The role of psychoneuroimmune interactions in the pathogenesis of ligature-induced periodontal disease in Wistar rats

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of chronic stress in the pathogenesis of ligature-induced periodontal disease in rats. Fifty-three Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups: 1--ligature; 2--ligature + stress; 3--stress only; 4--control. After 30 days the animals were sacrificed, blood samples were collected and histological sections were made for histometric analysis. The stress parameters evaluated were weight of thymus, spleen, adrenal glands and plasma glucocorticoid levels. Analysis of adrenal glands showed statistically significant differences between stressed and non-stressed groups (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). Plasma glucocorticoid levels were higher in Group 3 and lower in Group 2 (81.1 nmol/I versus 62.5 nmol/l, p < 0.05). Histometric measurements from the bone crest and from the first attached fiber were taken for all groups and for Groups 1 and 2 for the sites with and without ligatures. The ligature sites always displayed higher mean values than non-ligated sites (paired sample t test, p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between Groups 1 and 2 with regard to the ligated sites. However, differences were observed between Groups 1 and 2 in histometric bone levels in the non-ligated sites (mean values of 0.81 and 0.55 mm, respectively, p < 0.05). It may be concluded that stress can have a possible role in the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, with different levels of glucocorticoid release.     

Clinical crown lengthening in the esthetic zone

Periodontal surgical procedures consisting of gingival flaps and osseous recontouring are indicated for crown lengthening of several contiguous teeth in the esthetic zone; both in cases where restorations are required and in cases where no restorations are planned, such as in patients with excessive gingival display due to altered passive eruption. Forced tooth eruption via orthodontic extrusion is the technique of choice when clinical crown lengthening is necessary on isolated teeth in the esthetic zone.     

The effect of a single irradiation of low-level laser on nipple pain in breastfeeding women: a randomized controlled trial

Lasers in Medical Science - Photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy (PBM-LLLT) has been introduced as a new tool to relieve nipple pain and repair nipple damage in breastfeeding women;...     

Photobiomodulation via a cluster device associated with a physical exercise program in the level of pain and muscle strength in middle-aged and older women with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease that leads to pain and functional incapacity. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of the incorporation of photobiomodulation (PBM) (via cluster) into a physical exercise program on the level of pain, lower limb muscle strength, and physical capacity, in patients with knee OA. Sixty-two female volunteers with a diagnosis of knee OA were distributed in 4 groups: exercise associated with placebo PBM group, exercise associated with active PBM group, active PBM group, and placebo PBM group. Sixteen sessions of lower limb strength exercises and PBM via cluster (808 nm, 100 mW, 7 points each side, 56 J total) were performed. The level of pain, physical capacity, and lower limb muscle strength were evaluated with the use of the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), 6-min walking test (6-MWT) and timed up and go (TUG), and maximal voluntary isometric torque (MVIT) before and after the interventions. Both groups presented a significant decrease in the level of pain when compared with the placebo-treated women. Furthermore, the 6-MWT showed that the trained groups (with or without PBM) demonstrated higher values in the distance walked comparing pre and post-treatment values. The same behavior was found for the MVIT load before and after intervention. TUG was higher for all the treated with exercise groups comparing the pre and post-treatment values. Physical exercise and PBM showed analgesic effects. However, PBM did not have any extra effect along with the effects of exercise in improving the distance walked, the TUG, and the muscle strength.

Trial registration: RBR-7t6nzr

     

Correction: Stability of gum Arabic-gold nanoparticles in physiological simulated pHs and their selective effect on cell lines

Correction for ‘Stability of gum Arabic-gold nanoparticles in physiological simulated pHs and their selective effect on cell lines’ by Heloise Ribeiro de Barros et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 9411–9420.

The authors regret that the name of one of the authors (Daniel de Lima Bellan) was shown incorrectly in the original article. The corrected author list is as shown above.The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.     

Interleukin-3 treatment of rhesus monkeys leads to increased production of histamine-releasing cells that express interleukin-3 receptors at high levels

To understand the hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic responses to interleukin-3 (IL-3), expression of cell-surface IL-3 receptors (IL-3R) was examined on bone marrow (BM) cells and peripheral blood (PB) cells of rhesus monkeys during the course of in vivo IL-3 treatment. Whereas IL-3R expression is low in untreated monkeys, IL-3 administration led to a gradual increase in both low- and high-affinity binding sites for IL-3. This increase reflected the total number of cells expressing IL- 3Rs, as detected by flow cytometry using biotinylated IL-3. Most of these IL-3R+ cells in both BM and PB could be characterized as basophilic granulocytes that contained high levels of histamine. In contrast to the effect on these differentiated cells, IL-3 administration did not significantly alter the low level IL-3R expression on immature, CD34+ cells. Further flow cytometric analysis using biotinylated growth factors showed that the IL-3R+ basophils also expressed receptors for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), but not for IL-6 or Kit ligand. These findings indicated that the IL-3R+ cells included neither monocytes, which express GM-CSFRs and IL-6Rs abundantly, nor mast cells, which express c- kit. By combining flow cytometric and Scatchard data, it was calculated that the basophils contain as many as 1 to 2 x 10(3) high-affinity IL- 3Rs and 15 to 30 x 10(3) low-affinity sites. The finding that in vivo IL-3 treatment leads to the production of large numbers of cells that express high levels of IL-3R and are capable of producing histamine provides an explanation for the often severe allergic reactions that occur during prolonged IL-3 administration. It also indicates that IL- 3, in addition to its direct effects on hematopoietic cells, may also stimulate hematopoiesis through the release of secondary mediators such as histamine by IL-3-responsive mature cells.     

Elegir a la cirugía como especialidad: Opiniones de los estudiantes de la Universidad de Buenos Aires sobre la cirugía y los cirujanos

Introduction

Since the number of applicants to residencies in general surgery in Argentina seems to be decreasing, we designed this work with the objective of studying the factors considered undesirable by students when choosing surgery as a specialty.

Material and methods

Between March and April 2012, one-hundred students were surveyed with a structured questionnaire with true/false binary answers in an observational case-control design. The survey contained 26 statements that made reference to characteristics of surgery as a specialty, or about the personality and lifestyle of surgeons, as they could be perceived by students. As a control group the same survey was applied to 20 surgeons who were in contact with the students and that could represent a role model for them during their rotation in surgery.

Results

Comparison between students and surgeons showed no difference in most answers, except in «surgery has poor reimbursement» (OR: 8,9; P=.0001), «there is not enough job demand» (OR: 8,1; P=.015), «surgery restrains intellectual development» (OR: 17,5; P=.014), «surgeons have too many non-scheduled activities» (OR: 9,36; P=.024), «they have a limited patient-physician relationship» (OR: 3,61; P=.009), «they have little time for family» (OR: 4,27; P=.036) and «they are exposed to infectious diseases» (OR: 5,90; P=.007).

Conclusions

Women would be as interested as men in working as surgeons; a remarkable fact when considering that the surgical specialties have been predominantly filled by men. The fact that surgeons mostly coincide with the views of students means that role models should be reviewed to promote vocations.     

Evaluation of two 13-loci STR multiplex system regarding identification and origin discrimination of Brazilian Cannabis sativa samples

International Journal of Legal Medicine - According to the Brazilian Federal Police (BFP), the Brazilian Cannabis sativa illicit market is mainly supplied by drugs originated from Paraguay and...