Microtensile Bond Strength of Self-Etch Adhesives on Dentin Treated with Chlorhexidine.

AIM: To evaluate the microtensile bond strength of self-etching adhesive systems in dentin treated with 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The occlusal surfaces of 20 human molars were removed and divided into eight groups: 1A, Clearfil SE adhesive (SE) with self-etching technique (TS); 1B, SE with TS and previous application of CHX; 2A, Scotchbond Universal (SBU) adhesive with TS; 2B, SBU adhesive with TS and previous application of CHX; 1C, SE with total-etching technique (TT); 1D, SE with TT and previous application of CHX; 2C, SBU with TT; 2D SBU with TT and previous application of CHX. Composite resin (5mm) was applied on the hybridized surface. Samples were subjected to microtensile test and evaluated on Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). RESULTS: Low values of bond strength were observed in groups 1A (39,77±11,56) and 2A (40,84±12,49) comparing with 1B (22,86±5,18) and 2B (27,02±5,58). TS group presented adhesive type remover fracture while TT groups presented cohesive at the top of hybrid layer. EDX revealed the presence of CHX crystals for TS, which was not found in the TT. CONCLUSION: The previous application of chlorhexidine on dentin decreased the bond strength of adhesive systems on self-etching technique.

Vicilin from Anadenanthera colubrina Seeds: An alternative tool to combat Callosobruchus maculatus.

Vicilins are seed proteins, and they constitute 70-80% of the total protein in leguminous seeds; with amolecular mass between 150 and 190 kDa, they are composed of subunits without disulfide bridges, with high affinity for chitin-binding. They are also associated with seed defense against insect pests. The chitin-binding vicilin from Anadenanthera colubrina seeds was purified by ammonium sulfate, followed by affinity chromatography on a chitin column, molecular exclusion on Superdex 75 Tricorn in FPLC system and Phenomenex C8 chromatography in HPLC system. The A. colubrina vicilin, named AcV, is a tetrameric glycoprotein composed of 1.55% carbohydrates and molecular weight determined by SDS-PAGE, consisting of 70, 73, 43 and 41 kDa. The AcV homogeneity was confirmed in native PAGE, where it was observed to be a unique band with slow mobility in this gel, with approximately 230 kDa. AcV added to the Callosobruchus maculatus diet in the bioassays resulted in a strong effect on adult emergence (ED50 of 0.096%), and in larvae caused a marked reduction in mass (WD50 of 0.32%) and lethality (LD50 of 0.33%) (w:w). The digestibility of AcV was evaluated in vitro with the digestive enzymes of larvae of C. maculatus of fourth instar, showing major fragments of 10 and 30 kDa. AcV showed reactivity against the anti-EvV antibody from Erythrina velutina vicilin. The deleterious effects of AcV are likely to be associated with the chitin-binding fragments generated by proteolysis in the bruchid gut, similarly to that found for vicilins from other leguminous plant species, Enterolobium contortisiliquum and Vigna unguiculata. AcV might be a candidate protein for a possible bioinsecticidal control of the bruchid weevil, C. maculatus.

Intraocular pressure and pupil diameter in healthy cats anesthetized with isoflurane and pre-medicated with isolated acepromazine or in combination with tramadol / [Pressão intraocular e diâmetro pupilar em gatos saudáveis anestesiados com isoflurano e pré-medicados com acepromazina isolada ou em combinação com tramadol]

The objective of this study was to determine changes on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD) in healthy cats anesthetized with isoflurane, and premedicated with acepromazine alone or in combination with tramadol. Thirty cats were allocated in two groups (n=15/each) and were treated with acepromazine (AG) or acepromazine/tramadol (ATG). PD and IOP were assessed before and following 30 (PM1), and 40 minutes (PM2) of treatments. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, and IOP and DP were recorded (A10) at 10 minute intervals until the end of anesthesia (A40). IOP decreased in AG and ATG, when comparing baseline with PM1. IOP decreased only in AG, in comparisons between baseline and PM2. During anesthesia, IOP did not change within and between groups. Comparisons between baseline with those recorded at PM1 and 2 showed that PD increased in the ATG. During anesthesia, PD decreased significantly in AG and ATG. Both protocols maintained the IOP within the reference range to perform corneal or intraocular surgery in healthy cats but did not sustain pre-anesthetic pupil dilation observed in ATG.(AU)

