Socioeconomic inequalities and temporomandibular joint disorders in adolescents: contributions from a Maranhão cohort.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in adolescents and estimate possible associations with poverty. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional study nested within a prospective birth cohort study conducted in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 2,412 adolescents aged 18-19 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The presence of TMD, classified according to the Fonseca Anamnestic Index, was used as the outcome. The following explanatory variables were assessed: gender, household head, paved/asphalted street, piped water, and socioeconomic background, based on the Brazilian Association of Market Research criteria and the poverty income ratio (PIR). Logistic regression analysis was performed with the estimation of odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: TMD was common (51.4%) and was associated with poverty, as it was more frequent among adolescents from social classes D-E (OR=2.60; 95% CI: 1.48-4.55) and C (OR=1.82; 95% CI: 1.12-2.99) compared to A/B, and among poor adolescents using the PIR (OR=1.50; 95% CI: 1.02-2.33). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of TMD in socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents in São Luís is high, and these data allow the early identification of at-risk groups. We recommend carrying out other population-based studies, using diagnostic strategies with greater accuracy.

Developmental programming: intrauterine caloric restriction promotes upregulation of mitochondrial sirtuin with mild effects on oxidative parameters in the ovaries and testes of offspring.

According to the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, changes in the maternal environment are known to reprogram the metabolic response of offspring. Known for its redox modulation, caloric restriction extends the lifespan of some species, which contributes to diminished cellular damage. Little is known about the effects of gestational caloric restriction, in terms of antioxidant parameters and molecular mechanisms of action, on the reproductive organs of offspring. This study assessed the effects of moderate (20%) caloric restriction on redox status parameters, molecular expression of sirtuin (SIRT) 1 and SIRT3 and histopathological markers in the ovaries and testes of adult rats that were subjected to gestational caloric restriction. Although enzyme activity was increased, ovaries from female pups contained high levels of oxidants, whereas testes from male pups had decreased antioxidant enzyme defences, as evidenced by diminished glyoxalase I activity and reduced glutathione content. Expression of SIRT3, a deacetylase enzyme related to cellular bioenergetics, was increased in both ovaries and testes. Previous studies have suggested that, in ovaries, diminished antioxidant metabolism can lead to premature ovarian failure. Unfortunately, there is little information regarding the redox profile in the testis. This study is the first to assess the redox network in both ovaries and testes, suggesting that, although intrauterine caloric restriction improves molecular mechanisms, it has a negative effect on the antioxidant network and redox status of reproductive organs of young adult rats.

Polarized Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy and ab Initio Calculation of Palmitic and Stearic Acids in the Bm and C Forms.

A complete experimental study on the vibrational properties of palmitic and stearic acids crystallized in the Bm and C forms, both belonging to the monoclinic system with the P21/a (C2h5) space group, through polarized Raman and infrared spectroscopy, is reported in this paper. Density functional theory calculations were also performed to assign the normal modes and to help in the interpretation of the experimental data. The different polarizations were compared and their influence on the spectral profiles, in both the lattice and the internal mode regions, was discussed. In general, the Raman and infrared spectra exhibit accentuated differences among the polymorphic forms, which are associated with the different molecular modifications, defined as gauche and all-trans conformations. Insights about interaction among different groups are also furnished.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (Denosumab) - Review.

BACKGROUND: Denosumab, an anti-resorptive agent, IgG2 monoclonal antibody for human Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), has been related to the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the jaws. Thus, the aim of this study was to review the literature from clinical case reports, regarding the type of patient and the therapeutic approach used for osteonecrosis of the jaws induced by chronic use of Denosumab. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this, a literature review was performed on PubMed, Medline and Cochrane databases, using the keywords "Denosumab" "anti-RANK ligand" and "Osteonecrosis of jaw". To be included, articles should be a report or a serie of clinical cases, describing patients aged 18 years or over who used denosumab therapy and have received any therapy for ONJ. RESULTS: Thirteen complete articles were selected for this review, totaling 17 clinical cases. The majority of ONJ cases, patients receiving Denosumab as treatment for osteoporosis and prostate cancer therapy. In most cases, patients affected by ONJ were women aged 60 or over and posterior mandible area was the main site of involvement. Diabetes pre-treatment with bisphosphonates and exodontia were the most often risk factors related to the occurrence of this condition. Systemic and local antibiotic therapy with or without surgical debridement was the most used treatment for ONJ resolution. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the highest number of ONJ cases caused by the use of anti-RANKL agents occurred in female patients, aged 60 years or older, under treatment for osteoporosis and cancer metastasis, and the most affected region was the mandible posterior.

