. The author of the RKPPS agreed with the small necessary cultural adaptations. The Spearman test revealed a high correlation coefficient and good significance levels for both intra- and inter-raters values. This study demonstrated the reliability and repeatability of the Brazilian version of the RKPPS. This is a preliminary study and further studies are needed in order to validate the scale to be administered in the Brazilian population. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cross-cultural adaptation and reliability of Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment (ChIPPA)

Background. Play is an indication of a children`s development. Purpose. Organize a culturally adapt the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment to Brazilian population. Method. Translation and cultural adaptation procedures consisted of translation, synthesis, back translation, author`s approval, and pretest of the assessment. For the pretest, 14 typically developing children were assessed. Was evaluated the use of play materials, duration of the assessment, and reliability. Findings. Play materials and duration of the assessment were appropriate for Brazilian children. Analysis of intra-rater reliability showed good agreement ranging from 0.90 to 1.00. Inter-rater reliability showed good to moderate agreement for five items ranging from 0.76 to 0.59. Four items showed chance to poor agreement (rho = -0.13 to 0.50). Implications. Results of the pretest indicate the Brazilian version of the ChIPPA is potentially useful for Brazilian children. ChIPPA training in Portuguese in Brazil with play observation feedback is recommended to improve inter-rater reliability.

A new DTL-electrode holder for recording of electroretinograms in animals

Purpose: Contact lens electrodes (CLEs) are frequently used to register electroretinograms (ERGs) in small animals such as mice or rats. CLEs are expensive to buy or difficult to be produced individually. In addition, CLE`s have been noticed to elicit inconstant results and they carry potential to injure the cornea. Therefore, a new electrode holder was constructed based on the clinically used DTL-electrode and compared to CLEs. Material and methods: ERGs were recorded with both electrode types in nine healthy Brown-Norway rats under scotopic conditions. For low intensity responses a Naka-Rushton function was fitted and the parameters V(max), k and n were analyzed. The a-wave, b-wave and oscillatory potentials were analyzed for brighter flash intensities (1-60 scot cd s/m(2)). Repeatability was assessed for both electrode types in consecutive measurements. Results: The new electrode holder was faster in setting up than the CLE and showed lower standard deviations. No corneal alterations were observed. Slightly higher amplitudes were recorded in most of the measurements with the new electrode holder (except amplitudes induced by 60 cd s/m(2)). A Bland-Altman test showed good agreement between the DTL holder and the CLE (mean difference 35.2 mu V (Holder-CLE)). Pearson`s correlation coefficient for test-retest-reliability was r = 0.783. Conclusions: The DTL holder was superior in handling and caused far less corneal problems than the CLE and produced comparable or better electrophysiological results. The minimal production costs and the possibility of adapting the DTL holder to bigger eyes, such as for dogs or rabbits, offers with broader application prospects. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Expanded protocol of orofacial myofunctional evaluation with scores: Validity and reliability

Objective: Clinical evaluation of the stomatognathic system is indispensable for the diagnosis of orofacial myofunctional disorders. In order to obtain a more precise diagnosis, the protocol of orofacial myofunctional evaluation with scores (OMES protocol) (Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 72 (2008) 367-375) was expanded in terms of number of items and scale amplitude. The proposal of this study is to describe the expanded OMES protocol (OMES-E) for the evaluation of children. Validity of the protocol, reliability of the examiners and agreement between them were analyzed, as also were the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of the instrument. Methods: The sample consisted of videorecorded images of 50 children, 25 boys (mean age = 8.4 years, SD = 1.8) and 25 girls (mean age = 8.2 years, SD = 1.7) selected at random from 200 samples. Three speech therapists prepared for orofacial myofunctional evaluation participated as examiners (E). The OMES and OMES-E protocols were used for evaluation on different days. E1 evaluated all images, E2 analyzed children with recordings from 1 to 25 and E3 analyzed children with recordings from 26 to 50. The validity of OMES-E was analyzed by comparing the instrument to the OMES protocol using the Pearson correlation test complemented with the split-half reliability test (p < 0.05). The linear weighted Kappa coefficient of agreement (Kw`), the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values and the prevalence of OMD were calculated. Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between the OMES and OMES-E protocols (0.79 > r < 0.94, p < 0.01) and a significant test-retest correlation with the OMES-E (0.75 > r < 0.86, p < 0.01), with a reliability range of 0.86-0.93. The correlation and reliability coefficients between examiners were: E1 x E2 (r = 0.74, 0.84), E1 x E3 (r = 0.70, 0.83) (p < 0.01). Kw` coefficients with moderate and good strength predominated. The OMES-E protocol presented mean sensitivity = 0.91, specificity = 0.77, positive predictive value = 0.87 and negative predictive value = 0.85. The mean prevalence of OMD was 0.58. Conclusion: The OMES-E protocol is valid and reliable for orofacial myofunctional evaluation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of BCG stimulus on proinflammatory cytokine production in laryngeal cancer

