Low levels of miR-143-3p are associated with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. Accumulating evidence suggests their involvement in regulating various biological and pathological processes, including inflammation. Studies have revealed distinct expression patterns of miRNAs in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps (1). Specifically, miR-155 and miR-21 have been observed to be upregulated in CRSwNP, increasing and attenuating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, respectively (2,3). Conversely, the downregulation of miR-34, miR-449, and members of the miR-200 family has been associated with impaired ciliogenesis and the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, respectively (4,5). Nonetheless, the direct role of miRNAs in CRSwNP is still being investigated.

Validation of Visual Analogue Scale for loss of smell as a quick test in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diagnostic criteria of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) include, among others, olfactory dysfunction (OD). We hypothesize that patients suffering with CRSwNP are good at self-assessing their sense of smell through visual analogue scale (VAS) compared to smell tests. METHODS: A controlled cross-sectional study was planned. Adults diagnosed with severe CRSwNP waiting for endoscopic sinus surgery were included. A cohort of healthy controls was also studied. All participants performed Barcelona smell test (BAST-24), sinonasal outcomes test 22 (SNOT-22), and VAS for loss of smell. CRSwNP underwent blood test (eosinophils count, total serum IgE), CT scan (Lund-Mackay Score), and nasal endoscopy. RESULTS: 138 severe CRSwNP and 40 controls subjects were included. The BAST-24 identification score was strongly correlated with the VAS score in the CRSwNP group (rho=-0.79, p<0.001) but not in the control group (rho=-0.14; p=0.39), this difference between groups being statistically significant (p<0.001). A significant correlation of SNOT-22 item 21 (loss of smell) was also found with BAST-24 identification (rho=-0.65, p<0.001), this difference being statistically significant (Z=-2.43; p=0.015). In the ROC curve, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.85 with 72.5% sensitivity and 93.1% specificity. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a potential role of the VAS score for the screening of OD in severe CRSwNP in daily clinical practice.

[Carpal tunnel compression syndrome and third finger in trigger secondary to an encapsulated fibrolipoma of the wrist: a case report]. / Síndrome de compresión del túnel del carpo y tercer dedo en gatillo secundarios a un fibrolipoma encapsulado de la muñeca: reporte de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: the association of carpal tunnel syndrome with stenosing tenosynovitis of the hand is very rare, even more, if it is generated by a fibrolipoma at the carpal tunnel. The imaging study useful to detect this type of hand injuries are X-ray screening for carpal tunnel, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. But these are not commonly used for the study of protocolized carpal tunnel syndrome and much less trigger finger. OBJECTIVE: the aim of this work is to report a case of a middle-aged female with carpal tunnel syndrome characteristic symptoms, associated with the third trigger finger; she was handled with the release of the median nerve by a minimally invasive approach, in addition to the A1 pulley release. CLINICAL CASE: the patient persists with both problems and at a secondary surgical review, we detected wrist locking sensation. The patient was reoperated finding an ovoid encapsulated tumor, measuring 3.0 × 2.0 × 1.0 cm, with smooth outer surface, whitish appearance, and soft rubbery consistency. The biopsy pathology outlines identified an encapsulated fibrolipoma, causing nerve compression and locking flexor tendon. CONCLUSION: the importance of this writing is in adding tumors to the etiological repertoire, which can cause compression of the median nerve and even less frequent as a cause of the flexor tendons of the hand snagging.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la asociación del síndrome del túnel del carpo con tenosinovitis estenosante de la mano es muy rara, aún más, si es generada por un fibrolipoma a nivel del túnel del carpo. El estudio de imagen para detectar este tipo de lesiones en la mano incluye: desde una radiografía con proyección para el túnel del carpo, tomografía axial computarizada y resonancia magnética nuclear; pero éstos no se utilizan habitualmente para el estudio protocolizado del síndrome del túnel del carpo y mucho menos para los dedos en gatillo. OBJETIVO: el objetivo de este trabajo es reportar un caso en el cual se presenta la sintomatología característica de un síndrome de túnel del carpo, asociada a tercer dedo en gatillo, el cual se maneja con la liberación del nervio mediano por medio de un abordaje de mínima invasión, además de la polea A1. CASO CLÍNICO: la paciente persistió con ambas alteraciones y en la revisión secundaria se detectó bloqueo a nivel de la muñeca. Se intervino nuevamente a la paciente y se encontró una tumoración encapsulada, que midió 3.0 × 2.0 × 1.0 cm, con superficie externa lisa, blanquecina, de aspecto ovoide y consistencia blanda "ahulada". El estudio anatomopatológico la identificó como un fibrolipoma encapsulado que ocasionó la compresión nerviosa y el bloqueo del tendón flexor. CONCLUSIÓN: la importancia de este reporte de caso radica en agregar los tumores al repertorio etiológico, que además pueden provocar una compresión del nervio mediano y en que sean aún menos frecuentes como causa de atrapamiento de los tendones flexores de la mano.

