White spot lesions (WSLs) or decalcifications remain a common complication in orthodontic patients with poor oral hygiene. The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes regarding the development of WSLs among patients, parents, orthodontists and general dentists and improve prevention and treatment protocols through better communication. A survey was developed to evaluate and compare the current opinions of orthodontic patients (n=315), parents (n=279), orthodontists (n=305) and general dentists (n=191) regarding the significance, prevention and treatment of WSLs. All four groups indicated that WSLs did detract from the overall appearance of straight teeth. All four groups indicated that patients were the most responsible for the prevention of WSLs. All four groups indicated that the general dentist should be more responsible for the treatment of WSLs than the orthodontist. General dentists were significantly more likely to indicate that the orthodontist was most responsible for the prevention of WSLs (P <0.005).

RESUMO A lesão medular acarreta conseqüências trágicas à vida de uma pessoa. Essa lesão causa a paraplegia (parte inferior do tronco) ou tetraplegia (paralisia dos quatro membros), além de significativas alterações nas funções motoras e sensitivas, porque a medula é um centro regulador que controla importantes funções dentre as quais as atividades sexuais. A sexualidade foi eleita como temática central deste estudo, por que ela constitui-se em um aspecto relevante das perdas sofridas pelos lesados medulares. Tais perdas são constatadas empiricamente, nos atendimentos, pela equipe de reabilitação, quando o paciente traz expectativas e ansiedades em relação a seus problemas pessoais e conjugais. Esse estudo teve como objetivo conhecer e compreender especificidades do lesado medular em suas relações afetivas e sexuais, tendo em vista contribuir para a qualidade de vida individual e familiar dos mesmos, bem como auxiliar profissionais e políticas de reabilitação. Trata-se de uma pesquisa trilhada pela metodologia qualitativa fenomenológica ancorada na perspectiva da psicologia existencial humanista e na ontologia da filosofia do diálogo de Martin Buber. Participaram dez homens com lesão medular adquirida, na faixa etária de 24 a 50 anos, casados e solteiros, que recebem atendimento em uma clínica de fisioterapia na cidade de Ribeirão Preto São Paulo, com disponibilidade para responder questões semi estruturadas com a finalidade de oferecer dados para caracterizar o perfil de cada colaborador e como também para participar de uma ou mais entrevista, gravada, mediante sigilo de identificação. Essa entrevista foi mediada pela questão: Descreva-me acerca da sua sexualidade ao longo de sua vida e, em especial, após a lesão medular. Os depoimentos foram submetidos aos momentos de análise que se constituem em: leitura global de todos; releitura de cada um - apreensão das unidades de significados; agrupamento em categorias; convergências e divergências dos significados e analise compreensiva e análise geral do fenômeno indagado. Os resultados apontam para análise compreensiva das cinco categorias: 1ª) A vivência da sexualidade antes da lesão medular adquirida; 2ª) Percepção de estar com uma lesão medular adquirida; 3ª)O relacionamento com a companheira;4ª) A vivência da sexualidade após o corpo adquirir a lesão medular; 5ª) A pessoa com lesão medular adquirida e seus projetos de vida. A interpretação dos depoimentos revela desolamento, solidão, revolta, dores pela desestruturação da vida pessoal, familiar e profissional desencadeada pela lesão. Essa realidade remete-os a um modo de ser identificado pela ontologia buberiana de superficial e impessoal. A reabilitação é apontada como uma possibilidade de integração e replanificação do projeto de vida pessoal, familiar e profissional. Palavras Chave: 1.Sexualidade. 2.Lesão medular adquirida. 3.Fenomenologia / ABSTRACT Medullar lesion causes tragic consequences to a persons life. This lesion causes paraplegia (paralysis of the lower part of the trunk) or tetraplegia (paralysis of the four limbs), in addition to significant alterations in the motor and sensitive functions, because the medulla is a regulating center that controls important functions, within which the sexual activities. Sexuality was chosen as the central theme of this study, because it constitutes a relevant aspect of the losses suffered by men with acquired medullar lesion. Such losses are verified empirically in the assistance given by the rehabilitation team, when the patient brings expectancies and anxieties in relation to his personal and marital problems. What is this, the sexuality of men with acquired medullar lesion? It is a research based on the phenomenological qualitative methodology anchored on the perspective of humanist existential psychology and on Martin Bubers ontology of dialogue philosophy. Ten married and unmarried males with acquired medullar lesion, at the age range of 24 to 50 years, who receive assistance in a physiotherapic clinic in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, participated in the research with the objective of offering data to characterize the profile of each collaborator, as well as to take part in a recorded interview, under the condition of secrecy in their identification. Such interview was mediated by the request: Talk about your sexuality along your life and, especially, after the occurrence of your medullar lesion. Their statements were submitted to the moments of analysis of phenomenological reduction, which are composed of: a global reading of all of them; a rereading of each one;an aprehension of the units of meanings; a grouping into categories; convergences and divergences of the meanings and a comprehensive analysis of the following five categories: 1st) The experience of sexuality before the occurrence of the medullar lesion; 2nd) The perception of having an acquired medullar lesion; 3rd) The relationship with his mate after the occurrence of the acquired medullar lesion; 4th) The experience of sexuality after his body acquired the medullar lesion; 5th) The male individual with acquired medullar lesion and his life projects. The interpretation of the statements reveals desolation, loneliness, indignation, resentment for the disruption of their professional, familiar and personal lives, brought about by the lesion. This reality places them in a way of being identified by the Buberian ontology as superficial and impersonal. Their rehabilitation is pointed out as a possibility of integration for a professional, familiar and personal life project.

