O clareamento dentário é a maneira mais conservadora e barata de melhorar a satisfação dos pacientes com o seu sorriso. Entretanto existem poucos estudos que correlacionam a eficácia clareadora com a satisfação dos pacientes e a maneira como eles percebem a mudança das cores. OBJETIVO: Investigar a relação entre mudança de cor e satisfação e a percepção da mudança de cor pelos pacientes e operador treinado comparado a um método instrumental. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Uma pesquisa clínica randomizada duplo-cega foi conduzida com 100 pacientes que atendiam os critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Eles foram divididos em 5 grupos randomizados: Peróxido de hidrogênio 4%, peróxido de carbamida 15%, peróxido de carbamida 16%, Peróxido de carbamida 16% experimental e placebo. Foi tomada a cor base dos dentes através de tomadas objetivas com Vita Easyshade e subjetivas com a escala Vita BleachGuide 3D. Eles foram submetidos à terapia clareadora recebendo uma seringa de gel clareador por semana durante 3 semanas e preencheram avaliação sobre sua sensibilidade e avaliações sobre satisfação e percepção de mudança de cor. Foi um total de 11 visitas por paciente: entrevista inicial e triagem, moldagem e profilaxia, tomada de cor e entrega de clareador, controles de 7, 14, 21, 30, 60, 90, 120 e 180 dias. Nos retornos todas as etapas de tomada e controle de cor pelo paciente e pelo mesmo operador treinado, objetiva e subjetiva foram repetidas. RESULTADOS maiores valores de ?E* na sem 1, ANOVA mostrou que eles foram diferentes entre si (P=0.001), valor que não se repete a partir da segunda semana na análise entre os grupo (P=0.275). Maiores ?E* foram os géis à base de peróxido de carbamida (PC15, PC16 e PC16EX). ?E* Final foi maior no grupo PC15, PC16 e PC16EX e esses 3 grupos foram estatísticamente semelhantes. Os menores valores foram para o grupo placebo que não foi semelhante a nenhum outro grupo e nem entre os tempos. A análise de variância entre os 5 grupos mostrou diferenças para percepção cega (p=0.001), percepção orientada (p=0.001), e expectativa (p=0.603. Fica claro que a satisfação do paciente é crescente em todos os grupos da primeira a terceira semana de terapia. A ordem de satisfação dos pacientes foi PC15, PC16EX, PC16, PH4 e PLAC. No último período representado, terceira semana ao fim do acompanhamento de 6 meses, verificamos que a satisfação diminui no período pós-terapia, principalmente para o grupo PLAC e para o grupo PC16EX. Mesmo o grupo PLAC (que representa o placebo) também teve satisfação crescente. No arco inferior os maiores resultados para sensibilidade ficaram também com PH4, PC15 e PC16..CONCLUSÕES: Os clareadores baseados em peróxido de carbamida tiverem as maiores variações de cor, sendo os mais efetivos. Em comparação ao paciente, o operador treinado tem uma capacidade de avaliação de cor mais próxima dos valores aferidos instrumentalmente. A satisfação do paciente aumenta com todos os grupos, inclusive o placebo, porém declina no período pós terapia. Os pacientes tendem a enxergar os dentes mais escuros do que realmente são e criam expectativas por cores mais claras. Todos os grupos causaram sensibilidade, inclusive o placebo, semelhantes para maxila e mandíbula. / Tooth whitening is the most conservative and inexpensive way to improve patient satisfaction with your smile. However there are few studies that correlate the whitening efficacy with patient satisfaction and how they perceive the change of colors. To investigate the relationship between color change and satisfaction and perception of color change by patients and trained operator compared to an instrumental method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted with 100 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were divided into five randomized groups: Hydrogen peroxide 4%, 15% carbamide peroxide, 16% carbamide peroxide, 16% carbamide experimental and placebo. It was made the base color of the teeth through objective taken with Vita Easyshade and subjective with the Vita BleachGuide 3D scale. They underwent therapy Clarifying getting a whitening gel syringe per week for 3 weeks and completed evaluation of its sensitivity and reviews of satisfaction and perception of color change. There were a total of 11 visits per patient: initial interview and sorting, forming and prophylaxis, making color and delivery bleaching 7 controls 14, 21, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 days. In returns all steps taken and color control by the patient and by the same trained operator, objective and subjective were repeated. RESULTS larger ?E * values in no 1, ANOVA showed that they were different (P = 0.001), a figure that is not repeated from the second week on the analysis of the group (P = 0.275). Larger ?E * the gels were carbamide peroxide-based (PC15, PC16 and PC16EX). ?E * Final was higher in