This review addresses the different aspects of the use of titanium and its alloys in the production of dental implants, the most common causes of implant failures and the development of improved ...surfaces capable of stimulating osseointegration and guaranteeing the long-term success of dental implants. Titanium is the main material for the development of dental implants; despite this, different surface modifications are studied aiming to improve the osseointegration process. Nanoscale modifications and the bioactivation of surfaces with biological molecules can promote faster healing when compared to smooth surfaces. Recent studies have also pointed out that gradual changes in the implant, based on the microenvironment of insertion, are factors that may improve the integration of the implant with soft and bone tissues, preventing infections and osseointegration failures. In this context, the understanding that nanobiotechnological surface modifications in titanium dental implants improve the osseointegration process arouses interest in the development of new strategies, which is a highly relevant factor in the production of improved dental materials.
Background Chagas Disease (CD) affects 6-7 million people worldwide and is related to poverty-promoting conditions. Chronic asymptomatic cases are mostly invisible to health systems. Aiming (1) to ...translate CD discoveries into education/information practices to raise alertness and empowerment of affected people; and (2) to perform an active search of CD cases, articulating intersectoral actions to improve the access of infected people to the local health service for the treatment of CD; our research group developed and tested under field conditions as innovative social technology: an itinerant education interdisciplinary setting named "Chagas Express XXI" (CE21). Methodology CE21 was created as an "imaginary train" with ~40 ArtScience workshops, games, laboratory activities and conversation circles. An entry/exit plus six activity modules combined associations of affected people, microscopic observations, One Health education, and wellness activities. CE21 was conceived as a social technology, since all the processes were co-created with CD patients and inter-sector local partners. Descriptive statistics showed quantitative data collected throughout the expeditions (CD knowledge, serological results). Qualitative data accessed the public perceptions about the education activities. Principal findings CE21 was exhibited in local educational institutions (schools, universities) in four cities, engaging 2,117 people that evaluated the 41 activities carried out. Citizens and health professionals enjoyed acquisition of information related to blood, parasites, vectors, reservoirs, environmental changes, and social determinants of CD. Further, local legacies of 600 participants volunteer for health promotion groups and CD associations, local empowerment groups to fight for better health conditions, and 05 mural paintings. We observed that 81% of the participants ignored the possibility of treating CD while 52% of the participants requested a blood test for CD showing seropositivity in 20% of them. Conclusions CE21 is a social technology potentially useful for health and science education and active search of asymptomatic CD chronic cases. Moreover, this technology may be adapted to understand and to cooperate in other potentially epidemic situations, especially NTDs related.
Display omitted
•Hybrid particles from silica and chitosan with benzotriazole, bearing different architectures were synthesized.•Silica/chitosan bio-hybrid capsules can potentially be used in ...corrosion inhibitor smart coatings.•According the chitosan location in capsule, the benzotriazole is delivered in a wide range of pH (from 3 to 9).
Chitosan-based organic-inorganic bio-hybrid nanocapsules, containing benzotriazole, a corrosion inhibitor, were prepared. In view of the versatile chemistry of silicon and the pH sensitivity of chitosan and benzotriazole, two synthesis approaches are presented. In both methods, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was used as the silicon source. Particles with different architectures, structural features and pH-dependent release behavior were obtained. The capsules prepared by the sol-emulsion-gel method demonstrated the highest release efficiency at pH 7.0 (∼90%) and pH 9.0 (∼65%) whilst the capsules prepared through layer-by-layer deposition technique showed the best efficiency at pH 3.0 (∼90%). Therefore, in combination, the particles delivered benzotriazole in a wide range of pH (from 3 to 9). The materials were fully characterized at the molecular, mesoscopic and nanometric length scales and the results suggest that they can successfully be applied in pH-sensitive smart coatings for corrosion inhibition.
A new eco-friendly, pH-responsive capsule is presented. Core-shell silica/chitosan nanocapsules, of around 200 nm, were prepared by the Layer-by-Layer method for the incorporation and further release ...of the green corrosion inhibitor tannic acid (TA). The release was monitored at different pH. The highest amount of released TA (~90%) occurred at pH 3.0 following a diffusional process. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) experiments demonstrated that the capsules improved up to three times the corrosion protection of carbon steel compared to the bare substrate, on aggressive medium for 48 h, possibly due to the formation of a layer of ferric tannate complex on the metal surface.
Display omitted
In this paper we aimed at describing the quantifiable properties diffusion tensor images: fractional anisotropy (FA) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) at white matter hyperintensities (WMH) ...areas found in situ postmortem (PM) specimens. Our hypothesis is that the properties of WMH would be different from normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in the DTI images in postmortem.
We analyzed PM MR images from 24 subjects (12 males; mean age: 67.2±14.7 years) and in vivo (IV) MR images from 10 healthy volunteers (5 males; mean age: 62.3±5.49 years). DTI processing was performed using the FSL platform; ROIs were placed at WMH and NAWM at FA and ADC maps.
PM group presented FA values 26.75% lower at WMH than in NAWM. IV Mean FA in WMH was also reduced (17.76%) compared to NAWM. Average ADC from PM subjects was 6.89% higher at WMH than NAWM and 12.51% higher at WMH than NAWM at IV group.
We have demonstrated that in situ postmortem FA values at WMH are lower than NAWM, similar to in vivo data. This indicates that DTI obtained at a short postmortem interval from PM MRI could be used to understand in vivo MRI data.
•DTI findings obtained from PM MRI could be used to understand IV data.•Our workflow is free from tissue fixation artifacts and MRI are obtained at short postmortem intervals.