RESUMO A lesão medular acarreta conseqüências trágicas à vida de uma pessoa. Essa lesão causa a paraplegia (parte inferior do tronco) ou tetraplegia (paralisia dos quatro membros), além de significativas alterações nas funções motoras e sensitivas, porque a medula é um centro regulador que controla importantes funções dentre as quais as atividades sexuais. A sexualidade foi eleita como temática central deste estudo, por que ela constitui-se em um aspecto relevante das perdas sofridas pelos lesados medulares. Tais perdas são constatadas empiricamente, nos atendimentos, pela equipe de reabilitação, quando o paciente traz expectativas e ansiedades em relação a seus problemas pessoais e conjugais. Esse estudo teve como objetivo conhecer e compreender especificidades do lesado medular em suas relações afetivas e sexuais, tendo em vista contribuir para a qualidade de vida individual e familiar dos mesmos, bem como auxiliar profissionais e políticas de reabilitação. Trata-se de uma pesquisa trilhada pela metodologia qualitativa fenomenológica ancorada na perspectiva da psicologia existencial humanista e na ontologia da filosofia do diálogo de Martin Buber. Participaram dez homens com lesão medular adquirida, na faixa etária de 24 a 50 anos, casados e solteiros, que recebem atendimento em uma clínica de fisioterapia na cidade de Ribeirão Preto São Paulo, com disponibilidade para responder questões semi estruturadas com a finalidade de oferecer dados para caracterizar o perfil de cada colaborador e como também para participar de uma ou mais entrevista, gravada, mediante sigilo de identificação. Essa entrevista foi mediada pela questão: Descreva-me acerca da sua sexualidade ao longo de sua vida e, em especial, após a lesão medular. Os depoimentos foram submetidos aos momentos de análise que se constituem em: leitura global de todos; releitura de cada um - apreensão das unidades de significados; agrupamento em categorias; convergências e divergências dos significados e analise compreensiva e análise geral do fenômeno indagado. Os resultados apontam para análise compreensiva das cinco categorias: 1ª) A vivência da sexualidade antes da lesão medular adquirida; 2ª) Percepção de estar com uma lesão medular adquirida; 3ª)O relacionamento com a companheira;4ª) A vivência da sexualidade após o corpo adquirir a lesão medular; 5ª) A pessoa com lesão medular adquirida e seus projetos de vida. A interpretação dos depoimentos revela desolamento, solidão, revolta, dores pela desestruturação da vida pessoal, familiar e profissional desencadeada pela lesão. Essa realidade remete-os a um modo de ser identificado pela ontologia buberiana de superficial e impessoal. A reabilitação é apontada como uma possibilidade de integração e replanificação do projeto de vida pessoal, familiar e profissional. Palavras Chave: 1.Sexualidade. 2.Lesão medular adquirida. 3.Fenomenologia / ABSTRACT Medullar lesion causes tragic consequences to a persons life. This lesion causes paraplegia (paralysis of the lower part of the trunk) or tetraplegia (paralysis of the four limbs), in addition to significant alterations in the motor and sensitive functions, because the medulla is a regulating center that controls important functions, within which the sexual activities. Sexuality was chosen as the central theme of this study, because it constitutes a relevant aspect of the losses suffered by men with acquired medullar lesion. Such losses are verified empirically in the assistance given by the rehabilitation team, when the patient brings expectancies and anxieties in relation to his personal and marital problems. What is this, the sexuality of men with acquired medullar lesion? It is a research based on the phenomenological qualitative methodology anchored on the perspective of humanist existential psychology and on Martin Bubers ontology of dialogue philosophy. Ten married and unmarried males with acquired medullar lesion, at the age range of 24 to 50 years, who receive assistance in a physiotherapic clinic in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, participated in the research with the objective of offering data to characterize the profile of each collaborator, as well as to take part in a recorded interview, under the condition of secrecy in their identification. Such interview was mediated by the request: Talk about your sexuality along your life and, especially, after the occurrence of your medullar lesion. Their statements were submitted to the moments of analysis of phenomenological reduction, which are composed of: a global reading of all of them; a rereading of each one;an aprehension of the units of meanings; a grouping into categories; convergences and divergences of the meanings and a comprehensive analysis of the following five categories: 1st) The experience of sexuality before the occurrence of the medullar lesion; 2nd) The perception of having an acquired medullar lesion; 3rd) The relationship with his mate after the occurrence of the acquired medullar lesion; 4th) The experience of sexuality after his body acquired the medullar lesion; 5th) The male individual with acquired medullar lesion and his life projects. The interpretation of the statements reveals desolation, loneliness, indignation, resentment for the disruption of their professional, familiar and personal lives, brought about by the lesion. This reality places them in a way of being identified by the Buberian ontology as superficial and impersonal. Their rehabilitation is pointed out as a possibility of integration for a professional, familiar and personal life project.

