Effect of calcium hydroxide on pH changes of the external medium after intracoronal bleaching

Aim: This in vitro study evaluated the effect of calcium hydroxide on pH changes of the external medium after intracoronal bleaching. Materials and methods: A total of 50 extracted human premolars were prepared and filled with gutta-percha and endodontic sealer. The teeth were randomly divided into five groups according to the bleaching agents employed: (a) Sterile cotton pellet with distilled water (control group); (b) sodium perborate and distilled water; (c) sodium perborate and 10% carbamide peroxide; (d) sodium perborate and 35% hydrogen peroxide; (e) 35% hydrogen peroxide. The teeth were stored in vials containing distilled water and the pH values of the medium surrounding the teeth were analyzed. After 7-day storage, the bleaching agent was removed and replaced by calcium hydroxide, and the distilled water was changed, in which the teeth were kept stored for further 14 days. Measurement of pH of the external medium (distilled water) was performed 7 days after insertion of the bleaching agents, immediately, 7 and 14 days after insertion of the calcium hydroxide. Data were submitted to statistical analysis by the two-way ANOVA and Tukey,s test. Results: There were pH changes of the external medium at 7-day period after bleaching procedures. These results confirmed the diffusion of bleaching agents to the external medium. Conclusion: Calcium hydroxide increased the external medium pH and was effective for pH alkalinization after intracoronal bleaching. Clinical significance: Intracoronal bleaching of endodontically treated teeth may cause cervical root resorption. A possible explanation for this process is the passage of bleaching agents to the periodontal tissues yielding an inflammatory process. In an attempt to keep the neutrality of the periodontal pH, the calcium hydroxide has been recommended.Results of this study showed that this material should be always used after intracoronal bleaching.

Clinical study of a multivitamin and polymineral complex associated with Panax ginseng extract (Natus Gerin®)

This study aimed to stablish the efficacy of a multivitamin and polyminerals supplemented with Panax ginseng extract (Natus Gerin ®) on patients subjected to common physical or mental stress. Patients were randomly divided in two groups and underwent a thorough clinical examination. Group A received Natus Gerin ® capsules and B placebo capsules. Two capsules were taken daily during meals during four weeks. Mood and physical activity were evaluated through a questionnaire assessing quality of life. From the 176 patients enrolled, 17 were excluded due to voluntary withdrawal, 81 completed the study in group A and 78 in group B. The treatment with Natus Gerin ® increased the quality of life when compared to placebo. After 15 and 30 days, group A showed a significant increase in average scoring score from 1.78 to 3.78, and finally 5.32 points. The study has shown that the daily use of Natus Gerin ® can be effective in improving quality of life in patients suffering from physical and mental stress.

As características dos alunos são determinantes para o adoecimento de professores - um estudo comparativo sobre a incidência de Burnout em professores do ensino regular e especial

The practice of teaching is permeated by adverse working conditions, low wages, inadequacy of material and teaching resources, overcrowded classrooms, tension in relationships with the students, excessive work load, lack of safety in the school environment, insignificant participation in institutional planning and in institutional politics. The objective of the present study was to compare burnout among three groups of teachers who work in elementary grades: a) 20 teachers who teach in regular school classrooms without the inclusion of students with special educational needs - RSI Group; b) 20 teachers who teach in the regular classroom with special needs students - RCI Group; c) 20 teachers who teach in resource classrooms (SR Group). The instruments used for data collection were the Maslach Burnout Inventory -MBI. The data was analyzed by SPSS version 13.0 and Kruskal-Wallis test for comparison of the three groups. The results were organized in the form of figures and tables. In general, the results demonstrated that the groups presented relative similarity. The teachers from the SR Group obtained the best results in the evaluation of the three burnout scales when compared to the RSI Group and RCI Group, that is, there was a prevalence of answers in the lower levels of emotional exhaustion, high level of low personal accomplishment and low level for depersonalization. It is hoped that these results contribute to a better understanding of burnout in teachers from regular classrooms with or without students with educational special needs and/or to indicate new directions for investigation.

