STress computed tomogRaphy perfusion and stress cArdiac magnetic resonance for ThE manaGement of suspected or known coronarY artery disease: resources and outcomes impact.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to describe resources and outcomes of coronary computed tomography angiography plus Stress CT perfusion (CCTA â€‹+ â€‹Stress-CTP) and stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (Stress-CMR) in symptomatic patients with suspected or known CAD. METHODS: Six hundred and twenty-four consecutive symptomatic patients with intermediate to high-risk pretest likelihood for CAD or previous history of revascularization referred to our hospital for clinically indicated CCTA â€‹+ â€‹Stress-CTP or Stress-CMR were enrolled. Stress-CTP scans were performed in 223 patients while 401 patients performed Stress-CMR. Patient follow-up was performed at 1 year after index test performance. Endpoints were all cardiac events, as a combined endpoint of revascularization, non-fatal MI and death, and hard cardiac events, as combined endpoint of non-fatal MI and death. RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent of patients who underwent CCTA â€‹+ â€‹Stress-CTP received revascularization, 7% of subjects assessed with Stress-CMR were treated invasively, and a low number of non-fatal MI and death was observed with both strategies (hard events in 0.4% of patients that had CCTA â€‹+ â€‹Stress-CTP as index test, and in 3% of patients evaluated with Stress-CMR). According to the predefined endpoints, CCTA â€‹+ â€‹Stress-CTP group showed high rate of all cardiac events and low rate of hard cardiac events, respectively. The cumulative costs were 1970 â€‹± â€‹2506 Euro and 733 â€‹± â€‹1418 Euro for the CCTA â€‹+ â€‹Stress-CTP group and Stress-CMR group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of CCTA â€‹+ â€‹Stress-CTP strategy was associated with high referral to revascularization but with a favourable trend in terms of hard cardiac events and diagnostic yield in identifying individuals at lower risk of adverse events despite the presence of CAD.

Wolbachia confers protection against the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium pingshaense in African Aedes aegypti.

Symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi represent promising alternatives to chemical insecticides to respond to the rapid increase of insecticide resistance and vector-borne disease outbreaks. This study investigated the interaction of two strains of Wolbachia, wAlbB and wAu, with the natural entomopathogenic fungi from Burkina Faso Metarhizium pingshaense, known to be lethal against Anopheles mosquitoes. In addition to showing the potential of Metarhizium against African Aedes aegypti wild-type populations, our study shows that the wAlbB and wAu provide a protective advantage against entomopathogenic fungal infections. Compared to controls, fungal-infected wAu and wAlbB-carrying mosquitoes showed higher longevity, without any significant impact on fecundity and fertility phenotypes. This study provides new insights into the complex multipartite interaction among the mosquito host, the Wolbachia endosymbiont and the entomopathogenic fungus that might be employed to control mosquito populations. Future research should investigate the fitness costs of Wolbachia, as well as its spread and prevalence within mosquito populations. Additionally, evaluating the impact of Wolbachia on interventions involving Metarhizium pingshaense through laboratory and semi-field population studies will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of this combined approach.

Thrombosis of Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve: Is the Entire Arsenal Deployed?

The proliferation of transcatheter aortic valve implantation has alerted clinicians to a specific type of prosthetic degeneration represented by thrombosis. The pathogenesis of this clinical or subclinical phenomenon, which can occur in up to 15% of both surgical and percutaneous procedures, is poorly understood, as is its potential impact on patient prognosis and long-term bioprosthesis durability. Based on this lack of knowledge about the real meaning and importance of bioprosthetic valve thrombosis, the aim of the present review is to draw the clinicians' attention to its existence, starting from the description of predisposing factors that may require a closer follow-up in such categories of patients, to an in-depth overview of all available imaging modalities with their respective pros and cons. Finally, a glimpse into the future of technology and biomarker development is presented. The hope is to increase the rate of bioprosthetic diagnosis, especially of the subclinical one, in order to understand (thanks to a strict and prolonged follow-up) if it can only be considered as an incidental tomographic entity without significant clinical consequences, or, on the contrary, if it is associated with neurological events or accelerated bioprosthetic degeneration. Nevertheless, despite the technical advances of echocardiography and cardiac tomography in terms of accurate bioprosthesis thrombosis detection, several diagnostic and therapeutic issues remain unresolved, including possible prevention strategies, tailored treatment protocols, and follow-up modalities.

