Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Prostate Cancer, at Cancer Diagnosis and after a One-Year Follow-Up.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent among men, and psychological symptoms may affect many patients. This study aims to describe the prevalence of probable anxiety and depression before PCa treatments and after one year and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with these outcomes. Between February 2018 and March 2020, 292 patients recently diagnosed with PCa were recruited at the Instituto Português de Oncologia-Porto. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to define probable anxiety and depression (cutoff = 11). The prevalence of probable anxiety remained stable from baseline to one year (7.8% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.866) while there was an increase in probable depression (3.1% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.012). After one year, probable depression persisted in 55.6% of patients with probable depression at baseline and 47.8% of those with probable anxiety at the first assessment had normal anxiety scores. At baseline, anxiety was more frequent among dwellers in rural areas (adjusted odds ratio-aOR, 95%CI: 2.80, 0.91-8.58) and less frequent in patients with body mass index 25-29.9 kg/m2 (aOR, 95%CI: 0.33, 0.12-0.91) compared to 18.5-24.9 Kg/m2, while those living alone had higher odds of depression (aOR, 95%CI: 6.35, 1.43-28.30). The frequency of anxiety and depression fluctuated during the course of treatment. Monitoring these symptoms would identify the most affected patients, contributing for a better use of mental health services.

Insights on a new sulfonamide chalcone with potential antineoplastic application.

Chalcones (E)-1,3-diphenyl-2-propene-1-ones, a class of biosynthetic precursor molecules of flavonoids, have a wide variety of biological applications. Besides the natural products, many synthetic derivatives and analogs became an object of continued interest in academia and industry. In this work, a synthesis and an extensive structural study were performed on a sulfonamide chalcone 1-Benzenesulfonyl-3-(4-bromobenzylidene)-2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinolin-4-one with potential antineoplastic application. In addition, in silico experiments have shown that the sulfonamide chalcone fits well in the ligand-binding site of EGFR with seven µ-alkyl binding energy interactions on the ligand-binding site. Finally, the kinetic stability and the pharmacophoric analysis for EGFR indicated the necessary spatial characteristics for potential activity of sulfonamide chalcone as an antagonist.

Transtorno do espectro autista: uma revisão sistemática sobre aspectos nutricionais e eixo intestino-cérebro / Autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review about nutritional aspects and gut-brain axis

O número de indivíduos diagnosticados com o transtorno do espectro autista (TEA) registrou aumento evidente na última década. Os principais sintomas, apresentados pelo portador, são neurológicos e digestórios, estando às intervenções nutricionais dentre as terapêuticas mais promissoras para amenizar a sintomatologia clínica. Assim, objetivou-se revisar sistematicamente os estudos sobre distúrbios alimentares e do trato gastrointestinal apresentado pelo indivíduo portador do TEA, a fim de compreender como o comportamento alimentar influência na etiopatogênese e manifestações clínicas da doença, com foco no eixo intestinocérebro. Para isso realizou-se uma revisão sistemática, seguindo as diretrizes PRISMA. A partir de uma busca estruturada e abrangente em bases de dados eletrônicas, 23 estudos foram recuperados e incluídos na revisão. Os critérios de inclusão definiam ser artigos originais relacionando o TEA com alterações nutricionais e/ou com o eixo intestino-cérebro. Após análise da composição da microbiota intestinal, os estudos mostraram um quadro de desequilíbrio. Foram encontradas, também, alterações na barreira de muco e permeabilidade intestinal e alterações em proteínas envolvidas na digestão e absorção de alimentos. Dietas restritivas e a modulação da microbiota, com uso de probióticos e de antibióticos específicos, são apresentadas como estratégias terapêuticas adjuvantes promissoras. Conclui-se que o eixo intestino-cérebro está envolvido tanto na etiologia, quanto nas manifestações clínicas do TEA. Porém, não sendo certo se alterações intestinais são causa ou consequência das alterações neurológicas. Até o presente momento, a comunidade científica não tem conclusões suficientes para indicar o uso de dietas restritivas, e uso de probióticos e de antibióticos como terapêutica para o TEA.