Water loss at normal enamel histological points during air drying at room temperature.

This in vitro study aimed to quantify water loss at histological points in ground sections of normal enamel during air drying at room temperature (25°C) and relative humidity of 50%. From each of 10 ground sections of erupted permanent human normal enamel, three histological points (n = 30) located at 100, 300 and 500 µm from enamel surface and along a transversal following prisms paths were characterized regarding the mineral, organic and water volumes. Water loss during air drying was from 0 to 48 h. Drying occurred with both falling and constant-drying rates, and drying stabilization times (Teq ) ranged from 0.5 to 11 h with a mean 0.26 (±0.12)% weight loss. In some samples (n = 5; 15 points), Teq increased as a function of the distance from the enamel surface, and drying occurred at an apparent diffusion rate of 3.47 × 10⁻8 cm² s⁻¹. Our data provide evidence of air drying resulting in air replacing enamel's loosely bound water in prisms sheaths following a unidirectional water diffusion rate of 3.47 × 10⁻8 cm² s⁻¹ (from the original enamel surface inward), not necessarily resulting in water evaporating directly into air, with important implications for transport processes and optical and mechanical properties.

Natural enamel caries: a comparative histological study on biochemical volumes.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that organic volume is the main variable for explaining the optical properties and predictive degree of diffusion of enamel histological points at zones of natural enamel caries (NEC; surface layer, SL, n = 30, and body of the lesion, BL, n = 58) and normal enamel (NE, n = 131). Molars with either NEC or NE were quantitatively analyzed regarding the mineral, organic and water volumes (considered as effective pore volume), opacity (predicted in 94% of cases by water volume in NEC), and water volume more easily available for diffusion, αd (squared water volume divided by the nonmineral volume; related to permeability). NEC presented lower mineral volumes and higher organic volumes, effective pore volume and opacity than NE. External origin of organic volume in NEC was evidenced by an organic gradient decreasing from the surface inward (R2 = -0.7), which was not detected in teeth with NE only; αd values of the SL and NE were similar and both were lower (p < 0.0001) than that of the BL. Comparing the SL from both NEC and artificial enamel caries (AEC; published data; n = 71), with similar mineral volumes, against developing enamel (published data), AEC showed more effective pore volume (3 times higher), higher αd and opacity than NEC mainly due to differences in organic volumes. Our results reasonably matched widely known features of NEC histological zones, and confirmed the organic volume as the main variable for explaining optical properties and αd (related to permeability).

Pressure-dependence Raman spectroscopy and the lattice dynamic calculations of Bi2(MoO4)3 crystal.

This work reports a pressure-dependent Raman spectroscopic study and the theoretical lattice dynamics calculations of a Bi2(MoO4)3 crystal. The lattice dynamics calculations were performed, based on a rigid ion model, to understand the vibrational properties of the Bi2(MoO4)3 system and to assign the experimental Raman modes under ambient conditions. The calculated vibrational properties were helpful to support pressure-dependent Raman results, including eventual structural changes induced by pressure changes. Raman spectra were measured in the spectral region between 20 and 1000 cm-1 and the evolution of the pressures values was recorded in the range of 0.1-14.7 GPa. Pressure-dependent Raman spectra showed changes observed at 2.6, 4.9 and 9.2 GPa, these changes being associated with structural phase transformations. Finally, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were performed to infer the critical pressure of phase transformations undergone by the Bi2(MoO4)3 crystal.

Natural enamel caries in polarized light microscopy: differences in histopathological features derived from a qualitative versus a quantitative approach to interpret enamel birefringence.

Lesion area measurement of enamel caries using polarized light microscopy (PLM) is currently performed in a large number of studies, but measurements are based mainly on a mislead qualitative interpretation of enamel birefringence in a single immersion medium. Here, five natural enamel caries lesions are analysed by microradiography and in PLM, and the differences in their histopathological features derived from a qualitative versus a quantitative interpretation of enamel birefringence are described. Enamel birefringence in different immersion media (air, water and quinoline) is interpreted by both qualitative and quantitative approaches, the former leading to an underestimation of the depth of enamel caries mainly when the criterion of validating sound enamel as a negatively birefringent area in immersion in water is used (a current common practice in dental research). Procedures to avoid the shortcomings of a qualitative interpretation of enamel birefringence are presented and discussed.

