Fragment reattachment or direct restoration? An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The fracture resistance of teeth subjected to fragment reattachment may improve when the technique is performed using intermediate materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different bonding materials, including pre-heated composite resin, on the fracture resistance of teeth subjected to the reattachment technique compared with a direct composite resin restoration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After simulating a tooth fracture, each specimen was reattached by using one of the following intermediate materials (n = 15): G0, negative control (sound teeth); G1, Z100; G2, pre-heated Z100; G3, Filtek Z350 XT; G4, pre-heated Filtek Z350 XT; G5, Filtek Z350 XT Flow; and G6, RelyX Veneer. In G7, direct class IV restorations were performed using Filtek Z350 XT composite resin. The fracture resistance was evaluated using a universal testing machine under a compressive load of 1 mm/min. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the post hoc Tukey test (5%) were conducted. RESULTS: G0 showed the highest fracture resistance, and this was statistically different from the other experimental groups (p < .05) except for G2 and G4, in which the fragments were bonded using pre-heated resins. A statistically significant difference was found between groups G1 and G6 (one-way ANOVA, p = .04). For G1 and G2, a significant difference was found between bonding with and without pre-heating (p < .05). This difference was not observed in G3 and G4 (p > .05). No statistically significant difference was found between the reattached and directly restored groups (t-test, p = .53). CONCLUSIONS: The tooth reattachment technique using pre-heated composite resin showed fracture resistance values similar to those of the sound tooth group. No difference was found between the fragment reattachment and direct composite resin techniques.

When benign leiomyomas metastasize to the lungs - a case report.

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma is a rare disease that primarily affects premenopausal women who have a history of uterine leiomyoma, which is characterized by pulmonary metastases. The pathogenesis of this condition is unknown. Patients are usually asymptomatic or have vague symptoms. Pathological examination in conjunction with immunohistochemistry is required for diagno-sis. Treatment is determined by the patient's age, hormonal status, symptoms, and the extent of the lesions (number, size, and location of nodules), with surgical resection being the most effective. We present the case of a 72-year-old woman who had a total hysterec-tomy 30 years earlier due to myomas and developed a persistent dry cough. Her computed tomography of the chest revealed several small nodules in the pulmonary parenchyma. Because of the nod-ules' small size and difficult accessibility, a surgical biopsy was per-formed for histopathological examination and immunohistochemi-cal staining, which revealed metastasizing leiomyoma. Letrozole treatment was started and was well tolerated.

Anti-obesity properties and mechanism of action of flavonoids: A review.

Obesity is a major public health problem, and there is increasing scientific interest in its mechanisms, as well as a search for new compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can minimize the metabolic complications associated with its pathology. One potential source of these compounds is natural products; Among these, flavonoids are a promising group of natural substances. Flavonoids are active constituents with diverse biological activities and are widely found in plants kingdom. Numerous studies have shown that flavonoids can effectively inhibit obesity and related metabolic disorders. The review synthesizes recent evidence in respect of progress in the understanding of the anti-obesity effects of flavonoids. Such effects which occurs through the modulation of proteins, genes and transcriptional factors involved in decreasing lipogenesis, increasing lipolysis, expenditure energy, stimulating fatty acids B-oxidation, digestion and metabolism of carbohydrates. In addition to mitigating inflammatory responses and suppress oxidative stress. A better understanding of the modulating effects and mechanisms of flavonoids in relation to obesity will allow us to better use these compounds to treat or even prevent obesity and its associated comorbidities.

Interstitial nephritis secondary to treatment with pembrolizumab, a rare complication in two patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPi) have become nowadays one of the most widely prescribed anticancer treatments. Pembrolizumab is a highly selective monoclonal immunoglobulin approved as a first-line monotherapy treatment in adult patients with untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with programmed cell death 1 (PD-L1) expression greater than 50% and lack of mutations. ICPi can precipitate immune-related adverse events. Data on the incidence and characteristics of nephrotoxicity from ICPi are limited and caused largely from small case series and oncologic studies. Two patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, undergoing treatment with pembrolizumab who manifested interstitial nephritis secondary to this treatment, are presented below. The growing use of immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer imposes the physician's attention to possible adverse effects.

Vitamin K antagonism impairs the bone marrow microenvironment and hematopoiesis.

Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been used in 1% of the world's population for prophylaxis or treatment of thromboembolic events for 64 years. Impairment of osteoblast function and osteoporosis has been described in patients receiving VKAs. Given the involvement of cells of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM), such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and macrophages, as well as other factors such as the extracellular matrix for the maintenance of normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), we investigated a possible effect of VKAs on hematopoiesis via the BMM. Using various transplantation and in vitro assays, we show here that VKAs alter parameters of bone physiology and reduce functional HSCs 8-fold. We implicate impairment of the functional, secreted, vitamin K-dependent, γ-carboxylated form of periostin by macrophages and, to a lesser extent, MSCs of the BMM and integrin ß3-AKT signaling in HSCs as at least partly causative of this effect, with VKAs not being directly toxic to HSCs. In patients, VKA use associates with modestly reduced leukocyte and monocyte counts, albeit within the normal reference range. VKAs decrease human HSC engraftment in immunosuppressed mice. Following published examples that alteration of the BMM can lead to hematological malignancies in mice, we describe, without providing a causal link, that the odds of VKA use are higher in patients with vs without a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). These results demonstrate that VKA treatment impairs HSC function via impairment of the BMM and the periostin/integrin ß3 axis, possibly associating with increased MDS risk.

Morphology of the digestive system in carnivorous freshwater dourado Salminus brasiliensis.

The digestive system of teleost shows remarkable functional and morphological diversity. In this study, the digestive tract and accessory organs of dourado Salminus brasiliensis are characterized using anatomical, histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. The existence of taste buds bordered by microridges in the oesophagus of dourado was recorded for the first time, thus showing that the species drives food intake by either swallowing or rejecting the food item. The Y-shaped stomach of dourado consisted of cardiac, cecal and pyloric regions with tubular gastric glands registered solely in the cardiac and cecal segments. The intestine is a short N-shaped tube with two loops, an intestinal coefficient of 0.73. The structure of pyloric caeca is similar to that of the intestine wall, comprising tunica mucosa, tela submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa layers. Histochemical analyses revealed an increased incidence of goblet cells from the midgut to the hindgut segment. A well-developed enteric plexus of scattered nerve cell and fibres are found along the digestive tract, and the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive neurons and fibres were identified in the myenteric plexus from the oesophagus to the hindgut. The exocrine pancreas appears diffuse in the mesentery around the stomach, intestine and also reaches the liver, and the endocrine pancreas is organized as a few islets of Langerhans. The liver comprises three distinct, asymmetric lobes, and the portal triad arrangement was registered in this tissue.

The vascular bone marrow niche influences outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia via the E-selectin - SCL/TAL1 - CD44 axis.

The endosteal bone marrow niche and vascular endothelial cells provide sanctuaries for leukemic cells. In murine chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) CD44 on leukemia cells and E-selectin on bone marrow endothelium are essential mediators for the engraftment of leukemic stem cells. We hypothesized that non-adhesion of CML-initiating cells to E-selectin on the bone marrow endothelium may lead to superior eradication of leukemic stem cells in CML after treatment with imatinib than imatinib alone. Indeed, here we show that treatment with the E-selectin inhibitor GMI-1271 in combination with imatinib prolongs survival of mice with CML via decreased contact time of leukemia cells with bone marrow endothelium. Non-adhesion of BCR-ABL1+ cells leads to an increase of cell cycle progression and an increase of expression of the hematopoietic transcription factor and proto-oncogene Scl/Tal1 in leukemia-initiating cells. We implicate SCL/TAL1 as an indirect phosphorylation target of BCR-ABL1 and as a negative transcriptional regulator of CD44 expression. We show that increased SCL/TAL1 expression is associated with improved outcome in human CML. These data demonstrate the BCR-ABL1-specific, cell-intrinsic pathways leading to altered interactions with the vascular niche via the modulation of adhesion molecules - which could be exploited therapeutically in the future.

