Intestinalization of pancreatic fragments in dogs: improvement in survival rate after acute segmental pancreatitis

Intestinalization, a new method of pancreatic preservation in which vascularized pancreatic fragments are placed inside a jejunal pouch, has been tested for its effectiveness in the prevention of shock and death due to segmental pancreatitis. Intestinalization of the fragment resulted in the survival of eight of nine animals (89 percent) in which recovery was uneventful, whereas animals with pancreatitis in situ or in a mobilized fragment without intestinalization had a mortality rate of 100 percent within 2 days. We conclude that intestinalization ameliorates the outcome of hemorrhagic pancreatitis in the pancreatic fragment by effectively draining toxic products. The procedure may also be useful in pancreatic transplantation since no reintervention is necessary if graft failure or rejection occurs because the pancreas is accessible by endoscopy.     

A novel method for estimating connectivity‐based parcellation of the human brain from diffusion MRI: Application to an aging cohort

Connectivity‐based parcellation (CBP) methods are used to define homogenous and biologically meaningful parcels or nodes—the foundations of brain network fingerprinting—by grouping voxels with similar patterns of brain connectivity. However, we still lack a gold standard method and the use of CBPs to study the aging brain remains scarce. Our study proposes a novel CBP method from diffusion MRI data and shows its potential to produce a more accurate characterization of the longitudinal alterations in brain network topology occurring in aging. For this, we constructed whole‐brain connectivity maps from diffusion MRI data of two datasets: an aging cohort evaluated at two timepoints (mean interval time: 52.8 ± 7.24 months) and a normative adult cohort—MGH‐HCP. State‐of‐the‐art clustering techniques were used to identify the best performing technique. Furthermore, we developed a new metric (connectivity homogeneity fingerprint [CHF]) to evaluate the success of the final CBP in improving regional/global structural connectivity homogeneity. Our results show that our method successfully generates highly homogeneous parcels, as described by the significantly larger CHF score of the resulting parcellation, when compared to the original. Additionally, we demonstrated that the developed parcellation provides a robust anatomical framework to assess longitudinal changes in the aging brain. Our results reveal that aging is characterized by a reorganization of the brain''s structural network involving the decrease of intra‐hemispheric, increase of inter‐hemispheric connectivity, and topological rearrangement. Overall, this study proposes a new methodology to perform accurate and robust evaluations of CBP of the human brain.     

All-ceramic systems: laboratory and clinical performance

Several all-ceramic systems have been developed in dentistry to meet the increased expectations of patients and dentists for highly aesthetic, biocompatible, and long-lasting restorations. However, early bulk fractures or chippings have led the research community to investigate the mechanical performance of the all-ceramic systems. This overview explores the current knowledge of monolithic and bilayer dental all-ceramic systems, addressing composition and processing mechanisms, laboratory and clinical performance, and possible future trends for all-ceramic materials.     

Objectively measured daily-life physical activity of moderate-to-severe Brazilian asthmatic women in comparison to healthy controls: A cross-sectional study

Considering the complex relationship between asthma symptoms and exercise, asthmatics are usually believed to be less active in daily life than healthy subjects. However, few studies have objectively assessed daily-life physical activity (DLPA) of asthmatic adults. Objective: To objectively assess DLPA of a sample of Brazilian asthmatic women in comparison to healthy controls, and to investigate the associations between DLPA and asthma control, health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression levels, and the Six-minute walk test (6MWT) in this population. Methods: Sixty-six women were included, 36 in the asthma group (AG) and 30 in the control group (CG). The AG was composed by clinically stable moderate-to-severe asthmatics. The CG was composed by apparently healthy volunteers. All subjects underwent DLPA assessment (considered as the average of steps taken during six consecutive days measured by a pedometer) and performed the 6MWT. Additionally, participants in the AG were assessed using the Asthma Control Questionnaire, the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: There was no difference between the AG and the CG regarding DLPA (7490.3 ± 3330.2 vs 6876.4 ± 3242.1 steps respectively, p = 0.45), even after adjustment for covariates. DLPA was significantly correlated to the activity limitation domain of the AQLQ among asthmatics (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Despite the association between self-perceived activity limitation and DLPA among asthmatics, there were no differences regarding DLPA between a sample of moderate-to-severe Brazilian asthmatic women and apparently healthy controls.     

