Phase behavior of hard cylinders.

Using isobaric Monte Carlo simulations, we map out the entire phase diagram of a system of hard cylindrical particles of length (L) and diameter (D) using an improved algorithm to identify the overlap condition between two cylinders. Both the prolate L/D > 1 and the oblate L/D < 1 phase diagrams are reported with no solution of continuity. In the prolate L/D > 1 case, we find intermediate nematic N and smectic SmA phases in addition to a low density isotropic I and a high density crystal X phase with I-N-SmA and I-SmA-X triple points. An apparent columnar phase C is shown to be metastable, as in the case of spherocylinders. In the oblate L/D < 1 case, we find stable intermediate cubatic (Cub), nematic (N), and columnar (C) phases with I-N-Cub, N-Cub-C, and I-Cub-C triple points. Comparison with previous numerical and analytical studies is discussed. The present study, accounting for the explicit cylindrical shape, paves the way to more sophisticated models with important biological applications, such as viruses and nucleosomes.

A Survey About Dental Instruments at the Primary Health Care in Brazil.

This study describes the structure of oral health services in primary health care in Brazil and the instruments available for the provision of oral health care and to compare the number of instruments according to organizational characteristics of health services and among the macroregions. Of the 23,251 oral health teams (OHTs) in the Public Health System, 17,513 (75.3%) participated in this study. Trained researchers observed the structures of the health services and determined the presence of and whether a sufficient quantity of 36 dental instruments existed. The score of each oral health service was determined by the sum of the number of dental instruments present in sufficient quantity (0 to 36). Central tendency measures were compared along with the variability in these scores according to the organizational characteristics of the services and according to the Brazilian macroregion. No instrument was found to be present in all evaluated services. Basic, surgical and restorative instruments were the most frequently found. Periodontal, endodontic and prosthetic instruments exhibited the lowest percentages. The mean and median numbers of dental instruments were higher for teams that operated over more shifts, those with an oral health technician and those in the South and Southeast regions. The oral health services were equipped with basic, surgical and restorative instruments. Instruments designed for periodontal diagnosis, emergency care and denture rehabilitation were less frequently found in these services. The worst infrastructure conditions existed in the OHTs with the worst forms of care organization and in regions with greater social issues.

Anandamide Effects in a Streptozotocin-Induced Alzheimer's Disease-Like Sporadic Dementia in Rats.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by multiple cognitive deficits including memory and sensorimotor gating impairments as a result of neuronal and synaptic loss. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in these deficits but little is known about its influence on the molecular mechanism regarding phosphorylated tau (p-tau) protein accumulation - one of the hallmarks of AD -, and on the density of synaptic proteins. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) on multiple cognitive deficits and on the levels of synaptic proteins (syntaxin 1, synaptophysin and synaptosomal-associated protein, SNAP-25), cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and molecules related to p-tau degradation machinery (heat shock protein 70, HSP70), and Bcl2-associated athanogene (BAG2) in an AD-like sporadic dementia model in rats using intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Our hypothesis is that AEA could interact with HSP70, modulating the level of p-tau and synaptic proteins, preventing STZ-induced cognitive impairments. Thirty days after receiving bilateral icv injections of AEA or STZ or both, the cognitive performance of adult male Wistar rats was evaluated in the object recognition test, by the escape latency in the elevated plus maze (EPM), by the tone and context fear conditioning as well as in prepulse inhibition tests. Subsequently, the animals were euthanized and their brains were removed for histological analysis or for protein quantification by Western Blotting. The behavioral results showed that STZ impaired recognition, plus maze and tone fear memories but did not affect contextual fear memory and prepulse inhibition. Moreover, AEA prevented recognition and non-associative emotional memory impairments induced by STZ, but did not influence tone fear conditioning. STZ increased the brain ventricular area and this enlargement was prevented by AEA. Additionally, STZ reduced the levels of p-tau (Ser199/202) and increased p-tau (Ser396), although AEA did not affect these alterations. HSP70 was found diminished only by STZ, while BAG2 levels were decreased by STZ and AEA. Synaptophysin, syntaxin and CB1 receptor levels were reduced by STZ, but only syntaxin was recovered by AEA. Altogether, albeit AEA failed to modify some AD-like neurochemical alterations, it partially prevented STZ-induced cognitive impairments, changes in synaptic markers and ventricle enlargement. This study showed, for the first time, that the administration of an endocannabinoid can prevent AD-like effects induced by STZ, boosting further investigations about the modulation of endocannabinoid levels as a therapeutic approach for AD.