MicroRNAs and their role in the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and have been associated with malignant transformation of oral epithelial precursor lesions such as oral leukoplakia. The aim was to perform a scoping review of the contemporary literature about the different roles of miRNAs during the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic search with the following MeSH terms: 'oral leukoplakia', 'carcinoma in situ', 'microRNAs', 'mouth neoplasms' and 'epithelial-mesenchymal transition' in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and SpringerLink. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were included for analysis, among which in vivo and in vitro articles were included. A total of 21 different miRNAs were found to be involved in the malignant transformation process of oral leukoplakia. Regarding their possible effects, 6 miRNAs were classified as oncogenic, 5 as tumour suppressors and 10 were related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion and migration. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the current review, we concluded that miRNAs-21, 345, 181-b and 31* seem to be potential markers of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. However, further clinical prospective studies are needed in order to validate their utility as prognostic biomarkers.

An exacerbated metabolism and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species contribute to mitochondrial alterations and apoptosis in CD4 T cells during the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is an endemic infection in America. It is well known that T. cruzi causes a strong immunosuppression during the acute phase of infection. However, it is not clear whether T. cruzi infection is related to metabolic alterations in CD4 T cells that prevent downstream effector function. Here, we evaluated the CD4 T cell metabolic and mitochondrial profiles from non-infected (NI), acute phase (AP) and chronic phase (CP) T. cruzi infected mice. CD4 T cells from all groups showed increased glucose uptake after stimulation. Moreover, the bioenergetic analysis revealed a rise in glycolysis and a higher oxidative metabolism in CD4 T cells from the AP. These cells showed increased proton leak and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) expression that correlated with mitochondrial ROS (mROS) accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) depolarization and expression of PD-1. In addition, CD4 T cells with mitochondrial alteration displayed an activated phenotype, and were less functional and more prone to apoptosis. In contrast, mitochondrial alterations were not observed during in vivo activation of CD4 T cells in a model of OVA-immunization. The Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD2) expression, which is involved in mROS detoxification, was increased during the AP and CP of infection. Remarkably, the apoptosis observed in CD4 T cells with MMP depolarization was prevented by incubation with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Thus, our results showed that infection triggered an exacerbated metabolism together with mROS production in CD4 T cells from the AP of infection. However, antioxidant availability may not be sufficient to avoid mitochondrial alterations rendering these cells more susceptible to apoptosis. Our investigation is the first to demonstrate an association between a disturbed metabolism and an impaired CD4 T cell response during T. cruzi infection.

[Drug exposure associated with exacerbation of symptoms in patients with myasthenia gravis]. / Exposición a fármacos asociados a agravamiento de síntomas en pacientes con miastenia grave.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous drugs have been related to exacerbation of myasthenia gravis. So far there are no studies examining the extent of use of drugs related to exacerbation of myasthenia gravis. AIMS: We sought to assess the extent of use of drugs related to exacerbations and the annual incidence rate of exacerbations in a cohort of myasthenia gravis patients. We explored possible risk factors of severe exacerbations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study. We included adult patients followed in neurology department. We estimated frequencies, rates and built a recurrent events model. RESULTS: We included 91 patients. 94.51% of patients had at least one prescription of a drug. 51 patients had at least one prescription of a drug contraindicated according to its drug label. 145 exacerbation episodes were reported in 50 patients. The annual incidence rate of exacerbation episodes was 0.35. 48 exacerbations were severe (in 18 patients). The annual incidence rate of severe exacerbation episodes was 0.12. Generalized myasthenia gravis and thymectomy were associated with a higher risk of severe exacerbation episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients were extensive and widespread exposed to drugs during the follow-up period but we did not find and association with severe exacerbation episodes. Just over half of the patients had at least one exacerbation episode during the study period, most of them were mild. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to corroborate these conclusions and to study possible correlations between the use of drugs and the risk of exacerbation episodes.

