Anthocyanin-Loaded Polymers as Promising Nature-Based, Responsive, and Bioactive Materials.

Anthocyanins are a specific group of molecules found in nature that have recently received increasing attention due to their interesting biological and colorimetric properties that have been successfully applied in several fields such as food preservation and biomedicine. Consequently, reviews devoted to a general overview of these flavonoids have proliferated in recent years. Meanwhile, the incorporation of anthocyanins into polymeric systems has become an interesting strategy to widen the applicability of these molecules and develop new smart and functional polymers in the above cited areas. However, anthocyanin-based polymers have been scarcely reviewed in the literature. Accordingly, this review aims to be a systematic summary of the most recent approaches for the incorporation of anthocyanins into macro-, micro-, or nanostructured polymers. Moreover, this work describes the fundamentals of the applicability of smart anthocyanin-based polymers and offers an updated review of their most interesting applications as sensors, biological regulators, and active materials.

Does previous dental care experience make the child less anxious? An evaluation of anxiety and fear of pain.

PURPOSE: Evidence has shown an inverse correlation between previous dental care experience and anxiety levels in children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental anxiety in Brazilian schoolchildren and to evaluate the association between previous experience with the dentist and anxiety and fear of pain. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in two cities in Brazil with 1191 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years. The data were collected through interviews and clinical examination. The interviews followed the Dental Anxiety Question (DAQ), the Fear of Dental Pain Questionnaire Short Form (S-FDPQ) adapted to children, and some sociodemographic questions. RESULTS: Dental anxiety was more prevalent in the younger group, with a higher prevalence of moderate and severe anxiety. The group with extreme anxiety showed a higher prevalence of extreme fear, whereas the group who did not present anxiety showed a higher prevalence of children with moderate fear of pain. Children who had not visited the dentist showed a higher prevalence of fear and a lot of fear (33.5%) as compared to those who had already experienced dental care (13.9%). The prevalence of severe anxiety and extreme fear of pain was higher in the group of female children aged 6-9 years, and with caries experience (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The experience with the dentist was associated with less anxiety and fear of pain. The age of the child was a determining factor for changes in their anxiety level. Severe dental anxiety influences fear of pain experienced by the child.

Effect of awards after dental care in children's motivation.

AIMS: To verify the effect of awards after dental care in children's motivation in two visits to the dentist and if differences occur between genders. METHODS: This was a randomised and blinded study with a systematic convenience sample consisting of 306 children of 4.99 ± 0.89 years old, with no previous dental experience for both genders, who sought the public dental services. The children were divided into Control group (G1) and Experimental group (G2), who received a positive reinforcement technique with awards after dental care. A projective test with the Venham Picture Test self-analysis was applied and the inference test was the Chi square test with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: In G1, there was evidence of a significant association between the T1, T2 and T4 application times and anxiety levels measured in children (p < 10- 4; x2 = 15.43), this same association was observed for the G2 group (p < 10- 10; x2 > 29.46). For boys there was no significant difference of anxiety between G1 and G2 groups, however in G2, girls showed more anxiety before dental treatment (p = 0.0095; x2 = 6.71) and less anxiety than boys during the second visit (p = 0.0014; x2 = 10.20). CONCLUSIONS: The award after dental care demonstrated a positive result for the decrease of anxiety in preschool children for two visits to the dentist. Girls in the experimental group showed less anxiety than boys during the second visit.

Culture of domestic cat ovarian tissue in vitro and in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane.

In vitro culture and transplantation procedures are essential protocols employed in the evaluation of ovarian follicle survival and development. Culture in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chick embryos is an intermediate method that provides important follicle development information and has not been tested for cat ovaries to date. The aim of this study was to investigate if in vitro and CAM culture could be used as short-term systems to study cat ovarian tissue development. The ovaries of eight cats were dissected into 3-mm(3) cubes, cultured in vitro and in CAM for up to 5 days, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Gomori trichrome. Cell proliferation was analyzed using anti-Ki67. Possible differences among groups were investigated by analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Bonferroni correction. The T-test or Wilcoxon test was used to verify differences between the CAM and IVC. Results revealed that 87.5% of all follicles were primordial during culture. The percentage of primordial follicles in the morphologically normal follicles (MNF) pool was always higher than 80%, with the exception of Day 3 of CAM culture, but the number of MNF reduced significantly from Day 0 (600 out of 777 follicles) to Day 5 in the CAM (91 out of 171) and IVC (296 out of 686). The number of primordial follicles in 1 mm(3) in Days 2, 3, and 5 in the CAM was significantly lower than that in the control (Day 0). No cellular proliferation was observed in culture. Vascularization occurred in the CAM culture, but with no association to follicular viability. In addition, both methods showed an increase in connective tissue during culture. Although no significant differences were observed in the percentage of MNF, there was a reduction in the total number of follicles, both for IVC and CAM-cultured ovarian tissue. Furthermore, anti-Ki67 did not stain any follicle after Day 0 in IVC or in CAM culture. Neither system was capable of promoting follicle growth and/or development. The results show that the CAM is not a suitable system for feline ovarian tissue and highlight the necessity to improve IVC systems in cats.

