Volume and effectiveness assessment of articain 4% versus mepivacaine 2% used in third molar surgery: randomized, double-blind, split-mouth controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The different indications for extraction of the lower third molars, require resources to manage pain and discomfort, such as, for example, adequate anesthetic techniques, and the type of anesthetic used can influence the management of pain in tooth extractions. Few studies in the literature compare the anesthetics 4% articaine hydrochloride and 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride showing evidence that both allow for successful pain management. This study sought to compare the volume, efficacy and safety of these two anesthetic drugs, both associated with epinephrine at a ratio of 1:100,000, used in the extraction of lower third molars. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A controlled, clinical, split-mouth compared these both local anesthetics in a sample of 20 patients requiring bilateral extraction of teeth. Pain was the main parameter to be assessed by means of the visual analogue scale (VAS) applied during and immediately after the surgery. Hemodynamic parameters, adverse events, presence of paresthesia and satisfaction of patients and surgeon were also analysed. RESULTS: Pain management was more effective with mepivacaine up to two hours after surgery (p=0.014), whereas the surgeon was more satisfied with the use of articaine during divulsion and suture (p<0.05). However no statistically significant differences were found between both anesthetics regarding pain perception. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that both anesthetics are efficient and safe in the management of pain for extraction of third molars, in which less amount of mepivacaine is needed. The satisfaction of patients and surgeon was the same for both anesthetics, with articaine being highlighted during divulsion and suture.

Effects of cryotherapy combined with therapeutic ultrasound on oxidative stress and tissue damage after musculoskeletal contusion in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the combined effects of cryotherapy and pulsed ultrasound therapy (PUT) on oxidative stress parameters, tissue damage markers and systemic inflammation after musculoskeletal injury. DESIGN: Experimental animal study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control, lesion, cryotherapy, PUT, and cryotherapy+PUT. INTERVENTIONS: The gastrocnemius muscle was injured by mechanical crushing. Cryotherapy was applied immediately after injury (immersion in water at 10°C for 20minutes). PUT was commenced 24hours after injury (1MHz, 0.4W/cm2SPTA, 20% duty cycle, 5minutes). All animals were treated every 8hours for 3 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Oxidative stress in muscle was evaluated by concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), anti-oxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP) and catalase. Plasma levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed. RESULTS: When applied individually, cryotherapy and PUT reduced CK, LDH, CRP and LPO caused by muscle damage. Cryotherapy+PUT in combination maintained the previous results, caused a reduction in ROS [P=0.005, mean difference -0.9×10-8 relative area, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.2 to -1.9], and increased ACAP {P=0.007, mean difference 0.34 1/[relative area with/without 2,2-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine)dihydrochloride], 95% CI 0.07 to 0.61} and catalase (P=0.002, mean difference 0.41units/mg protein, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.73) compared with the lesion group. CONCLUSIONS: Cryotherapy+PUT in combination reduced oxidative stress in muscle, contributing to a reduction in adjacent damage and tissue repair.

Efeito de extratos e óleos essenciais de plantas na germinação de urediniósporos de Phakopsora pachyrhizi / Effect of plant extracts and essential oils on the germination of urediniospores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi

Métodos alternativos para o controle de doenças e pragas de plantas vêm sendo pesquisados buscando causar menores danos ao ambiente e a saúde humana. Diante disso, o objetivo deste estudo foi identificar extratos de plantas e óleos essenciais com possíveis efeitos sobre Phakopsora pachyrhizi, agente etiológico da ferrugem-asiática da soja. Assim, 61 extratos de plantas da flora nativa da região do Alto Rio Grande, Minas Gerais e cinco óleos essenciais obtidos comercialmente foram utilizados com a finalidade de testar os efeitos na germinação de urediniósporos do referido fungo. Foram utilizadas placas de Petri de 6 cm, com meio ágar-água, adicionado com 150 µL de extrato de planta ou 6 µL do óleo essencial misturado ao meio de cultura. Como testemunhas foram utilizadas 150 µL de Tween 20 a 0,7% e 150 µL de água destilada. Após, foram adicionados 50µL de uma suspensão de urediniósporos, na concentração de 2mg.5mL-1 e espalhados com alça de Drigalsky. As placas foram colocadas em BOD, a 23(±2ºC), por 4 horas. A germinação foi paralisada com adição de lactoglicerol. A avaliação da percentagem de esporos germinados foi realizada em microscópio de luz. Dentre os extratos vegetais testados, dez apresentaram percentual de germinação abaixo de 15%, tendo os extratos obtidos das plantas Pelargonium sp., Salvia officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Mentha pulegium e M. arvensis apresentado germinação de esporos de 3,0%, 3,5%, 3,0%, 2,0% e 4,0%, respectivamente. Todos os óleos essenciais avaliados foram efetivos na inibição da germinação, com destaque para o óleo essencial de Caryophilus aromaticus, que apresentou percentagem de germinação de 5%, resultando num percentual de inibição de 50,0%.

