Guarana (Paullinia cupana) as a potential tool for mesenchymal stromal cells priming in regenerative medicine.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have therapeutic potential due to their abilities of differentiation, immunomodulation, and migration to injured tissues, potentiating such effects when cells are activated. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a tropical plant species found in South America that is known for its antioxidant, stimulant, and cicatricial effects. The guarana extract is composed of many substances and caffeine is the main component. The objective was to evaluate the effects of guarana and caffeine on MSCs. After the initial characterization, MSCs were treated with Paullinia cupana (10, 100, and 1000 µg/mL) or caffeine (0.4, 4, and 40 µg/mL) for 24 h. MSCs treatment with 1000 µg/mL guarana increased cell polarity, viability, cell migration to chemoattractant, antioxidant potential, and liberation of extracellular vesicles (EVs), while it reduced the levels of autophagy. MSCs treated with 100 and 1000 µg/mL guarana or 40 µg/mL caffeine showed a decrease of cell proliferation. No treatment affected the cellular area and cell cycle of MSCs. The study shows in vitro evidence that guarana could be a promising alternative for activating MSCs to promote better cellular products for future clinical therapies.

Dental pain in Brazilian preschool children: association with the severity of dental caries and impact on oral health-related quality of life.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to verify the association between dental pain and severity of dental caries (caries morbidity stages) and the impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 199 children (2-5 years old) enrolled at preschools in Capão do Leão-RS, Brazil. The self-report of mothers of children with a history of dental pain in the last 6 months and perception of their child's OHRQoL (ECOHIS) were obtained through a structured questionnaire. This questionnaire also collected independent variables. Children's oral examination was performed using the CAST instrument to determine caries morbidity stage. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental pain was 14.57%. The chance of the occurrence of dental pain was higher among children diagnosed in morbidity [Prevalence ratio-PR: 5.29 (95% confidence interval-95% CI 1.91-14.61); p = 0.001] and severe morbidity [RP = 6.12 (95 CI% 2.25-16.64); p < 0.001] stages. Children with dental pain presented higher scores in the total ECOHIS [rate ratio = 7.11 (95% CI 4.55-11.09); p < 0.001] and in all of the domains of this instrument. Furthermore, children with a history of dental trauma [PR = 2.41 (95% CI 1.15-5.04); p < 0.001] and those whose reason for last visit to the dental office was for restorative/endodontic/extraction treatment [PR = 1.29 (95% CI 1.01-6.19); p = 0.049] had a higher prevalence of dental pain. CONCLUSION: A substantial prevalence of dental pain in the last 6 months and negative impact on children's OHRQoL was identified in this sample. Children diagnosed with carious dentin lesions and abscess and fistula were more likely to have dental pain.

Guarana (Paullinia cupana) as a potential tool for mesenchymal stromal cells priming in regenerative medicine

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have therapeutic potential due to their abilities of differentiation, immunomodulation, and migration to injured tissues, potentiating such effects when cells are activated. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a tropical plant species found in South America that is known for its antioxidant, stimulant, and cicatricial effects. The guarana extract is composed of many substances and caffeine is the main component. The objective was to evaluate the effects of guarana and caffeine on MSCs. After the initial characterization, MSCs were treated with Paullinia cupana (10, 100, and 1000 μg/mL) or caffeine (0.4, 4, and 40 μg/mL) for 24 h. MSCs treatment with 1000 μg/mL guarana increased cell polarity, viability, cell migration to chemoattractant, antioxidant potential, and liberation of extracellular vesicles (EVs), while it reduced the levels of autophagy. MSCs treated with 100 and 1000 μg/mL guarana or 40 μg/mL caffeine showed a decrease of cell proliferation. No treatment affected the cellular area and cell cycle of MSCs. The study shows in vitro evidence that guarana could be a promising alternative for activating MSCs to promote better cellular products for future clinical therapies.

Splinting in the management of dental trauma in the primary dentition: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to gather existing data on the efficacy of tooth splinting (TS) in patients with traumatized primary teeth, evaluating their overall prognosis and reported complications. METHODS: Electronic searches were performed in seven databases up to Februray/2023. Clinical studies published in the last two decades and presenting the following characteristics were included: (a) reporting on children with traumatized primary teeth; (b) describing the efficacy of splinting those teeth. Studies describing imobilization of dental avulsion were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 163 potentially relevant studies were initially found. After title/abstract screening, and full-text evaluation, three retrospective studies with moderate to high risk of bias were included. The studies described the outcomes of TS in primary teeth with luxation (intrusion, extrusion, lateral displacement), intra-alveolar root fracture, and/or alveolar fracture. High clinical success rate was observed for teeth with root fracture. Benefits of spliting teeth with lateral luxation were not identified, although it may be a reccomended approach. No study was found evaluating TS for alveolar fracture. CONCLUSION: Based on a low level of evidence, the findings highlight a better clinical success rate of the use of TS in the management of deciduous teeth with root fractures.

TLR4 expression and functionality are downregulated in glioblastoma cells and in tumor-associated macrophages: A new mechanism of immune evasion?

