Clastic cells: Mineralized tissue resorption in health and disease

Clastic cells are responsible for mineralized tissue resorption. Bone resorbing cells are called osteo-clasts; however, they are able to resorb mineralized dental tissues or calcified cartilage and then they are called odontoclasts and chondroclasts, respectively. They derive from mononuclear precursors of the monocyte-macrophage lineage from hemopoietic tissue, reach target mineralized tissues and degrade them under many different physiologic or pathologic stimuli. Clastic cells play a key role in calcium homeostasis, and participate in skeletal growth, tooth movement, and other physiological and pathological events. They interact tightly with forming cells in bone and dental hard tissues; their unbalance may result in disturbed resorptive activity thus, causing local or systemic diseases. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Roughness of Human Enamel Surface Submitted to Different Prophylaxis Methods

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate alterations in the surface roughness and micromorphology of human enamel submitted to three prophylaxis methods. Sixty-nine caries-free molars with exposed labial surfaces were divided into three groups. Group I was treated with a rotary instrument set at a low speed, rubber clip and a mixture of water and pumice; group II with a rotary instrument set at a low speed, rubber cup and prophylaxis paste Herjos-F (Vigodent S/A Industria e Comercio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); and group III with sodium bicarbonate spray Profi II Ceramic (Dabi A dante Indtistrias Medico Odontologicas Ltda, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil). All procedures were performed by the same operator for 10 s, and samples were rinsed and stored in distilled water. Pre and post-treatment surface evaluation was completed using a surface profilometer (Perthometer S8P Marh, Perthen, Germany) in 54 samples. In addition, the other samples were coated with gold and examined in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of this study were statistically analyzed with the paired t-test (Student), the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Dunn (5%) test. The sodium bicarbonate spray led to significantly rougher surfaces than the pumice paste. The use of prophylaxis paste showed no statistically significant difference when compared with the other methods. Based on SEM analysis, the sodium bicarbonate spray presented an irregular surface with granular material and erosions. Based on this study, it can be concluded that there was an increased enamel stuface roughness when teeth were treated with sodium bicarbonate spray when compared with teeth treated with pumice paste.

A longitudinal study of quality of life of elderly with mandibular implant-supported fixed prostheses

Objectives: To verify the consequences of implant-supported fixed oral rehabilitation on the quality of life (QL) of elderly individuals. Material and methods: Fifteen patients were studied, being 10 females and five males; all were aged > 60 years, were completely edentulous, wore removable dentures on both arches, and were treated with implant-supported fixed dentures. Three QL questionnaires were applied, two related to the oral conditions (Oral Impact on Daily Performance - OIDP - and Oral Health Impact Profile, short version - OHIP-14) and one dealing with global aspects (World Health Organization Quality of Life - WHOQOL-BREF), before 3, 6, and 18 months after surgical placement of implants. Results: Scores in the OIDP and OHIP-14 questionnaires were better after dental treatment. The WHOQOL-BREF was less sensitive, confirming the higher reliability of specific questionnaires (focal) compared with general questions in such situations. Conclusion: Treatment with implant-supported fixed prostheses improved QL in the elderly; these effects are better detected by specific instruments focused on the subject.

Effects of Mandibular Fixed Implant-Supported Prostheses on Masticatory and Swallowing Functions in Completely Edentulous Elderly Individuals

To evaluate the effect of oral rehabilitation with immediately loaded fixed implant-supported mandibular prostheses on chewing and swallowing in elderly individuals. Materials and Methods: Fifteen completely edentulous patients aged more than 60 years (10 women and five men), wearing removable dentures in both arches, had a mandibular denture replaced by an implant-supported prosthesis. All individuals were evaluated before surgery and again 3, 6, and 18 months later with regard to mastication and swallowing conditions. Examinations entailed an interview, evaluation of tactile sensitivity of the face, and observation of food intake, masticatory type, formations of bolus, and pain during mastication. The swallowing evaluation comprised observation of clinical signs related to the oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing, as well as the presence of oral residue. The findings of different evaluations before and 3, 6, and 18 months after the surgical-prosthetic procedure were statistically compared by analysis of variance for repeated measurements at a significance level of 5%. Results: The questionnaire revealed a reduction in complaints of masticatory and swallowing disturbances, a decreased need for liquid ingestion, and reduced choking and coughing. Clinical evaluations showed improved oral function and bolus propulsion for both solid and paste-consistency foods; pain during mastication was also resolved. Conclusion: Treatment with mandibular implant-supported dentures had positive effects on the clinical aspects of mastication and swallowing in elderly individuals. INT J ORAL MAXILLOFAC IMPLANTS 2009; 24:110-117

Influence of Orthognathic Surgery on Voice Fundamental Frequency

Considering that orthognathic surgery promotes changes in orofacial structures constituting the resonating system, functional changes secondary to surgery are expected to affect speech, leading to the need for further speech and voice adjustments. Thus, understanding the possible relationships of these structures with voice production is important. Therefore, this Study aimed to describe the changes in voice fundamental frequency of a patient submitted to orthognathic surgery and observe if there is a relationship with hyoid bone positioning at the different treatment periods. The results revealed that voice fundamental frequency increased after surgery, returning to values close to the preoperative condition, which corresponded to vertical movement of the hyoid bone.

