Electronic nicotine delivery systems and/or electronic non-nicotine delivery systems for tobacco smoking cessation or reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the impact of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and/or electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS) versus no smoking cessation aid, or alternative smoking cessation aids, in cigarette smokers on long-term tobacco use.

Data Sources: Searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Web of Science up to December 2015.

Study Selection: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies.

Stryphnodendron adstringens and purified tannin on Pythium insidiosum: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Background: Pythium insidiosum is the etiological agent of pythiosis, an emerging life-threatening infectious disease in tropical and subtropical regions. The pathogen is a fungus-like organism resistant to antifungal therapy, for this reason, most cases need extensive surgical debridments as treatment, but depending on the size and anatomical region of the lesion, such approach is unfeasible. We investigate the fungicidal effect and toxicity of crude bark extract of Stryphnodendron adstringens and commercially available tannin on Pythium insidiosum both in vitro and in vivo.

Influence of the Amount of Dentifrice and Fluoride Concentrations on Salivary Fluoride Levels in Children.

Purpose: This study evaluated fluoride (F) concentrations in saliva of children after brushing with dentifrices containing different F concentrations (zero, 550, and 1,100 ppm F) in different quantities (full bristles, transversal technique, and pea-sized).

Methods: Eight- to 10-year-old volunteers (N=24) were randomly assigned into nine experimental groups (dentifrice type versus amounts) following a double-blind, crossover protocol. After a one-week washout period (use of placebo toothpaste), stimulated saliva was collected prior to toothbrushing (baseline) and at five, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after toothbrushing with one of the possible combinations.

Energy Systems Contribution in the Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test.

The aims of the present study were to verify the contributions of the energy systems during repeated sprints with a short recovery time and the associations of the time- and power-performance of repeated sprints with energetic contributions and aerobic and anaerobic variables. 13 healthy men performed the running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) followed by an incremental protocol for lactate minimum intensity determination. During the RAST, the net energy system was estimated using the oxygen consumption and the blood lactate responses.

Net mineral requirements of dairy goats during pregnancy.

Mineral requirements of pregnant dairy goats are still not well defined; therefore, we investigated the net Ca, P, Mg, Na and K requirements for pregnancy and for maintenance during pregnancy in two separate experiments. Experiment 1 was performed to estimate the net Ca, P, Mg, Na and K requirements in goats carrying single or twin fetuses from 50 to 140 days of pregnancy (DOP). The net mineral requirements for pregnancy were determined by measuring mineral deposition in gravid uterus and mammary gland after comparative slaughter.

HLA-G variability and haplotypes detected by massively parallel sequencing procedures in the geographicaly distinct population samples of Brazil and Cyprus.

The HLA-G molecule presents immunomodulatory properties that might inhibit immune responses when interacting with specific Natural Killer and T cell receptors, such as KIR2DL4, ILT2 and ILT4. Thus, HLA-G might influence the outcome of situations in which fine immune system modulation is required, such as autoimmune diseases, transplants, cancer and pregnancy. The majority of the studies regarding the HLA-G gene variability so far was restricted to a specific gene segment (i.

Cytotoxicity of peracetic acid: evaluation of effects on metabolism, structure and cell death.

Aim: To evaluate the cytotoxicity and the mechanism of cell aggression of peracetic acid (PA) in comparison with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl).

Methodology: L929 fibroblasts were exposed to 1% PA and 2.5% NaOCl, at several dilutions for 10 min.

Can environmental pollution by metals change genetic diversity? Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) as a study case in Southeastern Brazilian mangroves.

Industrial areas on estuarine systems are commonly affected by heavy metals, affecting all local biota. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to evaluate genetic diversity of Ucides cordatus at mangroves in southeastern Brazil (Juréia, J; São Vicente, SV; and Cubatão, C), with distinct pollution levels by metals. The genetic diversity of this species was compared with concentrations of metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr and Hg) in the environment.

The Humidity in a Low-Flow Dräger Fabius Anesthesia Workstation with or without Thermal Insulation or a Heat and Moisture Exchanger: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: During anesthesia, as compared with intensive care, the time of the tracheal intubation is much shorter. An inhaled gas minimum humidity of 20 mgH2O.L-1 is recommended to reduce the deleterious effects of dry gas on the airways during anesthesia with tracheal intubation.

Inflammatory bowel disease and oral health: systematic review and a meta-analysis.

Background: The objective of this systematic review was to systematically investigate whether there is an association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and oral health.

Methods: Literature searches for randomized and non-randomized studies were performed up to January 2017. Risk of bias within studies was assessed with the Downs and Black checklist.

Functional Haplotypes in Interleukin 4 Gene Associated with Periodontitis.

Chronic periodontitis (CP) is an infectious inflammatory disease that affects tooth-supporting structures and in which dental plaque bacteria, immune mechanisms and genetic predisposition play important roles. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is a key anti-inflammatory cytokine with relevant action in imbalances in inflamed periodontal tissue. Individuals carrying the TCI/CCI genotype (S-haplotype) of the IL-4 gene are 5 times more susceptible to CP, whereas the CTI/TTD genotype (P-haplotype) confers protection against CP.

Anti-inflammatory and toxicological evaluation of essential oil from Piper glabratum leaves.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Although some of the species of the genus Piper exhibit interesting biological properties, studies on Piper glabratum Kunth are very limited.