the group PC15, PC16 and PC16EX and these 3 groups were statistically similar. The lowest values were for the placebo group was not similar to any other group or between the times. Analysis of variance among the five groups showed differences to blind perception (p = 0.001), oriented perception (p = 0.001) and expectation (p = 0.603. It is clear that patient satisfaction is increasing in all of the first groups third week of therapy. the order of patient satisfaction was PC15, PC16EX, PC16, PH4 and PLAC. in the latter represented period, the third week after the 6-month follow-up, we found that satisfaction decreases in the post therapy period, mainly for PLAC group and the group PC16EX Even the PLAC group (representing placebo) also had increasing satisfaction in the lower arch greater results for sensitivity were also PH4, PC15 and PC16..CONCLUSÕES: carbamide peroxide have the greater color variations, the most effective being. compared to the patient, the trained operator has a capacity assessment of the closest color of the measured values instrumentally. patient satisfaction increases with all the groups, including the placebo, but declines in the period post therapy. Patients tend to see the darker teeth than they really are and create expectations for lighter colors. All groups sensitivity caused, including placebo, similar to maxilla and mandible.

A opacificação do cristalino presente ao nascimento ou nos primeiros meses de vida é denominada de Catarata Congênita (CC). As primeiras semanas de vida são importantes no desenvolvimento visual, já que há diferença significativa no desempenho visual de crianças que passaram pela cirurgia até seis semanas de vida (com melhor desempenho visual) em relação às crianças que realizaram a cirurgia após seis semanas de vida. Crianças que tiveram privação visual durante a primeira infância por catarata bilateral apresentam redução da visão espacial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o impacto na Função de Sensibilidade ao Contraste (FSC) em crianças de tratamento cirúrgico de Catarata Congênita, durante a fase de desenvolvimento visual. Foram avaliados três grupos: 11 crianças do grupo controle (média idade =6,83; DP=1,38), 9 crianças do grupo CC (média idade =6,87; DP=2,03) e 15 indivíduos adultos (média idade =27,63; DP=4,16). Foi utilizado o software Metropsis para avaliação da sensibilidade ao contraste de luminância de grade senoidal nas frequências espaciais de 0,2 cpg; 0,5 cpg; 1,0 cpg; 2,0 cpg; 4,2 cpg e 8,9 cpg e luminância média de 34,4 cd/m². Houve redução em toda a curva de sensibilidade ao contraste (SC) do grupo CC quando comparado ao grupo controle e não houve relação entre o tempo de privação e a redução da SC / The opacification of the lens present at birth is called Congenital Cataract (CC). The first weeks of life are important in visual development since there is not any significant difference in visual performance of children who had surgery within six weeks of life (with better visual performance) compared with children who underwent surgery after this period. Children who have visual deprivation during infancy due to bilateral cataracts have reduced spatial vision. The aim of this study was to assess the impact on Contrast Sensitivity Function (CSF) in children with Congenital Cataract surgery during the visual development age range. We evaluated three groups: 11 control children (mean age = 6.83, SD = 1.38), 9 children in the CC group (mean age = 6.87, SD = 2.03) and 15 adults (mean age = 27.63, SD = 4.16). Metropsis software was used to evaluate sensitivity to luminance contrast of the sinusoidal grating spatial frequencies of 0.2 cpd, 0.5 cpd, 1.0 cpd, 2.0 cpd, 4.2 cpd and 8.9 cpd with an average luminance of 34.4 cd / m². There was a reduction in the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) of the CC group compared to the control group and there was no correlation between the duration of deprivation and the impairment in the SC

Orientadores: Marta Cristina Teixeira Duarte, Pedro Luiz Rosalen / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T12:06:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bersan_SaleteMeiryFernandes_M.pdf: 6812876 bytes, checksum: a263025bff707f77c87f25c8c1f590e9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: A cavidade oral é habitada por uma microbiota mista que, sob determinadas circunstâncias, pode superar as defesas do hospedeiro e agir como oportunista, produzindo diversas manifestações clínicas. Observa-se na literatura um interesse por produtos de origem natural como fonte de novas moléculas bioativas para o controle de afecções orais, entre estes produtos destacam-se os óleos essenciais e seus produtos secundários devido às suas propriedades antimicrobianas. A necessidade de gerar e agregar novas informações acerca da atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de óleos