ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vitro influence of prior silane application on the microshear bond strength (µSBS) of Scotchbond Universal Plus to glass ceramic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty blocks of lithium disilicate ceramic were etched with hydrofluoric acid for 20 s and distributed into Group 1 (no silane and no adhesive), Group 2 (adhesive), Group 3 (silane + adhesive). Three cylinders of resin cement were made on each ceramic block. Five blocks (n = 15 cylinders) were subjected to the µSBS test after 24 h, and the other five blocks (n = 15 cylinders) were tested after 6 months of water storage. RESULTS: According to two-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test, the means of µSBS (MPa), denoted by different letters, show significant differences (p < 0.05): after 24 h-Group 1 (31.7)B, Group 2 (43.3)A, and Group 3 (31.3)B; after 6 months-Group 1 (14.8)B, Group 2 (33.6)A, and Group 3 (30.3)A. After 6 months of storage, there was a significant decrease in µSBS for Groups 1 and 2, along with an increase in adhesive failures across all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Prior application of silane did not increase the µSBS between Scotchbond Universal Plus and ceramic, and there was degradation at the bond interface over time. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Prior application of a silane agent is not necessary when using Scotchbond Universal Plus for bonding to glass ceramics. Regardless of the prior application of silane, there is degradation at the bond interface over time.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Medication-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is characterized by the presence of exposed bone or an intraoral or extraoral fistula in the maxillofacial region in patients with a history of treatment with anti-resorptive and anti-angiogenic drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies, and without a history of radiotherapy or metastatic diseases in the area. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to report a case of a pathological mandibular fracture in an area of MRONJ in a patient diagnosed with Crohn's disease treated with infliximab. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old male patient, an active smoker for 35 years, diagnosed with Crohn's disease, undergoing intravenous administration of infliximab 300 mg for 1 year and 3 months, with no previous history of anti-angiogenic or anti-resorptive medication, presenting with an extraoral fistula in the submandibular region for 4 months, with painful symptoms, diagnosed as MRONJ. He was initially treated conservatively, using antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), antibiotic therapy, and the PENTO protocol. However, the patient evolved with a pathological fracture in the mandibular parasymphysis, requiring surgical reconstruction. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Pathological fracture of the mandible is a complication of MRONJ that compromises the patient's quality of life. The management of patients with MRONJ is complex and challenging.
ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we report advances in tissue culture applied to Passiflora. We present reproducible protocols for somatic embryogenesis, endosperm-derived triploid production, and genetic transformation for such species knowledge generated by our research team and collaborators in the last 20 years. Our research group has pioneered the work on passion fruit somatic embryogenesis, and we directed efforts to characterize several aspects of this morphogenic pathway. Furthermore, we expanded the possibilities of understanding the molecular mechanism related to developmental phase transitions of Passiflora edulis Sims. and P. cincinnata Mast., and a transformation protocol is presented for the overexpression of microRNA156.
Subject(s)
Passiflora , Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques , Tissue Culture Techniques , Passiflora/genetics , Passiflora/growth & development , Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques/methods , Tissue Culture Techniques/methods , Transformation, Genetic , MicroRNAs/genetics , Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics , Plants, Genetically Modified/growth & development , Endosperm/genetics , Endosperm/growth & development , Gene Expression Regulation, PlantABSTRACT
Advances in machine learning (ML) have led to applications in safety-critical domains, including security, defense, and healthcare. These ML models are confronted with dynamically changing and actively hostile conditions characteristic of real-world applications, requiring systems incorporating ML to be reliable and resilient. Many studies propose techniques to improve the robustness of ML algorithms. However, fewer consider quantitative techniques to assess changes in the reliability and resilience of these systems over time. To address this gap, this study demonstrates how to collect relevant data during the training and testing of ML suitable for the application of software reliability, with and without covariates, and resilience models and the subsequent interpretation of these analyses. The proposed approach promotes quantitative risk assessment of ML technologies, providing the ability to track and predict degradation and improvement in the ML model performance and assisting ML and system engineers with an objective approach to compare the relative effectiveness of alternative training and testing methods. The approach is illustrated in the context of an image recognition model, which is subjected to two generative adversarial attacks and then iteratively retrained to improve the system's performance. Our results indicate that software reliability models incorporating covariates characterized the misclassification discovery process more accurately than models without covariates. Moreover, the resilience model based on multiple linear regression incorporating interactions between covariates tracks and predicts degradation and recovery of performance best. Thus, software reliability and resilience models offer rigorous quantitative assurance methods for ML-enabled systems and processes.
