The role of light emitting diode in wound healing: A systematic review of experimental studies.

Wounds represent a growing global issue demanding increased attention. To expedite wound healing, technologies are under development, and light emitting diode (LED) devices of varying wavelengths are being explored for their stimulating influence on the healing process. This article presents a systematic literature review aiming to compile, organize, and analyze the impacts of LED devices on wound healing. This review is registered on the PROSPERO platform [CRD42023403870]. Two blinded authors conducted searches in the Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases. In vitro and in vivo experimental studies assessing LED utilization in the wound healing process were included. The search yielded 1010 studies, of which 27 were included in the review. It was identified that LED stimulates different healing pathways, promoting enhanced cell proliferation and migration, angiogenesis stimulation, increased collagen deposition, and modulation of the inflammatory response. Thus, it can be concluded that the LED stimulates cellular and molecular processes contingent on the utilized parameters. The effects depend on the standards used. Cell migration and proliferation were better influenced by green and red LED. The extracellular matrix components and angiogenesis were regulated by all wavelengths and the modulation of inflammation was mediated by green, red, and infrared LEDs.

Maxillary arch dimensions in bilateral cleft lip and palate in the age 0-5 months.

INTRODUCTION: The complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) divides the maxillary arch into three segments, separated from each other, resulting in abnormal growth of the alveolar arch. This study evaluated the maxillary arch dimensions in BCLP and compared them with neonates without craniofacial anomalies. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary cleft centre. Sixty-six neonates aged 0-5 months were divided into two groups: cleft group-children with BCLP (23 boys and 18 girls) and control group-children without craniofacial deformities (15 boys and 10 girls). The dental models were processed by a 3D scanner. Landmarks were marked to achieve inter-canine distance, inter-tuberosity distance and arch length measurements. t-Tests were used for intergroup comparisons (p < .05). RESULTS: The maxillary cleft arch was demonstrated to be wider and longer in the posterior region compared to the control group. The inter-canine distance did not present differences between the cleft and controls. The inter-canine distance of the control group was the only measurement influenced by the variable sex. CONCLUSIONS: The cleft significantly interfered with the arch posterior width and arch sagittal length, making them larger. There was no statistical difference in the measurements between sex in the cleft group.

A facile one step route that introduces functionality to polymer powders for laser sintering.

Laser Sintering (LS) is a type of Additive Manufacturing (AM) exploiting laser processing of polymeric particles to produce 3D objects. Because of its ease of processability and thermo-physical properties, polyamide-12 (PA-12) represents ~95% of the polymeric materials used in LS. This constrains the functionality of the items produced, including limited available colours. Moreover, PA-12 objects tend to biofoul in wet environments. Therefore, a key challenge is to develop an inexpensive route to introduce desirable functionality to PA-12. We report a facile, clean, and scalable approach to modification of PA-12, exploiting supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) and free radical polymerizations to yield functionalised PA-12 materials. These can be easily printed using commercial apparatus. We demonstrate the potential by creating coloured PA-12 materials and show that the same approach can be utilized to create anti-biofouling objects. Our approach to functionalise materials could open significant new applications for AM.

Astaxanthin induces autophagy and apoptosis in murine melanoma B16F10-Nex2 cells and exhibits antitumor activity in vivo.

Countless efforts have been made to prevent and suppress the formation and spread of melanoma. Natural astaxanthin (AST; extracted from the alga Haematococcus pluvialis) showed an antitumor effect on various cancer cell lines due to its interaction with the cell membrane. This study aimed to characterize the antitumor effect of AST against B16F10-Nex2 murine melanoma cells using cell viability assay and evaluate its mechanism of action using electron microscopy, western blotting analysis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay, and mitochondrial membrane potential determination. Astaxanthin exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect in murine melanoma cells with features of apoptosis and autophagy. Astaxanthin also decreased cell migration and invasion in vitro assays at subtoxic concentrations. In addition, assays were conducted in metastatic cancer models in mice where AST significantly decreased the development of pulmonary nodules. In conclusion, AST has cytotoxic effect in melanoma cells and inhibits cell migration and invasion, indicating a promising use in cancer treatment.

