Depression levels in chronic orofacial pain patients: a pilot study

The assessment of depressive behaviour in chronic pain patients is especially important, because depression is commonly associated with chronic pain. The aim of this pilot study was to compare depression levels between patients with head and neck cancer pain and temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and to determine whether there is an association between depression levels and chronic pain severity. This study was an observational and sectional study and the sample consisted of 40 patients, uniformly divided into those with chronic orofacial pain related to cancer and those with painful TMD classified with research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD) axis I. Depression levels, pain intensity and severity were assessed with RDC/TMD axis II. The study demonstrated statistically significant differences in depression levels present in the head and neck cancer pain group and the painful TMD group, with the occurrence of a moderate statistically significant correlation between depression levels and chronic pain severity.     

Manometric study of the lower esophageal sphincter and esophagus in subtotal gastrectomy patients

SUMMARY.  There is controversy in the literature regarding the motor function behavior of the lower esophageal sphincter and esophagus following partial gastrectomy. We studied 26 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma of the distal corpus and/or antrum who underwent radical subtotal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. There were 15 women (57.69%) and 11 men (42.31%) with a mean age of 57.2 years; 21 were White (80.8%) and five were of African descent (19.2%). Before the surgery and 3 months afterwards, every patient underwent manometric and endoscopic examinations. The lower esophageal sphincter showed reductions in mean respiratory pressure (19.41–15.59 mmHg, P = 0.02) and maximum expiratory pressure (8.13–5.54 mmHg, P = 0.02) without significant alteration in diaphragmatic crura pressure (32.92–30.64 mmHg, P = 0.37). An increase in peristaltic wave amplitude (91.43–124.86 mmHg, P < 0.01) and peristaltic wave conduction velocity (3.29 cm/s to 4.23 cm/s; P = 0.024) were detected in esophageal function. The presence of erosive esophagitis decreased from 10 (38.46%) patients to none ( P = 0.002). We concluded that following surgery the lower esophageal sphincter function was impaired, through decreased pressure in the esophageal component without alteration in diaphragmatic crura pressure. On the other hand, there was significant increase in peristaltic wave amplitude and velocity, and improvement of the erosive esophagitis. The authors suggest that subtotal gastrectomy, with gastroesophageal junction preservation, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction should be the preferred operation for distal gastric cancer to minimize esophageal dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux disease.     

Magnetic Field-Assisted Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants over Bi1−xRxFeO3 (R = Ce,Tb; x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) Nanostructures

Magnetic-field-accelerated photocatalytic degradation of the phenol red (PR) as a model organic pollutant was studied using rare-earth elements modified BiFeO₃ (Bi_1−xR_xFeO₃ (R = Ce, Tb; x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15); BFO: RE) nanostructures. The nanostructures were prepared via the hydrothermal process and their morphological, structural, functional, optical and magnetic features were investigated in detail. The effect of magnetic fields (MFs) on photocatalysis were examined by applying the different MFs under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photodegradation efficiencies were achieved by increasing the MF up to 0.5T and reduced at 0.7T for the compositions x = 0.10 in both Ce and Tb substituted BFO. Further, mineralization efficiencies of PR, reproducibility of MF-assisted photocatalysis, stability and recyclability of BFO: RE nanostructures were also tested.     

Supplementation with fiber-rich multimixtures yields a higher dietary concentration and apparent absorption of minerals in rats

Multimixtures (MMs) are dietary supplements prepared with low-cost ingredients and food by-products that are widely used in various countries to counteract malnutrition. Although MMs have a high content of minerals, they also contain high levels of dietary fiber and associated compounds, which might bind minerals and impair their absorption. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that the increased dietary fiber content of MMs would impair gastrointestinal mineral absorption due to the metal-binding capacity of dietary fiber. Thus, the objective of the present study was to feed growing rats with a basal diet, representative of a nutritionally deficient diet, alone or supplemented with a low dietary fiber level MM, intermediate dietary fiber level MM, or high dietary fiber level MM (HF) to evaluate the apparent absorption of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and copper. The relative apparent calcium absorption was slightly decreased by the HF addition, with no change in the absolute apparent absorption. The absolute apparent absorption of phosphorus and magnesium was increased by the intermediate dietary fiber level MM and HF additions, whereas the manganese absorption was increased only by the HF addition. The apparent absorption of copper was not affected by the MM supplementation. The increased apparent absorption of minerals was always related to the increase in the mineral dietary concentration triggered by the MM. Thus, we concluded that the increased dietary fiber levels in the MMs increased the mineral levels, and MMs with intermediate and high fiber levels may be used to improve the mineral balance of poor diets.     