ABSTRACT
The myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous group of clonal disorders of hematopoietic progenitor cells related to ineffective hematopoiesis and an increased risk of transformation to acute myelogenous leukemia. MDS is divided into categories, namely lineage dysplasia (MDS-SLD), MDS with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS), MDS with multilineage dysplasia (MDS-MLD), MDS with excess blasts (MDS-EB). The International Prognostic Classification System (IPSS) ranks the patients as very low, low, intermediate, high, and very high based on disease evolution and survival rates. Evidence points to toll-like receptor (TLR) abnormal signaling as an underlying mechanism of this disease, providing a link between MDS and immune dysfunction. Microbial signals, such as lipopolysaccharides from gram-negative bacteria, can activate or suppress TLRs. Therefore, we hypothesized that MDS patients present gut microbiota alterations associated with disease subtypes and prognosis. To test this hypothesis, we sequenced the 16S rRNA gene from fecal samples of 30 MDS patients and 16 healthy elderly controls. We observed a negative correlation between Prevotella spp. and Akkermansia spp. in MDS patients compared with the control group. High-risk patients presented a significant increase in the genus Prevotella spp. compared to the other risk categories. There was a significant reduction in the abundance of the genus Akkermansia spp. in high-risk patients compared with low- and intermediate-risk. There was a significant decrease in the genus Ruminococcus spp. in MDS-EB patients compared with controls. Our findings show a new association between gut dysbiosis and higher-risk MDS, with a predominance of gram-negative bacteria.
ABSTRACT
Background: Little is known about the frequency and impact of the persistent headache and about the incidence of chronic daily headache (CDH) after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the incidence, risk factors, characteristics, and impact of CDH in patients with COVID-19. Methods: In the first stage, 288 patients were interviewed by telephone after the acute phase of COVID-19. Subsequently, 199 patients who presented headache were reinterviewed at least one year after COVID-19. Headaches that persisted beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 for three or more months and presented frequency ≥ 45 days over the first three months were considered to be CDH. Results: One hundred and twenty-three patients were included, 56% were females; median age: 50 years (25th and 75th percentile: 41;58). The headache persisted beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 in 52%, and 20.3% had CDH (95% confidence interval: 13.6-28.2). Individuals who previously had headaches and who had headaches of greater intensity during the acute phase were at higher risk of developing CDH. The group with CDH included more females, greater impact of headache, more persistence of headache beyond the 120th day of COVID-19 and less throbbing headache than did the other individuals whose headache persisted. Conclusions: Patients who had COVID-19 had a high incidence of CDH. Previous headache and greater intensity of headache were associated with higher risk of CDH.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Brazilian honeys against oral microorganisms. DESIGN: Organic honeys (OH-1 to OH-8) were diluted (%-w/v) and sterilized by filtration. Antimicrobial activity was defined by determining MIC and CBM against oral Streptococcus. The component responsible for the antimicrobial action was defined by a catalase assay. Antibiofilm activity was evaluated against the monospecies biofilm of Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 700610). RESULTS: OHs showed antimicrobial activity principally OH-1, OH-2, OH-3, and OH-7 with MIC values ââranging between 10 and 25%. The mechanism of action occurs mainly by hydrogen peroxide produced by honey enzymes. OH-1, OH-2, and OH-7 showed total biofilm destruction at low concentrations. CONCLUSION: Brazilian honeys have promising antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity with the potential to control oral microbiota.