Reward magnitude tracking by neural populations in ventral striatum.

Evaluation of the magnitudes of intrinsically rewarding stimuli is essential for assigning value and guiding behavior. By combining parametric manipulation of a primary reward, medial forebrain bundle (MFB) microstimulation, with functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) in rodents, we delineated a broad network of structures activated by behaviorally characterized levels of rewarding stimulation. Correlation of psychometric behavioral measurements with fMRI response magnitudes revealed regions whose activity corresponded closely to the subjective magnitude of rewards. The largest and most reliable focus of reward magnitude tracking was observed in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Although the nonlinear nature of neurovascular coupling complicates interpretation of fMRI findings in precise neurophysiological terms, reward magnitude tracking was not observed in vascular compartments and could not be explained by saturation of region-specific hemodynamic responses. In addition, local pharmacological inactivation of NAc changed the profile of animals' responses to rewards of different magnitudes without altering mean reward response rates, further supporting a hypothesis that neural population activity in this region contributes to assessment of reward magnitudes.

Camellia sinensis in Dentistry: Technological Prospection and Scientific Evidence.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate reports of patents for oral care formulations, based on Camellia sinensis (C. sinensis), deposited and granted in intellectual property banks. METHODS: A survey was conducted through collection, treatment, and analysis of extracted information from patent reports selected. The documentary research was conducted in January 2021 on formulations with C. sinensis for dental applications, including since the first patent deposits until the current time. The risk of bias of clinical trials with these formulations was analyzed to verify the scientific evidence. The data extracted represent the distribution of the number of patents by banks, annual evolution of patent deposits, applicant of patents by country, distribution of patents according to International Patent Classification codes, and the types of patented products. RESULTS: Data and information from 20 selected patents were extracted. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) were the banks with the largest number of patents for products/formulations with C. sinensis for oral care applications with 7 (35%) and 6 (30%) patent registrations, respectively. Other banks did not provide patents related to the search. Patents of compositions were the largest with 14 filings, and the remainder of formulations are represented specially by mouthwashes and toothpastes. As for clinical application, 18 patents were filed as products with antimicrobial and antibiofilm action, while 2 patents are directed to the treatment of xerostomia. In general, the aspects of the studies of clinical efficacy pointed to a low risk of bias. CONCLUSION: The study pointed out a small number of products protected by patents for Camellia sinensis for oral care indication, highlighting mainly mouthwash compositions and formulations. In the methodological parameters of clinical trials carried out with the formulations, the majority pointed out a low risk of bias.

Products of Dental Use Containing Copaiba Oil-resin: Technological Prospecting Based on Patents.

BACKGROUND: Copaiba oil-resin has been widely used and is especially found in neotropical regions, for which several pharmacological activities have been documented over the years. Prospective studies in intellectual property banks are important to increase competitiveness and thus generate new products in various research areas. OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was carried out on patents of products containing copaiba oil-resin for dental use in intellectual property banks. METHODS: The research was conducted with patent searches in six intellectual property banks of the world. Relevant information about the invention in the patent document was collected, processed and described. RESULTS: The search found 9 patents using copaiba resin oil-resin in dental products. The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI-Brazil) had the highest number of deposits (5), followed by Espacenet (2) and Free Patents (2). C. Langsdorffii was highlighted as the most widely used species in the products and deposits of vehicles in formulations (3). All the patents in the search are A61K code for medical, dental or hygienic purposes. CONCLUSION: Most of the found patents are related to the area of Microbiology, specifically with application in Cariology. Brazil is represented by the INPI and presented the highest number of patent applications when compared to other intellectual property banks.

Posttraumatic stress disorder may be associated with impaired fear inhibition: relation to symptom severity.

One of the central problems in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the inability to suppress fear even under safe conditions. The neural underpinnings of fear are clinically relevant but poorly understood. This study assessed fear potentiation and fear inhibition using fear-potentiated startle in a conditional discrimination procedure (AX+/BX-). We hypothesized that patients with PTSD would show normal fear potentiation and impaired fear inhibition. Subjects comprised 28 healthy volunteers and 27 PTSD patients (14 with low current symptoms, 13 with high current symptoms) who were presented with one set of colored lights (AX trials) paired with aversive air blasts to the throat, and a different series of lights (BX trials) presented without air blasts. We then presented A and B together (AB trials) to see whether B would inhibit fear potentiation to A. All groups showed robust fear potentiation in that they had significantly greater startle magnitude on AX trials than on noise-alone trials. However, the high-symptom PTSD group did not show fear inhibition: these subjects had significantly greater fear potentiation on the AB trials than both the controls and the low-symptom PTSD patients.

