Prevalence of Near-Vision-Related Symptoms in a University Population.

The university population has high visual demands. It is therefore important to assess the prevalence of symptoms in these subjects, which may affect their academic performance. In this cross-sectional study, a randomized sample of 252 subjects from a university answered the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) questionnaire. In addition, questions were asked about blurred vision during and after near tasks, the number of hours per day spent in near vision, and whether or not they wore glasses. Furthermore, 110 subjects underwent an eye exam, including a refraction and accommodation assessment. The mean age of the subjects was 28.79 ± 11.36 years, 62.3% reported wearing glasses, and on average 7.20 ± 2.92 hours/day was spent in near vision. The mean of the CISS score was 18.69 ± 9.96, and according to its criteria, 38% of the subjects were symptomatic. Some symptoms were significantly (p < 0.05) more frequent in subjects wearing glasses. Accommodative dysfunctions were present in 30.9% of the subjects, the most common being insufficiency of accommodation. We emphasise the importance of assessing symptomatology during the clinical examination in this group of subjects, as they spend many hours a day in near vision, as well as assessing accommodation, binocular vision, and the ergonomic work environment, which may be at the origin of the symptoms, in addition to the need to wear glasses.

Problem-Based Learning in Medical Education: A Global Research Landscape of the Last Ten Years (2013-2022).

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) constructs a curriculum that merges theory and practice by employing clinical scenarios or real-world problems. Originally designed for the pre-clinical phase of undergraduate medicine, PBL has since been integrated into diverse aspects of medical education. Therefore, this study aims to map the global scientific landscape related to PBL in medical education in the last ten years. Methods: We combined bibliometrics and network analysis to analyze the metadata of related research articles published between 2013 and 2022 and indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. Results: Our results show an annual publication rate of 9.42%. The two main journals disseminating research on this subject are BMC Medical Education and Medical Teacher. Education & Educational Research and Health Care Sciences & Services are the two most frequent research areas, and also the two most central nodes of the related network. The USA and China are the most publishing countries, while the Netherlands and Canada are the most collaborative. The Maastricht University holds the position of most publishing and collaborative research organization. The University of California ranks second in publications, while the University of Toronto is the second most central research organization. Conclusions: Our study provides an overview of the last ten years of publications related to PBL and medical education, and we hope it can be of interest to educators, researchers, and students involved with this subject. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-024-02003-1.

On the role of syllable structure in atypical phonological development: Evidence from the acquisition of /l/ by Portuguese children.

The alveolar lateral is phonetically and phonologically complex. Previous studies have shown that /l/ is one of the last segments to be acquired by typically developing Portuguese children. However, little is known about how Portuguese children with atypical development acquire /l/. In this paper, we investigate the acquisition of /l/ by Portuguese children with protracted phonological development (DLD; SSD). We explore the effect of syllable structure and segmental properties in the acquisition of /l/ and describe mismatches used for target /l/, thus contributing empirical evidence to the ongoing discussion on differential diagnoses for children with primary phonological disorders. Our results show that the lateral is more problematic in SSD than in DLD, with the manner of articulation being more problematic than its place. A syllable-segment interface effect was attested. Mismatches showed a preference for [w, ɾ, ø]. The results are discussed considering their implications for clinical practice and the role of target phonetic and phonological properties in the /l/ acquisition path.

Influence of ceramic crown design (translucent monolithic zirconia vs. bilayered) of implant-supported single crowns after mechanical cycling.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the influence of translucent monolithic versus bilayered crowns and whether the use of a CoCr base abutments affects the fatigue and fracture resistance of screwed implant-supported single crowns with external connections under mechanical cycling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty specimens were divided into groups: (1) metal-ceramic (MC) crown, (2) veneered zirconia crown (Zr), (3) veneered zirconia crown with a CoCr base abutment (ZrB), (4) monolithic translucent zirconia crown (MZr), and (5) monolithic translucent zirconia crown with a CoCr base abutment (MZrB). Specimens underwent mechanical cycling (5 × 106 cycles; 150 N) evaluating fatigue resistance (number of failures) and those that failed were subsequently subjected to fractographic analyses (stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope) to evaluate failure location and area, and maximum fracture load was also measured. RESULTS: The failure-related survival rate (100%) and maximum fracture resistance of the MZrB were significantly higher than those of MC and Zr (50%; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the failure rate and fracture resistance when a CoCr base abutment was used or not in the translucent monolithic Zr groups (p > 0.05;MZrB vs. MZr). Failure location, with MC crowns' fractures, noted at the screw area (p = 0.043), while all-ceramic crowns were mostly in the cuspid and to failure area, the Zr group had the largest mean (15.55 ± 9.17 mm2) among the groups, significant difference only when compared with MC (1.62 ± 0.81 mm2) (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Translucent monolithic zirconia crowns exhibited significantly higher fatigue and fracture resistance compared with conventional MC and bilayered crowns. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The appropriate choice of material and manufacturing technique is crucial for predicting the higher clinical performance of single crowns. Enhanced mechanical resistance in terms of fatigue and fracture resistance can be achieved by replacing MC and bilayered restorations with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing monolithic zirconia.