Nos mamíferos, o fígado e o rim são órgãos fundamentais para uma adequada homeostase. Nos cetáceos, são de especial importância frente aos desafios da vida no ambiente marinho. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar as principais lesões hepáticas e renais de cetáceos do Brasil, utilizando-se amostras mantidas junto ao Banco de Tecidos de Mamíferos Marinhos (BTMM), Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens. Para a caracterização das lesões foram utilizadas técnicas anatomopatológicas, imuno-histoquímicas e ultraestrutural. Foram estudados 197 cetáceos de 18 espécies, encontrados mortos em decorrência de captura incidental em apetrecho de pesca, encalhe ou após tentativas de reabilitação. A principal espécie amostrada foi toninha (Pontoporia blainvillei) com 65,9% (130/197) dos casos. Quanto à distribuição geográfica as amostras provieram principalmente do estado de São Paulo (41,6%, 82/197), seguido do Rio Grande do Sul (36,5%, 72/192) e Ceará (11,7%, 23/197). Entre as principais lesões hepáticas diagnosticadas, as inclusões hialinas citoplasmáticas (IHC) apresentaram maior frequência (46,3%, 88/190), seguidas pelas hepatites portais linfoplasmocíticas crônicas observadas em 36,5% (69/190), esteatose, em 14,2% (27/190), hepatite necrótica, em 4,7% (9/190), e colangiohepatite parasitária, em 2,6% (5/190) dos casos. A ocorrência de IHC foi mais frequente em animais capturados do que encalhados. Entre as principais lesões renais diagnosticadas, a glomerulonefrite membranosa apresentou maior frequência (14,5%, 28/192). Foram observadas também glomerulonefrine membranoproliferativa, em 10,4% (20/192), nefrite intersticial, em 10,9% (21/192), cistos simples, em 4,16% (8/192), doença glomerulocística primária, em 4,6% (9/192), doença glomerulocística secundária (DGCS), em 8,3% (16/192), e doença renal policística e adenoma tubular, com 0,5% (1/192) de ocorrência cada. A incidência de DGCS apresentou diferença entre as espécies, sendo menos frequente em toninhas do que nos demais cetáceos. Um boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) morto em decorrência de captura incidental na baia de Paranaguá, Paraná, foi diagnosticado com toxoplasmose e devido à sua importância, fragmentos de todos seus órgãos, disponíveis no BTMM, foram avaliados. O presente estudo reflete a relevância em manter o BTMM, o qual consiste em uma fonte de informação ímpar, que possibilita a realização de estudos retroativos em tecidos de cetáceos e outras espécies de mamíferos aquáticos. O presente trabalho traz contribuições sobre as enfermidades em cetáceos, e aborda de maneira sistemática as lesões hepáticas e renais nestas espécies. Futuros estudos são necessários para elucidar aspectos sobre o impacto das lesões renais e hepáticas e sua relação com as condições mórbidas dos cetáceos, bem como para avaliar o impacto da toxoplasmose, nos cetáceos e outros mamíferos marinhos brasileiros. / In mammals, the main organs for an adequate homeostase are the liver and the kidney. These organs in Cetaceans have especial importance because of the challenges of life in a marine environment. This study had as main objective find the principal hepatic and renal lesions in Cetaceans from Brazil. Samples from the Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (BTMM) of the Laboratory of Comparative Pathology of Wild Animals were used. Anatomopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies were performed. A total of 197 cetaceans belonging to 18 species were studied. They were found dead because of incidental capture or after attempts of rehabilitation for the stranded ones. Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) was the principal specie sampled with a 65,9% (130/197) of the cases. Related to geographic distribution, samples were more frequent in São Paulo state (41,6%, 82/197), then Rio Grande do Sul (36,5%, 72/192) and Ceará (11,7%, 23/197). The hepatic lesions found include: hyaline cytoplasmatic inclusions (IHC) (46,3%, 88/190), lymphoplasmacytic chronic portal hepatitis (36,5%, 69/190), steatosis (14,2%, 27/190), necrotic hepatitis (4,7%, 9/190) and parasitic colangiohepatitis (2,6% , 5/190). The occurrences of IHC were more frequent in captured animals than stranded. The main kidney lesion found was the membranous glomerulonephritis (14,5%, 28/192). Additionally, there were observed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (10,4%, 20/192), intersticial nephritis (10,9%, 21/192), simple cysts 4,16% (8/192), glomerulocystic primary disease (4,6%, 9/192), glomerulocystic secondary disease (DGCS) (8,3% ,16/192) and polycystic kidney disease and tubular adenome (0,5%, 1/192). The incidence of DGCS differ among species, in Fransiscanas it was less frequent than in other cetaceans. A Guiana Dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) dead by incidental capture in the bay of Paranaguá, Paraná, was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis and because of its importance, fragments of all its organs available on BTMM, were evaluated. This study reflects the relevance to maintain the BTMM as an important primary source of information, enabling the realization of future reprospective studies in tissues of whales and other species of aquatic mammals. Furthermore, this study presents contributions on cetacean diseases and addresses in a systematic way lesions in the liver and kidney in these species. Future studies are necessary to elucidate aspects of the impact of renal and hepatic lesions and their relation to the morbid conditions of cetaceans, as well as to evaluate the impact of toxoplasmosis in cetaceans and other marine mammals in Brazil.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Ulcer can be defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the stomach and duodenum, which appears as a lesion in the digestive tract, which extends through the mucosa muscle or more deeply. The ulcer usually occurs because of an imbalance between protective and agrssive factors of the mucosa. Esculin (ESC) (6.7-Dihydroxycoumarin-6-O-Glucoside) was evaluated in models ethanol or indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in mice. Esculin (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced gastric lesions induced by absolute ethanol (0.2 mL/animal) at 69.96, 72.94 and 79.33% respectively, showing no relationship dose-response at the doses studied. This gastroprotection was also evaluated microscopically showing that the ESC (25 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased the cell loss in the mucosa, submucosal edema and hemorrhage. Esculin (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) also reduced significantly the gastric lesions induced by indomethacin (20 mg/kg, p.o.). Gastroprotective mechanism of ESC was examined in the dose of 25 mg/kg, in the model of gastric lesions induced by ethanol in mice. In animals pretreated with L-NAME (10 mg/kg, sc), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, or with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, i.p.), a drug that blocks ATP-dependent potassium channels, or indomethacin (10 mg/kg, p.o.), a nonselective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, the gastroprotective effect of ESC was inhibited significantly, suggesting the involvement, at least in part, of nitric oxide, activation of potassium channels and endogenous prostaglandins in gastroprotective effect of ESC. Otherwise, the gastroprotective effect of ESC (25 mg/kg, p.o.) was not reversed in animals pretreated with capsazepine (5 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist of vanilloid receptor TRPV-1, demonstrating that there is activation of these receptors in the mechanism of action of ESC. This work was also evaluated the antioxidant mechanism of ESC as gastroprotective agent, against ethanol-induced lesions. Under our experimental conditions, the model of induction of ethanol injury caused changes in the antioxidant system of the gastric mucosa of mice