Is cribriform pattern in prostate biopsy a risk factor for metastatic disease on 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT?

INTRODUCTION: Cribriform growth pattern (CP) in prostate cancer (PCa) has been associated with different unfavourable oncological outcomes. This study addresses if CP in prostate biopsies is an independent risk factor for metastatic disease on PSMA PET/CT. METHODS: Treatment-naive patients with ISUP GG ≥ 2 staged with 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT diagnosed from 2020 to 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. To test if CP in biopsies was an independent risk factor for metastatic disease on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT, regression analyses were performed. Secondary analyses were performed in different subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 401 patients were included. CP was reported in 252 (63%) patients. CP in biopsies was not an independent risk factor for metastatic disease on the 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT (p = 0.14). ISUP grade group (GG) 4 (p = 0.006), GG 5 (p = 0.003), higher PSA level groups per 10 ng/ml until > 50 (p-value between 0.02 and > 0.001) and clinical EPE (p > 0.001) were all independent risk factors. In the subgroups with GG 2 (n = 99), GG 3 (n = 110), intermediate-risk group (n = 129) or the high-risk group (n = 272), CP in biopsies was also not an independent risk factor for metastatic disease on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. If the EAU guideline recommendation for performing metastatic screening was applied as threshold for PSMA PET/CT imaging, in 9(2%) patients, metastatic disease was missed, and 18% fewer PSMA PET/CT would have been performed. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study found that CP in biopsies was not an independent risk factor for metastatic disease on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT.

Effect of resistance training combined with ß-glucan ingestion on bone of ovariectomized mice.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of resistance training (RT) combined with prebiotic ß-glucan (BG) ingestion (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. METHODS: Forty-eight mice were divided into six treatments: SHAM group and five OVX groups treated with saline (SAL), alendronate (ALE) (0.1 mg/kg), BG (62.5 mg/kg), RT (climbing a ladder with load) and the combination of BG + RT. All treatments were performed three times per week for 8 weeks starting 38 days after ovariectomy. RESULTS: OVX effectiveness was confirmed by a reduction in uterus mass (p < 0.05). Femur weight was higher in the SHAM group, followed by the ALE and RT groups with intermediate values and the BG + RT, BG and SAL groups with the lowest values (p < 0.05). The bone mineral density (BMDDEXA) results were higher for the SHAM and RT groups compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). RT provided similar bone mass and resistance to fracture to ALE and SHAM. We found a similar number of osteocytes in the RT and SHAM groups, which was significantly higher than that found in animals receiving BG (p < 0.05). The BG + RT combination increased calcium bone concentration. CONCLUSION: RT promoted benefits on bone health in the OVX model, which were not complemented by the consumption of BG.

Addition of chlorogenic acid and caffeine during the processing of cooled boar semen / Adição de ácido clorogênico e cafeína durante o processamento do sêmen suíno resfriado

