Factors affecting secondary sex characteristics in the yellowtail tetra, Astyanax altiparanae.

This study interrogated factors which affect the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, namely, fin spinelets (rigid dimorphic structure empirically associated with male sexual maturity in characids), in Astyanax altiparanae. Many variables such as the season of the year and several biotic components, including organism length, sex, phase of maturation, and the presence of gonads, were investigated. These factors were then associated with the physiological development of fin spinelets.

Sex differences in the role of atypical PKC within the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala in a mouse hyperalgesic priming model.

Though sex differences in chronic pain have been consistently described in the literature, their underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. Previous work in humans has demonstrated that men and women differentially invoke distinct brain regions and circuits in coping with subjective pain unpleasantness. The goal of the present work was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) that modulate hyperalgesic priming, a pain plasticity model, in males and females.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy reduces gene expression of Candida albicans in biofilms.

The present study evaluated whether the oxidative stress caused by antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) affects the expression of C. albicans genes related to adhesion and biofilm formation (ALS1 and HPW1) and oxidative stress response (CAP1, CAT1, and SOD1). The aPDT was mediated by two photosensitizing agents (PSs) Photodithazine® (PDZ at 100 and 200 mg/L) or Curcumin (CUR at 40 and 80 μM) and LED (37.

A treatment with a boiled aqueous extract of Hancornia speciosa Gomes leaves improves the metabolic status of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background: Hancornia speciosa is usually used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat diabetes. The hypothesis of the present study is that this medicinal plant exerts beneficial effects on hyperglycemia, preventing diabetic complications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment effect of the aqueous extract of H.

Alterations in the structural characteristics of rectus abdominis muscles caused by diabetes and pregnancy: A comparative study of the rat model and women.

Background And Objective: In the present study, we compared the effect of diabetic pregnancy on the rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) in humans and rats. We hypothesized that our animal model could provide valuable information about alterations in the RAM of women with Gestational Diabetes (GDM).

Method: Newborns female rats (n = 10/group) were administered streptozotocin (100 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously and were mated on reaching adulthood, to develop the mild hyperglycemic pregnant (MHP) rat model.

Adjuvant intraperitoneal ceftriaxone in the treatment of septic peritonitis in horses.

Background: Intraperitoneal administration of ceftriaxone maintains therapeutic abdominal concentrations for 24 hours in healthy horses. Therefore, it is a possible treatment for septic peritonitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ceftriaxone as an adjuvant treatment in horses with septic peritonitis.

Chronic Fluoxetine Impairs the Effects of 5-HT and 5-HT Receptors Activation in the PAG and Amygdala on Antinociception Induced by Aversive Situation in Mice.

Growing evidence suggests an important role of fluoxetine with serotonin 5-HT and 5-HT receptors in the modulation of emotion and nociception in brain areas such as the amygdala and periaqueductal gray (PAG). Acute fluoxetine impairs 5-HT (but not 5-HT) receptor activation in the amygdaloid complex. Given that fluoxetine produces its clinical therapeutic effects only when given chronically, this study investigated the effects of chronic treatment with fluoxetine on the effects produced by 5-HT or 5-HT receptors activation in the amygdala or PAG on fear-induced antinociception.

Maternal-fetal repercussions of Phyllanthus niruri L. treatment during rat pregnancy.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Phyllanthus niruri is a well-known plant for its therapeutic purposes to treat various diseases, being widely used by the population, mainly by women. However, there is no scientific confirmation of the effects of use during pregnancy.

Aim Of The Study: Evaluating the effect of Phyllanthus niruri aqueous extract on the maternal toxicity, reproductive outcomes and fetal anomaly incidence in rats.

Kinetin establish the volatile chemical profile after rhizome dormancy is released in (Christm.) Roscoe.

The aim of this work was to provide information about kinetin effects on chemical volatile profile of (Christm.) Roscoe after several days of plant dormancy release. Rhizomes of were immersed in four kinetin concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 mg ml, n = 12 by each concentration) for 30 min.

Characterization of novel calcium hydroxide-mediated highly porous chitosan-calcium scaffolds for potential application in dentin tissue engineering.

The aim of this study was to develop a highly porous calcium-containing chitosan scaffold suitable for dentin regeneration. A calcium hydroxide (Ca[OH] ) suspension was used to modulate the degree of porosity and chemical composition of chitosan scaffolds. The chitosan solution concentration and freezing protocol were adjusted to optimize the porous architecture using the phase-separation technique.

The speed of progression towards obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Background: There is current interest in the elaboration of early intervention programs for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To this end, it is important to investigate the speed of progression from subthreshold symptoms to diagnosable OCD. In this study, we have retrospectively investigated the speed of progression towards full-blown OCD and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with a faster transition.

Maternal exposure to ibuprofen can affect the programming of the hypothalamus of the male offspring.

Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibits the activity of cyclooxygenase enzyme, leading to reduction in Prostaglandin E (PGE) production. Due to the importance of PGE in promoting the brain masculinization in male fetus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of in utero and lactational exposure to ibuprofen and their late repercussions on reproductive parameters in male rats. Pregnant rats were exposed to ibuprofen (10, 30 or 60 mg/kg) or vehicle (control group) per gavage daily from gestational day 15 to day 21 after birth, and late reproductive effects were assessed during the sexual development and in the reproductive adult life in the male offspring.

Computed tomographic and radiographic morphometric study of cardiac and coelomic dimensions in captive blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva, Linnaeus, 1758) with varying body condition scores.

