Low-Level Laser Therapy for Management of Hypersensitivity in Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: Case Report.

The aim was to report the use low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of hypersensitivity in an adolescent with molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) and the impact of LLLT on his oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Clinical examination revealed severe MIH with hypersensitivity, in all first permanent molars and incisors. The treatment proposed was desensitization with fluoride and esthetic rehabilitation of the affected teeth. Then, LLLT was applied perpendicularly in a continuous mode (wavelength of 808 nm, power of 100 mW, dose of 1 J, and fluence of 35 J/cm2). The visual analogue scale was applied each session of LLLT. The child perceptions questionnaire (CPQ11-14) was administered at the beginning and the end of the treatment. It was concluded that LLLT can be indicated in the management of hypersensitivity in an adolescent with severe MIH to control pain and to improve his OHRQoL.

CAR-Ts: new perspectives in cancer therapy.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy is a promising anticancer treatment that exploits the host's immune system to fight cancer. CAR-T cell therapy relies on immune cells being modified to express an artificial receptor targeting cancer-specific markers, and infused into the patients where they will recognize and eliminate the tumour. Although CAR-T cell therapy has produced encouraging outcomes in patients with haematologic malignancies, solid tumours remain challenging to treat, mainly due to the lack of cancer-specific molecular targets and the hostile, often immunosuppressive, tumour microenvironment. CAR-T cell therapy also depends on the quality of the injected product, which is closely connected to CAR design. Here, we explain the technology of CAR-Ts, focusing on the composition of CARs, their application, and limitations in cancer therapy, as well as on the current strategies to overcome the challenges encountered. We also address potential future targets to overcome the flaws of CAR-T cell technology in the treatment of cancer, emphasizing glycan antigens, the aberrant forms of which attain high tumour-specific expression, as promising targets for CAR-T cell therapy.

Assessment of Primary Health Care Attributes in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the presence and extent of Primary Health Care attributes in Campina Grande, Paraíba. METHOD: this is a cross-sectional study with 202 professionals from the Basic Health Units. The Primary Care Assessment Tool, Brazil, was used, which includes eight attributes of primary care whose scores were converted into a scale from 0 to 10, with those considered satisfactory > 6.60. RESULT: the general score mean was 7.6, but First contact access obtained a score of 3.7. Dental surgeons attributed the worst scores for all attributes (p <0.05). Permanent education activity was associated with a high general score (p <0.01). CONCLUSION: with the exception of First contact access, the other attributes are present, but initiatives by teams and managers are necessary for its expansion, with permanent education being the main strategy in this process.

Assessment of Primary Health Care Attributes in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil / Evaluación de los atributos de la Atención Primaria de Salud en Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brasil / Avaliação dos atributos da atenção primária à saúde em Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the presence and extent of Primary Health Care attributes in Campina Grande, Paraíba. Method: this is a cross-sectional study with 202 professionals from the Basic Health Units. The Primary Care Assessment Tool, Brazil, was used, which includes eight attributes of primary care whose scores were converted into a scale from 0 to 10, with those considered satisfactory > 6.60. Result: the general score mean was 7.6, but First contact access obtained a score of 3.7. Dental surgeons attributed the worst scores for all attributes (p <0.05). Permanent education activity was associated with a high general score (p <0.01). Conclusion: with the exception of First contact access, the other attributes are present, but initiatives by teams and managers are necessary for its expansion, with permanent education being the main strategy in this process.

RESUMEN Objetivo: evaluar la presencia y extensión de los atributos de la Atención Primaria de Salud em Campina Grande, Paraíba. Método: se trata de em rocess transversal em 202 profesionales de las Unidades Básicas de Salud. Se rocess la herramienta de evaluación de atención primaria, Brasil, que incluye ocho atributos de atención primaria cuyas puntuaciones se convirtieron em em escala de 0 a 10, considerándose aquellos> 6.60 son satisfactorios. Resultado: el promedio de la puntuación general fue de 7,6, pero la accesibilidad al primer contacto obtuvo em puntuación de 3,7. Los cirujanos dentales atribuyeron las peores puntuaciones para todos los atributos (p <0.05). El desempeño de la actividad de educación permanente se asoció em em puntaje general alto (p <0.01). Conclusión: em la excepción de Accesibilidad para el primer contacto, los otros atributos están presentes, pero las iniciativas de los equipos y gerentes son rocessoa para su expansión, siendo la educación permanente la rocessoa principal em este rocesso.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar a presença e extensão dos atributos da Atenção Primária à Saúde de Campina Grande, Paraíba. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal, com 202 profissionais das Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Foi utilizado o instrumento Primary Care Assessment Tool, Brasil, que contempla oito atributos da atenção primária cujos escores foram convertidos em escala de 0 a 10, sendo considerados satisfatórios aqueles ≥6,60. Resultado: a média do Escore Geral foi de 7,6, mas a Acessibilidade de primeiro contato obteve escore de 3,7. Os cirurgiões dentistas atribuíram piores escores para todos os atributos (p<0,05). A realização de atividade de educação permanente esteve associada ao Escore Geral alto (p<0,01). Conclusão: com exceção da Acessibilidade de primeiro contato, os demais atributos estão presentes, mas iniciativas das equipes e gestores são necessárias para sua ampliação, sendo a educação permanente a principal estratégia nesse processo.