[Effect of Aging on the Mechanical Properties of CAD/CAM-Milled and 3D-Printed Acrylic Resins for Denture Bases].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of acrylic resins at different aging times for denture bases manufactured using the conventional method, microwave processing, milling, and 3D printing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 160 rectangular samples (64 Å~ 10 Å~ 3.3 ± 0.03 mm) were prepared, divided among the four main resin groups, and subdivided into four analysis times (T0, T1, T2, and T3), resulting in 10 samples per subgroup. The samples were stored in distilled water at 37° ± 2°C for 24 hours (T0), then subjected to thermocycling at temperatures of 5° ± 1°C and 55° ± 1°C in different numbers of cycles: 5,000 (T1); 10,000 (T2); and 20,000 (T3). The mechanical properties evaluated were surface microhardness, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity. Statistical differences between resin groups and aging time were evaluated using two-way analysis of variance (P < .05). RESULTS: The 3D-printed resin showed the significantly lowest values of microhardness, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity compared to other resins (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The CAD/CAM-milled denture resin showed mechanical properties similar to those of traditional resins (conventional and microwave-processed). The 3D-printing resin did not show adequate mechanical properties for long-term clinical use. Despite this, new studies are developing better properties of this resin for long-term use.

Steel drills versus zirconia drills on heat generation at the surgical site of dental implants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the difference in the heat generated between zirconia (Zr) and steel (SS) drills, during implant site preparation. Material and methods: This systematic review followed the PRISMA methodology criteria and used the JBI Critical Assessment Guidelines for Quasi-Experimental Studies for quality assessment. The electronic search was conducted by using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to January 2023. The formulated population, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) question was "Do zirconia drills generate less heat than steel drills during implant site preparation?". The meta-analysis was based on an inverse variance (IV) method. Results: This review included 10 studies in vitro that used zirconia drills compared to steel drills with or without coatings. The meta-analysis indicated a significant difference between Zr drills and SS drills, with a lower bone temperature variation with Zr drills. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of this review, it was concluded that Zr drills had significantly less temperature variation than SS drills.

Musculoskeletal Pain, Mood, and Sports Injury in Wheelchair Power Soccer Players.

CONTEXT: Wheelchair Power Soccer (WPS) is the only team sport that allows the participation of people with severe physical disabilities who require the daily use of motorized wheelchairs. These individuals may live with chronic pain due to the characteristics of the disabilities and treatments, interfering with their health and limiting their participation in sports. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and its relationship with mood in WPS players and to analyze the incidence of traumatic injuries during a championship. METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal study was carried out on 30 WPS athletes (93.33% male) with a mean (SD) (range) age of 22.37 (9.79) (47) years. Data collection was performed during a South American WPS Championship lasting 3 days, with: investigation of the presence of musculoskeletal pain and mood through a questionnaire; investigation of the occurrence of traumatic injuries through match observation; and confirmation of the occurrence of traumatic injuries through access to medical department records. RESULTS: About 30% (n = 9/30) of the sample presented some pain on the day of evaluation, with an intensity of 5.67 (3.35) (10) points on the visual analog scale. The most common regions of pain were the lower back (13.3%, n = 4/30), thoracic (10%; n = 3/30), and cervical (10%; n = 3/30) areas of the spine. A total of 46.7% (n = 14/30) reported pain in the month before data collection but of less intensity (2.56 [4] [10] points), the most common regions being the lower limbs (20%; n = 6/30) and cervical spine (20%; n = 6/30). Among the between-group comparisons (ie, participants with pain vs without pain), no relationship was observed between mood state and pain. No traumatic injuries were identified during the competition. CONCLUSION: The presence of musculoskeletal pain was common in WPS players, but it was not related to mood. As no traumatic injuries were observed during the championship, this modality seems to be safe for people with physical disabilities in general.

