Analysis of the average duration of sick leave due to electrical contact in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors in Spain (2013-2019).

The analysis of the economic impact of occupational health and safety has been side-lined for many years. Various studies have acknowledged the importance of analysing the seriousness of accidents on the basis of the number of working days lost due to injuries sustained in such accidents in different economic sectors. In this longitudinal comparative study, we analyse the average duration of sick leave associated with 4,098,520 accidents that occurred in Spain between 2013 and 2019, and more specifically with 5724 accidents involving direct and indirect electrical contact. Based on the number of lost workdays, the relationship between the seriousness of electrical accidents and the economic sectors where they occur is explored via contingency tables in which statistical Chi-square value (χ2) was calculated. The main results obtained show that the average duration of sick leave shows an upward year-on-year trend in all three economic sectors. In addition, accidents due to direct and indirect electrical contact occur in all sectors, and the injuries produced in this type of accident are more severe than those produced in the sum of all accidents in Spain. Our figures show that the longest duration of sick leave occurs in the primary sector, followed by the tertiary and the secondary sectors. These results should prompt the competent authorisites to require businesses to maintain the equipment and facilities in good order, and to introduce effective supervision programmes that guarantee compliance with the measures enforced and reduce the serious consequences of electrical accidents.

Lower breast cancer survival among Black women in Brazil: a population-based retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the rates of breast cancer survival among Black and White women according to age and stage at diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The study examined women registered in the population-based cancer registry of Campinas in 2010-2014. The primary variable was the declared race (White or Black). Other races were excluded. Data were linked with the Mortality Information System, and missing information was accessed by active search. Overall survival (OS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, comparisons were done by chi-squared tests, and hazard ratios were examined by Cox regression. RESULTS: The total numbers of new cases of staged breast cancer among Black and White women were 218 and 1522 cases, respectively. The rates of stages III/IV were 35.5% among White women and 43.1% among Black women (P = 0.024). The frequencies among White and Black women under 40 years old were 8.0% and 12.4% (P = 0.031), 19.6% and 26.6% (P = 0.016) for ages of 40-49 years, and 23.8% and 17.4% (P = 0.037) for ages of 60-69 years, respectively. The mean OS was 7.5 years (7.0; 8.0) among Black women and 8.4 years (8.2; 8.5) among White women. The 5-year OS was 72.3% among Black women and 80.5% among White women (P = 0.001). Black women had an age-adjusted risk of death that was 1.7 times higher (1.33; 2.20). The risk was 6.4 times higher for diagnoses in stage 0 (1.65; 24.90) and 1.5 times for diagnoses in stage IV (1.04; 2.17). CONCLUSION: The 5-year OS for women with breast cancer was significantly lower among Black women than White women. Black women were more frequently diagnosed in stages III/IV, and their age-adjusted risk of death was 1.7 times higher. Differences in access to care may explain these differences.

Exploring the association of predisposing factors of Cerebral Palsy and developmental defects of enamel: a case-control study.

AIM: To evaluate the occurrence of developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and to analyze the effect of common factors in the etiology of CP on the occurrence of DDE. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out using the modified DDE index to classify enamel defects. The study group (SG) consisted of 45 participants with CP aged between three and 14 years. The control group (CG) consisted of 88 normotypical schoolchildren, paired by gender and age group. Caregivers answered a questionnaire on their socioeconomic status and medical history. The Chi-square tests, bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed (level significance < 0.05). RESULTS: The occurrence of DDE in SG and CG was 60% and 64.8%, respectively (p value = 0.726). The most frequent defect observed in SG was diffuse opacity (44.4%), followed by demarcated opacity (26.7%) and enamel hypoplasia (2.2%). No difference was observed in the defect's distribution among both groups (p value = 0.083). For SG, the bivariate analysis revealed a statically significant association between the presence of DDE and age group 7-14 years old and maternal schooling below 11 years. After adjusting for confounding variables, age, family income and maternal schooling were not associated with DDE. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the occurrence of DDE was high and similar in both groups. The pre, peri or post-natal factors associated with CP were not significant for the presence of DDE.

