Are Liver Pericytes Just Precursors of Myofibroblasts in Hepatic Diseases? Insights from the Crosstalk between Perivascular and Inflammatory Cells in Liver Injury and Repair.

Cirrhosis, a late form of liver disease, is characterized by extensive scarring due to exacerbated secretion of extracellular matrix proteins by myofibroblasts that develop during this process. These myofibroblasts arise mainly from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), liver-specific pericytes that become activated at the onset of liver injury. Consequently, HSCs tend to be viewed mainly as myofibroblast precursors in a fibrotic process driven by inflammation.

Crestal Bone Changes in Different Implants Designs: A Prospective Clinical Trial.

Objective:  Several modifications, such as changes in the implant-abutment connection, have been suggested in studies on dental implants to better preserve the peri-implant bone level. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare crestal bone level changes between two different implant designs-tissue level (TL) and bone level (BL).

Materials And Methods:  The sample comprised 18 patients, on whom a total of 30 hydrophilic tissue- and bone level implants were placed (SLActive, Straumann Institut AG, Basel, Switzerland), in the posterior region of the maxilla or the mandible.

Evaluation of immunological, inflammatory, and oxidative stress biomarkers in gasoline station attendants.

Background: Gasoline is a complex mixture of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, in which aromatic compounds, such as BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylene) feature as the main constituents. Simultaneous exposure to these aromatic hydrocarbons causes a significant impact on benzene toxicity. In order to detect early alterations caused in gasoline station attendants exposed to BTX compounds, immunological, inflammatory, and oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated.

The influence of polymorphisms of xenobiotic-metabolizing and DNA repair genes in DNA damage, telomere length and global DNA methylation evaluated in open-cast coal mining workers.

Coal plants represent one of the main sources of environmental pollution due to the combustion process of this mineral and the consequent release of gases and particles which, in significant quantities, can lead to a potential risk to health and the environment. The susceptibility of individuals to the genotoxic effects of coal mining can be modulated by genetic variations in the xenobiotic detoxification and DNA repair processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate if xenobiotic metabolism polymorphism, base excision repair polymorphisms and non-homologous end joining repair polymorphism, could modify individual susceptibility to genomic instability and epigenetic alterations induced in workers by occupational exposure to coal.

Association between severe periodontitis and chronic kidney disease severity in predialytic patients: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and different severities of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in predialytic patients.

Materials And Methods: Demographic, socioeconomic, and medical data of 139 patients from the nephrology service of one university hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil, were obtained through interview and clinical records. Full-mouth six-sites per tooth periodontal examinations were performed.

Recombinant peptide derived from the venom the Phoneutria nigriventer spider relieves nociception by nerve deafferentation.

The avulsion of nerve roots of the brachial plexus that is commonly seen in motorcycle accidents is a type of neuropathy due to deafferentation. This type of pain is clinically challenging since therapeutical protocols fail or have severe side effects. Thus, it is proposed to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of the recombinant CTK 01512-2 peptide that is derived from the venom of the Phoneutria nigriventer spider, as a future new therapeutical option.

Anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa aqueous extract and its modulation on oxidative stress and genomic instability in Wistar rats.

The use of natural products from herbs may be a therapeutic option in dyslipidemia treatment. (Mart.) O.

Antinociceptive and genotoxic assessments of the antagonist TRPV1 receptor SB-366791 on morphine-induced tolerance in mice.

Chronic pain is mainly treated with opioid analgesics such as morphine. However, the use of these substances can cause adverse effects, including dependence and tolerance, necessitating the discovery of a new approach to analgesic therapies. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is linked to thermal sensibility and has been considered as a new therapeutic option for pain treatment.

Reliability-Based Design Optimization of a Cemented Prosthesis in a Femur Undergoing Bone Remodeling.

This study proposes a numerical methodology to minimize the bone mass loss in a femur with a total hip arthroplasty procedure, considering uncertainties in the material parameters and using a reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) procedure. A genetic algorithm (GA) is applied for optimization, and a three-dimensional finite element (FE) model associated with the bone remodeling procedure is proposed and described to account for the internal and external femoral bone behavior. An example of a femoral prosthesis design is presented as a basis for discussion of the proposed methodologies, and the corresponding reliability level is evaluated.

Antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of Myrciaria dubia juice in mice submitted to ethanol 28-day treatment.

is a native plant from the Amazon region which produces red-purplish fruit rich in antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and phenolic. fruit is used to prepare juices considered to possess high nutritional content providing health benefits. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of juice to protect DNA against genomic instability induced by sub-acute ethanol consumption attributed to oxidative stress.

In vitro antimicrobial and anticancer properties of TiO blow-spun nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles.

