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.     

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.     

Antibacterial substantivity of a new antibiotic‐based endodontic irrigation solution

The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual antibacterial activity of Tetraclean, MTAD and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in bovine root dentin in vitro. One hundred and ten dentin tubes prepared from bovine incisor teeth were infected in vitro for 14 days with Enterococcus faecalis. Thereafter, the specimens were divided into five groups as follows: Tetraclean; MTAD; 5.25% NaOCl; infected dentin tubes (positive control); and sterile dentin tubes (negative control). Dentin chips were collected using round burs into tryptic soy broth and after culturing, the number of colony‐forming units (CFU) was counted. The number of CFU in all experimental groups was minimum after treatment, and the results obtained were significantly different from each other at any time period (P < 0.05). The Tetraclean group showed the most effective antibacterial action at all five experimental periods (P < 0.05). MTAD group showed the least antibacterial activity after treatment. However, at days 7, 14, 21 and 28 MTAD showed more effective antibacterial action than NaOCl. In each group, the number of CFU increased significantly by time‐lapse (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the residual antibacterial activity of Tetraclean was significantly greater than MTAD and 5.25% NaOCl.     

Hepatoprotective treatment attenuates oxidative damages induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

The present study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of an N-acetyl dl-methionine + choline chloride + caffeine + thiamine hydrochloride + nicotinamide + pyridoxine hydrochloride compound at doses of 0.2, 0.6 and 1.0 mL/kg of b.w., and the assessment was done by the investigation of serum-enzymatic activity, metabolic functions of the liver and histophatological changes in female Wistar rats, which were subjected to experimental intoxication with CCl₄. One hundred and nineteen rats were randomly distributed into 17 groups, performing five different treatments, being evaluated seven animals per treatment in four periods: 2, 4, 6 and 8 days after CCl₄-induced intoxication. Treated rats with the hepatoprotective medicine (HM) presented a significant reduction in infiltration of inflammatory cells, steatosis, necrosis and liver congestion when compared to non-treated rats (control). Beside these results, the treatment showed a positive effect on circulatory alterations in the intoxicated animals, with reduction of spleen and renal congestion, as well as, promotion of a significant improvement in ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, GGT enzymatic serum activity reduction and in recovering liver function regarding the metabolism of urea, triglycerides and glucose. These findings indicate therapeutic usefulness of the compound when administered at dose 0.6 and 1.0 mL/kg of b.w. in female Wistar rats.     

Effects of mood stabilizers on hippocampus and amygdala BDNF levels in an animal model of mania induced by ouabain

There is a body of evidence suggesting that BDNF is involved in bipolar disorder (BD) pathogenesis. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of ouabain (OUA), a specific Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase inhibitor, induces hyperlocomotion in rats, and has been used as an animal model of mania. The present study aims to investigate the effects of the lithium (Li) and valproate (VPT) in an animal model of mania induced by ouabain. In the reversal model, animals received a single ICV injection of OUA or cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). From the day following the ICV injection, the rats were treated for 6 days with intraperitoneal (IP) injections of saline (SAL), Li or VPT twice a day. In the maintenance treatment (prevention model), the rats received IP injections of Li, VPT, or SAL twice a day for 12 days. In the 7th day of treatment the animals received a single ICV injection of either OUA or aCSF. After the ICV injection, the treatment with the mood stabilizers continued for more 6 days. Locomotor activity was measured using the open-field test and BDNF levels were measured in rat hippocampus and amygdala by sandwich-ELISA. Li and VPT reversed OUA-related hyperactive behavior in the open-field test in both experiments. OUA decreased BDNF levels in first and second experiments in hippocampus and amygdala and Li treatment, but not VPT reversed and prevented the impairment in BDNF expression after OUA administration in these cerebral areas. Our results suggest that the present model fulfills adequate face, construct and predictive validity as an animal model of mania.     

Health survey and assessment of the polymorphisms BRCA1/P871L,BRCA1/Q356R,and BRCA2/N372H in female gas station workers in Rio de Janeiro

Gas station workers are exposed to chemicals known to be carcinogenic, especially benzene. The objective was to analyze the health problems of female gas station workers by means of sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires, and laboratorial exams. We performed the genotyping of the polymorphisms BRCA1/P871L and BRCA1/Q356R by Polymerase Chain Reaction‐Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, and of variant allele BRCA2/N372H through direct sequencing. The female workers showed a higher concentration of monocytes (P = 0.039); a greater number of spontaneous abortions (P = 0.025, OR = 4.977, 95% CI = 1.135–30.669); higher tobacco consumption (P = 0.013); and higher alcohol consumption (P = 0.05). The statistical analysis of the polymorphisms associated with the variables monocyte concentration and miscarriage number did not reveal a significant relationship, and smoking and spontaneous abortion were not statistically associated either. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 58:730–734, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of erythromycin on gallbladder emptying in diabetic patients with and without autonomic neuropathy and high levels of motilin

A reduction of gallbladder emptying in response to neural or hormonal stimulation has been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus. Decreased gallbladder emptying may be a key factor in the pathogenesis of gallbladder stones. Few drugs, if any, are able to stimulate gallbladder emptying. However, in a previous study we demonstrated that erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, stimulates gallbladder emptying and motilin release in healthy human subjects by an atropine-sensitive pathway. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of erythromycin on gallbladder emptying and motilin release in diabetic patients with or without cardiac autonomic neuropathy (AN). Thirteen diabetic patients, six with AN, and 10 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study protocol. Gallbladder emptying was determined by sonography after ingestion of a standard meal and during infusion of erythromycin alone or together with 6 g/kg/hr atropine. We found that 100 mg/hr erythromycin caused a significant reduction in gallbladder volume in both healthy subjects and diabetic patients. The ejection fraction (mean ±se) of 45.3±8.2% and 37.3±5.0% was similar. The presence of AN had no influence on gallbladder emptying induced by erythromycin. Basal motilin plasma levels were 111.5±14.5 pmol/liter in diabetic patients and 63.3 ±6.0 pmol/liter in healthy subjects (P<0.01). However, patients with AN had higher (130.0 ±11.9 pmol/liter) motilin plasma levels than patients without (74.0±9.4 pmol/liter,P<0.01). Erythromycin administration caused an approximately twofold increase in plasma motilin concentrations in healthy subject and patients withou AN, but did not stimulate motilin release in neuropathic patients. A negative correlation (r=–0.75,P<0.01) was found between basal plasma levels of motilin and peak of gallbladder emptying induced by erythromycin. Atropine completely inhibited the effects of erythromycin on gallbladder emptying and motilin release (P<0.001 by ANOVA). A negative correlation (r=–0.52,P<0.05) was also found between plasma glucose concentrations and peak of gallbladder emptying. Present results demonstrate that erythromycin could be used for treating alterations of gallbladder emptying in diabetic patients with or without AN.