Reattachment of fractured teeth using a multimode adhesive: Effect of different rewetting solutions and immersion time.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Following coronal tooth fracture, keeping the fragment hydrated is of the utmost importance in the tooth fragment bonding technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different immersion times in different storage media on multimode adhesive bonding between reattached fragments and teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 195 bovine incisors were fractured and randomized into the following storage groups (n = 15): G0-control group (sound tooth); GA-saline solution: for 1 hour (A1) or 24 hours (A2); GB-artificial saliva: for 1 hour (B1) or 24 hours (B2); GC-coconut water: for 1 hour (C1) or 24 hours (C2); GD-tap water: for 1 hour (D1) or 24 hours (D2); GE-milk: for 1 hour (E1) or 24 hours (E2); GF-dry (dehydration): for 1 hour (F1) or 24 hours (F2). Tooth fragments were then reattached using a multimode adhesive in a self-mode technique with a flowable resin composite. Fracture resistance was evaluated in a universal testing machine under a compressive load (1 mm/min). The data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance and the post hoc Tukey test (5%). RESULTS: The group submitted to the dehydration factor (GF) exhibited a mean value of 599.1 ± 144.2 N, while those submitted to all hydration protocols (GA, GB, GC, GD, GE) exhibited a mean value of 751.8 ± 285.4 N. Dehydration significantly affected the fracture strength values (P = .005). No significant interaction between the rewetting solutions was observed (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Hydration of the tooth fragment increased fracture resistance, regardless of the storage solution and/or immersion time.

Purification and biophysical characterization of a mannose/N-acetyl-d-glucosamine-specific lectin from Machaerium acutifolium and its effect on inhibition of orofacial pain via TRPV1 receptor.

A new mannose/N-acetyl-dglucosamine-specific lectin, named MaL, was purified from seeds of Machaerium acutifolium by precipitation with ammonium sulfate, followed by affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. MaL haemagglutinates either native rabbit erythrocytes or those treated with proteolytic enzymes. MaL is highly stable by the ability to maintain its haemagglutinating activity after exposure to temperatures up to 50 °C. The lectin haemagglutinating activity was optimum between pH 6.0 and 7.0 and inhibited after incubation with d-mannose and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine and α-methyl-d-mannopyranoside. MaL is a glycoprotein with relative molecular mass of 29 kDa (α-chain), 13 kDa (ß-chain) and 8 kDa (γ-chain) with secondary structure composed of 3% α-helix, 44% ß-sheet, 21% ß-turn, and 32% coil. The orofacial antinociceptive activity of the lectin was also evaluated. MaL (0.03 mg mL-1) reduced orofacial nociception induced by capsaicin, an effect that occurred via carbohydrate recognition domain interaction, suggesting an interaction of MaL with the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) receptor. Our results confirm the potential pharmacological relevance of MaL as an inhibitor of acute orofacial mediated by TRPV1.

Metabolic responses to dietary carbohydrate/lipids ratios in neotropical hybrid catfish (♂Pseudoplatystoma corruscans×♀Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum).

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of different carbohydrate and lipid (CHO/L) ratios on the performance and energy metabolism of hybrid catfish (♂Pseudoplatystoma corruscans × â™€ Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum). One hundred and sixty-eight fish (104.9±16.5 g BW) were distributed into 24 100-L tanks. The experiment was performed using a randomised block design with four CHO/L ratios (0.45, 1.00, 1.66 and 2.85) and six replications. Growth performance, protein content, glucose and triglycerides in plasma, muscle and liver, and the hepatic activity of the malic and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzymes were measured after 60 feeding days. No significant differences were observed in growth performance, protein and triglycerides of plasma and muscle, hepatic protein or malic enzyme activity. CHO/L: 2.85 provided the highest plasma and liver glucose, while CHO/L: 0.45 showed high liver triglycerides. A linear effect was found for the hepatic activity of G6PD and dietary starch levels (R2=0.93). The hepatic activity of G6PD was greater in CHO/L=2.85 than for CHO/L: 0.45. In conclusion, the limit of dietary starch inclusion and lipids were 15% and 9.00%, respectively (CHO/L: 1.66), and this level did not affect the energy metabolism of the juvenile hybrid catfish.

Effect of the dietary linoleic/α-linolenic ratio (n6/n3) on histopathological alterations caused by suboptimal temperature in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Tilapias are produced worldwide, including subtropical areas. In turn, dietary fatty acids can enhance resistance under cold stress. The present study reports the nutritional effect on suboptimal temperature tolerance based on histopathological alterations in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish (initial weight: 34.02 ±â€¯0.79) were exposed to two different temperatures (20 °C and 30 °C) for 30 days. Under both conditions, fish were fed two different diets based on the linoleic/α-linolenic ratio (n6/n3 = 12.02 and n6/n3 = 3.85). The most important alterations in liver caused by temperature included high cellular hyperplasia in fish at 30 °C (P < 0.05). Suboptimal temperature also caused gills aneurysm, lamellar lifting and low hyperplasia (P < 0.05). Cytoplasmic vacuolization decreased and nuclear displacement increased in the fish fed n6/n3 = 3.85 (P < 0.05). Suboptimal temperature provided high gills aneurysm, epithelial lamellae lifting and low lamellar hyperplasia (P < 0.05). Conversely, the fatty acid content (n6/n3 = 3.85) in the diet provided low lamellar lifting and fusions (P < 0.05). Finally, tilapia showed an increased glycogen storage trend in gills and muscle at low temperature (P < 0.05). Our study suggests that when feeding tilapia a high dietary n3 content, this fish is able to respond to suboptimal temperature in subtropical aquaculture facilities.