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of chlorogenic acid (ChA) added pre-cooling and its combination with caffeine added during warming on cooled-stored boar semen parameters. Ten ejaculates were diluted in commercial extender with or without 4.5mg/ml ChA and stored at 15°C. After 0, 24 and 72 hours of storage, aliquots of these doses were taken and incubated at 37°C in the presence or absence of 8.0mM caffeine. Semen quality was evaluated after 10 and 120 minutes of incubation. The ChA increased (P <0.01) the sperm motility, viability, acrosomal integrity and the percentage of spermatozoa with high mitochondrial activity (PMHA), however, decreased (P <0.01) the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Caffeine increased (P<0.05) the sperm motility, viability, PMHA and the MDA concentration and reduced (P <0.05) the acrosome integrity. When associated (ChA+caffeine), there was an increase (P <0.05) in sperm motility and viability, PMHA and acrosome integrity. The addition of ChA to the dilution medium improves the quality of the swine inseminating doses. The addition of caffeine during re-warming is only recommended when the semen is stored for prolonged periods (72h), and the inseminating dose should be used immediately after its addition.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da adição de ácido clorogênico (ChA) antes do resfriamento e sua combinação com cafeína adicionada durante o reaquecimento sobre a qualidade do sêmen suíno resfriado. Dez ejaculados foram diluídos em diluidor comercial com adição ou não de 4,5mg/mL de ChA e armazenados a 15°C. Após zero, 24 e 72 horas de armazenamento, 10mL foram retirados e incubados a 37°C na presença ou ausência de 8,0mM de cafeína. A qualidade seminal foi avaliada após 10 e 120 minutos de incubação. O ChA aumentou (P<0,01) a motilidade, a viabilidade, a integridade acrosomal e a porcentagem de espermatozoides com alta atividade mitocondrial (PMHA), entretanto diminuiu (P<0,01) a concentração de malondialdeído (MDA). A cafeína aumentou (P<0,05) a motilidade, a viabilidade, a PMHA e a concentração de MDA e reduziu a integridade acrossomal. Quando associados (ChA+cafeína), houve aumento (P<0,05) na motilidade, na PMHA, na viabilidade e na integridade acrossomal. Conclui-se que a adição de ChA ao meio de diluição melhora a qualidade das doses inseminantes de suínos. A adição de cafeína durante o reaquecimento só é recomendada ao sêmen adicionado de ChA quando esse for armazenado por períodos prolongados (72h), devendo a dose inseminante ser utilizada imediatamente após sua adição.(AU)

Polarization-controlled orbital angular momentum switching in nonlinear wave mixing.

We demonstrate polarization-controlled switching of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) transfer in nonlinear wave mixing. By adjusting the input beam geometry, we are able to produce a three-channel orbital OAM, with arbitrary topological charges simultaneously generated and spatially resolved in the second-harmonic wavelength. The use of path and polarization degrees of freedom allows nearly perfect optical switching between different OAM operations. These results are supported by a theoretical model showing very good agreement with the experiments.

Arginine for gestating sows and foetal development: A systematic review.

The use of functional amino acids during pregnancy has been linked to improved reproduction in mammals. In this context, arginine is a precursor in the synthesis of numerous molecules, such as nitric oxide and polyamines, which play an important role during reproduction. However, contradictory studies are found in the literature, particularly regarding the amount of supplementation and the period of pregnancy in which it is used. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary arginine supplementation for pregnant sows on foetal development via a systematic review. The search for papers was performed during the month of December 2015, in the databases ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, and SciELO. From a total of 5675 returned studies, only 13 papers were selected after applying selection criteria. Most (47%) of the studies that evaluated the effects of dietary arginine supplementation on foetal development in pigs used 1% arginine. Supplementation was initiated in the first third of pregnancy in 47% of tests, including in both primiparous and multiparous sows. These studies showed positive results for embryo survival and foetal development, evidenced by the increase in placental weight and the number and weight of piglets born alive. Of all evaluated studies, 53% showed benefits on foetal development. It is concluded that supplementing dietary arginine in gestating sows can benefit embryo survival and foetal development. However, to establish a supplementation plan with this amino acid, aspects related to the period of pregnancy, supplementation levels, and source of arginine must be well defined.

In ovo feeding of carbohydrates for broilers-a systematic review.

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence that the injection of carbohydrate-based solutions into embryonated eggs improves broiler performance. A literature search was conducted in April 2017 using the keywords broiler, carbohydrate, in ovo, nutrition and poultry. Only papers that involved in ovo carbohydrate injections in poultry were used in this study. After specific selection criteria, 17 papers were selected. The quality scoring system of the selected studies was based on the injection methodology, use of control groups, type of solution injected, period of injection, egg and hens characteristics, number of variables analysed and the statistical design. Among papers, there was no standardised procedure in to inoculate the solutions. Nevertheless, in general, in ovo feeding of carbohydrates decreases the hatch rate, improves the hatch weight, but it does not seem to influence the post-hatch performance of broilers. The inoculation of 75 mg of glucose in the albumen seems to bring better results. Further studies are needed to improve the technical methodology of in ovo injections for commercial use.

