Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) blockage reduces acute inflammation and delayed wound healing in oral ulcer of rats.

Oral traumatic ulcers (OTU) are common in dental routine, and the control of proinflammatory cytokines, such as the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), may interfere with OTU repair. Our aim was to evaluate the role of TNF-α in the healing process of OTU in rats. Wistar male rats were divided into six groups: a control-group (treated with 0.1 mL/kg of saline) and five groups treated with anti-TNF-α infliximab (INF) at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 mg/kg immediately before OTU production. The animals were weighed (day 0) and euthanized on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 after ulceration. The ulcers were clinically measured, and the mucosa samples were histologically (scores 0-4), histochemically (collagen assay (pircrosirius)), histomorphometrically (cell counting), and immunohistochemically (TNF-α, α-smooth-muscle-actin (α-SMA), monocyte-chemoattractive-protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and fibroblast-growth-factor (FGF)) analyzed. The Evans blue assay was used to measure the vascular permeability. ANOVA-1-2-way/Bonferroni, Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn, and correlation analyses were performed (GraphPad Prism 5.0, p < 0.05). High doses of INF reduced the OTU area (p = 0.043), body mass loss (p = 0.023), vascular permeability (p < 0.001), and reduced delayed histologic scores (p < 0.05), polymorphonuclear (p < 0.001) and mononuclear (p < 0.001) cells, blood vessel counting (p = 0.006), and total (p < 0.001), type-I (p = 0.018), and type-III (p < 0.001) collagen. INF treatment reduced TNF-α immunostaining and delayed MPC-1, FGF, and α-SMA expression, with little/none influence in IL-8 immunostaining. TNF-α blockage by INF reduced acute inflammation in OTU but delayed cell migration and wound healing.

Distance education in dentistry in Brazil: a critical STROBE-based analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced dentistry schools (DSs) to adapt their teaching techniques to digital platforms. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate distance classes in the Brazilian DS curriculum. After an online search of higher education institutions (HEIs) with DS on the e-Ministry of Education (MEC) platform, we included institutions with at least one graduated class to extract the age/localization of the DS, funding, number of authorized seats, MEC-grade, ENADE-score, and workload. HEIs' webpages were consulted to identify the curriculum, subjects offered in the distance education (DE) format, extracurricular programs, scientific events, postgraduate programs, and institutional YouTube channels. Chi-square/Fisher's tests plus binary logistic regression were performed (SPSS 20.0, p < 0.05). Of the 241 DSs evaluated, 82 (34.0%) offered distance classes, and a high prevalence was observed in the southeast region (p <0.001) and private HEIs (p = 0.001). HEIs with distance classes had lower ENADE scores (p = 0.004), lower workload (p = 0.007), and higher workload for optional subjects (p = 0.016), doctoral programs (p = 0.041), specialization courses (p = 0.017), and institutional YouTube channels (p < 0.001). Southern dental schools (p < 0.001), lower workload (p = 0.022), optional subjects (p = 0.033), and institutional YouTube channels (p = 0.005) were independently associated with distance classes. In one-third of the Brazilian DSs, distance classes and institutional YouTube channels were strongly associated variables. The association of distance learning with lower workload and low academic performance draws attention to the need for regulatory bodies for controlling the quality of DE.

Association of anxiety, depression, and stress with burning mouth syndrome: a case-control study.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a painful disorder characterized by severe burning in the oral cavity in the absence of clinical signs. In this case-control study, 60 patients were allocated to 3 groups: patients with BMS, patients with benign changes in the oral cavity (anxiety [positive] control group), or healthy patients (negative control group). A visual analog scale (VAS), Beck Anxiety and Depression inventories, Lipp Stress Symptoms Inventory, Xerostomia Inventory-Dutch Version, and a BMS questionnaire were used. Statistical analyses (P < 0.05) were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn post hoc, Pearson chi-square, Fisher exact, and multinomial logistic regression tests. Most of the patients were female. The BMS group had more patients who were older than 60 years (P = 0.008), more patients with high VAS scores (P < 0.001), and more patients with moderate or severe anxiety (P < 0.001) and depression (P < 0.001) than the 2 control groups. Patients in the BMS group also had higher rates of stress during the alarm (P = 0.003), resistance (P < 0.001), and exhaustion phases (P < 0.001). All patients with BMS reported burning and xerostomia, 90% reported a feeling of dry mouth, and 80% reported a change in taste; these values were significantly higher than those in the control groups (P < 0.001). Anxiety was independently associated with a 123.80 times greater risk of having BMS (P = 0.004). Psychological factors are directly associated with BMS, and anxiety is the most important of these factor.