Cross-national comparison of internal migration: issues and measures

Our objectives are to identify the issues that researchers encounter when measuring internal migration in different countries and to propose key indicators that analysts can use to compare internal migration at the 'national' level. We establish the benefits to be gained by a rigorous approach to cross-national comparisons of internal migration and discuss issues that affect such comparisons. We then distinguish four dimensions of internal migration on which countries can be compared and, for each dimension, identify a series of summary measures. We illustrate the issues and measures proposed by comparing migration in Australia and Great Britain.

eMelanoBase: An online locus-specific variant database for familial melanoma

A proportion of melanoma,prone individuals in both familial and non,familial contexts has been shown to carry inactivating mutations in either CDKN2A or, rarely, CDK4. CDKN2A is a complex locus that encodes two unrelated proteins from alternately spliced transcripts that are read in different frames. The alpha transcript (exons 1a, 2, and 3) produces the p16INK4A cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, while the beta transcript (exons 1beta and 2) is translated as p14ARF, a stabilizing factor of p53 levels through binding to MDM2. Mutations in exon 2 can impair both polypeptides and insertions and deletions in exons 1alpha, 1beta, and 2, which can theoretically generate p16INK4A,p14ARF fusion proteins. No online database currently takes into account all the consequences of these genotypes, a situation compounded by some problematic previous annotations of CDKN2A related sequences and descriptions of their mutations. As an initiative of the international Melanoma Genetics Consortium, we have therefore established a database of germline variants observed in all loci implicated in familial melanoma susceptibility. Such a comprehensive, publicly accessible database is an essential foundation for research on melanoma susceptibility and its clinical application. Our database serves two types of data as defined by HUGO. The core dataset includes the nucleotide variants on the genomic and transcript levels, amino acid variants, and citation. The ancillary dataset includes keyword description of events at the transcription and translation levels and epidemiological data. The application that handles users' queries was designed in the model,view. controller architecture and was implemented in Java. The object-relational database schema was deduced using functional dependency analysis. We hereby present our first functional prototype of eMelanoBase. The service is accessible via the URL www.wmi.usyd.e, du.au:8080/melanoma.html.

Cataloga????o, uma ferramenta para a log??stica

A cataloga????o consiste numa ferramenta de aplica????o nos ??rg??os p??blicos federais, que permite o uso de linguagem ??nica de identifica????o de materiais, de forma que possa ser entendida e manipulada por qualquer sistema, desde que este conhe??a as regras da linguagem. Essa ferramenta, entre outras utilidades, possibilita a execu????o de boa gest??o de material, por meio da intera????o de todos os ??rg??os do governo, permitindo o apoio m??tuo entre eles, e da nacionaliza????o de itens importados, contribuindo para a redu????o de nossa depend??ncia externa e para o incentivo ?? ind??stria nacional. A cataloga????o possibilita, ainda, a descoberta de utiliza????o de itens comuns de material, a perfeita identifica????o de um item, a otimiza????o do planejamento or??ament??rio e a redu????o do custo log??stico dos ??rg??os por melhor compra, armazenagem, aplica????o, destina????o de excessos e otimiza????o de estoques

An??lise da estrutura organizacional da fiscaliza????o do transporte rodovi??rio na ag??ncia nacional de transportes terrestres

Fiscalizar a presta????o dos servi??os de transporte interestadual e internacional de passageiros e de transporte rodovi??rio de cargas ?? atribui????o da Superintend??ncia de Fiscaliza????o da Ag??ncia Nacional de Transportes Terrestres ??? ANTT. Esta pesquisa visa analisar a efici??ncia e efic??cia desta estrutura organizacional

Gest??o por compet??ncias em organiza????es de governo

Ao longo dos ??ltimos anos vem se ampliando os espa??os e o interesse, no meio acad??mico e empresarial, pelas discuss??es sobre uso da abordagem da compet??ncia como marco importante para as atividades de gest??o de recursos humanos. A difus??o dessa abordagem entre as organiza????es p??blicas brasileiras ??, entretanto, bem mais recente, e conta, ainda hoje, com um n??mero insuficiente de estudos e publica????es. ?? esta a raz??o da import??ncia e pertin??ncia da publica????o do livro " Gest??o por compet??ncias em organiza????es de governo"