Effects of beta-glucans ingestion (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on metabolism of rats receiving high-fat diet.

We investigated the effects of beta-glucans (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) ingestion on metabolic parameters of Wistar rats receiving high-fat diet. The experimental period was divided into two stages: in the first one, the animals were divided into two groups containing 12 animals each. The first group received commercial feed and the second received high-fat diet containing 20% of pork fat during 60 days. At the end of this period, body weight, blood glucose and Lee index were assessed. In the second stage, those 24 animals were redivided into four groups: (C) - control diet; (CB) - control diet and treated with Beta-glucan (BG); (O) - obese animals and (OB) - obese animals treated with BG. Animals from groups CB and OB received 30 mg/kg of BG dissolved in saline solution by gavage. Animals from groups C and O received only saline solution for 28 days. The design used was totally randomized in 2 × 2 factorial scheme. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (anova). Animals from OB group showed inferior levels (p < 0.05) of total cholesterol (13.33%), triacylglycerols (16.77%) and blood glucose (23.97%) when compared to the animals from group O. The use of BG has provided smaller increase in Lee index (p < 0.05), without promoting alteration in feed and water consumption, organs weight, HDL-C, LDL+VLDL-C, carcass composition, villus/crypt ratio, and pancreas, kidney and stomach histology. BG from S. cerevisiae promoted beneficial metabolic effects in rats receiving high-fat diet.

Effects of in ovo feeding with glycerol for broilers.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of in ovo feeding with glycerol on post-hatch development in broiler chicks. A total of 408 fertile eggs were divided into six experimental groups consisting of five 0.9% saline solutions containing various concentrations of glycerol (12.5, 25.0, 37.5 and 50.0 nmol/ml), and a placebo group (inoculation with saline only) and a control group (without inoculation). Inoculations were performed at 17 days of incubation for the evaluation of hatchability, embryo mortality, body and viscera weights, intestinal epithelium morphometry, blood glucose and liver glycerol kinase activity of chicks at hatching. Inoculation of solutions containing glycerol did not influence body weight at hatching and relative weights of liver, pancreas, intestine and breast. There was a quadratic effect of glycerol levels on the weights of yolk residue and gizzard and on blood glucose, and an increasing linear effect on spleen and heart weights. Higher duodenum and ileum villous height and deeper jejunum and ileum crypts were obtained with 50.0 nmol/ml of glycerol. A linear increasing effect was also observed in liver glycerol kinase activity; however, lower blood glucose was observed with 37.5 and 50 nmol/ml of glycerol. It is therefore concluded that glycerol may be used at doses of 25 nmol/ml as a substrate in in ovo feeding of broiler chickens. However, further studies must be conducted not only to establish an optimal dose but also to evaluate the combination of this substrate with other nutrients used in the in ovo feeding.

The use of papain gel cream and sunflower oil in promoting healing in a wound in dogs: three case reports / Uso de gel creme de papaína na cicatrização de feridas em cães: relato de três casos

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme removed from the leaves of green papaya and/or latex. This enzyme is widely known as a medicinal fruit used extensively in human medicine for the treatment of wounds of various etiologies. However, studies and reports in veterinary medicine are scarce. Another herbal drug widely used in wound healing is Sunflower oil (Helianthus annus). It has inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which stimulate the local neovascularization, promoting tissue granulation, cell migration, fibroblast proliferation, and differentiation. Three dogs were treated with infected necrosis wounds, considered large, extent, and severe, with varied etiology. All cases were treated with papain gel with the exception of one dog, which was given the sunflower oil at the end of the treatment. Papain gel shows effectiveness in the treatment of wounds especially with wound debridement and removal of necrotic tissue. In addition, the healing time was shorter when compared to the treatment with sunflower oil. Finally, the herbal drugs have a low cost and high accessibility. This study contributes to create a new research regarding the use of this drug in animal wound healing.(AU)