Background Evaluate the production of TNF and IL-6 in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures of patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer before and after surgical treatment. Materials and methods Adherent cell cultures were stimulated with LPS and BCG. Fourteen patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer were studied. Cytokine concentration was determined by ELISA in supernatants of mononuclear cell cultures. Results In non-stimulated cultures, lower TNF cytokine levels were detected during the late postoperative (LP) period compared to control (P = 0.02). LP TNF and IL-6 levels were high in cultures stimulated with LPS compared with the preoperative period (PREOP) (P = 0.007; P = 0.008, respectively). Stimulation with BCG led to increased levels of TNF and IL-6 during the LP period compared to control (P = 0.001; P = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions BCG is able to modulate the immune response of patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer in vitro, increasing the secretion of TNF and IL-6 by macrophages during the postoperative period.

Determination of temperature variation during the individual steps of the production of hospital diets of modified consistency

Background & aim: Many disease outbreaks of food origin are caused by foods prepared in Food Service and Nutrition Units of hospitals, affecting hospitalized patients who, in most cases, are immunocompromised and therefore at a higher risk of severe worsening of their clinical status. The aim of this study was to determine the variations in temperature and the time-temperature factor of hospital diets. Methods: The time and temperature for the preparation of 4 diets of modified consistency were determined on 5 nonconsecutive days in a hospital Diet and Nutrition Unit at the end of preparation and during the maintenance period, portioning and distribution at 3 sites, i.e., the first, the middle and the last to receive the diets. Results and discussion: All foods reached an adequate temperature at the end of cooking, but temperature varied significantly from the maintenance period to the final distribution, characterizing critical periods for microorganism proliferation. During holding, temperatures that presented a risk were reached by 16.7% of the meats and 59% of the salads of the general diet, by 16.7% of the garnishes in the bland diet and by 20% of the meats and garnishes in the viscous diet. The same occurred at the end of distribution for 100% of the hot samples and of the salads and for 61% of the desserts. None of the preparations remained at risk temperature for a time exceeding that established by law. Conclusion: The exposure to inadequate temperature did not last long enough to pose risks to the patient.

An Experimental Model of Meningoencephalomyelitis by Rocio Flavivirus in Balb/C Mice: Inflammatory Response, Cytokine Production, and Histopathology

Rocio virus (ROCV) is a flavivirus, probably transmitted by Culex mosquitoes and maintained in nature as a zoonosis of wild birds. Rocio virus caused a human epidemic of severe encephalitis that lasted from 1973 to 1980 in the Ribeira valley, in the southeastern coast of Brazil. After this outbreak, serologic evidence of ROCV circulation has been reported and public health authorities are concerned about a return of ROCV outbreaks in Brazil. We show here a study on the pathogenesis and the physiopathology of ROCV disease in the central nervous system of a Balb/C young adult mice experimental model. The animals were intraperitoneally infected by ROCV and followed from 0 to 9 days after infection, when all of them died. Nervous tissue samples were collected from infected animals for immunohistochemistry and molecular biology analysis. We observed the virus in the central nervous system, the inflammatory changes induced by Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and the final irreversible damage of nervous tissues by neuronal degeneration and apoptosis. These findings can help to better understand the pathogenesis and physiopathology of the human meningoencephalomyelitis by ROCV and other flaviviruses.