Is Generalized Joint Hypermobility Associated with Chronic Painful Temporomandibular Disorders in Young Adults? A Cross-Sectional Study.

Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a common condition characterized by an increased range of motion across multiple joints. Previous studies have suggested a possible association between GJH and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of GJH in a Portuguese population of young university adults and to explore the relationship between GJH, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms/clinical findings, chronic painful TMDs, and chronic painful TMDs subtypes (myalgia, arthralgia, or combined myalgia and arthralgia).

TBC1D24 interacts with the v-ATPase and regulates intraorganellar pH in neurons.

The vacuolar ATPase (v-ATPase) is essential for acidification of intracellular organelles, including synaptic vesicles. Its activity is controlled by cycles of association and dissociation of the ATP hydrolysis (V) and proton transport (V) multi-protein subunits. Mutations in genes coding for both v-ATPase subunits and TBC1D24 cause neurodevelopmental disorders with overlapping syndromes; therefore, it is important to investigate their potentially interrelated functions.

Scoping Review of Fall Risk Assessment Tools for Women Who Receive Maternity Care.

Objective: To identify and describe fall risk assessment tools used for women who receive maternity care.

Data Sources: PubMed, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete, Cochrane Library, Scopus, SciELO, and Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP).

Study Selection: We considered reports published until November 28, 2022, that included women during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period; involved the use of fall risk assessment tools, regardless of context; and were published in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.

3D Resin-coated pressure sensor response for bite force assessment: A pilot study.

Background: Occlusal splints with sensors help in the bruxism diagnosis and monitoring, by recording the patient's bite force. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a pressure sensor when it is covered with different thicknesses of a 3D printing resin (Anycubic 405nm Translucent Green UV Resin, Anycubic, UK).

Methods: In this preliminary study, the evaluated sensor (FlexiForce A201 Sensor, Tekscan) was firstly calibrated without any type of cover material, and later tested with 3D printing resin with different thicknesses (1 mm, 1.

The Interconnected Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Epilepsy.

One of the most important characteristics of the brain compared to other organs is its elevated metabolic demand. Consequently, neurons consume high quantities of oxygen, generating significant amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a by-product. These potentially toxic molecules cause oxidative stress (OS) and are associated with many disorders of the nervous system, where pathological processes such as aberrant protein oxidation can ultimately lead to cellular dysfunction and death.

Evaluation of medullary cytokine expression and clinical and laboratory aspects in severe human visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious public health problem. The factors that can determine whether VL develops and progresses to severe form have not been fully identified, but a specific cellular immune response appears to play a key role. Therefore, understanding immunopathogenesis can be useful in preventing a serious clinical outcome.

Are oral overuse behaviours associated with painful temporomandibular disorders? A cross-sectional study in Portuguese university students.

Background: Many different types of oral overuse behaviours occur frequently in adult populations with painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Less is known regarding these behaviours and their associations with TMDs in university students.

Objectives: Test the association between frequency of different oral overuse behaviours evaluated by the Oral Behaviour Checklist (OBC) and the severity of painful TMDs.

Bartonella henselae infection induces a persistent mechanical hypersensitivity in mice.

Bartonella spp. are re-emerging and neglected bacterial pathogens. The natural reservoirs for several species of this genus are domestic animals such as cats and dogs, the most common pets in the USA and Brazil.

Optimization of Experimental Settings for the Assessment of Reactive Oxygen Species Production by Human Blood.

The purpose of an experimental design is to improve the productivity of experimentation. It is an efficient procedure for planning experiments, so the data obtained can be analyzed to yield a valid and objective conclusion. This approach has been used as an important tool in the optimization of different analytical approaches.

Targeting the proteostasis network in Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine expansion mutation in the huntingtin protein. Expansions above 40 polyglutamine repeats are invariably fatal, following a symptomatic period characterised by choreiform movements, behavioural abnormalities, and cognitive decline. While mutant huntingtin (mHtt) is widely expressed from early life, most patients with HD present in mid-adulthood, highlighting the role of ageing in disease pathogenesis.

Bartonella henselae Infection in Sickle Cell Disease Mice Is Associated with Hyperalgesia.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent hematologic genetic disorder. Acute vaso-occlusive painful crisis is the hallmark of the disease and may be related to subclinical infections. Bartonellosis, a rare and neglected infection, is caused by Bartonella spp.

Cultural equivalence, reliability and utility of the Portuguese version of the Oral Behaviours Checklist.

Background: Oral behaviors (OBs) must be assessed as part of a biobehavioural evaluation for patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Objectives: The aims of this study were: to translate and culturally adapt the Oral Behaviors Checklist (OBC) into Portuguese; to evaluate its basic psychometric properties; and to assess the utility of the Portuguese OBC.