A papaína é uma enzima proteolítica retirada do mamão-papaia verde e/ou do látex das folhas do mamoeiro, tendo propriedades medicinais conhecidas na medicina humana para tratamento de feridas de diversas etiologias. Estudos e/ou relatos na medicina veterinária são escassos. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se descrever três casos de cães, que foram atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brasil, todos com feridas infectadas, necrosadas, com etiologia variada e consideradas de grande extensão e gravidade, sendo tratados com gel de papaína. O tratamento demonstrou efetividade na recuperação das feridas, com a formação de grande quantidade de tecido de granulação, em um período menor que os tratamentos convencionais. Por se tratar de um fitoterápico, de baixo custo e alta acessibilidade, o gel de papaína pode ser utilizado no tratamento de feridas de grande extensão em cães e, assim como em humanos, parece ter um efeito benéfico no processo de cicatrização. Pesquisas devem ser conduzidas para elucidar a ação desse produto nos tecidos, bem como as diferentes concentrações a serem administradas.(AU)

Incidence of the second parity syndrome in sows from a commercial farm / Incidência de síndrome do segundo parto em fêmeas suínas de uma granja comercial

O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a ocorrência da síndrome do segundo parto em uma granja comercial de suínos e apresentar alternativas para minimizar esse problema reprodutivo. Os dados foram obtidos de 363 fêmeas de genética comercial (DB-30) de primeiro e segundo partos, entre os anos de 2010 e 2011. Os animais pertenciam a uma granja comercial de ciclo completo com 1200 matrizes, cujos índices zootécnicos não permitiam detectar a presença da síndrome do segundo parto. O período de lactação foi de 24,6±3,3 dias. Foram analisados o número de nascidos totais e nascidos vivos, o peso da leitegada ao nascimento, o número de desmamados e o peso ao desmame do lote e também individualmente de cada marrã ao longo do ano. As médias e o desvio-padrão foram calculados, e os dados obtidos no primeiro e no segundo parto foram comparados pelo teste t pareado a 5%. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) no número de nascidos totais e no número de nascidos vivos entre o primeiro e o segundo parto. No entanto, constatou-se que 54% das fêmeas apresentaram igual ou menor número de nascidos no segundo parto, caracterizando a síndrome do segundo parto na maior parte dos animais. Nesse lote, o número de leitões nascidos a menos em relação ao primeiro ciclo reprodutivo foi de 3,6±2,9. Das 363 matrizes avaliadas, 153 (42%) apresentaram 16 ou mais leitões no primeiro parto. Destas, 92 (60%) tiveram menor número de leitões no segundo parto e 41 (27%) apresentaram maior número de leitões. Também se verificou maior incidência (50% ou mais) da síndrome do segundo parto nos meses de janeiro a março e de outubro a dezembro. Conclui-se que a síndrome do segundo parto é um problema que pode afetar 50% ou mais das matrizes, nem sempre detectada por meio dos índices zootécnicos da granja. Medidas como pesagem dos animais na primeira cobertura e logo após o desmame, além de programas de alimentação com dietas balanceadas, principalmente durante os meses mais quentes do ano, são ferramentas importantes para amenizar esse problema.(AU)

The influence of oral processing, food perception and social aspects on food consumption: a review.

