Subepithelial connective tissue graft for root coverage in smokers and non-smokers: A clinical and histologic controlled study in humans

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate root coverage of gingival recessions and to compare graft vascularization in smokers and non-smokers. Methods: Thirty subjects, 15 smokers and 15 non-smokers, were selected. Each subject had one Miller Class I or II recession in a non-molar tooth. Clinical measurements of probing depth (PD), relative clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR), and width of keratinized tissue (KT) were determined at baseline and 3 and 6 months after surgery. The recessions were treated surgically with a coronally positioned flap associated with a subepithelial connective tissue graft. A small portion of this graft was prepared for immunohistochemistry. Blood vessels were identified and counted by expression of factor VIII-related antigen-stained endothelial cells. Results: Intragroup analysis showed that after 6 months there a was gain in CAL, a decrease in GR, and an increase in KT for both groups (P<0.05), whereas changes in PD were not statistically significant. Smokers had less root coverage than non-smokers (58.02% +/- 19.75% versus 83.35% +/- 18.53%; P<0.05). Furthermore, the smokers had more GR (1.48 +/- 0.79 mm versus 0.52 +/- 0.60 mm) than the nonsmokers (P<0.05). Histomorphometry of the donor tissue revealed a blood vessel density of 49.01 +/- 11.91 vessels/200x field for non-smokers and 36.53 +/- 10.23 vessels/200x field for smokers (P<0.05). Conclusion: Root coverage with subepithelial connective tissue graft was negatively affected by smoking, which limited and jeopardized treatment results.

Comparison between two surgical techniques for root coverage with an acellular dermal matrix graft

Aim: The aim of this randomized, controlled, clinical study was to compare two surgical techniques with the acellular dermal matrix graft (ADMG) to evaluate which technique could provide better root coverage. Material and Methods: Fifteen patients with bilateral Miller Class I gingival recession areas were selected. In each patient, one recession area was randomly assigned to the control group, while the contra-lateral recession area was assigned to the test group. The ADMG was used in both groups. The control group was treated with a broader flap and vertical-releasing incisions, and the test group was treated with the proposed surgical technique, without releasing incisions. The clinical parameters evaluated before the surgeries and after 12 months were: gingival recession height, probing depth, relative clinical attachment level and the width and thickness of keratinized tissue. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for all parameters at baseline. After 12 months, there was a statistically significant reduction in recession height in both groups, and there was no statistically significant difference between the techniques with regard to root coverage. Conclusions: Both surgical techniques provided significant reduction in gingival recession height after 12 months, and similar results in relation to root coverage.

CHANDRA AND SPITZER IMAGING OF THE INFRARED CLUSTER IN NGC 2071

We present results of a sensitive Chandra X-ray observation and Spitzer mid-infrared (mid-IR) observations of the IR cluster lying north of the NGC 2071 reflection nebula in the Orion B molecular cloud. We focus on the dense cluster core known as NGC 2071-IR, which contains at least nine IR sources within a 40 `` x 40 `` region. This region shows clear signs of active star formation including powerful molecular outflows, Herbig-Haro objects, and both OH and H(2)O masers. We use Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) images to aid in X-ray source identification and to determine young stellar object (YSO) classes using mid-IR colors. Spitzer IRAC colors show that the luminous source IRS 1 is a class I protostar. IRS 1 is believed to be driving a powerful bipolar molecular outflow and may be an embedded B-type star or its progenitor. Its X-ray spectrum reveals a fluorescent Fe emission line at 6.4 keV, arising in cold material near the protostar. The line is present even in the absence of large flares, raising questions about the nature of the ionizing mechanism responsible for producing the 6.4 keV fluorescent line. Chandra also detects X-ray sources at or near the positions of IRS 2, IRS 3, IRS 4, and IRS 6 and a variable X-ray source coincident with the radio source VLA 1, located just 2 `` north of IRS 1. No IR data are yet available to determine a YSO classification for VLA 1, but its high X-ray absorption shows that it is even more deeply embedded than IRS 1, suggesting that it could be an even younger, less-evolved protostar.