Patients' perspectives of healthcare-associated infection: 'you don't know what impacts it will have on your life'.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are not present on admission but are contracted while a patient is undergoing hospital treatment. While the prevalence of HAIs, and their causes and treatments have been researched in various contexts to date, patients' perspectives of contracting and living with the consequences of an HAI remain under-researched. OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' experiences of having an HAI. METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological study that drew on data from semi-structured interviews was conducted in order to explore the lived experiences of patients who had recently contracted an HAI while in hospital. Participants were recruited from two Australian hospitals in 2019 and 2021. Telephone interviews were conducted with 10 participants by two research team members, and transcripts from these interviews were analysed qualitatively using a thematic coding process to identify the patients' perspectives of contracting an HAI. RESULTS: The participants had a range of different HAIs. The participants described how the experience of having an HAI can be very isolating and distressing from the patient's perspective, with life-long implications. This contributes to understanding of the way in which patients are impacted emotionally and mentally as a result of contracting an HAI. CONCLUSION: There is a need for improved, person-centred communication about the source, treatment and prognosis of HAIs. The findings from this study indicate the importance of considering patients' voices in their own health care.

Modulation of persistent current in graphene quantum rings.

We investigate the effect of long-range impurity potentials on the persistent current of graphene quantum rings in the presence of an uniform perpendicular magnetic field. The impurity potentials are modeled as finite regions of the ring with a definite length. We show that, due to the relativistic and massless character of the charge carriers in graphene, the effect of such non-uniform potentials on the energy spectrum and on the persistent current of the rings can be reliably modeled by assuming a non-perturbed ring and including an additional phase due to the interaction of the charge carriers with the potential. In addition, the results show the presence of localized states in the impurity regions. Moreover, we show that for the case of a potential created by a p-n-p junction, the persistent current can be modulated by controlling the voltage at the junction.

A novel orchiectomy surgical procedure in donkeys ( Equus asinus africanus) with parascrotal access.

Donkeys are a public health concern in the Northeast region of Brazil, with thousands of stray animals. Orchiectomy is an important population control measure; however, the long postoperative period with daily treatment of open wounds in the scrotum makes it difficult to perform a large number of castrations in sheltering centers. We evaluate a novel surgical procedure for orchiectomy in donkeys using parascrotal access. Twelve donkeys were used, divided into two groups: I - submitted to orchiectomy through parascrotal surgical access (novel procedure), and II - submitted to orchiectomy through scrotal access (conventional). Postoperative evaluations consisted of a macroscopic evaluation of the surgical wound (bleeding and intensity of edema), hematological parameters, and peritoneal fluid, which occurred in both groups at the moments (M): M0 - before the surgical procedure. The others moments occurred after surgery: M12 (twelve hours); M24 (twenty-four hours); M48 (forty-eight hours); M72 (seventy-two hours); M8D (eight days); and M16D (sixteen days). The surgical techniques did not generate an important systemic inflammatory response to the point detected by the leukogram, fibrinogen dosage, and peritoneal fluid. The parascrotal technique required long surgery but promoted less bleeding, less edema, and faster healing. The techniques used did not promote sufficient systemic inflammation to alter the number of leukocytes and the fibrinogen concentration; however, evaluation of the peritoneal fluid proved to be important for evaluating inflammatory processes involving the scrotum and inguinal canal. We describe a novel surgical procedure for orchiectomy in Donkeys using a parascrotal access that promoted less risk of bleeding, shorter period of edema, and healing time, but required longer surgery time.

Phase changes of tris(glycinato)chromium(III) monohydrate crystal systematically studied by thermal analyses, XRPD, FTIR, and Raman combined with ab initio calculations.

Tris(glycinato)chromium(III) monohydrate [Cr(C2H4NO2)3·H2O] crystals were grown through the slow solvent evaporation method. The crystals were studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy at room temperature. The assignments of vibration modes were performed using the Density Functional Theory (DFT). Thermal analyses (TGA, DTA, and DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman were used to study the phase changes on the crystals under high- and low-temperature conditions. Temperature-dependent XRPD measurements were carried out in the interval of 473-12 K. Several changes were observed in the patterns, like the appearance of new peaks and the disappearance of peaks occurring within 373-393 K due to water loss. In addition, the Raman measurements were performed in the 423-10 K interval. Several changes on the inter and intramolecular vibration bands during the cooling, such as decreasing bands' intensities, the appearance of vibration modes, and discontinuities on the modes' behavior, were observed. These spectral modifications occurred at about 370 K and within 120-220 K, thus, confirming that the crystals undergo two phase changes, one being structural and the other one conformational, respectively, at high- temperature and low-temperature conditions. Finally, thermal investigations corroborated the structural and vibrational results under high temperatures.

