mitoTALEN reduces the mutant mtDNA load in neurons.

Mutations within mtDNA frequently give rise to severe encephalopathies. Given that a majority of these mtDNA defects exist in a heteroplasmic state, we harnessed the precision of mitochondrial-targeted TALEN (mitoTALEN) to selectively eliminate mutant mtDNA within the CNS of a murine model harboring a heteroplasmic mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA alanine gene (m.5024C>T). This targeted approach was accomplished by the use of AAV-PHP.eB and a neuron-specific synapsin promoter for effective neuronal delivery and expression of mitoTALEN. We found that most CNS regions were effectively transduced and showed a significant reduction in mutant mtDNA. This reduction was accompanied by an increase in mitochondrial tRNA alanine levels, which are drastically reduced by the m.5024C>T mutation. These results showed that mitochondrial-targeted gene editing can be effective in reducing CNS-mutant mtDNA in vivo, paving the way for clinical trials in patients with mitochondrial encephalopathies.

A Hero's Journey: Supporting children throughout inpatient psychiatric hospitalization using a therapeutic comic book.

PROBLEM: Art- and narrative-based interventions are an integral component of pediatric inpatient psychiatric care. We describe a novel therapeutic comic book we developed for hospitalized children and young adolescents. METHODS: A Hero's Journey is a 38-page zine that can be freely downloaded and photocopied for distribution. The short booklet is intended to demystify and offer guidance throughout the experience of hospitalization, promote interaction and socialization, provide scaffolding for skill-building, and prepare patients for moving forward after discharge. FINDINGS: The underlying foundations of the booklet include: 1) Theoretical sources (Joseph Campbell's hero's journey; Donald Schön's reflective practice; and the principles of narrative medicine); and 2) Clinical sources (collaborative problem solving; cognitive-behavioral therapy, and trauma-informed care). We articulate how each page relates to the different components, and how individual pages can be used as worksheets for practice of specific skills. We next provide suggestions on how best to use the booklet: from arrival at the emergency room, through inpatient hospitalization, and toward discharge. We also propose ways for staff, caregivers, and any child-facing adult to make use of this clinical resource in support of a patient's recovery and reintegration into their community. CONCLUSIONS: Even though not yet empirically tested, this therapeutic comic book is available for dissemination free of cost. We encourage leaders in nursing and therapeutic recreation to try using this resource in their emergency room and milieu settings.

[Lingual frenectomy with ND:YAG laser. case report]. / Frenectomía lingual con láser ND:YAG. reporte de caso.

Ankyloglossia is considered a congenital patology, whose treatment indicated is a frenectomy, this surgical technique consists in remove the tissue that joins the tongue with the floor mouth. This technique allows the patient a considerable improvement to limitations caused by this anomaly such as difficulties in suction, pronunciation, chewing and difficulty in touching the lower lip with the tip of the tongue. Currently the use of laser technology and its benefits in modern dentistry, allows the realization of surgical procedures free of bleeding, with very little pain and inflammation of the tissues and with a recovery time much lower than necessary with conventional techniques. The present clinical case, show a 12-year-old patient with severe ankyloglossia, lingual frenectomy was indicated. A contact Nd: YAG laser was used, achieving a surgical intervention with little pain, free bleeding and without suture.

Current status on cyclotron facilities and related infrastructure supporting PET applications in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This review presents the results of a survey conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency on cyclotrons and related infrastructure used for radionuclide and radiopharmaceutical production which are supporting PET imaging applications in Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Mitochondrial genome engineering coming-of-age.

The mitochondrial genome has been difficult to manipulate because it is shielded by the organelle double membranes, preventing efficient nucleic acid entry. Moreover, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) recombination is not a robust system in most species. This limitation has forced investigators to rely on naturally occurring alterations to study both mitochondrial function and pathobiology. Because most pathogenic mtDNA mutations are heteroplasmic, the development of specific nucleases has allowed us to selectively eliminate mutant species. Several 'protein only' gene-editing platforms have been successfully used for this purpose. More recently, a DNA double-strand cytidine deaminase has been identified and adapted to edit mtDNA. This enzyme was also used as a component to adapt a DNA single-strand deoxyadenosine deaminase to mtDNA editing. These are major advances in our ability to precisely alter the mtDNA in animal cells.

