Oral cancer awareness and knowledge among residents in the Oporto city, Portugal.

Objective: To assess the awareness and knowledge on oral cancer in a general population of Oporto city, in Portugal.

Methods: Face-to-face interviews were performed with 1116 individuals, resident in the city of Oporto. Participants' socio-demographic information, lifestyle habits and awareness, knowledge and beliefs on oral cancer were ascertained.

Childhood central nervous system tumours: Incidence and time trends in 13 Southern and Eastern European cancer registries.

Aim: Following completion of the first 5-year nationwide childhood (0-14 years) registration in Greece, central nervous system (CNS) tumour incidence rates are compared with those of 12 registries operating in 10 Southern-Eastern European countries.

Methods: All CNS tumours, as defined by the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC-3) and registered in any period between 1983 and 2014 were collected from the collaborating cancer registries. Data were evaluated using standard International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) criteria.

Protective effects of the flavonoid chrysin against methylmercury-induced genotoxicity and alterations of antioxidant status, in vivo.

The use of phytochemicals has been widely used as inexpensive approach for prevention of diseases related to oxidative damage due to its antioxidant properties. One of dietary flavonoids is chrysin (CR), found mainly in passion fruit, honey, and propolis. Methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxic metal whose main toxic mechanism is oxidative damage.

Modulation of gene expression and cell cycle by botryosphaeran, a (1→3)(1→6)-β-d-glucan in human lymphocytes.

There is growing interest in the anticancer and immunomodulatory potential of fungal β-d-glucans. In the present study, the modulation of gene expression via RT-qPCR and cell cycle kinetics via flow cytometry were assessed in human normal and tumor (Jurkat) lymphocytes after treatment with botryosphaeran (a fungal (1→3)(1→6)-β-d-glucan) from Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05. Cell cultures were treated with botryosphaeran either alone, or in combination with doxorubicin (DXR), in a post-treatment protocol.

Impact of a dengue outbreak experience in the preventive perceptions of the community from a temperate region: Madeira Island, Portugal.

The ability to effectively modify behaviours is increasingly relevant to attain and maintain a good health status. Current behaviour-change models and theories present two main approaches for (healthier) decision-making: one analytical/logical, and one experiential/emotional/intuitive. Therefore, to achieve an integral and dynamic understanding of the public perceptions both approaches should be considered: community surveys should measure cognitive understanding of health-risk contexts, and also explore how past experiences affect this understanding.

The distribution and mutagenesis of short coding INDELs from 1,128 whole exomes.

Background: Identifying insertion/deletion polymorphisms (INDELs) with high confidence has been intrinsically challenging in short-read sequencing data. Here we report our approach for improving INDEL calling accuracy by using a machine learning algorithm to combine call sets generated with three independent methods, and by leveraging the strengths of each individual pipeline. Utilizing this approach, we generated a consensus exome INDEL call set from a large dataset generated by the 1000 Genomes Project (1000G), maximizing both the sensitivity and the specificity of the calls.

The cosmetic dye quinoline yellow causes DNA damage in vitro.

Quinoline yellow (QY) is a chinophthalon derivative used in cosmetic compositions for application to the skin, lips, and/or body surface. However, regulatory data about the genotoxicity and/or mutagenicity of this compound are still controversial. Therefore, this work evaluated the genotoxicity of QY using the comet assay and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay (CBMN-Cyt) in the metabolically competent cell line HepG2, which closely mimics phase I metabolism.

Genetic Effects of eNOS Polymorphisms on Biomarkers Related to Cardiovascular Status in a Population Coexposed to Methylmercury and Lead.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible effects of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and on nitrite levels in plasma (NitP) in a population coexposed to methylhemoglobin (MeHg) and lead (Pb) in the Amazonian region, Brazil. Plasmatic levels of hemoglobin Hg (HgP) and Pb (PbP) were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, whereas NitP were quantified by chemiluminescence. Genotyping was performed by conventional and restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction assay.

Platelet activation and aggregation promote lung inflammation and influenza virus pathogenesis.

Rationale: The hallmark of severe influenza virus infection is excessive inflammation of the lungs. Platelets are activated during influenza, but their role in influenza virus pathogenesis and inflammatory responses is unknown.

Objectives: To determine the role of platelets during influenza A virus infections and propose new therapeutics against influenza.

The Effects of Different Concentrations of the α2-Adrenoceptor Agonist Medetomidine on Basal Excitatory Synaptic Transmission and Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampal Slices of Adult Mice.

Background: α2-Adrenoceptor agonists are used frequently in human and veterinary anesthesia as sedative/analgesic drugs. However, they can impair cognition. Little is known about the concentration-dependent effects of α2-adrenoceptor agonists on synaptic plasticity, the neurophysiological basis of learning and memory.

Platelet mitochondrial membrane potential in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), which has been reported not to be restricted to striatal neurons. However, studies that analyzed mitochondrial function at the level of selected enzymatic activities in peripheral tissues have produced conflicting data. We considered the electron transport chain as a complex system with mitochondrial membrane potential as an integrative indicator for mitochondrial fitness.