Byrsonima sericea Ethanol Extract Protected PC12 Cells from the Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Induced by 6-Hydroxydopamine.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway and oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms that lead to neuronal death in this disease. Previous studies have shown antioxidant activity from the leaves of Byrsonima sericea, a plant of the Malpighiaceae family. This study aimed to evaluate the cytoprotective activity of the B. sericea ethanolic extract (BSEE) against the cytotoxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in PC12 cells, an in vitro model of parkinsonism. The identification of phenolic compounds in the extract by HPLC-DAD revealed the presence of geraniin, rutin, isoquercetin, kaempferol 3-O-ß-rutinoside, and quercetin. The BSEE (75-300 µg/mL) protected PC12 cells from toxicity induced by 6-OHDA (25 µg/mL), protected cell membrane integrity and showed antioxidant activity. BSEE was able to decrease nitrite levels, glutathione depletion, and protect cells from 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis. Thus, we suggest that the BSEE can be explored as a possible cytoprotective agent for Parkinson's disease due to its high antioxidant capacity and anti-apoptotic action.

Estado nutricional e condições clínicas de saúde de pessoas idosas em atendimento público domiciliar

A avaliação de uma pessoa idosa que necessite de atendimento domiciliar na Atenção Primária à Saúde considera sua condição clínica, grau de perda funcional e dependência para a realização das atividades de vida diária. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar indicadores do estado nutricional e condições clínicas da pessoa idosa acamada em um município do Rio Grande do Norte. Trata-se de estudo transversal, observacional e descritivo, em que foram incluídos idosos de ambos os sexos, na condição de acamados em domicílio e acompanhados pela Atenção Básica. A coleta de dados foi realizada no domicílio mediante entrevista e aferições antropométricas. Participaram do estudo 33 idosos, com média de 82,9 ± 10,3 anos e prevalência do sexo feminino (63,6%), analfabetismo (51,5%), baixo nível socioeconômico (69,7%), desnutrição (69,7%), déficit de massa magra (69,7%), longo tempo na condição de acamado (45,5%), polifarmácia (36,4%), dependência de cuidador (100%) e baixo contato com equipe de saúde multiprofissional (87,1%). Verificou-se grave comprometimento do estado nutricional e das condições clínicas dos idosos acamados. Os resultados desse estudo podem auxiliar no planejamento de ações por parte da atenção domiciliar para melhorar o quadro clínico dos idosos assistidos.

T helper type 9 cell response and its role in the neurological clinic of patients with Human T-lymphotropic virus 1.

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) affects 5-10 million individuals worldwide. Most of those infected with this virus remain asymptomatic; however, 0.25%-4% of individuals develop HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), while 2%-4% develop adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Understanding the immune response inherent in this infection is extremely important. The role of T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells in HTLV-1 infection is well known; however, exploring the different subtypes of immune responses is also necessary. The role of Th9 cells in HTLV-1 infection and the mechanisms involved in their interference in the pathophysiological process of HAM/TSP is poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the expression profiles of PU.1, interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF-4), and cytokine interleukin-9 (IL-9) during the induction of peripheral immune response and their role in the HTLV-1-infected patients' neurological symptoms. This analytical cross-sectional study was carried out at the Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiology of Endemic Diseases and the Laboratory of Immunopathology, both from the Tropical Medicine Center at the Federal University of Pará. Assessment of neurological parameters was performed (gait, Expanded Kurtzke Disability State Scale (EDSS) score, upper and lower limb reflexes, Hoffman's sign, Babinski reflex, and clonus reflex). For Th9 cell analysis, peripheral blood samples were collected from HTLV-1-infected patients; then, the lymphomononuclear cells were separated followed by the isolation of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) synthesis each sample was carried out. The gene expression levels of PU.1, IRF-4, and IL-9 as well as those of constitutive genes (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and ß-actin) were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). This study included 81 HTLV-1-infected patients, of whom 47 were asymptomatic, 13 were mono/oligosymptomatic (MOS), and 21 developed HAM/TSP. IL-9 was the least expressed gene among the three studied groups. The MOS group showed the lowest expression levels of PU.1, IRF-4, and IL-9. HAM/TSP patients showed lower IL-9 protein quantification. Negative correlations were found between IL and 9 and EDSS in MOS patients and between PU.1, EDSS, IRF-4, and EDSS in the HAM/TSP group. An association was found between IL and 9 and Babinski reflex in the HAM/TSP group, suggesting that this gene was more highly expressed in patients who did not have this pathological sign. Th9 cells may interfere with the neurological progression of HAM/TSP and act as a protective factor.

