Reproducibility and inter-observer agreement of Greulich-Pyle protocol to estimate skeletal age among female adolescent soccer players.

Background: Skeletal age (SA) is considered the best method of assessing biological maturation. The aim of this study was to determine intra-observer (reproducibility) and inter-observer agreement of SA values obtained via the Greulich-Pyle (GP) method. In addition, the variation in calculated SAs by alternative GP protocols was examined.

Allometric Modeling of Wingate Test among Adult Male Athletes from Combat Sports.

Athletes from combat sports are grouped into a series of weight categories that are intended to promote fair competition. Differences in performance are partly attributable to differences in body size. Consequently, ratio standards in which a performance variable is simply divided by an anthropometric characteristic such as body mass are often used, although this application is not recommended.

Hormesis in plants: Physiological and biochemical responses.

Hormesis is a favorable response to low level exposures to substance or to adverse conditions. This phenomenon has become a target to achieve greater crop productivity. This review aimed to address the physiological mechanisms for the induction of hormesis in plants.

Myotendinous junction adaptations to ladder-based resistance training: identification of a new telocyte niche.

The present study shows chronic adjustments in the myotendinous junction (MTJ) in response to different ladder-based resistance training (LRT) protocols. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were divided into groups: sedentary (S), calisthenics (LRT without additional load [C]), and resistance-trained (LRT with extra weight [R]). We demonstrated longer lengths of sarcoplasmatic invaginations in the trained groups; however, evaginations were seen mainly in group R.

Evaluations of hydroxyapatite and bioactive glass in the repair of critical size bone defects in rat calvaria.

Unlabelled: To overcome the morbidity of autogenous graft removal and limitations of allogeneic and xenogeneic grafts, a great interest exists in the development of biomaterials of synthetic origin.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological behavior of a novel bioactive glass (60% SiO2- 36% CaO-4% P2O5) as bone substitute in critical calvaria defects of rats, in comparison to hydroxyapatite.

Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were divided in three groups, according to the treatment: Control Group (C) - blood clot; Hydroxyapatite (HA) - particulate hydroxyapatite (≤0,5 mm); and Bioactive Glass (BG) - particulate bioactive glass (0.

Myology of juvenile freshwater prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum (Decapoda, Caridea): Morphology and swimming implication.

Little is known about the functional morphology of locomotion in prawns, and even fewer studies have succeeded in relating a specific muscular group to the movement of the body. The present study aimed to describe the morphology of the thoracoabdominal muscle system and its implications for swimming in juveniles of Macrobrachium amazonicum. Ten muscles were observed in the abdominal muscular system in juveniles of M.

Placenta-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells: a promising potential cell-based therapy for canine inflammatory brain disease.

Background: Canine inflammatory brain disease (IBD) is a severe inflammatory disorder characterized by infiltration of activated immune cell subsets into the brain and spinal cord. Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising therapy for IBD, based on their potent pro-angiogenic, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory properties. The aims of this study were to compare the immunomodulatory attributes of canine adipose-derived MSCs (ASCs) and placenta-derived MSCs (PMSCs) in vitro.

Outcomes in the management of high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in trophoblastic disease centers in South America.

Background: South America has a higher incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease than North America or Europe, but whether this impacts chemotherapy outcomes is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes among women with high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) treated at trophoblastic disease centers in developing South American countries.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with high-risk GTN treated in three trophoblastic disease centers in South America (Botucatu and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina) from January 1990 to December 2014.

Regulatory effect of PGE on microbicidal activity and inflammatory cytokines in canine leishmaniasis.

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is caused by the intracellular parasite Leishmania infantum. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE ) exerts potent regulatory effects on the immune system in experimental model Leishmania infection, but this influence has not yet been studied in CanL. In this study, PGE and PGE receptor levels and the regulatory effect of PGE on arginase activity, NO , IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α and parasite load were evaluated in cultures of splenic leucocytes obtained from dogs with CanL in the presence of agonists and inhibitors.

Chrysin Modulates Genes Related to Inflammation, Tissue Remodeling, and Cell Proliferation in the Gastric Ulcer Healing.

Chrysin exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Here, the gastroprotective effect of chrysin was investigated in mouse models of gastric ulcer induced by absolute ethanol, acetic acid, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. The gastric-healing effect was evaluated at 7 and 14 days after treatment; the mechanism of action was verified using the expression of metalloproteinase 2 () and 9 (), caspase-3, cyclooxygenase 1 () and 2 (), epidermal growth factor (), and interleukin-10.

Grb2 dimer interacts with Coumarin through SH2 domains: A combined experimental and molecular modeling study.

Grb2 is an important regulator of normal vs. oncogenic cell signaling transduction. It plays a pivotal role on kinase-mediated signaling transduction by linking Receptor Tyrosine kinases to Ras/MAPK pathway which is known to bring oncogenic outcome.

Interactions of Bacillus thuringiensis strains for Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) susceptibility.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) biopesticides are an environmentally safe alternative to the management of Plutella xylostella pesticide resistance evolution. We evaluated P. xylostella susceptibility to six Bt strains cultivated and applied individually, and 15 combinations of Bt strains mixed after cultivation.

Nanostructured Antimicrobials in Food Packaging-Recent Advances.

Active food packaging systems promote better food quality and/or stability, such as by releasing antimicrobial agents into food. Advantages of adding antimicrobials to the packaging material instead of into the bulk food include controlled diffusion, reduced antimicrobial contents, and improved cost effectiveness. Nanostructured antimicrobials are especially effective due to their high specific surface area.

Critical Defect Healing Assessment in Rat Calvaria Filled with Injectable Calcium Phosphate Cement.