Nanosilver immobilized on TiO nanometric fibers (Ag/TiO) was produced by solution blow spinning and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle, and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy analyses. The in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer activities of the produced nanofibers was also investigated. Ag/TiO nanofibers revealed a crystalline structure compatible with the rutile crystalline phase, as well as a mesoporous and superhydrophilic nature.

Evaluation of mutagenic activity of platinum complexes in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.

Cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin are some of the most often used alkylating chemotherapeutic agents. In view of the paucity of data on the genotoxicity of oxaliplatin, this study compares the mutagenic activity of cisplatin (0.006, 0.

Iontophoresis in lateral epicondylitis: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a painful condition typically caused by excessive use of tendons, resulting in tendinopathy, inflammation, pain, and sensitivity changes in the lateral elbow. Iontophoresis is a noninvasive method of systemic and local drug delivery by means of a current. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of iontophoresis in patients with LE.

Performance of primary healthcare dentists in a distance learning course in pediatric dentistry.

Objective: Children are an important portion of the population of the territories covered by Primary Health Care (PHC), with needs and characteristics that can be managed at this level of care. Therefore, it is essential that professionals working in PHC be capable of providing child care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of dentists working in primary healthcare (PHC) in a pediatric dentistry distance learning (DL) course, and to investigate the relationship between the grades earned on questionnaires applied after each course module and features of their personal and professional profile.

Polymorphism eNOS Glu298Asp modulates the inflammatory response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Introduction: Nitric oxide is a gaseous radical produced by the nitric oxide endothelial synthase (eNOS) whose most studied physiological action is the vasodilation. However, it also acts in the defense of the organism through the formation of cytotoxic radicals, which can potentiate the inflammatory lesion of the cells. The Glu298Asp is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the eNOS gene related to the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Incorporation of a hydrophilic amide monomer into a one-step self-etch adhesive to increase dentin bond strength: Effect of application time.

The purpose was to evaluate the effect of a hydrophilic amide monomer on μTBS of one-step adhesive to dentin at different application times. Clearfil Universal Bond Quick (UBQ), experimental adhesive (UBQ; same compositions as UBQ but hydrophilic amide monomer was replaced with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), Clearfil SE ONE and Clearfil SE Bond were applied to midcoronal dentin prepared with 600-grit SiC at different application time (0, 10, 20 and 40 s). Water sorption (Wsp) and the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of polymerized adhesives were also measured.

Low frataxin mRNA expression is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: The mitochondrial protein frataxin is involved in iron metabolism, as well as regulation of oxidative stress. To elucidate the association of frataxin with the pathophysiology of diabetes, we evaluated the mRNA levels of frataxin in leukocytes of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In addition, we investigated the relation between frataxin mRNA levels, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress biomarkers.

Interaction between low-level laser therapy and Guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract induces antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects and promotes proliferation in dermal fibroblasts.

Background: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has several clinical applications; however, its benefits are not universal. Therefore, combination therapy with LLLT and extracts from the guarana (Paullinia cupana) plant may improve its effectiveness as guarana extracts exhibit anti-aging properties.

Objectives: To evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and proliferative effects of combined LLLT and guarana extract therapy on human dermal fibroblasts.

Simvastatin Reduces Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Experimental Model.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of simvastatin in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by methionine and choline-deficient diet in mice and its possible effect on factors involved in the pathogenesis of the disease including oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Method: Male C57BL6 mice were fed either a normal diet (control) or a methionine and choline-deficient diet for four weeks and then treated orally with simvastatin (4 mg/kg once a day) for two final weeks. At the end of the experimental period, liver integrity, biochemical analysis, hepatic lipids, histology, DNA damage, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress were assessed.

Impacts of Orthognathic Surgery on Patient Satisfaction, Overall Quality of Life, and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: A Systematic Literature Review.

Several treatments have been suggested to correct dentofacial abnormalities, including orthognathic surgery. The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the impact of orthognathic surgery on patient satisfaction, overall quality of life, quality of life related to oral health-and to orthognathic surgery in particular-among adult patients. Two investigators independently reviewed the available literature in the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, EMBASE, Trip, and Google Scholar (gray literature) based on the keywords "orthognathic surgery" and "quality of life.

Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel: a big nano for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Patients with unresectable GC can be treated with chemotherapy such as paclitaxel, which is a microtubule stabilizer. The use of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-ptx) avoids hypersensitivity reactions due to the absence of solvent needed to dissolve paclitaxel and it can be administered at higher doses.

Early childhood caries epidemiology, aetiology, risk assessment, societal burden, management, education, and policy: Global perspective.

Background: This paper is a summary of the proceedings of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry Bangkok Conference on early childhood caries (ECC) held in 3-4 November 2018.

Aim: The paper aims to convey a global perspective of ECC definitions, aetiology, risk factors, societal costs, management, educational curriculum, and policy.

Design: This global perspective on ECC is the compilation of the state of science, current concepts, and literature regarding ECC from worldwide experts on ECC.