Propolis and its Dental Applications: A Technological Prospection.

BACKGROUND: Propolis is a resinous complex produced by Apis mellifera L. bees whose variety of pharmacological properties results from the complexity of its composition. In dentistry, propolis is used on the prevention of oral diseases such as dental caries and gingivitis. Prospective studies in intellectual property banks are important to increase market competitiveness and thus generate new products in the various research areas. In this way, investments in patents play an important role in the technological and economic development of a country. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patents with dental products containing propolis, on intellectual property banks. METHOD: The research was conducted in 10 banks of intellectual property, including since the first deposits up to 2016. Relevant information that describes the invention in the patent document were collected, processed and described. RESULTS: The search performed in 62 patents using propolis in the dental topic. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has the largest number of filing patents (83.60%) and the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) in third place with 4 patents (6.55%). Built-in dental cream with propolis was the most patented product. The first patent date of 1998, followed by an increase in the number of deposits in the last 20 years. Most of the patents are A61K code (51) for medical, dental or hygienic purposes. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that propolis is a promising bioactive component in dental products, especially for use in Cariology and Periodontology. Although there has been a significant progress in applications of propolis, the field of dental products is still a growing area and it is important to encourage innovation and development of new products incorporating propolis based on knowledge of its composition and therapeutic properties.

Contingency awareness and fear inhibition in a human fear-potentiated startle paradigm.

Fear-potentiated startle is defined as an increase in the magnitude of the startle reflex in the presence of a stimulus that was previously paired with an aversive event. It has been proposed that a subject's awareness of the contingencies in the experiment may affect fear-potentiated startle. The authors adapted a conditional discrimination procedure (AX+/BX-), previously validated in animals, to a human fear-potentiated startle paradigm in 50 healthy volunteers. This paradigm allows for an assessment of fear-potentiated startle during threat conditions as well as inhibition of fear-potentiated startle during safety conditions. A response keypad was used to assess contingency awareness on a trial-by-trial basis. Both aware and unaware subjects showed fear-potentiated startle. However, awareness was related to stimulus discrimination and fear inhibition.

Fear potentiation and fear inhibition in a human fear-potentiated startle paradigm.

BACKGROUND: The inability to suppress excessive fear or anxiety is a significant clinical problem. In the laboratory, extinction is a preferred method for the study of fear inhibition; however, in this paradigm the same stimulus causes both elicitation (excitation) and inhibition of fear, making it difficult to know whether an experimental manipulation that affects extinction does so by affecting one or both of these processes. For this reason, we sought to develop a behavioral procedure in humans that would render a stimulus primarily inhibitory. METHODS: We adapted a conditional discrimination procedure (AX+/BX-), previously validated in animals, to a human fear-potentiated startle paradigm. Forty-one healthy volunteers were presented with one set of colored lights paired with the delivery of aversive airblasts to the throat (AX+) and a different series of lights presented without airblasts (BX-). RESULTS: Participants exhibited fear potentiation to AX+, discrimination between AX+ and BX-, and transfer of fear inhibition to A in an AB compound test but not in an AC compound test. CONCLUSIONS: We believe this procedure will advance clinical research on fear disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and phobias, by providing an effective and relatively independent measure of fear potentiation and fear inhibition.

Diagnóstico situacional de profesionales en Laboratorio Clínico de la Universidad Técnica de Ambato / Situational diagnosis of professionals in the Clinical Laboratory of the Technical University of Ambato