Implicações físicas no aparelho estomatognático e emocionais nos atendimentos odontológicos de mulheres vítimas de violência: revisão integrativa da literatura / Physical implications on the stomatognathic system and emotional implications in dental care for women victims of violence: integrative review of the literature

Infelizmente os casos de violência contra a mulher aumentam a cada dia. Neste contexto, o entendimento das implicações físicas e emocionais de tais eventos se torna fundamental na equipe multiprofissional de cuidados em saúde, que inclui o cirurgião-dentista. O objetivo deste trabalho foi levantar os principais agravos em saúde bucal relacionados a casos de violência contra a mulher, além de mapear comportamentos que sejam comuns em vítimas de abusos no momento da consulta odontológica. Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura com buscas nas bases de dados Pubmed e Scielo, de artigos dos últimos cinco anos, buscando responder à seguinte pergunta de estudo: "Quais as principais alterações físicas no sistema estomatognático e as alterações emocionais mais frequentes em mulheres vítimas de violência doméstica?". Após a aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, 13 artigos foram selecionados para a análise. Percebe-se que as lesões em face são comuns em mulheres vítimas de violência, e os dentes não são constantemente acometidos. Em relação às questões emocionais, a consulta odontológica se configura um gatilho de ansiedade para mulheres que sofrem/sofreram algum tipo de violência. Mais estudos são necessários nesta temática que transcende o âmbito jurídico e como uma questão de saúde pública precisa de uma abordagem multi e interdisciplinar, incluindo a Odontologia

Unfortunately, cases of violence against women are increasing every day. In this context, understanding the physical and emotional implications of such events becomes fundamental in the multidisciplinary health care team, which includes the dentist. The objective of this work was to identify the main oral health problems related to cases of violence against women, in addition to mapping behaviors that are common in victims of abuse at the time of dental consultation. An integrative review of the literature was carried out with searches in the Pubmed and Scielo databases, for articles from the last five years, seeking to answer the following study question: "What are the main physical changes in the stomatognathic system and the most frequent emotional changes in women? victims of domestic violence?" After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 articles were selected for analysis. It is clear that injuries to the face are common in women who are victims of violence, and the teeth are not constantly affected. In relation to emotional issues, the dental appointment is an anxiety trigger for women who suffer/have suffered some type of violence. More studies are needed on this topic, which transcends the legal scope and, as a public health issue, requires a multi- and interdisciplinary approach, including dentistry

Functional chromophores synthesized via multicomponent Reactions: A review on their use as cell-imaging probes.

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements and applications of fluorescence imaging probes synthesized via MCRs (multicomponent reactions). These probes, also known as functional chromophores, belong to a currently investigated class of fluorophores that are presently being successfully applied in bioimaging experiments, especially in various living cell lineages. We describe some of the MCRs that have been employed in the synthesis of these probes and explore their applications in biological imaging, with an emphasis on cellular imaging. The review also discusses the challenges and future perspectives in the field, particularly considering the potential impact of MCR-based fluorescence imaging probes on advancing this field of research in the coming years. Considering that this area of research is relatively new and nearly a decade has passed since the first publication, this review also provides a historical perspective on this class of fluorophores, highlighting the pioneering works published between 2011 and 2016.

Odontologia hospitalar no ambiente digital: o que se pública sobre esta habilitação? / Hospital dentistry in the digital environment: what is published about this qualification?

Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar as publicações sobre odontologia hospitalar disponíveis em páginas da internet e em páginas do Instagram, além de avaliar a qualidade dos conteúdos disponíveis do ponto de vista da evidência científica e do uso de referências. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal e exploratório. A partir da pesquisa da chave de busca "odontologia hospitalar" foram localizadas páginas do Instagram e da Internet via Google. Resultados: No Instagram foram localizadas 15 páginas que atendiam aos critérios de inclusão, e as últimas 5 publicações foram analisadas (n=75). Para o Google foram avaliados conteúdos que correspondessem à projeto de lei, entre os primeiros 25 resultados da pesquisa, já que se trata dos mais relevantes a partir da marcação do algoritmo. Percebeu-se que o uso de referências não é frequente nem nas publicações do Instagram, tampouco nos conteúdos da Internet. Tal fato é tão importante, que os resultados deste trabalho demonstram essa urgência na mudança de cenário dos conteúdos publicados na rede mundial de computadores. Conclusão: Nesse sentido, os professores e os próprios conselhos podem atuar como bússolas, na orientação da divulgação e consumo de conteúdo aos estudantes e aos profissionais de saúde.(AU)

Aim: The objective of this study was to characterize the publications on hospital dentistry available on websites and Instagram pages, in addition to evaluating the quality of the available content from the point of view of scientific evidence and the use of references. Methods: A cross-sectional and exploratory study was carried out. From the research of the search key "hospital dentistry", Instagram and Internet pages were located via Google. Results: On Instagram, 15 pages that met the inclusion criteria were located, and the last 5 publications were analyzed (n=75). For Google, content that corresponded to the bill was evaluated, among the first 25 search results, since these are the most relevant based on the algorithm's marking. It was noticed that the use of references is not frequent either in Instagram publications or in Internet content. This fact is so important that the results of this work demonstrate this urgency in changing the scenario of content published on the World Wide Web. Conclusion: In this sense, professors and the councils themselves can act as compasses, guiding the dissemination and consumption of content to students and health professionals. (AU)

Influence of Reduction with NaBH4 and HCl in Obtaining Amino Derivatives of Cashew Gum and Cytotoxic Profile.

Tree-exuded gums are natural polymers that represent an abundant raw material in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The cashew gum can be obtained by exudation of trees of the genus Anacardium, a native species of the Brazilian northeast; its polymer consists of monosaccharide units propitious to the action of chemical reactions that tend to improve their intrinsic characteristics among them, as the degree of hydro-solubility. The objective of this work was to modify the exudate gum of Anacardium occidentale (cashew gum (CG)) through an amine reaction. The modification was confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), zeta potential, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). In addition, the chemical modification altered the molar mass and surface charge of the CG, and the amino group binding to the CG polymers was confirmed by FTIR spectra. In addition, cytotoxicity tests were performed where cell viability was estimated by an MTT assay on RAW 264.7 macrophages. Through these tests, it was found that the amine caused an increase in the thermal stability of the amino compounds and did not present cytotoxic potential at concentrations below 50.0 mg/L.

Improvement of enzymatic saccharification by simultaneous pulping of sugarcane bagasse and washing of its cellulose fibers in a batch reactor.

A modification of the conventional batch organosolv process is proposed in a way where the solid biomass remains inside a basket, physically separated from the liquid phase, with the vapor promoting the fractionation of the biomass and the extracted compounds and fragments being washed down to the liquid phase. The modified organosolv process applied to sugarcane bagasse (SB-M) delivers a rich cellulosic solid phase that after enzymatic hydrolysis leads to a hydrolyzed with approximately 100 g L-1 of glucose. At the same enzymatic hydrolysis conditions, the conventional organosolv process (SB-C) delivers a hydrolyzed with 80 g L-1 of glucose, while the autohydrolysis process (SB-A) leads to 55 g L-1 of glucose. These different results are related to the cellulose content: SB-M (70%), SB-C (57%), e SB-A (44%), as well the reduced lignin content in the SB-M. The novelty of this study is the confirmation that it is possible to degrade lignin from sugarcane bagasse and simultaneously remove its fragments from the cellulose fibers in a batch reactor containing an internal basket. This study describes a simple and rapid protocol for the isolation of the main components of lignocellulosic biomass (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin), which may lead to the study of new catalysts for the chemical transformation of these components separately or simultaneously to the step of pretreatment.

N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide as a functional eROP initiator for the preparation of nanoparticles under "greener" reaction conditions.

