Respiratory muscles's thermographic analysis in asthmatic youth with and without bronchospasm induced by eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the thermographic pattern of regions of interest (ROI) of respiratory muscles in young asthmatics with and without bronchospasm induced by eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea (EVH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out with 55 young (55% male and 45% females) aged 12.5 ± 3.3 years, divided in nine nonasthmatics, 22 asthmatics without exercise-induced bronchospasm compatible response (EIB-cr) and 24 asthmatics with EIB-cr. The diagnosis of EIB was given to subjects with a fall in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) ≥ 10% compared to baseline. Thermographic recordings of respiratory muscles were delimited in ROI of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), pectoral, and rectus abdominis intention area. Thermal captures and FEV1 were taken before and 5, 10, 15 and 30 min after EVH. RESULTS: Twenty-four (52.1%) of asthmatics had EIB-cr. There was a decrease in temperature at 10 min after EVH test in the SCM, pectoral and rectus abdominis ROIs in all groups (both with p < 0.05). There was a decrease in temperature (% basal) in asthmatic with EIB-cr compared to nonasthmatics in the rectus abdominis area (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a decrease in temperature in the ROIs of different muscle groups, especially in asthmatics. The greater drop in FEV1 observed in individuals with EIB-cr was initially associated with a decrease in skin temperature, with a difference between the nonasthmatics in the abdominal muscle area. It is likely that this decrease in temperature occurred due to a temporary displacement of blood flow to the most used muscle groups, with a decrease in the region of the skin evaluated in the thermography.

What influences dental students' attitudes regarding the treatment of older adults? A scoping review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the literature to evaluate dental students' attitudes regarding the treatment of older adults. METHODS: A scoping review was performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses/PRISMA guidelines to identify articles from four electronic databases: MEDLINE via the PubMed interface, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and AgeLine. Gray literature searches were also performed in Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses-Health and Medicine. RESULTS: Eleven articles were assessed. The majority (72, 72%) were published between 2011 and 2020, evidencing various contexts of dental students, such as different countries and cultures, and levels of education. The most commonly used tool/instrument to survey dental students' attitudes was the Aging Semantic Differential Scale. Student age, race, and marital status did not seem to interfere with dental students' attitudes regarding the treatment of older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Dental students tend to have a positive attitude toward older people. In this context, female students, students who interact with older people, and clinical students have more positive attitudes than male and nonclinical students.

Tooth Loss Condition and Social Discrimination in Brazilian Healthcare Services.

Objective: To explore factors associated with social discrimination against users of health services regarding dental aesthetic conditions. Methods: Based on a Brazilian National Survey, multivariate Poisson regressions with robust variance were used to explore the association of outcome discrimination related to different motivations in health services and exposure to sociodemographic and dental variables. Effect modification by complete prosthesis wearing was assessed. Results: Among the 60,200 people interviewed, 11.5% reported being discriminated against in health services. For women, a higher prevalence of discrimination was found among those in the age group of 30-44 years. For both sexes, discrimination was associated with black and brown skin color. Regarding dental characteristics, the higher the tooth loss was, the higher the prevalence of discrimination; however, complete prosthesis wearing presented as a protective factor. Social discrimination was the major motivation for reported discrimination and presented higher prevalence in edentulous individuals who did not wear prosthesis. Conclusion: Dental loss may lead to self-reported discrimination in health care services. The prevalence of discrimination increases when tooth loss increases, and the major reason associated is social discrimination.

Cannabidiol Administered During Peri-Adolescence Prevents Behavioral Abnormalities in an Animal Model of Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is considered a debilitating neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder and its pharmacotherapy remains problematic without recent major advances. The development of interventions able to prevent the emergence of schizophrenia would therefore represent an enormous progress. Here, we investigated whether treatment with cannabidiol (CBD - a compound of Cannabis sativa that presents an antipsychotic profile in animals and humans) during peri-adolescence would prevent schizophrenia-like behavioral abnormalities in an animal model of schizophrenia: the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) strain. Wistar rats and SHRs were treated with vehicle or CBD from 30 to 60 post-natal days. In experiment 1, schizophrenia-like behaviors (locomotor activity, social interaction, prepulse inhibition of startle and contextual fear conditioning) were assessed on post-natal day 90. Side effects commonly associated with antipsychotic treatment were also evaluated: body weight gain and catalepsy throughout the treatment, and oral dyskinesia 48 h after treatment interruption and on post-natal day 90. In experiment 2, serum levels of triglycerides and glycemia were assessed on post-natal day 61. In experiment 3, levels of BDNF, monoamines, and their metabolites were evaluated on post-natal days 61 and 90 in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Treatment with CBD prevented the emergence of SHRs' hyperlocomotor activity (a model for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia) and deficits in prepulse inhibition of startle and contextual fear conditioning (cognitive impairments). CBD did not induce any of the potential motor or metabolic side effects evaluated. Treatment with CBD increased the prefrontal cortex 5-HIAA/serotonin ratio and the levels of 5-HIAA on post-natal days 61 and 90, respectively. Our data provide pre-clinical evidence for a safe and beneficial effect of peripubertal and treatment with CBD on preventing positive and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, and suggest the involvement of the serotoninergic system on this effect.