Alternative methods to control plant diseases and plagues have been studied, in order to cause less damages to the environment and human health. The purpose of this study was to identify plant extracts and essential oils as possible alternative products that affect the urediniospore germination of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of the Asian soybean rust. Plant extracts (61) from the native flora of the Alto Rio Grande region, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, as well as five commercial essential oils were used with the purpose of testing their effects on the germination of urediniospores of the referred fungus. 6cm Petri dishes were used, with water-agar medium, added with 150 µL of plant extract or 6 µL of essential oil mixed to the culture medium. As control, 150 µL of Tween 20 at 0.7% and 150 µL of distilled water were used. Then, 50 µL of a suspension of urediniospores were added, at a concentration of 2mg5mL-1 and spread with Drigalsky spatula. Then, the plates were put in BOD, at 23(±2ºC), for 4 hours. Germination was paralyzed by adding lactoglicerol. The percentage of spore germination was evaluated in a light microscope. Among the vegetal extracts tested, ten of them presented a germination percentage below 15%. The extracts from the Pelargonium sp., Salvia officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Mentha pulegium and M. arvensis plants presented 3.0%, 3.5%, 3.0%, 2.0% and 4.0% of urediniospore germination, respectively. All the essential oils evaluated were effective in inhibiting germination, especially the Caryophilus aromaticus essential oil that presented 5.0% of germination, with 50.0% of inhibition.

Electrical characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Electrical characteristics of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) grown by chemical vapor deposition have been investigated as a function of the bias voltage, nanotubes length and temperature, in 2 and 4 terminal configurations. Nanotubes were deposited over metal electrodes using ac dielectrophoresis method. For better contacts between the nanotubes and electrodes, Ni and Pd films were deposited by an electroless deposition technique. Differential conductance was found to rise considerably with bias, and this effect was more pronounced for Ni. Using 2 and 4 terminal configurations, electrical resistance measurements for individual MWNTs were performed, and the results were interpreted using the model of nanotube as a resistive transmission line, where current at low bias flows mainly through the two outermost shells.

Skin eruption and thrombocytopaenia in a woman with glaucoma: a case report.

Antibiotic and non-antibiotic sulphonamides are often prescribed. Although chemical differences make cross-reactivity rare, reactions may be severe in patients allergic to sulphur. Adverse reactions are common with sulphonamides but low platelets and skin changes are rarely associated with eye-drops for glaucoma. A woman treated with dorzolamide and timolol presented with disseminated eruption. On admission, her physical examination was unremarkable except for the skin changes and severe thrombocytopaenia was detected. Skin biopsy showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, perivascular and periadnexal infiltrates with no vasculitis. After discontinuation of eye-drops, the eruption improved but low platelets persisted. Skin changes reappeared with use of dapsone which suggested sulphonamide cross-reactivity.

High temperature AFM study of CAP 30/45 pen grade bitumen.

Bitumen is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons for which microstructural understanding is incomplete. In an effort to detail this microstructure, a asphalt cement sample (CAP 30/45) was analysed by thermal phase detection atomic force microscopy. Phase contrast and topography images showed that sample morphology is highly dependent on temperature. The 'bee structure' changed considerably at temperatures between 50 degrees C and 56 degrees C. A decrease of the oscillation amplitude was observed upon heating and the 'bees' completely disappeared at temperatures above 57 degrees C. When the temperature was decreased after melting at 170 degrees C, the 'bees' began to nucleate gradually at temperatures of 57 degrees C and its evolution with time was followed. Changes in morphology were compared to thermal analysis results and a model for the 'bee' structure was proposed.