Device trueness in passivity and misfit of CAD-CAM frameworks: Conventional versus printed casts.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Obtaining a passive and well-adapted framework is challenging when intraoral scanning edentulous arches with multiple implants. The trueness of the printed casts is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the trueness of frameworks made from conventional and printed casts regarding clinical passivity and misfit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten participants with complete mandibular fixed implant-supported interim prostheses retained by 4 implants were included. Each participant had a conventional impression and a digital scan made. The digital scan was made using an innovative device. Both conventional and digital casts were made, and the virtual images were used for milling the digital framework in cobalt chromium alloy. All frameworks were evaluated for passivity and marginal vertical misfit with the single screw test, with 4 attempts consisting of the tightened screw position, a test with all screws tightened, and an interspersed tightening test. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the trueness of the tested device for framework construction through the single screw test on vertical marginal misfit in the conventional and printed groups (α=.008). The Friedman test was used to assess the effect of test type (α=.05), and the Wilcoxon test was used to identify group-to-group differences (α=.017). RESULTS: The absence of space between the framework and the abutments and interferences during its placement, as well as good stability, were observed clinically. In laboratory analysis, greater framework misfits were observed in the printed group compared with the conventional group when the single screw test was applied. Comparing the 3 tests used, the greatest misfits were observed when the framework was screwed onto the printed cast. CONCLUSIONS: The innovative device tested for the intraoral scanning of multiple implants had clinically acceptable accuracy for the construction of passive and adapted frameworks. The conventional cast was more accurate than the printed cast, with lower misfit values, in all tests.

Palmatine, a natural alkaloid, attenuates memory deficits and neuroinflammation in mice submitted to permanent focal cerebral ischemia.

Ischemic stroke is one of the major causes of human morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology of ischemic stroke involves complex events, including oxidative stress and inflammation, that lead to neuronal loss and cognitive deficits. Palmatine (PAL) is a naturally occurring (Coptidis rhizome) isoquinoline alkaloid that belongs to the class of protoberberines and has a wide spectrum of pharmacological and biological effects. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of Palmatine on neuronal damage, memory deficits, and inflammatory response in mice submitted to permanent focal cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery (pMCAO) occlusion. The animals were treated with Palmatine (0.2, 2 and 20 mg/kg/day, orally) or vehicle (3% Tween + saline solution) 2 h after pMCAO once daily for 3 days. Cerebral ischemia was confirmed by evaluating the infarct area (TTC staining) and neurological deficit score 24 h after pMCAO. Treatment with palmatine (2 and 20 mg/kg) reduced infarct size and neurological deficits and prevented working and aversive memory deficits in ischemic mice. Palmatine, at a dose of 2 mg/kg, had a similar effect of reducing neuroinflammation 24 h after cerebral ischemia, decreasing TNF-, iNOS, COX-2, and NF- κB immunoreactivities and preventing the activation of microglia and astrocytes. Moreover, palmatine (2 mg/kg) reduced COX-2, iNOS, and IL-1ß immunoreactivity 96 h after pMCAO. The neuroprotective properties of palmatine make it an excellent adjuvant treatment for strokes due to its inhibition of neuroinflammation.

[The experience of forced sexual intercourse among undergraduate students: associated factors and possible consequences]. / Experiência de relação sexual forçada entre estudantes de graduação: fatores associados e possíveis consequências.

The scope of this article is to investigate the prevalence of the experience of forced sexual intercourse on life and its possible consequences on mental and sexual health among undergraduate students at a public university in Brazil. It is a quantitative cross-sectional study with 996 undergraduate students. Sampling was carried out systematically by single-stage clusters. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Poisson Regression model, and the etiological fractions of the consequences of forced sexual intercourse were calculated. The lifetime prevalence of forced sexual intercourse was 12.1%. Female sex, non-heterosexual sexual orientation, first sexual intercourse before the age of 14, child food insecurity and domestic violence were associated with a higher prevalence of the outcome. Individuals who experienced forced sexual intercourse were more likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections and to represent a potential suicide risk. The study revealed the problems of sexual violence in the university context.