Structural, thermal, electronic, vibrational, magnetic, and cytotoxic properties of chloro(glycinato-N,O)(1,10-phenanthroline-N,N')­copper(II) trihydrate coordination complex.

Chloro(glycinato-N,O)(1,10-phenanthroline-N,N')­copper(II) trihydrate complex was synthesized through the slow evaporation method. The crystal's structural, thermal, magnetic, and vibrational properties were obtained by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermal analyses, magnetization, Raman, and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. XRPD results showed that the crystalline complex belongs to a monoclinic system (P21/n). Thermal analyses revealed that around 333 K, the material undergoes a thermodynamically irreversible process. Magnetic data showed a paramagnetic behavior with weak ferromagnetic interactions. Moreover, all the Raman- and infrared-active bands were assigned from computational calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) to analyze intra-molecular vibrational modes. In addition, the cytotoxic assay on colorectal cancer cells was performed to evaluate the antitumor activity of this ternary compound. Therefore, the antineoplastic activity of [Cu(1,10-phenanthroline)(glycine)Cl]•3H2O complex in HCT-116 cells was confirmed, showing a potent cytotoxic effect.

A NMR reverse diffusion filter for the simplification of spectra of complex mixtures and the study of drug receptor interactions.

A reverse diffusion filter NMR experiment (Drev) is proposed for the study of small molecules in binding with macromolecules. The filtering efficiency of Drev to eliminate the signals of the macromolecule is shown to be superior to conventional transverse relaxation filters at least for macromolecules containing a significant fraction of flexible residues. The Drev filter was also a useful complement for ligand-based NMR screening in combination with saturation transfer difference experiments.

Pressure-induced phase transition in Glycinium maleate crystal.

The multicomponent glycinium maleate single crystal was grown by the slow evaporation method. The crystal was submitted to pressures ranging from 1 atm to 5.6 GPa and Raman spectroscopy was used as a spectroscopic probe. The modifications of relative intensity bands related to the lattice modes at 0.3 GPa were associated with rearrangements of hydrogen bonds. Moreover, between 1.7 and 4.8 GPa the Raman results indicate that the crystal experience a long structural phase transition, which was confirmed by PCA analysis. DFT calculations gave us more precision in the assignments of modes. The behavior of the internal modes under pressure showed that the maleic acid molecule undergoes greater modifications than glycine amino acid. All observed modifications were reversible when the pressure was released.

A temperature-dependent Raman scattering and X-ray diffraction study of K2Mo2O7·H2O and ab initio calculations of K2Mo2O7.

This study reports a temperature-dependent Raman scattering and X-ray diffraction study of K2Mo2O7·H2O. The high-temperature Raman scattering analysis shows that the material remains structurally stable, with triclinic symmetry, in a temperature range from 300 to 413 K and undergoes a structural phase transition between 413 and 418 K. This phase transition is most likely connected with the dehydration process of K2Mo2O7·H2O. The temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction patterns are measured from 30 to 573 K. The results show that the discovered phase transition occurs between 419 and 433 K, in good agreement with the Raman scattering results. According to the Raman data, with increasing temperature, the dehydrated crystal of K2Mo2O7 undergoes a new phase transformation at 603 K and melts at ~843 K. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses are performed based on the treatment of the raw spectral data to infer the phase transformations occurring in the material. Assignments of the Raman modes for the K2Mo2O7 system at ambient conditions are studied through first-principles calculations based on density functional perturbation theory. These calculations are applied to understand the electronic properties, including the band structure and the associated projected density of states, of K2Mo2O7 under the local density approximation.

Computational structural, electronic and optical properties of the palmitic acid in its C form.

In this work, we report a theoretical study of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of palmitic acid crystal in its C form under DFT calculations level. Palmitic acid is a fatty acid that constitutes the large majority of vegetable oils with recognized potential applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics technology, foods, and fuel. As a main result, we have found that the electronic bandstructure reveals an indirect gap given by 3.713 eV (E→B andE→Γ), as a main bandgap, while the secondary bandgaps found were 4.175 eV (γ1→Γ) and 4.172 eV (γ2→B). It behaves like a wide bandgap semiconductor, which points to potential applications in optoelectronic devices.

