Class III Treatment with Skeletal and Dental Anchorage: A Review of Comparative Effects.

OBJECTIVES: This review addresses the comparative effects of skeletal anchored maxillary protraction (MP) versus dental anchored MP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The studies retrieved had to have both test and control groups treated by the use of a facemask with or without the use of skeletal anchorage though either (palatal/buccal) maxillary or mandibular miniscrews/miniplates, respectively. RESULTS: Nine articles were included. Dentoalveolar changes were seen in all the studies. In particular, a significant proclination of the upper incisors was documented in the group treated with a dental anchorage facial mask, as compared to that treated with skeletal anchorage. Comparing the two methods, almost all the studies indicated a greater maxillary advancement in the group treated with skeletal anchorage. CONCLUSIONS: Therapies with skeletal anchorage produce greater maxillary protraction, reducing undesirable dental effects.

Neurological soft signs and cerebral measurements investigated by means of MRI in schizophrenic patients.

Neurophysiologic research has shown a Neurological Soft Sign (NSS) characteristic prevalence in schizophrenic patients, and correlations between NSS and the most frequently cerebral alterations. The aim of this study was to investigate, by means of MRI, the quantitative alterations of cortical and subcortical structures and their correlation with NSS in a sample of schizophrenic patients. Linear measures of lateral ventricular (Evans ratio), third ventricular (Third Ventricular Width), hippocampal (Interuncal Index) and cerebellar (Verm Cerebellar Atrophy) atrophy were made on magnified MR images of 33 patients with a DSM IV diagnoses of chronic schizophrenia. NSS were evaluated with the Buchanan and Heinrichs's Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES). Lateral ventricular enlargement showed to be correlated with right stereoagnosia item (p=0.001). Hippocampal atrophy, with right stereoagnosia item (p=0.023), with forefinger-right thumb opposition (p=0.004), forefinger-left thumb opposition (p=0.029 and face-hand extinction (0.26). Third ventricle enlargement showed to be correlated with forefinger-right thumb opposition (p=0.001), forefinger-left thumb opposition(p=0.021) and total sensorial integration (p=0.012). Cerebellar atrophy showed to be correlated with rhythmic drumming item (p=0.042), forefinger-right thumb opposition (p=0.007), forefinger-left thumb opposition (p=0.026), left specular movements (p=0.049), face-hand extinction (p=0.001), right-left confusion (p=0.005) and with left forefinger-nose index (p=0.032). Results obtained confirm the correlation between NSS and neuroanatomical alterations in schizophrenia.

NMR-based metabolic profiling of human hepatoma cells in relation to cell growth by culture media analysis.

Metabolic profiling is a metabolomic approach that allows the characterization of metabolic phenotypes under specific set of conditions. In the present paper we investigated the metabolism of sparse and high density cultures in relation to different cell growth phases. Changes in the metabolome were evaluated by using 1H-NMR spectroscopy, correlation map and Multivariate Data Analysis on the net balances of metabolites in the medium. This approach allowed us to identify two different metabolic profiles in relation to the cell growth phases in subconfluence and confluence cultures. The results have been interpreted on the basis of patterns of correlations obtained in the two physiological cell states. Cells almost arrested in G0/G1 phase by contact dependent growth inhibition underwent changes in the channeling of amino acids utilization from synthetic to energetic purpose and in anaplerosis/cataplerosis regulation of the TCA cycle.

Zebrafish embryo proteins induce apoptosis in human colon cancer cells (Caco2).

Previous studies have shown that proteins extracted from Zebrafish embryo share some cytostatic characteristics in cancer cells. Our study was conducted to ascertain the biological properties of this protein network. Cancer cell growth and apoptosis were studied in Caco2 cells treated with embryonic extracts. Cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Cell-cycle analysis in treated cells revealed a marked accumulation in the G(2)/M phase preceding induction of apoptosis. Embryo proteins induced a significant reduction in FLIP levels, and increased caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity as well as the apoptotic rate. Increased phosphorylated pRb values were obtained in treated Caco2 cells: the modified balance in pRb phosphorylation was associated with an increase in E2F1 values and c-Myc over-expression. Our data support previous reports of an apoptotic enhancing effect displayed by embryo extracts, mainly through the pRb/E2F1 apoptotic pathway, which thus suggests that Zebrafish embryo proteins have complex anti-cancer properties.

Neurologic soft signs in schizophrenic patients treated with conventional and atypical antipsychotics.

Neurologic soft signs (NSS) are considered a somatic feature associated with schizophrenia (DSM-IV) that are present in neuroleptic-treated, as well as untreated or first-episode patients. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of NSS in groups of schizophrenic patients treated with either a conventional neuroleptic medication, haloperidol (n = 37), or atypical antipsychotic medications, risperidone (n = 19), clozapine (n = 34), and olanzapine (n = 18). NSS were assessed with the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES), whereas extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), which occur more commonly with conventional neuroleptic treatment, were evaluated using the Simpson-Angus Scale. NES scores were not significantly different between groups. Slight differences were found for 2 items only. The haloperidol group showed higher scores for the "Romberg test," whereas the clozapine group showed higher scores for "short-term memory." There were significant correlations between EPS and NES total score in the haloperidol and risperidone groups. These results demonstrate an overall overlapping of NSS among the groups, confirming their substantial independence from neurologic implications of neuroleptic treatment.

Deficit of executive functions in schizophrenia: relationship to neurological soft signs and psychopathology.

Cognitive deficits and neurological soft signs (NSS) have frequently been reported in schizophrenic patients and they both appear related to prominent negative symptoms. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between deficit of executive functioning, assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), NSS and psychopathological dimensions of schizophrenia in order to address the issue of whether a typology of schizophrenic patients may be identifiable by clinical, neurological and neuropsychological features. A sample of 26 male schizophrenic patients was divided, on the basis of the performance on the WCST, into two subgroups ('good performers' and 'poor performers') that were compared for the prevalence and severity of NSS, assessed by the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES), and for the psychopathological features, assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). To test for between-group differences, ANOVA was conducted. The 'poor performers' group showed greater severity of NSS: significant differences emerged for the NES total score and for the 'sequencing of complex motor acts' score. However, no significant differences between the groups emerged for any PANSS score. These findings seem to indicate that a common neurobiological abnormality could underlie cognitive deficits, especially concerning executive functioning, and subtle neurological abnormalities often present in schizophrenia, but they appear to deny that such dysfunctional correlates of schizophrenia are related to a prominent negative symptomatology.

Governo local: o mito da descentralização e as novas práticas de governança / Local government: the decentralization myth and the new governance practices

Discute o mito da descentralização para o fortalecimeto da democracia e do desenvolvimento econômico e social sustentável. Apresenta o Programa de Gestão Pública e Cidadania, uma iniciativa da Fundação Getulio Vargas e da Fundação Ford para identificar e disseminar práticas inovadoras na gestão pública subnacional, cujos resultados iniciais apontam para a emergência e a criação de novas práticas e alianças que podem representar novas configurações de governança. (AU)

20 experiências de gestäo pública e cidadania / 20 experiences of public managemente and citizenship

Apresenta 20 projetos inovadores de governos subnacionais. Säo soluçöes práticas para problemas por vezes vitais para as comunidades.