Distance education in dentistry in Brazil: a critical STROBE-based analysis

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has forced dentistry schools (DSs) to adapt their teaching techniques to digital platforms. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate distance classes in the Brazilian DS curriculum. After an online search of higher education institutions (HEIs) with DS on the e-Ministry of Education (MEC) platform, we included institutions with at least one graduated class to extract the age/localization of the DS, funding, number of authorized seats, MEC-grade, ENADE-score, and workload. HEIs' webpages were consulted to identify the curriculum, subjects offered in the distance education (DE) format, extracurricular programs, scientific events, postgraduate programs, and institutional YouTube channels. Chi-square/Fisher's tests plus binary logistic regression were performed (SPSS 20.0, p < 0.05). Of the 241 DSs evaluated, 82 (34.0%) offered distance classes, and a high prevalence was observed in the southeast region (p <0.001) and private HEIs (p = 0.001). HEIs with distance classes had lower ENADE scores (p = 0.004), lower workload (p = 0.007), and higher workload for optional subjects (p = 0.016), doctoral programs (p = 0.041), specialization courses (p = 0.017), and institutional YouTube channels (p < 0.001). Southern dental schools (p < 0.001), lower workload (p = 0.022), optional subjects (p = 0.033), and institutional YouTube channels (p = 0.005) were independently associated with distance classes. In one-third of the Brazilian DSs, distance classes and institutional YouTube channels were strongly associated variables. The association of distance learning with lower workload and low academic performance draws attention to the need for regulatory bodies for controlling the quality of DE.

Photobiomodulation Therapy Reduces the Inflammatory Process without Inhibiting Bone Deposition in Rats in an Extraction Model.

Objective: We evaluated the influence of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) application during bone healing postexodontia in rats. Methods: We divided 84 male Wistar rats into a control group (CG), which received placebo treatment without PBMT, and a test group (TG), which was treated with PBMT. After exodontia, the animals were subjected to PBMT (TG) with an AsGaAI diode laser at 810 nm, 100 mW, 2 J, and 70 J/cm2 or placebo treatment (CG) every 72 h. After 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, the animals were weighed and euthanized to remove the left hemimandibles for radiographic (alveolar filling) and histomorphometric (inflammatory polymorphonuclear cell (PMN), mononuclear cell (MN), osteoclast (OC), and blood vessels counting) analysis. Statistic approach used two-way variance analysis followed by Bonferroni post hoc (p < 0.05, GraphPad Prism 5.0). Results: There was no significant difference in body mass variation (p = 0.828) and bone neoformation (p = 0.365) between the two groups, but the TG presented lower PMN (p < 0.001), MN (p < 0.001), and OC counts (p < 0.001) and higher blood vessels count (p < 0.001) throughout the repair process. Conclusions: PBMT attenuated the inflammatory process after exodontia without interfering with bone neoformation.

A strategy action from the Cievs/Pernambuco in response to the emergency on Congenital Syndrome associated to Zika virus infection: an integrative action / Estratégia de atuação do Cievs/Pernambuco na resposta à emergência da Síndrome Congênita associada à infecção pelo vírus Zika: uma ação integrativa

Abstract Objectives: to describe the strategy action from the Centro de Informações Estratégicas de Vigilância em Saúde (Cievs/PE) (Strategic Information on Health Surveillance Center) in response to the emergency on Congenital Syndrome associated to Zika virus infection (CSZ) in Pernambuco State between 2015 and 2016. Methods: description performed on the strategies and activities developed by Cievs/PE during the important international public health emergency related to CSZ. Results: participated in detecting suspected CSZ cases; participated in elaborating clinical epidemiological protocols; developed electronic forms to notify CSZ cases and pregnant women with exanthema rashes; prepared epidemiological reports; developed a website about the emergency on the Cievs/PE website; insert the occurrence in the Comitê de Avaliação e Monitoramento de Eventos (CAME) (Committee to Assess and Monitor Occurrence); resolution of demands during readiness; technical visits from National and International institutions. The actions developed by the Cievs/PE were fundamental in detecting and following-up on 2,073 CSZ cases. 390 cases were confirmed (18.1%) and 1,413 were discarded (65.6%), and 4,467 pregnant women had exanthema rash. Conclusions: the action from the Cievs/PE allowed to employ timely strategies on preparation and response in a qualified and cooperative way to face public health emergency on CSZ's

Resumo Objetivos: descrever a estratégia de atuação do Centro de Informações Estratégicas de Vigilância em Saúde (Cievs/PE) na resposta à emergência da Síndrome Congênita associada à infecção pelo vírus Zika (SCZ) no estado de Pernambuco, entre 2015 e 2016. Métodos: realizada descrição das estratégias e atividades desenvolvidas pelo Cievs/PE durante a emergência em saúde pública de importância internacional relacionada a SCZ. Resultados: participação na detecção dos casos suspeitos da SCZ; participação na elaboração dos protocolos clínico epidemiológicos; construção de formulários eletrônicos para notificação dos casos da SCZ e gestante com exantema; elaboração de informes epidemiológicos; construção de página eletrônica sobre a emergência no site do Cievs/PE; inserção do evento no Comitê de Avaliação e Monitoramento de Eventos (CAME); resolução de demandas durante a prontidão; visita técnica de instituições nacionais e internacionais. As ações desenvolvidas pelo Cievs/PE foram fundamentais para a detecção e acompanhamento de 2.073 casos da SCZ, com a confirmação 390 (18,1%) e descarte de 1.413 (65,6%) casos, e 4.467 gestantes com exantema. Conclusões: a atuação do Cievs/PE permitiu o emprego de estratégias de preparação e resposta em tempo oportuno, de forma qualificada e cooperativa no enfrentamento a emergência em saúde pública da SCZ.