Eating is an essential activity to get energy and necessary nutrients for living. While chewing, the food is broken down by the teeth and dissolved by saliva. Taste, flavour and texture are perceived during chewing and will contribute to the appreciation of the food. The senses of taste and smell play an important role in selecting nutritive food instead of toxic substances. Also visual information of a food product is essential in the choice and the acceptance of food products, whereas auditory information obtained during the chewing of crispy products will provide information on whether a product is fresh or stale. Food perception does not just depend on one individual sense, but appears to be the result from multisensory integration of unimodal signals. Large differences in oral physiology parameters exist among individuals, which may lead to differences in food perception. Knowledge of the interplay between mastication and sensory experience for groups of individuals is important for the food industry to control quality and acceptability of their products. Environment factors during eating, like TV watching or electronic media use, may also play a role in food perception and the amount of food ingested. Distraction during eating a meal may lead to disregard about satiety and fullness feelings and thus to an increased risk of obesity. Genetic and social/cultural aspects seem to play an important role in taste sensitivity and food preference. Males generally show larger bite size, larger chewing power and a faster chewing rhythm than females. The size of swallowed particles seems to be larger for obese individuals, although there is no evidence until now of an 'obese chewing style'. Elderly people tend to have fewer teeth and consequently a less good masticatory performance, which may lead to lower intakes of raw food and dietary fibre. The influence of impaired mastication on food selection is still controversial, but it is likely that it may at least cause adaptation in food choice. Systemic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer, with or without medicine use, tend to be associated with taste and chewing alterations. However, definite conclusions seem hard to reach, as research protocols vary largely.

Oral physiology, nutrition and quality of life in diabetic patients associated or not with hypertension and beta-blockers therapy.

The relationship between type 2 diabetes oral physiology, nutritional intake and quality of life has not been fully elucidated. We assessed the impact of type 2 diabetes - exclusive or associated with hypertension with beta-blockers treatment - on oral physiology, mastication, nutrition and quality of life. This cross-sectional study was performed with 78 complete dentate subjects (15 natural teeth and six masticatory units minimum; without removable or fixed prostheses), divided into three groups: diabetics (DM) (n = 20; 45·4 ± 9·5 years), diabetics with hypertension and receiving beta-blockers treatment (DMH) (n = 19; 41·1 ± 5·1 years) and controls (n = 39; 44·5 ± 11·7 years) matched for gender, age and socioeconomic status. Blood glucose, masticatory performance, swallowing threshold, taste, food intake, stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow, pH and buffering capacity of saliva were assessed. Glycemia was higher in DM than in controls (P < 0·01). No differences were observed between DM and controls for nutrition and quality of life. Both stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rate were lower in DMH (P < 0·01), which also presented the lowest number of teeth and masticatory units (P < 0·0001), and reduction in the number of chewing cycles (P < 0·01). Controls showed lower Decayed Missing Filled Teeth index (DMFT) scores in comparison with DMH (P = 0·021). Masticatory performance and saliva buffering capacity were similar among groups. Exclusive type 2 diabetes did not alter oral physiology, nutrition or quality of life. However, when hypertension and beta-blockers treatment were associated with diabetes, the salivary flow rate, chewing cycles and number of teeth decreased.

Toxicidade subaguda do extrato etanólico das folhas de Myracrodruon urundeuva sobre o ciclo estral de ratas Wistar / Subacute toxicity of Myracrodruon urundeuva leave ethanolic extract and its effects on the estrous cycle of female Wistar rats