Food security in Ukraine today's conditions.

The system-forming element of national security is food security, which guarantees effective management of the food system, ensuring the food needs of the appropriate quantity and quality of each country's citizen. Despite the significant potential of the agricultural sector, which forms the basis of food security, the need to analyse the state of food security in the current situation is due to military operations on the territory of Ukraine, which led to its negative global results. In this regard, the need to develop effective strategies and legal regulation is essential to ensure national and global food security, which in turn requires coordination of efforts of all countries and international organisations through international cooperation. The study aims to establish a pattern regarding the current state of food security by analysing the impact of availability, access, usefulness and stability of food supply on food security. Research methods: comparative analysis; taxonomic analysis; systematisation, generalisation. The survey found that Ukraine's position in the Global Food Security Index (FSI) among 113 countries in 2022 worsened by 13 points, where the worst indicators for domestic food security are sustainability and adaptability (43.5 points out of 100 and 94th place globally) and economic affordability of food (48.1 points out of 100 and 93rd place in the world). It was found that the actual consumption of vegetables, melons, potatoes, and oil in 2021 was slightly higher than the rational norm, indicating sufficient consumption of these products, while the actual consumption of products that are lower than the rational norm includes meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fish and fish products, and fruits, berries, and grapes. It has been determined that since 2016, the number of kilocalories in the daily diet of the population of Ukraine has not reached the minimum norm of consumption of basic foodstuffs for the working population. It has been established that in 2020 and 2021, the value of the taxonomic indicator for assessing the level of food security (I) has been decreasing, i.e. the distance to the reference vector has been increasing, which indicates a decrease in the level of food security. The forecasting results suggest a downward trend in the food security index for the period 2022-2027, and there is an urgent need to take measures to eliminate this trend and improve the value of the index, which is extremely important for the security of the state, especially in times of war.

PROGnostic RolE of strain measurements in stress cardiac MRI in predicting major adverse cardiac events.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the role of feature-tracking (FT) strain in long-term risk stratification of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent stress cardiac MRI with dipyridamole; to determine if contrast-free stress cardiac MRI with strain measurements could provide comparable prognostic value to myocardial perfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients with stable symptoms suggesting possible cardiac ischemia who underwent stress cardiac MRI with dipyridamole. The mean follow-up period was 5.8 years ±1.2 [SD]. FT cardiac MRI analysis was performed for each patient to obtain 2D global peak circumferential strain (GCS). The primary outcome measure was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as nonfatal myocardial infarction and cardiac death. RESULTS: A total of 729 patients (mean age, 63 years ±10 [SD]; 616 males) were included. MACE occurred in 70 (9.6%) patients. The presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) ([HR] 2.74, [95% CI: 1.53, 4.88]; P < .001) and stress GCS (HR, 1.06 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.12]; P = .016) were independently associated with MACE. A model based on contrast-free assessment of LVEF and stress GCS showed similar performance for predicting MACE than LVEF and perfusion (P = .056). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with known or suspected CAD undergoing stress cardiac MRI with dipyridamole, GCS and LGE presence were independent predictors of MACE. Contrast-free stress cardiac MRI with stress GCS measurement offered prognostic value akin to myocardial perfusion assessment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Stress global circumferential strain represented an additional method to predict major adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing stress cardiac MRI, even without the use of contrast agents. This would be of particular significance in patients with severe renal impairment.

Preprocedural imaging with cardiac computed tomography for endo-epicardial ventricular tachycardia ablation.

BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating the systematic use of cardiac computed tomography (CCT) for the preprocedural assessment of myocardial fibrosis are limited. Their implementation in the electrophysiology workflow has not been extensively described. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the degree of concordance between CCT and electroanatomic mapping (EAM) for the evaluation of cardiac fibrosis in patients undergoing endo-epicardial ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation. METHODS: From November 2017 to December 2021, patients undergoing endo-epicardial VT catheter ablation with CCT as the only source of preprocedural scar assessment were prospectively enrolled. After image integration, myocardial fibrosis detected with CCT was compared with low-voltage areas identified by endo-epicardial EAM. Postprocedural VT recurrences of this approach were evaluated after at least 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: The study enrolled 35 patients (mean age, 60.7 ± 13.2 years; 94.2% male). The most common underlying arrhythmic substrate was dilated cardiomyopathy (48.6%). CCT was employed for contraindications to cardiac magnetic resonance, such as unstable VTs (31.4%) or nonconditional implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (28.6%), but also for patients' and operators' preferences (14.3%-25.7%). Myocardial fibrosis was correctly identified by CCT and EAM, with strong agreement between these techniques both overall (Cohen κ for agreement, 0.933) and in per-segment analysis (κ ranging from 0.796 to 1.0). Ischemic patients showed the best correlation (κ = 1.000), whereas myocarditis showed the worst (κ = 0.750). After a median follow-up of 14 (12-24) months, 1-year freedom from recurrences was achieved in 74.3% patients; overall freedom from recurrences was 60.0%. CONCLUSION: A CCT-based preprocedural assessment before VT ablation is feasible, showing high diagnostic concordance with EAM in detecting myocardial fibrosis.