Popliteal artery aneurysm surgical repair: Retrospective unicenter analysis.

Background: Popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) thromboembolic complications may result in limb loss. We review our experience reporting outcomes in terms of complications and early and long-term patency rates.

Methods: From 2004 to 2013, 116 PAA required surgical repair at Coimbra Hospital and Universitary Centre, Portugal.

Efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for root canals infected with Enterococcus faecalis.

Effective decontamination of root canal systems is a constant concern in clinical practice. In this article, we compare the performance of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in reducing the amount of Enterococcus faecalis in root canals. Relevant studies were identified by searching electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, BVS (Medline, Scielo, Lilacs and BBO), Scopus, and Cochrane, and by manually searching the references of identified studies.

DLX1 and MMP3 contribute to oral clefts with and without positive family history of cancer.

Objective: It has been suggested that oral clefts and cancer share a common genetic background. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and molecular association between oral clefts and cancer.

Methods: One hundred forty-eight nuclear families with oral clefts and 162 subjects with no birth defect were recruited.

Electroencephalogram-based indices applied to dogs' depth of anaesthesia monitoring.

Hypnotic drug administration causes alterations in the electroencephalogram (EEG) in a dose-dependent manner. These changes cannot be identified easily in the raw EEG, therefore EEG based indices were adopted for assessing depth of anaesthesia (DoA). This study examines several indices for estimating dogs' DoA.

Acute ketamine impairs mitochondrial function and promotes superoxide dismutase activity in the rat brain.

Background: Ketamine is often associated with altered mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. Nevertheless, limited data are still available regarding the in vivo action of ketamine in mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox state. Accumulating evidence supports a role for nitric oxide (NO) as a possible modulator of ketamine's side effects.

Genetic association for caries susceptibility among cleft lip and/or palate individuals.

Aim: To evaluate the association of the polymorphisms in the TGFB3 gene (rs2268626), and the BMP4 gene (rs17563) with dental caries in two different groups (noncleft group and oral cleft group) from a cleft center located at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Materials And Methods: A total of 486 unrelated children and adolescents with or without caries were evaluated using a cohort design. Data on oral health habits was obtained through a questionnaire and caries data was collected by clinical examination.

Hippocampal long-term potentiation in adult mice after recovery from ketamine anesthesia.

Ketamine is frequently used to induce analgesia or anesthesia in laboratory animals, but its effects on learning and memory are poorly characterized. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is considered a cellular mechanism for learning and memory. Ketamine administration immediately abolishes hippocampal LTP in vivo, but whether this effect persists is not known.

Clinical and genetic analysis of a nonsyndromic oligodontia in a child.

The etiology of tooth agenesis may be related to several factors, among them, the genetic alterations that play a fundamental role in the development of this dental anomaly, so that knowledge about it helps the clinician to have a greater understanding of their patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to report the case of a nonsyndromic child, with tooth agenesis of one premolar, three first permanent molars, and all second permanent molars. In addition, a genetic research between polymorphic variants in genes MMP3 and BMP2 was performed in order to observe the association between changes in these genes and congenital tooth absences.

Antivirulence activity of the human gut metabolome.

The mammalian gut contains a complex assembly of commensal microbes termed microbiota. Although much has been learned about the role of these microbes in health, the mechanisms underlying these functions are ill defined. We have recently shown that the mammalian gut contains thousands of small molecules, most of which are currently unidentified.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Ixodidae) in synantropic rodents in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, is responsible for maintaining and transmitting various pathogens, both in animals and human beings, and it is of great sanitary importance. This communication reports the first occurrence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato parasitizing Rattus norvegicus in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and it is also the first record of this tick species parasitizing Rattus rattus in Brazil. The rodents were captured from the port area, located in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Heterologous expression and biochemical and functional characterization of a recombinant alpha-type myotoxin inhibitor from Bothrops alternatus snake.

Venomous and non-venomous snakes possess phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitory proteins (PLIs) in their blood serum. This study shows the expression and biochemical and functional characterization of a recombinant alpha inhibitor from Bothrops alternatus snake, named rBaltMIP. Its expression was performed in Pichia pastoris heterologous system, resulting in an active recombinant protein.

Stepwise expression of CDKN2A and RB1 proteins in esophageal mucosa from patients at high risk for squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a lethal cancer and carries a poor prognosis because of late diagnosis. Identification of molecular markers may aid early diagnosis. We assessed the expression of CDKN2A/RB1 in the esophageal mucosa and its association with the histology.

Identification of SOCS2 and SOCS6 as biomarkers in human colorectal cancer.

Background: Over the past years, some members of the family of suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins have emerged as potential tumour suppressors. This study aimed at investigating the clinical significance of SOCS proteins in colorectal carcinoma (CRC).

Methods: We integrated publicly available microarray expression data on CRC in humans, analysed the expression pattern of SOCSs and assessed the predictive power of SOCS2 and SOCS6 for diagnostic purposes by generating receiver operating characteristic curves.