Physiologic and behavioural signs during a dental appointment in children and teenagers with Cerebral Palsy: a comparative cross-sectional study.

AIM: To evaluate the heart rate (HR) and behaviour of children and teenagers with Cerebral Palsy (CP) when having a dental appointment. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out with 60 participants with CP, between 2 and 14 years old (study group-SG), and 60 normotypical individuals (CG). The sample was paired according to age, gender and socioeconomic status. Behaviour was evaluated during dental prophylaxis using the Frankl Scale, and HR was measured at five moments: before the appointment, when sitting in the dental chair, during the clinical examination, during prophylaxis and immediately after prophylaxis. Mann-Whitney, Friedman and Chi-square tests were applied at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: SG presented significantly higher HR (p < 0.001) and more participants with uncooperative behaviour (p < 0.001) than CG in all observational periods. Furthermore, SG participants with uncooperative behaviour presented higher HR values than those in SG who were cooperative in all observational periods (p ≤ 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with CP have a higher HR before and during the clinical session, and are frequently more uncooperative with the procedure than normotypical individuals.

Molar-incisor hypomineralization: parent's and children's impact perceptions on the oral health-related quality of life.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the perception of parents and children and the impact of molar and incisor hypomineralization (MIH) on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a group of 253 children aged 6-12 years presenting MIH and their parents or guardians who initially answered an interview containing socioeconomic and demographic questions as well as the Parental-Caregiver's Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ). The children answered the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) and Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14) and the clinical evaluation of MIH was performed. Poisson regression with robust variance was used in the data analysis. RESULTS: The parent's perception showed that the impact felt by the children regarding caries leads to a higher oral symptom impact, functional limitation, emotional well-being and total PCPQ score domains, as well. For children with severe MIH, a higher prevalence of impact was felt regarding the functional limitation and emotional well-being. For CPQ8-10, the oral symptoms domain presented the highest mean score, while CPQ11-14 showed the functional limitations domain and P-CPQ the emotional well-being domain. CONCLUSION: Considering the perception of parents or guardians, it was concluded that MIH promotes a negative impact on the OHRQoL. MIH had no significant impact on OHRQoL according to children's perceptions.

Effect of Camellia sinensis teas on left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance in dyslipidemic mice.

The control of dyslipidemia using plants is an important subject of studies since it has numerous benefits in cardiovascular protection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three Camellia sinensis L. teas (green, red, and white) on left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLr-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet. The LDLr-/- mice were divided into four experimental groups: Group C: standard feed; Group CT: standard feed and three teas, Group HL: high-fat feed; HLT Group: high-fat feed and three teas. The three types of tea (green, red, and white) originated from different processing of the Camellia sinensis L. plant, and were administered associated once a day at a dose of 25 mg/kg by gavage for 60 days. The teas partially prevented hyperlipidemia, the decrease of the serum levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), insulin resistance, and increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and completely prevented left ventricular hypertrophy in LDLr -/- mice of the HLT group. In conclusion, the three Camellia sinensis L. teas used to control genetic dyslipidemia associated with a high-fat diet can be used as an auxiliary treatment associated with the control of lipid intake, thus promoting cardiac protection against hyperlipidemia.

Effect of Camellia sinensis teas on left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance in dyslipidemic mice

The control of dyslipidemia using plants is an important subject of studies since it has numerous benefits in cardiovascular protection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three Camellia sinensis L. teas (green, red, and white) on left ventricular hypertrophy and insulin resistance in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLr-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet. The LDLr-/- mice were divided into four experimental groups: Group C: standard feed; Group CT: standard feed and three teas, Group HL: high-fat feed; HLT Group: high-fat feed and three teas. The three types of tea (green, red, and white) originated from different processing of the Camellia sinensis L. plant, and were administered associated once a day at a dose of 25 mg/kg by gavage for 60 days. The teas partially prevented hyperlipidemia, the decrease of the serum levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), insulin resistance, and increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and completely prevented left ventricular hypertrophy in LDLr -/- mice of the HLT group. In conclusion, the three Camellia sinensis L. teas used to control genetic dyslipidemia associated with a high-fat diet can be used as an auxiliary treatment associated with the control of lipid intake, thus promoting cardiac protection against hyperlipidemia.