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The placenta plays a crucial role in supporting and influencing fetal development. We compared the effects of prepartum supplementation with omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid (FA) sources, flaxseed oil (FLX) and fish oil (FO), on the expression of genes and proteins related to lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the expelled placenta, as well as on FA profile and inflammatory response of neonates. Late-pregnant Holstein dairy cows were supplemented with saturated fat (CTL), FLX, or FO. Placental cotyledons (n = 5) were collected immediately after expulsion, and extracted RNA and proteins were analyzed by RT-PCR and proteomic analysis. Neonatal blood was assessed for FA composition and concentrations of inflammatory markers. RESULTS: FO increased the gene expression of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), interleukin 10 (IL-10), catalase (CAT), cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1), and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CNR2) compared with CTL placenta. Gene expression of ECS-enzyme FA-amide hydrolase (FAAH) was lower in FLX and FO than in CTL. Proteomic analysis identified 3,974 proteins; of these, 51-59 were differentially abundant between treatments (P ≤ 0.05, |fold change| ≥ 1.5). Top canonical pathways enriched in FLX vs. CTL and in FO vs. CTL were triglyceride metabolism and inflammatory processes. Both n-3 FA increased the placental abundance of FA binding proteins (FABPs) 3 and 7. The abundance of CNR1 cannabinoid-receptor-interacting-protein-1 (CNRIP1) was reduced in FO vs. FLX. In silico modeling affirmed that bovine FABPs bind to endocannabinoids. The FLX increased the abundance of inflammatory CD44-antigen and secreted-phosphoprotein-1, whereas prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 was decreased in FO vs. CTL placenta. Maternal FO enriched neonatal plasma with n-3 FAs, and both FLX and FO reduced interleukin-6 concentrations compared with CTL. CONCLUSION: Maternal n-3 FA from FLX and FO differentially affected the bovine placenta; both enhanced lipid metabolism and modulated oxidative stress, however, FO increased some transcriptional ECS components, possibly related to the increased FABPs. Maternal FO induced a unique balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory components in the placenta. Taken together, different sources of n-3 FA during late pregnancy enhanced placental immune and metabolic processes, which may affect the neonatal immune system.
ABSTRACT
Dirofilaria immitis infection is routinely detected in dogs during veterinary care in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Parasitological tests for the detection of this infection are routinely performed only in areas with a high prevalence. Baixada Fluminense, a region in Rio de Janeiro, was considered heartworm-free until local veterinarians began to receive blood exams results indicating the presence of microfilariae (MF). A laboratory database was hence used to collect data from 2017 to 2020 to understand the extent of spread of the parasite in this area. The results of complete blood count analysis and MF or heartworm antigen detection tests conducted on canine samples sent from veterinary clinics in Baixada Fluminense (Magé, Duque de Caxias, Guapimirim, Nova Iguaçu, and São João de Meriti municipalities) were included. In total, the results of 16,314 hematological tests were considered. The overall prevalence of D. immitis was 3.4% (554/16,314), considering that only one test result was obtained per animal on the same day. This study is highly relevant because it indicates the spreading geographic distribution of the worms, heightens awareness among local health professionals and the general population, and encourages compliance with prophylactic measures to prevent further spread of parasite.
ABSTRACT
Aim: We evaluated Diacetylcurcumin (DAC), a derivative of curcumin, for its antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against Enterococcus faecalis. Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined, along with antibiofilm potential and toxicity in Galleria mellonella. Additionally, in silico computational analysis was performed to understand its mechanisms of action. Results & conclusion: DAC demonstrated significant antibacterial effects, with MIC and MBC values of 15.6 and 31.25 µg/ml, respectively, and reduced biofilm formation. A synergistic effect, reducing biofilm by 77%, was observed when combined with calcium hydroxide. G. mellonella toxicity tests confirmed DAC's safety at tested concentrations, suggesting its potential for use in root canal disinfection products.
