Use of four dengue virus antigens for determination of dengue immune status by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of immunoglobulin G avidity

We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of immunoglobulin G avidity to determine the dengue immune status of 105 pairs of serum samples from patients infected with dengue virus. This study shows that a simple avidity test, for which only one acute-phase serum sample is required, is potentially more useful than the hemagglutination inhibition test for the discrimination of primary from secondary dengue virus infection, whatever the type of dengue antigen used.     

Influence of cone-beam computed tomography image artifacts on the determination of dental arch measurements

Objective:To compare dental plaster model (DPM) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the measurement of the dental arches, and investigate whether CBCT image artifacts compromise the reliability of such measurements.Materials and Methods:Twenty patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of metallic restorations in the posterior teeth. Both dental arches of the patients were scanned with the CBCT unit i-CAT, and DPMs were obtained. Two examiners obtained eight arch measurements on the CBCT images and DPMs and repeated this procedure 15 days later. The arch measurements of each patient group were compared separately by the Wilcoxon rank sum (Mann-Whitney U) test, with a significance level of 5% (α  =  .05). Intraclass correlation measured the level of intraobserver agreement.Results:Patients with healthy teeth showed no significant difference between all DPM and CBCT arch measurements (P > .05). Patients with metallic restoration showed significant difference between DPM and CBCT for the majority of the arch measurements (P > .05). The two examiners showed excellent intraobserver agreement for both measuring methods with intraclass correlation coefficient higher than 0.95.Conclusion:CBCT provided the same accuracy as DPM in the measurement of the dental arches, and was negatively influenced by the presence of image artifacts.     

Bactericide effect of methylene blue associated with low-level laser therapy in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> bacteria isolated from pressure ulcers

The present study analyzed the bactericidal effect of methylene blue associated with low-level lasers on Escherichia coli isolated from a pressure ulcer. Microbiological material from a pressure ulcer was isolated using an aseptic swab, and antimicrobial activity was verified using the diffusion disc method. Methylene blue was used at concentrations of 0.001 and 0.005%, and low-level lasers of 670, 830, and 904 nm, with the energy densities of 4, 8, 10, and 14 J/cm², were tested on three plates each and combined with methylene blue of each concentration. In addition, three control plates were used, with each concentration and energy density separated without any interventions. The results were analyzed using the paired sample t test to determine the bactericidal effect of the methylene blue and using the ANOVA test to compare the effects of the energy densities and wavelengths among the low-level laser treatment protocols. The results showed bacterial reduction at wavelengths of 830 and 904 nm and more proliferation in wavelengths of 670 nm. In wavelength of 830 nm, a bacterial reduction was observed in the conditions with 0.001% methylene blue in all energy density utilized, with 0.005% methylene blue in energy density of 10 J/cm², and without methylene blue in energy density at 10 J/cm². And in a wavelength of 904 nm, all condition showed bacterial reduction with or without methylene blue. We concluded that the low-level lasers of 904 and 830 nm have bactericidal effects and at better energy densities (10 and 14 J/cm²).     

Frailty and Somatic Comorbidity in Older Patients With Medically Unexplained Symptoms

ObjectivesTo examine the level of frailty and somatic comorbidity in older patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and compare this to patients with medically explained symptoms (MES).DesignCross-sectional, comparative study.SettingCommunity, primary care, and secondary healthcare to recruit patients with MUS in various developmental and severity stages and primary care to recruit patients with MES.ParticipantsIn total, 118 patients with MUS and 154 patients with MES, all aged ≥60 years.MethodsFrailty was assessed according to the Fried criteria (gait speed, handgrip strength, unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, and low physical activity), somatic comorbidity according to the self-report Charlson comorbidity index, and the number of prescribed medications.ResultsAlthough patients with MUS had less physical comorbidity compared with patients with MES, they were prescribed the same number of medications. Moreover, patients with MUS were more often frail compared with patients with MES. Among patients with MUS, physical frailty was associated with the severity of unexplained symptoms, the level of hypochondriacal beliefs, and the level of somatisation.Conclusions and implicationsDespite a lower prevalence of overt somatic diseases, patients with MUS are more frail compared with older patients with MES. These results suggest that at least in some patients age-related phenomena might be erroneously classified as MUS, which may affect treatment strategy.     

The impacts of abnormal color vision on people's life: an integrative review

Quality of Life Research - This article shows an integrative review on the impact that abnormal color vision may have on the daily routine of individuals. We followed the PRISMA guidelines for...     

Could a high-fat diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids impair the cardiovascular system?

BACKGROUND:

Dyslipidemia results from consumption of a diet rich in saturated fatty acids and is usually associated with cardiovascular disease. A diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids is usually associated with improved cardiovascular condition.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate whether a high-fat diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids (U-HFD) – in which fatty acid represents approximately 45% of the total calories – impairs the cardiovascular system.

METHODS:

Male, 30-day-old Wistar rats were fed a standard (control) diet or a U-HFD containing 83% unsaturated fatty acid for 19 weeks. The in vivo electrocardiogram, the spectral analysis of heart rate variability, and the vascular reactivity responses to phenylephrine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline and prazosin in aortic ring preparations were analyzed to assess the cardiovascular parameters.

RESULTS:

After 19 weeks, the U-HFD rats had increased total body fat, baseline glucose levels and feed efficiency compared with control rats. However, the final body weight, systolic blood pressure, area under the curve for glucose, calorie intake and heart weight/final body weight ratio were similar between the groups. In addition, both groups demonstrated no alteration in the electrocardiogram or cardiac sympathetic parameters. There was no difference in the responses to acetylcholine or the maximal contractile response of the thoracic aorta to phenylephrine between groups, but the concentration necessary to produce 50% of maximal response showed a decrease in the sensitivity to phenylephrine in U-HFD rats. The cumulative concentration-effect curve for noradrenaline in the presence of prazosin was shifted similarly in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present work shows that U-HFD did not impair the cardiovascular parameters analyzed.