(1) Background: The tissue engineering field has been working to find biomaterials that mimic the biological properties of autogenous bone grafts. (2) Aim: To evaluate the osteoconduction potential of injectable calcium phosphate cement implanted in critical defects in rat calvaria. (3) Methods: In the calvarial bone of 36 rats, 7-mm diameter critical size defects were performed.

A Phage-Like Plasmid Carrying Gene in Carbapenem-Resistant .

Lateral gene transfer plays a central role in the dissemination of carbapenem resistance in bacterial pathogens associated with nosocomial infections, mainly and . Despite their clinical significance, there is little information regarding the mobile genetic elements and mechanism of acquisition and propagation of lateral genes in , and they remain largely unknown. The present study characterized the genetic context of in carbapenem-resistant strain BH9.

Melatonin regulates tumor aggressiveness under acidosis condition in breast cancer cell lines.

Breast cancer progression is composed of multiple steps that are influenced by tumor cell adaptations to survive under acidic conditions in the tumor microenvironment. Regulation of this cell survival behavior is a promising strategy to avoid cancer development. Melatonin is a natural hormone produced and secreted by the pineal gland capable of modulating different biological pathways in cancer.

Evaluation of Osteoconduction of Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Ceramic in the Calvaria of Rats: Microscopic and Histometric Analysis.

(1) Background: Evaluate the osteoconduction capability of a biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic composed of hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate 60%/40% in a rat model. (2) Methods: In the calvarial bone of 54 adult male rats, 7-mm diameter critical size defects were performed. The animals were randomly allocated to three experimental groups according to the type of material: blood clot (BCG), blood clot covered with a bovine-derived collagen membrane (MBCG), and BCP ceramic covered with a bovine-derived collagen membrane (BCPG).

Heart structure in the Amazonian teleost Arapaima gigas (Osteoglossiformes, Arapaimidae).

The fish heart ventricle has varied morphology and may have a specific morpho-functional design in species adapted to extreme environmental conditions. In general, the Amazonian ichthyofauna undergoes constant variations in water temperature, pH and oxygen saturation, which makes these species useful for investigations of cardiac morphology. Arapaima gigas, a member of the ancient teleost group Osteoglossomorpha, is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.

Maxillary Alveolar Ridge Atrophy Reconstructed With Autogenous Bone Graft Harvested From the Proximal Ulna.

Atrophy of the alveolar ridge requires bone grafting at the implant site for rehabilitation of the masticatory function with dental implants. Despite the advances in the development of bone substitutes, autogenous bone graft remains the "criterion standard" because of its osteogenic, osteoinductive, osteoconductive potential, and non-immunogenic properties. However, harvesting of autogenous bone is not exempt from donor site morbidity.

Myocardium Arrangement and Coronary Vessel Distribution in the Ventricle of Three Neotropical Freshwater Teleosts.

The ventricle of the fish heart is a chamber that exhibits great morphological and vascular variability among species. However, although the Neotropical region has the greatest taxonomic and functional diversity in freshwater fish, many considerations have been formed without previous knowledge of the ventricular morphology of these fishes. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to describe the anatomy, myoarchitecture, and distribution of coronary vessels in the ventricle of three species belonging to two representative groups from this geographical area, Leporinus elongatus, Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes) and Pterodoras granulosus (Siluriformes), using gross anatomy and light microscopy.

COX Inhibition Profiles and Molecular Docking Studies of the Lignan Hinokinin and Some Synthetic Derivatives.

Encouraged by the anti-inflammatory activity of hinokinin in vivo, which is also observed for the analogues dinitrohinokinin and diidrocubebin, herein we used in vitro and in silico methods to assess their selectivity profiles and predict their binding modes with Cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and 2). The in vitro assays demonstrated dinitrohinokinin is about 13 times more selective for COX-2 than for COX-1, a similar profile observed for the drugs celecoxib (selective index ≈9) and meloxicam (selective index ≈11). Predictions of the binding modes suggested dinitrohinokinin interacts with COX-2 very similarly to rofecoxib, exploring residues at the hydrophilic pocket of the enzyme that accessible to ligands only in this isoform.

Biotransformation of disperse dyes using nitroreductase immobilized on magnetic particles modified with tosyl group: Identification of products by LC-MS-MS and theoretical studies conducted with DNA.

The present work evaluates the action of nitroreductase enzyme immobilized on Tosylactivated magnetic particles (MP-Tosyl) on three disperse dyes which contain nitro and azo groups. The dyes included Disperse Red 73 (DR 73), Disperse Red 78 (DR 78), and Disperse Red 167 (DR 167). The use of a magnet enabled the rapid and easy removal of the immobilized enzyme after biotransformation; this facilitated the identification of the products generated using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Promising nanotherapy in treating leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniases are infectious diseases caused by an intracellular protozoan in humans by 20 different species of Leishmania among more than 53 species. There are at least twelve million cases of infections worldwide and three hundred and fifty million people are at risk in at least 98 developing countries in Africa, South-East Asia, and the Americas. Only Brazil presented high burden for both visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous (CL).

Adjunctive use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws: A case report.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws is a delayed healing condition commonly recognized as a serious adverse effect of antiresorptive therapy and is particularly associated with aminobisphosphonate treatment. In the present report, a 62-year-old osteoporotic female patient treated with intramuscular injections of clodronate for 3 years exhibited clinical signs of exposed necrotic bone and inflamed mucosa 4 months after tooth extractions in the mandibular interforaminal region. The treatment consisted of sequestrectomy, open-flap debridement, and adjunctive use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy to decontaminate the affected hard and soft tissues.