Destigmatizing perceptions about Black adolescent depression: randomized controlled trial of brief social contact-based video interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To test the utility of brief social contact-based video interventions of a Black adolescent girl to reduce stigmatized attitudes and increase help-seeking intentions around adolescent depression. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 14- to18-year-old healthy volunteers drawn from the general US population. We enrolled participants through a crowdsourcing platform (n = 1,093) and randomly assigned participants to one of three video conditions (117 s each): depressed (DEP); depressed, adjusted to aspects unique to being a Black adolescent girl (including experienced or internalized racism; ADJ); and control (CONT). The primary outcome was the Depression Stigma Scale (DSS); secondary outcomes were the General Health-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ), and thermometers for Black and white race perception "warmth". RESULTS: Following the intervention, the DSS changed from baseline across the three conditions (p < .001). ADJ outperformed both DEP (p = .031) and CONT (p < .001). A race-by-intervention interaction (p < .001) revealed different response profiles between Black (ADJ = DEP = CONT; p = .726) and non-Black participants (ADJ > DEP > CONT; p < .001). DEP and ADJ both resulted in higher treatment-seeking intentions for both the emotional problems and the suicidal thought subscales of the GHSQ. We found a race-by-intervention interaction (p = .01) for the Black thermometer, which revealed a significant 2° increase in warmth among white (p < .001), but not Black, viewers (p = .06). CONCLUSIONS: On a short-term basis, brief social contact-based videos proved effective among adolescents in reducing depression-related stigma, increasing help-seeking intentions, and providing an "empathic foothold" in the lives of racially stigmatized groups. Even as the enduring effects of these interventions remain to be determined, the deployment on social media of short videos opens new opportunities to reach a large number of at-risk youth."

Rasgos antropométricos craneofaciales de interés odontológico forense en la estimación de sexo, grupo étnico y edad. Revisión de la literatura / Skull-facial anthropometric traits of forensic odontological interest for estimating sex, race and age. Review of the literature

Una de las funciones principales del antropólogo y del odontólogo forense es la de, mediante métodos no rutinarios, dar con la identidad de un sujeto gracias a sus características físicas observables. Esas características, especialmente las óseas, permiten al profesional identificar el sexo, la edad y la incidencia racial de los restos u osamentas que puedan hallar. El odontólogo centra su atención en rasgos pertenecientes al sistema estomatognático, mientras que el antropólogo estudio el conjunto de huesos que componen de forma general el cuerpo humano. En este estudio, se busca exponer los rasgos antropométricos craneofaciales propios del estudio del antropólogo para estimar sexo, grupo étnico y edad, que son de interés odontológico y útiles para la identificación de restos óseos u osamentas. Se analizan las investigaciones realizadas para la determinación del sexo, la incidencia racial y la edad, además de un aporte acerca de la denominada antropología dental, que estudia los elementos propios del sistema estomatognático desde el punto de vista antropológico. Se revisó literatura electrónica mediante buscadores como PubMed, Google Académico y SciELO, con las palabras "ForensicDentistry", "ForensicAnthropology", "Sex Determination", "Ancestry Determination" y "Age Determination". A partir de lo hallado, se concluyó que es de gran importancia para el odontólogo el conocimiento de los rasgos antropológicos craneofaciales desde el punto de vista forense para la individualización, así como la significancia de la interdisciplinariedad entre el trabajo del odontólogo y el del antropólogo para la labor de identificación. (AU)

One of the main functions of anthropologists and forensic dentists is to identify subjects according to physical characteristics of the features presented using non-routine methods. These characteristics, especially bone, allow professional to determine the sex, age and racial origin of the remains or skeleton found. Dentist focus on features belonging to the stomatognathic system, while anthropologists study the bones that make up the human body. In this study, we describe the investigations of cranio-facial anthropometric features of dental interest carried out by anthropologists to identify the sex, race and age of skeletal remains or skeletons. in addition, we describe the so-called dental anthropology that studies the elements of the stomatognathic system from an anthropological point of view. Electronic literature was reviewed through search engines such as PUBMED, Google Academic and SciELO with the search terms "Forensic Dentistry, Forensic Anthropology, Sex Determination, Ancestry Determination and Age Determination". Knowledge of the craniofacial anthropological features from the forensic point of view is of great importance in individualized and multidisciplinary studies by forensic dentists and anthropologists in the identification of skeletal remains. (AU)

[Use of diagnostic modalities for dentofacial imaging in forensic dentistry. Literature review]. / Uso de las modalidades diagnósticas pertenecientes a la imagenología dentofacial en la odontología forense. Revisión de la literatura.