O objetivo do presente artigo é determinar possíveis alterações na pressão intraocular (PIO) e no diâmetro pupilar (DP) em gatos saudáveis anestesiados com isoflurano e pré-medicados com acepromazina isolada ou em combinação com acepromazina/tramadol. Trinta gatos saudáveis foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos (n=15/cada) e tratados com acepromazina (GA) ou acepromazina/tramadol (GAT). DP e PIO foram avaliadas antes (basal) e após 30 (PM1) e 40 minutos (PM2) dos tratamentos. A anestesia foi induzida com propofol, e a PIO e o DP foram registrados (A10) a cada 10 minutos até o final da anestesia com isoflurano (A40). Ao se compararem os valores obtidos no basal com PM1, a PIO diminuiu em GA e GAT; com PM2, a PIO reduziu apenas no GA. Durante a anestesia, a PIO não diferiu dentro e entre os grupos. Comparações entre os valores basais e os registrados em PM1 e em PM2 mostraram que a DP aumentou significativamente no GAT. Durante a anestesia, o DP diminuiu significativamente em GA e GAT. Ambos os protocolos mantêm a PIO dentro dos valores de referência para realizar cirurgias corneanas ou intraoculares em gatos saudáveis, mas não sustentam a dilatação pupilar pré-anestésica observada em GAT.(AU)

Nitrogen metabolism and protein requirements for maintenance of growing Red Norte bulls.

Dietary protein adjustments can reduce environmental impact and economic losses in production systems. However, we lack information regarding nitrogen (N) metabolism and protein requirements for maintenance of crossbred animals such as Red Norte breed, precluding a precise dietary management. The objective was to evaluate the effect of increasing dietary CP levels (9%, 11%, 13%, 15% and 17%) on intake, digestibility and N balance, as well as to estimate the metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance (MPm) of growing Red Norte bulls. Thirty five animals averaging 280 ± 4.0 kg BW were fed during 45 days in a 60 : 40 forage : concentrate ratio diet in which the last 5 days were used for the digestibility trial. Intakes of CP and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFCs) and feed efficiency linearly increased (P < 0.05) as CP levels increased, while DM, NDF, nitrogen efficiency use and ether extract were not influenced by CP levels (P > 0.05). Digestibilities of DM, organic matter, ether extract, NFC and CP as well as metabolizable energy intake linearly increased (P < 0.05), and true digestibility of CP was not affected (P > 0.05) by treatments. Urinary N and retained N linearly increased (P < 0.05) with the increase in dietary N. The MPm were estimated as 4.46 g/BW0.75 and the efficiency of use of MPm was 0.673. In conclusion, obtained MPm requirements of growing Red Norte bulls are greater than the values reported in literature for Zebu cattle and dietary CP levels of 15% and 17% exhibited great responses for growing Red Norte cattle. However, a cost-benefit evaluation should be done before its use.

Genetic variation in Wnt/ß-catenin and ER signalling pathways in female and male elite dancers and its associations with low bone mineral density: a cross-section and longitudinal study.

The association of genetic polymorphisms with low bone mineral density in elite athletes have not been considered previously. The present study found that bone mass phenotypes in elite and pre-elite dancers are related to genetic variants at the Wnt/ß-catenin and ER pathways. INTRODUCTION: Some athletes (e.g. gymnasts, dancers, swimmers) are at increased risk for low bone mineral density (BMD) which, if untreated, can lead to osteoporosis. To investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms in the oestrogen receptor (ER) and the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathways with low BMD in elite and pre-elite dancers (impact sport athletes). METHODS: The study included three phases: (1) 151 elite and pre-elite dancers were screened for the presence of low BMD and traditional osteoporosis risk factors (low body weight, menstrual disturbances, low energy availability); (2) a genetic association study was conducted in 151 elite and pre-elite dancers and age- and sex- controls; (3) serum sclerostin was measured in 101 pre-elite dancers and age- and sex-matched controls within a 3-year period. RESULTS: Eighty dancers revealed low BMD: 56.3% had at least one traditional osteoporosis risk factor, whereas 28.6% did not display any risk factor (37.2% revealed traditional osteoporosis risk factors, but had normal BMD). Body weight, menstrual disturbances and energy availability did not fully predict bone mass acquisition. Instead, genetic polymorphisms in the ER and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways were found to be risk factors for low BMD in elite dancers. Sclerostin was significantly increased in dancers compared to controls during the 3-year follow-up (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elite and pre-elite dancers demonstrate high prevalence of low BMD, which is likely related to genetic variants at the Wnt/ß-catenin and ER pathways and not to factors usually associated with BMD in athletes (body weight, menstrual disturbances, energy deficiency).