Antioxidant capacity and bioactive compounds of four Brazilian native fruits

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of extracts from araçá (Psidium cattleianum), butiá (Butia eriospatha), and pitanga (Eugenia uniflora) fruits with different flesh colors (i.e., purple, red, and orange), and blackberries (Rubus sp.; cv. Xavante and Cherokee) collected in the southern region of Brazil. The content of ascorbic acid, total carotenoids, and phenolics were determined. The profile of the phenolic compounds was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The antioxidant activity was determined using the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) assay, total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) assay, and total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) assay. The Xavante blackberry and purple-fleshed pitanga showed the highest total phenolic content [816.50 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100g and 799.80 mg GAE/100g, respectively]. The araçá and red-fleshed pitanga showed the highest carotenoid content (6.27 ug β-carotene/g and 5.86 ug β-carotene/g, respectively). The fruits contained several phenolic compounds such as quercetin derivatives, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, and cyanidin derivatives, which may contribute differentially to the antioxidant capacity. The highest scavenging activity in the DPPH assay was found for purple-fleshed pitanga (IC₅₀ 36.78 mg/L), blackberries [IC₅₀ 44.70 (Xavante) and IC₅₀ 78.25 mg/L (Cherokee)], and araçá (IC₅₀ 48.05 mg/L), which also showed the highest FRAP, followed by orange- and red-fleshed pitanga. Our results revealed that some fruits grown in southern Brazil such as purple-fleshed pitanga, blackberries, and araçá are rich sources of phenolic compounds and have great antioxidant activity.     

Effect of temperature and storage media on human periodontal ligament fibroblast viability

Abstract – Many solutions have been examined as possible storage media for avulsed teeth. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of several storage media to preserve cultured periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) under different temperatures. The media tested were: sterile Hank’s balanced salt solution (sHBSS), non‐sterile HBSS (nHBSS), skimmed milk, Save‐A‐Tooth^®, Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) and water (negative control). MEM at 37°C was used as positive control. PDLF were obtained from explants of extracted healthy human teeth. Plates containing confluent PDLF were soaked in the various media for 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h at 37°C and 20°C. After incubation, viability of the cells was determined using the tetrazolium salt‐based colorimetric (MTT) assay and the Trypan Blue exclusion test after 6, 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation at 20°C. The results were analyzed statistically using Kruskal–Wallis, Scheffé and Mann–Whitney (α = 5%) tests. Results from the MTT assay at 37°C and 20°C showed that skimmed milk was the best storage medium for up to 24 and 48 h, respectively, followed by nHBSS and sHBSS. Results from the Trypan Blue exclusion test showed that the best storage media were milk, sHBSS and nHBSS, with no statistical differences, for any time period. The Save‐A‐Tooth^® had a detrimental effect on cells after 24 h. The influence of temperature on the effectiveness of the storage media tested showed at 20°C a decreasing order of efficacy as follows: milk > sHBSS and nHBSS > MEM > Save‐A‐Tooth^® > water while at 37°C it was: MEM > nHBSS > milk > sHBSS > Save‐A‐Tooth^® > water. In conclusion, incubation temperature altered the effectiveness of the storage media and skimmed milk at 20°C was better than HBSS in maintaining PDLF viability.     

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and comorbidity in Brazil

Abstract. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of comorbidity in referred samples of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patients from two different geographic areas in Brazil. Methods: The diagnoses of ADHD and comorbid conditions, according to DSM-IV criteria, were achieved in both clinics through semi-structured interview methodology, complemented by clinical interviews with the children or adolescents and their parents. Results: We assessed 343 ADHD children and adolescents in Porto Alegre (capital of the southernmost state of the country) and 78 ADHD youths in Rio de Janeiro (capital of a southestern state). Although a significant difference in the prevalence of ADHD without comorbidity was detected between the two groups (p = 0.02), no significant difference was detected in the profile of comorbidities between them. Main ADHD comorbidities in both samples were: a) Oppositional Defiant Disorder (Porto Alegre = 39.1%; Rio de Janeiro = 51.3 %); b) Anxiety Disorders (Porto Alegre = 24.2%; Rio de Janeiro = 30.8 %); c) Conduct Disorder (Porto Alegre = 13.7%; Rio de Janeiro = 17.9 %); and d) Major Depression and/or Dysthymia (Porto Alegre = 11.4%; Rio de Janeiro = 10.3 %). Conclusions: Our results from clinical samples in a developing country with a diverse culture suggest the crosscultural validity of the ADHD comorbidity profile.