What Feedback Content Do Clinical Teachers Address During OSTEs?

Purpose: How to give feedback is widely taught and assessed during Faculty Development programs. As part of such programs, clinical teachers can attend objective structured teaching sessions (OSTEs), during which they are asked to give feedback to simulated residents on different tasks. Study aimed at: -analysing the feedback content provided during these OSTEs; -evaluating the impact of the training phase, medical discipline, or observed task; -assessing the alignment between feedback content addressed by clinical teachers and content identified as essential by experts. Methods: We conducted a multimethod study. Clinical teachers (N=89) from five departments were trained to give feedback to residents in a six-month training program. Before and after training, they completed three OSTE stations which focused on tasks involving communication, interprofessional, physical exam or procedural skills. We analysed feedback content descriptively. ANOVA test was applied to evaluate feedback contents' influencing factors (ie participants' training phase, medical discipline, type of task addressed). For each OSTE, we analysed the percentage of items identified as essential by 3 experts that were addressed by clinical teachers during the feedback. Results: We analysed 317 feedback sessions and coded 5388 occurrences. Feedback content distribution was: targeted content (73%), other clinical content (20%), learning strategies (4%), and self-management/other (3%). Feedback was often negative (73%). The training phase did not influence the content addressed while the topic of the observed task and clinical teachers' specialization slightly did. Alignment between content identified by experts and addressed by clinical teachers during OSTEs was low (3-38%). Conclusion: Clinical teachers give mostly negative and targeted feedback according to the task. The poor alignment in selecting key content to be addressed is striking and should be further explored since clinical teachers may address elements of competence more according to their personal preferences than to residents' needs and context priorities.

Exploring health care professionals' experiences and knowledge of woman-centred care in a university hospital.

Inspired by the six quality-of-care goals developed by the Institute of Medicine, woman-centred care (WCC) as model of care is used in maternity services as it gives an emphasis on the woman as an individual and not her status as a patient. Bringing stronger attention to women's needs and values, is proven to have clear benefits for perinatal outcomes, but fails to be known or recognised by healthcare professionals' (HCPs) and implemented. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study aimed to explore HCPs definitions of WCC and identify the degree of agreement and knowledge regarding perinatal indicators when a WCC model of care is implemented. The quantitative part was carried using a self-administered questionnaire with perinatal indicators identified from the literature. Semi-structured interviews were realized using a purposive sample of 15 HCPs and an interview grid inspired by Leap's WCC model. The study was conducted in the maternity of a university hospital in French-speaking part of Switzerland. Out of 318 HCPs working with mothers and their newborns, 51% had already heard of WCC without being familiar with Leap's model. The HCPs were aware of the positive perinatal care outcomes when WCC was implemented: women's satisfaction (99.2%), health promotion (97.6%), HCP's job satisfaction (93.2%) and positive feelings about their work (85.6%), which were strongly emphasised in the interviews. The respondents reported institutional difficulties in implementing the model such as administrative overload and lack of time. The positive outcomes of WCC on spontaneous deliveries and improved neonatal adaptation were known by most HCPs (63.4% and 59.9%, respectively). However, fewer than half of the HCPs highlighted the model's positive effects on analgesia and episiotomies or its financial benefits. Knowledge of quality-of-care outcomes (i.e women's satisfaction, positive impact on practice…) was prevalent among most of HCPs. Without adhering to a common definition and without a specific model for consensus, most providers have integrated some aspects of WCC into their practice. However, specific perinatal indicators remain largely unknown, which may hinder the implementation of WCC.

Detrimental impact of temporomandibular disorders (mis)beliefs and possible strategies to overcome.

