Hansen's disease and COVID-19 co-infection in Brazil.

Background: The implications of COVID-19 co-infection in patients under treatment for Hansen's disease (HD, leprosy) remain uncertain. We aimed to describe clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes in patients with HD and COVID-19 in Brazil.

Methods: Cross-sectional study recruiting adult HD patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 from five HD treatment centers in Brazil between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

Effect of monomer type on the CC degree of conversion, water sorption and solubility, and color stability of model dental composites.

Objective: This study has investigated the influence of BisGMA, BisEMA, BisEMA 30, and two UDMA-based monomers (UDMA and Fit 852), with TEGDMA as co-monomer, on the degree of conversion, water sorption, water solubility, and optical properties of experimental dental composites.

Methods: Materials were formulated at 70/30 molar rations using BisGMA, BisEMA, BisEMA 30, UDMA or FIT 852, as base monomers, combined with TEGDMA. 60wt% of silanated-glass particles was added.

The Effectiveness of Anticholinergic Therapy for Overactive Bladders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The overactive bladder (OAB) has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients. Antimuscarinics have become the pharmacological treatment of choice for this condition. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the evidence from randomized clinical trials about the outcomes of the antimuscarinic drugs available in Brazil on OABs.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the Wexner scale in patients with anal incontinence in a Brazilian population.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Jorge and Wexner devised a questionnaire for anal incontinence (AI), known as the Wexner scale (WS). Specific validated questionnaires are essential for the assessment of symptom severity. The objective was to accomplish the cultural adaptation and validation of the Portuguese version of the WS.

Photolabile protection for amino acids: studies on the release from novel benzoquinolone cages.

The synthesis of a novel fused nitrogen heterocycle, benzoquinolone, for evaluation as a photocleavable protecting group is described for the first time by coupling to model amino acids (alanine, phenylalanine and glutamic acid). Conversion of the phenylalanine ester conjugate to the thionated derivative was accomplished by reaction with Lawesson's reagent. Photocleavage studies of the carbonyl and thiocarbonyl benzoquinolone conjugates in various solvents and at different wavelengths (300, 350 and 419 nm) showed that the most interesting result was obtained at 419 nm for the thioconjugate, revealing that the presence of the thiocarbonyl group clearly improved the photolysis rates, giving practicable irradiations times for the release of the amino acids (less than 1 min).

Effect of Diamond Bur Grit Size on Composite Repair.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of diamond bur grit size on the repair bond strength of fresh and aged resin composites.

Materials And Methods: Blocks of microhybrid composite (Opallis, FGM) were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24 h (fresh composite) or subjected to 5000 thermal cycles (aged composite). The surfaces were roughened using diamond-coated, flame-shaped carbide burs with medium grit (#3168), fine grit (#3168F), or extra-fine grit (#3168FF).

Do new matrix formulations improve resin composite resistance to degradation processes?

The aim of this study was to determine the degradation resistance of three new formulations-silorane-, Ormocer- and dimer-acid-based materials-and compare them to the traditional dimethacrylate-based materials. One silorane- (Filtek P90, P90), one Ormocer- (Ceram-X, CX), one dimer-acid- (N'Durance, ND) and two dimethacrylate-based (Filtek P60, P60; Tetric Ceram, TC) materials were investigated. Water sorption (Wsp) and solubility (Wsl) were determined after the materials were immersed in water for 28 days.

Strength of round and uterosacral ligaments: a biomechanical study.

Purpose: To investigate the tensile biomechanical properties of round and uterosacral ligaments.

Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from 15 female cadavers without pelvic organ prolapse. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed to obtain stiffness and maximum stress of round and uterosacral ligaments.

A photoactivable amino acid based on a novel functional coumarin-6-yl-alanine.

A novel fluorescent amino acid, L-4-chloromethylcoumarin-6-yl-alanine, was obtained from tyrosine by a Pechmann reaction. The assembly of the heterocyclic ring at the tyrosine side chain could be achieved before or after incorporation of tyrosine into a dipeptide, and amino acid and dipeptide ester conjugates were obtained by coupling to a model N-protected alanine. The behaviour of one of the fluorescent conjugates towards irradiation was studied in a photochemical reactor at different wavelengths (254, 300, 350 and 419 nm).

The results of a 24-h pad test in Brazilian women.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The International Continence Society (ICS) adopted 1.3 g as the normative value for the 24-h pad test. We hypothesized that this cutoff value may not be valid for women who live in countries with high temperatures.

Evaluation of demographic, clinical characteristics, and genetic polymorphism as risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse in Brazilian women.

Objective: Verify the association between genital prolapse, other risk factors and a polymorphism in exon 31 of the collagen III-a1 gene (COL3A1).

Setting: The etiology of genital prolapse is multifactorial, and genetic defects have been proposed. Also, there is evidence that changes in collagen may be responsible for defects in pelvic floor support.

The relationship between the Trp 64 Arg polymorphism of the beta 3-adrenoceptor gene and idiopathic overactive bladder.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify the association between the Trp 64 Arg polymorphism and idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome.

Study Design: A case-control study was conducted with 218 women. The case group consisted of 49 patients with OAB symptoms; the control group included 169 women without urinary symptoms.

Uniaxial mechanical behavior of the human female bladder.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The objective of the present study was to investigate the tensile biomechanical properties of the human female bladder.

Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from 13 cadavers without pelvic floor dysfunctions. We performed uniaxial tensile tests to measure the stiffness and maximum stress of the bladder tissue.

Intensive supervised versus unsupervised pelvic floor muscle training for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence: a randomized comparative trial.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is considered to be the first-line treatment for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). There are few studies that have tested the efficacy of unsupervised PFMT. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of intensive supervised PFMT to unsupervised PFMT in the treatment of female SUI.

Light-induced cleavage of model phenylalanine conjugates based on coumarins and quinolones.

In order to evaluate the application of quinolone as a new photocleavable protecting group, in comparison with coumarin, a series of model phenylalanine conjugates were prepared by reaction with chloromethylated O and N heterocycles. The photophysical properties of the resulting ester conjugates were evaluated as well as the photosensitivity under irradiation at 250, 300, 350, and 419 nm. The results obtained showed that the quinolone conjugates were readily photolysed, with complete release of the amino acid in short irradiation times and could be considered a new addition to the family of photocleavable protecting groups for the carboxylic acid function of amino acids.