Four-year incidence rate and predictors of root caries among community-dwelling south Brazilian older adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the incidence density (ID) of new root caries lesions and restorations among community-living south Brazilian older adults and to assess its association with predictor variables. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort with a random sample of elders from the municipality of Carlos Barbosa, in south Brazil. Trained dentists performed interviews and oral examinations in 388 individuals at baseline, of which 273 were retained at follow-up 4 years later. Our outcome was root caries ID, with 100 root-years as its unit of measure. Demographic, biological and lifestyle predictors were tested with Poisson regression. RESULTS: The mean number of roots at baseline among participants was 7.0 (SD ± 4.9) and the incidence rate per 100 root-year 4.9 (SD ± 8.9). Incidence of root caries among these older Brazilians was of 47.3%. The associated factors with the incidence of root caries were age, geographic location of residence, frequency of tooth brushing and stimulated saliva flow rate. CONCLUSION: Age, external environment, personal practices and oral status were predictors of the incidence of root caries. Preventive strategies including the use of fluorides and instruction to improve the attitude and behaviour towards oral hygiene are needed.

Plasma copeptin and metabolic dysfunction in individuals with bipolar disorder.

AIM: This study aimed to compare plasma copeptin levels, the c-terminal of provasopressin, between individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and healthy controls and to assess the relation between copeptin and metabolic parameters. METHODS: We measured plasma levels of copeptin in individuals with BD (n = 55) and healthy controls (n = 21). Information related to psychiatric/medical history, as well as to metabolic comorbidities and laboratorial parameters was also captured. Insulin resistance and ß-cell function in basal state were calculated from fasting plasma glucose and C-peptide using the HOMA2 calculator. Impaired glucose metabolism was defined as pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Copeptin, adiponectin, and leptin plasma levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Plasma copeptin levels were lower in individuals with BD, relative to healthy controls (P < 0.001). There were significant interactions between BD and plasma copeptin on ß-cell function (rate ratio [RR] = 1.048; P = 0.030) and on leptin levels (RR = 1.087; P = 0.012), indicating that there was a positive correlation between these markers in the BD group, but a negative one in healthy controls. Finally, in individuals with BD only, the association between ß-cell function, body mass index (RR = 1.007; P < 0.001), and insulin resistance (RR = 1.001; P = 0.037) was moderated by copeptin levels. CONCLUSION: Copeptin levels were lower in individuals with BD than in healthy controls. There were differential associations between copeptin and metabolic parameters within the BD and healthy control subgroups, suggesting an association between abnormal copeptin and metabolic dysregulation only in the BD population.

Cannabidiol Prevents Motor and Cognitive Impairments Induced by Reserpine in Rats.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa that presents antipsychotic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. In Parkinson's disease patients, CBD is able to attenuate the psychotic symptoms induced by L-DOPA and to improve quality of life. Repeated administration of reserpine in rodents induces motor impairments that are accompanied by cognitive deficits, and has been applied to model both tardive dyskinesia and Parkinson's disease. The present study investigated whether CBD administration would attenuate reserpine-induced motor and cognitive impairments in rats. Male Wistar rats received four injections of CBD (0.5 or 5 mg/kg) or vehicle (days 2-5). On days 3 and 5, animals received also one injection of 1 mg/kg reserpine or vehicle. Locomotor activity, vacuous chewing movements, and catalepsy were assessed from day 1 to day 7. On days 8 and 9, we evaluated animals' performance on the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task, for learning/memory assessment. CBD (0.5 and 5 mg/kg) attenuated the increase in catalepsy behavior and in oral movements - but not the decrease in locomotion - induced by reserpine. CBD (0.5 mg/kg) also ameliorated the reserpine-induced memory deficit in the discriminative avoidance task. Our data show that CBD is able to attenuate motor and cognitive impairments induced by reserpine, suggesting the use of this compound in the pharmacotherapy of Parkinson's disease and tardive dyskinesia.