Effects evaluation of remaining resin removal (three modes) on enamel surface after bracket debonding

Introduction: An appropriate selection of instruments is essential to perform a correct debonding technique, by properly removing orthodontic brackets and the remaining resin. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate three methods of remaining resin removal on enamel surface after bracket debonding, by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Methods: Eighteen bovine incisors were selected and divided into three groups (A, B and C) of six teeth each. Before bracket bonding, epoxy resin casts were obtained by impression of the teeth with addition silicon, in order to register baseline enamel characteristics and representing the control group. The methods for remaining resin removal were: Group A - gross and medium granulation Soflex discs; Group B - carbide bur in low-speed; Group C - carbide bur in high-speed. Soflex polishing system fine and ultrafine granulation discs were used for Group A, rubber tips for Groups B and C, and polishing paste for all groups. After polishing, impression of teeth were taken and casts were analyzed by means of SEM. The baseline enamel characteristics (Control Group) were compared to the final aspect of enamel to determine the method that generated less enamel abrasion. Results and Conclusion: The remaining resin removal by carbide bur in low-rotation, and enamel polished with rubber tips followed by polishing paste produced the smaller damage to the enamel.

Avaliação dos níveis de frutosamina em gatos sob estresse agudo e crônico

Fructosamine are glycated serum proteins that are formed continuously due to the reaction between glucose and circulating proteins, and corresponding to the blood glucose control assessment over the last one to two weeks in cats. The fructosamine concentration has been used for differentiation between persistent and transient hyperglycemia. Therefore, the determination of fructosamine is considered the gold standard for monitoring glycemia into control in diabetic cats. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of acute and chronic stress of cats on serum fructosamine. 62 cats were selected from the Veterinary Hospital of FMVZ - UNESP, Botucatu campus. They were distributed into three groups: cats with a history of any illness or stress condition, excluding Diabetes Mellitus (DM), for a maximum of 48 hours (Group A, n = 21) or for a period exceeding 120 hours (Group B n = 27). The third group (Group C = control) was formed by 14 health cats. The groups were evaluated for serum fructosamine, glucose, protein and albumin. In this study, there was a significant increase in the values of fructosamine in animals subjected to acute and chronic stress, but these values remained within the reference range. The animals were, on average, normoglycemic, despite the positive correlation between fructosamine and glucose concentrations. We conclude that the fructosamine concentration is influenced by acute and chronic stress in cats, remaining, however, within the reference range, and therefore, still useful in the diagnosis of DM.

Germinación de semillas después del fuego: Un estudio con una planta que habita áreas no propensas al fuego

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

Fator de crescimento nervoso em cola de fibrina no reparo término-lateral de nervos em ratos

Purpose: To determine the effects of end-to-side nerve repair performed only with fibrin glue containing nerve growth in rats. Methods: Seventy two Wistar rats were divided into six equal groups: group A was not submitted to nerve section; group B was submitted to nerve fibular section only. The others groups had the nerve fibular sectioned and then repaired in the lateral surface of an intact tibial nerve, with different procedures: group C: ETS with sutures; group D: ETS with sutures and NGF; group E: ETS with FG only; group F: ETS with FG containing NGF. The motor function was accompanied and the tibial muscle mass, the number and diameter of muscular fibers and regenerated axons were measured. Results: All the analyzed variables did not show any differences among the four operated groups (p>0.05), which were statistically superior to group B (p<0.05), but inferior to group A (p>0.05). Conclusion: The end-to-side nerve repair presented the same recovery pattern, independent from the repair used, showing that the addition of nerve growth factor in fibrin glue was not enough for the results potentiating.