N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide was used as a functional initiator for the enzymatic ring-opening polymerisation of ε-caprolactone and δ-valerolactone. N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide was found not to undergo self-reaction in the presence of Lipase B from Candida antarctica under the reaction conditions employed. By contrast, this is a major problem for 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate which both show significant transesterification issues leading to unwanted branching and cross-linking. Surprisingly, N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide did not react fully during enzymatic ring-opening polymerisation. Computational docking studies helped us understand that the initiated polymer chains have a higher affinity for the enzyme active site than the initiator alone, leading to polymer propagation proceeding at a faster rate than polymer initiation leading to incomplete initiator consumption. Hydroxyl end group fidelity was confirmed by organocatalytic chain extension with lactide. N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide initiated polycaprolactones were free-radical copolymerised with PEGMA to produce a small set of amphiphilic copolymers. The amphiphilic polymers were shown to self-assemble into nanoparticles, and to display low cytotoxicity in 2D in vitro experiments. To increase the green credentials of the synthetic strategies, all reactions were carried out in 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, a solvent derived from renewable resources and an alternative for the more traditionally used fossil-based solvents tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, and toluene.

Comparative hydrodynamic characterisation of two hydroxylated polymers based on α-pinene- or oleic acid-derived monomers for potential use as archaeological consolidants.

The Oseberg Viking ship burial is one of the most extensive collections of Viking wooden artefacts ever excavated in Norway. In the early twentieth century, many of these artefacts were treated with alum in order to preserve them, inadvertently leading to their current degraded state. It is therefore crucial to develop new bioinspired polymers which could be used to conserve these artefacts and prevent further disintegration. Two hydroxylated polymers were synthesised (TPA6 and TPA7), using α-pinene- and oleic acid-derived monomers functionalised with an acrylate moiety. Characterisation using biomolecular hydrodynamics (analytical ultracentrifugation and high precision viscometry) has shown that these polymers have properties which would potentially make them good wood consolidants. Conformation analyses with the viscosity increment (ν) universal hydrodynamic parameter and ELLIPS1 software showed that both polymers had extended conformations, facilitating in situ networking when applied to wood. SEDFIT-MSTAR analyses of sedimentation equilibrium data indicates a weight average molar mass Mw of (3.9 ± 0.8) kDa and (4.2 ± 0.2) kDa for TPA6 and TPA7 respectively. Analyses with SEDFIT (sedimentation velocity) and MultiSig however revealed that TPA7 had a much greater homogeneity and a lower proportion of aggregation. These studies suggest that both these polymers-particularly TPA7-have characteristics suitable for wood consolidation, such as an optimal molar mass, conformation and a hydroxylated nature, making them interesting leads for further research.

Automated Notification of Relevant Expected or Incidental Findings in Imaging Exams in a Verticalized Healthcare System.

To describe the implementation of a standardized code system for notification of relevant expected or incidental findings in imaging exams and use of an automated textual mining tool of radiological report narratives, created to facilitate directing patients to specific lines of care, reducing the waiting time for interventions, consultations, and minimizing delays to treatment. We report our 12-month initial experience with the process. A standardized code was attached to every radiology report when a relevant finding was observed. On a daily basis, the notifications was sent to a dedicated medical team to review the notified abnormality and decide a proper action. Between October 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, 40,296 sectional examinations (CT and MR scans) were evaluated in 35,944 patients. The main findings reported were calcified plaques on the trunk of the left coronary artery or trunk like, pulmonary nodule/mass and suspected liver disease. Data of follow-up was available in 10,019 patients. The age ranged from 24 to 101 years (mean of 71.3 years) and 6,626 were female (66.1%). In 2,548 patients a complementary study or procedure was indicated, and 3,300 patients were referred to a specialist. Customized database searches looking for critical or relevant findings may facilitate patient referral to specific care lines, reduce the waiting time for interventions or consultations, and minimize delays to treatment.