AIM: This topical review presents common patients' misbeliefs about temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and discusses their possible impact on the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. We also discussed the possible influence of the beliefs and behaviours of healthcare providers on the beliefs of patients with TMD and suggested possible strategies to overcome the negative impacts of such misbeliefs. METHODS: This topical review was based on a non-systematic search for studies about the beliefs of patients and healthcare professionals about TMD in PubMed and Embase. RESULTS: Patients' beliefs can negatively impact the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of TMD. These beliefs can be modulated by several factors such as culture, psychosocial aspects, gender, level of knowledge and previous experiences. Moreover, primary healthcare professionals, including dentists, may lack sufficient experience and skills regarding TMD diagnosis and treatment. Misbeliefs of the healthcare professionals can be based on outdated evidence that is not supported by rigorous methodological investigations. Education and dissemination of knowledge to patients and the general population are effective for prevention, promotion of health and disruption of the cycle of misinformation and dissemination of misbeliefs. CONCLUSION: The lack of basic information about TMD and the dissemination of mistaken and outdated concepts may delay the diagnosis, hinder the treatment, and consequently increase the risk of worsening the condition. Education is key to overcome TMD misbeliefs.

Spontaneously conceived 17-week heterotopic pregnancy: a challenging and unusual diagnosis.

A 37-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 1, arrived in our emergency clinic at 16 2/7 weeks of a spontaneously conceived pregnancy for abdominal pain. She was on oral antibiotics for 2 days to treat a suspected urinary tract infection with no improvement. Blood tests, abdominal ultrasound and intrauterine fetus were all normal. She left our emergency unit with laxatives. Four days later, she returned to our clinic with severe abdominal pain. We repeated abdominal and foetal ultrasonography and identified a left para-uterine 7×5 cm mass. As adnexal torsion was suspected, we performed an emergency laparoscopy. At laparoscopy, we found a left haematosalpinx and realised a left salpingectomy. Histology confirmed the presence of a heterotopic pregnancy (HP). This case illustrates the importance of exploring the adnexa in a gravid woman presenting with abdominal pain in the first and early second trimesters. Although rare, excluding a HP may prevent a life-threatening haemorrhage.

Effects of quarantine on mental health of populations affected by Covid-19.

BACKGROUND: To prevent the spread of the The novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV), some classic public health measures are being taken, such as social distancing and quarantine METHOD: Studies were identified using large-circulation international journals found in two electronic databases: Scopus and Embase. RESULTS: The prolonged confinement is evidently related to psychological damage, considering that individuals would be subjected to stressors for a longer period of time . In some cases, these psychic losses lasted for many months after the end of this confinement CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop and implement actions to minimize the population psychological distress in meeting the needs of the communities affected by COVID-19 Thus, as it occurred in China, it is necessary that the other affected nations promote the publication of regulations that guide the implementation of mental health services and the allocation of resources, in order to ensure that individuals are monitored by competent professionals, thus reducing the psychological damage that can be motivated by the social isolation period during the quarantine.

Nanoencapsulation potentiates the cutaneous anti-inflammatory effect of p,p'-methoxyl-diphenyl diselenide: Design, permeation, and in vivo studies of a nanotechnological-based carrageenan gum hydrogel.

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of preparing a hydrogel based on (OMePhSe)2-loaded poly(Ɛ-caprolactone) nanocapsules using carrageenan gum as a gel-forming agent. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory action of hydrogel was assessed in an animal model of skin lesion induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in mice. Nanocapsules were prepared using the interfacial deposition of preformed polymer technique. The hydrogels were obtained by the direct addition of nanocapsules suspension in carrageenan gum (3%). Formulations with free compound, vehicle, and blank nanocapsules were also produced. The hydrogels were characterized by pH, compound content, diameter, spreadability, rheological behavior, and permeation profile. The pharmacological performance was assessed in an animal model of skin injury induced by UVB-radiation in male Swiss mice. All hydrogels had pH around 7.0, compound content close to the theoretical value (2.5 mg/g), an average diameter in nanometric range (around 350 nm), non-Newtonian flow with pseudoplastic behavior, and suitable spreadability factor. The nano-based hydrogel increased the compound content in the epidermis and dermis layers in comparison to the formulation prepared with non-encapsulated (OMePhSe)2. Stability studies revealed that the hydrogels of nanoencapsulated compound had superior physicochemical stability in comparison to the formulation of free (OMePhSe)2. Moreover, topical treatment with the hydrogel containing (OMePhSe)2 loaded-nanocapsules was more effective in reducing ear thickness and the inflammatory process induced by UVB radiation in mice. Herein, a polysaccharide was applied as a gel-forming agent using a simple and low-cost method. Besides, a superior permeation profile and improved pharmacological action were achieved by the compound encapsulation.