Peptidomic Analysis of Human Cell Lines

Peptides have been proposed to function in intracellular signaling within the cytosol. Although cytosolic peptides are considered to be highly unstable, a large number of peptides have been detected in mouse brain and other biological samples. In the present study, we evaluated the peptidome of three diverse cell lines: SH-SY5Y, MCF7, and HEIC293 cells. A comparison of the peptidomes revealed considerable overlap in the identity of the peptides found in each cell line. The majority of the observed peptides are not derived from the most abundant or least stable proteins in the cell, and approximately half of the cellular peptides correspond to the N- or C- termini of the precursor proteins. Cleavage site analysis revealed a preference for hydrophobic residues in the PI position. Quantitative peptidomic analysis indicated that the levels of most cellular peptides are not altered in response to elevated intracellular calcium, suggesting that calpain is not responsible for their production. The similarity of the peptidomes of the three cell lines and the lack of correlation with the predicted cellular degradome implies the selective formation or retention of these peptides, consistent with the hypothesis that they are functional in the cells.

Molecular characterization of a retrotransposon in the Rhynchosciara americana genome and its association with telomere

Non-LTR retrotransposons, also known as long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs), are transposable elements that encode a reverse transcriptase and insert into genomic locations via RNA intermediates. The sequence analysis of a cDNA library constructed from mRNA of the salivary glands of R. americana showed the presence of putative class I elements. The cDNA clone with homology to a reverse transcriptase was the starting point for the present study. Genomic phage was isolated and sequenced and the molecular structure of the element was characterized as being a non-LTR retrotransposable element. Southern blot analysis indicated that this transposable element is represented by repeat sequences in the genome of R. americana. Chromosome tips were consistently positive when this element was used as probe in in-situ hybridization. Real-time RT-PCR showed that this retrotransposon is transcribed at different periods of larval development. Most interesting, the silencing of this retrotransposon in R. americana by RNA interference resulted in reduced transcript levels and in accelerated larval development.

Intracellular peptides as natural regulators of cell signaling

Protein degradation by the ubiquitin proteasome system releases large amounts of oligopeptides within cells. To investigate possible functions for these intracellularly generated oligopeptides, we fused them to a cationic transactivator peptide sequence using reversible disulfide bonds, introduced them into cells, and analyzed their effect on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signal transduction. A mixture containing four of these peptides (20-80 mu M) significantly inhibited the increase in the extracellular acidification response triggered by angiotensin II (ang II) in CHO-S cells transfected with the ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R-CHO-S). Subsequently, either alone or in a mixture, these peptides increased luciferase gene transcription in AT1R-CHO-S cells stimulated with ang II and in HEK293 cells treated with isoproterenol. These peptides without transactivator failed to affect GPCR cellular responses. All four functional peptides were shown in vitro to competitively inhibit the degradation of a synthetic substrate by thimet oligopeptidase. Overexpression of thimet oligopeptidase in both CHO-S and HEK293 cells was sufficient to reduce luciferase activation triggered by a specific GPCR agonist. Moreover, using individual peptides as baits in affinity columns, several proteins involved in GPCR signaling were identified, including alpha-adaptin A and dynamin 1. These results suggest that before their complete degradation, intracellular peptides similar to those generated by proteasomes can actively affect cell signaling, probably representing additional bioactive molecules within cells.

Automatic contour extraction from 2D neuron images

This work describes a novel methodology for automatic contour extraction from 2D images of 3D neurons (e.g. camera lucida images and other types of 2D microscopy). Most contour-based shape analysis methods cannot be used to characterize such cells because of overlaps between neuronal processes. The proposed framework is specifically aimed at the problem of contour following even in presence of multiple overlaps. First, the input image is preprocessed in order to obtain an 8-connected skeleton with one-pixel-wide branches, as well as a set of critical regions (i.e., bifurcations and crossings). Next, for each subtree, the tracking stage iteratively labels all valid pixel of branches, tip to a critical region, where it determines the suitable direction to proceed. Finally, the labeled skeleton segments are followed in order to yield the parametric contour of the neuronal shape under analysis. The reported system was successfully tested with respect to several images and the results from a set of three neuron images are presented here, each pertaining to a different class, i.e. alpha, delta and epsilon ganglion cells, containing a total of 34 crossings. The algorithms successfully got across all these overlaps. The method has also been found to exhibit robustness even for images with close parallel segments. The proposed method is robust and may be implemented in an efficient manner. The introduction of this approach should pave the way for more systematic application of contour-based shape analysis methods in neuronal morphology. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