Impacto do grau de uveíte em diferentes tipos de úlceras de córneas em cães submetidos ao enxerto pediculado de conjuntiva bulbar - 34 casos / Impact of uveitis score on different types of corneal ulcers in dogs subjected to the bulbar conjunctival pedicle graft - 34 cases

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar os resultados de 34 olhos submetidos ao enxerto conjuntival pediculado (ECP) em ceratites ulcerativas profundas (n=5), em ceratites ulcerativas com colagenólise (n=2), descemetocele (n=7), perfuração corneal (n=15) e prolapso de íris (n=5). Os impactos do grau de uveíte e da integridade da córnea foram correlacionados com presença e ausência de visão por tabelas de contingência. Raças braquicefálicas foram acometidas em 91,11% dos casos. O número de córneas consideradas perfuradas [20/34 (58,82%)] foi maior que o de córneas íntegras [14/34 (41,17%)]. Ao 50º dia de pós-operatório, o número de olhos visuais que apresentavam córneas íntegras previamente às cirurgias (n=13) não diferiu significativamente dos olhos com córneas perfuradas (n=12) (P=0,05). Avaliações relativas ao grau de uveíte, revelaram que a metade dos casos foi considerada severa [17/34 (50%)] e na outra metade as uveítes foram consideradas discretas. Dos 17 casos que apresentaram uveíte severa, oito recuperaram a visão. Já nos 17 olhos onde a uveíte foi considerada leve, 15 mantiveram a visão ao final do período de avaliação. Apesar de a integridade da córnea não se correlacionar com a severidade da uveíte (P=0,48), constatou-se que o número de olhos visuais com uveíte discreta foi significativamente maior que os olhos com uveíte severa (P=0,006). Neste estudo, a taxa geral de sucesso visual após ECP foi de 73,52% e a integridade da córnea não exerceu impacto significativo sobre a manutenção da visão. Todavia, olhos acometidos por uveítes severas apresentaram menor chance de recuperar a visão.(AU)

The present study aimed to evaluate the results of 34 eyes of dogs presenting deep corneal ulcer (n=5), colagenolytic corneal ulcer (n=2), descemetocele (n=7), corneal perforation (n=15), and iris prolapse (n=5) that were corrected by the bulbar conjuntival pedicle graft (CPG). The uveitis score and the corneal integrity were correlated with the presence or absence of vision by contingency tables. Brachycephalic breeds accounted for 91.11% of all cases. The number of perforated corneas [20/34 (58.82%)] were higher than the non-perforated ones [14/34 (41.17%)]. At post-operative day 50, the number of visual eyes with non-perforated corneas before surgery (n=13) did not differ significantly from the eyes with perforated corneas (n=12) (P = 0.05). In half of the cases, uveitis score was considered severe [17/34 (50%)], and in the other half, mild. Eight out of 17 eyes classified with severe uveitis regained vision. In 17 eyes where uveitis score was considered mild, 16 regained vision at the end of the study. Although corneal integrity was non-correlated with the uveitis score (P = 0.48), the number of visual eyes scored with mild uveitis were significantly larger than the eyes with severe uveitis (P = 0.006). In this study, the overall success visual rate after CPG was 73,52% % and the corneal integrity did not play an important role regarding maintenance of vision. However, eyes presenting severe uveitis score had less chance to regain vision.(AU)

Ricochet pollination in Senna (Fabaceae) - petals deflect pollen jets and promote division of labour among flower structures.

