Spontaneous pneumothorax in paracoccidioidomycosis patients from an endemic area in Midwestern Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most important systemic mycosis in Latin America. About 80% of PCM patients are present with its chronic form. The lungs are affected in most patients with the chronic form; however, pleural involvement has rarely been reported.

Niche Partitioning among Mesocarnivores in a Brazilian Wetland.

We investigated the home range size, habitat selection, as well as the spatial and activity overlap, of four mid-sized carnivore species in the Central Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. From December 2005 to September 2008, seven crab-eating foxes Cerdocyon thous, seven brown-nosed coatis Nasua nasua, and six ocelots Leopardus pardalis were radio-collared and monitored. Camera trap data on these species were also collected for the crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus.

Trade-Offs in Male Display Activity with Lek Size.

In lek mating systems, males aggregate and defend arenas where they display for females; females select and mate with a male and then solely raise their offspring. Generally, female visits and copulations increase and reproductive variance in male mating success declines with lek size. Here we investigate how male display effort changes across a gradient in lek size.

Topical Prostaglandin E Analog Restores Defective Dendritic Cell-Mediated Th17 Host Defense Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in the Skin of Diabetic Mice.

People with diabetes are more prone to Staphylococcus aureus skin infection than healthy individuals. Control of S. aureus infection depends on dendritic cell (DC)-induced T-helper 17 (Th17)-mediated neutrophil recruitment and bacterial clearance.

Saturated high-fat diet-induced obesity increases adenylate cyclase of myocardial β-adrenergic system and does not compromise cardiac function.

Obesity is a worldwide pandemic associated with high incidence of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms by which the obesity leads cardiac dysfunction are not fully elucidated and few studies have evaluated the relationship between obesity and proteins involved in myocardial β-adrenergic (βA) system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardiac function and βA pathway components in myocardium of obese rats.

A rare case of regression of brown tumors of tertiary hyperparathyroidism after parathyroidectomy and renal transplant: A 5-year follow-up.

Tertiary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a rare condition that affects patients with secondary HPT, which develop hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands, thus causing an increase in parathyroid hormone levels. Bone alterations are the main consequences of this condition including the development of osteolytic lesions called brown tumor. This article reports an unusual case of brown tumors located in the maxilla and mandible in a 19-year-old man with chronic renal failure with hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands.

Effects of concanavalin A on the progesterone production by bovine steroidogenic luteal cells in vitro.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of concanavalin A (CONA) on the progesterone (P4) production by bovine steroidogenic luteal cells (LCs) in vitro. Luteal cells were collected during the mid-luteal stage (at 10-12 days following ovulation) and processed in the laboratory. Luteal cells were grown for 7 days in a humid atmosphere with 5% CO2 , with or without 10% foetal bovine serum, and were subjected to the following treatments: control: no treatment; CONA (10 μg/ml); LH (100 μg/ml); CONA + LH; LH (100 μg/ml) + prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) (10 ng/ml); CONA + LH + PGF2α.

Melatonin decreases estrogen receptor binding to estrogen response elements sites on the OCT4 gene in human breast cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) pose a challenge in cancer treatment, as these cells can drive tumor growth and are resistant to chemotherapy. Melatonin exerts its oncostatic effects through the estrogen receptor (ER) pathway in cancer cells, however its action in CSCs is unclear. Here, we evaluated the effect of melatonin on the regulation of the transcription factor OCT4 (Octamer Binding 4) by estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs).

Cellulose triacetate films obtained from sugarcane bagasse: Evaluation as coating and mucoadhesive material for drug delivery systems.

Cellulose triacetate (CTA) films were produced from cellulose extracted from sugarcane bagasse. The films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water vapor permeability (WVP), mechanical properties (MP), enzymatic digestion (ED), and mucoadhesive properties evaluation (MPE). WVP showed that more concentrated films have higher values; asymmetric films had higher values than symmetric films.

Correlation of cognitive and masticatory function in Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: This study investigated chewing function in elderly individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and correlated chewing function with cognitive status.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen elderly individuals with mild AD (mean age 76.7 ± 6.

Edge phonons in black phosphorus.

Black phosphorus has recently emerged as a new layered crystal that, due to its peculiar and anisotropic crystalline and electronic band structures, may have important applications in electronics, optoelectronics and photonics. Despite the fact that the edges of layered crystals host a range of singular properties whose characterization and exploitation are of utmost importance for device development, the edges of black phosphorus remain poorly characterized. In this work, the atomic structure and behaviour of phonons near different black phosphorus edges are experimentally and theoretically studied using Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations.

First report of Rhodnius stali (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) in the State of Acre and in the Brazilian Amazon.

Introduction: This paper reports, for the first time, the presence of Rhodnius stali in the state of Acre and in the Brazilian Amazon.

Methods: Specimens of R. stali were collected by the Federal University of Acre in Rio Branco.

Thin-plate spline analysis of mandibular shape changes induced by functional appliances in Class II malocclusion : A long-term evaluation.

Aims: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the long-term morphological mandibular changes induced by functional treatment of Class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion.