TITLE: Exposición a fármacos asociados a agravamiento de síntomas en pacientes con miastenia grave.Introducción. Numerosos fármacos se han relacionado con el agravamiento de síntomas en pacientes con miastenia grave, pero hasta la fecha no existen estudios sobre la exposición a fármacos en estos pacientes. Objetivos. Describir el consumo de fármacos y calcular la tasa anual de episodios de exacerbación en una cohorte de pacientes con miastenia grave, y explorar posibles factores de riesgo de exacerbaciones graves. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio observacional longitudinal retrospectivo que incluye a pacientes adultos con miastenia grave seguidos en consulta. Cálculo de frecuencias, tasas y construcción de modelo de eventos repetidos. Resultados. De 91 pacientes incluidos, el 94,51% estuvo expuesto al menos a un fármaco durante el período de estudio (siete años y un mes). De ellos, 51 tuvieron al menos una prescripción de un fármaco contraindicado en la ficha técnica (56,04%). Se contabilizaron 145 exacerbaciones en 50 pacientes. La tasa anual de incidencia fue de 0,35 exacerbaciones por paciente y año. De estas exacerbaciones, 48 fueron graves (en 18 pacientes), con una tasa anual de incidencia de 0,12. Se halló una posible asociación entre diagnóstico de miastenia grave generalizada y timectomía, con un aumento del riesgo de episodios de exacerbación graves. Conclusiones. En esta cohorte se encontró una amplia exposición a fármacos, pero no asociación con el riesgo de episodios de exacerbación graves. Algo más de la mitad de pacientes tuvo al menos un episodio de exacerbación durante el período de estudio, la mayoría leves. Son necesarios estudios que corroboren estas conclusiones y puedan estudiar posibles correlaciones entre fármacos y el riesgo de episodios de exacerbación.

125I radioactive seed localization (RSL) in surgery of cervical metastasis of thyroid cancer. / Localización con semillas radioactivas 125I (RSL) en cirugía de metástasis cervical de cáncer de tiroides.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this work is the evaluation of usefulness of radioactive seed localization (RSL) for the detection of cervical recurrence of thyroid cancer in order to improve the surgical outcome. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Ten patients with thyroid cancer and lymph node involvement (4 naive and 6 with cervical recurrence) evidenced by ultrasound, cytology/Tg-FNAB (reoperated group) were selected for this procedure. A 125I seed was placed in the metastatic lesion using a needle guided by ultrasound. During surgery, a handheld gamma probe/portable gammacamera were used for lesion localization and excision. After removing the target tissue, it was verified that the seed was included in the excised tissue. Surgical intervention duration, lesion location, seed activity, thyroglobulin level, effective radiation dose, complications and the degree of surgical resection were analyzed. RESULTS: All the marked nodes were positive in histology. The mean duration of the ultrasound procedure was 11.4±3.4minutes. Seed was kept inside the patient, in average, during 4days (1-7) and the average surgical time was 44.7±29.1minutes. We found 21 metastatic specimens with an average diameter 13.9±6.3mm. The mean activity of the implanted seed was 71.27±21.6MBq (42.8-105) In the reoperated group, thyroglobulin level was 2.08±1.56ng/dl and decreased after surgery to 0.13±0.12ng/dl, P<.01. Only one case of transient hypoparathyroidism was found in the total group. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of RSL in our unit has shown benefits for the patient and medical team, being a safe and effective procedure that also improves surgical programming.