Interplay between endocannabinoids and dopamine in the basal ganglia: implications for pain in Parkinson's disease.

Pain is a complex phenomenon, and basal ganglia circuitry integrates many aspects of pain including motor, emotional, autonomic, and cognitive responses. Perturbations in dopamine (DA) signaling are implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic pain due to its involvement in both pain perception and relief. Several lines of evidence support the role of endocannabinoids (eCBs) in the regulation of many electrical and chemical aspects of DAergic neuron function including excitability, synaptic transmission, integration, and plasticity. However, eCBs play an even more intricate and intimate relationship with DA, as indicated by the adaptive changes in the eCB system following DA depletion. Although the precise mechanisms underlying DA control on pain are not fully understood, given the high correlation of eCB and DAergic system, it is conceivable that eCBs may be part of these mechanisms.In this brief survey, we describe the reciprocal regulation of eCB-DA neurotransmission with a particular emphasis on the actions of eCBs on ionic and synaptic signaling in DAergic neurons mediated by CB receptors or independent on them. Furthermore, we analyze the eCB-DA imbalance which characterizes pain condition and report the implications of reduced DA levels for pain in Parkinson's disease. Lastly, we discuss the potential of the eCB-DA system in the development of future therapeutic strategies for the treatment of pain.

DEep LearnIng-based QuaNtification of epicardial adipose tissue predicts MACE in patients undergoing stress CMR.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study investigated the additional prognostic value of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients undergoing stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. METHODS: 730 consecutive patients [mean age: 63 ± 10 years; 616 men] who underwent stress CMR for known or suspected coronary artery disease were randomly divided into derivation (n = 365) and validation (n = 365) cohorts. MACE was defined as non-fatal myocardial infarction and cardiac deaths. A deep learning algorithm was developed and trained to quantify EAT volume from CMR. EAT volume was adjusted for height (EAT volume index). A composite CMR-based risk score by Cox analysis of the risk of MACE was created. RESULTS: In the derivation cohort, 32 patients (8.7 %) developed MACE during a follow-up of 2103 days. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 35 % (HR 4.407 [95 % CI 1.903-10.202]; p<0.001), stress perfusion defect (HR 3.550 [95 % CI 1.765-7.138]; p<0.001), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (HR 4.428 [95%CI 1.822-10.759]; p = 0.001) and EAT volume index (HR 1.082 [95 % CI 1.045-1.120]; p<0.001) were independent predictors of MACE. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, adding EAT volume index to a composite risk score including LVEF, stress perfusion defect and LGE provided additional value in MACE prediction, with a net reclassification improvement of 0.683 (95%CI, 0.336-1.03; p<0.001). The combined evaluation of risk score and EAT volume index showed a higher Harrel C statistic as compared to risk score (0.85 vs. 0.76; p<0.001) and EAT volume index alone (0.85 vs.0.74; p<0.001). These findings were confirmed in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with clinically indicated stress CMR, fully automated EAT volume measured by deep learning can provide additional prognostic information on top of standard clinical and imaging parameters.

Wolbachia strain wAlbB shows favourable characteristics for dengue control use in Aedes aegypti from Burkina Faso.