A survey about dental instruments at the primary health care in Brazil

Abstract This study describes the structure of oral health services in primary health care in Brazil and the instruments available for the provision of oral health care and to compare the number of instruments according to organizational characteristics of health services and among the macroregions. Of the 23,251 oral health teams (OHTs) in the Public Health System, 17,513 (75.3%) participated in this study. Trained researchers observed the structures of the health services and determined the presence of and whether a sufficient quantity of 36 dental instruments existed. The score of each oral health service was determined by the sum of the number of dental instruments present in sufficient quantity (0 to 36). Central tendency measures were compared along with the variability in these scores according to the organizational characteristics of the services and according to the Brazilian macroregion. No instrument was found to be present in all evaluated services. Basic, surgical and restorative instruments were the most frequently found. Periodontal, endodontic and prosthetic instruments exhibited the lowest percentages. The mean and median numbers of dental instruments were higher for teams that operated over more shifts, those with an oral health technician and those in the South and Southeast regions. The oral health services were equipped with basic, surgical and restorative instruments. Instruments designed for periodontal diagnosis, emergency care and denture rehabilitation were less frequently found in these services. The worst infrastructure conditions existed in the OHTs with the worst forms of care organization and in regions with greater social issues.

Resumo Este estudo descreve a estrutura dos serviços de saúde bucal na atenção primária em saúde no Brasil e os instrumentos disponíveis para a assistência à saúde bucal e compara o número de instrumentais de acordo com as características organizacionais dos serviços de saúde e entre as macrorregiões. Das 23.251 equipes de saúde bucal (ESB) no Sistema Único de Saúde, 17.513 (75,3%) participaram deste estudo. Pesquisadores treinados observaram a estrutura dos serviços de saúde e determinaram a presença e a existência de uma quantidade suficiente de 36 instrumentais odontológicos. A pontuação de cada serviço de saúde bucal foi determinada pela soma do número de instrumentos dentários presentes em quantidade suficiente (0 a 36). As medidas de tendência central e de variabilidade desse escore foram comparadas com as características organizacionais dos serviços e de acordo com a macrorregião brasileira. Nenhum instrumental foi encontrado em todos os serviços avaliados. Os instrumentos básicos, cirúrgicos e restauradores foram os mais frequentemente encontrados. Os instrumentos periodontais, endodônticos e para realização de prótese exibiram as percentagens mais baixas. O número médio e mediano de instrumentos dentários foi maior para as equipes que operavam em mais turnos, aqueles com um técnico em saúde bucal e aqueles nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. Os serviços de saúde bucal estavam equipados com instrumentos básicos, cirúrgicos e restauradores. Os instrumentos indicados para diagnóstico periodontal, cuidados de emergência e reabilitação com próteses dentárias foram menos frequentemente encontrados nesses serviços. As piores condições de infra-estrutura existiam nos ESB com as piores formas de organização de cuidados e em regiões com maiores problemas sociais.

Avaliação da Infraestrutura dos serviços de saúde bucal na atenção primária por meio da avaliação externa do PMAQ-AB, no Brasil / Evaluation of the infrastructure of oral health services in primary care through the external evaluation of the PMAQ-AB, in Brazil

A Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) visa à reorientação do processo de trabalho das equipes no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A inclusão da saúde bucal na ESF pode ser considerada um passo rumo à integralidade das ações e representou a etapa inicial para a expansão da oferta de serviços públicos na área. Com a adoção da ESF como modelo assistencial escolhido para reorganizar as ações na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), faz-se necessário avaliar e monitorar os resultados alcançados em relação à organização e aos possíveis impactos produzidos na saúde das populações. Diante deste contexto, o Ministério da Saúde (MS) lançou em 2011, o Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB). O programa busca induzir a instituição de processos de avaliação na rotina de funcionários e gestores do SUS, assim como ampliar o acesso na atenção primária com garantia de padrões de qualidade. O objetivo desse estudo foi caracterizar a estrutura dos serviços de saúde bucal na atenção primária do Brasil em relação aos instrumentais odontológicos disponíveis, com base nos dados do PMAQ-AB, e comparar o quantitativo de instrumentais com algumas características de organização dos serviços de saúde bucal e com as macrorregiões brasileiras. Para isso pesquisadores treinados observaram a estrutura dos serviços de saúde, identificando a presença e a quantidade suficiente de 36 instrumentais odontológicos. O escore de cada serviço de saúde bucal foi a soma do número de instrumentais odontológicos presentes em quantidade suficiente (de zero a 36). Foram comparadas medidas de tendência central e de variabilidade desses escores de acordo com características de organização dos serviços e das macrorregiões brasileiras. Nenhum instrumental foi identificado em todos os serviços avaliados. Instrumentais básicos, cirúrgicos e restauradores foram os mais frequentes. Instrumentais periodontais, endodônticos e de prótese atingiram os menores percentuais. Os valores médios e medianos da quantidade de instrumentais odontológicos foram mais altos nas equipes que atendem em mais turnos, que apresentam Técnico de Saúde Bucal e nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. Os serviços de saúde bucal estavam equipados com instrumentais odontológicos básicos, cirúrgicos e restauradores. Instrumentais de diagnóstico periodontal, para atendimento de urgências e para reabilitação protética foram menos frequentes nestes estabelecimentos. Piores condições de infraestrutura existiram nas ESB com piores formas de organização do atendimento e em regiões com maiores desafios sociais. Os resultados encontrados estimularam o desenvolvimento de um texto, produto técnico dessa dissertação, parte integrante de um livro produzido no formato e-book pela turma do mestrado profissional. Abordou-se a evolução do financiamento em saúde bucal e o processo de licitação para compra de materiais para o serviço odontológico, destacando as etapas do trâmite e suas peculiaridades, visando propiciar aos administradores a aquisição de bens com melhores condições de qualidade e preço.