Effect of different olive oil-derived antioxidants (hydroxytyrosol and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol) on the quality of frozen-thawed ram sperm.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of different concentrations of two olive oil-derived antioxidants, hydroxytyrosol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol, HT) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), on ovine semen during the freezing-thawing process. Sperm was collected, pooled and diluted with commercial extenders and then divided into aliquots supplemented with different concentrations (10 µg/ml, 30 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml and 70 µg/ml) of HT, DHPG and a mixture (MIX) of both antioxidants. A control group, without antioxidant, was also prepared. Sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were assessed. The results showed that frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa exhibited lower values for motility, membrane integrity, acrosome and mitochondrial membrane potential than fresh samples (P ≤ 0.01). However, when antioxidants were added, thawed spermatozoa exhibited relatively low LPO, recording values similar to fresh spermatozoa; by contrast, the control group of frozen-thawed spermatozoa without antioxidants exhibited significantly higher LPO (P ≤ 0.01). The addition of a HT+DHPG mixture (MIX) had a negative impact on sperm membrane and acrosome integrity, suggesting that a pure antioxidant supplementation has the potential to offer superior results. In conclusion, HT and DHPG exhibited a positive effect on the frozen-thawed spermatozoa inasmuch as they reduced the LPO. These olive oil-derived antioxidants have the potential to improve frozen-thawed sperm quality, although further studies should be carried out to analyse the antioxidant effect at different times after thawing.

Orofacial cleft management by short-term surgical missions in South America: literature review.

There is a growing demand for surgical care in South America, particularly for patients with congenital orofacial clefts (OFCs). Short-term surgical missions (STSMs) have emerged as a means to deliver surgical expertise and alleviate this demand. The aim of this study was to review the quantity and quality of peer-reviewed reports on OFC repairs performed by STSMs in South America. A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and SciELO databases. The search was limited to articles published in English and Spanish. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. The search yielded 65 studies related to OFCs. Eight (12.3%) were selected for full-text review. Only five (7.7%) articles met the inclusion criteria. The diverse study designs and heterogeneous types of data assessment among the selected studies hindered a comparison between them. This review found a sparse number of publications pertaining to OFC missions to South America. The articles that were included demonstrated inconsistencies in reporting patient care data. There is a need for a more efficient, streamlined method of reporting humanitarian missions for OFC repairs in order for healthcare professionals to fulfill research and ethical obligations and offer the best practices in patient-centered care.

Evaluation of neurosensory disturbances of the inferior alveolar nerve after intraoral verticosagittal ramus osteotomy.

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence of neurosensory disturbances (NSD) of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) after Intraoral verticosagittal ramus osteotomy (IVSRO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sensibility of the chin and lower lip of ten consecutive patients undergoing IVSRO was assessed. Evaluations were performed at 7 days preoperatively, 7 days, one month and six months postoperatively. The chin was divided into four quadrants, which were tested separately. The tests used were: two-point discrimination (2-P), brush stroke direction discrimination (BSD) and thermal stimuli (TH). Postoperatively, patients also answered a questionnaire. RESULTS: The values for 2-P showed statistically significant difference when compared to preoperative measurements (P>0.05) in all quadrants, with exception to quadrant D. There was no statistically significant difference among preoperative values and 7 days, 1 month and 6 months postoperative values. For BSD and TH tests, no differences were found among time points. None of the 10 patients reported complete numbness after 1 week. After 6 months, complete recovery of the chin sensibility was reported in all 10 cases. CONCLUSION: This study showed, objectively and subjectively, a low incidence of NSD after IVSRO. Further studies with larger samples are necessary to confirm these results.

The concept of ferrofluid preheating in the treatment of cancer by magnetic hyperthermia of tissues.

The frequency dependence of the complex magnetic susceptibility, χ(ω) = χ'(ω) - i χ″(ω), of a water-based magnetic fluid with magnetite particles, over the frequency range 500 kHz to 2 MHz and at three different temperatures of 30 °C, 40 °C and 50 °C are presented. Based on these experimental measurements, the dependence on frequency, f = (ω/2π) Hz, of the heating rate, ΔT/Δt, of the ferrofluid has been evaluated at these stated temperatures and alternating magnetic field of different amplitudes, Ho = 200 A/m, 400 A/m, 600 A/m, 800 A/m and 1 kA/m. The results show that the preheating of the ferrofluid sample at the desired operating temperature has the advantage of using lower levels of H0 during over a shorter time period, as opposed to the case of an unheated sample. This concept of preheating a sample, has major significance for the treatment of cancer by magnetic hyperthermia in that the patient is subjected to lower values of H0, over the time period of the treatment.