Dengue represents an increasing public health burden worldwide. In Africa, underreporting and misdiagnosis often mask its true epidemiology, and dengue is likely to be both more widespread than reported data suggest and increasing in incidence and distribution. Wolbachia-based dengue control is underway in Asia and the Americas but has not to date been deployed in Africa. Due to the genetic heterogeneity of African Aedes aegypti populations and the complexity of the host-symbiont interactions, characterization of key parameters of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes is paramount for determining the potential of the system as a control tool for dengue in Africa. The wAlbB Wolbachia strain was stably introduced into an African Ae. aegypti population by introgression, and showed high intracellular density in whole bodies and different mosquito tissues; high intracellular density was also maintained following larval rearing at high temperatures. No effect on the adult lifespan induced by Wolbachia presence was detected. Moreover, the ability of this strain to strongly inhibit DENV-2 dissemination and transmission in the host was also demonstrated in the African background. Our findings suggest the potential of harnessing Wolbachia for dengue control for African populations of Ae. aegypti.

Oxytocin Modifies the Excitability and the Action Potential Shape of the Hippocampal CA1 GABAergic Interneurons.

Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide that modulates social-related behavior and cognition in the central nervous system of mammals. In the CA1 area of the hippocampus, the indirect effects of the OT on the pyramidal neurons and their role in information processing have been elucidated. However, limited data are available concerning the direct modulation exerted by OT on the CA1 interneurons (INs) expressing the oxytocin receptor (OTR). Here, we demonstrated that TGOT (Thr4,Gly7-oxytocin), a selective OTR agonist, affects not only the membrane potential and the firing frequency but also the neuronal excitability and the shape of the action potentials (APs) of these INs in mice. Furthermore, we constructed linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) to unravel the dependencies between the AP parameters and the firing frequency, also considering how TGOT can interact with them to strengthen or weaken these influences. Our analyses indicate that OT regulates the functionality of the CA1 GABAergic INs through different and independent mechanisms. Specifically, the increase in neuronal firing rate can be attributed to the depolarizing effect on the membrane potential and the related enhancement in cellular excitability by the peptide. In contrast, the significant changes in the AP shape are directly linked to oxytocinergic modulation. Importantly, these alterations in AP shape are not associated with the TGOT-induced increase in neuronal firing rate, being themselves critical for signal processing.

Population-specific responses to developmental temperature in the arboviral vector Aedes albopictus: Implications for climate change.

The increase of environmental temperature due to current global warming is not only favouring the expansion of the distribution range of many insect species, but it is also changing their phenology. Insect phenology is tightly linked to developmental timing, which is regulated by environmental temperatures. However, the degree to which the effects of developmental temperatures extend across developmental stages and their inter-stage relationships have not been thoroughly quantified in mosquitoes. Here, we used the mosquito Aedes albopictus, which is an aggressive invasive species and an arboviral vector, to study how developmental temperature influences fitness across developmental stages, thermal traits, energy reserves, transcriptome and Wolbachia prevalence in laboratory-reared populations originally collected from either temperate or tropical regions. We show that hatchability, larval and pupal viability and developmental speed are strongly influenced by temperature, and these effects extend to wing length, body mass, longevity and content of water, protein and lipids in adults in a population-specific manner. On the contrary, neither adult thermal preference nor heat resistance significantly change with temperature. Wolbachia density was generally lower in adult mosquitoes reared at 18°C than at other tested temperatures, and transcriptome analysis showed enrichment for functions linked to stress responses (i.e. cuticle proteins and chitin, cytochrome p450 and heat shock proteins) in mosquitoes reared at both 18 and 32°C. Our data showed an overall reduced vector fitness performance when mosquitoes were reared at 32°C, and the absence of isomorphy in the relationship between developmental stages and temperature in the laboratory population deriving from larvae collected in northern Italy. Altogether, these results have important implications for reliable model projections of the invasion potentials of Ae. albopictus and its epidemiological impact.

Ex vivo drug testing of patient-derived lung organoids to predict treatment responses for personalized medicine.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of global cancer-related mortality resulting in âˆ¼ 1.8 million deaths annually. Systemic, molecular targeted, and immune therapies have provided significant improvements of survival outcomes for patients. However, drug resistance usually arises and there is an urgent need for novel therapy screening and personalized medicine. 3D patient-derived organoid (PDO) models have emerged as a more effective and efficient alternative for ex vivo drug screening than 2D cell culture and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. In this review, we performed an extensive search of lung cancer PDO-based ex vivo drug screening studies. Lung cancer PDOs were successfully established from fresh or bio-banked sections and/or biopsies, pleural effusions and PDX mouse models. PDOs were subject to ex vivo drug screening with chemotherapy, targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy. PDOs consistently recapitulated the genomic alterations and drug sensitivity of primary tumors. Although sample sizes of the previous studies were limited and some technical challenges remain, PDOs showed great promise in the screening of novel therapy drugs. With the technical advances of high throughput, tumor-on-chip, and combined microenvironment, the drug screening process using PDOs will enhance precision care of lung cancer patients.