Total reversal of internal carotid blood flow in a patient with severe stenosis of the brachiocephalic trunk.

Occlusions and severe stenoses of the innominate artery (brachiocephalic trunk) are rare and present with a wide variety of clinical manifestations, with hemispheric, vertebrobasilar and right upper limb ischemic symptoms. The most common cause is atherosclerosis. Duplex scanning may show right vertebral artery flow reversal, diminished subclavian flow, and several patterns of right carotid flow disturbance, including slow flow, partial flow reversal during the cardiac cycle and even complete reversal of flow in the internal carotid artery, which is a very uncommon finding. Herein, the authors describe the case of a female patient who was a heavy smoker, had severe stenosis of the brachiocephalic trunk, and had episodes of collapse. Besides the subclavian steal and partial flow reversal in the common carotid artery, duplex scanning also showed high-velocity reversed flow in the internal carotid artery during the entire cardiac cycle, a finding that is not reported in the literature at this magnitude.

The ARRIVE Trial: Towards a universal recommendation of induction of labour at 39 weeks?

Both caesarean surgery and induction of labour are common practices performed in all labour wards in an attempt to reduce adverse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. Recent evidence, notably from the ARRIVE Trial, demonstrated that elective induction at 39 weeks reduced the rate of caesarean deliveries and pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. However, some concerns have to be addressed as the benefits of universal policies have to be weighed against the actual circumstances of their implementation, the economic impact, the number of procedures needed in order to effectively reduce complications and, above all, women's perception towards this approach at the end of pregnancy. Further research is needed to explore individual tailored strategies in order to offer a personalized prognosis to each woman, rather than a blanket application of general recommendations.

[The ARRIVE Trial†: is it time to move towards a universal recommendation of induction of labor at term?] / Etude «â€ ARRIVE†¼â€ : vers une recommandation globale de déclenchement du travail d'accouchement à terme†?

Both cesarean surgery and induction of labor have become common procedures performed in all labor wards in an attempt to reduce adverse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. Thus, recent evidence, led by the ARRIVE Trial, demonstrated that elective induction at 39 weeks reduced the rates of cesarean deliveries and of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. However, some concerns must be addressed, as the benefits of universal policies have to be outweighed with the current circumstances of implementation, the economic impact, the number of procedures needed to effectively reduce complications, and, above all, women's perception towards this approach. Therefore, it would be interesting to explore individualization strategies, instead of general recommendations, to offer personalized care.

Afin de réduire les complications obstétricales et néonatales, la césarienne ainsi que le déclenchement de l'accouchement sont souvent pratiqués. Récemment, l'étude ARRIVE a démontré que le déclenchement à 39 semaines d'aménorrhée (SA) permet de diminuer le taux de césariennes et de complications hypertensives de la grossesse. Il reste à déterminer les avantages d'une recommandation universelle dans les circonstances actuelles, son impact économique, le nombre de déclenchements nécessaire pour réduire efficacement le taux des complications obstétricales et, surtout, la perception des femmes à l'égard de cette procédure. Finalement, il serait plus intéressant de développer des stratégies individualisées de prise en charge plutôt que des recommandations globales, afin d'offrir une prise en charge la plus personnalisée possible.

Orodental Findings in Patients with Lacrimo-Auriculo-Dento-Digital Syndrome.

Lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital syndrome (LADD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder arising from heterozygous mutations in the genes encoding fibroblast growth factor receptors two and three and the gene encoding the fibroblast growth factor 10. The characteristics associated with LADD are mainly related with hypoplasia or aplasia of lacrimal and salivary ducts, low cup-shaped ears, sensorineural or conductive hearing loss, abnormalities of teeth, and anomalies of the hands and feet. The purpose of this paper is to describe a 13-year-old female patient with a history of a blocked tear duct, mild hearing loss, congenitally missing teeth, tauro- dontism, and malformation of the fingers who was referred for a dental evaluation. She was diagnosed with LADD syndrome based on her clinical picture. (J Dent Child 2019;86(1):53-60)
Received August 16, 2018; Last Revision November 8, 2018; Accepted November 9, 2018.

Oestrogen receptor alpha, growth hormone receptor, and developmental defect of enamel.

BACKGROUND: Oestrogen (ES) and growth hormone (GH) are hormones that may have a role in caries aetiology and developmental defects of enamel (DDE) since their receptors (ERs and GHR) are expressed during amelogenesis. AIM: To evaluate whether genetic polymorphisms in the genes that codify the ERα (ESR1) and GHR are associated with caries experience and DDE in children. DESIGN: Two hundred and sixteen children of both genders, aged 9-12 years, were examined and classified according to caries and DDE phenotype. Genomic DNA was extracted from buccal cells in saliva. Genetic polymorphisms in ERS1 (rs1884051 and rs12154178) and GHR (rs297305, rs2940913, rs2910875, and rs1509460) were genotyped using TaqMan chemistry. Data were analysed by PLINK, while the chi-square test was used to compare allele and genotype distributions (alpha of 5%). RESULTS: A total of 131 children (60.7%) had caries experience, and 43 (19.9%) presented DDE. Genotype and allele distributions were not associated with caries experience (P > 0.05). Genotype and allele distributions between DDE, affected and unaffected, were associated with the polymorphism rs12154178 in ESR1 (P = 0.01 and P = 0.001, respectively) and with the polymorphism rs1509460 in GHR (P = 0.05 and P = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic polymorphisms in ERS1 (rs12154178) and GHR (rs1509460) are associated with DDE.

Surrogate Data Method Requires End-Matched Segmentation of Electroencephalographic Signals to Estimate Non-linearity.

The aim of the study is to clarify the impact of the strong cyclic signal component on the results of surrogate data method in the case of resting electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. In addition, the impact of segment length is analyzed. Different non-linear measures (fractality, complexity, etc.) of neural signals have been demonstrated to be useful to infer the non-linearity of brain functioning from EEG. The surrogate data method is often applied to test whether or not the non-linear structure can be captured from the data. In addition, a growing number of studies are using surrogate data method to determine the statistical threshold of connectivity values in network analysis. Current study focuses on the conventional segmentation of EEG signals, which could lead to false results of surrogate data method. More specifically, the necessity to use end-matched segments that contain an integer number of dominant frequency periods is studied. EEG recordings from 80 healthy volunteers during eyes-closed resting state were analyzed using multivariate surrogate data method. The artificial surrogate data were generated by shuffling the phase spectra of original signals. The null hypothesis that time series were generated by a linear process was rejected by statistically comparing the non-linear statistics calculated for original and surrogate data sets. Five discriminating statistics were used as non-linear estimators: Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD), Katz fractal dimension (KFD), Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC), sample entropy (SampEn) and synchronization likelihood (SL). The results indicate that the number of segments evaluated as non-linear differs in the case of various non-linear measures and changes with the segment length. The main conclusion is that the dependence on the deviation of the segment length from full periods of dominant EEG frequency has non-monotonic character and causes misleading results in the evaluation of non-linearity. Therefore, in the case of the signals with non-monotonic spectrum and strong dominant frequency, the correct use of surrogate data method requires the signal length comprising of full periods of the spectrum dominant frequency. The study is important to understand the influence of incorrect selection of EEG signal segment length for surrogate data method to estimate non-linearity.

