Cytotoxicity and inhibition of platelet aggregation caused by an l-amino acid oxidase from Bothrops leucurus venom.

Background: Multifunctional l-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs) occur widely in snake venoms.

Methods: The l-AAO from Bothrops leucurus (Bl-LAAO) venom was purified using a combination of molecular exclusion and ion-exchange chromatographies. We report some biochemical features of Bl-LAAO associated with its effect on platelet function and its cytotoxicity.

Soft tissue profile changes after rapid maxillary expansion with a bonded expander.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term treatment effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on the soft tissue facial profile of subjects treated with a modified acrylic-hyrax device. The sample comprised 10 males and 10 females in the mixed dentition. Their average age was 9.

Synthesis and anti-HSV-1 activity of new 1,2,3-triazole derivatives.

In this work, a new series of arysulfonylhydrazine-1H-1,2,3-triazole derivatives were synthesized, and their ability to inhibit the in vitro replication of HSV-1 was evaluated. Among the 1,2,3-triazole derivatives, 1-[(5″-methyl-1″-(4‴-fluorophenylamino)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4″-yl)carbonyl]-2-(4'-methylphenylsulfonyl)hydrazine and 1-[(5'-methyl-1'-(2″,5″-dichlorophenylamino)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4'-yl)carbonyl]-2-(phenylsulfonyl)hydrazine, with IC(50) values of 1.30 and 1.

Acute diverticulitis in younger patients: any rationale for a different approach?

Aim: To compare the natural history and course of acute diverticulitis in a younger age group with an older population and to evaluate whether younger patients should be managed differently.

Methods: This study was a retrospective review of 157 patients treated with acute diverticulitis between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2007. Diverticulitis was stratified according to the Hinchey classification.

Open gastrostomy by mini-laparotomy: a comparative study.

Background: Gastrostomy tube feeding is the best option for long lasting nutritional support in patients with dysphagia caused by obstructive tumours of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and ooesophagus or neuromuscular diseases. However, these severely compromised patients often present severe respiratory risks, precluding the use of general anesthesia, sedation or even endoscopy. A simplified open gastrostomy (SOG) under local anesthesia has been in practice in our institution, especially for patients with severe neuromuscular diseases and continuous non-invasive ventilatory support.

Primary gastric adenosquamous carcinoma in a Caucasian woman: a case report.

Introduction: Most gastric tumors are adenocarcinomas. Primary gastric adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare malignancy, mostly associated with Asian populations. It constitutes less than one percent of all gastric carcinomas and its clinical presentation is the same as adenocarcinoma.

Calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing removal with different rotary instruments and irrigating solutions: a scanning electron microscopy study.

This study evaluated the efficacy of 2 types of rotary instruments employed in association with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or EDTA in removing calcium hydroxide (CH) residues from root canals dentin walls. Forty-two mandibular human incisors were instrumented with the ProTaper System up to F2 instrument, irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl followed by 17% EDTA and filled with a CH intracanal dressing.

The effects of anticalcification treatments and hydration on the molecular dynamics of bovine pericardium collagen as revealed by 13C solid-state NMR.

This article describes a solid-state NMR (SSNMR) investigation of the influence of hydration and chemical cross-linking on the molecular dynamics of the constituents of the bovine pericardium (BP) tissues and its relation to the mechanical properties of the tissue. Samples of natural phenethylamine-diepoxide (DE)- and glutaraldehyde (GL)-fixed BP were investigated by (13)C cross-polarization SSNMR to probe the dynamics of the collagen, and the results were correlated to the mechanical properties of the tissues, probed by dynamical mechanical analysis. For samples of natural BP, the NMR results show that the higher the hydration level the more pronounced the molecular dynamics of the collagen backbone and sidechains, decreasing the tissue's elastic modulus.

Characteristics of individuals with hydrocephalus and their dental care needs.

Hydrocephalus is considered a congenital disease affecting the central nervous system, and is characterized by accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the lateral ventricles of the brain causing progressive ventricular dilatation. This review paper reports on the oral characteristics of persons with hydrocephalus and discusses their dental care needs. It has been reported that patients with hydrocephalus can present chronological changes in the eruption of their teeth, changes in the occlusion, greater accumulation of plaque, and have a higher caries prevalence.

Paracoccidioidomycosis: a series of 66 patients with oral lesions from an endemic area.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most important systemic mycosis in Latin America. It has been regarded as a multifocal disease, with oral lesions as the prominent feature. To provide useful information concerning the diagnosis and management of the disease, this study describes demographic and clinical data from the medical records of a consecutive series of 66 Brazilian patients from an endemic area, evaluated in a referral centre for oral diagnosis.

Long-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal area and nasal airway resistance.

Background: Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) may improve the nasal respiratory pattern. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of RME on the nasal cavity by acoustic rhinometry and computed rhinomanometry and to determine nasal and maxillary width by posteroanterior cephalometric radiography, up to 30 months after the orthodontic procedure.

Methods: Twenty-seven children with oral breathing, ranging in age from 7 to 10 years, and with mixed dentition were selected.

Efficacy and tolerability of lodenafil carbonate for oral therapy of erectile dysfunction: a phase III clinical trial.

Introduction: This is a phase III, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on lodenafil carbonate (LC), a novel phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor developed in Brazil.