The Family Health Strategy (FHS) aims to reorient the work process of the teams in the Unified Health System (UHS). The inclusion of oral health in FHS can be considered a step towards the integrality of the actions and represented the initial step for the expansion of the provision of public services in the area. With the adoption of FHS as a model of assistance chosen to reorganize the actions in primary health care, it is necessary to evaluate and monitor the results achieved in relation to the organization and possible impacts produced in the health of the populations. Faced with this context, the Ministry of Health (MS) launched in 2011, the National Program for improvement of access and quality of basic attention (PMAQ-AB). The program seeks to induce the institution of evaluation processes in the routine of employees and managers of the UHS, as well as broaden access to primary attention with quality assurances. The objective of this study was to characterize the structure of oral health services in Brazil's primary attention relative to the available dental instruments, based on the data of the PMAQ-AB, and to compare the quantity of instruments with some characteristics of organization of oral health services and the Brazilian macroregions. For this, trained researchers observed the structure of health services, identifying the presence and sufficient quantity of 36 dental instruments. The score of each oral health service was the sum of the number of dental instruments present in sufficient quantity (from zero to 36). Central tendency measures were compared along with the variability in these scores according to the organizational characteristics of the services and according to the Brazilian macroregion. No instrument was found to be present in all evaluated services. Basic, surgical and restorative instruments were the most frequently found. Periodontal, endodontic and prosthetic instruments exhibited the lowest percentages.The mean and media numbers of the dental instruments were higher for teams that operated over more shifts, those with an oral health technician and those in the South and Southeast regions.The oral health services were equipped with basic, surgical and restorative dental instruments. Periodontal diagnostic instruments, emergency care and denture rehabilitation were less frequently found in these establishments. The worst infrastructure conditions have existed in the OHTs with the worst forms of care organization and in regions with greater social challenges. Technical product of this dissertation, an integral part of a book produced in e-book format by the Professional Masters class. The evolution of oral health financing and the bidding process for the purchase of materials for the dental service, highlighting the stages of the procedure and its peculiarities, aiming to provide the administrators with the acquisition of goods with better conditions of quality and price.

Molecular alterations in the tumor suppressor gene WWOX in oral leukoplakias.

Oral leukoplakia is the most prevalent and potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa. Previous studies have demonstrated that molecular changes of the WWOX gene (WW-domain containing oxidoreductase), a candidate tumor suppressor gene located at 16q23.3-24.1 that spans FRA16D, the second most common fragile site, are present in several malignant neoplasias, including oral squamous cell carcinoma. In this report, the role of the WWOX gene was investigated in 23 cases of oral leukoplakias. Using nested RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, altered mRNA transcription and/or reduced Wwox protein expression was observed in 35% of the lesions when compared with normal mucosa. The majority of lesions (4/6) with altered transcripts had a reduction in the expression of Wwox protein. Although normal WWOX expression was found in some lesions with dysplasia, all lesions with WWOX mRNA and/or protein expression showed histological evidence of dysplasia and none of the cases without dysplasia presented this alteration. These results show that the WWOX gene alteration is an early genetic alteration and may contribute to oral carcinogenesis.

Atendimento odontológico dos indivíduos com necessidades especiais na atenção primária

A Atenção Básica identifica-se por um conjunto de ações, no âmbito individual e coletivo, que envolve a promoção e a proteção da saúde, a prevenção dos agravos, o diagnóstico, o tratamento, a reabilitação e a manutenção da saúde de toda a população, inclusive dos pacientes com necessidades especiais. A atenção odontológica corresponde a um padrão integral de assistência à saúde para crianças com necessidades especiais. Desse modo, o cuidado em saúde bucal dedicado a esta parcela da população deve ser uma prática eficiente e de rotina. A maioria dos pacientes com necessidades especiais pode e precisa ser atendida na unidade odontológica das Unidades Básicas de Saúde, no âmbito da atenção primária. A falta de acesso ao atendimento odontológico dos pacientes especiais normalmente acontece devido a alguns fatores: falta de conhecimento e de preparo dos profissionais para o atendimento, negligência dos serviços de assistência públicos quanto ao tratamento odontológico prestado a esses indivíduos e descrédito/desconhecimento da importância da saúde bucal pelos pais e ou/responsáveis. O protocolo de prevenção para o paciente com necessidades especiais é de grande importância. A base de qualquer tratamento na atenção básica envolve o cuidado do paciente, o treinamento dos pais ou responsáveis; a inserção dos cuidados de saúde bucal nas atividades de vida diária e o cuidado periódico do profissional.