essenciais, impulsionou a realização deste trabalho, envolvendo vinte espécies do Banco de Germoplasmas da "Coleção de Plantas Medicinais e Aromáticas - CPMA" do CPQBA/UNICAMP. Nesse contexto, essa pesquisa teve por objetivo identificar a atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de óleos essenciais e frações de diferentes espécies de plantas medicinais e aromáticas contra os patógenos orais Candida albicans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus sanguis e Streptococcus mitis, organizados nas formas livre e em biofilme. A atividade antimicrobiana dos óleos e frações foi avaliada através da determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e Concentração Bactericida e Fungicida Mínima (CBM/CFM), pelo método da microdiluição. Foram identificadas as classes de substâncias químicas presentes nos óleos essenciais e frações de melhor atividade por CG-EM. Além disso, os óleos essenciais e frações selecionadas foram submetidos à avaliação quanto à possível alteração morfológica causada no biofilme, através de análise por microscopias eletrônica de varredura (MEV). A maioria dos óleos essenciais apresentou atividade antimicrobiana moderada a forte sobre os microrganismos orais, com valores de CIM entre 0,007 a 1,00 mg/mL. Melhores atividades sobre células planctônicas foram exibidas pelas espécies Aloysia gratissima, Coriandrum sativum, Cyperus articulatus, Lippia sidoides e Mikania glomerata, cujos óleos foram fracionados e submetidos a estudos de ação sobre a formação de biofilme pelos microrganismos. Coriandrum sativum se destacou por apresentar os mais baixos valores de CIM em relação às células planctônicas de 0,007 a 0,125. As inibições de aderência variaram de 1.00 % para óleo de Mikania glomerata sobre S. mitis a 63,96 % para o óleo bruto de C. articulatus sobre S. sanguis. Através da análise das imagens obtidas por MEV não foi possível observar alterações na morfologia celular dos microrganismos orais. Porém, houve redução e alterações na organização da estrutura dos biofilmes. A análise da composição química do C. sativum mostrou a presença de compostos majoritários derivados de álcoois e aldeídos, enquanto C. articulatus e A. gratissima apresentaram compostos mono e sesquiterpenos. Em conclusão, o óleo essencial de C. articulatus mostrou o maior percentual de inibição sobre os microrganismos estudados, enquanto o óleo de A. gratissima inibiu a aderência do biofilme de S. mitis / Abstract: The oral cavity is inhabited by a mixed microbial flora which, under determined circumstances, can overcome the host's defenses producing some of clinical pathological manifestations. Considerable interest has been found in the literature concerning natural products as sources new bioactive molecules for oral diseases control and the essential oils and their secondary products stand out with these products due to their antimicrobial properties. In order to produce and aggregate new information relating to in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oils, this work was designed involving twenty species from the Germplasm Bank of the "Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Collection - CPMA" of CPQBA/UNICAMP, Brazil. Thus the objective of the present research was to identify the in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oils and fractions of the different species of medicinal and aromatic plants against the oral pathogens Candida albicans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mitis, organized in the free form and in biofilms. The antimicrobial activity of the oils and fractions was evaluated by determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Bactericidal and Fungicidal Concentrations (MBC/MFC) using the micro-dilution method. The classes of bioactive chemical substances present in the essential oils and fractions showing the best activity were identified by GC-MS. In addition the selected essential oils and fractions were submitted to an evaluation to detect any possible morphological alterations caused in the biofilm by way of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The majority of the essential oils showed moderate to strong antimicrobial activity against the oral microorganisms, with MIC values between 0.007 and 1.00 mg/mL. Better activities against planktonic cells were shown by the species Aloysia gratissima, Coriandrum sativum, Cyperus articulatus, Lippia sidoides and Mikania glomerata, whose oils were fractionated and submitted to studies of their action against biofilms formation by microorganisms. The essential oil of C. sativum stood out, since it inhibited all investigated species with MIC lowest values, varieting from 0.007 to 0.250 mg/mL, and for MBC from 0.015 to 0.500 mg/mL. The inhibition of biofilm formation varied from 1.00% for Mikania glomerata oil against S. mitis to 63.96% for the crude C. articulatus oil against S. sanguis. No alterations in cell morphology of the oral microorganisms could be observed from an analysis of the SEM images, but there were reductions and alterations in the organization of the biofilm structure. An analysis of the chemical composition of C. sativum showed the presence of alcohol and aldehyde derivatives as major compounds, whereas C. articulatus and A. gratissima showed mono and sesquiterpenes. In conclusion, the essential oil of C. articulatus showed the best results percentage inhibition on the microorganisms under study, whereas the A. gratissima oil inhibited of the S. mitis biofilm formation / Mestrado / Farmacologia, Anestesiologia e Terapeutica / Mestre em Odontologia