Predictors of adverse cardiac events of coronary myocardial bridging diagnosed with computed tomography angiography.

AIMS: Myocardial bridging (MB) is a frequent congenital anomaly of the epicardial coronary arteries commonly considered a benign condition. However, in some cases a complex interplay between anatomical, clinical and physiology factors may lead to adverse events, including sudden cardiac death. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) emerged as the gold standard noninvasive imaging technique for the evaluation of MB. Aim of the study was to evaluate MB prevalence and anatomical features in a large population of patients who underwent CCTA for suspected CAD and to identify potential anatomical and clinical predictors of adverse cardiac events at long-term follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two-hundred and six patients (mean age 60.3 ± 11.8 years, 128 male) with MB diagnosed at CCTA were considered. A long MB was defined as ≥25 mm of overlying myocardium, whereas a deep MB as ≥2 mm of overlying myocardium. The study endpoint was the sum of the following adverse events: cardiac death, bridge-related acute coronary syndrome, hospitalization for angina or bridge-related ventricular arrhythmias and MB surgical treatment. Of the 206 patients enrolled in the study, 9 were lost to follow-up, whereas 197 (95.6%) had complete follow-up (mean 7.01 ± 3.0 years) and formed the analytic population. Nineteen bridge-related events occurred in 18 patients (acute coronary syndrome in 7, MB surgical treatment in 2 and hospitalization for bridge-related events in 10). Typical angina at the time of diagnosis and long MB resulted as significant independent predictors of adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Typical angina and MB length ≥ 25 mm were independent predictors of cardiac events.

Analysis of Clinical Samples of Pancreatic Cyst's Lesions with A Multi-Analyte Bioelectronic Simot Array Benchmarked Against Ultrasensitive Chemiluminescent Immunoassay.

Pancreatic cancer, ranking as the third factor in cancer-related deaths, necessitates enhanced diagnostic measures through early detection. In response, SiMoT-Single-molecule with a large Transistor multiplexing array, achieving a Technology Readiness Level of 5, is proposed for a timely identification of pancreatic cancer precursor cysts and is benchmarked against the commercially available chemiluminescent immunoassay SIMOA (Single molecule array) SP-X System. A cohort of 39 samples, comprising 33 cyst fluids and 6 blood plasma specimens, undergoes detailed examination with both technologies. The SiMoT array targets oncoproteins MUC1 and CD55, and oncogene KRAS, while the SIMOA SP-X planar technology exclusively focuses on MUC1 and CD55. Employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for multivariate data processing, the SiMoT array demonstrates effective discrimination of malignant/pre-invasive high-grade or potentially malignant low-grade pancreatic cysts from benign non-mucinous cysts. Conversely, PCA analysis applied to SIMOA assay reveals less effective differentiation ability among the three cyst classes. Notably, SiMoT unique capability of concurrently analyzing protein and genetic markers with the threshold of one single molecule in 0.1 mL positions it as a comprehensive and reliable diagnostic tool. The electronic response generated by the SiMoT array facilitates direct digital data communication, suggesting potential applications in the development of field-deployable liquid biopsy.

Loss-of-function of GNAL dystonia gene impairs striatal dopamine receptors-mediated adenylyl cyclase/ cyclic AMP signaling pathway.