Nanodispersions of beta-carotene: effects on antioxidant enzymes and cytotoxic properties.

Beta-carotene is a carotenoid precursor of vitamin A, known for its biological activities. Due to its high hydrophobicity, nanonization processes, i.e. the transformation into nanoparticles, can improve its water affinity, and therefore the activity in aqueous systems. The objective of this study was to produce beta-carotene nanoparticles by the solid dispersion method and to evaluate their effects on the activity of glutathione-S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase enzymes using Drosophila melanogaster (DM) homogenate, the superoxide dismutase- and catalase-like activities under in vitro conditions, and their cytotoxic properties against tumor and non-tumor cells. The formed nanometric beta-carotene particles resulted in stable colloids, readily dispersed in water, able to modulate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and presenting high potential to control the cholinergic system. Beta-carotene nanoparticles, at concentrations much lower than the pure pristine beta-carotene, presented in vitro mimetic activity to superoxide dismutase and altered glutathione-S-transferase activity in DM tissue. The content of hydrogen peroxide was neither affected by the nanoparticles (in aqueous solution) nor by pristine beta-carotene (in DMSO). In the cytotoxic assays, beta-carotene nanoparticles dispersed in water showed activity against four different tumor cell lines. Overall, beta-carotene nanoparticles presented significant bioactivity in aqueous medium surpassing their high hydrophobicity constraint.

Consequences of Facial Hemangioma with Regard to Dental Treatment.

Hemangioma is a benign vascular tumor that affects 3%-10% of the population and usually does not require specific treatment due to spontaneous regression. The purpose of this paper is to present a case report of a child having been born prematurely and diagnosed with hemangioma in the head and neck, emphasizing the dentofacial changes and treatment used to provide care. Severe fibrous scars were found in the perioral region and below the ear that limited the patient's ability to open her mouth. The child exhibited anterior open bite as well as dental caries in the lower jaw, hypomineralization, and enamel hypoplasia. Treatment consisted of dietary and oral hygiene orientations, dental prophylaxis, topical 1:23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel, removal of the carious tissue, sealing with glass ionomer cement, and extraction. Dentists need to have knowledge on hemangioma for a proper diagnosis and the optimization of dental treatment.

Antinociceptive activity and mechanism of action of hydroalcoholic extract and dichloromethane fraction of Amphilophium crucigerum seeds in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The medicinal plant generally known as monkey's comb (Amphilophium crucigerum) has been popularly described for the treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory pain, specially seeds preparations. AIM OF THE STUDY: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of the crude extract (Crd) and dichloromethane fraction (Dcm) of A. crucigerum seeds, and investigate the involvement of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor in this effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Swiss mice were used in this study. The effects of Crd and Dcm was tested on capsaicin-induced Ca2+ influx or the specific binding of [3H]-resiniferatoxin. Moreover, after treatment with Crd or Dcm, animals were exposed to acute pain (hot water tail-flick and capsaicin intraplantar test) or chronic pain models (injection of complete Freund's adjuvant or partial ligation of the sciatic nerve). Acute adverse effects were also noted: locomotor activity, corporal temperature, hepatic or renal damage, gastrointestinal transit alteration, and ulcerogenic activity. RESULTS: The oral administration of Crd or Dcm resulted in an antinociceptive effect in the hot water tail-flick (48°C) and capsaicin intraplantar tests. Furthermore, these preparations exhibited antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in a chronic inflammatory pain model, and antinociceptive effects in a neuropathic pain model. Moreover, Crd and Dcm reduced capsaicin-induced Ca2+ influx and diminished the [3H]-resiniferatoxin specific binding to spinal cord membranes. Acute adverse events were not found with Crd or Dcm administration. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results support the analgesic effect of A. crucigerum and suggest the presence of compounds that may act as TRPV1 antagonists.