Influence of mineral, olive or sunflower oils on male reproductive parameters in vitro--the wild rodent Calomys laucha.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of oils on male reproductive parameters in Calomys laucha. Twenty-four animals were distributed into four groups and given the following substances by gavage: water, mineral oil, olive oil and sunflower oil. After 10 days of gavage, the animals were euthanised and the semen was collected from them for assessing acrosome integrity and carrying out in vitro penetration (IVP) test. Acrosome was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) for the vehicles in relation to control. In vitro penetration was reduced in all vehicles in relation to control, but only sunflower oil had statistically lower levels of reduction (P < 0.05). Oily vehicles are able to influence in vitro reproductive tests negatively, interfering in reproductive toxicological studies.

Sperm impairments in adult vesper mice (Calomys laucha) caused by in utero exposure to bisphenol A.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of in utero administration of bisphenol A (BPA) on semen parameters of vesper mice. Sixty female Calomys laucha were divided into six groups and received by gavage during gestation the following substances: Water (negative control), Olive Oil (vehicle control), Diethylstilbestrol (DES - positive control - 6.5 µg kg(-1) bw) and BPA (40, 80 and 200 µg kg(-1) bw). Male offspring were euthanised at 70 days of age, and sperm parameters were analysed. BPA reduced normal sperm morphology (water = 96.1 ± 0.65; BPA200 = 96.8 ± 2.3%), sperm membrane integrity (water = 88.8 ± 1,65; BPA200 = 70.6 ± 4,15%), sperm motility (water = 87.5 ± 1.71; BPA200 = 51.3 ±9.9%) and in vitro penetration rates (water = 55.0 ± 7.14; BPA200 = 7.47 ±2.96%), but it did not affect body weight, anogenital distance, sperm DNA integrity and acrosome integrity. In conclusion, in utero exposure to BPA caused a reduction in sperm parameters of adult C. laucha. Natural mating studies should be conducted to verify the effects of BPA on fertility of the animals.

Climbing the steps of viral atomic force microscopy: visualization of Dengue virus particles.

In recent years, the application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to biological systems has highlighted the potential of this technology. AFM provides insights into studies of biological structures and interactions and can also identify and characterize a large panel of pathogens, including viruses. The Flaviviridae family contains a number of viruses that are important human and animal pathogens. Among them, Dengue virus causes epidemics with fatal outcomes mainly in the tropics. In this study, Dengue virus is visualized for the first time using the in air AFM technique. Images were obtained from a potassium-tartrate gradient-purified virus. This study enhances the application of AFM as a novel tool for the visualization and characterization of virus particles. Because flavivirus members are closely related, studies of the morphologic structure of the Dengue virus can reveal strategies that may be useful to identify and study other important viruses in the family, including the West Nile virus.

Use of atomic force microscopy as a diagnostic tool to identify orthopoxvirus.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile technique that permits the imaging of surfaces and generates topographical images from a variety of materials. Due to the fact that AFM requires minimum sample manipulation, it is a valuable tool for studying biological materials such as cells, DNA, bacteria and viruses. The aim of the present study was to standardize the AFM technique as a diagnostic tool for detection of naturally occurring orthopoxviruses. The samples analyzed were collected during natural outbreaks of Vaccinia virus (VACV) in dairy cattle in Brazil. These viruses are zoonotic infections; and therefore safe manipulation of all samples is required. The AFM technique would provide a more secure way to diagnose infection. By using the "in air" AFM technique after purification and inactivation process, relatively crude preparations of viruses were visualized rapidly. Details for efficient sample preparation and AFM imaging are described. The AFM technique provides a rapid and biosecure tool for the diagnosis of emerging orthopoxviruses and has potential as a tool for screening bioterrorism samples.

