Introduction
Current evidence suggests an important knowledge gain of health sciences' students and professionals with mobile devices (m‐learning). This study aimed to verify whether different ...strategies of teaching (traditional lecture classroom, m‐learning and association of both methods) would present greater efficacy in knowledge improvement regarding dental trauma in primary dentition.
Materials and Methods
An action research study using a participatory approach was conducted with 36 undergraduate Brazilian dental students. A structured questionnaire composed of six clinical cases of traumatic injuries was initially applied to all students (pre‐test). Participants were then randomly distributed into three experimental groups: TC—students who had access exclusively to traditional lecture classroom; APP—access exclusively to the mobile application; and TC‐APP—access to both approaches. The traditional and technological methods had evidence‐based content and visual resources of the subject. After interventions, all students responded to the same previous questionnaire (post‐test). Wilcoxon and Kruskal‐Wallis tests were performed for statistical analysis.
Results
All tested groups obtained statistically significant improvement between their pre‐test and post‐test scores, for both diagnosis and treatment of dental trauma (p < .005). Nonetheless, no intergroup differences were observed amongst the scores of pre‐ and post‐test for diagnosis (p = .159) and treatment (p = .206).
Conclusion
All teaching approaches applied obtained similar knowledge improvement of undergraduate dental students regarding traumatic injuries in primary teeth.
The present study had the objective to evaluate the effect of blends of KCl and K
SO
fertilizers and their influence on the yield and the nutritional state of coffee plants, as well as on the ...chemical composition and quality of the coffee beverage. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four repetitions and six treatments (T1: 100% KCl; T2: 75% KCl + 25% K
SO
; T3: 50% KCl + 50% K
SO
; T4: 25% KCl + 75% K
SO
; T5: 100% K
SO
; and a control, without application of K). The following analyses were performed: K and Cl content in the leaves and the soil, stocks of Cl in soil, yield, removal of K and Cl with the beans, cup quality of the beverage, polyphenol oxidase activity (PPO), electric conductivity (EC), potassium leaching (KL), the content of phenolic compounds, the content of total sugars (TS), and total titratable acidity (TTA). The stocks of Cl in the soil decreased as the proportion of KCl in the fertilizer was reduced. The fertilization with KCl reduces the cup quality and the activity of the polyphenol oxidase, probably due to the ion Cl. The increase in the application of Cl directly relates to the increase in potassium leaching, electric conductivity, and titratable acidity. Indirectly, these variables indicate damages to the cells by the use of Cl in the fertilizer. The activity of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme and the cup quality indicate that the ion Cl- reduces the quality of the coffee beverage. K content in the leaves was not influenced by the application of blends of K fertilizer while Cl content increased linearly with KCl applied. The application of KCl and K
SO
blends influenced coffee yield and the optimum proportion was 25% of KCl and 75% of K
SO
. The highest score in the cup quality test was observed with 100% K
SO
.
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes at 6 to 12 months after cancer diagnosis and to assess the impact of age in older adults with ...cancer.
Methods:
A cohort study using patients ≥60 years old diagnosed with cancer. Health-related quality of life scores were calculated according to the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire. Student’s t tests for paired samples and a binomial logistic regression were performed.
Results:
The study included 241 patients. At diagnosis, the affected HRQoL functions were physical and emotional functions, financial difficulties, pain, and insomnia. At follow-up, cognitive function (P < .001) and dyspnea (P = .004) worsened, while emotional function improved (P = .003).
Discussion:
At the 6 to 12 months of follow-up, older adult cancer patients showed worsening cognitive function and dyspnea and improved emotional function. These HRQoL changes were not associated with age.
Exogenous ochronosis is a stigmatizing dermatosis characterized by asymptomatic, bluish-black, or grayish macules in photoexposed areas. Associated with the prolonged use of hydroquinone for the ...treatment of dyschromias, it has a broad therapeutic arsenal, but the results are unsatisfactory and/or costly. We report the case of a female patient with histologically proven exogenous ochronosis who underwent dermabrasion associated with the use of tretinoin and topical corticosteroids with surprising results after three months of follow-up to demonstrate the possibility of therapeutic success with a low-cost technique and an outpatient clinic procedure.
The prompt and accurate identification of the etiological agents of viral respiratory infections is a critical measure in mitigating outbreaks. In this study, we developed and clinically evaluated a ...novel melting-curve-based multiplex real-time PCR (M-m-qPCR) assay targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and nucleocapsid phosphoprotein N of SARS-CoV-2, the Matrix protein 2 of the Influenza A virus, the RdRp domain of the L protein from the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and the polyprotein from Rhinovirus B genes. The analytical performance of the M-m-qPCR underwent assessment using in silico analysis and a panel of reference and clinical strains, encompassing viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, exhibiting 100% specificity. Moreover, the assay showed a detection limit of 10 copies per reaction for all targeted pathogens using the positive controls. To validate its applicability, the assay was further tested in simulated nasal fluid spiked with the viruses mentioned above, followed by validation on nasopharyngeal swabs collected from 811 individuals. Among them, 13.4% (109/811) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and 1.1% (9/811) tested positive for Influenza A. Notably, these results showed 100% concordance with those obtained using a commercial kit. Therefore, the M-m-qPCR exhibits great potential for the routine screening of these respiratory viral pathogens.