Carcinoembryonic antigen carrying SLeX as a new biomarker of more aggressive gastric carcinomas.

Malignant transformation of gastric cells is accompanied by the deregulated expression of glycosyltransferases leading to the biosynthesis of tumor-associated glycans such as the sialyl-Lewis X antigen (SLex). SLex presence on cell surface glycoconjugates increases the invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells and is associated with tumor metastasis. ST3Gal IV enzyme is involved in the synthesis of SLex antigen and overexpressed in gastric carcinomas. Herein, we identified the glycoproteins carrying SLex in gastric cancer cells overexpressing ST3Gal IV enzyme and evaluated their biomarker potential for gastric carcinoma. Methods: SLex modified glycoproteins were identified applying western blot and mass spectrometry. Immunoprecipitation, proximity ligation assay (PLA), E-selectin binding assay and CRISPR/cas9 knockout experiments were performed to characterize the presence of SLex on the identified glycoprotein. Protein N-glycans of the SLex protein carrier were in deep analyzed by porous-graphitized-carbon liquid-chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry glycomics. In silico expression analysis of α2-3 sialyltransferase ST3Gal IV and SLex protein carrier was performed and the conjoint expression of the SLex modified glycoproteins evaluated by immunohistochemistry and PLA in a series of gastric carcinomas. Results: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; CEACAM5) was identified and validated by different methodologies as a major carrier of SLex. N-glycomics of CEA revealed that complex N-glycans are capped with α2-3 linked sialic acid (Neu5Acα2-3Galß1-4GlcNAc). Data set analysis of ST3Gal IV and CEA showed that ST3Gal IV expression was associated with patient´s poor survival, whereas CEA did not show any prognostic value. The co-expression of both CEA and SLeX was observed in 86,3% of gastric carcinoma cases and 74,5% of the total cases displayed the conjoint CEA+SLexin situ PLA expression. This expression was associated with clinicopathological features of the tumors, including infiltrative pattern of tumor growth, presence of venous invasion and patient's poor survival. CEA immunoprecipitation from gastric carcinoma tissues also confirmed the presence of SLex. Conclusion: CEA is the major glycoprotein carrying SLex in gastric carcinoma and the conjoint detection of CEA-SLex is associated with aggressive tumor features highlighting its PLA detection as a biomarker of gastric cancer patient prognosis for theranostic applications.

Caracterização do biótipo periodontal de discentes do curso de odontologia da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande / Characterization of periodontal biotype of dentistry students at Federal University of Campina Grande

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as variações dos padrões teciduais do periodonto de proteção de dentes permanentes ânterossuperiores e verificar a prevalência de cada biótipo periodontal de acordo as classificações de Maynard e Wilson (1980) e De Rouck et al. (2009). Participaram do estudo 78 discentes, 40 mulheres e 38 homens e idade média de 22,53 (±2,30), do curso de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, totalizando 468 dentes examinados. Para cada dente, foram observados os seguintes parâmetros clínicos: profundidade de sondagem, mucosa ceratinizada, gengiva inserida e formato anatômico do tecido gengival e dos dentes. Os biótipos periodontais mais prevalentes foram o plano-espesso (44,9%)e o tipo I (70,5%) e não houve diferença significativa ao relacioná-los com o gênero do indivíduo (p>0,05). A grande maioria dos elementos dentários que foram classificados como tipo I apresentava o periodonto de proteção plano-espesso (p<0,001). Avaliação prévia da morfologia do periodonto é de grande importância para aumentar a previsibilidade estética e funcional de procedimentos clínicos que se interrelacionam com os tecidos periodontais, pois existem biótipos que podem predispor o aparecimento e progressão de recessões gengivais.

This study aimed to evaluate variations in the periodontal tissue of protection patterns of maxillary anterior permanent teeth and determine the prevalence of each periodontal biotype according to classifications of Maynardand Wilson (1980) and De Rouck et al. (2009). The study included 78 students, 40 women and 38 men, with an average age of 22.53 (± 2.30), of the Dentistry course at the Federal University of Campina Grande, totaling 468 teeth examined. For each tooth, the following parameters were observed: probing depth, keratinized mucosa, attached gingiva and anatomical shape of the gingival tissue and teeth. The most prevalent periodontal biotypes were thick-flat (44.9%) and type I (70.5%) and there was no significant difference to relate them to the individual’s gender (p>0.05). Vast majority of teeth that have been classified as type I presented the thickflat periodontium protection (p <0.001). Prior assessment of periodontium morphology is of great importance to enhance the aesthetic and functional predictability of clinical procedures that are interrelated with the periodontal tissues, as there are biotypes that may predispose the appearance and progression of gingival recessions.