O objetivo deste artigo é investigar a prevalência de relação sexual forçada na vida e suas possíveis consequências na saúde mental e sexual em acadêmicos de cursos de graduação de uma universidade pública no Brasil. Estudo transversal quantitativo com 996 estudantes de graduação. A amostragem realizada de forma sistemática por conglomerados. Foi usado o modelo de Regressão de Poisson, e foram calculadas as frações etiológicas das consequências de relação sexual forçada. A prevalência de relação sexual forçada ao longo da vida foi de 12,1%. Sexo feminino, orientação sexual não heterossexual, primeira relação sexual antes de 14 anos de idade, insegurança alimentar e violência no contexto doméstico na infância foram associados à maior prevalência do desfecho. Indivíduos que sofreram relação sexual forçada foram mais propensos a apresentar diagnóstico de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e de ter risco de suicídio. O estudo evidenciou a problemática da violência sexual no contexto universitário.

Experiência de relação sexual forçada entre estudantes de graduação: fatores associados e possíveis consequências / The experience of forced sexual intercourse among undergraduate students: associated factors and possible consequences

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é investigar a prevalência de relação sexual forçada na vida e suas possíveis consequências na saúde mental e sexual em acadêmicos de cursos de graduação de uma universidade pública no Brasil. Estudo transversal quantitativo com 996 estudantes de graduação. A amostragem realizada de forma sistemática por conglomerados. Foi usado o modelo de Regressão de Poisson, e foram calculadas as frações etiológicas das consequências de relação sexual forçada. A prevalência de relação sexual forçada ao longo da vida foi de 12,1%. Sexo feminino, orientação sexual não heterossexual, primeira relação sexual antes de 14 anos de idade, insegurança alimentar e violência no contexto doméstico na infância foram associados à maior prevalência do desfecho. Indivíduos que sofreram relação sexual forçada foram mais propensos a apresentar diagnóstico de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e de ter risco de suicídio. O estudo evidenciou a problemática da violência sexual no contexto universitário.

Abstract The scope of this article is to investigate the prevalence of the experience of forced sexual intercourse on life and its possible consequences on mental and sexual health among undergraduate students at a public university in Brazil. It is a quantitative cross-sectional study with 996 undergraduate students. Sampling was carried out systematically by single-stage clusters. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Poisson Regression model, and the etiological fractions of the consequences of forced sexual intercourse were calculated. The lifetime prevalence of forced sexual intercourse was 12.1%. Female sex, non-heterosexual sexual orientation, first sexual intercourse before the age of 14, child food insecurity and domestic violence were associated with a higher prevalence of the outcome. Individuals who experienced forced sexual intercourse were more likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections and to represent a potential suicide risk. The study revealed the problems of sexual violence in the university context.

Central and Peripheral Ocular High-Order Aberrations and Their Relationship with Accommodation and Refractive Error: A Review.

High-order aberrations (HOAs) are optical defects that degrade the image quality. They change with factors such as pupil diameter, age, and accommodation. The changes in optical aberrations during accommodation are mainly due to lens shape and position changes. Primary spherical aberration (Z(4.0)) is closely related to accommodation and some studies suggested that it plays an important role in the control of accommodation. Furthermore, central and peripheral HOAs vary with refractive error and seem to influence eye growth and the onset and progression of myopia. The variations of central and peripheral HOAs during accommodation also appear to be different depending on the refractive error. Central and peripheral high-order aberrations are closely related to accommodation and influence the accuracy of the accommodative response and the progression of refractive errors, especially myopia.

Maternal treatment with aripiprazole prevents the development of a valproic acid-induced autism-like phenotype in juvenile male mice.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Aripiprazole (APZ) is an atypical antipsychotic that can safeguard mice against autism-like behavior induced by valproic acid (VPA). In the present study, we examined the effects of maternal treatment with APZ (10 mg/kg) in juvenile mice prenatally exposed to VPA on neurodevelopmental behaviors, social interactions, communication, and working memory, as well as synaptophysin (SYP), synaptosomal-associated protein, 25 kDa (SNAP-25) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and cell viability in the hippocampus. In addition, to evaluate possible APZ interference with the anticonvulsant properties of VPA on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures were evaluated. Maternal treatment with APZ significantly prevented body weight loss, self-righting, eye-opening, social interactions, social communication, and working memory deficits in mice prenatally exposed to VPA. Additionally, the decrease in the SYP, SNAP-25, and MAP-2 expressions in the mPFC and cell death in the hippocampus was prevented by APZ. Furthermore, APZ (10 mg/kg) did not interfere with the anticonvulsant effect of VPA (15 mg/kg) in animals with PTZ-induced seizures. These findings indicate that maternal treatment with APZ in pregnant mice exposed to VPA protects animals against the ASD-like behavioral phenotype, and this effect may be related, at least in part, to synaptic plasticity and neuronal protection in the PFC and hippocampus. APZ may serve as an effective pharmacological therapeutic target against autistic behaviors in the VPA animal model of ASD, which should be further investigated to verify its clinical relevance.