Diacetylcurcumin (DAC) comes from turmeric, a natural spice often used in food. DAC may have the ability to fight germs, including the bacteria Enterococcus faecalis. We tested DAC's ability to kill E. faecalis and stopping the formation of films of the bacteria. We found that a small amount of DAC did kill E. faecalis. When used with calcium hydroxide, DAC works even better to reduce the formation of bacterial films by 77%. DAC is safe to be used on teeth, so may be a useful ingredient for preserving mouth health.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Biofilms , Curcumin , Enterococcus faecalis , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Moths , Biofilms/drug effects , Enterococcus faecalis/drug effects , Enterococcus faecalis/physiology , Curcumin/pharmacology , Curcumin/analogs & derivatives , Curcumin/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Animals , Moths/drug effects , Moths/microbiology , Disinfection/methods , Drug Synergism , Calcium Hydroxide/pharmacology , Dental Pulp Cavity/microbiologyABSTRACT
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy, caused by a mutation at position 6 of the ß-globin chain and patients are frequently exposed to several blood transfusions in order to maintain physiological function. Transfusion blood bags are composed of PVC and phthalates (as DEHP) are often introduced to the material in order to confer malleability. In this sense, DEHP can easily elute to the blood and cause harmful effects. This study aimed to unravel DEHP effect on SCD patient's hemoglobin function. We found that HbS polymerization using whole erythrocytes is decreased by DEHP in ex vivo experiments and this effect might be mediated by the DEHP-VAL6 interaction, evaluated in silico. Isolated HbS exhibited less polymerization at low DEHP concentrations and increased polymerization rate at higher concentration. When analyzing the propensity to aggregate, HbS is more inclined to aggregate when compared to HbA due to the residue 6 mutation. Circular dichroism showed characteristic hemoglobin peaks for oxygenated HbS that are lost when oxygen is sequestered, and DEHP at higher concentration mildly recovers a peak close to the second hemoglobin one. Finally, by transmission electron microscopy we demonstrated that high DEHP concentration increased polymer formation with a more organized structure. These findings show for the first-time the beneficial effect of low-dose DEHP on HbS polymerization.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell , Diethylhexyl Phthalate , Erythrocytes , Hemoglobin, Sickle , Polymerization , Humans , Anemia, Sickle Cell/genetics , Anemia, Sickle Cell/metabolism , Hemoglobin, Sickle/genetics , Hemoglobin, Sickle/metabolism , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Diethylhexyl Phthalate/toxicity , Computer SimulationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Identifying clinical characteristics and risk factors, comorbid conditions, and complications arising from SARS-CoV-2 infection is important to predict the progression to more severe forms of the disease among hospitalized individuals to enable timely intervention and to prevent fatal outcomes. The aim of the study is to assess the possible role of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a biomarker of the risk of death in patients with comorbidities hospitalized with COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study on patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to a hospital in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre from September 2020 to March 2022. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 185 patients with associated comorbidities, namely, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal diseases, hospitalized with COVID-19. Of these, 78 died and 107 were discharged alive. The mean age was 66.5 years for the group that died and 60.1 years for the group discharged. Statistical analysis revealed that a difference greater than or equal to 1.55 in the NLR, from hospitalization to the 5th day, was associated with a relative risk of death greater than 2. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring a simple inflammatory marker such as NLR may improve the risk stratification of comorbid patients with COVID-19 and can be considered a useful biomarker.