Incidence and risk factors for mesh erosion after laparoscopic repair of pelvic organ prolapse by lateral suspension with mesh.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective of our study was to estimate the incidence and identify the risk factors for mesh erosion after laparoscopic repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) by lateral suspension with mesh. METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study among 480 women who underwent POP repair by laparoscopic lateral suspension with mesh from January 2004 to October 2012. Cases (n = 18) were women who showed mesh erosion following the first intervention through December 2014. Controls (n = 133) were women randomly selected from the same cohort who did not have any erosion. RESULTS: The risk of mesh erosion was 3.8 % with a mean follow-up of 82.3 months (range 28.2 - 130.6 months). The main risk factor was the use of a type 3 mesh (macroporous with either multifilamentous or microporous components) rather than a type 1 mesh (macroporous and monofilamentous; adjusted OR 13.0, 95 % CI 1.5 - 110.6; P = 0.02). Risk factors included smoking (adjusted OR 10.4, 95 % CI 2.3 - 46.5; P < 0.01) and posterior mesh placement (adjusted OR 5.1, 95 % CI 1.2 - 21.8 P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of mesh erosion is low and may be further reduced by using the appropriate mesh material, and by identifying specific patient characteristics such as tobacco use. As conventional vaginal surgery is effective for the treatment of the posterior compartment, the use of posterior mesh during laparoscopic pelvic floor repair needs to be questioned.

Study of oxidative and inflammatory parameters in LDLr-KO mice treated with a hypercholesterolemic diet: Comparison between the use of Campomanesia xanthocarpa and acetylsalicylic acid.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that affects the arterial wall leading to myocardial, cerebral, and peripheral ischemic syndromes. The use of low doses of aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and inflammation and prevents cardiovascular mortality. However, ASA may produce hemorrhagic events. Thus, several studies have sought new natural compounds to suppress platelet aggregation without causing serious adverse effects. PURPOSE: In this sense, this study aims to compare the effects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa plant extract with those of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on inflammatory parameters observed in homozygous mice knockout for the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr-KO) treated with a hypercholesterolemic diet. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 28 male LDLr-KO mice were divided into three groups and fed a hypercholesterolemic diet for 4 weeks. Thereafter, the animals that received the hypercholesterolemic diet were treated for 5 days with (1) distilled water, (2) C. xanthocarpa extract, or (3) acetylsalicylic acid. The levels of inflammatory markers were assessed in the blood samples. The gastric tolerability of the animals after oral administration of the treatments was assessed through quantification of the lesions in the gastric mucosa. RESULTS: The levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and INF-γ were reduced to 19.2 ± 3%, 20.4 + 1.3%, 24.7 ± 1.2%, and 20.8 ± 1.7%, respectively, in the group treated with C. xanthocarpa, when compared to control group. Furthermore, treatment with plant extract significantly increased the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by 27.3 ± 5.9%, but ASA showed no significant effect on the same cytokines when compared to the control group, with the exception of IL-10, which presented an increase of 8.6 ± 3.5%. Treatments with C. xanthocarpa and ASA also caused significant reductions of 26.4 ± 3% and 38.4± 6% in the serum levels of oxLDL, respectively. However, only treatment with C. xanthocarpa reduced the levels of anti-oxLDL antibodies when compared with the control (25.8 ± 6%). In addition, the analyzed extract did not induce ulcerogenic activity, while ASA induced the formation of lesions. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, treatment with C. xanthocarpa causes anti-inflammatory activity in hypercholesterolemic animals, with results superior to those obtained with the use of ASA.

The Impact of Previous Physical Training on Redox Signaling after Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats: A Behavioral and Neurochemical Approach.