Orientador: Brenda Paula Figueiredo de Almeida Gomes / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T03:02:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pinheiro_ErickaTavares_D.pdf: 6781535 bytes, checksum: 922a6f6d42935816319b3755f08328b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: O presente estudo teve por objetivos: identificar a microbiota de canais radiculares de dentes com insucesso do tratamento endodôntico, e testar, in vitro, a suscetibilidade de cepas de Enterococcus faecalis a diferentes antibióticos. Sessenta dentes tratados endodonticamente com lesões periapicais persistentes foram selecionados para esse estudo. Durante o retratamento endodôntico, o material obturador foi removido e foi realizada a coleta microbiológica dos canais radiculares. Foram utilizados meios de transporte, cultura e incubação que propiciam o crescimento de bactérias anaeróbias estritas. Vinte e uma cepas de Enterococcus faecalis foram testadas quanto à suscetibilidade aos seguintes antimicrobianos: benzilpenicilina, amoxicilina, amoxicilina + ácido clavulânico, clindamicina, eritromicina, azitromicina, vancomicina, cloranfenicol, tetraciclina, doxiciclina, ciprofloxacino e moxifloxacino. As concentrações inibitórias mínimas (CIMs) dos agentes antimicrobianos foram determinadas pelo método do E-test. As cepas também foram testadas quanto à produção de beta-lactamase utilizando nitrocefin. Microrganismos foram isolados em 51 casos. A maioria dos canais apresentava somente 1 ou 2 espécies bacterianas. Do total de espécies bacterianas isoladas, 57,4% eram bactérias anaeróbias facultativas e 83,3% Gram-positivas. Enterococcus faecalis foi a espécie bacteriana mais freqüentemente isolada. Bactérias anaeróbias estritas representavam 42,6% das espécies e, entre eles, Peptostreptococcus spp. foram os mais isolados. Associações significantes foram encontradas entre dor ou história de dor e infecções anaeróbias e polimicrobianas (p<0,05). Todas as cepas de Enterococcus faecalis foram sensíveis, in vitro, às penicilinas, entretanto as CIMs de amoxicilina e amoxicilina + ácido clavulânico (CIM90= 0,75 µg/ml) foram menores do que as de benzilpenicilina (CIM90= 3.0 µg/ml). Todas as cepas também foram sensíveis a vancomicina e moxifloxacino, enquanto 95,2% foram sensíveis a cloranfenicol. Entre os isolados, 85,7% foram sensíveis a tetraciclina e doxiciclina, e 80,9% a ciprofloxacino. As CIMs de eritromicina variaram de 0,38 a >256 µg/ml, com apenas 28,5% das cepas sensíveis (CIM =0.5 µg/ml). Suscetibilidade limitada também foi verificada com azitromicina, que foi ativa contra somente 14,2% dos isolados. Nenhuma cepa produziu beta-lactamase. Concluímos que a microbiota dos canais de dentes tratados endodonticamente é composta por um número limitado de espécies microbianas, predominantemente Gram-positivas. Anaeróbios facultativos, especialmente Enterococcus faecalis, são os microrganismos mais comumente isolados, entretanto, infecções polimicrobianas e anaeróbios estritos são freqüentemente encontrados em canais de dentes tratados endodonticamente com sintomatologia clínica. As cepas de Enterococcus faecalis foram sensíveis, in vitro, a amoxicilina, amoxicilina associada ao ácido clavulânico, vancomicina e moxifloxacino. A maioria dos isolados foi sensível aos antibióticos: cloranfenicol, tetraciclina, doxiciclina, ou ciprofloxacino. Eritromicina e azitromicina foram menos eficazes / Abstract: The objectives of the present study were to identify the microbial flora within root canals of teeth with failed root canal treatment, and to test, in vitro, the susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis isolates. Sixty root-filled teeth with persisting periapical lesions were selected for this study. During nonsurgical endodontic re-treatment, the root-filling material was removed and the canals were sampled. Microbial sampling, isolation and species determination were performed using advanced microbiologic techniques for anaerobic species. Additionally, 21 Enterococcus faecalis isolates were tested for their antibiotic susceptibilities to benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, erythromycin, azithromycin, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the