Reliability and validity of a Portuguese version of the Young Mania Rating Scale.

The reliability and validity of a Portuguese version of the Young Mania Rating Scale were evaluated. The original scale was translated into and adapted to Portuguese by the authors. Definitions of clinical manifestations, a semi-structured anchored interview and more explicit rating criteria were added to the scale. Fifty-five adult subjects, aged 18 to 60 years, with a diagnosis of Current Manic Episode according to DSM-III-R criteria were assessed using the Young Mania Rating Scale as well as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale in two sessions held at intervals from 7 to 10 days. Good reliability ratings were obtained, with intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.97 for total scores, and levels of agreement above 0.80 (P < 0.001) for all individual items. Internal consistency analysis resulted in an alpha = 0.67 for the scale as a whole, and an alpha = 0.72 for each standardized item (P < 0.001). For the concurrent validity, a correlation of 0.78 was obtained by the Pearson coefficient between the total scores of the Young Mania Rating Scale and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. The results are similar to those reported for the English version, indicating that the Portuguese version of the scale constitutes a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of manic patients.

Reliability and validity of a Portuguese version of the Young Mania Rating Scale

The reliability and validity of a Portuguese version of the Young Mania Rating Scale were evaluated. The original scale was translated into and adapted to Portuguese by the authors. Definitions of clinical manifestations, a semi-structured anchored interview and more explicit rating criteria were added to the scale. Fifty-five adult subjects, aged 18 to 60 years, with a diagnosis of Current Manic Episode according to DSM-III-R criteria were assessed using the Young Mania Rating Scale as well as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale in two sessions held at intervals from 7 to 10 days. Good reliability ratings were obtained, with intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.97 for total scores, and levels of agreement above 0.80 (P < 0.001) for all individual items. Internal consistency analysis resulted in an alpha = 0.67 for the scale as a whole, and an alpha = 0.72 for each standardized item (P < 0.001). For the concurrent validity, a correlation of 0.78 was obtained by the Pearson coefficient between the total scores of the Young Mania Rating Scale and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. The results are similar to those reported for the English version, indicating that the Portuguese version of the scale constitutes a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of manic patients.

Do panic patients process unconditioned fear vs. conditioned anxiety differently than normal subjects?

Panic patients were evaluated with two models of experimental anxiety that are believed to generate distinct emotional states: (1) a stimulated public speaking test (SPS), a presumed indicator of unconditioned fear, and (2) conditioning of skin conductance responses (CSCR) to a tone associated with an aversive white noise, an index of conditioned anxiety. Subjective states were evaluated through the visual analogue mood scale (VAMS) and a bodily symptoms scale (BSS). In the SPS test, panic patients showed higher baseline levels of VAMS-measured anxiety than controls. Unlike controls, panic patients failed to show increased anxiety before and during speech. Although baseline levels of arousal were similar in both groups, VAMS mental sedation decreased in controls, but not in panic patients during the SPS. Panic patients showed more discontent than controls throughout the whole experimental session. They also scored higher than controls on several items of the BSS. In the CSCR test, panic patients showed more spontaneous fluctuations of skin conductance than controls. Nevertheless, conditioning of skin conductance responses to the tone was similar in both groups. Therefore, panic patients seemed to process unconditioned fear abnormally.

Avaliaçäo do comportamento alimentar em crianças e adolescentes de Belo Horizonte / Assesment of eating attitudes of children and adolescents in Belo Horizonte city

Estudo da prevalência do comportamento alimentar de estudantes com relaçäo à imagem corporal, à prática de hiperfagia ou orgia alimentar, ao uso de dieta para emagrecimento e métodos purgativos para perda de peso (anorexígenos, diuréticos, laxantes e vômitos auto-induzidos). Delineamento tipo in

"Compliance": Fatores necessários ao cumprimento de um Programa Terapêutico / \"Compliance\": Main factores to fallow a therapeutic program

O sucesso de um tratamento näo depende apenas de um diagnóstico preciso e uma terapêutica adequada. Necessita, principalmente, de um cumprimento rigoroso do programa terapêutico, sem o qual o tratamento está fadado ao insucesso. As dificuldades encontradas para que o paciente cumpra seu tratamento säo muito mais comuns do que imaginamos, näo só por parte do paciente como também por parte do médico, que quando combinadas reforçam a probabilidade de um tratamentto mal sucedido. Este trabalho mostra através de uma extensa revisäo bibliográfica e uma experiência clínica de mais de 20 anos os principais fatores que contribuem para o näo cumprimento do tratamento das doenças mentais

[Geographic distribution of phlebotomine sandflies of the Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Leiva, 1912) complex (Diptera, Psychodidae)]. / Distribuição geográfica de flebotomíneos do complexo Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera, Psychodidae).