Methods: The Portuguese translation, cross-cultural equivalence, and two studies (Pre-field test, N = 8, and field test, N = 45) of the OBC adhered to official guidelines of the International RDC/TMD Research Consortium (now, INfORM).

Safe and effective use of supplemental oxygen therapy.

Nurses have an important role in early identification of factors that can compromise oxygen delivery to the lungs and tissues in the body, and in ensuring that patients who may require supplemental oxygen therapy are assessed and managed safely and competently. This article provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology in relation to oxygen delivery to the lungs and tissues in the body, and outlines the common indications and contraindications for supplemental oxygen therapy. It also discusses the approaches that nurses can adopt to assess a patient's clinical need for supplemental oxygen therapy, as well as the safety considerations required.

Histomorphometric approach to differentiate skin lesions of tuberculoid leprosy from sarcoidosis.

Background: More than 200 000 new cases of leprosy are detected worldwide annually. Physicians commonly have difficulty in differentiating tuberculoid form of leprosy (TL) from sarcoidosis' cutaneous manifestation.

Methods: Skin biopsies of 33 patients with TL and 24 with sarcoidosis were reviewed on hematoxylin and eosin- and Gomori-stained sections, in order to find reliable criteria for distinguishing one disease from another.

Acute kinematics changes in marathon runners using different footwear.

The effects of running with or without shoes on injury prevention have been extensively studied, and several investigations have assessed biomechanical differences between them. However, findings are not consensual and further insights on biomechanical load associated with differently shod or barefoot conditions may be needed. This study aimed to observe if habitually shod marathon runners show acute alterations when running barefoot or with minimalist shoes, and to determine whether the running kinematical adaptations of wearing minimalist shoes were similar to barefoot running.

Chlorinated Flavonoids Modulate the Inflammatory Process in Human Blood.

Flavonoids are known to react with neutrophil-generated hypochlorous acid (HOCl) at inflammation loci to form stable mono- and dichlorinated products. Some of these products have been shown to retain or even enhance their inflammatory potential, but further information is required in a broader approach to inflammatory mechanisms. In that sense, we performed an integrated evaluation on the anti-inflammatory potential of a panel of novel chlorinated flavonoids and their parent compounds, in several steps of the complex inflammatory cascade, namely, in the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2, and in the production of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)], and the chemokine, IL-8, as well as in the production of reactive species, using human whole blood as a representative in vitro model, establishing, whenever possible, a structure-activity relationship.

Dynamic flow-through approach to evaluate readily bioaccessible antioxidants in solid food samples.

Release of bioactive compounds from food matrices is regarded as the first step towards their human bioavailability. The objective of this work was the implementation of an affordable and robust flow-through device for expedient dynamic leaching experiments aiming at the assessment of readily bioaccessible antioxidant compounds in solid food commodities. A simple configuration is proposed using commercially available devices containing regenerated cellulose filters placed in polypropylene holders to entrap the solid sample, featuring a disposable, single use extraction chamber.

Coincidence and Awareness of the Relationship Between Temporomandibular Disorders and Jaw Injury, Orthodontic Treatment, and Third Molar Removal in University Students.

Aims: To determine whether there is an association between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and a history of facial/jaw injury (FJI), orthodontic treatment (OT), or third molar removal (TMR) in university students, and to evaluate the students' awareness of a possible relationship between jaw pain or other TMD symptoms, FJI, OT, and TMR, and the presence of TMD.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1,381 Oporto District university students. The Portuguese version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD was used for TMD diagnosis.

initial infection of mature human erythrocytes observed in real time using bacterial endogenous fluorescence.

is a causative agent of anemia, cat scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, recurrent fever, hepatitis, endocarditis, chronic lymphadenopathy, joint and neurological disorders. are intra-erythrocytic bacteria. The goal of this study was to visualize the invasion into enucleated human red blood cells in real time using bacterium endogenous fluorescence.

Bartonella henselae transmission by blood transfusion in mice.

Background: Bartonella spp. are neglected fastidious Gram-negative bacilli. We isolated Bartonella henselae from 1.

Granuloma Faciale and Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis: Similar Entities in Different Anatomic Sites.

Background: Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) and granuloma faciale (GF) share several histopathologic features, including eosinophil-rich inflammation, microangiitis, and progressive fibrosis. Concurrent presentation of EAF and GF suggests a pathogenetic link between them.

Objectives: To identify histologic findings that tell them apart and construe the pathogenetic mechanisms behind each morphologic variable, 14 immunohistochemical markers were used to study the cells subpopulations in 14 cases of GF and 3 cases of EAF.