Comparison of neurosensory devices in detecting cutaneous thresholds related to protective sensibility: A cross-sectional study in São Paulo, Brazil.

AIMS: To quantify the static and moving cutaneous sensibility threshold of diabetic patients using a neurosensory device for quantitative pressure detection. METHODS: Three hundred thirty-four (n = 334) patients with type 2 diabetes and no previous history of wounds on the feet were studied using the one- and two-point static (1SP;2 SP) and one- and two-point moving (1MP;2 MP) tests through the pressure-specified sensory device (PSSD) on the cutaneous territory of the dorsal first web, hallux pulp, and medial calcaneal. In addition, patients were evaluated using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) No. 5.07 and tuning fork (128 Hz), which were used as normality parameters to detect the loss of protective sensibility. The same examinations were used to assess the control group (228 nondiabetic). RESULTS: Altered values were observed for the static and moving tests over the three studied nerve territories. In comparing the sensibility threshold between diabetic patients who were sensitive and nonsensitive to SWM 5.07, we observed that this filament is not the most indicated for identifying the loss of sensibility in these patients. The prevalence of patients at risk varied between 85 and 89%. The biochemical marker associated with these high rates was HbA1c (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Numeric quantification of the pressure threshold allowed us to determine the functional deficit of nerve fibers. Our findings suggest that the neurosensory device should be used as an adjuvant tool to evaluate the degree of loss of sensation on the skin.

Understanding the Environmental Impact of a Mine Dam Rupture in Brazil: Prospects for Remediation.

The rupture of the Fundão mine dam in Mariana municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, spilled the tailings across the Doce River basin. These tailings, composed of residues discarded from the beneficiation of iron ore, are rich in SiO and AlO, as well as some ether amine compounds and NaOH. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of these sediments, as well as their effect on the riparian zones reached, as compared with preserved sites. Sediment deposition in the river resulted in a morphological change from a meandering profile to a braided aspect. The nutrient and mineral content (P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and NO) and soil organic matter of the sediments were depleted, whereas NH, Na, and pH increased. A random presence of ether amines in the sediments was confirmed by quantitative and chromatographic analyses, with concentrations ranging from 0 to 57.8 mg kg; Na reached values as high as 150 mg kg. The impact of the dam tailings on biota was assessed by estimating total microbial biomass (phospholipid fatty acids), which were depleted in sediments relative to soils from preserved sites. Overall plant mortality, as well as a low resilience capacity, were also observed. Ether amines and Na present in the sediments had a strong toxic effect in the environment. Identification of these substances as the main impact factors will help guide future remediation efforts.

Impact of root canal preparation performed by ProTaper Next or Reciproc on the quality of life of patients: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To compare the impact of the two different root canal preparation systems on the quality of life of patients and correlate postoperative pain with the impact on quality of life. METHODOLOGY: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 58 patients allocated into two groups based on the root canal preparation system employed: ProTaper Next (PN) or Reciproc (R). Data collection involved the administration of a questionnaire addressing demographic and clinical characteristics, the OHIP-14 (quality of life) and a visual analog scale (pain). The latter two were the outcomes of interest and were administered in the first 24 h after root canal treatment. The data were submitted to descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis, Poisson univariate and multiple regression, and Spearman's correlation test, with a 5% significance level. RESULTS: A greater frequency of impact after treatment was found for the items 'uncomfortable to eat food' and 'felt self-conscious'. No significant difference between groups was found regarding the severity of impact for total OHIP-14 score or any of the domain scores. CONCLUSIONS: The two root canal preparation systems exerted a similar impact on quality of life. Postoperative pain was correlated with impact on quality of life, affecting chewing function, self-consciousness and stress. Thus, it is important for dentists to provide care capable of preventing or treating the negative consequences of such therapy.

Association between chewing dysfunctions and temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review.