The geographical distribution of Phlebotomine sandflies of the Lutzomyia intermedia complex is presented, based in collections for this study and in personal informations from other workers and bibliography. The subject is discussed, in relation to climate and to altitude and latitude. Lutzomyia intermedia s.s. was found in smaller altitudes and latitudes than Lutzomyia neivai; the last species seems to be better adapted to colder and drier climates than the first.

Distribuição geográfica de flebotomíneos do complexo Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera, Psychodidae) / Geographic distribution of phlebotomine sandflies of the Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Leiva, 1912) complex (Diptera, Psychodidae)

A distribuição geográfica de flebotomíneos pertencentes a Lutzomyia intermedia s.l. é mostrada, baseada em coletas destes insetos para o presente estudo e em informações da bibliografia e de informações pessoais. O assunto é discutido, em relação ao clima e à altitude e latitude. Lutzomyia intermedia s.s. foi encontrada em latitudes e altitudes menores que Lutzomyia neivai, indicando melhor adaptação desta a climas mais frios e secos.

The geographical distribution of Phlebotomine sandflies of the Lutzomyia intermedia complex is presented, based in collections for this study and in personal informations from other workers and bibliography. The subject is discussed, in relation to climate and to altitude and latitude. Lutzomyia intermedia s.s. was found in smaller altitudes and latitudes than Lutzomyia neivai; the last species seems to be better adapted to colder and drier climates than the first.

Sintomas somáticos das depressöes / Somatic symptoms in depression

A depressao nem sempre vem acompanhada de humor diminuído, crises de choro, sentimento de desprazer e desesperança, fadiga, insônia, irritabilidade, angústia, etc. Muitas vezes, a depressao se apresenta apenas com um ou mais sintomas somáticos, e o seu diagnóstico se torna mais complicado. Sabendo ser a queixa física a razao mais comum para o paciente inicialmente procurar ajuda médica, este trabalho visa fornecer os sintomas somáticos da depressao mais freqüentes na clínica diária. Como a depressao pode imitar qualquer outra doença orgânica, o clínico frente a uma queixa física de etiologia imprecisa que nao responde bem ao tratamento, deve pensar em depressao e pesquisar outros sintomas que podem estar camuflados pela queixa principal.

Moclobemida no tratamento da fobia social / Moclobemida in the treatment of social phobia

A Fobia Social tem apresentado características que a tornam uma entidade peculiar dentro dos quadros ansiosos. Sua melhora com o tratamento farmacológico com antidepressivos vem se firmado dentro das diversas terapias utilizzadas para combatÛ-la. Baseado em estudos iniciais do uso de IMAO no tratamento da Fobia Social, este trabalho foi desenvolvido com a nova geraçÒo de IMAO com a finalidade de evitar os efeitos colaterais dos IMAOs clássicos e a restriçÒo dietÚtica. Foi usada a moclobemida, um inibidor reversÝvel e especÝfico da monoaminooxidase A. É um estudo aberto, nÒo comparativo, onde sÒo avaliados 20 casos de Fobia Social, de acordo com os critérios da DSM-III-R e CID-10. Os pacientes foram examinados semanalmente por um período de 2 meses e submetidos Ós escalas de ansiedade de HAMILTON, de Fobia Social de LIEBOWITZ e CGI de evoluçÒo, como métodos auxiliares de avaliaçÒo. Nenhum paciente foi submetido concomitantemente a tratamento psicoterápico. SÒo discutidos os resultados, assim como os dados demogrßficos, características clínicas, comorbidade e efeitos colaterais.

Antidepressivos nos quadros ansiosos / Antidepressive agents in anxiety

Comentarios sobre a ansiedade e suas diferentes manifestacoes clinicas. Dificuldades encontradas pelo paciente ansioso em ser diagnosticado e tratado adequadamente. O uso de antidepressivos nos diversos disturbios de ansiedade.