Assessing the impact of the heart of New Ulm Project on cardiovascular disease risk factors: A population-based program to reduce cardiovascular disease.

The Heart of New Ulm Project (HONU), is a population-based project designed to reduce modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the rural community of New Ulm, MN. HONU interventions address multiple levels of the social-ecological model. The community is served by one health system, enabling the use of electronic health record (EHR) data for surveillance. The purpose of this study was to assess if trends in CVD risk factors and healthcare utilization differed between a cohort of New Ulm residents age 40-79 and matched controls selected from a similar community, using EHR data from baseline (2008-2009) through three follow up time periods (2010-2011, 2012-2013, 2014-2015). Matching, using covariate balance sparse technique, yielded a sample of 4077 New Ulm residents and 4077 controls. We used mixed effects longitudinal models to examine trends over time between the two groups. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglycerides showed better management in New Ulm over time compared to the controls. The proportion of residents in New Ulm with controlled blood pressure increased by 6.2 percentage points compared to an increase of 2 points in controls (p < 0.0001). As the cohort aged, 10-year ASCVD risk scores increased less in New Ulm (5.1) than the comparison community (5.9). The intervention and control community did not differ with regard to inpatient stays, smoking, or glucose. Findings suggest efficacy for the HONU project interventions for some outcomes.

Pain Intensity and Sexual Functioning in Men with Genital Pain: The Mediation Role of Sexually Related Thoughts.

The comorbidity between male genital pain and sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent. Previous studies have indicated that men with genital pain share some cognitive characteristics with men experiencing other sexual dysfunctions. However, there is little information on the role of these cognitive factors in understanding the relationship between pain intensity and sexual functioning. This study aims to test if negative sexually related thoughts mediate the relationship between pain intensity and sexual functioning in men with genital pain. A total of 50 men with self-reported genital pain completed an online survey assessing pain intensity, thoughts during sexual activity, and sexual functioning. Results showed a significant effect of negative sexually related thoughts on sexual functioning, ß = -.71, t(50) = -4.2, p <.001. Additionally, the Sobel test found a partial mediation effect (z = 2.23, p =.025) and a medium to large indirect effect size was observed (abcs =.474). Findings suggest that negative sexually related thoughts play an important role in explaining the impact of pain intensity on sexual functioning. Overall, the study emphasizes the relevance of cognitions in predicting sexual function/dysfunction in men with genital pain and suggests the use of cognitive techniques in the treatment of this clinical condition.

Changing the restaurant food environment to improve cardiovascular health in a rural community: implementation and evaluation of the Heart of New Ulm restaurant programme.

OBJECTIVE: The goals of the present study were to: (i) describe the implementation of a programme to improve the restaurant food environment in a rural community; and (ii) describe how practices changed in community restaurants. DESIGN: The intervention included a baseline assessment of all community restaurants (n 32) and a report on how they could increase the availability and promotion of healthful options. The assessment focused on sixteen healthy practices (HP) derived from the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Restaurants. Restaurants were invited to participate at gold, silver or bronze levels based on the number of HP attained. Participating restaurants received dietitian consultation, staff training and promotion of the restaurant. All community restaurants were reassessed 1·5 years after baseline. SETTING: The restaurant programme was part of the Heart of New Ulm Project, a community-based CVD prevention programme in a rural community. SUBJECTS: All community restaurants (n 32) were included in the study. RESULTS: Over one-third (38 %) of community restaurants participated in the programme. At baseline, 22 % achieved at least a bronze level. This increased to 38 % at follow-up with most of the improvement among participating restaurants that were independently owned. Across all restaurants in the community, the HP showing the most improvement included availability of non-fried vegetables (63-84 %), fruits (41-53 %), smaller portions and whole grains. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate successes and challenges of improving healthful food availability and promotion in a community-wide restaurant programme.

Arterial bullet embolism after thoracic gunshot wound.