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an umbrella condition presenting several signs and symptoms including pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masticatory muscles, articular noises, earache, headache, irregular or restricted jaw function, chewing difficulty, and limited mouth opening. Such TMD impairment may cause disorders during the chewing process. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to assess chewing dysfunctions measured by sEMG, and their association with TMD. A combination and variation in the descriptors "temporomandibular joint disorders", "masticatory dysfunctions", and electromyography were used to perform the searches across databases. The databases chosen were: LILACS, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. Additionally, grey literature was assessed using Google Scholar, ProQuest, and OpenGrey. Studies in adults that diagnosed TMD through the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) or Helkimo Protocol were selected. Furthermore, those studies should have evaluated chewing processes through surface electromyography (sEMG). Risk of bias of the included studies was assessed through the Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (MAStARI) tool. Eleven included studies shown significant results; however, they evaluated discrepant parameters, presented high inconsistency in the application, and had chosen different tasks to analyse the sEMG and hence, there was no consensus in the results of studies. In conclusion, strength of recommendations was very low due to a series of limitations on studies and it was not possible to made categorical statement about association between TMD and chewing dysfunctions in adults when parameters of sEMG were analysed.

Anthropization as a determinant factor in the genetic structure of Copernicia prunifera (Arecaceae).

This study uses ISSR molecular markers to characterize the demographic pattern, and spatial genetic structure (SGS) at different life stages of development (cohorts) in a natural population of Copernicia prunifera in the Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. All individuals were sampled and georeferenced in a 0.55-ha plot. The demographic analyses showed a clustered pattern in the first-distance classes and a random or segregated pattern at higher distance classes for all cohorts. Among the three studied life stages, juveniles showed the greatest value for Nei's genetic diversity index (HE = 0.369), while the lowest was found among reproductive adults (HE = 0.341). Greater genetic differentiation was found within life stages (98.61%) than among stages (1.39%). The total population (N = 161) showed positive and significant kinship in the first-distance class (12.3 m). The juveniles showed significant kinship up to 10.5 m. Non-reproductive adults had a positive kinship in the first-distance class (11.0 m) and a random distribution of genotypes in the remaining classes, while reproductive adults showed a random spatial distribution of genotypes. Tests for genetic bottleneck showed that the number of loci with excess observed heterozygosity was greater than expected. The SGS results reflected the restricted seed dispersion of the species, and the genetic bottleneck reflected the reduction of genotypes as a result of the anthropization of C. prunifera natural environments.

Impact of periodontal disease on quality of life: a systematic review.

The diagnosis of periodontal disease is commonly based on objective evaluations of the patient's medical/dental history as well as clinical and radiographic examinations. However, periodontal disease should also be evaluated subjectively through measures that quantify its impact on oral health-related quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of periodontal disease on quality of life among adolescents, adults and older adults. A systematic search of the literature was performed for scientific articles published up to July 2015 using electronic databases and a manual search. Two independent reviewers performed the selection of the studies, extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality. Thirty-four cross-sectional studies involving any age group, except children, and the use of questionnaires for the assessment of the impact of periodontal disease on quality of life were included. Twenty-five studies demonstrated that periodontal disease was associated with a negative impact on quality of life, with severe periodontitis exerting the most significant impact by compromising aspects related to function and esthetics. Unlike periodontitis, gingivitis was associated with pain as well as difficulties performing oral hygiene and wearing dentures. Gingivitis was also negatively correlated with comfort. The results indicate that periodontal disease may exert an impact on quality of life of individuals, with greater severity of the disease related to greater impact. Longitudinal studies with representative samples are needed to ensure validity of the findings.