The chromatographic constitution of andiroba oil and his healing effects, compared to the LLLT outcomes, in oral mucositis induced in golden Syrian hamsters: a new treatment option.

The oral mucositis is a mucosal alteration that usually arises from oncological treatments, such as chemotherapy, and it is characterized as an inflammatory process. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the chromatographic constitution of Andiroba oil, comparing and evaluating Andiroba oil and laser scarring efficiency in treatments of oral mucositis in hamsters. These animals were submitted to 5-Fluorouracil. A total of 122 animals were used, randomized and divided into the following groups: (a) positive control; (b) laser associated to andiroba oil; (c) laser; (d) andiroba oil; (e) negative control; (f) cyclophosphamide (genotoxicity control). The induction of oral mucositis occurred by the administration of intraperitoneal Fluorouracila (60 mg/kg) and trauma to the mucosa. The laser protocol was performed once a day and the andiroba oil applied 3 times a day (1,5 ml/day). The mucosae were photographed and removed for clinical and histopathological analysis on day 4, 8, 12 and 15. The analysis was based in OM severity, in specific scoring for the clinical and histopathological aspect. Toxicity was evaluated on day 15 using comet assay and it was performed by variant DNA damage parameters. The data were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) Tukey post-test and Kruskal-Wallis Dunn post-test. The "andiroba oil" and "laser" groups presented better results when compared to the control groups and the treatment associations. The andiroba oil presented the best scarring results, even considering its efficiency proximity to the laser treatment. Andiroba and laser, separately, did not present genotoxicity, however their association evidences damage to DNA.

Prevalence of proximal contact loss between implant-supported prostheses and adjacent natural teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Proximal contact loss between implant-supported prostheses and adjacent natural teeth is a complication that has been reported in clinical practice. However, the prevalence of the condition is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the proportion of reported proximal contact loss between implant-supported prostheses and adjacent natural teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology criteria and was registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) platform (CRD42021225138). The electronic search was conducted by using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to September 2020. The formulated population, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) question was "Is there a correlation of the proximal contact loss between implant-supported prostheses and the adjacent natural tooth?" A single-arm meta-analysis of proportion was performed to evaluate the cumulative prevalence of survival and complication rates. RESULTS: This review included 10 studies, half of which presented proximal contact loss rates higher than 50%. In the general analysis, the open proximal contact showed a cumulative proportion of 41% (confidence interval: 30% to 53%; heterogeneity: I2=98%; t2=0.578; P<.01). From the subanalysis, the mesial contact (47%; confidence interval: 32% to 62%; heterogeneity: I2= 96%; t2=0.657; P<.01) and the mandibular arch (41%; confidence interval: 30% to 52%; heterogeneity: I2=92%; t2=0.302; P<.01) were found to have higher prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of proximal contact loss was high, occurring more frequently with the mesial contact and in the mandibular arch. Significant differences were not found in relation to sex or between the posterior and anterior regions.

Are implant-supported removable partial dentures a suitable treatment for partially edentulous patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A consensus on the clinical performance of implant-supported removable partial dentures (ISRPDs) is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical performance of ISRPDs in terms of the implant survival rates, marginal bone loss, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were independently searched by 2 reviewers for articles published up to December 2020. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the implant survival rates and marginal bone loss by using the R program. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for non-RCT studies. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included, with a total of 334 participants and a mean age of 58 years. The participants received a total of 581 dental implants, 475 conventional and 106 mini-implants. All included studies reported implant survival rate above 90% (range: 92% to 100%). Meta-analysis indicated a high proportion of implant survival rates of 3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2% to 5%) and a low mean raw score of marginal bone loss 0.98 mm (CI: 0.61 to 1.36 mm). Compared with conventional RPDs, improved patient quality of life and satisfaction were reported by studies that evaluated ISRPDs. RCT studies exhibited a low risk of bias for most domains, while most non-RCT studies were classified as good quality. CONCLUSIONS: ISRPDs exhibited high implant survival rates and acceptable bone loss with improvement in the quality of life and satisfaction of patients when compared with conventional RPDs. Therefore, they can be considered suitable for the rehabilitation of partially edentulous patients.