Methods: Forty patients (20 females, 20 males) with Class II malocclusion consecutively treated with either a Bionator or an Activator followed by fixed appliances were compared with a control group of 40 subjects (19 females, 21 males) with untreated Class II malocclusion. Lateral cephalograms were available at the start of treatment (T1, mean age 9.

LDH, proliferation curves and cell cycle analysis are the most suitable assays to identify and characterize new phytotherapeutic compounds.

Brazilian flora biodiversity has been widely investigated to identify effective and safe phytotherapeutic compounds. Among the investigated plant species, the Byrsonima genus exhibits promising biological activities. This study aimed at evaluating the cytotoxicity of B.

Do Milk Samples Stored for 12 Days after Collection Exhibit a Change in Composition Related to the Initial Bacterial Load?

Total bacterial count (TBC) is a tool used to assess milk quality and is associated with not only the initial sample contamination but also the sample storage time and temperature. Several countries have reported milk samples with a high TBC, and the influence of TBC on milk preservation remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the initial bacterial contamination level on the macrocomponents and somatic cell count (SCC) of raw milk samples preserved with bronopol and maintained at two storage temperatures (7 and 25°C) for up to 12 days.

Animal Mitochondrial DNA Replication.

Recent advances in the field of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication highlight the diversity of both the mechanisms utilized and the structural and functional organization of the proteins at mtDNA replication fork, despite the relative simplicity of the animal mtDNA genome. DNA polymerase γ, mtDNA helicase and mitochondrial single-stranded DNA-binding protein-the key replisome proteins, have evolved distinct structural features and biochemical properties. These appear to be correlated with mtDNA genomic features in different metazoan taxa and with their modes of DNA replication, although substantial integrative research is warranted to establish firmly these links.

Initial oral biofilm formation on titanium implants with different surface treatments: An in vivo study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine in vivo the initial bacterial adhesion on titanium implants with different surface treatments.

Design: Ten subjects wore oral splints containing machined pure titanium disks (Ti-M), acid-etched titanium (Ti-AE) and anodized and laser irradiated disks (Ti-AL) for 24h. After this period, disks were removed from the splints and adherent bacteria were quantified by an enzymatic assay to assess total viable bacteria and by Real Time PCR to evaluate total bacteria and Streptococcus oralis levels.

Aesthetic and Non-aesthetic Indications for Orbicularis Oculi Myectomy.

Introduction: Crows' feet wrinkles are caused by the action of the orbicularis oculi muscle on overlying skin. Treatment options range from botulinum toxin to a multitude of surgical methods. We first described our technique in 2003 and refined it in 2006.

Impact of oral health on health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite the consensus regarding the existence of a relationship between "impacts on oral health" and "health-related quality of life", this relationship, considering the latent nature of these variables, is still poorly investigated. Thus, we performed this study in order to determine the magnitude of the impacts of oral health, demographic and symptom/clinical variables on the health-related quality of life in a Brazilian sample of dental patients.

Methods: A total of 1,007 adult subjects enrolled in the School of Dentistry of São Paulo State University (UNESP) - Araraquara Campus for dentistry care between September/2012 and April/2013, participated.

Retrieval of a Broken Dental Needle Close to the Facial Artery After Cervical Migration.

Use of imaging tools like digital C-arm, tridimensional tomography, and navigational surgery has proven its value to the surgical removal of broken needles. A 32-year-old patient was referred for evaluation of a fractured needle during inferior alveolar nerve block attempt few days before. The patient complained of a pricking sensation at the injured area while moving the neck.

Burnout Syndrome and alcohol consumption in prison employees.

Objective: The aims of this study were to estimate the association between an at-risk drinking pattern and sociodemographic variables, and to compare the mean scores of the factors associated with the Burnout Syndrome, according to the alcohol consumption pattern in staff members from two Brazilian prisons.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed with 339 participants (response rate = 63.8%).

Glycoprotein assay based on the optimized immittance signal of a redox tagged and lectin-based receptive interface.

Glycoproteins play important roles in biological systems such as in process related to cell binding, signaling and disease. Consequently, novel, potentially quantitative, and rapid electroanalytical approaches capable of detecting protein binding are welcome. Herein, we introduce a methodology that is both fast and sensitive, and capable of quantification of the binding affinity in glycoprotein-lectin molecular models.

Glyphosate-Resistant and Conventional Canola (Brassica napus L.) Responses to Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA) Treatment.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) canola contains two transgenes that impart resistance to the herbicide glyphosate: (1) the microbial glyphosate oxidase gene (gox) encoding the glyphosate oxidase enzyme (GOX) that metabolizes glyphosate to aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and (2) cp4 that encodes a GR form of the glyphosate target enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimic acid-3-phosphate synthase. The objectives of this research were to determine the phytotoxicity of AMPA to canola, the relative metabolism of glyphosate to AMPA in GR and conventional non-GR (NGR) canola, and AMPA pool sizes in glyphosate-treated GR canola. AMPA applied at 1.