antimicrobial agents were determined using the E-test System. The strains were also tested for ß-lactamase production with nitrocefin. Microorganisms were recovered from 51 teeth. In most cases, one or two strains per canal were found. Of the microbial species isolated, 57.4% were facultative anaerobic species and 83.3% Gram-positive microorganisms. Enterococcus faecalis was the bacterial species most frequently recovered. Obligate anaerobes accounted for 42.6% of the species and the most frequently isolated genera was Peptostreptococcus. Significant associations were observed between pain or history of pain and polymicrobial infections or anaerobes (p<0.05). All Enterococcus faecalis strains were susceptible to penicillins in vitro, however, the MICs of amoxicillin and amoxicillinclavulanic acid (MIC90= 0.75 µg/ml) were lower than for benzylpenicillin (MIC90= 3.0 µg/ml). All strains studied were also susceptible to vancomycin and moxifloxacin, while 95.2% were susceptible to chloramphenicol. Among the isolates, 85.7% were susceptible to tetracycline and doxycycline, and 80.9% to ciprofloxacin. The MIC of erythromycin ranged from 0.38 to >256 µg/ml; only 28.5% of the strains were susceptible (MIC =0.5 µg/ml). Limited susceptibility was also observed with azithromycin which was active against only 14.2% of isolates. No strains produced ß-lactamase. Therefore, it was concluded that the microbial flora in canals after failure of root canal treatment were limited to a small number of predominantly Gram-positive microbial species. Facultative anaerobes, especially Enterococcus faecalis, were the most commonly isolated microorganisms, however, polymicrobial infections and obligate anaerobes were frequently found in canals of symptomatic root-filled teeth. Enterococcus faecalis isolates were completely susceptible, in vitro, to amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, vancomycin, and moxifloxacin. Most isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin. Erythromycin and azithromycin were least effective / Doutorado / Endodontia / Doutor em Clínica Odontológica

Orientador: Luis Roberto Marcondes Martins / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T03:56:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Casselli_DeniseSaMaia_D.pdf: 2775830 bytes, checksum: 43dd6d3dde0928950dc7944d0226d0be (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: Este estudo avaliou a sensibilidade pós-operatória de restaurações Classe I de compósito restauradas com sistema de união de condicionamento total ou autocondicionante. Cento e quatro restaurações defeituosas de amálgama foram substituídas em 52 pacientes. Cada paciente substituiu duas restaurações. Após preparo cavitário confeccionado, as restaurações foram confeccionadas, sob isolamento absoluto utilizando-se Single Bond ou Clearfil SE Bond e um compósito odontológico (Filtek Z250). A sensibilidade foi avaliada antes da substituição (baseline), após 7 dias e 6 meses da troca, utilizando-se estímulo frio e escala analógica de dor. Se ocorresse sensibilidade após 7 dias, os pacientes retornavam após 14 e 30 dias. Os escores foram analisados através de testes não paramétricos: Friedman e Wilcoxon. Nenhuma diferença estatística significativa foi encontrada em relação à sensibilidade pós-operatória no baseline, 7 dias e 6 meses. Também não houve diferença entre os adesivos em qualquer tempo. Nenhuma sensibilidade espontânea foi relatada. Os principais motivos de substituição de restaurações de amálgama, neste estudo, foram fratura da restauração e degradação marginal. Os sistemas de união utilizados nesse estudo não mostraram diferenças em relação à sensibilidade pós-operatória e não mostraram sensibilidade espontânea após 6 meses, quando utilizados de acordo com as instruções do fabricante / Abstract: This study evaluated the post-operative sensitivity of posterior Class I composite resin restorations restored with a self-etching primer or a total-etch bonding system. One hundred and four restorations were replaced by one clinician in 52 patients. Each patient received two restorations. After cavity preparations, the restorations were completed under rubber dam isolation and restored using a Clearfil SE Bond or Single Bond and a resin-based restorative material (Filtek Z250). The sensitivity was evaluated at O (baseline) and 7 days and 6 months using cold stimuli, and recorded using a visual-analogue scale. If sensitivity was experienced on day 7, patients were also contacted on days 14 and 30 to assess the degree of sensitivity. The se ores were analyzed as non-parametric data by means of the Friedman and Wilcoxon tests. No statistieally signifieant differences were found in sensitivity between the two adhesives systems at day O, 7 and 6 months. No spontaneous pos-operative sensitivity was reported. The major reasons for failure of amalgam restorations were fraetures restoration and marginal deficiencies. The adhesive systems used in this study showed no differenees in post-operative sensitivity, and did not show spontaneous sensitivity after 6 months if they were used accordance with manufacturer' s instructions / Doutorado / Dentística / Doutor em Clínica Odontológica

Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) is a useful psychological construct in understanding the development of general and clinical anxiety. An increased amount of research has recently been conducted in this area. Since the development of the 16-item Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), there has been deliberation in the literature about the relationship of the AS construct and the ASI, to the personality construct of trait anxiety. Central to this discus sion is the notion that AS is nothing more than trait anxiety. This position brings into question the conceptual and empirical validity of AS. This study aimed to explore and describe the relationship between trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, through the use of an exploratory-descriptive correlational design. Levels of trait anxiety were determined through the use of subscales on the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and anxiety sensitivity through the use of the ASI. Using a convenience sampling technique, 84 student volunteers completed the 16PF and ASI. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. The results indicate that the sample group had the capacity to express emotional energy along integrated channels and was thus well suited for exploring the relationship between the construct of trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity. The relationship between trait anxiety and AS in the sample group was explored through the use of two statistical procedures. Firstly, the coefficient of determination (r²) was calculated and revealed that 24% of the variance among the ASI scores were attributable to variations in Factor QII scores of the 16PF and viceversa. Secondly, a multiple regression analysis technique revealed that 28% of the variance in the ASI score could be explained by the combination of factors Q4 (free- floating anxiety), O (guilt proneness), C (ego strength), L (suspiciousness), Q3 (ability to bind anxiety) of the 16PF. These key findings are in line with other research in that the constructs of trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity showed a level of variance. As such, it was concluded that although the constructs may be related, they are not synonymous.

Tumour heterogeneity is a key hurdle for the effective treatment of cancer using oncolytic viruses (OVs). A better understanding of the pathways involved in delineating tumour cell resistance and hypersensitivity to OVs is critical in order to guide the development of new therapeutic strategies to enhance OVs. In this thesis, I performed a comparative genetic and epigenetic study of the murine OV-resistant colon cancer cell line CT26.WT and its hypersensitive subclone CT26.lacZ. This study led to the identification of retroviral insertion sites in AKAP7 and TP53RK genes, that are potentially involved in conveying sensitivity to infection by OVs and the dysregulation of the interferon antiviral response in the CT26.lacZ cell line. Gene overexpression and gene silencing experiments suggest a functional role of these proteins in controlling viral growth. Further investigation of these genes and their relationship to antiviral response pathways is warranted and may lead to novel strategies for improving the therapeutic activity of OVs.

Background: A pilot study can be an important step in the assessment of an intervention by providing information to design the future definitive trial. Pilot studies can be used to estimate the recruitment and retention rates and population variance and to provide preliminary evidence of efficacy potential. However, estimation is poor because pilot studies are small, so sensitivity analyses for the main trial's sample size calculations should be undertaken. Methods: We demonstrate how to carry out easy-to-perform sensitivity analysis for designing trials based on pilot data using an example. Furthermore, we introduce rules of thumb for the size of the pilot study so that the overall sample size, for both pilot and main trials, is minimized. Results: The example illustrates how sample size estimates for the main trial can alter dramatically by plausibly varying assumptions. Required sample size for 90% power varied from 392 to 692 depending on assumptions. Some scenarios were not feasible based on the pilot study recruitment and retention rates. Conclusion: Pilot studies can be used to help design the main trial, but caution should be exercised. We recommend the use of sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the design assumptions for a main trial.