Aim Of The Study: This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity and the toxicological profile of the essential oil from P. glabratum leaves (OEPG) in mice.

Ilex paraguariensis supplementation may be an effective nutritional approach to modulate oxidative stress during perimenopause.

Perimenopause is a period in a woman's life that precedes menopause and is characterized by hormonal changes that result in increased oxidative stress. Since oxidative stress is associated with age-related diseases and perimenopausal symptoms including somato-vegetative manifestations, nutritional antioxidant supplementation may be an effective approach to minimizing this stress. Mate tea (MT) (Ilex paraguariensis), a typical and inexpensive beverage consumed in the Brazilian south-east, Argentina and Uruguay, increases antioxidant defense.

Examiner's experience and the outcome interpretation of ICDAS and Nyvad's system - a prospective in vitro study.

Objective: To evaluate, prospectively, the influence of examiner's experience in interpreting and applying the caries detection systems ICDAS (IC) and Nyvad (NY).

Material And Methods: Twelve second-year undergraduate dental students (UG) and 12 postgraduates (PG) MSc level analysed and codified 77 clinical dental caries photographs at three different moments: initially, without any training; after one week of receiving training through a theoretical class; and after two years. Reproducibility and correlation was evaluated; sensitivity, specificity and area under ROC curve (AUC) were dichotomized according to the presence of cavitation (IC) and in relation to disease activity (NY).

Determination of Trace Elements in Cow Placenta by Tungsten Coil Atomic Emission Spectrometry.

Tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometry (WCAES) is used to determine trace levels of Mn (403.1 nm) and Cr (425.5 nm) in cow placenta.

Repeated applications of photodynamic therapy on Candida glabrata biofilms formed in acrylic resin polymerized.

Previous studies have been suggested that photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be used as an adjuvant treatment for denture stomatitis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of multiple sessions of PDT on Candida glabrata biofilms in specimens of polymerized acrylic resin formed after 5 days. Subsequently, four applications of PDT were performed on biofilms in 24-h intervals (days 6-9).

Addition of Ezetimibe to statins for patients at high cardiovascular risk: Systematic review of patient-important outcomes.

Ezetimibe is widely used in combination with statins to reduce low-density lipoprotein. We sought to examine the impact of ezetimibe when added to statins on patient-important outcomes. Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and CENTRAL were searched through July, 2016.

Systematic survey of randomized trials evaluating the impact of alternative diagnostic strategies on patient-important outcomes.

Objectives: To provide a perspective on the current practice of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of diagnostic strategies focusing on patient-important outcomes.

Study Design And Setting: We conducted a comprehensive search of MEDLINE and included RCTs published in full-text reports that evaluated alternative diagnostic strategies.

Results: Of 56,912 unique citations, we sampled 7,500 and included 103 eligible RCTs, therefore suggesting that MEDLINE includes approximately 781 diagnostic RCTs.

Life cycle and parasitic competence of Dermacentor nitens Neumann, 1897 (Acari: Ixodidae) on different animal species.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the life cycle and parasitic competence of Dermacentor nitens (Neumann, 1897) on different animal species. Experimental infestations were induced in five specimens each of seven species of possible hosts: rabbits, horses, sheep, cows, guinea pigs, birds and dogs. Rabbits were infested in the ear using artificial feeding chambers, and the horses, sheep, cows and dogs were infested in the ear without feeding chambers.

Functionality and opposite roles of two interleukin 4 haplotypes in immune cells.

Cytokines expression can be influenced by polymorphisms in their respective coding genes. We associated the CTI/TTD haplotype (Hap-1) and TCI/CCI haplotype (Hap-2) in the IL4 gene formed by the -590, +33 and variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms with the severity of chronic periodontitis in humans. The functionality of these IL4 haplotypes in the response of immune cells to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) with Ionomycin and IL-1β (as inflammatory stimuli) was evaluated.

Molecular characterization of Leishmania spp. isolated from Brazilian stray dogs from an endemic area for canine visceral leishmaniasis.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a worldwide anthropozoonosis caused by an intracellular parasite protozoan, Leishmania spp. In Americas, Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum is the causative agent, transmitted by sandflies, Lutzomyia longipalpis, after blood meal in domestic dogs, the main reservoir. The present study was aimed to determine the occurrence of Leishmania spp.

Effectiveness of Senior Dance on risk factors for falls in older adults (DanSE): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Strong evidence shows that exercise is effective to improve fall risk factors among older people. However, older people's participation and adherence to exercise programmes is suboptimal. Type of exercise and apathy are reported to be barriers to exercise participation, suggesting that new effective interventions are needed.

Crystal structure of a phospholipase A from Bothrops asper venom: Insights into a new putative "myotoxic cluster".

Snake venoms from the Viperidae and Elapidae families often have several phospholipases A (PLAs), which may display different functions despite having a similar structural scaffold. These proteins are considered an important target for the development of drugs against local myotoxic damage because they are not efficiently neutralized by conventional serum therapy. PLAs from these venoms are generally divided into two classes: (i) catalytic PLAs (or Asp49-PLAs) and (ii) non-catalytic PLA-like toxins (or Lys49-PLAs).