[Diagnostic issues of lymphogranuloma venereum: A case series of 5 patients]. / Diagnostic de la lymphogranulomatose vénérienne : à propos d'une série de 5 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphogranuloma venereum (LG) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis L serovar. METHODS: These five consecutive cases aim to highlight the risk of LG misdiagnosis, in case of initial presentation with isolated inguinal adenitis. RESULTS: Five men (mean age: 30±7 years) were seen in an internal medicine department, for inguinal adenopathy. One patient had clinical signs of urethritis. None presented an associated rectitis. Three patients had a history of STI, and two had a discovery of related HIV disease. Urinary polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive for the symptomatic patient and negative for the others. Lymph node PCR was positive in all patients within a L2b serotype (searched in 4 out of 5 cases). CONCLUSION: LG should be evoked in any patient with inguinal adenomegaly, particularly in case of STI history or risk factors. Negativity of urinary PCR should lead to further investigations, essentially a lymph node cytopuncture to evidence C. trachomatis.

Hidatidosis Cardiaca Primaria / Primary cardiac hydatidosis

Cardiac hydatidosis without involvement of extracardiac organs is an uncommun condition. We report a case of a 20 years old female without any prior disease, she consult for progressive dyspnea and palpitations. Echocardiogram and cardiac MRI shows cystic lesion in apical intraventricular septum suggestive of hydatid cyst. No other organs were affected. The patient underwent surgery with successful removal of hydatid cyst and medical treatment with Albendazole, after that, the patient remains asymptomatic.

Revisión sobre el uso de microRNA en la detección temprana de diabetes mellitus en caninos / Review on the use of microRNA in the early detection of diabetes mellitus in canines

Diabetes mellitus in canines corresponds to a pathology whose etiopathogenesis has not yet been fully understood, since it has a great similarity with human type 1 diabetes mellitus, but the same risk factors have not been found. New diagnostic methods have been investigated in recent years in diabetic murine models, among which microRNAs have been studied as early markers of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In canines a homology has been found between microRNAs 21, microRNA 34, microRNA 29, and microRNA 146a with those studied in human and murine diabetics. This would imply that the study of these microRNAs may have a great impact on the early detection of diabetes in canines and be a model for the study of new microRNAs that may be implicated in the development of diabetes in humans.

Dietary fat may modulate adipose tissue homeostasis through the processes of autophagy and apoptosis.

PURPOSE: Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cancer development. Autophagy and apoptosis are critical processes for development and homeostasis in multicellular organisms and have been linked to a variety of disorders. We aimed to investigate whether the quantity and quality of dietary fat can influence these processes in the adipose tissue of obese people. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial within the LIPGENE study assigned 39 obese people with metabolic syndrome to 1 of 4 diets: (a) a high-saturated fatty acid diet, (b) a high-monounsaturated fatty acid (HMUFA) diet, and (c, d) two low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate diets supplemented with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LFHCC n-3) or placebo (LFHCC), for 12 weeks each. RESULTS: We found an increase in the expression of autophagy-related BECN1 and ATG7 genes after the long-term consumption of the HMUFA diet (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively) and an increase in the expression of the apoptosis-related CASP3 gene after the long-term consumption of the LFHCC and LFHCC n-3 diets (p = 0.001 and p = 0.029, respectively). CASP3 and CASP7 gene expression changes correlated with HOMA index. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the processes of autophagy and apoptosis in adipose tissue may be modified by diet and that the consumption of a diet rich in monounsaturated fat may contribute to adipose tissue homeostasis by increasing autophagy. They also reinforce the notion that apoptosis in adipose tissue is linked to insulin resistance. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00429195.