Naturalists Fritz and Hermann Müller hypothesised that heteranthery often leads to a division of labour into 'feeding' and 'pollinating' stamens; the latter often being as long as the pistil so as to promote successful pollination on the bees' back. In many buzz-pollinated species of Senna, however, the so-called pollinating stamens are short and not level with the stigma, raising the question of how pollen is shed on the bees' back. Here we explore a mechanism called 'ricochet pollination'. We test whether division of labour is achieved through the interaction between short lower stamens and strongly concave 'deflector petals'. We studied the arrangement and morphology of the floral organs involved in the ricochet pollination, functioning of the flowers through artificial sonication and observed the interactions between bees and flowers in the field. The middle stamens are adapted to eject pollen downwards, which can be readily collected on the bee mid legs. Most of the pollen is ejected towards the deflector petal(s). Pollen from this set of stamens is more likely to contribute to pollination. The pollen grains seem to ricochet multiple times against the deflector petals to eventually reach the bee's back. The pollen ricochet mechanism promotes a division of labour by involving additional floral organs, such as petals, reinforcing the Müllers' division-of-labour hypothesis. However, alternative, non-multiexclusive hypotheses could be explored in genus Senna and other angiosperm species.

Bone mineral density in vocational and professional ballet dancers.

According to existing literature, bone health in ballet dancers is controversial. We have verified that, compared to controls, young female and male vocational ballet dancers have lower bone mineral density (BMD) at both impact and non-impact sites, whereas female professional ballet dancers have lower BMD only at non-impact sites. INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to (a) assess bone mineral density (BMD) in vocational (VBD) and professional (PBD) ballet dancers and (b) investigate its association with body mass (BM), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), maturation and menarche. METHODS: The total of 152 VBD (13 ± 2.3 years; 112 girls, 40 boys) and 96 controls (14 ± 2.1 years; 56 girls, 40 boys) and 184 PBD (28 ± 8.5 years; 129 females, 55 males) and 160 controls (27 ± 9.5 years; 110 female, 50 males) were assessed at the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), forearm and total body by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Maturation and menarche were assessed via questionnaires. RESULTS: VBD revealed lower unadjusted BMD at all anatomical sites compared to controls (p < 0.001); following adjustments for Tanner stage and gynaecological age, female VBD showed similar BMD values at impact sites. However, no factors were found to explain the lower adjusted BMD values in VBD (female and male) at the forearm (non-impact site), nor for the lower adjusted BMD values in male VBD at the FN. Compared to controls, female PBD showed higher unadjusted and adjusted BMD for potential associated factors at the FN (impact site) (p < 0.001) and lower adjusted at the forearm (p < 0.001). Male PBD did not reveal lower BMD than controls at any site. CONCLUSIONS: Both females and males VBD have lower BMD at impact and non-impact sites compared to control, whereas this is only the case at non-impact site in female PBD. Maturation seems to explain the lower BMD at impact sites in female VBD.

Malignancy in Kidney Transplantation: A 25-Year Single-center Experience in Portugal.

It is known that the incidence of malignancy in transplant recipients is higher than in the general population, with a more aggressive behavior and a worse outcome. In fact, malignancy is the third most common cause of death among kidney transplant (KT) recipients, after cardiovascular events and infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and characteristics of malignancies after KT in a single center. A total of 2353 patients who underwent KT between 1987 and 2012 were retrospectively studied. The results were compared with a group without cancer. During the follow-up period leading to August 2014, which included a median duration of 126.3 ± 81.8 months, 223 malignancies (9.4%) were diagnosed, which were the cause of death in 59 patients. Patients with cancer were older, had a longer duration of graft function, and had more episodes of acute rejection (AR), and a higher number of patients were treated with azathioprine and cyclosporine as initial immunosuppressive regime (P = .001). The most frequent malignancy was skin cancer (28.7%), followed by malignant lymphoma (12.1%) and kidney cancer (10.8%). The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 58.0 ± 11.1 years. The average time for development of a cancer was 7.5 ± 5.8 years, with 43.2% detected between 1 and 5 years. Patient survival was significantly lower among subjects with cancer, and censored graft survival was significantly higher in this group (P = .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that recipients' age and acute rejection episode are risk factors for development of post-kidney transplantation malignancy.