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain tumor, in which the presence of an inflammatory environment, composed mainly by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), is related to its progression and development of chemoresistance. Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) are key components of the innate immune system and their expression in both tumor and immune-associated cells may impact the cell communication in the tumor microenvironment (TME), further modeling cancer growth and response to therapy. Here, we investigated the participation of TLR4-mediated signaling as a mechanism of induced-immune escape in GB. Initially, bioinformatics analysis of public datasets revealed that TLR4 expression is lower in GB tumors when compared to astrocytomas (AST), and in a subset of TAMs. Further, we confirmed that TLR4 expression is downregulated in chemoresistant GB, as well as in macrophages co-cultured with GB cells. Additionally, TLR4 function is impaired in those cells even following stimulation with LPS, an agonist of TLR4. Finally, experiments performed in a cohort of clinical primary and metastatic brain tumors indicated that the immunostaining of TLR4 and CD45 are inversely proportional, and confirmed the low TLR4 expression in GBs. Interestingly, the cytoplasmic/nuclear pattern of TLR4 staining in cancer tissues suggests additional roles of this receptor in carcinogenesis. Overall, our data suggest the downregulation of TLR4 expression and activity as a strategy for GB-associated immune escape. Additional studies are necessary to better understand TLR4 signaling in TME in order to improve the benefits of immunotherapy based on TLR signaling.

Isolation of human mesenchymal stem cells from amnion, chorion, placental decidua and umbilical cord: comparison of four enzymatic protocols.

OBJECTIVE: To compare four enzymatic protocols for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolation from amniotic (A-MSC) and chorionic (C-MSC) membranes, umbilical cord (UC-MSC) and placental decidua (D-MSC) in order to define a robust, practical and low-cost protocol for each tissue. RESULTS: A-MSCs and UC-MSCs could be isolated from all samples using trypsin/collagenase-based protocols; C-MSCs could be isolated from all samples with collagenase- and trypsin/collagenase-based protocols; D-MSCs were isolated from all samples exclusively with a collagenase-based protocol. CONCLUSIONS: The trypsin-only protocol was least efficient; the collagenase-only protocol was best for C-MSCs and D-MSCs; the combination of trypsin and collagenase was best for UC-MSCs and none of tested protocols was adequate for A-MSCs isolation.

Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibody detection in blood donors in the Southern Brazil

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas' Disease, is a widely spread protozoa in America. Blood transfusion is the secondly most important way of acquiring the infection. In blood banks, tests are performed to eliminate potentially infected blood. This study aimed to evaluate the positivity for T. cruzi in blood samples of donor's candidates in Southern Brazil. The study was based on a sampling containing all blood donors of Hemopel - a Pelotas City Blood Center, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, from 2004 to 2005. Serological study was performed using ELISA Chagatest. Sampling containing values ± 20 percent cut off were evaluated using ELISA Chagatek, ELISA Alka/Adaltis, IHA Chagatest and IIF Imunocruzi. TESA-Blot was used as a confirmatory procedure in situations where blood samples showed conflicting results. From 4,482 samples collected in 2004 and 2005, the reactivity for anti-T. cruzi was 0.96 percent (43). Among those, 21 cases (0.47 percent) were confirmed as positive - most of them were female, with low school level and averaging 47.2 percent years old. Interestingly, the blood donors are not aware of being contaminated and this fact makes it difficult for controlling the disease. Chagas' Disease was one of the main reasons for discarding blood bags through serological control in Southern Brazil. Sampling reactivity showed variation among the different techniques used for anti-T. cruzi research. In order to obtaining more secure and conclusive results, more than one diagnostic technique must be used.

Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibody detection in blood donors in the Southern Brazil.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas' Disease, is a widely spread protozoa in America. Blood transfusion is the secondly most important way of acquiring the infection. In blood banks, tests are performed to eliminate potentially infected blood. This study aimed to evaluate the positivity for T. cruzi in blood samples of donor's candidates in Southern Brazil. The study was based on a sampling containing all blood donors of Hemopel - a Pelotas City Blood Center, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, from 2004 to 2005. Serological study was performed using ELISA Chagatest. Sampling containing values +/- 20% cut off were evaluated using ELISA Chagatek, ELISA Alka/Adaltis, IHA Chagatest and IIF Imunocruzi. TESA-Blot was used as a confirmatory procedure in situations where blood samples showed conflicting results. From 4,482 samples collected in 2004 and 2005, the reactivity for anti-T. cruzi was 0.96% (43). Among those, 21 cases (0.47%) were confirmed as positive - most of them were female, with low school level and averaging 47.2% years old. Interestingly, the blood donors are not aware of being contaminated and this fact makes it difficult for controlling the disease. Chagas' Disease was one of the main reasons for discarding blood bags through serological control in Southern Brazil. Sampling reactivity showed variation among the different techniques used for anti-T. cruzi research. In order to obtaining more secure and conclusive results, more than one diagnostic technique must be used.

[Incidence of primary benign and malignant neoplasms and bone pseudotumoral lesions. An epidemiologic analysis of 585 cases diagnosed at the Faculdade de Medicina of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais]. / Incidência de neoplasias primárias benignas e malignas e de lesões pseudotumorais ósseas. Uma análise epidemiológica de 585 casos diagnosticados na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

The authors present an epidemiological study of 585 primary bone neoplasms and tumor-like lesions in order to investigate their incidence and distribution according to age, sex and skeletal location. A statistical agreement between the pertinent literature and the collected data was found. In this series, the most common benign neoplasms were the osteochondroma (45.3%) followed by chondroma (19.6%). Among the intermediate and malignant neoplasms, osteosarcoma was the most frequent (30.0%) followed by myeloma (16.0%). Fibrous dysplasia accounted for 46.6% of all tumor-like lesions, followed by solitary bone cyst (18.6%).