O ambiente socio-econômico como fator preditivo nas chances de classificação no vestibular e no êxito acadêmico na universidade: (um estudo da clientela da Fundação CESGRANRIO, Rio de Janeiro - 1975)

o presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a influência que o ambiente sócio-econômico poderia exercer sob re as chances do candidato no vestibular e sobre o êxito acadêmico do universitário. Para tanto re alizaram-se duas pesquisas: uma com os candidatos do vestibular unificado da Fundação CESGRANRIO. do Rio de Ja neira, de 1975: outra, com uma amostra de universitários classificados p~ 10 mesmo vest i bular. O pri meiro estudo abrangeu 75.348 candidatos e o segundo 1.608 universitários, de sete instituições e nove carreiras diferentes. Uti lizou-se como instrumentos de pesquisa: um I questionário de informação sócio-cultural. o total de pontos obtidos pelos candidatos no vestibular e a méd ia das notas obtidas no curso superior p~ lo estudante, nos deis primeiros semestres de 1975. A anãlise dos resultados permitiu concluir o se guinte: - Tiveram maior chance de classificação no vest i bular os candidatos que: cursaram o clássico; f reqüentaram tanto escola / particu lar como oficial; cursaram o período diurno, obtiveram concei to "E~ ce lente" no 2? grau; não trabalhavam; possuíam pai com nível de ins trução superior e renda mensal familiar acima de 8.000 cruzei ros. - Exercem influência na classificação do vestibu lar os seguintes indicadores do amb iente sócio-econôm ico: renda mensal fa miliar, nível de instrução e profissão do pai. ativ idade ocupac ional do / candidato e período da escola de 2? grau. Obtiveram bom rendimento na universidade os estudantes que: freqüentaram o período diurno; obtiveram bom rendimento no 2? grau; não exerciam atividade ocupac ional: possuiam pais com profissão / liberal e renda familiar alta. - São os segu intes os indicadores do ambiente sac io-econôm ico do univers i tário que têm valor preditivo no êxito acadêmico: período da escola de 2? grau, at ividade ocupacional. profissão do pai. ren dimento escolar no 2~ grau e renda mensal fami l iar. Vale assinalar que esses resultados se referem aos candidatos do vestibular unificado da Fundação CESGRANRIO.

Prevalência de oclusopatias e caracteríticas cefalométricas e dentais de escolares cearense da cidade de Fortaleza

The people of Ceará state are descended from miscegenation between the Portuguese colonizers and the native population, resulting in a different facial pattern from other populations. It is important that this pattern be thoroughly understood, along with its minimum and maximum values so that they can be assessed and respected, allowing professionals who deal with the craniofacial complex to work more efficiently and scientifically. Aim: To characterize the morphological pattern of individuals from Ceará state, whose father and grandfather are also native from Ceará, in the 10-12 year age group, not submitted to previous orthodontic treatment, in order to determine: 1) the prevalence of occlusal pattern; 2) the prevalence of dental anomalies (DA) and, 3) the skeletal and dental cephalometric characteristics of individuals that present with normal occlusion and harmonious facial pattern. Methodology: A list of 10-12 year-olds was obtained from 515 schools containing 162,713 students (Education Secretariat of Ceará State), from which 234 individuals were examined (107 boys and 157 girls). The assessment criteria adopted were: 1) Angle s Classification System to determine occlusal pattern. The occlusal characteristics were measured through overbite, overjet, crowding and interincisal diastema. 2) DA are anomalies of number, shape, size, eruption and structure and, 3) in the group that presented with normal occlusion, we used cephalometric analysis measures proposed by Downs, Steiner, Tweed, Holdaway, Jacobson and McNamara. Results: 1) 25.8% of the schoolchildren had normal occlusion, 47.5% class I malocclusion, 22.3% class II malocclusion and 4.2% class III malocclusion. No statistically significant difference was found between the age group studied and sex. Thirty percent of the individuals had normal overbite, while 36.7% and 19.7% had increased and reduced overbite, respectively. Normal overjet was found in 33.7% of the individuals, increased overjet in 50% and reduced in 16.3%. Dental crowding was observed in 62.5% of the individuals and the presence of interincisal diastema in 14.8%. 2) The prevalence of DA was 56.1%, 6.8% in the number, 10.8% in shape, 4.1% in size, 34.5% in eruption, 26.4% in structure and 17.4% had more than one DA. No association was found between DA and sex, but DA was significantly associated to malocclusion (p<0.05); 3) there was no association between sex or facial type between the measures of nasal-labial angle, position and effective maxillary length, effective mandibular length and the sagittal relationship between the molars, overjet and overbite, position of upper incisors, lower incisors and between the incisors themselves. There was a difference between sex, on the VERT index and in lower anterior facial height, upper incisor inclination and line-H, between facial types for the occlusal plane angles, mandibular plane, facial axis, lower incisor inclination, mandibular position, upper incisor position, lower anterior facial height, ANB and line-H. It was concluded that: 1) the most prevalent occlusal type was class I malocclusion, with no distinction for sex or age group, and the assessment of occlusal characteristics showed that excessive overbite and overjet were the most predominant findings, along with a high occurrence of tooth crowding; 2) a high prevalence of DA was found, particularly eruption anomalies, not influenced by sex but significantly associated to malocclusion and 3) individuals from Ceará are predominantly brachyfacial, exhibiting a number of similarities inherent to their facial pattern, such as a convex profile, retracted jaw, reduced lower third and protruded lower incisors. This study was multidisciplinary, involving researchers from the areas of epidemiology, radiology and dentistry, thereby meeting the multidisciplinarity requirements of the Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences

O tratamento ortodôntico em uma perspectiva a longo prazo: avaliação da estabilidade oclusal e do grau de satisfação dos pacientes

This study aimed to evaluate factors associated to orthodontic treatment stability and patient satisfaction in the long-term. A total of 209 patients (88 class I and 121 class II) treated with straight wire fixed appliance were selected at least 5 years post treatment. Six hundred twenty seven dental casts were examined with the PAR Index at pretreatment (T1), end of treatment (T2), and at long-term follow up (T3, mean 8.5 years post treatment). At T3, a Dental Impact on Daily Living questionnaire was used to assess patient satisfaction with the dentition in the long-term. Friedman test and multiple regression analysis were used to evaluate changes among the time points and factors associated with stability and patient satisfaction. Predictive factors used to exam the occlusion were: PAR Index at T1 and T2, age at T1, the amount of time without retainer, length of Hawley retainer wear, length of follow-up, sex, extraction and third molar status. To assess patient satisfaction were considered: changes produced by the orthodontic treatment (PAR T2-T1), post treatment stability (PAR T3), age at the start of treatment (T1), length of treatment (T2-T1), gender, and extraction. Orthodontic treatment produced a significant improvement of 94.2% in the PAR Index (T2-T1), but this change was not associated with the level of satisfaction when the patient was questioned at T3. No significant change was observed between T2 and T3. However, when the sample was divided according to the level of finalization (PAR T2), it was observed that well-finished patients experienced some deterioration (P<.001), whereas the less well-finished ones showed some improvement (P<.05). Even with the deterioration, the well-finished patients still had a better PAR Index at T3 compared to the less well-finished ones (PAR T2- T3). Regression analysis showed that PAR Index at T1 and T2, age at T1, and length of retainer wear had a slight association with occlusal stability (R2 = 0.27). Patient satisfaction was significantly associated only with PAR Index at T3 (r2=0.125, P<.0001). We can conclude that, even thought orthodontic treatment is quite stable, not so well-finished treatments tend to show some improvement and well-finished ones deteriorate some in the long-term. Despite of that, well-finished patients still have better occlusal characteristics. Patient satisfaction is not related to the result of orthodontic treatment; nevertheless, there is a slight association with dentition in the long-term

Avaliação de indicadores de impactos ambientais no perímetro irrigado Cruzeta-Região semi-árida do RN

Environmental impacts are defined as the processes of social and ecological changes caused by nuisance ambient. In agriculture are diverse, and the intensive use of land and inappropriate agricultural practices causes negative effect on the environment besides affecting crop productivity and quality of life of man. So this study was objective to analyze parameters indicators of environmental impacts in the Cruzeta the Discrict Irrigation. During the period July 2007 to March 2008 samples were collected in lot 01 and 02 of the irrigation district. The monitoring was conducted in four sampling points, three (3) located in the irrigation channels and 1 (one) located in a cacimbão. Were monitored pH, CE, STD, SS, NO3-, OD, DT, PST, RAS, CT, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+ and K+ and heavy metals. Analysis was performed, soil fertility, determining the infiltration rate, moisture content of soil and flow measurement. The results showed that the parameters considered most effective in evaluating the indicators of environmental impacts were: Suspended solid, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and Coliform termotelerantes. The concentrations of nitrate were below the limit established by CONAMA (2005). High levels of STD were found in the point P4. The risk of salinity in cacimbão Lot 02, the water was classified as Class II, or medium risk of salinity in the remaining points was classified as Class I. The iron and aluminum were found high concentrations in four sampling points independent of the dry or rainy. On the ground, found high levels of phosphorus in both samples collected in the batch 01, as the lot 02. The pH levels found in samples of soil, the soil can be classified as neutral and moderate alkalinity. The high infiltration rate obtained in the tests performed in lots 01 and 02 indicated the high permeability of soil at these points