Minimally invasive mastectomy: minimal incisions for better aesthetic quality of breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Women with a family history of breast cancer who develop this disease are confronted with important situations regarding the increased risk for development of a second cancer in the contralateral breast. Prophylactic contralateral mastectomy (PCM) reduces by approximately 95% the risk for contralateral breast cancer. In spite of an increase in indications for PCM, the technical difficulties are many regarding the accomplishment of these procedures. The aim of this study is to describe the technique of mastectomy with preservation of the nipple-areola complex and a small incision, reducing surgical difficulties and complications attributed to this technique, thus allowing better aesthetic results in breast reconstruction. METHODS: Forty-six patients with indications for PCM (28 bilateral) were submitted to minimally invasive mastectomy from March 2005 to November 2007. A small incision in the superior pole of the areola, sufficient to pass a liposuction 4 mm cannula is made. With the help of this cannula, detachment of the skin from the gland tissue is performed. Then a 3.5 to 4.5-cm long incision in the inframammary fold is made. Glandular detachment is completed using cautery in the subglandular portion and scissors in the upper breast portion cutting the restraints left by the cannula. The mammary gland tissue is removed through this incision. RESULTS: Seventy-four breasts were operated on. The resected breast mass ranged from 285 g to 475 g. All 43 patients were reconstructed with prostheses. There was no necrosis of the nipple-areola complex or of the skin. CONCLUSIONS: This technique is an option for cases of patients with indications for PCM.

Effect of fluoride gels on occlusal fissures in primary molars: an in vitro study.

AIM: To assess the effect of the application of fluoride gels on the acid resistance of occlusal enamel in primary molars. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-five primary second molars were randomly assigned to three groups: a) control (pH-cycling); b) 2% NaF gel/pH-cycling; and c) 1.23% APF gel/pH-cycling. METHODS: Specimens were longitudinally sectioned in the buccal-lingual direction and used for cross-sectional microhardness testing. Knoop hardness values were converted into vol.% mineral and mineral loss (ΔZ) was then calculated. STATISTICS: The response variables were vol.% mineral and ΔZ. Data were tested using parametric tests at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between groups regarding vol.% mineral or ΔZ. CONCLUSIONS: A single application of a high concentration fluoride compound does not promote greater resistance to demineralisation in enamel pits and fissures, regardless of the product used.

Chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is the main complication of chemotherapy and radiotherapy used in the treatment of cancer. Phototherapy has proven effective in the treatment of mucositis, as it accelerates the tissue healing process and has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. CASE REPORT: This paper reports the case of a paediatric patient with oral mucositis stemming from chemotherapy employed for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. TREATMENT: The lesions were treated daily with a light-emitting diode (LED). FOLLOWUP: Remission of the lesions occurred after 10 days of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: LED was effective in the treatment of mucositis, as it diminished pain symptoms and accelerated the tissue repair process.

Identification of Staphylococcus spp. isolated during the ripening process of a traditional minas cheese / Identificação de Staphylococcus spp. isolados durante o processo de maturação de um queijo-de-minas tradicional

The population dynamics of Staphylococcus spp. was studied during the ripening of Canastra Minas cheese at three farms located in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The presence of coagulase (coa), thermonuclease (nuc), and enterotoxin (sea, seb, sec, and sed) genes was investigated in Staphylococcus strains isolated during the 60-day cheese-ripening period. The presence of the staphylococcal enterotoxins A, C, and D was also investigated in the cheese samples. Cheese samples that were matured for 0, 7, 15, 30, and 45 days presented staphylococci counts from 10³ to 10(8)cfu/g. All isolates considered coagulase-positive by physiological tests had the coa gene. However, no association was observed between the results obtained with biochemical tests and those obtained by PCR using gene-specific primers for coagulase-negative strains. Coagulase and thermonuclease genes occurred simultaneously in 41.3 percent of Staphylococcus spp. tested. None of the investigated Staphylococcus strains expressed enterotoxins SEA, SEB, SEC, and SED. Enterotoxins A, C, and D were not detected in any of the cheese samples.

