Lectures and collaborative working improves the performance of medical students.

The teaching-learning process is complex and requires continuous research and dedication. Research has been important to prove that student achievement can improve when active methodologies are properly implemented, either in isolation or integrated with a short lecture. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the performance and perception of first-year medical students subjected to a protocol involving the integration of a short lecture and collaborative compilation of portfolios on the topic of digestive physiology.

Upcycling Microbial Cellulose Scraps into Nanowhiskers with Engineered Performance as Fillers in All-Cellulose Composites.

Cellulose is everywhere and renovates in nature continuously and rapidly, while petroleum does not. Unlike the latter, cellulose biodegrades and may represent a carbon sink. Inspired by the multiscale architecture of cellulose, we report on all-cellulose composites comprising cellulose ether as a matrix and highly pure bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNCs) as fillers.

Antibacterial activities and antiproliferative assays over a tumor cells panel of a silver complex with 4-aminobenzoic acid: Studies in vitro of sustained release using bacterial cellulose membranes as support.

The aims of this work were to evaluate the antibacterial and antiproliferative potential in vitro of the metal complex with 4-aminobenzoic acid (Ag-pABA) and a drug delivery system based on bacterial cellulose (BC-Ag-pABA). The Ag-pABA complex was characterized by elemental analysis, high resolution mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, which indicated a 1:2 metal/pABA composition plus a nitrate ion coordinated to silver by the oxygen atom, with the coordination formula [Ag (CHNO)(NO)]. The coordination of pABA to the silver ion occurred by the nitrogen atom.

The role of sodium alginate and gellan gum in the design of new drug delivery systems intended for antibiofilm activity of morin.

The use of controlled drug delivery systems represents an alternative and promising strategy for the use of antimicrobials in the oral cavity. Microparticles, films and oral tablets based on alginate and gellan gum were developed also as a strategy to overcome the low aqueous solubility of morin. The systems were characterized in terms of morphological characteristics, mucoadhesion and in vitro drug release.

Comparison between conventional and chemomechanical approaches for the removal of carious dentin: an in vitro study.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, and biocompatibility of two agents used for the chemomechanical removal of carious dentin. Sixty extracted carious human teeth were treated with a conventional bur (CBG) or chemomechanical agents - Papacarie Duo (PG) and Brix 3000 (BG). Treatment efficiency and effectiveness were assessed by the working time for carious dentin removal and Knoop microhardness values, respectively.

Evaluation of Implants with Different Macrostructures in Type I Bone-Pre-Clinical Study in Rabbits.

The objective of this study was to assess the primary stability and the osseointegration process in implants with different macrostructures (Cylindrical vs. Hybrid Conical) in rabbit tibiae. Twenty-four (24) rabbits were used, divided into 3 experimental periods (2, 4 and 8 weeks) with 8 animals each.

Locomotive Syndrome is associated with chronic pain and poor quality of life in Brazilian oldest old: LOCOMOV Project.

Background: In 2007, the Japanese Orthopedic Association established the term "Locomotive Syndrome" (LS) for the concept of locomotor organ dysfunction with potential loss of independence. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of LS and establish a diagnostic cut-off for the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS 25-p) for the Brazilian population.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of the LOCOMOV Project cohort of independent outpatients aged ≥80 years was conducted.

Effects of different pre-operative doses of dexamethasone on alveolar repair in rats.

Dexamethasone has been widly used in oral and maxillofacial surgery for controlling of postoperative surgical inflammation. Despite its clinical effectiveness, several studies have demonstrated the negative impact of this drug on the healing of soft and hard tissues. This study aimed to assess the effects of different pre-operative doses of dexamethasone on alveolar repair.

Low-Intensity Photobiomodulation Decreases Neuropathic Pain in Paw Ischemia-Reperfusion and Spared Nervus Ischiadicus Injury Experimental Models.

Background: There is a wide range of animal models available today for studying chronic pain associated with a variety of etiologies and an extensive list of clinical manifestations of peripheral neuropathies. Photobiomodulation is a new tool for the treatment of pain in a convenient, noninvasive way.

Objective: The aim of this work is to elucidate the effects of infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on behavioral responses to nociceptive stimuli in chronic pain models.

Is Low-Level Laser Therapy Effective for Pain Control After the Surgical Removal of Unerupted Third Molars? A Randomized Trial.

Purpose: One of the main challenges after extraction of unerupted third molars is pain control, and one of the treatments for pain control is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Thus, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of LLLT for pain control after extraction of lower third molars.

Materials And Methods: This randomized, double-blind, split-mouth study included patients who required bilateral extraction of unerupted lower third molars.

Human non-decalcified histology of three dental implants 45 months under function-a case report.

Background: Fracture of an implant is a quite rare event but represents an important opportunity to evaluate the peri-implant bone tissue response to implant overload in human beings. This study aimed to evaluate bone tissue around three fractured titanium implants retrieved from a human maxilla, by histomorphometric and birefringence analyses.

