Associations of Blood Pressure with Functional and Cognitive Changes in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Midlife hypertension followed by late life hypotension resulting from neurodegeneration increases amyloidogenesis and tauopathy.

Methods: Consecutive outpatients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) at various stages and their respective caregivers were assessed for score variations in 1 year of tests assessing caregiver burden, functionality and cognition according to blood pressure (BP) variations and APOE haplotypes, while also taking into account differential effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, or no antihypertensive medication on score changes. The diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension followed the JNC 7 report.

Prognostic Value of ADAMTS Proteases and Their Substrates in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Background: ADAMTS are metalloproteases with disintegrin and thrombospondin motifs. They are secreted proteases playing a role in biological processes such as inflammation, angiogenesis, and urogenital development. ADAMTS have specific substrates, such as the proteoglycans (PG) versican, aggrecan, and brevican.

In situ Effect of Chewing Gum with and without CPP-ACP on Enamel Surface Hardness Subsequent to ex vivo Acid Challenge.

The erosion-protective effect of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the ability of CPP-ACP chewing gum to prevent a single event of erosive demineralization in situ. Bovine enamel blocks (n = 120) were randomly assigned to 3 phases according to the baseline surface hardness: phase I (PI) - chewing gum with CPP-ACP, phase II (PII) - chewing gum without CPP-ACP, and control phase (PIII) - salivary effect without stimulation (no gum).

Furosemide Increases the Risk of Hyperparathyroidism in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Diuretics are widely used in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). While thiazide-like diuretics limit urinary calcium excretion, loop diuretics (LD) promote calcium wasting, which might facilitate the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT2). We sought to investigate, in CKD patients not on dialysis, the influence of either hydrochlorothiazide (Hydro) or furosemide (Furo) on circulating parathyroid hormone (PTH) and whether such actions are determined by the effects of these compounds on calcium excretion.

Breastfeeding, Dental Biofilm Acidogenicity, and Early Childhood Caries.

Aim: This study evaluated the acidogenicity of human milk by the dental biofilms of children with and without early childhood caries (ECC).

Method: Biofilms of 16 children (7 with ECC; 9 caries free) were exposed to human milk or 10% sucrose solution in the crossover design, and the biofilm pH was determined.

Results: Breastfeeding did not provoke a decrease in biofilm pH, irrespective of the children's caries status, whereas sucrose decreased the pH for both groups.

Control of Stress-Induced ACTH Secretion by Vasopressin and CRH: Additional Evidence.

Vasopressin and CRH have complementary roles in the secretion of ACTH following different stress modalities. The concomitant use of V1b and CRF1 receptor antagonists completely inhibits ACTH secretion in response to different stress modalities. The combination of the CRF1 antagonist SSR125543 with the V1b antagonist SSR149415 effectively suppressed plasma ACTH 1.

Prevalence of High-Grade Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Patients with Cytology Presenting Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of histological high-grade lesions and cervical cancer in patients with ASCUS cytology.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional prospective study involving 703 women with a uterus and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). The patients were submitted to a colposcopy and underwent a guided biopsy when changes on the colposcopy were detected.

Retroclival Pneumocephalus Associated with Bilateral Abducens Palsy in a Child.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is less common in children than in adults. Posterior fossa lesions are even more uncommon, but, when present, are usually epidural hematomas. These lesions, even when small, may have a bad outcome because of the possibility of compression of the important structures that the infratentorial compartment contains, such as the brainstem and cranial nerves, and the constriction of the fourth ventricle, causing acute hydrocephalus.

A Single Nucleotide Variant in the Promoter Region of 17β-HSD Type 5 Gene Influences External Genitalia Virilization in Females with 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency.

Background: In 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD), there is an influence of genotype on the severity of external genitalia virilization. However, females carrying mutations predicting a similar impairment of enzymatic activity present a wide variability of genital phenotypes. In such cases, interindividual variability in genes related to the sex steroid hormone pathway could play a role.

Prenatal and Postnatal Management of Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation.

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is one of the most common lung lesions detected prenatally. Despite the research efforts made in the past few years, controversy and lack of clarity in the literature still exist regarding nomenclature, classification, pathogenesis and the management of CPAM. Therefore, it is of greatest importance to delineate the natural history of CPAMs and to create a consensus to guide the management and follow-up of these lesions.

Omalizumab in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Brazilian Real-Life Experience.

Background: Current guidelines on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) suggest a treatment based on a 3-step approach that aims at total symptom control, starting with H1-antihistamines. However, a significant number of patients present an antihistamine-resistant urticaria that must be treated with an alternative third-line therapy such as omalizumab.

Methods: Patients with a history of CSU who did not respond to treatment with high doses of modern antihistamines were treated with 150 or 300 mg of omalizumab every 4 weeks.

The Placenta as an Organ and a Source of Stem Cells and Extracellular Matrix: A Review.

The placenta is a temporal, dynamic and diverse organ with important immunological features that facilitate embryonic and fetal development and survival, notwithstanding the fact that several aspects of its formation and function closely resemble tumor progression. Placentation in mammals is commonly used to characterize the evolution of species, including insights into human evolution. Although most placentas are discarded after birth, they are a high-yield source for the isolation of stem/progenitor cells and are rich in extracellular matrix (ECM), representing an important resource for regenerative medicine purposes.