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Humans , Aged , COVID-19/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Neutrophils , Prospective Studies , Lymphocytes , Biomarkers , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To map the phonatory tasks and the result measures used to evaluate vocal fatigue in vocally healthy individuals. METHODS: This is a scoping review based on the following research question: What are the phonatory tasks and outcome measures used for the evaluation of vocal fatigue in vocally healthy individuals? The construction of the search strategy followed the PCC strategy; population: vocally healthy adult individuals; concept: phonatory tasks and vocal evaluation measures; and context: vocal fatigue. The search was performed electronically in the databases Medline (PubMed), LILACS (BVS), SCOPUS (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate), EMBASE, and COCHRANE. A manual search in the references of the selected articles and in the journal with the highest number of publications was also performed. The selection of articles was based on reading the titles, abstracts, and full text, applying the eligibility criteria. The selected articles were related to the evaluation of vocal fatigue in healthy individuals from a predetermined vocal load task. Data regarding the characteristics of the publication, sample, phonatory tasks, and outcomes were extracted. The results were presented in a descriptive format, due to a frequency distribution analysis. RESULTS: In total, 3756 studies were identified during the search, of which 60 were selected. The most used vocal load activity was the reading task, with duration ranging from 46 to 120 minutes. The (1) sustained vowel /a/ and (2) the reading of texts and phrases, both in usual intensity and frequency without the interference of the researcher, were the most used evaluation tasks. The most used outcome measures are the following: (1) acoustic parameters-fundamental frequency [fo] (mean, variance), sound pressure level (mean), local jitter (%), local shimmer (%), cepstral peak prominence (mean); (2) vocal self-assessment by the validated instruments-Perceived Phonatory Effort Scale, Visual Analog Scale, Borg-CR-10 Scale. CONCLUSIONS: There is a diversity of phonatory tasks and outcome measures recurrently used in scientific articles to evaluate the signs of vocal fatigue in vocally healthy individuals. The most used vocal sample to evaluate vocal fatigue was the sustained vowel /a/ in habitual intensity and frequency without the interference of the researcher. The most frequently reported outcome measures for the assessment of immediate vocal fatigue effects were the acoustic analysis and vocal self-assessment.
ABSTRACT
The aim was to evaluate the chemical composition, carbohydrates, protein fractionation and in vitro gas production of silages composed of spineless cactus and tropical forages and their effect on sheep performance. Treatments consisted of silages: corn silage (CS), spineless cactus silage (SCS), spineless cactus + gliricidia (SCG), spineless cactus + buffel grass silage (SCBG) and spineless cactus + pornunça (SCP). Silos were opened 60 days after ensiling, and analyses were carried out. The digestibility test lasted for 36 days, with eight animals per treatment. A completely randomized design was adopted. Considering carbohydrate fractionation, CS, SCS and SCBG silages had higher total carbohydrate content (p = 0.001). The SCS silage presented a higher A + B1 fraction (p = 0.001). The SCBG and SCG silages showed a higher B2 fraction (p < 0.0001) compared to the CS and SCS silages. The SCBG and SCP silages presented a higher C fraction (p = 0.001). For protein fractionation, the SCP and SCG silages showed higher crude protein contents (p = 0.001). The CS and SCS silages showed a higher A fraction (p = 0.001). The SCBG silage presented a higher B1 + B2 fraction (p = 0.001). The SCG silage showed a higher B3 fraction (p = 0.006) compared to SCBG silage. The SCS and SCP silages showed a higher C fraction (p = 0.001). Exclusive SCS silage showed higher in vitro dry matter digestibility (p = 0.001), dry matter degradability (p = 0.001) and total gas production (p = 0.001). The use of the SCBG, SCP and SCG silages to feed sheep increased the dry matter intake (p < 0.001). Sheep fed the SCG silage showed greater dry matter and crude protein digestibility compared to the sheep fed the CS, SCS and SCP silages (p = 0.002). There was a higher water intake (p < 0.001) with the use of the SCS and SCG silages to feed the sheep. The SCP and SCG silages provided a greater intake (p < 0.001) and excretion (p < 0.001) of nitrogen by the animals. Although there were no differences between the treatments for daily gains, lambs that received the spineless cactus-based silage associated with tropical forages showed higher gains (160-190 g/day) than lambs that received CS silage (130 g/day). Thus, the use of spineless cactus associated with buffelgrass, pornunça and gliricidia to prepare mixed silages (60:40) to feed sheep has potential use to feed sheep, with positive effects on nutrient degradation and increases in dry matter intake. Under experimental conditions, we recommend the exclusive use of spineless cactus silage associated with buffel grass, pornunça and gliricidia in feeding sheep in semi-arid regions, as it provides nutrients, water and greater daily gains compared to corn silage.