Heart rate variability in healthy adolescents at rest

Objective: to describe the cardiac autonomic function in healthy adolescents between 13 and 18 years old. Methods: data from 93 adolescents, of both sexes, were analyzed; they were divided into three groups according to age. Group A 13-14 years old (n=26), Group B 15-16 years old (n = 30) and Group C 17-18 years old (n = 17). The protocol consisted of raising the heart rate, beat by beat for twenty minutes of rest in supine position with spontaneous breathing. The cardiac autonomic behavior analysis was performed by the method of heart rate variability (HRV) through the indices of the Poincaré plot (SD1, SD2 and ratio SD1/SD2) and its qualitative analysis and indices in linear time domain (RMSSD and SDNN) and frequency (LFnu, HFnu and LF/HF). One-way ANOVA test or Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison between groups, with a significance level of 5%. Results: there was no significant difference in none of the indices compared the three groups. In addition,visual analysis of Poincaré plot has observed for all age groups large dispersion of RR intervals, indicating that these groups have good HRV. Conclusion: there were no changes in HRV in the different age groups analyzed, however the result allowed to establish a standard for each group that was studied, becomes an important tool for comparison of cardiac autonomic function between healthy and patients subjects or in different areas.

Effect of the usual weight of a backpack on body sway during quiet standing

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to verify the effect on body sway during quiet standing of the habitual weight carried by students in a backpack. [Subjects] Forty-six students between the ages of 8 and 14 years volunteered. [Method] The percentage of body weight (% BW) of each student's backpack was calculated and the students were separated into three groups based on the results: Group A (0-7% BW), Group B (7.01-14% BW) and Group C (14.01-21%BW). [Results] The use of the backpack increased the area of the CoP sway, displacement and mean speed of the CoP data in the antero-posterior and medial-lateral directions in Group C. [Conclusion] Therefore, observed responses in the body posture changes caused by the weight of the backpack were similar to those reported in other studies conducted with different methodos of investigation.

Comparative study of the healing process when using Vicryl®, Vicryl Rapid®, Vicryl Plus®, and Monocryl® sutures in the rat dermal tissue

Introduction: Various types of sutures are available in the market with different constitutions. However, there is a lack of research to assess and quantify the behavior of these materials. Resources and materials: This study comes benchmark wires polyglactin 910 (Vicryl ®), irradiated polyglactin 910 (Vicryl Rapid ®), polyglactin 910 treated with triclosan (Vicryl Plus ®), and poliglecaprone 25 (Monocryl ®). For this, we used 40 rats that were divided into two groups, underwent two skin incisions longitudinal 2-cm long. In Group A, simple interrupted sutures using irradiated polyglactin 910 on the right and left side of polyglactin 910, and in group B, polyglactin 910 with triclosan on the right and the left poliglecaprone 25 were made. At 2, 7, 14, and 28 days after surgery, the ten animals were killed per period, and the samples were processed for histomorphologic and histometric analysis. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that the wire poliglecaprone 25 showed better biological response, with less inflammatory infiltrates and rapid organization of connective tissue. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Effect of dietary sodium restriction on body water, blood pressure, and inflammation in hemodialysis patients: a prospective randomized controlled study

Purpose: Accumulating evidence suggests an association between body volume overload and inflammation in chronic kidney diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary sodium reduction in body fluid volume, blood pressure (BP), and inflammatory state in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: In this prospective controlled study, adult patients on HD for at least 90 days and those with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≥0.7 mg/dl were randomly allocated into two groups: group A, which included 21 patients treated with 2 g of sodium restriction on their habitual diet; and group B, which included 18 controls. Clinical, inflammatory, biochemical, hematological, and nutritional markers were assessed at baseline and after 8 and 16 weeks. Results: Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the groups. Group A showed a significant reduction in serum concentrations of CRP, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 during the study period, while BP and extracellular water (ECW) did not change. In group B, there were no changes in serum concentrations of inflammatory markers, BP, and ECW. Conclusions: Dietary sodium restriction is associated with the attenuation of the inflammatory state, without changes in BP and ECW, suggesting inhibition of a salt-induced inflammatory response. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Effect of dialysate sodium reduction on body water volume, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers in hemodialysis patients - A prospective randomized controlled study