Long-Term Effect of Anti-VEGF Agents on Intraocular Pressure in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To analyze the effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Materials andMethods: This is a retrospective study that included 72 patients treated unilaterally with anti-VEGF agents according to a pro re nata regimen. Fellow noninjected eyes (n = 72) were used as controls.

Protective Effect of Whole and Fat-Free Fluoridated Milk, Applied before or after Acid Challenge, against Dental Erosion.

This study analysed in vitro the effect of milk against dental erosion, considering three factors: the type of milk (bovine whole/fat-free), the presence of different fluoride concentrations and the time of application (before/after erosive challenge). Bovine enamel (n = 15/group) and root dentine (n = 12/group) specimens were submitted to the following treatments: after the first erosive challenge - 0.9% NaCl solution (negative control), whole milk with 0, 2.

Effect of Dialysis Day on Intradialytic Hypotension Risk.

Background/aims: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a serious and frequent complication of hemodialysis (HD). Thus far, data are scarcely available to assess the impact of first versus subsequent HD sessions of the week in IDH. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to evaluate IDH risk in patients on thrice-weekly HD.

Influence of Toothbrushing on the Antierosive Effect of Film-Forming Agents.

This study evaluated the influence of toothbrushing on the antierosive effect of solutions containing sodium fluoride (225 ppm/F), stannous chloride (800 ppm/Sn), sodium linear polyphosphate (2%/LPP), and their combinations, and deionized water as negative control (C). Solutions were tested in a 5-day erosion-remineralization-abrasion cycling model, using enamel and dentin specimens (n = 8). Erosion was performed 6 times/day for 5 min, exposure to the test solutions 3 times/day for 2min, and toothbrushing (or not) with toothpaste slurry 2 times/day for 2 min (45 strokes).

Atypical 581-kb 22q11.21 Deletion in a Patient with Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Spectrum Phenotype.

The oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) is defined as a group of malformations involving the ears, mouth, mandible, eyes, and cervical spine. Establishing an accurate clinical diagnosis of OAVS is a challenge for clinical geneticists, not only because these patients display heterogeneous phenotypes, but also because its etiology encompasses environmental factors, unknown genetic factors and different chromosome aberrations. To date, several chromosomal abnormalities have been associated with the syndrome, most frequently involving chromosome 22.

Frontal Lobe Degeneration in Adults with Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease: A Review.

Background: There is a proven link between Down syndrome and the early development of the neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Changes in the personality and behavior of adults with Down syndrome might indicate the early stages of dementia or of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The objective of this study was to investigate the executive functions and changes in behavior associated with frontal lobe degeneration in individuals with Down syndrome who develop AD.

Increased Risk of Stroke in Patients with Isolated Third, Fourth, or Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsies: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this nationwide cohort study was to evaluate whether the occurrence of isolated 3rd, 4th or 6th cranial nerve (CN) palsies is associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke.

Methods: This study utilized data from Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database during 1995-2012. Subjects aged 20 years or older who had isolated CN 3/4/6 palsies diagnosed by a neurologist or ophthalmologist between January 2000 and December 2011 were included.

Cytogenetic Biomonitoring in Buccal Mucosa Cells from Young Smokers.

Objective: Nowadays, much attention has been focused on the search for new non-invasive methodologies able to predict malignant transformation of oral mucosa cells. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate DNA damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells from smokers and non-smokers in buccal mucosa cells.

Study Design: A total of 24 young, healthy smokers and 14 non-smokers were included in this setting.

Proteomics of Secretory-Stage and Maturation-Stage Enamel of Genetically Distinct Mice.

The mechanisms by which excessive ingestion of fluoride (F) during amelogenesis leads to dental fluorosis (DF) are still not precisely known. Inbred strains of mice vary in their susceptibility to develop DF, and therefore permit the investigation of underlying molecular events influencing DF severity. We employed a proteomic approach to characterize and evaluate changes in protein expression from secretory-stage and maturation-stage enamel in 2 strains of mice with different susceptibilities to DF (A/J, i.

Biomechanical Properties and Microstructural Analysis of the Human Nonaneurysmal Aorta as a Function of Age, Gender and Location: An Autopsy Study.

Introduction: The biomechanical failure properties and histological composition of the human nonaneurysmal aorta were studied.

Methods: Twenty-six human aortas were harvested from fresh cadavers at autopsy. A total of 153 circumferentially oriented strips were obtained from the aortas for biomechanical and histological studies.

Protocol for the Evaluation of Speech Intelligibility in Dysarthrias: Evidence of Reliability and Validity.

Background/aims: Studies about the reliability and validity of intelligibility measures are fundamental to direct their use and interpretation in both clinical and research settings. The present study assessed inter-rater reliability, internal consistency and criterion validity of scores for the sentence and word subtests of the Protocol for the Evaluation of Speech Intelligibility (PESI).

Methods: This study included 180 adult volunteers who were divided into three groups: 30 speakers with dysarthria, 30 control speakers and 120 listeners.

Reading in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Literature Review.

Objective: To review what the literature says about reading abilities of children on the autism spectrum (autism spectrum disorders, ASD) as well as to assess the results of intervention proposals. The broad ASD diagnosis used in the last decades and the resulting changes in the prevalence of these disorders have led to a relevant increase in the number of children diagnosed with ASD in the school system. The purpose of this review is to identify the different profiles of reading abilities shown by children with ASD described in the recent literature and the results of reported intervention methods.