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that the intestinal microenvironment regulate lung immune cells. Conversely, changes in the lung can modulate the gut immune system. Yet, mucosal-associated immune ...responses have been studied in a compartmentalized manner, as if there is no communication between different organs. Thus, the role of the gut-lung axis in mucosal immune responses is poorly understood. Using enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), we established a model of intestine-localized infection without translocation to any other tissue. In response to ETEC, type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and eosinophils accumulated in the intestinal lamina propria, even after bacterial clearance. In addition, oral ETEC transiently increased the numbers of ILC2 and eosinophils in the lung parenchyma. To test if oral ETEC promote lung immune responses to allergen, we exposed mice that recently cleared ETEC to intranasal papain/ovalbumin allergy induction model. Unexpectedly, ETEC-exposed mice were significantly resistant to allergen-induced lung inflammation, with reduced number of ILC2, Type 2 effector CD4 +T cells (Th2) and eosinophils. Paradoxically, oral ETEC-induced protection against lung allergen exposure was dependent on IL-33: IL-33KO mice developed partial lung inflammation in this model, and no protection induced by ETEC exposure was observed. Importantly, protection from allergy was achieved with ETEC heat-labile toxin (LT) oral exposure; we also found that the toxicity domain of LT is needed for this protection. Our results indicate that gastrointestinal bacterial infection mediators (toxins) negatively regulate the onset of allergic inflammation and may provide a novel immunological basis for the “hygiene hypothesis”.
R01AI170649 FAPESP 2021/15185-2
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on the fatty acid profiles and physicochemical composition of Crassostrea gasar cultured in two locations with ...differences in salinity and precipitation gradients. The study period was divided into four seasonal divisions—the rainy–dry transition period, the dry season, dry–rainy transition and the rainy season. The salinity, pH and temperature were measured at each site during specimen collection. A total of 712 oyster samples were used for fatty acid profiling and physicochemical analysis. Salinity and precipitation were the environmental parameters that influenced the fatty acid profile and physicochemical characteristics of oysters. C. gasar exhibited excellent values of n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA, EPA and eicosatrienoic), with a predominance of these acids during periods of higher precipitation. Variations in precipitation and salinity resulted in significant differences in oyster nutritional characteristics. Oysters grown in Amazonian estuaries can be considered nutritious throughout the year, with better conditions during the rainy season.
Mycobacterium leprae was the first microorganism directly associated with a disease, however, there are still important gaps in our understanding of transmission. Although household contacts are ...prioritized, there is evidence of the importance of extrahousehold contacts. The goal of this article is to contribute to our understanding of the transmission of leprosy ex-household.
We compare co-location data of 397 leprosy cases and 211 controls drawn from the Centro de Dermatologia Sanitária D. Libânia in Fortaleza, Brazil. We collected lifetime geolocation data related to residence, school attendance and workplace and developed novel methods to establish a critical distance (Rc) for exposure and evaluated the potential for transmission for residence, school and workplace.
Our methods provide different threshold values of distance for residence, school and workplace. Residence networks demonstrate an Rc of about 500 m. Cases cluster in workplaces as well. Schools do not cluster cases.
Our novel network approach offers a promising opportunity to explore leprosy transmission. Our networks confirm the importance of coresidence, provide a boundary and suggest a role for transmission in workplaces. Schools, on the other hand, do not demonstrate a clustering of cases. Our findings may have programmatic relevance.
A considerable increase in endocrine abnormalities has been reported over the last few decades worldwide. A growing exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be one of the causes of ...endocrine disorders in populations, and these disorders are not only restricted to the metabolic hormone system but can also cause abnormal functions. Thyroid hormone (TH) disruption is defined as an abnormal change in TH production, transport, function, or metabolism, which results in some degree of impairment in body homeostasis. Many EDCs, including organotin compounds (OTCs), are environmental contaminants that are commonly found in antifouling paints used on ships and in several other industrial procedures. OTCs are obesogenic and can disrupt TH metabolism; however, abnormalities in thyroid function resulting from OTC exposure are less well understood. OTCs, one of the most prevalent EDCs that are encountered on a daily basis, modulate the thyroid axis. In most toxicology studies, it has been reported that OTCs might contribute to hypothyroidism.
PDF