Bullet embolization of the arterial or venous systems is a rare complication of penetrating gunshot injuries. A 29-year-old man presented at the emergency department with a gunshot wound to the left arm, which had transfixed the arm and entered the thorax, with no exit wound. Initial radiographies showed a projectile in the upper left thigh. Contrast-enhanced tomography showed a pseudo-aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta and the bullet inside the proximal left superficial femoral artery. Physical examination found diminished left pedal pulses, and the patient complained of left toe numbness. Endovascular thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm repair was performed, sealing the descending aortic orifice with an endograft, and thromboembolectomy/bullet retrieval was carried out via a left femoral incision, both successfully. Considering that diagnosis of missile emboli depends on a high degree of suspicion, physicians who manage gunshot wound patients must be acutely aware of the possibility of intravascular bullet embolism.

A embolia balística pelo sistema arterial ou venoso é uma complicação rara de ferimentos penetrantes por arma de fogo. Um homem de 29 anos se apresentou na emergência com um ferimento por arma de fogo no braço esquerdo, que transfixou o braço e atingiu o tórax, sem ferimento de saída. Radiografias iniciais mostraram o projétil na coxa superior esquerda. A tomografia contrastada mostrou um pseudoaneurisma da aorta torácica descendente e o projétil no interior da artéria femoral superficial proximal esquerda. Ao exame físico, o pulso pedioso esquerdo estava diminuído e o paciente referiu dormência no hálux esquerdo. Foi realizado o reparo endovascular da aorta torácica e a tromboembolectomia/retirada do projétil por incisão femoral esquerda, ambos bem-sucedidos. Considerando que o diagnóstico de embolia balística depende de um alto grau de suspeição, os médicos que manejam pacientes com ferimentos por arma de fogo devem estar atentos a essa possibilidade.

The Effects of Positive Versus Negative Mood States on Attentional Processes During Exposure to Erotica.

The relationship between emotions and sexual functioning has been documented since early sex research. Among other effects, emotions are expected to impact sexual response by shaping individuals' attention to sexual cues; yet, this assumption has not been tested. This study aimed to investigate whether attentional processes to sexual cues are impacted by state emotions, and whether the processes impacted by emotions relate to subjective sexual arousal to a sex film clip. A total of 52 men and 73 women were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: (1) a negative mood induction condition (sadness as dominant emotion), (2) a positive mood induction condition (amusement as dominant emotion), and a (3) neutral/control condition. After mood induction, participants were exposed to a sex film clip while their focus of visual attention was measured using an eye tracker. Three areas of interest (AOI) were considered within the sex clip: background (non-sexual cues), body interaction, and genital interaction. Self-reported attention, thoughts during the sex clip, percent dwell time, and pupil size to AOI were considered as attentional markers. Findings revealed that the attentional processes were not impacted by the mood conditions. Instead, gender effects were found. While men increased their visual attention to the background area of the film clip, women increased attention to the genital area. Also, sexual arousal thoughts during exposure to the sex clip were consistently related to subjective sexual arousal regardless of the momentary emotional state. Findings add to the literature by showing that men and women process the sexual components of a stimulus differently and by challenging the assumption that emotions shape attention to sexual cues.

Endocrine cells producing peptide hormones in the intestine of Nile tilapia: distribution and effects of feeding and fasting on the cell density.

Endocrine cells (ECs) act as a luminal surveillance system responding to either the presence or absence of food in the gut through the secretion of peptide hormones. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of feeding and fasting on the EC peptide-specific distribution along the intestine of Nile tilapia. We assessed the density of ECs producing gastrin (GAS), cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in nine segments of the intestine using immunohistochemistry. Our results show that ECs immunoreactive to CCK-8, GAS, NPY, and CGRP can be found along all the intestinal segments sampled, from the midgut to hindgut, although differences in their distribution along the gut were observed. Regarding nutrient status, we found that the anterior segments of the midgut seem to be the main site responding to luminal changes in Nile tilapia. The NPY+ and CGRP+ EC densities increased in the fasted group, while the amount of CCK-8+ ECs were higher in the fed group. No effects of fasting or feeding were found in the GAS+ EC densities. Changes in ECs density were found only at the anterior segments of the intestine which may be due to the correlation between vagus nerve anatomy, EC location, and peptide turnover. Lastly, ECs may need to be considered an active cell subpopulation that may adapt and respond to different nutrient status as stimuli. Due to the complexity of the enteroendocrine system and its importance in fish nutrition, much remains to be elucidated and it deserves closer attention.