Cinnamaldehyde induces changes in the protein profile of Salmonella Typhimurium biofilm

The effect of cinnamaldehyde against biofilm cells of Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028 was evaluated. We also assessed differential protein patterns that were expressed by biofilms compared with planktonic cells and protein expression by cinnamaldehyde-treated biofilms cells. This compound decreased biofilm biomass and metabolic activity of biofilms at both concentrations tested. Cinnamaldehyde treatment reduced the number of attached cells in polypropylene, reflected by colony count and scanning electron microscopy. The proteomic analysis of biofilms compared with planktonic cells indicated that several proteins were upregulated or downregulated, especially proteins that are involved in energy metabolism. Peroxiredoxin, ATP synthase alpha chain protein, conjugal transfer nickase/helicase TraI and elongation factor G were upregulated in untreated-biofilm cells, and their expression decreased as a function of cinnamaldehyde treatment. Cinnamaldehyde had antibiofilm activity, and several differentially expressed proteins identified provide potential and interesting targets to explore new control strategies for S. Typhimurium biofilms.     

Transient cortical blindness after cardiac catheterization in a post-surgical coronary patient]

Transient cortical blindness is a known complication after cerebral and vertebral angiography although is a rare complication following cardiac catheterization. In this report, we describe a seventy-six-year-old male patient who had cortical blindness after coronary bypass graft angiography. The development of cortical blindness, in this setting, appears to be an osmotic disruption of the blood-brain barrier which is selective for the occipital cortex. Other hypotheses, such as an immunological reaction to the contrast agent or a direct injection of dye into the vertebral artery system, were considered. The clinical outcome is usually favourable, with vision completely restored within 24-48 hours, as was the case of the patient described in the present report.     

Electromyographic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in dogs with short bowel syndrome

Seven dogs were subjected to resection of 80% of the total length of the small bowel. Seven pairs of electrodes were implanted in the seromuscular layer of the antrum and remaining small bowel. Electromyographic recordings were obtained during fasting and after milk ingestion. Slow waves were identified in all sites studied and their frequencies were 4.7±0.4/min in the antrum; 17.5±0.58/min in D1; 17.5±0.61/min in D2; 17.43±0.65/min in J1; 17.40±0.62/min in J2; 10.28±0.77/min in I1; and 9.81±0.53/min in I2. The phase III of the migrating motor complex was identified in only one recording. Ingestion of milk caused the appearance of the fed pattern in all recording sites, except the antrum. It is concluded that extensive resection of the small bowel causes reduction of the slow wave frequency in the gut distal to the resection and disappearance of phase III of the migrating motor complex.     

Schistosoma mansoni: preclinical studies with 9-Acridanone-hydrazones in Cebus monkeys experimentally infected.

Derivatives of acridine (9-Acridanone-hydrazones) were tested in Cebus monkeys experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni, at the dosages of 50, 25, and 12.5 mg/kg (p.o., single dose). At least, four compounds seemed to be very promising, promoting alterations in the oogram and reducing the worm burden drastically, even at the lowest dose (12.5 mg/kg). No side effects could be detected after drug administration.     

Assessing the impact of pollution on the Japaratuba river in Brazil using the Drosophila wing spot test

The Drosophila melanogaster somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) was used to assess the genotoxicity of surface (S) and bottom (B) water and sediment samples collected from Sites 1 and 2 on the Japaratuba River (Sergipe, Brazil), an area impacted by a petrochemical industrial complex that indirectly discharges treated effluent (produced water) into the river. The genotoxicity tests were performed in standard (ST) cross and high bioactivation (HB) cross flies and were conducted on samples taken in March (dry season) and in July (rainy season) of 2003. Mutant spot frequencies found in treatments with unprocessed water and sediment samples from the test sites were compared with the frequencies observed for similar samples taken from a clean reference site (the Jacarecica River in Sergipe, Brazil) and those of negative (ultrapure water) controls. While samples from the Japaratuba River generally produced greater responses than those from the Jacarecica River, positive responses were detected for both the test and reference site samples. All the water samples collected in March 2003 were genotoxic. In July 2003, the positive responses were restricted to water samples collected from Sites 1 B and 2 S in the ST cross. The genotoxicity of the water samples was due to mitotic recombination, and the samples produced similar genotoxic responses in ST and HB flies. The spot frequencies found in the July water samples were considerably lower than those for the March water samples, suggesting a seasonal effect. The only sediment samples that were genotoxic were from Site 1 (March and July) and from the Jacarecica River (March). The genotoxins in these samples produced both somatic mutation (limited to the Site 1 sample in HB flies) and recombination. The results of this study indicate that samples from both the Japaratuba and Jacarecica Rivers were genotoxic, with the most consistently positive responses detected with Site 1 samples, the site closest to the putative pollution source.