as the decrease in the levels of sulfhydryl groups (GSH) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), also showed increased activity catalase (CAT), the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the concentration of species that react with thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) as index of lipid peroxidation (LPO). Esculin in the model of ethanol did not interfere with the concentration of GSH, but increased SOD activity, allowed the restoration of normal CAT activity, normal levels of LPO and MPO activity. The data suggest that the ESC promotes gastroprotection against gastric lesions induced by ethanol or indomethacin in mice whose mechanisms include the involvement of endogenous prostaglandins, nitric oxide, and or, of KATP channels, as well as an antioxidant activity. / A Ãlcera pÃptica pode ser definida como sendo uma doenÃa inflamatÃria crÃnica do estÃmago e duodeno, que se apresenta como uma lesÃo na mucosa do trato digestivo, que se estende atravÃs da musculatura da mucosa ou mais profundamente. A Ãlcera pÃptica geralmente ocorre devido a um desequilÃbrio entre os fatores de defesa e agressores da mucosa. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade gastroprotetora da esculina, (6,7-diidroxicumarina-6-o-glicosÃdio), e identificar os mecanismos farmacolÃgicos envolvidos. A esculina foi avaliada em modelos de lesÃes gÃstricas induzidas por etanol absoluto (0,2 mL/animal) em camundongos swiss, nas doses 12,5, 25 e 50 mg/kg, v.o., os resultados mostraram a reduÃÃo das lesÃes gÃstricas induzidas por etanol em 69,96, 72,94 e 79,33 % respectivamente, nÃo mostrando relaÃÃo dose-resposta nas doses estudadas. Esta gastroproteÃÃo tambÃm foi avaliada microscopicamente mostrando que a ESC (25 mg/kg, v.o.) diminuiu a perda celular na mucosa, formaÃÃo de edema na submucosa e hemorragia. A ESC (25 e 50 mg/kg, v.o.), tambÃm, foi avaliada no modelo de lesÃo gÃstrica induzida por indometacina (20 mg/Kg, v.o.), mostrando uma reduÃÃo das lesÃes gÃstricas. O mecanismo gastroprotetor da ESC foi analisado na sua dose de 25 mg/Kg, em modelo de lesÃes gÃstricas induzidas por etanol em camundongos. Em animais prÃ-tratados com L-NAME (10 mg/Kg, s.c.), um inibidor da Ãxido nÃtrico sintase, ou com glibenclamida (5 mg/Kg, i.p.), droga bloqueadora de canais de potÃssio ATP-dependentes, ou indometacina (10 mg/Kg, v.o.), um inibidor nÃo seletivo da ciclooxigenase, o efeito gastroprotetor da ESC foi inibido significativamente, sugerindo o envolvimento, pelo menos em parte, do Ãxido nÃtrico, ativaÃÃo dos canais de potÃssio e prostaglandinas endÃgenas no efeito gastroprotetor da ESC. De outra forma, o efeito gastroprotetor da ESC (25 mg/Kg, v.o.) nÃo foi revertido em camundongos prÃ-tratados com capsazepina (5 mg/Kg, i.p.), um antagonista dos receptores vanilÃides TRPV-1, demonstrando assim que nÃo hà ativaÃÃo destes receptores no mecanismo de aÃÃo da ESC. Neste trabalho tambÃm foi avaliado a aÃÃo antioxidante da ESC como mecanismo gastroprotetor contra as lesÃes induzidas por etanol. Sob nossas condiÃÃes experimentais, o modelo de induÃÃo de lesÃo por etanol provocou alteraÃÃo no sistema antioxidante da mucosa gÃstrica dos camundongos, como a diminuiÃÃo nos nÃveis de grupamentos sulfidrila (GSH) e atividade da superÃxido dismutase (SOD), tambÃm observamos aumento da atividade da catalase (CAT), da atividade da mieloperoxidase (MPO) e da concentraÃÃo de espÃcies que reagem com o Ãcido tiobarbitÃrico (TBARs), como Ãndice de peroxidaÃÃo lipÃdica (LPO). A ESC no modelo de etanol nÃo interferiu com a concentraÃÃo de GSH, mas aumentou a atividade da SOD, permitiu o restabelecimento da atividade normal da CAT e de patamares normais de LPO e de atividade da MPO. Os dados obtidos sugerem que a ESC promove gastroproteÃÃo contra as lesÃes gÃstricas induzidas por etanol ou indometacina em camundongos, por mecanismos que incluem o envolvimento de prostaglandinas endÃgenas, Ãxido nÃtrico, e ou, dos canais de KATP, alÃm de uma aÃÃo antioxidante.