Changes in cardiovascular risk factors after 5 years of implementation of a population-based program to reduce cardiovascular disease: The Heart of New Ulm Project.

BACKGROUND: Population-based interventions aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) hold significant potential and will be increasingly relied upon as the model for health care changes in the United States. METHODS: The Heart of New Ulm Project is a population-based project with health care, community, and workplace interventions addressing multiple levels of the social-ecological model designed to reduce modifiable CVD risk factors in rural New Ulm, MN. The community is served by one health system, enabling the use of electronic health record data for surveillance. Electronic health record data were extracted at baseline (2008-2009) and 2 follow-up periods (2010-2011, 2012-2013) for residents aged 40 to 79 years. Generalized estimating equations were used to fit longitudinal models of the risk factors. RESULTS: Of 7,855 residents in the target population, 80% had electronic health record data for each period. The prevalence of at goal (blood pressure [BP] <140/90 mm Hg) and (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] <130 mg/dL) increased from 79.3% to 86.4% and 68.9% to 71.1%, respectively, from baseline to 5 years, with the largest reductions in BP and LDL-C seen in individuals not at goal at baseline. Blood pressure and lipid-lowering medication use increased from 41.8% to 44.0% and 25.3% to 29.1%, respectively. The proportion at goal for glucose increased from 46.9% to 48.2%. The prevalence body mass index <30 kg/m(2) (55%) did not change, whereas the proportion at-goal for high-density lipoprotein decreased from 63.8% to 58%, and smoking showed an increase from 11.3% to 13.6%. CONCLUSION: In a community participating in a multifaceted, population-based project aimed at reducing modifiable CVD risk factors, significant improvements in BP, LDL-C, and glucose were observed for 5 years, and body mass index remained stable in a state where obesity was increasing.

Effect of different carbon materials as electron shuttles in the anaerobic biotransformation of nitroanilines.

Aromatic amines resulted from azo dyes biotransformation under anaerobic conditions are generally recalcitrant to further anaerobic degradation. The catalytic effect of carbon materials (CM) on the reduction of azo dyes is known and has been confirmed in this work by increasing threefold the biological reduction rate of Mordant Yellow 1 (MY1). The resulting m-nitroaniline (m-NoA) was further degraded to m-phenylenediamine (m-Phe) only in the presence of CM. The use of CM to degraded anaerobically aromatic amines resulted from azo dye reduction was never reported before. In the sequence, we studied the effect of different CM on the bioreduction of o-, m-, and p-NoA. Three microporous activated carbons with different surface chemistry, original (AC0 ), chemical oxidized with HNO3 (ACHNO3 ), and thermal treated (ACH2 ), and three mesoporous carbons, xerogels (CXA and CXB) and nanotubes (CNT) were assessed. In the absence of CM, NoA were only partially reduced to the corresponding Phe, whereas in the presence of CM, more than 90% was converted to the corresponding Phe. ACH2 and AC0 were the best electron shuttles, increasing the rates up to eightfold. In 24 h, the biological treatment of NoA and MY1 with AC0 , decreased up to 88% the toxicity towards a methanogenic consortium, as compared to the non-treated solutions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 1194-1202. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sexual Functioning and Cognitions During Sexual Activity in Men With Genital Pain: A Comparative Study.

Male genital pain is frequently associated with sexual dysfunction, and some studies suggest it is influenced by cognitive factors. However, there is little evidence on how these factors discriminate male genital pain from other sexual problems. This study intends to explore differences on sexual functioning and self-reported cognitions during sexual activity between men with genital pain, men with sexual dysfunction, and sexually healthy men. A total of 134 men divided in three groups based on their clinical condition (i.e., genital pain, sexual dysfunction, or no sexual/pain complaints) and matched for demographic variables completed measures of sexual functioning (IIEF) and thoughts during sexual activity (SMQ). Findings showed that men with genital pain and men with sexual dysfunctions reported significantly lower levels of overall satisfaction with sexual life, compared to men without sexual problems. Additionally, men with genital pain and men with sexual dysfunctions presented significantly more failure anticipation thoughts in comparison to sexually healthy men. Overall, findings emphasize the role of negative cognitions as a common factor associated with male genital pain and sexual dysfunctions, suggesting that genital pain should be regarded as a sexual problem and that clinical interventions should include sex therapy techniques as well as cognitive-behavioral procedures.