Delayed administration of Trichilia catigua A. Juss. Ethyl-acetate fraction after cerebral ischemia prevents spatial memory deficits, decreases oxidative stress, and impacts neural plasticity in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Trichilia catigua A. Juss (Meliaceae) is used in Brazilian folk medicine to alleviate fatigue and emotional stress and improve memory. Previous studies from our laboratory reported that an ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of T. catigua that was given before cerebral ischemia in vivo prevented memory loss and reduced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Despite the value of these findings of a neuroprotective effect of T. catigua, treatment that was given immediately before or immediately after ischemia limits its clinical relevance. Thus, unknown is whether T. catigua possesses a specific time window of efficacy (TWE) when administered postischemia. AIM OF THE STUDY: Given continuity to previous studies, we investigated whether an EAF of T. catigua maintains its neuroprotective properties if treatment begins at different time windows of efficacy after ischemia. We also evaluated, for the first time, whether T. catigua possesses neuroplasticity/neurotrophic properties. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rats were subjected to transient global brain ischemia (TGCI) and then given a single dose of the EAF (400 mg/kg) or vehicle (1 ml/kg) orally 1, 4, or 6 h postischemia. The levels of protein PCG, GSH, and GSSG, and activity of SOD and CAT were assayed as markers of oxidative stress on the day after ischemia. In another experiment, naive rats underwent spatial learning training in a radial maze task and then subjected to TGCI. Delayed treatment with the EAF began 4 or 6 h later and continued for 7 days. Retrograde memory performance was assessed 10, 17, and 24 days postischemia. Afterward, brains were examined for neurodegeneration and neuronal dendritic morphology in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Another group received the EAF at 4 h of reperfusion, and 4 days later their brains were examined for GFAP and Iba-1 immunoreactivity. Lastly, ischemic rats received the EAF 4 h after ischemia and neural plasticity-related proteins, BDNF, SYN, PSD 95, and NeuN were measured in the hippocampus 7 and 14 days after ischemia. RESULTS: A single EAF administration 1, 4, or 6 h postischemia alleviated oxidative stress that was caused by ischemia, expressed as a reduction of the amount of the PCG and GSSG, normalization of the GSH/GSSG ratio, and the restoration of SOD activity. Ischemia caused the persistent loss of memory (i.e., amnesia), an outcome that was consistently ameliorated by treatment with the EAF that was initiated 4 or 6 h postischemia. The 4 h delay in EAF treatment positively impacted dendritic morphology in neurons that survived ischemia. TGCI reduced BDNF, SYN, PSD-95, and NeuN protein levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. The EAF normalized SYN and PSD-95 protein levels. Ischemia-induced neurodegeneration and glial cell activation were not prevented by EAF treatment. CONCLUSION: The present study corroborates prior data that demonstrated the neuroprotective potential of T. catigua and extends these data by showing that the delayed administration of EAF postischemia effectively prevented memory impairment and decreased oxidative stress, dendritic deterioration, and synaptic protein loss within a TWE that ranged from 1 to 6 h. This specific TWE in preclinical research may have clinical relevance by suggesting the possible utility of this plant for the development of neuroprotective strategies in the setting of ischemic brain diseases. Another innovative finding of the present study was the possible neurotrophic/neuroplastic properties of T. catigua.

Accuracy of three-dimensional soft tissue profile prediction in orthognathic surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) soft tissue prediction in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomographs of 88 patients with class II (n = 46) and class III (n = 42) malocclusions, who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, were included in this retrospective study. 3D soft tissue prediction and postoperative outcome were compared by using ten landmarks of facial soft tissues. Patients' sex and age were also assessed. Results were analyzed using a mixed model methodology (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The success criterion adopted was a mean discrepancy of < 2 mm. Most mandibular landmarks indicated a tendency for underprediction with a downward direction in class II patients, with some values > 2 mm. In class III, there was overprediction with a downward direction for the mandibular landmarks, with values < 2 mm. More accurate results were found in female and older patients. CONCLUSIONS: 3D surgical planning showed clinically acceptable results for predicting soft tissues in patients undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, with more accurate results for class III patients. Although some differences were found when age and sex were interacted, a consistent association between these variables could not be stated. These results support the clinician, as accuracy can provide a strong guide to the surgeon when planning surgical orthodontic treatment.