The number of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had an evident increase in the last decade. The primary symptoms exhibited amongst these patients were mostly digestive and neurological disorders; with nutritional interventions being one of the most promising therapies to assuage this clinical symptomology. As such, following the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically reviewed the research studies apropos of the ASD patients manifesting said digestive disorders, to comprehend how dietary behavior can influence the etiopathogenesis and clinical manifestations of the disease, with primary focus on the gut-brain axis. From a comprehensive and structured search through electronic databases, 23 studies were retrieved and admitted in this review. The inclusion criteria defined that there be original articles consociating ASD with nutritional disorders and/or with the gut-brain axis. These studies analyzed the composition of the intestinal flora of diagnosed patients, subsequently discerning cases of varying imbalances. Alterations in the gene expression of the proteins involved in the digestion and absorption of food, the mucous barrier and the intestinal permeability were described. Accordingly, restrictive diets and the modulation of the microbiota by administering specific anti- & probiotics were initially identified as promissory therapies. In conclusion, the gut-brain axis was observed to be a determinant factor in both the etiology and clinical symptomology of ASD - though it is still debatable the correlation of intestinal alterations with neurological changes. At present, there is no concrete scientific proof accrediting to restrictive diets and the use of specific anti- & probiotics, as successful treatments for ASD.

Effect of Thermomechanical Fatigue on Shear Strength between a Conventional and an Experimental Polymer for Prosthetic Application / Efeito da Fadiga Termomecânica na Resistência ao Cisalhamento Entre um Polímero Convencional e um Polímero Experimental para Aplicação Protética

The incorporation of antimicrobial agents may influence the mechanical properties of acrylic resins. Thus, the use of these agents only in regions of dental prostheses subject to greater contamination may be an alternative. This study evaluates the effect of thermomechanical fatigue on the bond strength between a conventional and an experimental acrylic resin incorporated with nanostructured silver vanadate decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgVO3). 60 specimens (Ø13mm x 23mm height) in self-curing resin were obtained and divided into groups according to the experimental resin incorporated with AgVO3 (Ø4mm x 6mm height): G1­Conventional x Conventional, G2­Conventional x 2.5% of AgVO3, G3­Conventional x 5% of AgVO3. Ten samples of each group were subjected to bond strength analysis after manufacture, and 10 were previously submitted to 1.200.000 cycles with 98N load and 2Hz/second frequency and alternating baths of 5 ºC, 37ºC and 55 ºC. The fracture area was analyzed. The data were submitted to analysis of variance of two-factors with Bonferroni adjustment for post hoc comparisons (α=0.05) was used. The fatigue did not affect the bond strength (p=0.416), however, there was influence of the AgVO3 concentration on the bond strength between the resins (p=0.013). Mixed failures with adhesive predominance were observed in samples without AgVO3 and cohesive failures in samples with the nanomaterial. The use of AgVO3 can improve or maintain the bond strength between resins with no thermomechanical fatigue influence. (AU).

A incorporação de agentes antimicrobianos pode influenciar nas propriedades mecânicas de resinas acrílicas. Desta forma, o uso destes agentes apenas em regiões das próteses dentárias sujeitas a maior contaminação pode ser uma alternativa. Este estudo avalia o efeito da fadiga termomecânica na resistência de união entre uma resina acrílica convencional e uma experimental incorporada com vanadato de prata nanoestruturado decorado com nanopartículas de prata (AgVO3). Foram obtidos 60 espécimes (Ø13mm x 23mm de altura) em resina autopolimerizável, divididos em grupos de acordo com a resina experimental incorporada com AgVO3 (Ø4mm x 6mm de altura): G1-Convencional x Convencional, G2-Convencional x 2,5% de AgVO3, G3 -Convencional x 5% de AgVO3. Dez amostras de cada grupo foram submetidas à análise de resistência à união após a confecção e 10 foram submetidas previamente a 1.200.000 ciclos com carga de 98 N e frequência de 2Hz/segundo e banhos alternados de 5 ºC, 37 ºC e 55 ºC. A área de fratura foi analisada. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância de dois fatores com ajuste de Bonferroni para comparações pos hoc (α = 0,05). A fadiga não afetou a força de união (p=0,416), no entanto, houve influência da concentração de AgVO3 na resistência de união entre as resinas (p=0,013). Falhas mistas com predominância adesiva foram observadas nas amostras sem AgVO3 e falhas coesivas nas amostras contendo o nanomaterial. O uso de AgVO3 pode melhorar ou manter a resistência da união entre as resinas sem influência da fadiga termomecânica.