Accumulating evidence suggests an association between body volume overload and inflammation in chronic kidney diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dialysate sodium concentration reduction on extracellular water volume, blood pressure (BP), and inflammatory state in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this prospective controlled study, adult patients on HD for at least 90 days and those with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≥ 0.7 mg/dL were randomly allocated into two groups: group A, which included 29 patients treated with reduction of dialysate sodium concentration from 138 to 135 mEq/L; and group B, which included 23 HD patients not receiving dialysate sodium reduction (controls). Of these, 20 patients in group A and 18 in group B completed the protocol study. Inflammatory, biochemical, hematological, and nutritional markers were assessed at baseline and after 8 and 16 weeks. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Group A showed a significant reduction in serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 over the study period, while the BP and extracellular water (ECW) did not change. In Group B, there were no changes in serum concentrations of inflammatory markers, BP, and ECW. Dialysate sodium reduction is associated with attenuation of the inflammatory state, without changes in the BP and ECW, suggesting inhibition of a salt-induced inflammatory response. Copyright © 2013 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Comparison of methods in oral health education from the perspective of adolescents.

To investigate whether teenagers' knowledge about oral health is influenced by educational methods and to verify the most effective method according to their perception. The study was performed in Araçatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil, with 127 teenagers from a vocational school. It was realised in 3 steps: 1. An evaluation of knowledge about oral health using a self-applied questionnaire. 2. An application of educational methods, where the students were divided into two groups (A and B). Group A participated in three educational activities that involved lectures, individual demonstration, and participatory activity. Group B was divided into three subgroups (B1, B2, B3) and each of them participated in only one of the methods. 3. The acquired knowledge was evaluated. Group A created a focus group to give their opinion about strategies. With regards to knowledge after the application of the different methods in all groups, there was a statistically significant difference concerning periodontitis, gingivitis and herpes. In group A, after the three activities, and in group B2 after the individual demonstration, an association was found between 'healthy teeth' and 'general health' (P = 0.004 and P = 0.022, respectively). After the individual demonstration, an association was shown between variables of acquired knowledge about 'harmful diet' and 'dental caries' (P = 0.002) as well as 'good diet' and 'prevention of oral diseases' (P = 0.032). The favourite method was individual demonstration, due to the contact with educational materials, followed by participatory activity because it encouraged learning in a more dynamic way. Educational methods influenced knowledge about oral health, with individual demonstration proving to be the most effective method for acquiring knowledge. In the adolescents' view, the participatory activity was the preferred method.

Cloreto de sódio a 0,9%, adicionado ou não de dexametasona, intrapleural, na prevenção de aderências pulmonares após toracotomia intercostal em cães

Pulmonary adhesions in dogs are a common sequel after surgical intervention, undermining any interventions. This study aimed to determine in dogs, the efficacy of sodium chloride solution 0.9% with or without dexamethasone in order to prevent adhesions after intercostal thoracotomy. Fifteen dogs were separated into three groups of five animals, A, B and C and underwent thoracotomy in the fifth left intercostal space. Three other dogs were submitted to a previous study. In the dogs of Group A it was performed only a thoracotomy and thoracorraphy; in group B, it was performed a thoracotomy, thoracorraphy and injection into the pleural cavity of isotonic sodium chloride (10ml) and dexamethasone (1mg kg-1). In the dogs of the group C, it was performed the thoracotomy thoracorraphy and injected isotonic sodium chloride (10ml kg-1) into the pleural cavity. After 15 days of thoracotomy, it was performed transdiaphragmatic thoracocospy to determine the presence and score of adhesions between the lung and chest wall. The results demonstrated the presence of adhesions in the majority of group A and reduced or no adhesions in the other groups. For statistical evaluation, it was pplied the chi-square test with significance level of 5% (P≤0.05). The sodium chloride solution 0.9% with or without dexamethasone in the pleural space prevented or reduced lung adhesions after intercostal thoracotomy.

Potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico e emissões otoacústicas evocadas transientes: achados em pacientes com doença renal crônica

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