ABSTRACT
Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a biomaterial widely used in clinical applications and pharmaceuticals. The literature on HA-based materials studies is focused on chemical characterization and biocompatibility. Generally, biocompatibility is analyzed through adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation assays. Fewer studies are looking for genotoxic events. Thus, although HA-based biomaterials are widely used as biomedical devices, there is a lack of literature regarding their genotoxicity. This systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA statement. Specific search strategies were developed and performed in four electronic databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science). The search used "Hydroxyapatite OR Calcium Hydroxyapatite OR durapatite AND genotoxicity OR genotoxic OR DNA damage" and "Hydroxyapatite OR Calcium Hydroxyapatite OR durapatite AND mutagenicity OR mutagenic OR DNA damage" as keywords and articles published from 2000 to 2022, after removing duplicate studies and apply include and exclusion criteria, 53 articles were identified and submitted to a qualitative descriptive analysis. Most of the assays were in vitro and most of the studies did not show genotoxicity. In fact, a protective effect was observed for hydroxyapatites. Only 20 out of 71 tests performed were positive for genotoxicity. However, no point mutation-related mutagenicity was observed. As the genotoxicity of HA-based biomaterials observed was correlated with its nanostructured forms as needles or rods, it is important to follow their effect in chronic exposure to guarantee safe usage in humans.
Subject(s)
Biocompatible Materials , Durapatite , Humans , Durapatite/toxicity , Durapatite/chemistry , Biocompatible Materials/toxicity , Hydroxyapatites , DNA Damage , Mutagens/toxicityABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Fanconi anemia (FA) is a recessive hereditary disease characterized by bone marrow failure, and the treatment is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Patients diagnosed with FA are more predisposed to develop oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and this risk increases in transplant patients. The clinical characteristics of the oral manifestations of SCC in this group of patients do not differ from the lesions present in patients without the disease; however, they can be diagnosed in young patients and less common locations, such as, for example, in the buccal mucosa. OBJECTIVE: To report a case series of patients diagnosed with FA with oral SCC. METHOD: Included in this case series are six patients diagnosed with SCC in the buccal mucosa with similar clinical characteristics. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: There are still difficulties in establishing the natural history of oral lesions in patients with FA. Thus, disclosing a series of cases with similar changes may be relevant to improving and refining the multidisciplinary team's clinical view of suspected SCC or oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD), providing surveillance and timely management.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Fanconi Anemia , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Mouth Neoplasms , Humans , Fanconi Anemia/complications , Fanconi Anemia/diagnosis , Fanconi Anemia/therapy , Mouth Neoplasms/diagnosis , Mouth MucosaABSTRACT
RESUMO Objetivo Investigar se existem diferenças nas medidas acústicas cepstrais e espectrais entre mulheres com disfonia comportamental com e sem lesão laríngea, bem como verificar se existe correlação entre tais medidas e o julgamento perceptivo-auditivo da qualidade vocal. Método Participaram 78 mulheres com disfonia comportamental sem lesão laríngea (DCSL) e 68 com disfonia comportamental com lesão laríngea (nódulos vocais) (DCCL). Foram extraídas as medidas CPP (cepstral peak prominence), CPPS (cepstral peak prominence smoothed), declínio espectral e H1-H2 (diferença entre a amplitude do primeiro e do segundo harmônico), assim como o julgamento perceptivo-auditivo (JPA) do grau geral de desvio vocal (GG), graus de rugosidade (GR), de soprosidade (GS) e de tensão (GT). Resultados Mulheres com DCCL apresentaram maiores valores de H1-H2 e menores valores no CPP e CPPS, em relação às mulheres com DCSL. As vozes mais desviadas apresentaram menores valores do CPP e CPPS. As vozes soprosas apresentaram menores valores de CPP e CPPS, assim como maior valor de H1-H2 em relação às vozes rugosas. Houve correlação negativa fraca entre o CPP e o GR, negativa moderada com o GG e negativa forte com o GS. O CPPS apresentou correlação negativa moderada com o GG, GR e GS. A medida H1-H2 apresentou correlação positiva fraca com o GS. Houve correlação positiva fraca entre o declínio espectral e o GT. Conclusão As medidas acústicas H1-H2, CPP e CPPS apresentam diferenças entre mulheres com DCSL e DCCL. Além disso, há correlação entre as medidas cepstrais e espectrais e os diferentes parâmetros do JPA.
ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate whether there are differences in cepstral and spectral acoustic measures between women with behavioral dysphonia with and without laryngeal lesions and verify whether there is a correlation between such measures and the auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice quality. Methods The sample comprised 78 women with behavioral dysphonia without laryngeal lesions (BDWOL) and 68 with behavioral dysphonia with laryngeal lesions (vocal nodules) (BDWL). Cepstral peak prominence (CPP), cepstral peak prominence-smoothed (CPPS), spectral decrease, and H1-H2 (difference between the amplitude of the first and second harmonics) were extracted. They were submitted to the auditory-perceptual evaluation (APE) of the grade of hoarseness (GH), roughness (RO), breathiness (BR), and strain (ST). Results BDWL women had higher H1-H2 values and lower CPP and CPPS values than BDWOL women. More deviant voices had lower CPP and CPPS values. Breathy voices had lower CPP and CPPS values and higher H1-H2 values than rough ones. There was a weak negative correlation between CPP and RO, a moderate negative correlation with GH, and a strong negative correlation with BR. CPPS had a moderate negative correlation with GH, RO, and BR. H1-H2 had a weak positive correlation with BR. There was a weak positive correlation between spectral decrease and ST. Conclusion H1-H2, CPP, and CPPS were different between BDWOL and BDWL women. Furthermore, cepstral and spectral measures were correlated with the different APE parameters.
ABSTRACT
RESUMO Objetivo Realizar a adaptação transcultural do Instrumento de Rastreio para a Disfonia (IRD-Br) para o Português Europeu (PE). Métodos Foi realizada a adaptação transcultural do IRD-Br para o PE de acordo com as seguintes etapas: tradução, retrotradução, análise de um comitê de especialistas e pré-teste. Na etapa de pré-teste, participaram 30 indivíduos disfônicos com idades entre os 18 e 87 anos, sendo 24 do sexo feminino e 6 do sexo masculino. Resultados Foi necessária a inserção de um enunciado na versão em PE do instrumento. Houve divergência na retrotradução do título, sendo resolvida na análise do comitê de especialistas. Um item apresentou divergência na tradução e na retrotradução, sendo definida a versão final na análise do comitê de especialistas. Um item e a chave de resposta apresentaram consenso em todas as etapas. No pré-teste, todos os itens receberam 100% de respostas sim ou não, e nenhum recebeu resposta não aplicável. Conclusão A adaptação do IRD-Br para o PE foi bem sucedida. A versão para o português europeu do instrumento foi denominada de Instrumento de Rastreio para a Disfonia em português europeu - IRD-PT.