Inter-relation between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and antioxidant enzymes in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Accumulating evidence indicates that oxidative stress and neurotrophins have a bidirectional relationship. In this post hoc, exploratory analysis, we investigated the association between plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and activities of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and healthy controls. METHODS: We measured plasma levels of BDNF and activities of GPx and SOD in individuals with BD (n=59) and healthy controls (n=26). Information related to current and past psychiatric/medical history, as well as to metabolic comorbidities, was also reported. RESULTS: There were negative correlations between BDNF, GPx (r=-.449, P≤.001) and GPx/SOD ratio (r=-.503, P<.001), and a positive correlation between BDNF and SOD (r=.254, P=.020). There was a moderating effect of body mass index (BMI) on the association between BDNF and GPx/SOD rate ratio [(RR)=1.002, P=.034]; interactions between impaired glucose metabolism (IGM), GPx (RR=1.016, P=.033), and GPx/SOD ratio (RR=1.026, P=.002) were also observed. These results were significant in models that included age, gender, alcohol, tobacco and medication use. CONCLUSIONS: There was a robust and independent correlation between peripheral BDNF and antioxidant enzyme activities in individuals with BD, which was moderated by metabolic comorbidities. These results reinforce the concept that these systems are associated and further extend knowledge of the putative effect of metabolic comorbidities in the pathophysiological substrates of BD.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, impaired glucose metabolism, and bipolar disorder course.

OBJECTIVES: The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been proposed as a potential biomarker in bipolar disorder (BD). However, current evidence is limited and results have been highly heterogeneous. This study aimed to assess the moderating effect of impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) on plasma levels of BDNF in individuals with BD, and on the relationship between BDNF and variables of illness course. METHODS: We measured and compared the plasma levels of BDNF in individuals with BD (n=57) and healthy controls (n=26). IGM was operationalized as pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Information related to current and past psychiatric/medical history, as well as prescription of pharmacological treatments was also captured. RESULTS: Individuals with BD had lower levels of BDNF, relative to healthy controls, after adjustment for age, gender, current medications, smoking, alcohol use, and IGM (P=.046). There was no effect of IGM (P=.860) and no interaction between BD diagnosis and IGM (P=.893). Peripheral BDNF levels were positively correlated with lifetime depressive episodes (P<.001), psychiatric hospitalizations (P=.001) and suicide attempts (P=.021). IGM moderated the association between BDNF and the number of previous mood episodes (P<.001), wherein there was a positive correlation in euglycemic participants and a negative correlation in individuals with IGM. CONCLUSIONS: BD is independently associated with lower levels of BDNF; IGM may modify the relationship between BDNF and BD course, suggesting an interactive effect of BDNF with metabolic status on illness progression.

Anti-CEA loaded maghemite nanoparticles as a theragnostic device for colorectal cancer.

Nanosized maghemite particles were synthesized, precoated (with dimercaptosuccinic acid) and surface-functionalized with anticarcinoembryonic antigen (anti-CEA) and successfully used to target cell lines expressing the CEA, characteristic of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The as-developed nanosized material device, consisting of surface decorated maghemite nanoparticles suspended as a biocompatible magnetic fluid (MF) sample, labeled MF-anti-CEA, was characterized and tested against two cell lines: a high-CEA expressing cell line (LS174T) and a low-CEA expressing cell line (HCT116). Whereas X-ray diffraction was used to assess the average core size of the as-synthesized maghemite particles (average 8.3 nm in diameter), dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic mobility measurements were used to obtain the average hydrodynamic diameter (550 nm) and the zeta-potential (-38 mV) of the as-prepared and maghemite-based nanosized device, respectively. Additionally, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to track the surface decoration of the nanosized maghemite particles from the very first precoating up to the attachment of the anti-CEA moiety. The Raman peak at 1655 cm(-1), absent in the free anti-CEA spectrum, is the signature of the anti-CEA binding onto the precoated magnetic nanoparticles. Whereas MTT assay was used to confirm the low cell toxicity of the MF-anti-CEA device, ELISA and Prussian blue iron staining tests performed with both cell lines (LS174T and HCT116) confirm that the as-prepared MF-anti- CEA is highly specific for CEA-expressing cells. Finally, transmission electron microscopy analyses show that the association with anti-CEA seems to increase the number of LS174T cells with internalized maghemite nanoparticles, whereas no such increase seems to occur in the HCT116 cell line. In conclusion, the MF-anti-CEA sample is a biocompatible device that can specifically target CEA, suggesting its potential use as a theragnostic tool for CEA-expressing tumors, micrometastasis, and cancer-circulating cells.