Desenlaces maternos, fetales y perinatales de las gestantes con diabetes en manejo con bomba de insulina en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio / Maternal, fetal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with diabetes on insulin pump management at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio

Antecedentes: La diabetes en el embarazo se asocia a un incremento considerable en la morbimortalidad materna, fetal y perinatal. Objetivo: Determinar los desenlaces maternos, fetales y perinatales de las gestantes con diagnóstico de diabetes pre gestacional en manejo con bomba de insulina en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio. Método: Estudio de corte transversal en 24 gestantes con diagnóstico de diabetes en manejo con bomba de insulina quienes asistieron a control por Endocrinología y Alto Riesgo Obstétrico en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, entre Septiembre de 2009 y Diciembre de 2015. Resultados: La complicación materna más frecuente fue la hipoglicemia sintomática (50%), en segundo lugar los trastornos hipertensivos asociados al embarazo (45,8%). Las complicaciones neonatales más frecuentes fueron el síndrome de dificultad respiratoria del recién nacido (37,5%) y la hiperbilirrubinemia (37,5%). La hemoglobina glicosilada mayor del 6% se relacionó con el 71% de pacientes con macrosomía fetal. Conclusiones: La bomba de infusión de insulina representa una estrategia relativamente nueva dentro de los protocolos de manejo de diabetes pre gestacional y embarazo. Representaría una opción de manejo segura y fácil para el control de la glicemia en pacientes con indicaciones precisas.

Background: Diabetes in pregnancy is associated to a considerable increase in the maternal, fetal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Objective: Determine the maternal, fetal and perinatal outcomes of patients with pre gestational diabetes being treated with insulin pump at Hospital San Ignacio. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 24 patients diagnosed with diabetes being treated with insulin pump who assisted to controls made by Endocrinology and Obstetrical High-Risk units at Hospital San Ignacio from September 2009 to December 2015. Results: The most common maternal complication was symptomatic hypoglycemia (50%) followed by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (45.8%). Most common neonatal complications were respiratory distress syndrome (37.5%) and hyperbilirubinemia (37.5%). Glycosylated hemoglobin higher than 6% was related with 71% of patients who developed fetal macrosomia. Conclusions: The insulin infusion pump is a relatively new strategy management of pre gestational diabetes and pregnancy. Representing a safe and easy option for glycemic control in patients with precise indications.

Imidazole-containing phthalazine derivatives inhibit Fe-SOD performance in Leishmania species and are active in vitro against visceral and mucosal leishmaniasis.

The in vitro leishmanicidal activity of a series of imidazole-containing phthalazine derivatives 1-4 was tested on Leishmania infantum, Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania donovani parasites, and their cytotoxicity on J774·2 macrophage cells was also measured. All compounds tested showed selectivity indexes higher than that of the reference drug glucantime for the three Leishmania species, and the less bulky monoalkylamino substituted derivatives 2 and 4 were clearly more effective than their bisalkylamino substituted counterparts 1 and 3. Both infection rate measures and ultrastructural alterations studies confirmed that 2 and 4 were highly leishmanicidal and induced extensive parasite cell damage. Modifications to the excretion products of parasites treated with 2 and 4 were also consistent with substantial cytoplasmic alterations. On the other hand, the most active compounds 2 and 4 were potent inhibitors of iron superoxide dismutase enzyme (Fe-SOD) in the three species considered, whereas their impact on human CuZn-SOD was low. Molecular modelling suggests that 2 and 4 could deactivate Fe-SOD due to a sterically favoured enhanced ability to interact with the H-bonding net that supports the antioxidant features of the enzyme.

Effect of low speed drilling on osseointegration using simplified drilling procedures.

Our aim was to find out whether simplified drilling protocols would provide biological responses comparable to those of conventional drilling protocols at the low rotational speed of 400rpm. Seventy-eight root form endosseous implants with diameters of 3.75, 4.2, and 5mm were placed into canine tibias and allowed to heal for 3 and 5 weeks. After the dogs had been killed, the samples of implanted bone were retrieved and processed for non-decalcified histological sectioning. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO) analyses were made on the histological sections. Implants treated by the simplified protocol resulted in BIC and BAFO values comparable to those obtained with the conventional drilling protocol, and there were no significant differences in the technique or diameter of the drilling. The results suggest that the simplified procedure gives biological outcomes comparable to those of the conventional procedure.