Objective: To describe the use of diagnostic modalities for dentofacial imaging in forensic dentistry. Materials and Methods: A scientific search was carried out in the PubMed, Google Academic, and SciELO databases with the keywords "Dentofacial Imaging", "Panoramic Radiography", "Lateral Cephalogram", "Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)", "Digital Radiography", and "Forensic Dentistry". Forty-eight recently dated articles published in English were selected, seeking information to describe the use of diagnostic modalities pertaining to dentofacial imaging in forensic dentistry. Results: The most relevant diagnostic modalities of dentofacial imaging for forensic dentistry include panoramic radiography, lateral skull radiography, posterior-anterior skull radiography and cone beam computed tomography. Conclusions: The modalities described, together with morphometric analyses, allow forensic dentists to identify a corpse, estimate age, sex, and even facilitate forensic facial reconstruction for identification purposes.

[Skull-facial anthropometric traits of forensic odontological interest for estimating sex, race and age. Review of the literature]. / Rasgos antropométricos craneofaciales de interés odontológico forense en la estimación de sexo, grupo étnico y edad. Revisión de la literatura.

One of the main functions of anthropologists and forensic dentists is to identify subjects according to physical characteristics of the features presented using non-routine methods. These characteristics, especially bone, allow professional to determine the sex, age and racial origin of the remains or skeleton found. Dentist focus on features belonging to the stomatognathic system, while anthropologists study the bones that make up the human body. In this study, we describe the investigations of cranio-facial anthropometric features of dental interest carried out by anthropologists to identify the sex, race and age of skeletal remains or skeletons. in addition, we describe the so-called dental anthropology that studies the elements of the stomatognathic system from an anthropological point of view. Electronic literature was reviewed through search engines such as PUBMED, Google Academic and SciELO with the search terms "Forensic Dentistry, Forensic Anthropology, Sex Determination, Ancestry Determination and Age Determination". Knowledge of the craniofacial anthropological features from the forensic point of view is of great importance in individualized and multidisciplinary studies by forensic dentists and anthropologists in the identification of skeletal remains.

Producción de plásmidos recombinantes para su uso como controles de la técnica RT-PCR para el diagnósticode los virus Chikungunya y Zika / Production of recombinant plasmids as controls of diagnosis technique (RTPCR) of Chikungunya and Zika viruses

El diagnóstico molecular de arbovirus es indispensable para identificar agentes etiológicos, particularmente en zonas endémicas para al menos uno de ellos. Estas deben ser validadas con controles positivos, los cuales están clásicamente representados por virus vivos, cuya obtención puede ser riesgosa, laboriosa y costosa. El objetivo de este estudio fue producir plásmidos recombinantes para su uso como controles positivos en la validación de la técnica RT-PCR para el diagnóstico de los virus Chikungunya (CHIKV) y Zika (ZIKV). A partir de los ARN extraídos de los virus [CHIKV (LARD809-GC) y ZIKV (MR766)] se obtuvieron por RT-PCR fragmentos parciales de ADN correspondientes a secuencias nucleotídicas de los genes E1 y NS5 de los virus Chikungunya y Zika, respectivamente, para serclonados en el plásmido comercial pGEM®-T Easy. La clonación se confirmó mediante PCR de colonias y PCR de ADN plasmídicos extraídos a partir de las colonias recombinantes. Se logró la producción de dos plásmidos recombinantes CHIKV-E1/pGEM®-T Easy y ZIKV-NS5192/pGEM®-T Easy con cada una de las secuencias especificadas, para su uso en la validación y control de las técnicas moleculares descritas en este reporte, para el diagnóstico de agentes virales CHIKV y ZIKV, evitando la manipulación de cultivos celulares y garantizando una fuente confiable de controles positivos(AU)