Ornamental plant Pachystachys lutea as a source of promising endophytes for plant growth and phytoprotective activity

Endophytes are growth-promoting agents capable of synthesizing phytohormones, uptaking nutrients, and controlling pathogens. There is a strong potential to exploit them in the agriculture field like biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. In this work, we aimed to evaluate endophytic fungi isolated from Pachystachys lutea for their potential to solubilize phosphate, synthesise indole acetic acid (IAA), antagonize phytopathogens, and promote plant growth under greenhouse conditions. The phosphate solubilization efficiency was assessed on Pikovskaya’s agar medium. For analysis of IAA production, mycelia plugs of endophytes were cultured in Potato Dextrose Broth medium supplemented with L-tryptophan, with Salkowski Reagent, and the absorbance of the culture was measured. The antagonism evaluation of strain Alternaria sp. PL75 against phytopathogens was performed using the paired-culture technique. The promotion of plant growth provided by Alternaria sp. PL75 was evaluated in tomato plants. All strains evaluated were able to solubilize phosphate; however, the strain Alternaria sp. PL75 was the most effective (4.29). Two strains, Nemania sp. PL27 and Alternaria sp. PL75, produced 1.86 and 1.73 & 956;g mL-1 of IAA, respectively. In the antagonism assay, the endophyte Alternaria sp. PL75 and its fungal extract showed the best results against the pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa. The greenhouse experiment result showed the endophyte Alternaria sp. PL75 increased the plantlets emergency speed index and the percentage of germination from 60 to 81.63%. It was also observed a statistical significance in the shoot length of the treated plants with the endophyte suspension (55.38 cm) compared to the control (41.67 cm).

Effervescent Glutamine Formulation Improves the Beneficial Effects of Antiretroviral Therapies on Immune Function in HIV/AIDS Carrier Patients.

The impact of oral supplementation with an effervescent glutamine formulation on the beneficial effects of antiretroviral therapies was evaluated in people living with HIV/AIDS. For this purpose, 12 HIV/AIDS carrier patients with CD4+ T cell counts <500, and who had received the same antiretroviral therapy for at least 1 year before starting this investigation were selected. The patients were required to dissolve the effervescent glutamine formulation (supplied in sachets) in water immediately before oral ingestion (12.4 g), once a day, after lunch or after dinner during 30 days. CD4+ T cell counts, complete blood cell counts, serum cytokines, and amino acids levels were quantified; biochemical and toxicological measurements were performed. The numbers of CD4+ T cells were increased (P < .05), and the serum C-reactive protein levels decreased (P < .01) after the administration of effervescent glutamine formulation. Serum levels of interferon-gamma inducible protein-10, RANTES, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß were decreased after the treatment with effervescent glutamine formulation. No changes were observed in the serum levels of amino acids, hematological, toxicological, and biochemical parameters. In conclusion, the treatment during 30 days with effervescent glutamine formulation was well tolerated, promoted reduction of inflammation, and improved the beneficial effects of antiretroviral therapies in HIV/AIDS carrier patients.

Survival analysis of ART restorations in primary molars of preschool children: 1 year follow-up / Análise de sobrevivência de restaurações ART em molares decíduos de crianças com idade pré-escolar: acompanhamento de 1 ano

Among the minimally invasive approaches available today, the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) has demonstrated promising results both in the primary and permanent dentition. Objective: To evaluate the survival of Class I ART restorations in preschoolers with two Brazilian brands of glass ionomer cements (GIC) in comparison with a reference GIC. Material and method: The cavities of 49 preschool children (three to five years) with carious lesions in the posterior teeth (N=81) were filled by two experienced pediatric dentists according to the ART technique. The Brazilian GICs Maxxion-R (MR) and Vitro-Fil LC (VF), and the reference GIC Ketac-Molar (KM) were placed in a randomly pre-established sequence. Restorations were evaluated after 6 and 12 months by another investigator. Scores 0 and 1 were considered successful, while scores 3-9 were classified as failures. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test were performed (p<0.05). Result: No statistically significant differences in survival rates of the tested GIC were observed after 12 months. Conclusion: The clinical performance the low-cost Brazilian GICs MR and VF observed after 12 months suggests that they may be an alternative for Class I ART restorations to safeguard the natural exfoliation of primary teeth. However, until further studies involving a larger number of restorations and longer follow-up periods are conducted, reference GIC such as KM should continue to be the material of choice for ART restorations.