Display omitted
•A series of cinnamoylhydroxamic acids was synthesized and their antiureolytic activities were evaluated.•The synthesized compounds demonstrated potent urease inhibitory effects, with ...IC50 values ranging from 3.8 to 12.8 µM.•The kinetic experiments revealed that the majority of the synthesized hybrids exhibit characteristics of mixed inhibitors.•Biophysical and theoretical investigations were carried out and corroborated the findings obtained from kinetic assays.
The current investigation encompasses the structural planning, synthesis, and evaluation of the urease inhibitory activity of a series of molecular hybrids of hydroxamic acids and Michael acceptors, delineated from the structure of cinnamic acids. The synthesized compounds exhibited potent urease inhibitory effects, with IC50 values ranging from 3.8 to 12.8 µM. Kinetic experiments unveiled that the majority of the synthesized hybrids display characteristics of mixed inhibitors. Generally, derivatives containing electron-withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring demonstrate heightened activity, indicating that the increased electrophilicity of the beta carbon in the Michael Acceptor moiety positively influences the antiureolytic properties of this compounds class. Biophysical and theoretical investigations further corroborated the findings obtained from kinetic assays. These studies suggest that the hydroxamic acid core interacts with the urease active site, while the Michael acceptor moiety binds to one or more allosteric sites adjacent to the active site.
The development of an effective immune response can help decrease mortality from malaria and its clinical symptoms. However, this mechanism is complex and has significant inter-individual variation, ...most likely owing to the genetic contribution of the human host. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of polymorphisms in genes involved in the costimulation of B-lymphocytes in the naturally acquired humoral immune response against proteins of the asexual stage of Plasmodium vivax. A total of 319 individuals living in an area of malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon were genotyped for four SNPs in the genes CD40, CD40L, BLYS and CD86. In addition, IgG antibodies against P. vivax apical membrane antigen 1 (PvAMA-1), Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) and merozoite surface protein 1 (PvMSP-119) were detected by ELISA. The SNP BLYS -871C>T was associated with the frequency of IgG responders to PvAMA-1 and PvMSP-119. The SNP CD40 -1C>T was associated with the IgG response against PvDBP, whereas IgG antibody titers against PvMSP-119 were influenced by the polymorphism CD86 +1057G>A. These data may help to elucidate the immunological aspects of vivax malaria and consequently assist in the design of malaria vaccines.
Background. Play is essential to child development, and its evaluation is considered valid to indicate the stage of development of the child and indicate possible lagging. The Revised Knox Preschool ...Play Scale (RKPPS) provides an evolving description of the typical play behavior of preschool children, in six-month periods from zero to three years of age and then in annual periods up to six years of age. The RKPPS has already undergone the process of cultural adaptation for use in the Brazilian population, and it is necessary to analyze its applicability. Aims. To verify the reliability and internal consistency of the RKPPS for Brazilian children. Method. 135 children participated in the study, divided into different age groups with 15 in each group, and were filmed during free play in school or home contexts. Two independent raters evaluated the footage from two different times. Based on these evaluations, a statistical analysis was carried out in order to ascertain the reliability and the internal consistency of the Brazilian version of the RKPPS. Results. Intra- and interrater reliability showed a predominance of near-perfect to moderate agreement; however, some dimensions of certain age groups presented reasonable to poor agreement. The internal consistency was found to be satisfactory for most of the items evaluated; however, there were items with poor results in some dimensions of certain age groups. Conclusions. There is a need for further analysis of these items by a committee of experts to ensure the reproducibility of the instrument.
The known biotechnological properties of chitosan and the recent biological activities attributed to polysaccharides from Agaricus brasiliensis have been of interest to obtain films constituted by ...these two polymers. The glucans obtained from the mushroom inhibited about 96.5% of the ferrous ion, besides not promoting a significant increase of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH), which indicates that the polysaccharide is able to inhibit the production of radical species and also presents low cytotoxicity to the biological systems. The results of spectroscopy analyses in the infrared region (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction suggest an existing electrostatic interaction between the substances. A reduction in the films’ swelling capacity was observed with an increase in the polysaccharide content in the composition. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed greater surface density of the films. In convening the biological properties of the substances, it is expected that this study raises interest in evaluating the films and their capacity for healing wounds and burns.
Severe thrombocytopenia can be a determinant factor in the morbidity of
, the most widespread human malaria parasite. Although immune mechanisms may drive
-induced severe thrombocytopenia (PvST), the ...current data on the cytokine landscape in PvST is scarce and often conflicting. Here, we hypothesized that the analysis of the bidirectional circuit of inflammatory mediators and their regulatory miRNAs would lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying PvST. For that, we combined Luminex proteomics, NanoString miRNA quantification, and machine learning to evaluate an extensive array of plasma mediators in uncomplicated
patients with different degrees of thrombocytopenia. Unsupervised clustering analysis identified a set of PvST-linked inflammatory (CXCL10, CCL4, and IL-18) and regulatory (IL-10, IL-1Ra, HGF) mediators. Among the mediators associated with PvST, IL-6 and IL-8 were critical to discriminate
subgroups, while CCL2 and IFN-γ from healthy controls. Supervised machine learning spotlighted IL-10 in
-mediated thrombocytopenia and provided evidence for a potential signaling route involving IL-8 and HGF. Finally, we identified a set of miRNAs capable of modulating these signaling pathways. In conclusion, the results place IL-10 and IL-8/HGF in the center of PvST and propose investigating these signaling pathways across the spectrum of malaria infections.
PDF