The use of molecular techniques for the viral diagnosis requires the use of positive controls.Classically, the controls are live viruses, whose manipulation may be risky, laborious and expensive. The objective of this study was produced recombinant plasmids to obtain cloned sequences of Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) virus for their use as controls in the specificdiagnostic by RT-PCR. DNA fragments were obtained fromRNA [CHIKV (LARD809-GC) and ZIKV (MR766)] using specific primers to amplify the nucleotide sequences from fragments of Envelope 1 protein (E1) of CHIKV and Non Structural 5 protein (NS5) of ZIKV genomes. The 548 bp (CHIKV) and 192 bp(ZIKV) bands were purified from agarose gel and ligations were performed with the cloning vector pGEM®-T Easy. The Escherichia coli XL1-Blue MRF` cells were transformed with the ligation mixture, the recombinant colonies were identified by colony PCR using the specific primers to the specific viral agent. One recombinant colony from CHIKV and six recombinant colonies from ZIKV were obtained from which plasmidic DNAs was extracted. The plasmidic DNAs were used as reaction controls in CHIKV and ZIKV RT-PCR, obtaining the characteristic bands. The cloning of the sequences was successful to produce the recombinant plasmids (CHIKV-E1/pGEM®-T Easy y ZIKV-NS5192/pGEM®-T Easy) to use in the validation of RT-PCR techniques(AU)

Bases sociales y psicopolíticas del prejuicio hacia personas trans en habitantes de Córdoba, Argentina / Social and psycho-political basis of prejudice towards trans people among people from Córdoba - Argentina

El prejuicio hacia personas trans se encuentra relativamente poco explorado en comparación a otros prejuicios sexuales y de género. El presente estudio analiza factores explicativos de las actitudes negativas hacia personas trans en ciudadanos/as de Córdoba, Argentina, a partir de la Escala de Actitudes Negativas hacia personas Trans (EANT). Se aplicó un cuestionario a una muestra no aleatoria estratificada (N = 410) de población general. A partir de correlaciones y análisis de path, se replican resultados obtenidos por estudios en otros contextos, destacándose las contribuciones de edad, nivel socioeconómico, intensidad religiosa, variables psicopolíticas (Autoritarismo de Ala Derecha [RWA], Orientación hacia la Dominancia Social [SDO] ­ subfactor dominancia grupal), y psicosociales (sexismo y prejuicio sexual hacia gays y lesbianas, indagado con la Escala de Actitudes hacia Gays y Lesbianas [ATGL]). El modelo de path propuesto, explicó el 65% de la varianza total de la EANT, y presentó buenos ajustes globales. El artículo discute también las relaciones entre la EANT y ATGL.

The prejudice toward trans people remains relatively unexplored compared to other sexual and gender prejudices. This study analyzes the explanatory factors of prejudice towards trans people in Cordoba, Argentina, through the Negative Attitudes toward Trans Scale (EANT). We applied a questionnaire to a stratified non-random sample (N = 410) of general population, to explore an explanatory model of EANT. From correlations and path analysis, we replicated results from studies in other contexts, highlighting the contributions of age, socioeconomic status, religiousness, psycho-political (Right Wing Authoritarism [RWA], Social Dominance Orientation [SDO] - group dominance) and psycho-social prejudice measures (ambivalent sexism and attitudes toward gays and lesbians, ATGL). The proposed model explained 65% of the total variance of the EANT and reported good global settings. The paper also discusses the relationship between EANT and ATGL.

Oocyte maturation in the toad Rhinella arenarum (Amphibia, Anura): Evidence of cAMP involvement in steroid production and action.

In this work, we describe the participation of the adenylate cyclase/3'-5'-cyclic adenonsine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway in the seasonal follicular secretion of progesterone (P4 ) and testosterone (T), and its relationship with the maturation of Rhinella arenarum oocytes. Under gonadotropin stimulation, P4 secretion was the dominant steroid produced during the reproductive period, resulting in 100% germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in oocytes in vitro; in contrast, T and estradiol (E2 ) secretion increased (∼16 nM/20 follicles and ∼80 pM/20 follicles, respectively) during the non-reproductive period, but only yielded 50% GVBD. Treatment of the follicles with dibutyryl-cAMP or forskolin induced a significant increase in T secretion during both periods, but P4 secretion did not significantly change and GVBD did not occur. These results suggest that high cAMP levels in the oocyte maintain meiotic arrest and prevent the induction effect of follicular steroids. An increase in cAMP levels in denuded oocytes, however, negatively regulated T-induced maturation since treatment with increasing db-cAMP or forskolin inhibited their maturation. Therefore, we hypothesize that an elevation in T during the non-reproductive period favors its aromatization to E2 , leading to follicle growth. During the reproductive period, P4 production might promote oocyte maturation when environmental conditions are favorable for reproduction. Together, the results indicate that steroidogenesis is seasonal and depends on gonadotropic activity in R. arenarum.