Aim: Expanding information on LC efficacy and safety.

Main Outcome Measures: International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) erectile domain, positive answers to the sexual encounter profile (SEP)-2 and SEP-3 questions and incidence of adverse events (AEs).

Implants, mechanical devices, and vascular surgery for erectile dysfunction.

Introduction: The field of erectile dysfunction (ED) is evolving and there is a need for state-of-the-art information in the area of treatment. Aim. To develop an evidence-based, state-of-the-art consensus report on the treatment of erectile dysfunction by implants, mechanical devices, and vascular surgery.

[Association between the plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-10, nitric oxide and specific IgG isotypes in the clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease].

Chagas disease is an important chronic parasitic disease that affects around 9-11 million people in Latin America. A combination of parasite and host-related factors are probably responsible for pathogenesis in the chronic phase of the disease. Among the host-related factors, the immunological response is a parameter of special interest.

A multitechnique study of structure and dynamics of polyfluorene cast films and the influence on their photoluminescence.

This article describes the microstructure and dynamics in the solid state of polyfluorene-based polymers, poly(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO), a semicrystalline polymer, and poly[(9,9-dioctyl-2,7-divinylene-fluorenylene)-alt-co-{2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene}, a copolymer with mesomorphic phase properties. These structures were determined by wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements. Assuming a packing model for the copolymer structure, where the planes of the phenyl rings are stacked and separated by an average distance of approximately 4.

Astrocytes reverted to a neural progenitor-like state with transforming growth factor alpha are sensitized to cancerous transformation.

Gliomas, the most frequent primitive central nervous system tumors, have been suggested to originate from astrocytes or from neural progenitors/stem cells. However, the precise identity of the cells at the origin of gliomas remains a matter of debate because no pre-neoplastic state has been yet identified. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, an epidermal growth factor family member, is frequently overexpressed in the early stages of glioma progression.

Gingival overgrowth in a renal transplant recipient using cyclosporine A.

Unsightly gingival enlargement is a frequent side effect in organ transplant recipients under immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin A (CsA). The purpose of this article was to report the treatment management of cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth in a 9-year-old renal transplant recipient. Surgical reduction of the overgrown gingival tissue associated with an intensive biofilm control program and conversion from CsA to tacrolimus provided good clinical outcome with improvement of mastication, feeding, and phonetics.

Chlorhexidine-induced apoptosis or necrosis in L929 fibroblasts: A role for endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Chlorhexidine (CHX), widely used as antiseptic and therapeutic agent in medicine and dentistry, has a toxic effect both in vivo and in vitro. The intrinsic mechanism underlying CHX-induced cytotoxicity in eukaryotic cells is, however, still unknown. A recent study from our laboratory has suggested that CHX may induce death in cultured L929 fibroblasts via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

DLG1/SAP97 modulates transforming growth factor alpha bioavailability.

TGFalpha and its receptor EGFR participate in the development of a wide range of tumors including gliomas, the main adult primary brain tumors. TGFalpha soluble form results from the cleavage by the metalloprotease TACE/ADAM17 of the extracellular part of its transmembrane precursor, pro-TGFalpha. To gain insights into the mechanisms underlying TGFalpha bioavailability, a yeast two-hybrid screen was performed to identify proteins interacting with pro-TGFalpha intracellular domain (ICD).

Differences in the expression pattern of P-glycoprotein and MRP1 in low-grade and high-grade gliomas.

Multidrug resistance in gliomas is the major challenges in the clinical setting. We investigated the expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and multidrug resistance-related protein 1 (MRP1) in 50 gliomas using immunohistochemistry. Compared to Pgp, MRP1 positivity was observed in highest percentage of gliomas grade IV samples (p = 0.

Clear cell change in colonic polyps.

In this study, the pathogenesis of clear cell change in colorectal epithelial lesions was studied. A total of 4 cases of clear cell change (1 hyperplasic polyp and 3 adenomas) were characterized using histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. All lesions developed in the left colon.

Reverse enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies against SAG1-related sequence, SAG2A, and p97 antigens from Toxoplasma gondii to detect specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA antibodies in human sera.

The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in reverse enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for detecting immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in 175 serum samples from patients at different stages of T. gondii infection, as defined by both serological and clinical criteria, as follows: recent (n = 45), transient (n = 40), and chronic (n = 55) infection as well as seronegative subjects (n = 35). The results were compared with those obtained by indirect ELISA using soluble Toxoplasma total antigen (STAg).

Comparative cross-over study of sildenafil and apomorphine for treating erectile dysfunction.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of sildenafil and apomorphine in Brazilian patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) of various causes.

Patients And Methods: In all, 108 patients (mean age 55 years, sd 11) and documented ED for > or =6 months were included in 12 centres in Brazil. The patients were initially followed for 2 weeks and then randomized to initial treatment with apomorphine or sildenafil, taken before sexual intercourse, no more than once a day.

Viability of Streptococcus mutans toothbrush bristles.

Purpose: Employing microbial culture, the purpose of this study was to assess in vitro the viability of Streptococcus mutans on toothbrush bristles relative to the drying time.

Methods: Forty-five toothbrushes were soaked in a suspension containing S. mutans (ATCC 25175) in a 1,720.