Effects of free and dipeptide forms of methionine supplementation on oxidative metabolism of broilers under high temperature.

Our previous studies have shown that methionine supplementation could help to attenuate the effects of heat stress on the metabolism of broiler chickens. Here we investigated for the first time the effects of methionine supplementation in the form of DL-methionyl-DL-methionine on broilers subjected to heat stress during the growth phase. Broilers were divided into two groups; one group was reared under thermoneutral conditions and the other under continuous heat stress (30 ±â€¯1 °C, 60% relative humidity). Both groups were subdivided into three dietary treatments: a methionine-deficient (MD) diet, a diet supplemented with free methionine (DL-M), and a diet supplemented with methionine dipeptide (DL-MM). Broilers raised under chronic heat stress had lower feed intake and weight gain than broilers raised under thermoneutral conditions (P < 0.05). There were no differences in animal performance between methionine-supplemented diets (DL-M and DL-MM). Heat-stressed birds had significantly higher heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio than thermoneutral birds. Under heat stress, broilers fed DL-M and DL-MM diets had lower H/L ratio than birds fed the MD diet. Higher concentrations of carbonylated proteins and lower concentration of reduced glutathione were observed in broilers raised under heat stress. In comparing heat-stressed broilers, we found that birds fed the DL-M diet had lower concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and carbonylated proteins than those fed the MD diet (P < 0.05). Higher expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione synthetase (GSS) genes was observed in heat-stressed broilers (P < 0.05). Under heat stress, the MD diet increased GPX expression compared with other diets. Under thermoneutral conditions, the DL-M diet resulted in the highest GSS expression. There was a negative correlation between DNA methylation and GPX and GSS expression. Our results showed that supplementation of broiler diets with free methionine or methionine dipeptide may help attenuate the effects of heat stress through enhanced activation of genes related to the glutathione antioxidant system. Methionine effects were found for gene regulation, gene expression, and post-translational processing.

Treatment of human head lice infestations in a single application with a new galenic lotion.

To evaluate the efficiency and safety of a new galenic meta-emulsion for the treatment of human head lice (Pediculus capitis) in a single application. A controlled clinical study was conducted comparing lice infestation and nit hatching observed before and after a treatment in a single application. Eighty-two of the 87 children included completed the study. An infestation control was performed on 36 and 46 children, 8 and 24 h respectively after application. Five days later, a meticulous hair examination was carried out to check that the lice infestation was completely cured. After a single application of the lotion being tested, an examination of the scalp with a head lice detection comb, as well as an examination of the rinsing water and the towel used for drying after washing, showed that out of the total 1285 lice, there were no live lice. The percentage of nits hatching before treatment was close to 70%. In comparison, after an 8-h treatment (t(+8)), the percentage of nits hatching was 2.1%, with only 0.35% of living nymphs. After a 24-h treatment (t(+24)), 1.9% hatched with 0.38% living nymphs. Nymphs were revealed to be non-viable. After 5 days (t(+120)), no living adult or immature lice were found on the subjects tested. Moreover, observation of tolerance levels to this treatment at days 1, 5 and 12 showed no side effects. The specific galenic lotion completely cured head lice infestation in the population studied in a single application. The lotion, a patented meta-emulsion, has a mechanical action that asphyxiates lice and nits. Considering the advantages of the single application, the possibility of complete concomitant therapeutics for a whole school population within only 1 day and the high level of tolerance to this treatment, this approach seems simple and promising.

Effect of Fe (III) on L-asparagine monohydrate investigated under low- and high-temperature conditions.

Raman spectra of Fe-doped L-asparagine monohydrate (LAM:Fe) crystal were studied under several temperatures varying from 17 to 490 K. The effect of Fe (III) ion on the stability of the crystal in changing temperature through the vibrational spectra was discussed. The behavior of inter and intra-molecular vibration modes has indicated two phase transitions and an amorphous transformation. These effects were also clarified by X-ray powder diffraction measurements which corroborate very well the Raman data. In addition, we have determinated the lattice parameters of all phases and verified that under low temperature conditions the crystal undergoes a conformational transition whereas under high temperatures its structure transforms from the orthorhombic (P212121-space group) to the monoclinic (P21-space group) symmetry and, after this process, it goes to an amorphous phase due to the start of the decomposition. Finally, differential scanning calorimetry analysis was utilized as complementary technique to investigate the structural stability of LAM:Fe and results are in a good agreement with the Raman and the X-ray diffraction data.