ABSTRACT
Abstract Objective To evaluate the influence of RORγT inhibition by digoxin on inflammatory changes related to interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the pulp of rats treated with zoledronate (ZOL). Methodology Forty male Wistar rats were divided into a negative control group (NCG) treated with saline solution, a positive control group (PCG) treated with ZOL (0.20 mg/kg), and three groups treated with ZOL and co-treated with digoxin 1, 2, or 4 mg/kg (DG1, 2, and 4). After four intravenous administrations of ZOL or saline solution in a 70-day protocol, the right molars were evaluated by histomorphometry (number of blood vessels, blood vessels/µm2, cells/µm2, total blood vessel area, and average blood vessel area) and immunohistochemistry (IL-17, TNF-α, IL-6, and TGF-β). The Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn test was used for statistical analysis. Results PCG showed an increase in total blood vessel area (p=0.008) and average blood vessel area (p=0.014), and digoxin treatment reversed these changes. DG4 showed a reduction in blood vessels/µm2 (p<0.001). In PCG odontoblasts, there was an increase in IL-17 (p=0.002) and TNF-α (p=0.002) immunostaining, and in DG4, these changes were reversed. Odontoblasts in the digoxin-treated groups also showed an increase in IL-6 immunostaining (p<0.001) and a reduction in TGF-β immunostaining (p=0.002), and all ZOL-treated groups showed an increase in IL-17 (p=0.011) and TNF-α (p=0.017) in non-odontoblasts cells. Conclusion ZOL induces TNF-α- and IL-17-dependent vasodilation and ectasia, and the classical Th17 response activation pathway does not seem to participate in this process.
ABSTRACT
Abstract: The FACE-Q SFAOS is an instrument developed for esthetic facial procedures and has been validated in patients undergoing rhinoplasty. It consists of ten items that assess the current perception of facial appearance regarding symmetry, harmony, proportion, freshness or vitality, and self-perception of appearance; these items are perhaps important to guide demands in orofacial harmonization (OFH). We aimed to validate the FACE-Q SFAOS scale among professionals working with OFH and verify its acceptance for use in clinical practice. Altogether, 25 OFH specialists were included to evaluate the FACE-Q SFAOS scale and the new technology acceptability model (TAM). Internal validity was measured using Cronbach's α coefficient. Both scales were associated with clinical experience and perceived usefulness using Spearman's correlation and Fisher's exact or chi-square tests (SPSS 20.0, p < 0.05). The FACE-Q SFAOS (α = 0.927) and TAM (α = 0.941) scales demonstrated good internal validity, and most professionals demonstrated good acceptance (TAM >70 = 64%). The mean FACE-Q SFAOS and TAM scores were 64.00±17.03 and 74.60±20.66, respectively. Practitioners with more than two years of experience (p=0.032) who believed the scale was useful for lip filler evaluation (p = 0.017) demonstrated greater acceptance. The number of indications on the scale was directly correlated with higher levels of acceptance (p = 0.002, r = 0.594). Thus, the FACE-Q SFAOS scale has good reproducibility and acceptance among OFH specialists; however, acceptability was shown to be dependent on perceived usability.