Nos mamíferos, o fígado e o rim são órgãos fundamentais para uma adequada homeostase. Nos cetáceos, são de especial importância frente aos desafios da vida no ambiente marinho. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar as principais lesões hepáticas e renais de cetáceos do Brasil, utilizando-se amostras mantidas junto ao Banco de Tecidos de Mamíferos Marinhos (BTMM), Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens. Para a caracterização das lesões foram utilizadas técnicas anatomopatológicas, imuno-histoquímicas e ultraestrutural. Foram estudados 197 cetáceos de 18 espécies, encontrados mortos em decorrência de captura incidental em apetrecho de pesca, encalhe ou após tentativas de reabilitação. A principal espécie amostrada foi toninha (Pontoporia blainvillei) com 65,9% (130/197) dos casos. Quanto à distribuição geográfica as amostras provieram principalmente do estado de São Paulo (41,6%, 82/197), seguido do Rio Grande do Sul (36,5%, 72/192) e Ceará (11,7%, 23/197). Entre as principais lesões hepáticas diagnosticadas, as inclusões hialinas citoplasmáticas (IHC) apresentaram maior frequência (46,3%, 88/190), seguidas pelas hepatites portais linfoplasmocíticas crônicas observadas em 36,5% (69/190), esteatose, em 14,2% (27/190), hepatite necrótica, em 4,7% (9/190), e colangiohepatite parasitária, em 2,6% (5/190) dos casos. A ocorrência de IHC foi mais frequente em animais capturados do que encalhados. Entre as principais lesões renais diagnosticadas, a glomerulonefrite membranosa apresentou maior frequência (14,5%, 28/192). Foram observadas também glomerulonefrine membranoproliferativa, em 10,4% (20/192), nefrite intersticial, em 10,9% (21/192), cistos simples, em 4,16% (8/192), doença glomerulocística primária, em 4,6% (9/192), doença glomerulocística secundária (DGCS), em 8,3% (16/192), e doença renal policística e adenoma tubular, com 0,5% (1/192) de ocorrência cada. A incidência de DGCS apresentou diferença entre as espécies, sendo menos frequente em toninhas do que nos demais cetáceos. Um boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) morto em decorrência de captura incidental na baia de Paranaguá, Paraná, foi diagnosticado com toxoplasmose e devido à sua importância, fragmentos de todos seus órgãos, disponíveis no BTMM, foram avaliados. O presente estudo reflete a relevância em manter o BTMM, o qual consiste em uma fonte de informação ímpar, que possibilita a realização de estudos retroativos em tecidos de cetáceos e outras espécies de mamíferos aquáticos. O presente trabalho traz contribuições sobre as enfermidades em cetáceos, e aborda de maneira sistemática as lesões hepáticas e renais nestas espécies. Futuros estudos são necessários para elucidar aspectos sobre o impacto das lesões renais e hepáticas e sua relação com as condições mórbidas dos cetáceos, bem como para avaliar o impacto da toxoplasmose, nos cetáceos e outros mamíferos marinhos brasileiros. / In mammals, the main organs for an adequate homeostase are the liver and the kidney. These organs in Cetaceans have especial importance because of the challenges of life in a marine environment. This study had as main objective find the principal hepatic and renal lesions in Cetaceans from Brazil. Samples from the Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (BTMM) of the Laboratory of Comparative Pathology of Wild Animals were used. Anatomopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies were performed. A total of 197 cetaceans belonging to 18 species were studied. They were found dead because of incidental capture or after attempts of rehabilitation for the stranded ones. Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) was the principal specie sampled with a 65,9% (130/197) of the cases. Related to geographic distribution, samples were more frequent in São Paulo state (41,6%, 82/197), then Rio Grande do Sul (36,5%, 72/192) and Ceará (11,7%, 23/197). The hepatic lesions found include: hyaline cytoplasmatic inclusions (IHC) (46,3%, 88/190), lymphoplasmacytic chronic portal hepatitis (36,5%, 69/190), steatosis (14,2%, 27/190), necrotic hepatitis (4,7%, 9/190) and parasitic colangiohepatitis (2,6% , 5/190). The occurrences of IHC were more frequent in captured animals than stranded. The main kidney lesion found was the membranous glomerulonephritis (14,5%, 28/192). Additionally, there were observed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (10,4%, 20/192), intersticial nephritis (10,9%, 21/192), simple cysts 4,16% (8/192), glomerulocystic primary disease (4,6%, 9/192), glomerulocystic secondary disease (DGCS) (8,3% ,16/192) and polycystic kidney disease and tubular adenome (0,5%, 1/192). The incidence of DGCS differ among species, in Fransiscanas it was less frequent than in other cetaceans. A Guiana Dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) dead by incidental capture in the bay of Paranaguá, Paraná, was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis and because of its importance, fragments of all its organs available on BTMM, were evaluated. This study reflects the relevance to maintain the BTMM as an important primary source of information, enabling the realization of future reprospective studies in tissues of whales and other species of aquatic mammals. Furthermore, this study presents contributions on cetacean diseases and addresses in a systematic way lesions in the liver and kidney in these species. Future studies are necessary to elucidate aspects of the impact of renal and hepatic lesions and their relation to the morbid conditions of cetaceans, as well as to evaluate the impact of toxoplasmosis in cetaceans and other marine mammals in Brazil.