[Celiac disease: clinical characteristics and methods used in the diagnosis of patients registered at the Brazilian Celiac Association] / Doença celíaca: características clínicas e métodos utilizados no diagnóstico de pacientes cadastrados na Associação dos Celíacos do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and methods used in the diagnosis of patients registered at the Brazilian Celiac Association (BCA). METHODS: A questionnaire about clinical characteristics and diagnostic methods in celiac disease was mailed to 584 members of the BCA. RESULTS: We received 292 responses for 584 questionnaires mailed (49.5%). The clinical characteristics of celiac disease in the sample we analyzed showed that the most frequent type was the classical mode (88.9%), while the atypical mode was present in only 11.1% of patients at the time of diagnosis. Increased incidence of both late diagnosed classical mode (44.5% to 64.2%; P=.004) and atypical mode (5.2% to 16.8%; P=.005) has been observed in the last 5 years. Duration of symptoms before diagnosis was greater than 1 year in 75% patients with atypical manifestation. Intestinal biopsy was not performed in 19% of the cases at the time of diagnosis. It was observed that in the last 5 years intestinal biopsy was not performed for a larger number of patients (24.4%) than in the previous period (only 11.1%) (P=.007). CONCLUSIONS: Classical mode is still the most frequent clinical manifestation of celiac disease. The late diagnosed classical mode is predominant, but our findings show an increase in the proportion of the atypical mode. Although characterization of subtotal or total villous atrophy of the intestinal mucosa is of paramount importance to the diagnosis of celiac disease, 19% of the patients diagnosed for celiac disease did not undergo intestinal biopsy at the time of diagnosis, most notably in the last 5 years.

[Evaluation of mothers knowledge about oral rehydration therapy and sodium concentration in homemade sugar salt solutions] / Avaliação do conhecimento de mães sobre terapia de reidratação oral e concentração de sódio em soluções sal-açúcar de preparo domiciliar.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mothers knowledge about oral rehydration therapy and to determine the concentration of sodium in sugar salt solutions prepared by the interviewed mothers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of low-income families from the suburbs of Natal, a city in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. One hundred and thirty six households with children younger than 5 years were visited. The information on when to use the solution, how to administrate it and how to prepare it was provided by the interviewed mothers. The concentration of sodium was determined in 100 solutions prepared by those mothers. RESULTS: Only 9.0% of mothers had appropriate knowledge about when to use the solution and 21.0% knew how to administer it correctly. The error rates regarding the measurement of ingredients were: 2.5% for salt, 22.2% for water and 43.2% for sugar, according to the answers given by 81 mothers, who used a double-ended spoon made of plastic to measure quantities. In fifty percent of the analyzed samples, sodium was within safe limits (30 mmol/l to 100 mmol/l). Those considered dangerous (>100 mmol/l) or inefficient solutions (<30 mmol/l) reached the percentage of 47.0% and 3.0%, respectively. Out of the 69 solutions prepared with the double-ended spoon, 63.8% were found appropriate in terms of sodium concentration, while only 19.3% of the 31 solutions prepared using other measuring utensils were within acceptable limits (P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Mothers knowledge about oral rehydration therapy was considered poor. Moreover, the concentration of sodium in sugar salt solutions seldom remains within safe limits, particularly those solutions in which the double-ended spoon was not used for preparation. These conclusions should be considered in future educational programs on oral rehydration.

Avaliacao nutricional das criancas indias do Alto Xingu. / Nutritional evaluation of indian children from Alto Xingu, Brazil

Avaliamos o estado nutricional das criancas indias do Alto Xingu utilizando um indice antropometrico independente da idade, a saber, a adequacao peso-altura. O trabalho de campo foi realizado no mes de julho durante tres anos consecutivos (1974-1975-1976). Ao cabo deste periodo, 175 criancas, haviam sido estudadas, 97 meninos e 78 meninas, com idade estimada menor que cinco anos. Desnutricao grau I em somente 11,3% das criancas durante tres anos consecutivos enfatiza que desnutricao nao e um problema de maior relevancia na comunidade indigena considerada. A despeito do vertigioso movimento da sociedade "civilizada" em direcao a Amazonia, os indios permaneceram ate o momento nas mesmas condicoes de saude observadas 30 anos atras