Genetic cancer risk assessment: A screenshot of the psychosocial profile of women at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of information describing Brazilian women at risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) who undergo genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA). This study aims to characterize the psychosocial profile of women at risk for HBOC at their first GCRA to obtain an overview of their families' profiles and the challenges of the oncogenetics setting. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which interviews were conducted with 83 cancer-affected women at their first GRCA appointment after the pedigree draw. Tools to evaluate psychological outcomes were applied. The pedigree genogram and ecomap were constructed and analyzed with content analysis using the "life course perspective" theory. RESULTS: Individuals perceived their breast/ovarian cancer risk to be equal to that of the general population, although they were highly concerned about developing cancer. No evidence of anxiety or depressive symptoms was identified. Participants used the coping strategy of searching for religiosity. The genograms and ecomaps resulted in five major themes: support and social support; attitudes, feelings and emotions; cancer causes; communication; and relationships with relatives. Individuals between 20-29 years of age and those with no family history of cancer tended not to communicate with relatives, which may indicate future problems in the GCRA process regarding genetic testing. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that knowing the families who undergo the GCRA process can help professionals provide more individualized and thorough attention during GCRA and genetic testing, which results in better follow-up and prevention strategies.

"Why throw away something useful?": Attitudes and opinions of people treated for bipolar disorder and their relatives on organ and tissue donation.

In regard to mental illness, brain donation is essential for the biological investigation of central pathology. Nevertheless, little is known about the thoughts of people with mental disorders on tissue donation for research. Here, our objective was to understand the attitudes and opinions of people treated for bipolar disorder and their relatives regarding donation in general, and particularly donation for research. This is a qualitative study that used in-depth interviews to determine the thoughts of participants regarding tissue donation for research. Theoretical sampling was used as a recruitment method. Grounded theory was used as a framework for content analyses of the interviews. A semi-structured interview guide was applied with the topics: donation in general; donation for research; mental health and body organs; opinion regarding donation; feelings aroused by the topic. Although all participants were aware of organ donation for transplant, they were surprised that tissue could be donated for research. Nevertheless, once they understood the concept they were usually in favor of the idea. Although participants demonstrated a general lack of knowledge on donation for research, they were willing to learn more and viewed it as a good thing, with altruistic reasons often cited as a motive for donation. We speculate that bridging this knowledge gap may be a fundamental step towards a more ethical postmortem tissue donation process.

Influence of artificial accelerated ageing on the colour stability of paints used for ocular prosthesis iris painting.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the colour stability of paints used for ocular prosthesis iris painting submitted for accelerated artificial ageing (AAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty specimens of acrylic resin for sclera (16 × 2 mm) were made and separated into eight groups (n = 10) according to the type of paint (gouache, GP; oil, OP; acrylic AP; and composite resin for characterisation, CR) and the colours used (blue/brown). After drying (72 h), a new layer of colourless acrylic resin was applied and the initial colour readout was performed (Spectrophotometer PCB 6807). New colour readouts were performed after AAA, and ΔE was calculated. RESULTS: Statistical analysis (two-way anova-Bonferroni, p < 0.05) demonstrated that the brown colour showed lower ΔE means in comparison with the blue colour, with statistically significant difference for AP only. Blue colour showed no statistically significant difference with regard to the type of paint used. Brown AP showed lower ΔE than the other groups, with significant difference for OP and GP. GP showed greater alteration in ΔE for the brown colour, being statistically similar only to OP. CONCLUSIONS: Only the AP group for brown pigment shows clinically acceptable values for colour stability after AAA.

Mapping Bioethics in Latin America: History, Theoretical Models, and Scientific Output.

OBJECTIVE: To present a narrative review of the history of bioethics in Latin America and of scientific output in this interdisciplinary field. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods study. RESULTS: A total of 1458 records were retrieved, of which 1167 met the inclusion criteria. According to the Web of Science classification, the predominant topics of study were medical ethics (n= 488), social sciences and medicine (n= 354), and environmental and public health topics (n= 279). Four themes of bioethics output in the Latin American literature have emerged: (a) issues involving the beginning and end of life, (b) ethics in human research, (c) patient-provider relationships, and (d) ethics training for health professionals. CONCLUSION: Although bioethics is a growing interdisciplinary field in Latin America, its academic impact is still very low, and programmes are highly concentrated in large urban centres in a few countries. Challenges includes the regional and international impact of local scientific output.

Effect of large instrument use on shaping ability and debris extrusion of rotary and reciprocating systems.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of large instrument use on the shaping ability and apical debris extrusion of rotary and reciprocating systems in oval-shaped root canals. METHODS: Forty-five mandibular premolars, with an 18-mm long, oval-shaped single canal, and apical diameter ranging from 300 to 350 µm, were separated into three groups (n=15), according to the system used: ProTaper Universal group, F5 (0.50/0.05); ProTaper Next (PTN group), X5 (0.50/0.06); and Reciproc (RC group), R50 (0.50/0.05). Cone-beam computed tomography was performed before and after preparation to analyze apical transportation (AT), centering ability (CA), and change in root canal diameter (CRCD). For evaluating apical debris extrusion, the roots were coupled to pre-weighed glass receptacles to collect the extruded debris during preparation. RESULTS: All systems promoted AT and apical debris extrusion; the latter was higher for the PTN group (P<.05). No system presented perfect CA. The RC group demonstrated the largest CRCD (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: As consequences of their use, the large instruments promoted undesirable AT and debris extrusion, irrespective of the system used to perform root canal preparation. Moreover, no system was able to remain perfectly centralized within the root canal.

Comparison of cyclic fatigue and torsional resistance in reciprocating single-file systems and continuous rotary instrumentation systems.

As compared with continuous rotary systems, reciprocating motion is believed to increase the fatigue resistance of NiTi instruments. We compared the cyclic fatigue and torsional resistance of reciprocating single-file systems and continuous rotary instrumentation systems in simulated root canals. Eighty instruments from the ProTaper Universal, WaveOne, MTwo, and Reciproc systems (n = 20) were submitted to dynamic bending testing in stainless-steel simulated curved canals. Axial displacement of the simulated canals was performed with half of the instruments (n = 10), with back-and-forth movements in a range of 1.5 mm. Time until fracture was recorded, and the number of cycles until instrument fracture was calculated. Cyclic fatigue resistance was greater for reciprocating systems than for rotary systems (P < 0.05). Instruments from the Reciproc and WaveOne systems significantly differed only when axial displacement occurred (P < 0.05). Instruments of the ProTaper Universal and MTwo systems did not significantly differ (P > 0.05). Cyclic fatigue and torsional resistance were greater for reciprocating systems than for continuous rotary systems, irrespective of axial displacement.