Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles modulates lipopolysaccharide-induced lung inflammation in Wistar rats

This study aimed to investigate the effect of intranasal treatment of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and Curcumin (Cur) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute pulmonary inflammatory response. A single intraperitoneal injection of LPS (0.5 mg/Kg) was performed, and the animals in the Sham group were injected with 0.9% saline. Treatment was daily intranasally with GNPs (2.5 mg/L), Cur (10 mg/kg) and GNP-Cur started 12 h after LPS administration and ended on the seventh day. The results show that the treatment performed with GNP-Cur was the most effective to attenuate the action of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and a lower leukocyte count in the bronchoalveolar lavage, in addition to positively regulating anti-inflammatory cytokines in relation to other groups. As a result, it promoted an oxirreductive balanced environment in the lung tissue, providing a histological outcome with a reduction in inflammatory cells and greater alveolar area. The group treated with GNPs-Cur was superior to the other groups, with better anti-inflammatory activity and reduced oxidative stress, resulting in less morphological damage to lung tissue. In conclusion, the use of reduced GNPs with curcumin demonstrates promising effects in the control of the acute inflammatory response, helping to protect the lung tissue at the biochemical and morphological levels.     

Influence of Abutment Design on Biomechanical Behavior to Support a Screw-Retained 3-Unit Fixed Partial Denture

This study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of Morse taper implants using different abutments (CMN abutment [(CMN Group] and miniconical abutments [MC Group]), indicated to support a screw-retained 3-unit fixed partial denture. For the in vitro test, polyurethane blocks were fabricated for both groups (n = 10) and received three implants in the “offset” configuration and their respective abutments (CMN or MC) with a 3-unit fixed partial denture. Four strain gauges were bonded to the surface of each block. For the finite element analysis, 3D models of both groups were created and exported to the analysis software to perform static structural analysis. All structures were considered homogeneous, isotropic, and elastic. The contacts were considered non-linear with a friction coefficient of 0.3 between metallic structures and considered bonded between the implant and substrate. An axial load of 300 N was applied in three points (A, B, and C) for both methods. The microstrain and the maximum principal stress were considered as analysis criteria. The obtained data were submitted to the Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, and Dunn’s multiple comparison test (α = 5%). The results obtained by strain gauge showed no statistical difference (p = 0.879) between the CMN (645.3 ± 309.2 με) and MC (639.3 ± 278.8 με) and allowed the validation of computational models with a difference of 6.3% and 6.4% for the microstrains in the CMN and MC groups, respectively. Similarly, the results presented by the computational models showed no statistical difference (p = 0.932) for the CMN (605.1 ± 358.6 με) and MC (598.7 ± 357.9 με) groups. The study concluded that under favorable conditions the use of CMN or MP abutments to support a fixed partial denture can be indicated.     

Clavicles,interclavicles, gastralia,and sternal ribs in sauropod dinosaurs: new reports from Diplodocidae and their morphological,functional and evolutionary implications

Ossified gastralia, clavicles and sternal ribs are known in a variety of reptilians, including dinosaurs. In sauropods, however, the identity of these bones is controversial. The peculiar shapes of these bones complicate their identification, which led to various differing interpretations in the past. Here we describe different elements from the chest region of diplodocids, found near Shell, Wyoming, USA. Five morphotypes are easily distinguishable: (A) elongated, relatively stout, curved elements with a spatulate and a bifurcate end resemble much the previously reported sauropod clavicles, but might actually represent interclavicles; (B) short, L‐shaped elements, mostly preserved as a symmetrical pair, probably are the real clavicles, as indicated by new findings in diplodocids; (C) slender, rod‐like bones with rugose ends are highly similar to elements identified as sauropod sternal ribs; (D) curved bones with wide, probably medial ends constitute the fourth morphotype, herein interpreted as gastralia; and (E) irregularly shaped elements, often with extended rugosities, are included into the fifth morphotype, tentatively identified as sternal ribs and/or intercostal elements. To our knowledge, the bones previously interpreted as sauropod clavicles were always found as single bones, which sheds doubt on the validity of their identification. Various lines of evidence presented herein suggest they might actually be interclavicles – which are single elements. This would be the first definitive evidence of interclavicles in dinosauromorphs. Previously supposed interclavicles in the early sauropodomorph Massospondylus or the theropods Oviraptor and Velociraptor were later reinterpreted as clavicles or furculae. Independent from their identification, the existence of the reported bones has both phylogenetic and functional significance. Their presence in non‐neosauropod Eusauropoda and Flagellicaudata and probable absence in rebbachisaurs and Titanosauriformes shows a clear character polarity. This implicates that the ossification of these bones can be considered plesiomorphic for Sauropoda. The proposed presence of interclavicles in sauropods may give further support to a recent study, which finds a homology of the avian furcula with the interclavicle to be equally parsimonious to the traditional theory that furcula were formed by the fusion of the clavicles. Functional implications are the stabilizing of the chest region, which coincides with the development of elongated cervical and caudal vertebral columns or the use of the tail as defensive weapon. The loss of ossified chest bones coincides with more widely spaced limbs, and the evolution of a wide‐gauge locomotor style.     

Non-invasive single-trial monitoring of human movement-related brain activation based on DC-magnetoencephalography.

Neuroimaging techniques, such as fMRI, PET and near-infrared spectroscopy, monitor task-related neuronal activations in the brain indirectly through the associated neurovascular/metabolic responses. To assess the primary neuronal activations directly, magnetoencephalography was combined here with a mechanical modulation of the head-to-sensor position and signal separation via independent component analysis. In all of five subjects this approach allowed to monitor the time evolution of DC fields (<0.1 Hz) over the left hemisphere related to complex finger movements of the right hand alternating with rest periods (30 s each). Throughout the recording period of 30 min, stable task-related DC fields were recordable in a single-trial mode, i.e. without any averaging. DC-MEG opens up the possibility of analysing non-invasively cortical DC-activity also in stroke, migraine or epilepsy patients.     

Tracing of proximal lumbosacral nerve conduction--a comparison of simultaneous magneto- and electroneurography.

OBJECTIVE: The reconstruction of nerve impulse conduction along proximal lumbosacral plexus and nerve roots is compared using simultaneous magneto- and electroneurography. METHODS: In 3 healthy subjects the left tibial nerve was electrostimulated at the ankle. Evoked magnetic fields and electric surface potentials were measured simultaneously over the lumbosacral spine using a multichannel SQUID-detector with a planar measuring area and 25 surface electrodes covering a comparable area centered around L4. Based on either magnetic field or electric potential maps the depolarization front of the evoked compound action currents (CAC) was spatio-temporally reconstructed using a simple equivalent current dipole model in a half-space volume conductor. RESULTS: The mean signal-to-noise ratio in the magnetic (electric) recordings was around 4 (8). Yet, the localization quality for the propagating CAC was lower for electric than magnetic recordings. The local nerve conduction velocity was around 47 m/s (calculated from magnetic data), but fluctuated unphysiologically for electric data. CONCLUSION: In comparison to electroneurography, an anatomically reasonable localization of evoked compound action currents propagating in lumbosacral roots can be obtained by magnetoneurography.