Evaluation of different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for ethanol production from high-amylopectin BRS AG rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Ethanol is the main biofuel produced by fermentation route and the search for new feedstocks to produce fuel ethanol is still a great challenge. This work aims to compare the ethanol production from a new irrigated rice cultivar BRS AG to the conventional cultivar BRS PAMPA applied in Brazil. Six different commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BG-1, CAT-1, FT-858, JP-1, PE-2, and SA-1) were applied in fermentation reactions. Fermentations performed with BRS PAMPA rice revealed that the highest yields were achieved with strain SA-1, corresponding to 93.0% of the theoretical maximum and final ethanol concentration of 58.92 g L-1, and with CAT-1, a yield of 92.7% and final ethanol concentration of 58.93 g L-1. For the fermentations with BRS AG rice, the highest yields were obtained with strain FT-858, exhibiting a 89.6% yield and final ethanol concentration of 62.45 g L-1, and with CAT-1, 87.9% yield and final ethanol concentration of 61.25 g L-1 were achieved. The most appropriate microorganism for ethanol production using BRS PAMPA rice and BRS AG rice was CAT-1. Comparatively, the ethanol yield and productivity using BRS AG were higher than those observed for BRS PAMPA for all strains, except for PE-2 and SA-1 that led to very similar results. The experimental results showed that the giant rice BRS AG is an excellent feedstock for fuel ethanol production in lowland fields.

PLP2-derived peptide Rb4 triggers PARP-1-mediated necrotic death in murine melanoma cells.

Malignant melanoma is the main cause of death in patients with skin cancer. Overexpression of Proteolipid protein 2 (PLP2) increased tumor metastasis and the knockdown of PLP2 inhibited the growth and metastasis of melanoma cells. In the present work, we studied the antitumor activity of peptide Rb4 derived from protein PLP2. In vitro, Rb4 induced F-actin polymerization, prevented F-actin depolymerization and increased the ER-derived cytosolic calcium. Such effects were associated with necrosis of murine melanoma B16F10-Nex2 cells and with inhibition of the viability of human cancer cell lines. Loss of plasma membrane integrity, dilation of mitochondria, cytoplasm vacuolation and absence of chromatin condensation characterized tumor cell necrosis. Cleavage of PARP-1 and inhibition of RIP1 expression were also observed. In vivo, peptide Rb4 reduced the lung metastasis of tumor cells and delayed the subcutaneous melanoma growth in a syngeneic model. Rb4 induced the expression of two DAMPs molecules, HMGB1 and calreticulin, in B16F10-Nex2. Our results suggest that peptide Rb4 acts directly on tumor cells inducing the expression of DAMPs, which trigger the immunoprotective effect in vivo against melanoma cells. We suggest that peptide Rb4 is a promising compound to be developed as an anticancer drug.

COVID-19 Infection in Octagenarian Patients: Imaging Aspects and Clinical Correlations.

INTRODUCTION: Computed tomography (CT) of the chest, although not a screening test or diagnosis of infection with the new coronavirus, has a fundamental role in assessing the extent of lung involvement and complications such as pleural effusion. Considering the higher morbidity and mortality of elderly patients due to this infection, the objective of this study was to evaluate the imaging aspects and clinical correlations of an extreme age (≥80 years) with a confirmed diagnosis for COVID-19. METHODS: This was a retrospective and single-center cohort study. CT scans were categorized qualitatively and quantitatively. In the first case, 3 descriptors were used to describe CT findings: "compatible" (findings of greater specificity for COVID-19: opacities with attenuation in ground glass with peripheral and bilateral distribution, with rounded morphology, with or without consolidations, crazy-pavement aspect, inverted halo sign, or organizing pneumonia findings), "doubtful" (findings not specific or unusual for COVID-19: opacities with attenuation in ground glass with nonrounded morphology, central, diffuse, or unilateral distribution, with or without consolidation, lobar or segmental consolidation without ground-glass opacity, small centrilobular nodules with the appearance of "tree-in-bud," excavations, pleural effusion, and thickening of interlobular septa), and "negative" (absence of pneumonia signs). For the quantitative assessment, which referred to the extent of pulmonary involvement, a tomographic severity classification was used: grade 1 (lung involvement ≤25%), grade 2 (pulmonary involvement between 26 and 50%), and grade 3 (pulmonary involvement >50%). RESULTS: A total of 138 patients were evaluated, with an average age of 86.2 years (84 women and 34 men). The mean time interval between onset of symptoms and tomography was 5.63 days. The most prevalent comorbidity was systemic arterial hypertension (81.2%). Compatible, doubtful, and negative tests were 117 (84.7%), 20 (14.4%), and 1 (0.7%), respectively. As for compatible exams, the most common findings were opacities in peripheral ground glass and rounded morphology, followed by crazy paving. The prevalence of pleural effusion was 28.2% and consolidation was 63.7%, and none of these findings were influenced by the duration of symptoms (p = 0.08 and p = 0.2, respectively). The exams classified as grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 were 57 (41.6%), 46 (33.6%), and 34 (24.8%), respectively. There were statistically significant associations between the classification of tomographic severity and outcomes such as invasive ventilation (p = 0.004), admission to the intensive care unit (p < 0.001), and death (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Our results show that patients ≥80 years old present tomographic manifestations similar to those described for the general population (ground-glass opacities and "crazy paving") and that the extent of lung involvement is associated with the need for intensive care, invasive ventilation, and death. Although the literature describes an association between the stage of the disease and the appearance of consolidations and pleural effusion, this correlation was not observed in our study, which may suggest that this age-group is more predisposed to the appearance of such findings, typically described in the more advanced stages of infection.