Gest??o por compet??ncias: m??todos e t??cnicas para mapeamento de compet??ncias

A gest??o por compet??ncias tem sido apontada como alternativa aos modelos gerenciais tradicionalmente utilizados pelas organiza????es. Prop??e-se a orientar esfor??os para planejar, captar, desenvolver e avaliar, nos diferentes n??veis da organiza????o, as compet??ncias necess??rias ?? consecu????o de seus objetivos. Uma das principais etapas desse processo constitui o denominado mapeamento de compet??ncias. Este artigo objetiva apresentar m??todos, t??cnicas e instrumentos utilizados para mapeamento de compet??ncias em organiza????es p??blicas e privadas. Para isso, fazem-se uma revis??o da literatura sobre o conceito de compet??ncia, o mapeamento de compet??ncias e a gest??o por compet??ncias, discutindo-se seus pressupostos e suas aplica????es. Ao final, s??o levantadas as implica????es desse modelo de gest??o para o setor p??blico e s??o apresentadas recomenda????es pr??ticas.

Reforma judici??ria e democratiza????o na Am??rica Latina

Este texto reflete a necessidade de uma reforma profunda nos sistemas judici??rios nos pa??ses da Am??rica Latina. O autor enumera os mais consider??veis eventos pol??ticos ocorridos na regi??o ap??s a d??cada de 60, principalmente durante o per??odo dos governos militares, com ??nfase nos modelos judici??rios prevalecentes ??? comumente dependentes, manipulados e fr??geis ??? bem como nos problemas enfrentados pelos ju??zes e serventu??rios da justi??a em muitos pa??ses. Ele tamb??m descreve v??rios movimentos pela reforma legal observados em dois diferentes momentos ??? do fim da d??cada de 60 e come??o da de 70, e depois, durante a d??cada de 80, comparando seus sucessos e fracassos e enumerando uma quantidade de seguidores nacionais e internacionais. Finalmente, o leitor deparar-se-?? com uma an??lise das mudan??as econ??micas e pol??ticas que t??m incentivado esta nova preocupa????o por justi??a e pela reforma das institui????es legais, dentre outras, na Am??rica Latina, assim como as dificuldades que esse movimento deve enfrentar no sentido de alcan??ar um Estado descentralizado, eficiente e democr??tico.

Biologia e exigências térmicas de cinco linhagens de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) criadas em ovos de Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Artigos científicos defesa fitossanitária.

Para além do arco-íris : a construção social da mulher e as experiências da transexualidade

O objetivo central desta pesquisa é propor uma abordagem socioantropológica do fenômeno da transexualidade, na sociedade ocidental contemporânea, a partir da análise das “trajetórias de vida” de quatro mulheres que vivenciam a transexualidade, residentes na Grande Vitória - ES, com o intuito de compreendermos as suas visões de mundo e projetos de vida, constituídos em meio a uma heteronormatividade pungente. A metodologia utilizada foi a História de Vida, tendo como objetivo primeiro a percepção dos elementos que são recorrentes na construção social dessa mulher. Os meus contatos com essas mulheres se deram a partir de 2012 até os primeiros meses de 2014. Além das histórias de vida, utilizei algumas entrevistas e dados jornalísticos de mulheres na transexualidade, que ganharam notoriedade na sociedade brasileira nos últimos anos. Inicialmente, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as noções de gênero e seus impactos na sociedade ocidental, assim como o do fenômeno da transexualidade. A partir das histórias de vida e dos dados jornalísticos busquei interpretar os elementos que são invocados para a construção social da mulher nas experiências da transexualidade, analisando os eventos que são recorrentes em suas vidas, tendo como pressuposto a noção de que essa experiência, em nossa sociedade, é entendida como “comportamento desviante”.As análises das histórias de vida tiveram como referência primeira o conceito de projeto proposto por Alfred Schutz e revistado por Gilberto Velho.Outro foco de análise dessa pesquisa é a produção da “feminilidade”, a partir do corpo, levando em consideração que essa é uma dimensão muito importante nesse processo de tornar-se mulher,buscando a compreensão das representações de corpo e gênero na produção dessa identidade. De forma geral, pretende-se desvelar o processo de construção social da pessoa pelo qual essas mulheres passam e o modo como se percebem nas relações sociais que estabelecem em sua vida cotidiana, como também o lugar social que elas tendem a ocupar na sociedade ocidental, principalmente na brasileira.