Progressive dental development in regional odontodysplasia

Regional odontodysplasia (RO), also known as ghost teeth, is an unusual nonhereditary developmental anomaly of tooth formation that characteristically affects enamel and dentin formation of the primary and/or permanent dentition. In the present paper, we report a case of RO affecting a 7-year-old boy, with 9 years of follow-up. During this time, progressive development of dental tissue was observed, including complete root formation. However, delayed dental eruption was evident. In view of these findings, we discuss the clinical presentation, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of RO.     

Inhibition of bacterial growth through LED (light-emitting diode) 465 and 630 nm: in vitro

Lasers in Medical Science - Photobiomodulation has been used to inactivate bacterial growth, in different laser or LED protocols. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the inhibition of...     

Is bruxism associated with changes in neural pathways? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies using neurophysiological techniques

Brain Imaging and Behavior - This study aimed to systematically review the literature to identify clinical studies assessing neuroplasticity changes induced by or associated with bruxism or a...     

Effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage vs. perineal massage in secundigravida women with gestational oedema: A randomised clinical trial

Perineal trauma (PT) may be considered as a very common injury during the childbirth. The incidence of PT was estimated in 30% to 85%, with 60% to 70% requiring suture. The present study was a prospective, single‐blinded, randomised, clinical trial carried out from January 2015 to January 2016. For this study, 49 secundigravida women diagnosed with gestational oedema were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (A and B). Group A (n = 30) received the conventional treatment plus perineal massage and group B (n = 19) the conventional treatment plus manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and King Health's Questionnaire (KHQ) were performed to assess pain intensity and quality of life‐related with urinary incontinence (UI). Pain intensity measurements showed statistically significant differences for a decrease after 30‐weeks (P = .037), after 36‐weeks (P = .000), and at the end of puerperium (P = .014) for MLD with respect to perineal massage group. Moreover, inter‐groups repeated measures ANOVA for the values related statistically significant differences to the interaction of each applied treatment (perineal massage and MLD group, separately) over the pain intensity variable. MLD treatment reduced pain intensity with respect to perineal massage in secundigravida women with gestational oedema from 25‐weeks of gestation to the end of puerperium.     

New contribution to the study of ventricular remodeling and valve rings in dilated cardiomyopathy: anatomical and histological evaluation

Introduction

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy causes great impact but many aspects of its pathophysiology remain unknown.

Objective

To evaluate anatomical and histological aspects of hearts with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and compare them to a control group, evaluating the behavior of the perimeters of the atrioventricular rings and ventricles and to compare the percentage of collagen and elastic fibers of the atrioventricular rings.

Methods

Thirteen hearts with cardiomyopathy and 13 normal hearts were analysed. They were dissected keeping the ventricular mass and atrioventricular rings, with lamination of segments 20%, 50% and 80% of the distance between the atrioventricular groove and the ventricular apex. The sections were subjected to photo scanning, with measurement of perimeters. The atrioventricular rings were dissected and measured digitally to evaluate their perimeters, later being sent to the pathology laboratory, and stained by hematoxylin-eosin, picrosirius and oxidized resorcin fuccin.

Results

Regarding to ventricles, dilation occurs in all segments in the pathological group, and the right atrioventricular ring measurement was higher in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy group, with no difference in the left side. With respect to collagen, both sides had lower percentage of fibers in the pathological group. With respect to the elastic fibers, there was no difference between the groups.

Conclusion

There is a change in ventricular geometry in cardiomyopathy group. The left atrioventricular ring does not dilate, in spite of the fact that in both ventricles there is lowering of collagen.     