Estudou-se a dinâmica das populações de Staphylococcus spp. durante a maturação do queijo Canastra, em três fazendas localizadas no estado de Minas Gerais. A presença dos genes que codificam para a produção das enzimas coagulase (coa), termonuclease (nuc) e produção de enterotoxinas (sea, seb, sec e sed), em linhagens de Staphylococcus isoladas durante os 60 dias de maturação do queijo foi analisada. Também foi investigada a presença de enterotoxina estafilocócica A, C e D nas amostras de queijo. As amostras de queijo com 0, 7, 15, 30 e 45 dias de maturação apresentaram contagens de Staphylococcus spp. entre 10³ e 10(8)ufc / g. Todos os isolados coagulase positivo nos testes fisiológicos apresentaram o gene coa. Não foi observada associação entre os resultados obtidos com os testes bioquímicos e aqueles obtidos com a PCR usando iniciadores gene-específicos para linhagens coagulase negativa. Os genes da coagulase e termonuclease ocorreram simultaneamente em 41,3 por cento dos Staphylococcus spp. testados. Nenhum dos isolados de Staphylococcus apresentou os genes que codificam para a produção das enterotoxinas SEA, SEB, SEC ou SED. As enterotoxinas A, C ou D não foram detectadas em nenhuma das amostras de queijo analisadas.

Salivary parameters in Brazilian individuals with cerebral palsy who drool.

BACKGROUND: Although drooling of saliva is considered abnormal in a child over 4 years of age, it has been estimated to occur in approximately in 10-37% of children with cerebral palsy. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the flow rate, pH and buffering capacity in saliva of Brazilian individuals with cerebral palsy who drool. METHODS: Cross-sectional assessment of saliva from 139 individuals with cerebral palsy (3-16 years old) enrolled in a specialized rehabilitation centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil, divided into two groups, according to the presence (G1) or absence (G2) of drooling and controls (G3): G1 consisted of 63 individuals who drool; G2 consisted of 76 who do not drool; and G3 consisted of 47 individuals with no neurological damage of similar age and sex. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected and salivary flow rate (mL/min), initial pH and buffering capacity, by titration of saliva with a constant amount of 0.01 N HCl, were evaluated. The results from G1, G2 and G3 were compared by one-way anova and the χ(2) -test. RESULTS: A higher percentage of severe drooling (60.3%) was observed compared with moderate (27.0%) and mild (12.7%) in the cerebral palsy individuals who drool and the prevalence of drooling was highest among children and adolescents with spastic quadriplegia. Significant reductions in salivary flow rate, initial pH, buffering capacity of whole saliva in pH range 6.0-6.9 and total buffering capacity occurred in G1 and G2 compared with G3. CONCLUSION: All individuals with cerebral palsy present lower flow rate, pH and buffering capacity of saliva, which increases the risk of oral diseases.

Activin-related proteins in bovine mammary gland: localization and differential expression during gestational development and differentiation.

Bovine mammary gland morphogenesis and differentiation are regulated by actions of growth factors including members of the transforming growth factor ß superfamily. Activins A and B, which are members of the transforming growth factor ß superfamily, bind selectively to ActRIB and ActRIIA receptors and their biological effects are antagonized by inhibins and follistatins. In the present paper we evaluated gene and protein expression of the activin and inhibin subunits ßA, ßB, and α-inhibin and follistatin and ActRIB and ActRIIA receptors in the mammary gland of nonpregnant and pregnant heifers. Mammary glands were obtained from nonpregnant Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers (n=9) and from primigravid Nelore heifers during early (n=9), mid (n=6), and late (n=5) pregnancy. Specimens of mammary tissue were analyzed by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The ßA and α-inhibin subunits and ActRIB and ActRIIA mRNA expression was higher in the early-pregnancy group compared with the nonpregnant group. In the mid-pregnancy group, the subunits ßA, ßB, and α-inhibin as much as follistatin mRNA expression was higher compared with the nonpregnant group, whereas ActRIB transcripts were absent in the late-pregnancy group. Immunostaining of these proteins, with the exception of ActRIB, was observed in the mammary tissue sections at all time points analyzed; these findings are in agreement with the observed pattern of mRNA expression. Staining and mRNA expression for ActRIB were undetected in the late-pregnancy group. In summary, the present study demonstrated that the activin-related proteins, ßA, ßB, and α-inhibin subunits, as much as follistatin and ActRIB and ActRIIA receptors display different patterns of expression regarding time of gestation in the bovine mammary gland. The modulation of the expression pattern during gestation suggests that activin-related proteins may play a key role in regulating bovine mammary branching morphogenesis and epithelial differentiation.