RESUMO A fitoterapia, abrangendo o uso popular e empírico de plantas medicinais no combate e prevenção de doenças, deve ser aliada a estudos científicos que comprovem a eficácia e segurança desses compostos. No Brasil, a ampla biodiversidade vegetal da região nordeste favorece o uso e estudo de plantas com potenciais terapêuticos. A Aroeira do Sertão (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.) é uma espécie pertencente à família Anacardiaceae, comum no semiárido, desde o Piauí até Minas Gerais. Seu uso é diverso e disseminado por todo o País, sendo indispensáveis estudos de suas potencialidades e riscos. Devido à ampla utilização da Myracrodruon Urundeuva de forma empírica, este trabalho tem por objetivo a pesquisa de efeitos tóxicos com doses repetidas do extrato etanólico de Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem. (EEMU) e sua influência no ciclo estral de ratas Wistar. No protocolo de toxicidade subaguda foram utilizadas 25 ratas Wistar, divididas em 5 grupos (n=5), tratadas com diferentes doses do EEMU (125, 250, 500 e 1000 mg/kg) e água destilada (controle) por um período de 28 dias. Nesse período foram realizadas mensurações do consumo de água e ração e avaliação comportamental. Esses animais foram avaliados diariamente quanto a fase do ciclo estral, por meio de esfregaço vaginal a fresco, sendo observada a frequência de cada fase bem como o intervalo interestro. As ratas foram anestesiadas e o sangue foi coletado para a realização dos ensaios bioquímicos. Em seguida, foram eutanasiadas para coleta e avaliação dos órgãos internos. Durante o período de avaliação, não foram observadas alterações de comportamento, nem de consumo de água ou ração. A evolução ponderal dos animais não diferiu entre os grupos tratados. A concentração sérica de ALT foi maior nos animais tratados com EEMU 1000 mg/kg. As ratas tratadas com o extrato não apresentaram alterações significativas na frequência das fases do ciclo estral bem como duração do estro e intervalo entre estros, quando comparadas ao grupo controle. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo não apontam alterações tóxicas significativas, sistêmicas ou sobre o ciclo estral, de ratas Wistar tratadas com o extrato, nas doses avaliadas, por um período de 28 dias.

ABSTRACT The herbal medicine, comprising the popular and empirical use of medicinal plants in combating and preventing diseases, should be combined with scientific studies that prove the effectiveness and safety of these compounds. In Brazil, the vast plant biodiversity of the Northeast favors the use and study of plants with therapeutic potential. Aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.) is a species of the Anacardiaceae family, common in the semiarid region, from Piauí to Minas Gerais. Its use is diverse and widespread throughout the country, making studies of its potential and risks necessary. Due to the wide use of Myracrodruon urundeuva in an empirical form, this paper aims to research toxic effects with repeated doses of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.ethanol extract (EEMU) and its influence on the estrous cycle of female Wistar rats. In a subacute toxicity protocol 35 female Wistar rats were used, divided into 5 groups (n=5) treated with different doses of EEMU (125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) and distilled water (control) for 28 days. In this period measurements of water intake, feed consumption were carried out and a behavioral assessment was performed. The estrous cycles of these animals were evaluated daily by fresh vaginal smear, it the frequency of each phase as well as the inter-estrus intervals were observed. The rats were anesthetized and blood was collected for the biochemical assays. Then they were euthanized for the collection and evaluation of internal organs. During the evaluation period, there were no observed behavioral changes nor were the water or food consumption variations. The weight gain of the animals did not differ between treatment groups. The serum ALT was higher in animals treated with EEMU 1000 mg/kg. The rats treated with the extract showed no significant changes in the frequency of the phases of the estrous cycle, estrus duration and estrus interval when compared to the control group. The results of this study do not indicate significant toxic alterations, neither systemic nor on the estrous cycle in female rats treated with the extract, at the evaluated doses, over a period of 28 days.

Metabolic parameters in rats receiving different levels of oral glycerol supplementation.

The use of glycerol in the diets for animals is of interest because it is a residue of biodiesel production and rich in energy. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate metabolic and physiological parameters of rats receiving supplemental pure glycerol by gavage. We used 30 Wistar rats (initial weight 202.7 ± 29.98 g) receiving 0 (control/saline), 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg glycerol/kg of body weight (bidistilled glycerine, 99.85% glycerol) beside food and water ad libitum for 28 days. We used a completely randomised design with five treatments and six replicates. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed, and the results showed that there was no change (p > 0.05) in the intake and excretion of water, the average daily weight gain, dry matter, ash and crude protein in the carcass or plasma triacylglycerols. There was a beneficial effect (p < 0.05) up to a dose of 800 mg/kg glycerol on feed intake, percentage of carcass fat, plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), high-density lipoprotein (HDLc) and low-/very low-density lipoprotein (LDLc + VLDLc). The levels of total cholesterol and glucose were increased with up to a dose of 800 mg/kg glycerol (but remained within the normal range); they were reduced with the dose of 1600 mg/kg. The total leucocyte count tended to be reduced, although it was within the reference values for rats. There were no renal or pancreatic lesions. In conclusion, glycerol presented as a safe supplement at the studied doses, even having some beneficial effects in a dose-dependent manner in rats.