Misophonia is a decreased sound tolerance condition (DST) that is not yet well-established in the literature. However, the existing research on misophonia shows that it is occurring at substantial levels in the population. The majority of the existing literature has focused on the clinical correlates of misophonia. Although the correlates have been investigated, there is no accepted mechanism behind misophonia etiology or maintenance. The present study examined three hypotheses in order to start to identify potential mechanisms behind misophonia: how emotional predilections are related to the emotional response, how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and misophonia are related, and the possibility that the relationship between anxiety sensitivity (AS) and misophonia may be explained in part by the presence of OCD symptoms. Data were collected by Cash (2015) using both undergraduate students (N=451) and community participants (N = 377) using Amazon’s MTurk. Participants completed an online cross-sectional survey assessing for a number of decreased sound tolerance conditions, individual differences variables, and clinical variables. The current study specifically used measures of anxiety sensitivity, OCD, misophonia symptom severity, trait anger, and trait anxiety. Consistent with the literature on state-trait theory, trait emotion was predictive of state levels, such that trait anger was most predictive of an angry misophonic response and trait anxiety was most predictive of an anxious reaction to misophonic stimuli. Misophonia was more strongly related to obsessive than to compulsive components of OCD, consistent with case reports of obsessive thoughts in misophonia. Lastly, OCD symptoms partially mediated the relationship between AS symptom severity and misophonia symptom severity. These results supported our hypotheses, and align with the theorized role of anxiety sensitivity in OCD and in misophonia. Although the data are cross-sectional in nature, and causality cannot be confirmed, the current study provides a strong basis for future research into the mechanisms of misophonia.

Abstract Neurogenic factors are known to be important in the development of hypertension. Our current knowledge of the role of autonomic nervous system in chronic hypertension is, however, limited. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possible abnormalities in heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in patients with long standing systemic hypertension compared to subjects without evidence of cardiovascular disease. A particular aim was also to examine whether genetic variation in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) genes have an influence on cardiovascular autonomic regulation. Case-control studies were carried out on a total of 280 normotensive and 214 hypertensive subjects drawn from a random middle-aged population originally recruited for an epidemiologic study of cardiovascular risk factors. The possible association of BRS with the genetic polymorphisms of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system genes was studied in a cross-sectional study of 315 healthy controls. Genetic associations were also tested in a younger, independent population sample of 66 subjects. The effects of intensified antihypertensive treatment on autonomic cardiovascular control were evaluated in 33 hypertensive patients with poor blood pressure control. Wide interindividual variation in both HRV and BRS was observed in normotensive as well as hypertensive subjects. Overall HRV and autonomic responses to a change in body posture were blunted in long-standing hypertension. Decreased HRV was mainly related to elevated blood pressure and obesity. For the first time in a population-based study, it was confirmed that BRS is impaired in patients with long-standing hypertension despite adequate antihypertensive treatment. In contrast to HRV, BRS was reduced in hypertensive subjects also after adjustment for blood pressure and obesity. BRS also varied widely both between healthy and hypertensive individuals. The wide interindividual variation in the markers of autonomic cardiovascular regulation was not, however, completely explained by demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors or lifestyle, suggesting a genetic component contributing to HRV and BRS. The polymorphism in the aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) gene was found to strongly associate with BRS in two independent random populations of apparently healthy subjects. The association was even stronger in the younger population. On the basis of the observations made in the older population, it seems possible that women are protected against the effect of age and blood pressure on BRS and tend to maintain the genomic influence longer. Intensified antihypertensive combination therapy improved blood pressure control and caused regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, and resulted in significant improvements of HRV and BRS. The present study shows that HRV and BRS are altered in long-standing systemic hypertension. Together with age, blood pressure and obesity, genetic factors seem to be important determinants of BRS. However, abnormal autonomic cardiovascular regulation does not seem to be an irreversible phenomenon, but can be partly restored by modern combination antihypertensive therapy.