This study aimed to assess radiographic and tomographic cardiac parameters, including width and length of the heart, and the ratio of heart width to coelom width of blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) with varying body condition scores. Thirty-five captive birds were included in the study and were allocated into one of three groups according to their respective body condition score: lean, ideal and obese. No differences were observed among the groups with regard to radiographic and tomographic measurements.

Association between lifestyle and musculoskeletal pain: cross-sectional study among 10,000 adults from the general working population.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal pain is a major cause of work disability and sickness absence. While pain is a multifactorial phenomenon being influenced by work as well as lifestyle, less is known about the association between specific lifestyle factors and the type of musculoskeletal pain. The aim of the study was to investigate if a dose-response association existed between lifestyle factors and musculoskeletal pain intensity in the low back and neck-shoulder.

Parasitism-Mediated Interactions Between the Ring-Legged Earwig and Sugarcane Borer Larvae.

Sugarcane is one of the most economically important crops in Brazil. The damage caused by Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) results in high costs for its production.

Chronic ulcerative stomatitis: A systematic review of the clinical and microscopic features.

Background: the purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review regarding clinical and histopathological characteristics, immunopathological findings, and treatment for chronic ulcerative stomatitis (CUS).

Material And Methods: articles in English, published from January 1962 up to November 2017, assessing clinical and immunological features, treatment, and follow-up of patientes with CUS, were retrieved from three databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library and SCOPUS). A manual literature search was also conducted.

Inhibition of the left medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) prolongs the social defeat-induced anxiogenesis in mice: Attenuation by NMDA receptor blockade in the right mPFC.

Chemical inhibition and nitrergic stimulation of the left and right medial prefrontal cortex (L and RmPFC), respectively, provoke anxiety in mice. Moreover, LmPFC inhibition immediately followed by a single social defeat stress (SDS) led to anxiogenesis in mice exposed to the elevated plus maze (EPM) 24 h later. Given that glutamate NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors are densely present in the mPFC, we investigated (i) the time course of LmPFC inhibition + SDS-induced anxiogenesis and (ii) the effects of intra-RmPFC injection of AP-7 (a NMDA receptor antagonist) on this long-lasting anxiety.

Depression and Coping Are Associated with Failure of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among People Living with HIV/AIDS.

Sustained adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical in the prevention of drug resistance, disease progression, and death. We aimed to assess the level of ART adherence among 112 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and to determine associated factors with that. The socioeconomic aspects were evaluated by medical records; the adherence, depression, and coping by specific questionnaires.

Influence of a light-activated glaze on the adhesion of Streptococcus sanguinis to the surface of polymers used in fabrication of interim prostheses.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the adhesion of Streptococcus sanguinis to the surface of interim prostheses that were treated or not treated with a light-activated glaze, and subjected or not subjected to a thermocycling procedure.

Methods: 36 specimens of each resin were divided into 4 groups: heat-activated acrylic resin; chemically-activated acrylic resin; bis-acryl composite resin (Protemp; 3M ESPE); and bis-GMA (Charisma; Heraeus Kulzer). Half of the specimens underwent application of glaze and the other half underwent mechanical polishing.

Silver deposition optimization process on ultrananocrystalline diamond applied to nitrate reduction.

Nitrate is a serious contaminant of ground and surface water, which cause high concern in the field of health and environmental protection. In this work, a ternary composite of silver/boron-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond/reticulated vitreous carbon (Ag/B-UNCD/RVC) was prepared and its electrocatalytic activity for nitrate reduction was examined. B-UNCD films were grown by hot filament chemical vapour deposition technique on RVC after a substrate seeding process improvement using 4 nm diamond powder.

Bipolar disorder comorbidity in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: Prevalence and predictors.

Background: Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often present with comorbidities, mainly anxiety and affective disorders, which may influence OCD course, help-seeking and treatment response. Some authors have studied bipolar disorder (BD) comorbidity in patients with OCD, but usually in small samples. The objective was to estimate the lifetime prevalence of BD in a large clinical sample of OCD patients, and to compare demographic and clinical features of patients with and without BD comorbidity.

Synergistic potential of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and calcium-aluminate-chitosan scaffolds with dental pulp cells.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a porous chitosan-calcium-aluminate scaffold (CH-AlCa) in combination with a bioactive dosage of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25VD), to be used as a bioactive substrate capable to increase the odontogenic potential of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs).

Materials And Methods: The porous CH-AlCa was developed by the incorporation of an AlCa suspension into a CH solution under vigorous agitation, followed by phase separation at low temperature. Scaffold architecture, porosity, and calcium release were evaluated.

Effect of analogues of cationic peptides on dentin mineralization markers in odontoblast-like cells.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of analogues of cationic peptides on the viability and the expression of phenotypic and genotypic markers of dentin mineralization in MDPC-23 odontoblast-like cells.

Materials And Methods: Cells were exposed to serial dilutions of analogues of cationic peptides hBD-3-1C and KR-12-a5 compared to peptide LL-37 and their viability was assessed by methyltetrazolium assay. Next, peptides (0.

Teriparatide improves alveolar bone modelling after tooth extraction in orchiectomized rats.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate bone metabolism in the alveolar repair process in orchiectomized male rats treated with teriparatide.

Materials And Methods: A total of 78 rats were divided into three groups: 26 oriectomized rats treated with teriparatide (ORQTRAT), 26 untreated orchiectomized rats (ORQ), and 26 rats which had undergone sham surgical procedures (SHAM), all these animals underwent extraction of the central incisor tooth. Thus, a histological analysis was performed (42 days).