Expression of nonclassical molecule human leukocyte antigen-G in oral lesions

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise comparativa na influência da técnica de moldagem funcional em arcos parcialmente edêntulos sobre os pontos de contato oclusais, a integridade da fibromucosa e a extensão da base da prótese

There is a lack of clinical studies evaluating techniques of functional impression for partially edentulous arches. The aim of this double-blind non-randomized controlled clinical trial was to compare the efficacy of altered cast impression (ACI) and direct functional impression (DFI) techniques. The efficacy was evaluated regarding the number of occlusal units on denture teeth, mucosa integrity at 24-hour follow-up and denture base extension. The sample included 51 patients (female and male) with mean age of 58.96 years treated at Dental Department of UFRN. The patients, exhibiting edentulous maxilla and mandibular Kennedy class I, were divided into two groups (group ACI, n=29; group DFI, n=22). Clinical evaluation was based on the number of occlusal units on natural and/or artificial teeth, mucosa integrity at 24-hour follow-up, and denture base extension. Statistical analysis was conducted using the software SPSS 17.0® (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Student T-test was used to reveal association between number of occlusal units and impression technique while chi-square test showed association between mucosa integrity and impression technique. Fischer s exact test was applied for association between denture base extension and impression technique at 95% level of significance. No significant difference was observed between the groups regarding number of occlusal units, mucosa integrity and denture base extension. The altered cast technique did not provide significant improvement in comparison to the direct technique when the number of occlusal units, mucosa integrity and denture base extension

Falhas e complicações com o uso de prótese parcial removível inferior de extremidade livre bilateral

Aim: To determine the frequency and type of complications related to removable partial denture (RPD) less, Kennedy Class I, over time . Materials and Methods: This observational study consisted of a sample of 65 users PPR lower arches in Kennedy Class I and dentures, rehabilitated in the Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Patients were followed through periodic controls during periods of 60 days, 6 months and 1 year from installation. After the first year of control had other returns annually. The occurrence of complications or prosthetic failure was observed and recorded in a specific clinical record over 39 months. The patterns of failures observed were classified in the following situations: occurrence of traumatic ulcers after 2 months of installation, lack of retention, fracture or caries in the rest, fracture or dislocation of the artificial teeth, the larger connector fracture, fracture clip fracture support, poor support (need to reline the denture) and prosthesis fracture. Results: The incidence of complications was low frequency, being higher in the second year of use of the prosthesis. Among the complications that occurred more is the loss of retention (31.57%). Failures more severe and difficult to solve as the fracture elements of the metal structure of the PPR had low occurrence and were represented by only one case of the larger connector (5.3%) fractures. Conclusion: Removable partial dentures mandibular free end opposing of the conventional dentures have a low complication rate after 39 months of use when subjected to periodic controls

Características clínicas associadas à evolução desfavorável na miocardiopatia periparto

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar as características clínicas de mulheres com diagnóstico prévio de miocardiopatia periparto e verificar as características associadas à evolução desfavorável. MÉTODOS: Variáveis clínicas, obstétricas e ecocardiográficas foram estudadas em 12 pacientes com miocardiopatia periparto, avaliadas no momento do diagnóstico e em consulta atual, quando foram divididas em dois grupos: GF (n= 6, sem alterações cardíacas) e GD (n= 6, com cardiomegalia e disfunção ventricular persistentes). As comparações foram feitas com o teste t de Student e exato de Fisher (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: No diagnóstico, a idade média das pacientes (8 brancas e 4 negras/pardas) foi de 24±7,4 anos; todas em classe funcional IV (NYHA) e 8 relataram hipertensão gestacional ou pré-eclâmpsia. A mediana do tempo de seguimento foi de 25 meses. Dez pacientes evoluíram para classe funcional I/II. A comparação entre os grupos mostrou GD com menor fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (0,30±0,05 vs. 0,58±0,09; p<0,001) e maior diâmetro sistólico do VE (58±5mm vs. 46±3mm; p<0,001), no momento do diagnóstico. A evolução desfavorável foi mais frequente entre as pardas (p=0,01). Na avaliação atual o GD apresentou menor espessura relativa da parede (0,13±0,02 vs. 0,17±0,02; p< 0,05) e maior massa do VE (283±90g vs. 186±41g; p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com miocardiopatia periparto prévia apresentam evolução desfavorável associada à raça negra e alterações cardíacas iniciais mais acentuadas e a evolução favorável está associada à redução da massa miocárdica e aumento da espessura relativa da parede ventricular.