Efficacy of fish embryo vitrification protocols in terms of embryo morphology - a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Embryo cryopreservation has been used for the creation of genetic banks with diploid resources, and among different techniques, vitrification is considered as the most promising method. OBJECTIVE: The goal is to evaluate the major aspects of the existing vitrification techniques and to evaluate their efficacy in terms of embryo morphology. METHODS: Electronic searches in the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were performed with the keyword combination: fish, embryo and vitrification. Pubmed retrieved 26 articles and Science Direct resulted in 464 articles. For this review, only studies that developed and tested vitrification protocols in fish embryos were included. Research regarding cryoprotectant toxicity and permeability were excluded. There were no restrictions on publication date or language. With these criteria, a total of ten articles were evaluated. RESULTS: In these articles, the major aspects to be considered for the development of new vitrification protocols are: the cryoprotectants' toxicity, the embryos' development stage, the exposure to and the permeability of the cryoprotectants, vitrification devices and vitrification-warning cycle. CONCLUSION: The survival were limited, however, the preservation of embryonic morphology after thawing indicates the possibility of preserving fish embryos via the vitrification technique.

The influence of fixed orthodontic appliances on masticatory and swallowing threshold performances.

To test the hypothesis that treatment with orthodontic appliances disturbs masticatory and swallowing performances. Twenty-seven subjects with malocclusions requiring orthodontic treatment were included in this prospective study. The masticatory and swallowing performances were evaluated at five different times: before bracket placement (T0), immediately after archwire placement (T1), 48 h after archwire placement (T2), 30 days after archwire placement (T3) and 3 months after the initial appointment (T4). Masticatory performance was determined by the median particle sizes for the Optocal test food after 15 chewing strokes, and the swallowing thresholds were registered for both the test food and a natural food (peanuts). Pain during mastication was evaluated using a 100-mm visual analogue scale. Masticatory performance was significantly reduced at T2, at which time patients reported the highest pain values. The time spent to the first swallow was increased at T2 for the natural food but not for the test food. The values for pain, masticatory and swallowing performances at T3 and T4 were similar to those at T0. Orthodontic patient masticatory function is only reduced during the period of higher pain experience, which could also disrupt the deglutition of harder foods. However, neither mastication nor deglutition processes were disturbed by orthodontic appliances in long-term treatment.

Electromyographic evaluation of masticatory muscles at rest and maximal intercuspal positions of the mandible in children with sleep bruxism.

UNLABELLED: In adults, sleep bruxism (SB) may be related to reports of pain or fatigue in the muscles of mastication, resulting from multiple muscle contractions that occur during the night. In children, little is known about the consequences of this parafunction. PURPOSE: The objective was to compare the electromyographic activity (EMG) of the masseter and anterior portion of the temporalis muscles in children with and without SB; acquisitions were made at rest (RE) and in maximal intercuspal (MI) positions of the mandible. METHODS: Twenty children with signs and symptoms of SB (mean age 7.20 years ± 0.52) and 20 controls without signs or symptoms of SB (mean age 7.40 years ± 0.50) were selected. The controls were matched to the type of occlusal morphology evaluated according to Björk et al. (Acta Odontol Scand 22:27-40, 1964). Muscle activity was measured with the mandible at RE, MI and maximal clenching with cotton roll (MC), on the left and right sides. Data from the RE and MI (mV) were normalized by calculating them as % MC. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk test, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: The subjects' age did not differ significantly between groups. EMG of temporalis muscle at RE differed between the right and left sides in both groups. There was no significant difference in EMG of masseter and temporalis muscles between groups. CONCLUSION: Children with SB showed no significant difference in EMG of masticatory muscles at RE and in MI positions of the mandible when compared with the control group.

