Elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis

The aims of this study were to verify whether hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with disability progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and whether TNF pathways and cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) are involved in this process. This study included 180 MS patients, who were divided according to their levels of homocysteine (Hyperhomocysteinemia ≥11.35 μmol/L) and 204 healthy individuals (control group). MS patients showed higher levels of homocysteine (p?<?0.001), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α, p?<?0.001), TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1, p?=?0.038), TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2, p?<?0.001), and lower levels of PECAM (p?=?0.001), ICAM (p?<?0.001) and VCAM (p?=?0.005) than controls. The multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that plasma levels of homocysteine, TNFR1, TNFR2 and PECAM were associated with the presence of disease. MS patients with hyperhomocysteinemia showed higher disease progression evaluated by the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS, p?<?0.001), disability evaluated by Expanded Disability Status Score EDSS (p?<?0.001), TNFR1 (p?=?0.039) and ICAM (p?=?0.034) than MS patients with lower levels of homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia was independently associated with MSSS in MS patients, but were not associated with TNF-α, TNFR, and CAM. Homocysteine levels was higher in progressive forms than relapsing-remitting MS (p?<?0.001), independently of sex and age. In conclusion, this is the first study in which homocysteinemia was associated with progression of the disease (MSSS), although this finding was not directly related to TNF-α and TNFR pathways or to CAM.     

Carotid intima media thickness measurements coupled with stroke severity strongly predict short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a machine learning study

Metabolic Brain Disease - Acute ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the leading causes of morbidity, functional disability and mortality worldwide. The objective was to evaluate IS risk factors and...     

Lithium chloride assuages bone loss in experimental periodontitis in estrogen-deficient rats

Clinical Oral Investigations - Evidence shows that lithium, a medication commonly used for bipolar disorder treatment, presents bone anabolic activity. This study evaluated the effects of lithium...     

Antidermatophytic and antileishmanial activities of essential oils from Lippia gracilis Schauer genotypes

Lippia gracilis, popularly known in Brazil as ‘alecrim-de-tabuleiro’, is used for many purposes, especially antimicrobial and antiseptic activities. The leaves of three L. gracilis genotypes, including LGRA-106, LGRA-109 and LGRA-110 were collected from the Active Germplasm Bank located in the “Campus Rural da UFS” research farm at the São Cristóvão country, Sergipe State, Brazil. The essential oils were obtained from leaves of L. gracilis plants by hydrodistillation. Chemical analysis of the essential oils was performed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The susceptibility of Trichophyton rubrum strains, MYA3108 and TruMDR2, to the two L. gracilis genotypes (LGRA-106 and LGRA-109) essential oils was determined by the serial microdilution method. Leishmanicidal activity of essential oil from LGRA-106 and LGRA-110 was assayed by tetrazolium-dye (MTT) colorimetric method. The oxygenated monoterpene thymol was the main component of the essential oil from genotype LGRA-106, while Carvacrol was more abundant in LGRA-109 and LGRA-110. The concentrations of LGRA-106 and LGRA-109 essential oils that completely eliminate the fungi were determined and these concentrations were similar to those observed for fluconazole, a common antifungal drug. Among the genotype tested, LGRA-106 essential oil exhibited the best fungicidal activity at 46.87 μg mL⁻¹. Regarding to leishmanicidal activity, the IC50, for LGRA-106 and LGRA-110, was 86.32 and 77.26 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The results showed that L. gracilis essential oil, rich in thymol and thymol itself presented best antidermatophytic activity, while the best leishmanicidal activity was obtained with essential oil from genotype rich in Carvacrol and Carvacrol itself.     

Socio-demographic factors and oral health conditions in the elderly: A population-based study

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between oral health conditions and socio-demographic factors in an elderly population from Macaíba/RN (Brazil). A questionnaire was used to characterize the socio-demographic profiles and a clinical examination was performed to assess oral health conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease, use of dental prosthesis, need for dental prosthesis and soft tissue injuries. The technique of random sampling by conglomerates was used, taken from randomly selected census drafts, with a total sample of 441 individuals. The prevalence of edentulism, bleeding and dental calculus was 50.8%, 27.2% and 32%, respectively, excluding all sextants in 59% of the elderly. Data analysis was conducted using the chi-squared test with the level of significance set at 5%. Prior to association tests, the dependant variables were submitted to principal component analysis. Four factors were extracted to represent the oral health conditions of elderly individuals. A statistically significant association was found between the following variables: gender and the presence of a caregiver with gum disease; age, residence area, presence of a caregiver and household density with need for dental prosthesis; and household density with soft tissue injuries. Therefore, precarious oral health conditions were found among the elderly and associations were found between these conditions and the socio-demographic factors, particularly gender, age and residence area. The results obtained demonstrated the need for improved oral health conditions in the elderly. The study of these conditions, allied to socio-demographic factors, is important in terms of both dental care and public policy planning related to these individuals.     

Knowledge of nurses about the Service for Assistance to Women Victims of Sexual Violence

This quantitative study is to collect data of the knowledge of nurses about the Service for Assistance to women victims of sexual violence (SAMVVIS), in a public maternity hospital in Teresina, PI. Data was collected in February and March of 2008 from 61 nurses. The results show that the majority are aware of the service (90.14%) but the affirmative percentage decreases when asked about how it functions (80.33%, what its objectives are (72.13%), the role of the nurse (44.26%) and the proposal of the organization (40.98%). It follows that there is a need for the diffusion of the service, especially in the aspect of its objectives, the proposal of the organization and the role of the nurse along with national political attention for the women who are victims of sexual violence.