Application of the buccal micronucleus cytome assay and analysis of PON1Gln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(−48T>G) polymorphisms in tobacco farmers

Tobacco is a major Brazilian cash crop. Tobacco farmers apply large amounts of pesticides to control insect growth. Workers come into contact with green tobacco leaves during the tobacco harvest and absorb nicotine through the skin. In the present study, micronucleus frequency, cell death, and the frequency of basal cells were measured in tobacco farmers using the buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCyt), in parallel with measurement of blood butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and nicotine levels. Polymorphisms in PONIGln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(?48T>G) were evaluated to verify the relationship between genetic susceptibility and the measured biomarkers. Peripheral blood and buccal cell samples were collected from 106 agricultural workers, at two different crop times (during pesticide application and leaf harvest), as well as 53 unexposed controls. BMCyt showed statistically significant increases in micronuclei, nuclear buds, and binucleated cells among exposed subjects in differentiated cells, and in micronuclei in basal cells. In addition, the exposed group showed higher values for condensed chromatin, karyorrhectic, pyknotic, and karyolitic cells, indicative of cell death, and an increase in the frequency of basal cells compared to the unexposed control group. A slight difference in mutagenicity using the BMCyt assay was found between the two different sampling times (pesticide application and leaf harvest), with higher micronucleus frequencies during pesticide application. Elevated cotinine levels were observed during the leaf harvest compared to the unexposed controls, while BChE level was similar among the farmers and controls. PONIGln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(?48T>G) polymorphisms were associated with DNA damage induced by pesticides and cell death. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trinibaculum rotundus</Emphasis> n.sp. (Monogenea,Ancyrocephalinae), a parasite of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizodon borellii</Emphasis> (Characiformes,Anostomidae) from the upper Paraná River floodplain,Brazil

A new species of dactylogyrid monogenean, Trinibaculum rotundus n.sp. is described and illustrated from the gills of freshwater fish Schizodon borellii (Boulenger, 1900) from the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil. Trinibaculum rotundus n.sp. has vagina dextrolateral slightly sclerotised ending at level of seminal receptacle; copulatory organ coiled with 1.5 clockwise rings; accessory piece not articulated; body disk-shape with absence of haptor peduncle and three bars (one ventral bar and two dorsal bars).     

Hepatitis colestásica por amoxicilina

Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is a challenge in daily clinical practice. One of the most frequent causes is antibiotics. However, amoxicillin-induced liver injury is uncommon. We report the case of an 87-year-old man who developed cholestatic hepatitis after ingesting amoxicillin 500 mg/8 hours for dental disease. A review of the literature on this topic is provided.     

Mandibular Molar Rehabilitation Using Orthodontic Extrusion Associated with Odontoplasty

The aim of this clinical report is to describe the successful treatment of a mandibular first molar presenting an extensive fracture at the buccal aspect in a young patient. The extension of the fracture was a negative prognostic factor for tooth maintenance. An alternative clinical treatment was proposed since the patient was young and presented with good oral hygiene and periodontal health. The treatment was based on orthodontic forced eruption associated with odontoplasty. A 3‐year follow‐up after the surgical procedure demonstrated the maintenance of periodontal health and good plaque control. It can be concluded that orthodontic forced eruption associated with odontoplasty promoted favorable conditions for prosthetic rehabilitation and is a feasible procedure in the treatment of tooth fracture extended below the cementoenamel junction.     

Influence of age on reactivity to diverse emotional challenges in low- and high-anxiety rats

Studies have revealed that the extent of reactivity of high-anxiety rats to diverse challenges is different than low-anxiety rats and have provided important insights into the psychopathology of anxiety. Various factors intervene to allow defensive mechanisms to react to diverse threatening challenges, including ontogeny and the nature of the emotional challenge (e.g., conditioned vs. unconditioned). The present study investigated the extent to which a particular type of fear extrapolates to other emotional responses to diverse threatening challenges. Groups of 30- and 60-day-old rats were assigned to low freezing behavior (LFB) and high freezing behavior (HFB) groups using the contextual fear conditioning paradigm and subjected to either the fear-potentiated startle (FPS) test, novelty-induced ultrasound vocalizations (USVs) or elevated plus-maze (EPM) tests. At 30 days of age, HFB rats exhibited greater FPS than LFB rats. In contrast, prior selection of HFB and LFB did not affect the performance of 30-day-old animals in the EPM and novelty-induced USVs. Sixty-day-old animals exhibited a performance deficit in all three tests. These data suggest that the performance of young rats in animal models of anxiety parallels their selection as LFB and HFB in the contextual fear conditioning paradigm. However, the increased fear-like behavior exhibited by the 60-day-old HFB rats may elicit performance deficits in conditioned and unconditioned fear tests. These results suggest that the interaction between hyperanxiety and age may cause a performance deficit despite the animals’ increased fear-like behavior when facing emotional challenges, thus resembling psychiatric patients in many respects.     

Predictors of early relapse among adolescent crack users

Relapse is associated with a poor prognosis among drug users. Crack cocaine users are more prone to severe dependence because of the intensity of use. Additionally, initiating drug use during adolescence worsens users' prognosis due to the increased rates of impulsivity and other risk behaviors. This study aimed to identify the predictors of early relapse among adolescent crack users discharged from inpatient treatment. A cohort study was conducted with 89 psychiatric inpatients aged 12–17 years from two different hospitals in southern Brazil who met the criteria for crack abuse or dependence. Demographic data, substance use disorders, psychiatric comorbidities, and crack consumption profile were assessed during hospitalization using the Teen Addiction Severity Index, Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children—Present and Lifetime, and Crack Consumption Profile. Participants were re-assessed at 1 and 3 months after hospital discharge to determine their crack cocaine use based on self-report, family/caregiver information, and urine tests, whenever possible. There were extremely high rates of relapse (valid percent) in the first and third months, 65.9 and 86.4%, respectively. Statistically significant associations were observed between relapse in the first month and length of cocaine/crack cocaine use, and length of hospital stay. Data at 3 months were not analyzed because of the small number of patients who did not relapse. The high rates and significant associations found in this study suggest that intensive outpatient treatment strategies targeting this population should be developed and implemented to prevent early relapse after detoxification. One of the possible approaches, based on recent studies, might explore motivation as a strategy to reduce the rate of early relapse.     

Treatment of central giant cell lesions using bisphosphonates with intralesional corticosteroid injections

ABSTRACT: Central giant cell lesions are benign intraosseous proliferative lesions that have considerable local aggressiveness. Nonsurgical treatment methods, such as intralesional corticosteroid injections, systemic calcitonin and interferon have been reported. Recently, bisphosphonates have been used to treat central giant cell lesions. A case of a 36-year-old male with a central giant cell lesion crossing the mandibular midline was treated with intralesional corticosteroids combined with alendronate sodium for the control of systemic bone resorption. The steroid injections and the use of bisphosphonates were stopped after seven months when further needle penetration into the lesion was not possible due to new bone formation. After two years, the bony architecture was near normal, and only minimal radiolucency was present around the root apices of the involved teeth. The patient was followed up for four years, and panoramic radiography showed areas of new bone formation. Thus far, neither recurrence nor side effects of the medication have been detected.