Validation of Electrochemiluminiscence Immunoassay for Ovarian Steroid Determination in Rhinella arenarum.

In this work, we describe the validation of an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) that allowed us for the first time to determine the levels of progesterone (P4 ) and testosterone (T) secreted by Rhinella arenarum follicles during the preovulatory (POP) and reproductive (RP) periods. We also verified the relation between P4 and T levels and oocyte maturation. Moreover, we demonstrated that the extraction protocol developed for the determinations of P4 and T by ECLIA proved to be efficient and reproducible since the efficacy of the extraction was above 95% in all assays conducted. The results indicate that in the validation process the variation coefficient (CV) between assays is compatible with the analytical procedures based on automated immunoassays (CV < 8%) and that the adaptation proposed for the samples allows the determination of T and P4 with the Cobas e-411 analyzer. Our results indicate that in basal conditions the levels of T released by R. arenarum follicles were higher than those of P4 during POP and RP. In these conditions, steroid secretion failed to induce germinal vesicle break down (GVBD) in the follicles. Under gonadotropin stimulation, steroidogenesis showed a remarkable increase in both periods, especially during POP. This increase was correlated with a high maturation percentage in the follicles incubated in vitro (GVBD = 72 ± 16%) during POP. During RP, human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) induced 81.75 ± 9.1% GVBD. This study is the first report of the seasonal steroidogenic activity in the ovary of R. arenarum in situ using an ECLIA-modified protocol developed in our laboratory.

Indentation hardness: A simple test that correlates with the dissipated-energy predictor for fatigue-life in bovine pericardium membranes for bioprosthetic heart valves.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation of hardness with fatigue in calf pericardium, a biomaterial commonly used in bioprosthetic heart valves, and its relationship with the energy dissipated during the first fatigue cycle that has been shown to be a predictor of fatigue-life (García Páez et al., 2006, 2007; Rojo et al., 2010). Fatigue tests were performed in vitro on 24 pericardium specimens cut in a root-to-apex direction. The specimens were subjected to a maximum stress of 1MPa in blocks of 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 cycles. By means of a modified Shore A hardness test procedure, the hardness of the specimen was measured before and after fatigue tests. Results showed a significant correlation of such hardness with fatigue performance and with the energy dissipated in the first cycle of fatigue, a predictor of pericardium durability. The study showed indentation hardness as a simple and reliable indicator of mechanical performance, one which could be easily implemented in improving tissue selection.

Changes in the mechanical properties of chemically treated bovine pericardium after a short uniaxial cyclic test.

The mechanical behavior of calf pericardium, a biomaterial utilized in the manufacture of cardiac bioprostheses, in response to a short tensile cyclic test has been evaluated. The trial involved 120 samples cut longitudinally or transversely, subjected to 10 cycles until a stress of between 1 and 3 MPa was reached. Tests of hardness and tear propagation were performed, and the results were compared with a control series. The energy loss was also computed, and it was approximately 10-fold greater in the first cycle than the loss in the subsequent nine cycles. Despite this singularity, they correlated very precisely. The effect of the direction in which the tissue is cut on energy loss was not significant nor the difference between hardness prior to and after testing. The results of the tear propagation tests gave no statistical differences prior to and after testing. From the obtained results, it seems that the test carried out does not affect significantly the mechanical properties of calf pericardium.

Sepsis por Vibrio vulnificus: reporte de dos casos en ciudades de altura en el Ecuador / Vibrio vulnificus sepsis: report of two cases in high altitude cities from Ecuador