Complex cognitive functions require interactions within and between different brain regions by direct anatomical connections or synchronous activation. As such, damage to any region involved in a cognitive process has the potential to affect its function. Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that, when dysfunctional, contributes to many psychiatric conditions. The striatum has been implicated as an integral part of the neural circuitry of impulsivity. The current work aims to contribute to the understanding of neural dysfunction underlying disorders of impulsivity by examining how striatal damage affects impulsive behavior. It also aims to improve our understanding of whether neural processes involved in impulsivity are also involved in maintaining awareness of one's thoughts and actions. No studies have systematically examined the extent to which damage to the striatum correlates with both changes in impulsive behavior and changes in self-awareness of impulsive personality. In the first experiment, I examined the effects of focal unilateral striatal damage on self-awareness of impulsivity and other personality traits. I predicted that participants with striatal damage (SD) would have less self-awareness of changes in impulsivity and other personality traits after brain damage, as compared to brain damage comparisons (BDC), due to indirect disruption of neural networks responsible for self-referential processing. I tested this prediction using self and collateral versions of the Barratt Impulsiveness scale (BIS) and the Iowa Scales of Personality Change. In partial support of my hypothesis, there were mean differences in self- and collateral-reported impulsivity on the BIS, with self ratings higher than collateral ratings in the SD group. There were no significant differences in the correlations between self- and collateral-reports for current impulsivity, change in impulsivity, or change in other personality traits. In the second experiment, I examined the effects of focal unilateral striatal damage on laboratory measures of impulsivity. I predicted that participants with striatal damage would exhibit lower levels impulsivity than brain damaged comparisons due to structural loss of regions involved in reward/motivation and motor activity. I tested this using impulsive action tasks (Go/NoGo and Stop Signal Tasks) and impulsive choice tasks (Delay and Probability Discounting). In contrast to my hypothesis, SD participants did not exhibit less impulsive action or impulsive choice than BDC participants. In the third experiment, I examined the effects of focal unilateral striatal damage on the integrity of frontostriatal resting state functional connectivity. I predicted that participants with striatal damage would exhibit alterations in functional connectivity between the remaining regions of the frontostriatal network. I tested this by comparing the strength of functional connectivity of the caudate head and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. While my hypothesis was not directly supported, the data showed interesting trends that warrant further exploration. These included stronger caudate-vmPFC resting state functional connectivity on the lesion side, and weaker functional connectivity on the non-lesioned side in striatal participants compared to brain damaged comparisons. Together, these experiments suggest that although unilateral striatal damage does not appear to affect subjective reports or laboratory measures of impulsivity, it may affect the underlying neural networks utilized by the striatum, as evidenced by changes in frontostriatal resting state functional connectivity. This work extends our understanding of the neurobiology of impulsive behavior and self-awareness, at systems level, and may help pave the way for treatments of those with brain injury, such as traumatic brain injury and stroke patients, or psychiatric disorders involving impulsivity.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the amount of fluoride, calcium and phosphate release and recharge of a fluoride containing bioactive glass composite to a conventional resin composite and a resin modified glass ionomer cement at different time points. Furthermore, bond strength of a fluoride containing bioactive glass composite, a conventional flowable composite, and a resin modified glass ionomer cement to metal orthodontic brackets was evaluated. METHODS: A fluoride containing bioactive glass (BG) was synthesized using a sol-gel method and mixed homogeneously with an unfilled resin. For ion release and recharge, resin modified glass ionomer (RMGIC), Photac Fil Quick Aplicap (3M/ESPE) and flowable composite (Control), Filtek Supreme Ultra (Kerr), were used for comparison. Disc shape samples were fabricated using custom aluminum mold (1 mm in thickness and 9 mm in diameter, (n=5 for each material) and stored in 15 mL deionized water at 37°C until the testing time. The amounts of fluoride, calcium, and phosphate ions released were evaluated at different time points: 1 hour, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days 6 days and 7 days. At each time point, all of the storage solution was extracted, and 7.5 mL was used for fluoride release measurement and the remaining 7.5 mL for calcium and phosphate ion release measurements. After solution extraction, the samples were replaced in 15 mL fresh deionized water at 37°C until the next sampling time point. Ionic recharge was performed with 5% sodium fluoride varnish (FluoroDose, Centrix) and MI paste plus (GC) following the ion release-testing period. An ion meter with a Fluoride ionic selective electrode were used to determine fluoride concentration. A Microwave-Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (MP-AES) was used to test the concentration of the calcium and phosphate. For the shear bond strength test, rectangular shaped ceramic