Pulmonary adenocarcinoma T1N0M0 and its classification

Over the last decade, use of the term bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) has come under constant scrutiny as some consider it an anachronism or a term that provides incorrect information about this neoplasm. To that extent, it has recently been suggested to replace the term BAC with that of in situ adenocarcinoma (AIS) or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) for small solitary adenocarcinomas with either pure bronchioloalveolar growth (AIS) or predominant bronchioloalveolar growth and ≤5-mm invasion (MIA). However, as of today, there is no comprehensive study of these tumors, and most of what has been published in this context is based on a review of the literature that focused on scattered short series of cases describing either small adenocarcinomas or BAC. More recently, a large series of cases of a more comprehensive nature that included all early-stage adenocarcinomas (T1N0M0) has cast some doubt regarding the need for the proposed change in nomenclature. At the same time, it was suggested that if indeed that notion is maintained, a more serious and comprehensive study of actual cases must be undertaken. The details of the issues surrounding this subject are presented in this review.     

Genetic Characterization of Atypical Mansonella (Mansonella) ozzardi Microfilariae in Human Blood Samples from Northeastern Peru

Abstract. DNA sequence comparisons are useful for characterizing proposed new parasite species or strains. Microfilariae with an atypical arrangement of nuclei behind the cephalic space have been recently described in human blood samples from the Amazon region of Peru. Three blood specimens containing atypical microfilariae were genetically characterized using three DNA markers (5S ribosomal DNA, 12S ribosomal DNA, and cytochrome oxidase I). All atypical microfilariae were clustered into the Mansonella group and indistinguishable from M. ozzardi based on these DNA markers.     

Quality of Life in 833 outpatients with major depression treated with open-label venlafaxine extended release: An observational 24-week study

BACKGROUND Quality of Life (QoL) assessments are common in medicine and, recently, in psychiatry, mostly in patients with chronic mental illness. We evaluated QoL in depressed outpatients treated with venlafaxine-XR over a period of 24 weeks. METHOD We evaluated 833 patients with DSM-IV major depression using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MÅDRS), and the QoL in Depression Scale (QLDS). The patients received venlafaxine-XR and we evaluated them after 4, 8, and 24 weeks of treatment. RESULTS HAM-D scores decreased from a baseline of 24.6 &#45 6.3 to 6.0 &#45 5.5 (mean &#45 SD; P <0.0001) after 24 weeks. HAM-A scores decreased from a baseline of 32.3 &#45 7.9 to 6.8 &#45 6.8 ( P <0.0001) after 24 weeks. QLDS scores decreased from a baseline of 25.8 &#45 5.8 to 6.6 &#45 7.5 ( P <0.0001) after 24 weeks, indicating improvement in QoL. The response after 4 weeks was also significant and continued improving during the study. Venlafaxine-XR was shown to be safe and well tolerated. DISCUSSION Open-label venlafaxine-XR was safe, effective, well tolerated, and improved not only depression and anxiety symptoms, but also QoL, in outpatients with major depression. This study has the limitations of any non-randomized, non-blinded multiple-site clinical trial.     

Effects of long-term water storage on the microtensile bond strength of five experimental self-etching adhesives based on surfactants rather than HEMA

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hypothesis that replacing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) for surfactant dimethacrylates (SD) does not affect the immediate and long-term microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of experimental two-step self-etch HEMA-free adhesive systems applied on dentin.

Materials and methods

Five experimental HEMA-free two-step self-etching systems containing different SD (ethoxylated bisphenol A diglycidyl dimethacrylate (Bis-EMA 10, B10), Bis-EMA 30 (B30), poly-ethyleneglycol (400) dimethacrylate (PEG 400, P400), PEG 1000 (P1000), and PEG 400 urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) (UP400)) and a HEMA-containing system (control) (HA) were formulated. Specimens were subjected to the μTBS test after 24 h and 6 and 12 months of storage. Data (in megapascals) were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests (α?=?0.05).

Results

Medians of the μTBS data after 24 h of storage are: HA?=?57.2^A, B10?=?26.2^BC, B30?=?24.0^C, P400?=?32.6^BC, P1000?=?37.3^B, and UP400?=?57.9^A; after 6 months are: HA?=?47.9^A, B10?=?18.5^B, B30?=?7.8^C, P400?=?16.1^B, P1000?=?14.6^BC, and UP400?=?51.6^A; and after 12 months are: HA?=?31.2^A, B10?=?15.2^B, B30?=?9.0^B, P400?=?9.1^B, P1000?=?13.3^B, and UP400?=?35.7^A. Between the HEMA-free groups, the adhesive system formulated with PEG 400 UDMA produced similar μTBS to the HEMA-containing group. Also, the storage of specimens decreased the μTBS (p?<?0.05).

Conclusion

Replacing HEMA for PEG 400 UDMA in an adhesive system formulation generated a satisfactory μTBS to dentin.

Clinical relevance

Surfactant dimethacrylates have a potential use in the development of HEMA-free self-etching adhesive systems, which are more chemically stable.     

Low-level laser therapy in different stages of rheumatoid arthritis: a histological study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Treatment of RA is very complex, and in the past years, some studies have investigated the use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in treatment of RA. However, it remains unknown if LLLT can modulate early and late stages of RA. With this perspective in mind, we evaluated histological aspects of LLLT effects in different RA progression stages in the knee. It was performed a collagen-induced RA model, and 20 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 experimental groups: a non-injured and non-treated control group, a RA non-treated group, a group treated with LLLT (780 nm, 22 mW, 0.10 W/cm², spot area of 0.214 cm², 7.7 J/cm², 75 s, 1.65 J per point, continuous mode) from 12th hour after collagen-induced RA, and a group treated with LLLT from 7th day after RA induction with same LLLT parameters. LLLT treatments were performed once per day. All animals were sacrificed at the 14th day from RA induction and articular tissue was collected in order to perform histological analyses related to inflammatory process. We observed that LLLT both at early and late RA progression stages significantly improved mononuclear inflammatory cells, exudate protein, medullary hemorrhage, hyperemia, necrosis, distribution of fibrocartilage, and chondroblasts and osteoblasts compared to RA group (p?<?0.05). We can conclude that LLLT is able to modulate inflammatory response both in early as well as in late progression stages of RA.     

Influence of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation on enamel caries prevention

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser irradiation on the acid resistance of dental enamel. Forty human enamel samples were divided into four groups. They were manually irradiated with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser device (λ?=?2.78 µm, 20 Hz, 20 s), in a scanning mode, with and without water cooling, according to the following parameters: Group 1: 0.25 W, 62.5 J/cm², no water cooling; group 2: 0.25 W, 62.5 J/cm², 5.0 ml/min; group 3: 0.5 W, 125 J/cm², no water cooling; group 4: 0.5 W, 125 J/cm², 5.0 ml/min. No airflow was used. Afterwards, the samples were submitted to an acid challenge and assessed by cross-sectional Knoop microhardness at different depths (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 µm) from the outer enamel surface. Average values were obtained for both irradiated and control areas in each sample and they were compared to obtain a percentage of microhardness increase. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and Fisher’s exact test (α?=?5%). The percentage of microhardness increase observed in group 1 (+23.58%) was similar to group 3 (+19.12%), but higher than groups 2 (+3.61%) and 4 (10.9%) (p?<?0.05). The comparison of the depths showed that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser acted in the superficial layers of the dental enamel. The findings of the present study suggest that the energy densities of 62.5 and 125 J/cm² were capable of increasing the acid resistance of human enamel. The presence of water during irradiation makes it difficult to obtain an enamel surface more resistant to acids.