Case Report: For this, the implants and the surrounding bone were removed after having been united to a tooth in function for 45 months, by a 4-mm internal diameter trephine bur, following an undecalcified section was obtained.

Photobiomodulation therapy reduces acute pain and inflammation in mice.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a therapy suggested for the treatment of pain and inflammation. Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the analgesic and inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation, but there are still gaps on the mechanisms underlying. The objective was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of red LED, as well as to investigate the possible mechanism of action in acute nociception models.

Semiautomatic device for in vitro/ experimental bone perforation in dental implant research.

Purpose: The present study presents a semiautomatic device developed to perform in vitro experiments using surgical drills for assisting dental implant research. It was built to perform tests independent of human direct contact, and contains an adjustable toolholder for engaging different types of implant contra angle hand pieces, in which different drills can be adapted. The researcher is able to make a range of adjustments on the machine, such as controlling the drilling force and depth.

Use of Calcium Phosphate Cement for Repairing Bone Defects: Histomorphometric and Immunohistochemical Analyses.

This study aimed to assess the repair of surgically created bone defects filled with blood clot, autogenous bone, and calcium phosphate cement, by histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. Ten adult male rabbits were used. Three bone defects were prepared with an 8-mm diameter trephine bur in the parietal region of each animal and filled with blood clot (Group BC), autogenous bone (Group AB), and calcium phosphate bone cement (Group CPC).

Photobiomodulation can improve ovarian activity in polycystic ovary syndrome-induced rats.

Follicular cystic ovary disease is a common reproductive disorder in women and females of domestic animals, characterized by anovulation and the persistence of follicle is a common cause of reproductive failure in mammalian. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism (HA), chronic anovulation and polycystic ovaries, and it is a common reproductive endocrine disease with clinical manifestations including hirsutism, acne, infertility and obesity that can affect 5-20% of women in their reproductive age. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been investigated and used in clinical practice, related to biomodulatory influences on cellular functions in animals and humans, both in vivo and in vitro.

Synthesis, characterization and application of Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles in a composite resin.

The biofilm accumulation over the composite resin restorations can contribute to the formation of secondary caries. In this way, antibacterial restorative composite resins are highly desired. Then, the purpose of this study was to modify a composite resins using Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), evaluate the antibacterial and mechanical properties of the modified composite resin.

Is Low-Level Laser Therapy Effective on Sensorineural Recovery After Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy? Randomized Trial.

Purpose: When performing a sagittal osteotomy of the mandibular ramus, one must consider the risk of long-term postsurgical sensory abnormalities from lesions to the inferior alveolar nerve. One treatment for these changes is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of LLLT on sensorineural recovery after split ramus osteotomy of the mandible.

Evaluation of sperm head dimensions and chromatin integrity of epididymal sperm from domestic cats using the toluidine blue technique.

When using assisted reproductive technologies, there is seldom an evaluation of DNA integrity during sperm analysis, which is an important variable for proper embryo development. The toluidine blue staining technique allows the simultaneous evaluation of sperm chromatin and sperm head dimensions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the applicability of the toluidine blue staining method for analyzing DNA abnormalities in epididymal sperm (from the caput, corpus, and cauda) of cats and to investigate the correlations among DNA condensation, morphology, and sperm head dimensions.

The effects of subcutaneous injection of nicotine on osseointegration of machined and anodized implants in rabbits.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of subcutaneous injection nicotine in osseointegration process on different implant surfaces.

Methods: Twenty-two male rabbits were distributed into two groups according to the subcutaneous injections: (1) nicotine 3 mg/day/kg and (2) 0.9 % NaCI 3 mL/day/kg, three times a day; subgroups were then designated-machined and anodized implants were placed in the right and left tibia bones, respectively.

Effect of in situ modification of bacterial cellulose with carboxymethylcellulose on its nano/microstructure and methotrexate release properties.

Bacterial cellulose/carboxymethylcelullose (BC/CMC) biocomposites with different DS-CMC (DS from 0.7 to 1.2) were developed in order to evaluate their impact as a drug delivery system.

Nasal airway evaluation in obstructive sleep apnoea patients: volumetric tomography and endoscopic findings.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) results from the recurrent collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Nasal abnormalities influence the stability of the pharynx. The aim of this study was to evaluate the volumetric and anatomical changes of the nasal cavity in patients with OSA.

Effect of an educational game on university students' learning about action potentials.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational game that is used for teaching the mechanisms of the action potentials in cell membranes. The game was composed of pieces representing the intracellular and extracellular environments, ions, ion channels, and the Na-K-ATPase pump. During the game activity, the students arranged the pieces to demonstrate how the ions move through the membrane in a resting state and during an action potential, linking the ion movement with a graph of the action potential.

Correlation between the Friedman Staging System and the upper airway volume in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between computed tomography findings and data from the physical examination and the Friedman Staging System (FSS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective evaluation by reviewing the medical records of 33 patients (19 male and 14 female patients) with a mean body mass index of 30.38 kg/m(2) and mean age of 49.