Percepção e conhecimento de odontopediatras sobre o uso de coroas pré-fabricadas de aço e zircônia na reabilitação de dentes decíduos / Perception and knowledge of pediatric dentists about the use of prefabricated steel and zirconia crowns in the rehabilitation of deciduous teeth

Objetivo: O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o conhecimento dos odontopediatras e suas percepções, conhecendo as dificuldades que estes encontram frente ao desafio da reabilitação de dentes decíduos. Métodos: A pesquisa foi realizada por meio da aplicação de questionários on-line e a análise estatística foi descritiva e comparativa, com tabelas de frequência para as variáveis quantitativas. O teste não paramétrico de Qui-quadrado foi utilizado para estimar a associação entre as diferentes categorias dos dados e em todo o estudo, estipulou-se o nível de significância em 5%. Resultados: Os resultados da pesquisa mostraram que a maioria dos entrevistados conhecem as coroas pré-fabricadas de aço, porém sua aplicação em atendimentos de crianças com extensas destruições coronárias limita-se a 34,1% destes profissionais, sendo que a baixa utilização se deve à dificuldade de aquisição do material e falta de habilidade técnica. Já com relação às coroas pré-fabricadas de zircônia, 82,4% das odontopediatras as conhecem, mas a grande maioria não as utiliza devido à dificuldade de aquisição, falta de habilidade técnica e o seu alto custo. Não foi encontrada associação entre a dificuldade de planejamento dos casos e a consideração estética e o âmbito de trabalho do entrevistado, bem como o fato de conhecer as coroas pré-fabricadas e utilizá-las. Conclusão: Conclui-se que os materiais reabilitadores, como coroas pré-fabricadas de aço e de zircônia, são de certa forma bem conhecidos pelos odontopediatras, mas sua utilização em reabilitação de dentes decíduos ainda é limitada.

Aim: The present study aims to evaluate the knowledge of pediatric dentists and their perceptions, knowing the difficulties they face in the challenge to rehabilitate deciduous teeth. Methods: This study was carried out through the application of online questionnaires. The statistical analysis was descriptive and comparative, with frequency tables for the quantitative variables. The non-parametric chi-square test was used to estimate the association between the different categories of data, and the significance level was set at 5%. Results:The survey results showed that most respondents know about prefabricated steel crowns, but their application in the care of children with extensive coronary destruction is limited to 34.1% of these professionals. The low use is due to the difficulty of acquiring the material and the lack of technical skills. It was found that 82.4% of the pediatric dentists have knowledge about prefabricated zirconia crowns, but the vast majority do not use them due to the difficulty of acquisition, their lack of technical skills, and the product's high cost. No association was found between the difficulty of planning the cases and the esthetic consideration and sphere of work of the interviewee, nor regarding the fact of their having knowledge about the prefabricated crowns and using them. Conclusion: It can therefore be concluded that rehabilitation materials, such as prefabricated steel and zirconia crowns, are well-known by pediatric dentists, but their use in the rehabilitation of deciduous teeth is still limited.