ABSTRACT Purpose To perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian Dysphonia Screening Tool (DST-Br) for European Portuguese (EP). Methods The cross-cultural adaptation of the DST-Br for EP was carried out in four stages: translation, back-translation, expert committee review, and pre-testing. The pre-testing involved 30 dysphonic individuals (24 women and 6 men) aged between 18 and 87 years old. Results An additional statement was required in the EP version of the instrument. Disagreement in the back-translation of the title was resolved through an expert committee review. One item presented discrepancies in the translation and back-translation, with the final version determined through an expert committee review. One item and the answer key reached a consensus in all stages. During pre-testing, all items received 100% "yes" or "no" responses, and none were marked as "not applicable". Conclusion The cross-cultural adaptation of DST-Br for use in EP was successfully carried out. The European Portuguese version of the instrument was named the Instrumento de Rastreio para a Disfonia em português europeu (IRD-PT) / Dysphonia Screening Tool in European Portuguese.
ABSTRACT
This study addresses the hypothesis that different acute stressors can cumulatively decrease milk yield. In fact, in a time of global warming, the impact of environmental stress and farm management practices on milk production remains unclear. In this context, our objective was to investigate the effect of acute and cumulative stress on gene expression in mammary tissue and their interactions with physiological responses and milk yield in Saanen goats. Thirty lactating goats were subjected to two treatments: (1) control (CT), in which goats were maintained following a habitual routine under comfort conditions; (2) stress (ST), in which the goats were subjected to different types of environmental stress: heat stress, adrenocorticotropic hormone administration, hoof care management, and exposure to rain. These stressors were performed sequentially, with one stress per day on four consecutive lactation days, to evaluate their effect on milk quality and milk yield. Our results showed that compared to CT goats, cumulative stress increased the gene expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in mammary tissue, which are indicators of cortisol action, inflammatory response, and antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the acute challenges imposed on ST goats changed their rectal temperature and respiratory frequency and increased cortisol, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein release in plasma when compared to CT goats. Although these physiological and metabolic responses restore homeostasis, ST goats showed lower milk yield and higher somatic cell count in milk than CT goats. In conclusion, the results confirmed our initial hypothesis that different acute stressors cumulatively decrease the milk yield in Saanen goats.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian Dysphonia Screening Tool (DST-Br) for European Portuguese (EP). METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation of the DST-Br for EP was carried out in four stages: translation, back-translation, expert committee review, and pre-testing. The pre-testing involved 30 dysphonic individuals (24 women and 6 men) aged between 18 and 87 years old. RESULTS: An additional statement was required in the EP version of the instrument. Disagreement in the back-translation of the title was resolved through an expert committee review. One item presented discrepancies in the translation and back-translation, with the final version determined through an expert committee review. One item and the answer key reached a consensus in all stages. During pre-testing, all items received 100% "yes" or "no" responses, and none were marked as "not applicable". CONCLUSION: The cross-cultural adaptation of DST-Br for use in EP was successfully carried out. The European Portuguese version of the instrument was named the Instrumento de Rastreio para a Disfonia em português europeu (IRD-PT) / Dysphonia Screening Tool in European Portuguese.
OBJETIVO: Realizar a adaptação transcultural do Instrumento de Rastreio para a Disfonia (IRD-Br) para o Português Europeu (PE). MÉTODOS: Foi realizada a adaptação transcultural do IRD-Br para o PE de acordo com as seguintes etapas: tradução, retrotradução, análise de um comitê de especialistas e pré-teste. Na etapa de pré-teste, participaram 30 indivíduos disfônicos com idades entre os 18 e 87 anos, sendo 24 do sexo feminino e 6 do sexo masculino. RESULTADOS: Foi necessária a inserção de um enunciado na versão em PE do instrumento. Houve divergência na retrotradução do título, sendo resolvida na análise do comitê de especialistas. Um item apresentou divergência na tradução e na retrotradução, sendo definida a versão final na análise do comitê de especialistas. Um item e a chave de resposta apresentaram consenso em todas as etapas. No pré-teste, todos os itens receberam 100% de respostas sim ou não, e nenhum recebeu resposta não aplicável. CONCLUSÃO: A adaptação do IRD-Br para o PE foi bem sucedida. A versão para o português europeu do instrumento foi denominada de Instrumento de Rastreio para a Disfonia em português europeu - IRD-PT.