Topical 5‐azacytidine accelerates skin wound healing in rats

The development of new methods to improve skin wound healing may affect the outcomes of a number of medical conditions. Here, we evaluate the molecular and clinical effects of topical 5‐azacytidine on wound healing in rats. 5‐Azacytidine decreases the expression of follistatin‐1, which negatively regulates activins. Activins, in turn, promote cell growth in different tissues, including the skin. Eight‐week‐old male Wistar rats were submitted to 8.0‐mm punch‐wounding in the dorsal region. After 3 days, rats were randomly assigned to receive either a control treatment or the topical application of a solution containing 5‐azacytidine (10 mM) once per day. Photo documentation and sample collection were performed on days 5, 9, and 15. Overall, 5‐azacytidine promoted a significant acceleration of complete wound healing (99.7% ± 0.7.0 vs. 71.2% ± 2.8 on day 15; n = 10; p < 0.01), accompanied by up to threefold reduction in follistatin expression. Histological examination of the skin revealed efficient reepithelization and cell proliferation, as evaluated by the BrdU incorporation method. 5‐Azacytidine treatment also resulted in increased gene expression of transforming growth factor‐beta and the keratinocyte markers involucrin and cytokeratin, as well as decreased expression of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor‐alpha and interleukin‐10. Lastly, when recombinant follistatin was applied to the skin in parallel with topical 5‐azacytidine, most of the beneficial effects of the drug were lost. Thus, 5‐azacytidine acts, at least in part through the follistatin/activin pathway, to improve skin wound healing in rodents.     

Is l-Glutathione More Effective Than l-Glutamine in Preventing Enteric Diabetic Neuropathy?

Background

Diabetes and its complications appear to be multifactorial. Substances with antioxidant potential have been used to protect enteric neurons in experimental diabetes.

Aim

This study evaluated the effects of supplementation with l-glutamine and l-glutathione on enteric neurons in the jejunum in diabetic rats.

Methods

Rats at 90 days of age were distributed into six groups: normoglycemic, normoglycemic supplemented with 2 % l-glutamine, normoglycemic supplemented with 1 % l-glutathione, diabetic (D), diabetic supplemented with 2 % l-glutamine (DG), and diabetic supplemented with 1 % l-glutathione (DGT). After 120 days, the jejunums were immunohistochemically stained for HuC/D+ neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Western blot was performed to evaluate nNOS and VIP. Submucosal and myenteric neurons were quantitatively and morphometrically analyzed.

Results

Diabetic neuropathy was observed in myenteric HuC/D, nNOS, and VIP neurons (p < 0.05). In the submucosal plexus, diabetes did not change nitrergic innervation but increased VIPergic neuronal density and body size (p < 0.05). Supplementation with l-glutathione prevented changes in HuC/D neurons in the enteric plexus (p < 0.05), showing that supplementation with l-glutathione was more effective than with l-glutamine. Myenteric nNOS neurons in the DGT group exhibited a reduced density (34.5 %) and reduced area (p < 0.05). Submucosal neurons did not exhibit changes. The increase in VIP-expressing neurons was prevented in the submucosal plexus in the DG and DGT groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Supplementation with l-glutathione exerted a better neuroprotective effect than l-glutamine and may prevent the development of enteric diabetic neuropathy.     

N-acylhydrazone derivative ameliorates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension through the modulation of adenosine AA2R activity

Background

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease that results in right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. While pulmonary vascular disease is the primary pathological focus, RV hypertrophy and RV dysfunction are the major determinants of prognosis in PAH. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of (E)-N′-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-4-methoxybenzohydrazide (LASSBio-1386), an N-acylhydrazone derivative, on the lung vasculature and RV dysfunction induced by experimental PAH.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were injected with a single dose (60 mg/kg, i.p.) of monocrotaline (MCT) and given LASSBio-1386 (50 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle for 14 days. The hemodynamic, exercise capacity (EC), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), adenosine A_2A receptor (A_2AR), sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA2a), phospholamban (PLB) expression, Ca^2 +-ATPase activity and vascular activity of LASSBio-1386 were evaluated.

Results and conclusions

The RV systolic pressure was elevated in the PAH model and reduced from 49.6 ± 5.0 mm Hg (MCT group) to 27.2 ± 2.1 mm Hg (MCT + LASSBio-1386 group; P < 0.05). MCT administration also impaired the EC, increased the RV and pulmonary arteriole size, and promoted endothelial dysfunction of the pulmonary artery rings. In the PAH group, the eNOS, A_2AR, SERCA2a, and PLB levels were changed compared with the control; in addition, the Ca^2 +-ATPase activity was reduced. These alterations were related with MCT-injected rats, and LASSBio-1386 had favorable effects that prevented the development of PAH. LASSBio-1386 is effective at preventing endothelial and RV dysfunction in PAH, a finding that may have important implications for ongoing clinical evaluation of A_2AR agonists for the treatment of PAH.