Loss-of-function mutations in the GNAL gene are responsible for DYT-GNAL dystonia. However, how GNAL mutations contribute to synaptic dysfunction is still unclear. The GNAL gene encodes the Gαolf protein, an isoform of stimulatory Gαs enriched in the striatum, with a key role in the regulation of cAMP signaling. Here, we used a combined biochemical and electrophysiological approach to study GPCR-mediated AC-cAMP cascade in the striatum of the heterozygous GNAL (GNAL+/-) rat model. We first analyzed adenosine type 2 (A2AR), and dopamine type 1 (D1R) receptors, which are directly coupled to Gαolf, and observed that the total levels of A2AR were increased, whereas D1R level was unaltered in GNAL+/- rats. In addition, the striatal isoform of adenylyl cyclase (AC5) was reduced, despite unaltered basal cAMP levels. Notably, the protein expression level of dopamine type 2 receptor (D2R), that inhibits the AC5-cAMP signaling pathway, was also reduced, similar to what observed in different DYT-TOR1A dystonia models. Accordingly, in the GNAL+/- rat striatum we found altered levels of the D2R regulatory proteins, RGS9-2, spinophilin, Gß5 and ß-arrestin2, suggesting a downregulation of D2R signaling cascade. Additionally, by analyzing the responses of striatal cholinergic interneurons to D2R activation, we found that the receptor-mediated inhibitory effect is significantly attenuated in GNAL+/- interneurons. Altogether, our findings demonstrate a profound alteration in the A2AR/D2R-AC-cAMP cascade in the striatum of the rat DYT-GNAL dystonia model, and provide a plausible explanation for our previous findings on the loss of dopamine D2R-dependent corticostriatal long-term depression.

Approach to the Patient with Acute Aortic Syndromes in Light of the New Consensus Statement on Multimodality Imaging in Thoracic Aortic Diseases.

Acute aortic syndromes comprise a range of interrelated conditions including aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, and contained or not contained aortic aneurysm rupture. These syndromes are potentially life threatening; therefore, a rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial. A new Clinical Consensus Statement on Aortic and Peripheral Vascular Disease has recently been published, and we will try to highlight the main innovations in the document.

Dentine microhardness after different methods for detection and removal of carious dentine tissue

There are several methods for identifying carious dentinal tissue aiming to avoid removal of healthy dentinal tissue. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to test different methods for the detection of carious dentinal tissue regarding the amount of carious tissue removed and the remaining dentin microhardness after caries removal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The dentin surfaces of 20 bovine teeth were exposed and half of the surface was protected with nail polish. Cariogenic challenge was performed by immersion in a demineralizing solution for 14 days. After transverse cross-section of the crown, the specimens were divided into four groups (n=10), according to the method used to identify and remove the carious tissue: "Papacárie", Caries-detector dye, DIAGNOdent and Tactile method. After caries removal, the cross-sectional surface was included in acrylic resin and polished. In a microhardness tester, the removed dentin thickness and the Vickers microhardness of the following regions were evaluated: remaining dentin after caries removal and superficial and deep healthy dentin. RESULTS: ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05) were performed, except for DIAGNOdent, which did not detect the presence of caries. Results for removed dentin thickness were: "Papacárie" (424.7±105.0; a), Caries-detector dye (370.5±78.3; ab), Tactile method (322.8±51.5; bc). Results for the remaining dentin microhardness were: "Papacárie" (42.2±10.5; bc), Caries-detector dye (44.6±11.8; abc), Tactile method (24.3±9.0; d). CONCLUSIONS: DIAGNOdent did not detect the presence of carious tissue; Tactile method and "Papacárie" resulted in the least and the most dentinal thickness removal, respectively; Tactile method differed significantly from "Papacárie" and Caries-detector dye in terms of the remaining dentin microhardness, and Tactile method was the one which presented the lowest microhardness values.

Perspectivas del uso de productos fitoterápicos en el tratamiento del insomnio, la ansiedad y desórdenes relacionados / Perspectives for the use of phytotherapeutical products for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and related disorders

Los trastornos de ansiedad y los desórdenes del sueño afectan a un considerable porcentaje de la sociedad. La importancia de estos problemas radica en las repercusiones que generan tanto a nivel personal como social, con una disminución en la calidad de vida de las personas que los padecen. En muchos casos es necesario recurrir a una intervención farmacológica. En este sentido, además de los fármacos de síntesis con actividad ansiolítica y/o inductora del sueño, que con frecuencia producen efectos no deseados, se dispone en el mercado terapéutico de preparados elaborados con plantas medicinales prácticamente desprovistos de efectos secundarios, tal como es el caso de valeriana, tilo y pasiflora mencionadas en este trabajo.

Anxiety and sleep disorders affect a considerable percentage of people in our society today. The importance of these problems lies in the effects such disorders have both at personal and social level, with a marked decrease in the quality of life of the individuals who suffer them. In many cases it is necessary to use drugs in order to solve these problems. In this sense, in addition to synthetic drugs with ansiolitic activity and/or sleep inducers, that often have undesirable side effects, in the therapeutical market there are preparations from medicinal plants practically without side effects as it is the case of valerian, linden, and passiflora mentioned in this work.