Introducción: Uno de los indicadores académicos, a nivel universitario en Ecuador es el seguimiento a graduados, el cual determina el impacto de las competencias adquiridas en los programas de pregrado, así como también la relación del perfil del graduado con las necesidades del campo laboral. Objetivo: Diagnosticar la situación de los profesionales de Laboratorio Clínico, mediante información oportuna de los estudiantes que han completado satisfactoriamente su plan de estudios en la Universidad Técnica de Ambato y como ha sido su desenvolvimiento en el sector productivo, social y educativo. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo y retrospectivo como parte del seguimiento a graduados de la Carrera de Laboratorio Clínico. El universo estuvo representado por 573 desde el 2005, con una muestra de 335 graduados. Resultados: En el período de estudio hubo un total de 573 graduados. Se reportaron 15 graduados correspondientes al período marzo-septiembre 2017. La mayoría de los graduados se desempeñaron como empleados en el sector privado (55%); señalaron como principales asignaturas en su formación Urianálisis (56%), Hematología (55%) y Química Clínica (53%), de la misma forma que demandaron formación de posgrado en las áreas de Microbiología y Hematología. Conclusiones: Independientemente a la disminución en el número de graduados, la Carrera de Laboratorio Clínico de la Universidad Técnica de Ambato ha respondido a su encargo social en cuanto a la formación de talento humano que fundamentalmente se ha despeñado en el sector público.

Introduction: One of the academic indicators, at the university level in Ecuador, is the follow-up to graduates, which determines the impact of the competences acquired in the undergraduate programs, as well as the relationship of the profile of the graduate with the needs of the labor field. Objective: Diagnose the situation of Clinical Laboratory professionals, through timely information of students who have successfully completed their curriculum at the Technical University of Ambato and how it has been developing in the productive, social and educational sector. Methods: A descriptive and retrospective observational study was carried out as part of the follow-up of graduates of the Clinical Laboratory Career. The universe was represented by 573 since 2005, with a sample of 335 graduates. Results: During the study period, there were a total of 573 graduates. Fifteen graduates for the period March-September 2017 were reported. Most graduates work as employees in the private sector (55%); (56%), Hematology (55%) and Clinical Chemistry (53%), in the same way that they demanded postgraduate training in the areas of Microbiology and Hematology. Conclusions: Regardless of the decrease in the number of graduates, the Clinical Laboratory Career at the Technical University of Ambato has responded to its social mandate regarding the training of human talent that has fundamentally been achieved in the public sector.

Esthetics and function: a return to the basic concepts: case report / Estética e função: um retorno aos conceitos básicos: caso clínico

ABSTRACT Immediate esthetic rehabilitation is a common practice in contemporary restorative dentistry. Sometimes without a precise diagnosis and clinical planning, two or three clinical sessions have been sufficient to start and end an extensive all-ceramic oral rehabilitation. It is essential, however, for these treatments to be based on the biological, mechanical, and occlusal principles that have been established for decades, and not only on aesthetic considerations. In this case report, a 26 year-old bruxist patient with functional and aesthetic needs, was rehabilitated with ceramic restorations in the six maxillary anterior teeth, through an interdisciplinary approach. The diagnostic wax-up was essential to predict the outcome; guide the periodontal surgery; serve as a reference for dental preparations, and restore the dynamics of jaw movements. After the adhesive cementation, a protective occlusal splint for use during sleep was introduced. The authors concluded that careful diagnosis and planning was critical to outcome of this case, and that the quality and longevity of restorative treatment depended on the respect for biomechanical, occlusal, and aesthetic concepts.

RESUMO Reabilitações estéticas imediatas são práticas frequentes na Odontologia restauradora atual. Por vezes, sem um diagnóstico e um planejamento clínico preciso, duas ou três sessões clínicas têm sido o bastante para iniciar e finalizar uma reabilitação oral extensa totalmente cerâmica. Contudo é fundamental que esses tratamentos voltem a ser sustentados por princípios biológicos, mecânicos e oclusais básicos, instituídos há décadas, e não apenas por aspectos estéticos. No presente relato de caso, uma paciente de 26 anos, bruxista, com necessidades funcionais e estéticas, foi reabilitada com restaurações cerâmicas nos 6 dentes anteriores superiores, por meio de uma abordagem interdisciplinar. O enceramento diagnóstico realizado foi fundamental para prever o resultado, guiar a cirurgia periodontal, servir de referência para os preparos dentais e restaurar a dinâmica dos movimentos mandibulares. Após a cimentação final das restaurações, a proteção com placa oclusal no período do sono foi instituída. Concluiu-se que um criterioso diagnóstico e planejamento foi fundamental para o desfecho do caso, e que a qualidade e a longevidade desse tratamento restaurador parece depender intimamente do respeito aos conceitos biomecânicos, oclusais e estéticos.

