Radicality and safety of total mesopancreatic excision in pancreatoduodenectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pancreatic head cancer patients who undergo pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) often experience disease recurrence, frequently associated with a positive margin status (R1). Total mesopancreas excision (TMpE) has emerged as a potential approach to increase surgical radicality and minimize locoregional recurrence. However, its effectiveness and safety remain under evaluation.

Body Mass Index Profile of Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Multicenter Study in Northeastern Brazil.

Purpose: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disease of increasing prevalence in developing countries. Obesity has emerged as a potential risk for IBD; however, the data in the literature are conflicting, and relevant studies in Brazil are limited. Here, we report body mass index profile (BMI) of patients with IBD treated at reference centers in three states of northeastern Brazil.

Ethical guidelines for the allocation of scarce intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic: Discussing a Brazilian proposal.

Rationale: In the context of a major health crisis, health professionals must first compare patients' recovery prospects, thus giving priority to the goal of saving the greatest number of lives.

Aims And Objectives: Critically evaluate a protocol for allocation of scarce intensive care units (ICU), which the authors proposed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and originally published in two Brazilian newspapers; and compare that protocol with similar proposals, particularly with 2 successive protocols issued by the Brazilian Critical Care Association. The main objective is to highlight the advantages of the authors' approach and discuss some criticisms that has been levelled against the proposed protocol after its original publication in 2020.

A Multicentre Study of the Clinical and Epidemiological Profile of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Northeast Brazil.

Purpose: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) with multifactorial causes. They are becoming more prevalent in developing countries such as Brazil; however, relevant studies in poorer regions of the country are limited. Here, we report the clinical-epidemiological profile of patients with IBD treated at reference centers in three states of Northeast Brazil.

Discrete-time sliding mode controller based on backstepping disturbance compensation for robust current control of PMSM drives.

A robust current control approach with disturbance cross-coupling compensation for permanent magnet synchronous motor drives (PMSM) is proposed in this paper. The proposed approach can enhance the reference tracking and provides a robust option for current control of PMSM drives. A discrete-time sliding mode current controller is proposed.

Poisoning of calves reared with cows treated with abamectin.

The aim of the present study was to describe an outbreak of poisoning by abamectin in calves less than four months of age whose mothers were treated with a pour-on product containing this ingredient. The diagnosis was based on the history, clinical signs, absence of macroscopic and histopathological findings (characteristic of this type of poisoning) and the detection of abamectin in tissues of the animals submitted to necropsy. Based on this report, the recommendation is the use with caution of pour-on formulations containing abamectin on cows having given birth less than four months earlier.

Brazilian consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of extremities soft tissue sarcomas.

Introduction: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare tumors and constitute only 1% of all tumors in adults. Indeed, due to their rarity, most cases in Brazil are not treated according to primary international guidelines.

Methods: This consensus addresses the treatment of STSs in the extremities.

Combination of quercetin and ivermectin: In vitro and in vivo effects against Haemonchus contortus.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of quercetin combined with ivermectin (IVM) on Haemonchus contortus larvae and adults with different resistance profiles and demonstrate the in vivo anthelmintic action of this combination when used in sheep naturally infected. The effect of combination was evaluated based on the analysis of the mean effective concentration (EC50) obtained for larvae using the larval migration inhibition test and for adults using the motility test on females. The tests with larvae and adults were conducted using isolates with different degrees of susceptibility to IVM (sensitive, intermediate and highly resistant).

Quality measurers of therapeutic communities for substance dependence: an international collaborative study survey in Latin America.

Background: In Latin America, substance related disorders are highly prevalent and one of the treatment strategies is the Therapeutic Communities (TCs), however, in Latin America there is scarce data about this treatment strategies, their quality, drop-out rates and patient satisfaction.

Methods: Based on a previous study in 5 Latin American countries, the TCs who had a score equal or higher than 9 according to the De Leon criteria which are some fundamental items that the TCs should meet, were selected to carry out a descriptive and retrospective study of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the TCs.

Results: Data from 58 TCs in 5 countries were included, with a sample of 1414 patients interviewed, of which most were single men, with no hospitalization history in a therapeutic community.

Proposed anti-HSV compounds isolated from Simira species.

Secondary metabolites isolated from Simira eleiezeriana and Simira glaziovii were evaluated against herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) and (HSV-2). The 50% effective concentrations values (EC) were calculated from the dose-response curve and the selectivity index (SI) against the virus. The physicochemical data LogP, (PSA), (NRB), (HBA) and (HBD) were obtained using Marvin Sketch.

Uniform multidrug therapy for leprosy patients in Brazil (U-MDT/CT-BR): Results of an open label, randomized and controlled clinical trial, among multibacillary patients.

Background: Leprosy control is based on early diagnosis and multidrug therapy. For treatment purposes, leprosy patients can be classified as paucibacillary (PB) or multibacillary (MB), according to the number of skin lesions. Studies regarding a uniform treatment regimen (U-MDT) for all leprosy patients have been encouraged by the WHO, rendering disease classification unnecessary.

Validity and reliability of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) in a Brazilian sample of drug users.

The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) is a short, five-item scale which provides a measure of degree of dependence upon different drugs. The present study explores the validity and reliability of a Portuguese version of the instrument with a sample of 374 Brazilian drug users. Concurrent validity of the SDS was assessed in relation to reported quantity of drugs used and to DSM-IV dependence items, and test-retest reliability was assessed with a subsample of 42 subjects.

Galectin-9 as an important marker in the differential diagnosis between oral squamous cell carcinoma, oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus.

Objectives: To evaluate the expression of Galectins (Gal) 1, 3 and 9, Metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and mast cell density in oral lesions of patients with potentially malignant disorders (PMD) and oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) by comparison with the controls.

