Use of Triticum aestivum in open wound healing: a clinical, pathological, and tensiometric assessment in the rabbit model / Uso de Triticum aestivum na cicatrização de feridas: um ensaio clínico, histopatológico e tensiométrico em coelhos

While Triticum sp. has been shown to act in wound healing, stimulating collagen synthesis by fibroblasts, the use of this plant extract has yet to be assessed in vivo, in commercially viable presentations. This study used rabbits and assessed, on days seven, 14, and 21, the presence or absence of granulation tissue and epithelialization, histopathological structures, and scar quality through the breaking and tension strength. Treatments, performed for 21 days, were aqueous extract of T. aestivum at a concentration of 2mg/mL (group I) and 10mg/mL (group II) and a nonionic cream (control group). We demonstrate that the formation of granulation tissue was not significantly different between treatments. In the analysis of epithelial tissue, wounds in group II differed from other treatments by day 7. On days 14 and 21 there was no significant clinical difference between groups. In the histopathological evaluation, scar quality and rupture strength did not differ between the groups in the studied period. In the tension strength evaluation, group I differed from the others, presenting a higher tension strength overall. The studied treatments did not differ regarding healing evolution of the skin wounds, but T. aestivum extract, at 2mg/mL, presents better results in the tension strength evaluation...

O extrato de trigo (Triticum sp.) vem sendo usado na cicatrização de feridas por estimular a síntese de fibroblastos, entretanto a sua aplicabilidade in vivo em apresentações comercialmente viáveis ainda tem de ser demonstrada. Neste estudo, avaliaram-se feridas cutâneas de coelhos tratadas com extrato aquoso de T. aestivum quanto à presença de tecido de granulação e epitelização, estruturas histológicas, qualidade cicatricial, além de ensaio tensiométrico. As feridas foram tratadas diariamente, por 21 dias, com diferentes concentrações do extrato (grupo I = 2mg/mL; grupo II = 10mg/mL) ou apenas o veículo (grupo controle = creme não iônico), e avaliadas nos dias sete, 14 e 21. A formação de tecido de granulação não diferiu entre os tratamentos. A epitelização aconteceu em menor tempo em feridas do grupo II, mas aos 14 dias já não havia diferença neste parâmetro. Na avaliação histopatológica, a qualidade cicatricial e a força de ruptura não diferiram no período estudado, entretanto a resistência tensiométrica das feridas do grupo I foi maior que a dos demais tratamentos. Dessa forma, conclui-se que, mesmo não havendo diferença na evolução cicatricial de feridas tratadas ou não com extrato aquoso de T. aestivum, o uso desse composto, a 2mg/mL, resultou em tecidos cicatriciais mais resistentes à tração...

Isolation and pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected (rustic farm) pigs in southern Brazil.

This study reported a serological test for Toxoplasma gondii infection in 100 pigs from 58 rural farms in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Thirty-six pigs were seropositive (IFAT≥1:64). Bioassays were performed for all 36 seropositive pigs, and 17 isolates were obtained (47.2%). Seven of these isolates (41.2%) were highly pathogenic to mice, as clinical signs of acute infection were observed, and tachyzoites were found in the peritoneal exudates, livers, and lungs. The remaining 10 isolates were able to establish a chronic infection in mice, therefore, they were not highly virulent. The results of this study indicate that pork is a potential source of T. gondii transmission to humans.

Organ donation: cross-sectional survey of knowledge and personal views of Brazilian medical students and physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior associated with cadaver organ donation and transplantation among medical students and physicians. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomly selected 350 medical students, 150 physicians, and 150 intensive care unit physicians. Each completed a questionnaire consisting of 9 self-administered items, from which we gathered data about their knowledge about brain death and criteria for the diagnosis of brain death; their hypothetical behaviors, assuming willingness to donate their own or their family's organs; their trust in physicians; and their confidence in a diagnosis of brain death made by physicians. RESULTS: We observed that knowledge about brain death increased with medical education level; the best results were noted in intensive care unit physicians. Agreement to transplant organs from brain-dead donors (odds ratio [OR], 4.58), confidence in brain-death diagnosis by physicians (OR, 2.17), and knowledge about criteria for the diagnosis of brain death (OR, 2.26) were predictors of willingness to donate one's own organs. CONCLUSION: Enhanced medical knowledge of and involvement in donation are needed to achieve cadaver organ donation.

Assessing microleakage of different class V restorations after Er:YAG laser and bur preparation.

This study assessed in vitro marginal leakage of class V cavities prepared by turbine and Er:YAG laser and restored with different materials. Sixty cavities with enamel and dentine margins were prepared and assigned to six groups: I, II, III by turbine and IV, V, VI by Er:YAG laser. The following restorative systems were used: groups I and IV: Bond 1 + Alert; II and V: Fuji II LC; III and VI: SBMP + Dispersalloy. After finishing, specimens were thermocycled for 8 h and 45 min (500 cycles), isolated, immersed in a 0.2% Rhodamine B solution, sectioned oro-facially and analysed for leakage. The dye penetration means (%) were: occlusal I: 10.09 (+/- 21.28), II: 3.25 (+/- 10.27), III: 0, IV: 41.77 (+/- 42.48), V: 23.37 (+/- 33.79), VI: 12.66 (+/- 24.06); cervical I: 16.49 (+/- 26.67), II: 4.34 (+/- 13.71), III: 0, IV: 37.71 (+/- 30.47), V: 39.56 (+/- 43.35) and VI: 72.53 (+/- 37.79). The use of Er:YAG laser for cavity preparation yielded higher degree of marginal leakage, as compared with the use of conventional air-turbine. The enamel interface provided better marginal sealing, comparing with dentine/cementum margin. As to the cavity preparation device (i.e. laser or bur), the analysis of the results showed that bonded amalgam and Fuji II LC provided less infiltration, than Alert. On the other hand, for lased cavities, Alert provided the best results, similar to those of Fuji II LC and superior to those reached by bonded amalgam.