Tomographic score (RAD-Covid Score) to assess the clinical severity of the novel coronavirus infection.

OBJECTIVES: The severity of pulmonary Covid-19 infection can be assessed by the pattern and extent of parenchymal involvement observed in computed tomography (CT), and it is important to standardize the analysis through objective, practical, and reproducible systems. We propose a method for stratifying the radiological severity of pulmonary disease, the Radiological Severity Score (RAD-Covid Score), in Covid-19 patients by quantifying infiltrate in chest CT, including assessment of its accuracy in predicting disease severity. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center study analyzed patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 infection by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, who underwent chest CT at hospital admission between March 6 and April 6, 2020. CT scans were classified as positive, negative, or equivocal, and a radiological severity score (RAD-Covid Score) was assigned. Clinical severity was also assessed upon hospital admission. RESULTS: 658 patients were included. Agreement beyond chance (kappa statistic) for the RAD-Covid Score was almost perfect among observers (0.833), with an overall agreement of 89.5%. The RAD-Covid Score was positively correlated with clinical severity and death, i.e., the higher the RAD-Covid Score, the greater the clinical severity and mortality. This association proved independent of age and comorbidities. Accuracy of this score was 66.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The RAD-Covid Score showed good accuracy in predicting clinical severity at hospital admission and mortality in patients with confirmed Covid-19 infection and was an independent predictor of severity.

Synthetic enzyme-catalyzed multicomponent reaction for Isoxazol-5(4H)-one Syntheses, their properties and biological application; why should one study mechanisms?

In this work, we describe the application of a synthetic enzyme (synzyme) as the catalyst to promote the multicomponent synthesis of isoxazol-5(4H)-one derivatives. The catalytic system could be used up to 15 times without any notable loss of its activity. Some derivatives showed fluorescence and their photophysical data were evaluated. The mechanism of the reaction was, for the first time, investigated and, among the three reaction pathway possibilities, only one was operating under the developed conditions. ESI-MS(/MS) allowed for both the simultaneous monitoring of the multicomponent reaction (MCR) and the proposition of a kinetic model to explain the transformation. The kinetic model pointed firmly to only one reaction pathway and helped to discard the other two possibilities. The antimicrobial abilities of all synthesized derivatives against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains were also evaluated. The abilities of functional chromophores (fluorescent compounds) as live cell-imaging probes were verified and one of the multicomponent adducts could stain early endosomes selectively in bioimaging experiments.

Tomographic score (RAD-Covid Score) to assess the clinical severity of the novel coronavirus infection

ABSTRACT Objectives: The severity of pulmonary Covid-19 infection can be assessed by the pattern and extent of parenchymal involvement observed in computed tomography (CT), and it is important to standardize the analysis through objective, practical, and reproducible systems. We propose a method for stratifying the radiological severity of pulmonary disease, the Radiological Severity Score (RAD-Covid Score), in Covid-19 patients by quantifying infiltrate in chest CT, including assessment of its accuracy in predicting disease severity. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study analyzed patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 infection by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, who underwent chest CT at hospital admission between March 6 and April 6, 2020. CT scans were classified as positive, negative, or equivocal, and a radiological severity score (RAD-Covid Score) was assigned. Clinical severity was also assessed upon hospital admission. Results: 658 patients were included. Agreement beyond chance (kappa statistic) for the RAD-Covid Score was almost perfect among observers (0.833), with an overall agreement of 89.5%. The RAD-Covid Score was positively correlated with clinical severity and death, i.e., the higher the RAD-Covid Score, the greater the clinical severity and mortality. This association proved independent of age and comorbidities. Accuracy of this score was 66.9%. Conclusions: The RAD-Covid Score showed good accuracy in predicting clinical severity at hospital admission and mortality in patients with confirmed Covid-19 infection and was an independent predictor of severity.