Temporomandibular joint disorders in skeletal class II patients referred to orthognathic surgery: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) in subjects with skeletal class II dentofacial deformity referred for orthognathic surgery, as well as to elucidate its association with sociodemographic and psychosocial features.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. The sample comprised class II skeletal patients referred to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery center in the Brazilian Northeast.

Exploring the in vivo wound healing effects of a recombinant hemolin from the caterpillar .

Background: Hemolin proteins are cell adhesion molecules from lepidopterans involved in a wide range of cell interactions concerning their adhesion properties. However, hemolin's roles in cell proliferation and wound healing are not fully elucidated. It has been recently reported that rLosac, a recombinant hemolin from the caterpillar , presents antiapoptotic activity and is capable of improving in vitro wound healing.

Empathy is Associated with Meaning of Life and Mental Health Treatment but not Religiosity Among Brazilian Medical Students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of spirituality, religiosity, personal beliefs, and previous contact with health issues on the level of empathy in medical students. Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Student Version, WHOQOL-Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs, and Duke University Religion Index were applied to 285 Brazilian medical students. The findings suggest that meaning of life and previous mental health treatment but not Religiosity were positively related to empathy.

Dillapiole as antileishmanial agent: discovery, cytotoxic activity and preliminary SAR studies of dillapiole analogues.

In this paper, the isolation of dillapiole (1) from Piper aduncum was reported as well as the semi-synthesis of two phenylpropanoid derivatives [di-hydrodillapiole (2), isodillapiole (3)], via reduction and isomerization reactions. Also, the compounds' molecular properties (structural, electronic, hydrophobic, and steric) were calculated and investigated to establish some preliminary structure-activity relationships (SAR). Compounds were evaluated for in vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells.

Serum immune activation markers are persistently increased in patients with HIV infection after 6 years of antiretroviral therapy despite suppression of viral replication and reconstitution of CD4+ T cells.

The effect of long-term antiretroviral therapy on serum immune activation markers was assessed in a cohort of 63 patients before and after 6 years of boosted lopinavir-based antiretroviral therapy. High levels of most markers were associated with lower CD4(+) T cell counts at baseline and at year 6, with the exception of soluble cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (sCTLA-4); high levels of sCTLA-4 were associated with higher CD4(+) T cell counts at year 6. Abnormalities of serum immune activation markers persisted after 6 years of ART but probably had different causes.

Loss of bone mineral density after antiretroviral therapy initiation, independent of antiretroviral regimen.

Background: Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) has been described in HIV-infected patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART), but the contributions of ART and immunologic and/or virologic factors remain unclear.

Methods: We compared total BMD changes over 96 weeks in 106 ART-naive HIV-infected subjects who were randomized to receive efavirenz (EFV) + zidovudine/lamivudine (n = 32) or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) + zidovudine/lamivudine induction (n = 74) for 24-48 weeks followed by LPV/r monotherapy. We also sought to identify factors associated with BMD loss, including markers of systemic inflammation [soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptors (sTNFR I and II)].

Geographic and temporal trends of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance among antiretroviral-naïve subjects screening for two clinical trials in North America and Western Europe.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in antiretroviral (ARV)-naïve HIV-1-infected subjects who were screened for two clinical trials by geographic region and time.

Methods: Studies M03-613 and M05-730 screened ARV-naïve subjects in 2004 and 2005-2006, respectively. Screening drug resistance genotype assays were performed using population sequencing, and prevalence of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) was assessed at 39 amino acid positions in HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase (RT) and compared between geographic regions and calendar years.

Predictors of loss of virologic response in subjects who simplified to lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy from lopinavir/ritonavir plus zidovudine/lamivudine.

Previous studies have demonstrated that lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy maintained plasma HIV-1 RNA suppression in a large proportion of antiretroviral naive subjects. However, more subjects receiving lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy experienced confirmed virologic rebound >50 copies/ml compared to a standard three-drug HAART regimen. In this study, we sought to determine the factors associated with maintenance of virologic suppression in subjects receiving lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy.

A once-daily lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimen is noninferior to twice-daily dosing and results in similar safety and tolerability in antiretroviral-naive subjects through 48 weeks.

Background: Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-dosed twice daily has demonstrated durable efficacy in antiretroviral-naive and protease inhibitor (PI) -experienced patients. Study M05-730 compared LPV/r tablets dosed once daily vs. twice daily in antiretroviral-naive subjects.

A 96-week comparison of lopinavir-ritonavir combination therapy followed by lopinavir-ritonavir monotherapy versus efavirenz combination therapy.

Antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected volunteers received zidovudine/lamivudine plus either lopinavir/ritonavir (n=104) or efavirenz (n=51). Lopinavir/ritonavir-treated subjects demonstrating 3 consecutive monthly HIV-1 RNA levels <50 copies/mL started lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy. In previous-failure=failure analysis, 48% (lopinavir/ritonavir) and 61% (efavirenz) maintained HIV-1 RNA at <50 copies/mL through week 96, (P= .

Seven-year efficacy of a lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimen in antiretroviral-naïve HIV-1-infected patients.

Objective: Evaluate efficacy and tolerability of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) plus stavudine and lamivudine long term in antiretroviral-naïve patients.

Design: Open-label follow-up of prospective, randomized, multicenter trial.

Method: Antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected subjects (N = 00) received of 3 doses of LPV/r plus stavudine and lamivudine for 48 weeks then received LPV/r soft-gel capsules 400/00 mg plus stavudine and lamivudine.

Evidence of ongoing immune reconstitution in subjects with sustained viral suppression following 6 years of lopinavir-ritonavir treatment.

Background: We evaluated the immunologic impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy in subjects who maintained human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) suppression through 6 years of receiving a lopinavir-ritonavir-based regimen.

Methods: A total of 100 antiretroviral-naive subjects with any CD4+ T cell count initiated therapy with lopinavir-ritonavir, stavudine, and lamivudine. Sixty-three subjects who remained in the study for 6 years were assessed.

The importance of potency and durability in HIV patient antiretroviral therapy preferences: a telephone survey.

Patients who were receiving or had received antiretroviral therapy (ART) participated in 45-minute telephone interviews to evaluate the importance of major treatment attributes. A Likert scale was used to quantify and rate the importance of 9 ART attributes. Trade-off exercises allowed participants to select a preferred hypothetical ART regimen from two options based on daily dosing and varied efficacy.