Fatty acid profile and meat quality of young bulls fed ground soybean or ground cottonseed and vitamin E.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid profile and qualitative characteristics of meat from feedlot young bulls fed ground soybean or ground cottonseed, with or without supplementation of vitamin E. A total of 40 Red Norte young bulls, with an initial average age of 20 months, and an initial average BW of 339±15 kg, were allotted in a completely randomized design using a 2×2 factorial arrangement, with two oilseeds, and daily supplementation or not of 2500 IU of vitamin E. The experimental period was for 84 days, which was preceded by an adaptation period of 28 days. The treatments were ground soybean (SB), ground soybean plus vitamin E (SBE), ground cottonseed (CS) and ground cottonseed plus vitamin E (CSE). The percentage of cottonseed and soybean in the diets (dry matter basis) was 24% and 20%, respectively. Diets were isonitrogenous (13% CP) and presented similar amount of ether extract (6.5%). The animals were slaughtered at average live weight of 464±15 kg, and samples were taken from the longissimus dorsi muscle for the measurement of fatty acid concentration and the evaluation of lipid oxidation and color of the beef. Before fatty acid extraction, muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat of the longissimus dorsi were separated to analyze fatty acid profile in both tissues. Supplementation of vitamin E did not affect fatty acid concentration, lipid oxidation and color (P>0.05). Subcutaneous fat from animals fed CS diet had greater C12:0, C16:0 and C18:0 contents (P<0.03). In addition, CS diets reduced the C18:1 and C18:2 cis-9, trans-11 contents in subcutaneous fat (P<0.05). The muscle from animals fed CS tended to higher C16:0 and C18:0 contents (P<0.11), and decreased C18:1, C18:2 cis-9, trans-11 and C18:3 contents (P<0.05) compared with SB. The Δ9-desaturase index was greater in muscle from animals fed SB (P<0.01). At 42 days of age, meat from cattle fed SB had a greater lipid oxidation rate (P<0.05). Meat from animals fed SB diets had less lightness and redness indices than meat from animals fed CS diets after 14 days of age. In conclusion, the addition of ground cottonseed in the finishing diets did increase the saturated fatty acid content of the longissimus dorsi. However, animals fed cottonseed exhibited greater lightness and redness of beef. In this study, the addition of vitamin E did not affect qualitative characteristics of meat.

Molecular cloning and characterization of an α-amylase cDNA highly expressed in major feeding stages of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei.

α-Amylases are common enzymes responsible for hydrolyzing starch. Insect-pests, whose larvae develop in seeds, rely obligatorily on α-amylase activity to digest starch, as their major food source. Considering the relevance of insect α-amylases and the natural α-amylase inhibitors present in seeds to protect from insect damage, we report here the molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the full-length AmyHha cDNA of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, a major insect-pest of coffee crops. The AmyHha sequence has 1879 bp, containing a 1458 bp open reading frame, which encodes a predicted protein with 485 amino acid residues, with a predicted molecular mass of 51.2 kDa. The deduced protein showed 55-79% identity to other insect α-amylases, including Anthonomus grandis, Ips typographus and Sitophilus oryzae α-amylases. In depth analysis revealed that the highly conserved three amino acid residues (Asp184, Glu220, and Asp285), which compose the catalytic site are also presented in AmyHha amylase. The AmyHha gene seems to be a single copy in the haploid genome and AmyHha transcription levels were found higher in L2 larvae and adult insects, both corresponding to major feeding phases. Modeling of the AmyHha predicted protein uncovered striking structural similarities to the Tenebrio molitor α-amylase also displaying the same amino acid residues involved in enzyme catalysis (Asp184, Glu220 and Asp285). Since AmyHha gene was mostly transcribed in the intestinal tract of H. hampei larvae, the cognate α-amylase could be considered a high valuable target to coffee bean insect control by biotechnological strategies.