Throughout the world, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the major causes of disability, which can include deficits in motor function and memory, as well as acquired epilepsy. Although some studies have shown the beneficial effects of physical exercise after TBI, the prophylactic effects are poorly understood. In the current study, we demonstrated that TBI induced by fluid percussion injury (FPI) in adult male Wistar rats caused early motor impairment (24 h), learning deficit (15 days), spontaneous epileptiform events (SEE), and hilar cell loss in the hippocampus (35 days) after TBI. The hippocampal alterations in the redox status, which were characterized by dichlorofluorescein diacetate oxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity inhibition, led to the impairment of protein function (Na(+), K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase [ATPase] activity inhibition) and glutamate uptake inhibition 24 h after neuronal injury. The molecular adaptations elicited by previous swim training protected against the glutamate uptake inhibition, oxidative stress, and inhibition of selected targets for free radicals (e.g., Na(+), K(+)-ATPase) 24 h after neuronal injury. Our data indicate that this protocol of exercise protected against FPI-induced motor impairment, learning deficits, and SEE. In addition, the enhancement of the hippocampal phosphorylated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (P-Nrf2)/Nrf2, heat shock protein 70, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor immune content in the trained injured rats suggests that protein expression modulation associated with an antioxidant defense elicited by previous physical exercise can prevent toxicity induced by TBI, which is characterized by cell loss in the dentate gyrus hilus at 35 days after TBI. Therefore, this report suggests that previous physical exercise can decrease lesion progression in this model of brain damage.

Nanoencapsulation of rice bran oil increases its protective effects against UVB radiation-induced skin injury in mice.

Excessive UV-B radiation by sunlight produces inflammatory and oxidative damage of skin, which can lead to sunburn, photoaging, and cancer. This study evaluated whether nanoencapsulation improves the protective effects of rice bran oil against UVB radiation-induced skin damage in mice. Lipid-core nanocapsules containing rice bran oil were prepared, and had mean size around 200 nm, negative zeta potential (∼-9 mV), and low polydispersity index (<0.20). In order to allow application on the skin, a hydrogel containing the nanoencapsulated rice bran oil was prepared. This formulation was able to prevent ear edema induced by UVB irradiation by 60 ± 9%, when compared with a hydrogel containing LNC prepared with a mixture of medium chain triglycerides instead of rice bran oil. Protein carbonylation levels (biomarker of oxidative stress) and NF-κB nuclear translocation (biomarker of pro-inflammatory and carcinogenesis response) were reduced (81% and 87%, respectively) in animals treated with the hydrogel containing the nanoencapsulated rice bran oil. These in vivo results demonstrate the beneficial effects of nanoencapsulation to improve the protective properties of rice bran oil on skin damage caused by UVB exposure.

An evaluation of the antinociceptive effects of Phα1ß, a neurotoxin from the spider Phoneutria nigriventer, and ω-conotoxin MVIIA, a cone snail Conus magus toxin, in rat model of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

Voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs) underlie cell excitability and are involved in the mechanisms that generate and maintain neuropathic and inflammatory pain. We evaluated in rats the effects of two VSCC blockers, ω-conotoxin MVIIA and Phα1ß, in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain induced with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and chronic constrictive injury (CCI), respectively. We also evaluated the effects of the toxins on capsaicin-induced Ca(2+) influx in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons obtained from rats exposed to both models of pain. A single intrathecal injection of Phα1ß reversibly inhibits CFA and CCI-induced mechanical hyperalgesia longer than a single injection of ω-conotoxin MVIIA. Phα1ß and MVIIA also inhibited capsaicin-induced Ca(2+) influx in DRG neurons. The inhibitory effect of Phα1ß on capsaicin-induced calcium transients in DRG neurons was greater in the CFA model of pain, while the inhibitory effect of ω-conotoxin MVIIA was greater in the CCI model. The management of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain is still a major challenge for clinicians. Phα1ß, a reversible inhibitor of VSCCs with a preference for N-type Ca(2+) channels, has potential as a novel therapeutic agent for inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Clinical studies are necessary to establish the role of Phα1ß in the treatment of chronic pain.