La infección por Vibrio vulnifcus está generalmente relacionada con el contacto de heridas con agua de mar y el consumo de mariscos bivalvos. No se han publicado hasta la fecha casos causados por Vibrio vulnifcus en el Ecuador. Presentación de los casos Se describen dos casos de sepsis fatal. El primer caso fue un hombre de 69 años, residente en Ibarra (2220 m.s.n.m.), que tenía como enfermedad de base diabetes mellitus tipo 2, artritis reumatoide y hepatopatía. El segundo fue un hombre de 26 años, residente en Quito (2800 m.s.n.m.), con antecedente de anemia aplásica bajo tratamiento. Ambos pacientes ingresaron febriles y presentaron un deterioro rápidamente progresivo, sin respuesta al manejo de soporte y antibiótico-terapia en cuidados intensivos, falleciendo en menos de 48 horas posteriores a su ingreso. En los hemocultivos se identifcó la presencia de Vibrio vulnifcus. Conclusión El reporte de estos casos pone en alerta la presencia de esta bacteria como causa de sepsis en pacientes con factores de riesgo. El reconocimiento oportuno del cuadro clínico, el tratamiento de soporte, terapia antibiótica y un equipo multidisciplinario, son pilares fundamentales en el manejo de este tipo de infecciones.

Vibrio vulnifcus infection usually is related to the contact of wounds with seawater and bivalve shellfsh consumption. Non-cases has been published of this infection in Ecuador. Case Report Two cases of septic shock are described. The frst case was a man (69 years old) from Ibarra city (2220 m.s.l.) who had diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and liver disease. The second case was a man (26 years old) resident in Quito city (2800 m.s.l.) with a history of treated aplastic anemia. Both patients were admitted febrile and showed a fast and progressive deterioration, without response to support management and antibiotic therapy in the intensive care unit. They died within 48 hours after admission. Blood cultures were positive for Vibrio vulnifcus. Conclusion The report of these cases must put on alert for the presence of this bacterium as a cause of sepsis in patients with risk factors. Early recognition of clinical data, the supportive management, antibiotic therapy and a multidisciplinary team are essentials for the outcome.

Fatigue behaviour of young ostrich pericardium.

Young ostrich pericardia (biomaterial under study for manufacturing cardiac valve leaflets), has been subjected to biaxial tension fatigue until breakage. Supraphysiological values of pressure (1 to 6 atm) have been employed to accelerate damage and, therefore, to reduce testing time but at physiological frequency in order to avoid viscoelastic behaviour changes. The lifetime fatigue curves have been obtained and large scatter has been observed in the results but this can be strongly reduced with adequate material selection. The thickness-based selection of samples has proved to be ineffective both in reducing scatter or improving strength, but the energy-based selection aided with statistical decision techniques has been shown to be very successful. The energy loss (energy under the hysteresis loop of each load and unload cycle) appears to be a very accurate predictor of the expected fatigue lifetime of the tissue.

Erasmus mundus programme: an european oportunity for students and scholars.

European Union through the management of the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA) set up in 2004 a mobility program with the aim of promoting and enhancing European Higher Education. This first edition of the program, which went from 2004 to 2008, involved mainly Master's Courses. In this edition just European Institutions were able to take part of the applicant group of universities whereas just non-European students and scholars were provided with scholarships to attend these masters. However, the new edition of the Erasmus Mundus Programme (2009-2013), without changing its aim, has broadened its activities. Among others, the current Programme allows non-European institutions to join the applying partnership and has devoted part of the budget to also finance scholarships for European student and scholars enrolled in a Erasmus Mundus Master Course (EMMC). On the other hand it has enclosed the previous External Cooperation Window under the name of Action 2. It consists on a consortium of EU and non-EU universities and involves students and scholar exchanges. Non EU partners will go to EU institutions belonging to the partnership and EU partners will go to non EU institutions also partner in the consortium.

Optimal selection of biological tissue using the energy dissipated in the first loading cycle.

Calf pericardium, similar to that used in the manufacturing of prosthetic valve cusps, was fatigue tested. After six batches of 100 cycles of 1 MPa of loading pressure, half of the samples broke. The mean energy dissipated in the first cycle by the surviving samples was 0.16 J, which is lower than the 0.28 J dissipated by the specimens that broke (p = 0.005). The hysteresis of the first cycle was characteristic and different from the following ones and correlated superbly with fatigue resistance. Setting a threshold value for the energy of the first cycle of 0.20 J, the performance index (the percentage of true predictions) was almost 80%, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.823 (maximum value is 1). When including the mean thickness in the selection parameters, as an indirect measure of the specimen mass, the performance index grew over 95%, meaning that the error of the predictions was less than 5%. Combining both parameters in one, a high performance index is maintained at 87.5% and the area under the ROC curve increases to 0.917. This non-destructive method should help optical methods in the process of selecting the most appropriate and homogenous biological material.