Study Design: We selected 40 cases of PMD, 40 OSCC and 13 with normal histopathological profile. Immunohistochemistry was performed for Gal-1, Gal-3, Gal-9 and MMP-3.

Strain classification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Brazil based on genotypes obtained by spoligotyping, mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit typing and the presence of large sequence and single nucleotide polymorphism.

Rio de Janeiro is endemic for tuberculosis (TB) and presents the second largest prevalence of the disease in Brazil. Here, we present the bacterial population structure of 218 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, derived from 186 patients that were diagnosed between January 2008 and December 2009. Genotypes were generated by means of spoligotyping, 24 MIRU-VNTR typing and presence of fbpC103, RDRio and RD174.

Evaluation of in situ expression of effector and regulatory cytokines, TLR, galectins and matrix metalloproteinases in oral manifestations of paracoccidioidomycosis.

Background: Although the pathophysiology of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is not completely understood, the study of immune response against fungus has provided insight into understanding the natural course of the disease and its clinical manifestations, hence contributing to the development of preventive measures and treatment proposals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological and immunological aspects involved in the role of different effector and regulatory responses, as well as the correlation between the TLRs, Galectins, Matrix Metalloproteinases and cytoplasmic proteases of mast cells in this infection.

Methods: Sixteen biopsy specimens with oral lesions of chronic PCM, as well as 13 sections of normal oral mucosa were analyzed.

Higher expression of galectin-3 and galectin-9 in periapical granulomas than in radicular cysts and an increased toll-like receptor-2 and toll-like receptor-4 expression are associated with reactivation of periapical inflammation.

Introduction: Cysts and periapical granulomas are inflammatory reactions that develop in response to periapical infection by microbial species in dental root canal. It is known that toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pathogen recognition molecules and that galectins are lectins that can be associated with the inflammatory process, stimulating or inhibiting the immune system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ expression of TLRs and galectins in radicular cysts and periapical granulomas.

New triterpene glycoside and other chemical constituents from the leaves of Swartzia apetala Raddi var. glabra.

A new triterpene saponin (1) was isolated from a methanol extract of Swartzia apetala Raddi var. glabra, together with the flavonoids mauritianin (2), kaempferol (3) and the triterpene saponin β-D-glucopyranosyl 3β-hydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oate (4). These compounds were characterised on the basis of their spectral data, mainly one-dimension (1D; (1)H, (13)C, APT) and two-dimension (2D; (1)H-(1)H-COSY, HMQC and HMBC) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and HR-ESI-MS, and comparison with values in the literature.

Hirtinone, a Novel cycloartane-type triterpene and other compounds from Trichilia hirta L. (Meliaceae).

One novel triterpene cycloartane-type, named hirtinone (1), six protolimonoids - nilocitin (2), dihydronilocitin B (3), melianone epimers (4) and (5), piscidinol A (6) and melianone lactone (7), one tertranortriterpenoid, hirtin (8), and one sesquiterpene, spathulenol (9), were identified in the fruits of Trichilia hirta. The structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR (1H and 13C-NMR, DEPTQ, 1H-1H-COSY, 1H-1H-NOESY, HSQC and HMBC), high resolution mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS) and infrared (IR) spectral data.

Simiranes A and B: erythroxylanes diterpenes and other compounds from Simira eliezeriana (Rubiaceae).

The first phytochemical study of Simira eliezeriana Peixoto (Rubiaceae) allowed the isolation and structural determination of two new diterpenes named simirane A [(5R,6R,8R,9R,10S,11S,13S)-6β,11β-dihydroxy-2,4(18),15-erythroxylatrien-1-one] (1) and simirane B [(5S,8R,9R,10S,11S,13S)-11β-hydroxy-2,4(18),15-erythroxylatrien-1-one] (2), together with seven known compounds: sitosterol (3), stigmasterol (4), campesterol (5), coniferaldehyde (6), vanillin (7), pinoresinol (8) and harman (9) from the bark of the plant. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 1-D and 2-D NMR, HRESI-MS and CD analysis and comparisons with available literature data of known compounds.

Quantification of fibrosis and mast cells in the tissue response of endodontic sealer irradiated by low-level laser therapy.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) accelerates tissue repair. Mast cells induce the proliferation of fibroblasts and the development of local fibrosis. The objective of this study was to quantify fibrosis rate and mast cells in connective tissue after endodontic sealer zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) was implanted and submitted to LLLT, immediately after implant and again 24 h later.

T-helper cell type 17/regulatory T-cell immunoregulatory balance in human radicular cysts and periapical granulomas.

Introduction: Cysts and granulomas are chronic periapical lesions mediated by a set of inflammatory mediators that develop to contain a periapical infection. This study analyzed the nature of the inflammatory infiltrate, presence of mast cells, and in situ expression of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-17 and transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta), chemokines (macrophage inflammatory protein [MIP]-1beta and monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1), and nuclear transcription factor (FoxP3) in human periapical granulomas and cysts compared with a control group.

Methods: Fifty-five lesions (25 periapical cysts, 25 periapical granulomas, and 5 controls) were analyzed.

A short-term clinical and microbial evaluation of periodontal therapy associated with amalgam overhang removal.

Background: This study evaluated the effect of periodontal therapy plus amalgam overhang removal (PT+AOR) on periodontal status and the presence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus mutans and compared two microbiological sampling techniques.

Methods: Molar teeth with Class II overhang restorations were selected as the test group, and homologous sound teeth were selected as the control group. Periodontal probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and plaque and gingival indices were measured, and restorations were evaluated using radiographs and clinical exploration at baseline (T1) and 90 days after PT+AOR (T2).