Avaliação de hábitos de higiene bucal e satisfação em usuários de prótese parcial removível / Assessment of mouth hygiene habits and the satisfaction of removable partial denture

A prótese parcial removível a grampo (PPRG) possibilita reabilitar áreas parcialmente edêntulas, restaurando a função mastigatória, estética e fonética. Apesar dos avanços da Odontologia observados nas últimas décadas, estudos indicam que a higiene bucal dos pacientes usuários de PPRG ainda é precária. Desse modo, o objetivo desse estudo foi verificar os hábitos de higienização das próteses e cavidade bucal, bem como o nível de satisfação dos pacientes usuários de PPRG atendidos na Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC). Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, quantitativo onde foi aplicado um questionário a 31 pacientes usuários de PPRG. Os dados foram analisados através do teste qui-quadrado e expressos na forma de frequência absoluta e percentual considerando uma confiança de 95%. Da amostra, a maioria (77,4%) era do gênero feminino, com idade entre 40 a 60 anos, (64,5%) possuíam ensino médio completo e haviam recebido orientações de higiene após a instalação da prótese (96,8%). O método de higienização mais utilizado foi a escovação mecânica com dentifrício. Quanto à frequência de higienização, 71% responderam realizá-la 3 ou mais vezes ao dia. A cárie foi apontada como o principal fator etiológico das perdas dentárias, apresentando uma diferença significativa em relação ao grau de satisfação dos pacientes com a prótese. Verificou-se que a maior parte dos indivíduos está muito satisfeita com o tratamento, embora ainda apresentem falhas na execução dos métodos de higiene bucal e da prótese.

Removable partial denture with clasps (RPDC) restores partially toothless areas, coupled to the chewing, aesthetic and phonetic functions. In spite of progress in dentistry during the last decades, several studies indicate that mouth hygiene of RPDC patients is rather low. Current analysis verifies the hygiene of dentures and mouth cavity and the satisfaction level of patients with RPDC attended by the dentistry school of the Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brazil. Methods: The descriptive and quantitative study comprised a questionnaire to 31 RPDC users. Data were analyzed by χ2 test and expressed in absolute frequency at 95% confidence level. Most subjects (77.4%) were female, aged between 40 and 60 years (64.5%), with complete college. They had received hygiene directions after the installation of the denture (96.8%). The hygiene method most employed was mechanical brushing with dentifrice, three or more times a day, for 71.0% of the interviewed. Caries was the main etiological factor in teeth loss with a significant difference related to the satisfaction degree of patients with the prosthesis. Most subjects were highly satisfied with the treatment even though there were flaws in the execution of mouth and denture hygiene.

An fMRI study of the interaction of stress and cocaine cues on cocaine craving in cocaine-dependent men.

Acute stress is associated with relapse in cocaine addiction, possibly through the activation of craving-related neural circuitry. Neural responses to cocaine cues and acute stress were investigated in an fMRI study. Ten male participants mentally re-enacted personalized scripts about cocaine use and a neutral experience both with and without a stressor present (anticipation of electrical shock). Interaction analysis between script type and stress condition revealed greater activation of the posterior cingulate cortex and of the parietal lobe during the cocaine script in the presence of the stressor. These data suggest that stress may precipitate relapse in cocaine addiction by activating brain areas that mediate reward processing and the attentional and mnemonic bias for drug use reminders.

Menstrual cycle phase effects on prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle.

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) represents an attenuation of the startle reflex following the presentation of a weak prepulse at brief intervals prior to the startle eliciting pulse. It has been shown that increases in striatal dopamine levels decrease PPI; because dopamine release is sensitive to estrogen, it is likely that PPI varies across the menstrual cycle. Cross-sectional studies looking at estrogen effects suggest that this may be true. In this study, we compare effects of menstrual phase on PPI in a between-group design (men, follicular phase women, and luteal phase women) as well as a within-subjects design (women across the two phases). The study found a between-group as well as a within-subjects effect of phase on PPI. PPI in follicular phase women did not differ significantly from PPI in men. However, PPI was reduced in luteal women compared to follicular women. These data provide evidence that ovarian hormones affect sensorimotor gating.