Masticatory performance and taste perception in patients submitted to cancer treatment.

The aim of this study was to analyse mastication and the sense of taste in 39 patients submitted to cancer treatment in different areas of the body and to compare these variables with those of 44 control individuals within the same age range. The following aspects were assessed: dental status (DMFT); stimulated and non-stimulated salivary flow; sense of taste (salty, sweet, bitter and sour); and masticatory performance (MP), through the calculation of X(50). Logistic regression models were established to test the association between the independent variables and cancer treatment. Cancer patients had lesser stimulated salivary flow, a smaller number of teeth and occlusal units, worse MP, higher salty, sweet and sour taste scores and a lower bitter taste score (P < 0·05). A significant positive correlation was found between MP and the DMFT index in both groups (P < 0·05), meaning that a lower DMFT index value denoted a smaller X(50) value (better masticatory performance). The logistic regression model revealed that patients who had undergone cancer treatment had a greater probability of exhibiting a smaller number of teeth, higher salty and smaller bitter taste scores (P < 0·05). It was concluded that patients who were submitted to cancer treatment presented oral physiology alterations when compared with control subjects at the same age range.

Avaliação da adequação legal de receitas e notificações de receita de medicamentos sujeitos a controle especial dos setores públicos e privados / Evaluation of the legal prescription and notifications adequacy for special control medicinesin the public and private sectors

Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram avaliar a adequação legal de receitas de controle especial e notificações de receitas dispensadas em uma Drogaria de Varginha ? MG, estabelecer uma comparação entre as prescrições provenientes da rede pública e privada e detectar as classes de medicamentos mais prescritas. Analisaram-se 960 prescrições através de um formulário com itens obrigatórios de acordo com a legislação vigente. Os dados obtidos foram analisados pelo Teste Qui-quadrado, utilizando a origem das notificações e receitas como desfecho. Considerando as receitas; a única variável que apresentou diferença entre os setores público e privado foi a descrição por extenso da quantidade de medicamento, que foi mais adequadamente cumprida pelo setor privado. Em relação às notificações, a legibilidade foi significativamente mais freqüente em notificações provenientes de centros públicos, enquanto a designação da Unidade Federativa e a descrição por extenso da quantidade de medicamento foram mais presentes no setor privado. Por outro lado, a descrição completa da posologia, da data da notificação, a presença de carimbo e descrição da forma farmacêutica foram mais adequadas no setor público. Nenhuma das prescrições foi considerada totalmente adequada aos dados exigidos pela Portaria 344/98. As classes medicamentosas mais prescritas foram os benzodiazepínicos em notificações de receita e os antidepressivos em receituário de controle especial. Concluiu-se que a prescrição de medicamentos sujeitos a controle especial apresenta falhas de acordo com a legislação vigente.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the legal prescription adequacy in one drugstore located in the south of Minas Gerais state, in order to establish comparisons between the prescriptions of public and private services and to detect the most commonly classes of medicines prescribed. It was analyzed 960 prescriptions in accordance with the current law. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and compared using frequency distribution test(Chi-square test) considering private and public sources of prescription as the dependent variable. Considering special control prescriptions, the extensive description of the amount of medicine was fulfilled more frequently by the private sector. However, for the notifications; legibility, dosage, pharmaceutical form, date of issue and presence of stamp were more frequently present in the public service, while assignment of the Federative Union, the extensive description of the amount of medicine and the dosage was more present in the private sector. None of the evaluated prescriptions was considered totally adjusted with law 344/98. The prescribed medicines more commonly found were benzodiazepines for prescription notifications and antidepressants in special control prescriptions. It was concluded that the medicine prescriptions subjected to special control are frequently not adequate to the current law.