samples with the dimensions of 2 mm x 12 mm x 14 mm (Vita Mark II, Vita) were fabricated. Standard edgewise-metal brackets (American Orthodontics) were bonded to the center of the ceramic samples using tested material (n=10 for each material). Excess material was removed, and the cementing materials were polymerized from each side for 20 seconds. Specimens were either stored in water for 24 hours at 37o C or went under thermocycling for 5000 cycles. After the storage period, the specimens were subjected to shear bond strength test using an Instron universal machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5mm/min. Loads to failure were recorded to calculate shear bond strength. Comparison of released/recharged ions and shear bond strength were done by ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer HSD (α = 0.05) using JMP Pro 13. RESULTS: RMGIC showed significantly higher fluoride release and recharge than BG composite and the control. BG showed significantly higher Ca and P ion release compared to RMGIC followed by composite. RMGIC and BG showed significant ion recharge capability compared to composite. For the shear bond strength, the control composite showed significantly higher shear bond strength than BG composite followed by RMGIC. Thermocycling significantly increase bond strength for RMGIC and control but not for BG composite. CONCLUSIONS: 1. A fluoride containing bioactive glass composite was fabricated that showed the ability of ion release and recharge. 2. There was a significant difference in the amount of ion release and recharge among tested materials at different time points. 3. Favorable fluoride, calcium and phosphate ion release and recharge of BG composite were maintained over the testing period. 4. BG composite showed favorable bond strength to orthodontic metal brackets. 5. Thermocycling had a significant influence in bond strength for the materials tested except for BG composite. / 2020-07-18T00:00:00Z

Superior parietal cortex has been implicated in visuomotor guidance and is proposed to be specialised for action in the lower visual field and peripersonal space. Two patients, one with a right superior parietal lesion leading to optic ataxia (ME), and one with a lesion affecting right inferior parietal cortex (LH), were compared to elderly controls (n=8) and young controls (n=8) on a reciprocal pointing task with movements made in the near-far direction (i.e., sagittal plane) or right-left direction (i.e., fronto-parallel plane). In contrast to both control groups, who demonstrated a speed-accuracy trade-off in movement time and peak velocity, neither of the patients did. When the time spent post-peak velocity (represented as a percentage of total movement time) was examined, both patients demonstrated larger times post-peak velocity than controls for all movement directions. Furthermore, while rightward movements of the right hand had higher times post-peak velocity than leftward movements there were no directional patterns for near-far movements which contrasted with controls who had larger times post-peak velocity for near movements. The patient with the more superior lesion (ME) had the greatest difficulty with movements made back toward the body suggestive of a role for superior parietal cortex in the fine tuning of movements made in this region of space (i.e., personal or peripersonal space). In contrast, all directions of movement seemed to be equally affected in the patient with a more inferior lesion. These results are discussed in terms of the different roles played by inferior and superior parietal cortex in the control of visually guided movements.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer if left untreated. Incidence rates of melanoma have been increasing, especially among young adults, but survival rates are high if detected early. Unfortunately, the time and costs required for dermatologists to screen all patients for melanoma are prohibitively expensive. There is a need for an automated system to assess a patient's risk of melanoma using photographs of their skin lesions. Dermatologists could use the system to aid their diagnosis without the need for special or expensive equipment. One challenge in implementing such a system is locating the skin lesion in the digital image. Most existing skin lesion segmentation algorithms are designed for images taken using a special instrument called the dermatoscope. The presence of illumination variation in digital images such as shadows complicates the task of finding the lesion. The goal of this research is to develop a framework to automatically correct and segment the skin lesion from an input photograph. The first part of the research is to model illumination variation using a proposed multi-stage illumination modeling algorithm and then using that model to correct the original photograph. Second, a set of representative texture distributions are learned from the corrected photograph and a texture distinctiveness metric is calculated for each distribution. Finally, a texture-based segmentation algorithm classifies regions in the photograph as normal skin or lesion based on the occurrence of representative texture distributions. The resulting segmentation can be used as an input to separate feature extraction and melanoma classification algorithms. The proposed segmentation framework is tested by comparing lesion segmentation results and melanoma classification results to results using other state-of-the-art algorithms. The proposed framework has better segmentation accuracy compared to all other tested algorithms. The segmentation results produced by the tested algorithms are used to train an existing classification algorithm to identify lesions as melanoma or non-melanoma. Using the proposed framework produces the highest classification accuracy and is tied for the highest sensitivity and specificity.