Dentre as abordagens minimamente invasivas atualmente disponíveis, o tratamento restaurador atraumático (ART) demonstra resultados promissores tanto na dentadura decídua quanto permanente. Objetivo: Avaliar a sobrevivência de restaurações ART Classe I, em pré-escolares, com duas marcas brasileiras de cimentos de ionômeros de vidro (CIV) em comparação com um CIV de referência. Material e método: Cavidades de 49 crianças pré-escolares (três a cinco anos de idade) com lesões cariosas nos dentes posteriores (N = 81) foram preenchidas por dois odontopediatras experientes, de acordo com a técnica ART. Os CIV brasileiros Maxxion-R (MR) e Vitro-Fil LC (VF) e o CIV de referência, Ketac-Molar (KM), foram inseridos em uma sequência pré-estabelecida aleatoriamente. As restaurações foram avaliadas após 6 e 12 meses por outro pesquisador. As pontuações 0 e 1 foram consideradas bem-sucedidas, enquanto as pontuações 3-9 foram classificadas como falhas. Foram aplicadas a análise de sobrevivência de Kaplan-Meier e o teste log-rank (p <0,05). Resultado: Não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas nas taxas de sobrevivência dos CIV testados após 12 meses. Conclusão: O desempenho clínico dos CIV brasileiros MR e VF, observado após 12 meses, sugere que estes podem ser uma alternativa para restaurações ART Classe I para proteger a esfoliação natural dos dentes decíduos. No entanto, até que sejam realizados estudos adicionais envolvendo um maior número de restaurações e períodos de acompanhamento mais longos, os CIV de referência, como o KM, devem continuar sendo o material de escolha para as restaurações ART.

Impact of HBV and HCV coinfection on CD4 cells among HIV-infected patients: a longitudinal retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection on CD4 cells in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is unclear. We aimed to examine the impact of HBV and HCV coinfection on CD4 cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio in adults with HIV. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a longitudinal retrospective study in Brazil between January 1, 2002, and June 30, 2016, including 205 patients with HIV monoinfection, 37 with HIV-HBV coinfection, 35 with HIV-HCV coinfection, and 62 with HIV-HCV (48 HCV genotype 1 and 14 HCV genotype 3). RESULTS: Median duration of follow-up was 2,327 (interquartile range: 1,159-3,319) days. An increased CD4 cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio over time was observed in all groups receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Patients with HIV-HBV or HIV-HCV coinfection and those with HIV monoinfection, showed comparable CD4 cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratios during pre-ART. There was also no statistically significant difference in CD4/CD8 ratio between HIV-HBV or HIV-HCV coinfection groups and the HIV monoinfection group during follow-up on cART. However, CD4 cell counts were significantly lower in HIV-HCV patients than in HIV monoinfection patients during follow-up on cART. HIV patients with HCV genotype 3 coinfection showed significantly lower CD4/CD8 ratio during follow-up on cART than those coinfected with HCV genotype 1 coinfection. No statistically significant effect of coinfection was observed on the efficacy of cART. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected patients are more likely to show better immunological responses to cART when they are not coinfected with HCV.

A non-linear mixed-effects model to describe the effect of acarbose intake on postprandial glycaemia in a single rat / Um modelo não linear de efeitos mistos para descrever o efeito da ingestão de acarbose na glicemia pós-prandial em um único rato

A non-linear mixed-effects model is proposed to assess the impact of acarbose over time on postprandial glycaemia in a single rat. The model is based on two compartments, one representing the entry of glucose in the blood and the other its exit. The rat was submitted to two treatments: ingestion of starch and ingestion of starch plus acarbose. The model showed great suitability, with inferences on the behavior of glucose levels in response to treatments and supplying a richer description than just the area under the curve. The marginal curves for the two treatments are similar during the first moments; however, after reaching the peak of glucose concentration, they progressively became separate due to acarbose treatment and reached the initial levels more quickly. The proposed model, albeit with a single sample unit, showed similar results to those with larger samples; in other words, acarbose significantly attenuates glycaemia after ingestion of starch.

Neste estudo, foi proposto um modelo não linear de efeitos mistos para verificar o impacto da acarbose ao longo do tempo na glicemia pós -prandial de um único rato. Adotou-se um modelo de dois compartimentos: um representando a entrada de glicose no sangue e outro, a saída. O rato foi submetido a dois tratamentos: ingestão de amido e de amido com adição de acarbose. O modelo proposto apresentou um ótimo ajuste, permitindo fazer inferências do comportamento da glicose para os tratamentos e fornecendo uma descrição muito mais rica do que simplesmente a área sob a curva. As curvas marginais para os dois tratamentos foram semelhantes nos primeiros tempos observados, porém, após o pico de concentração de glicose, elas se distanciaram progressivamente com o tratamento da acarbose atingindo os níveis iniciais mais rapidamente. O modelo adotado, com uma única unidade amostral, mostrou resultados similares a outros estudos com maior número de unidades amostrais, isto é, a acarbose pode atenuar consideravelmente a glicemia após ingestão de amido.