Keloid scars are characterized by the excessive proliferation of fibroblasts and an imbalance between the production and degradation of collagen, leading to its buildup in the dermis. There is no ..."gold standard" treatment for this condition, and the recurrence is frequent after surgical procedures removal. In vitro studies have demonstrated that photobiomodulation (PBM) using the blue wavelength reduces the proliferation speed and the number of fibroblasts as well as the expression of TGF-β. There are no protocols studied and established for the treatment of keloids with blue LED. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the combination of PBM with blue light and the intralesional administration of the corticoid triamcinolone hexacetonide on the quality of the remaining scar by Vancouver Scar Scale in the postoperative period of keloid surgery. A randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial will be conducted involving two groups: 1) Sham (n = 29): intralesional administration of corticoid (IAC) and sham PBM in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid removal surgery; and 2) active PBM combined with IAC (n = 29) in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid removal surgery. Transcutaneous PBM will be performed on the keloid region in the preoperative period and on the remaining scar in the postoperative period using blue LED (470 nm, 400 mW, 4J per point on 10 linear points). The patients will answer two questionnaires: one for the assessment of quality of life (Qualifibro-UNIFESP) and one for the assessment of satisfaction with the scar (PSAQ). The team of five plastic surgeons will answer the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). All questionnaires will be administered one, three, six, and twelve months postoperatively. The keloids will be molded in silicone prior to the onset of treatment and prior to excision to assess pre-treatment and post-treatment size. The same will be performed for the remaining scar at one, three, six, and twelve months postoperatively. The removed keloid will be submitted to histopathological analysis for the determination of the quantity of fibroblasts, the organization and distribution of collagen (picrosirius staining), and the genic expression of TGF-β (qPCR). All data will be submitted to statistical analysis. Trial registration: This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04824612).
Halitosis is a term that defines any foul odor emanating from the oral cavity. The origin may be local or systemic. The aim of the proposed protocol is to determine whether treatment with ...antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and treatment with probiotics are effective at eliminating halitosis.
Eighty-eight patients, from 18 to 25 years old with a diagnosis of halitosis (H2S≥112 ppb, determined by gas chromatography) will be randomly allocated to four groups (n = 22) that will receive different treatments: Group 1 -treatment with teeth brushing, dental floss and tongue scraper; Group 2 -brushing, dental floss and aPDT; Group 3 -brushing, dental floss and probiotics; Group 4 -brushing, flossing, aPDT and probiotics. The results of the halimetry will be compared before, immediately after, seven days and thirty days after treatment. The microbiological analysis of the coated tongue will be performed at these same times. The normality of the data will be determined using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Data with normal distribution will be analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Non-parametric data will be analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The Wilcoxon test will be used to analyze the results of each treatment at the different evaluation periods.
NCT03996044.
Skin aging is an irreversible, slow and progressive process, mainly influenced by age, but also by external factors such as ultraviolet radiation, smoking, and alcohol, among others. It is ...increasingly common to look for procedures that slow down skin aging by limiting or hiding its effects on appearance. Studies have shown the benefits of photobiomodulation (PBM) for the skin, especially with the use of red light-emitting diodes. However, there is a high level of variability in the treatment parameters and frequency of application.
The objective of this study is to compare the effects of PBM with a light-emitting diode mask (660 nm, 6.4 mW/ cm², 8,02 J/ cm², 5.02 mW, 21 minutes) on facial rejuvenation using 2 frequency applications for 4 weeks: one group will receive PBM application on the face, twice a week and another group will receive PBM application 3 times a week. A group with simulated PBM applied twice a week for 4 weeks will be used as a control. The treatment will be performed on female participants aged between 45 and 60 years. After 4 weeks, evaluations of photographic images by specialists (Wrinkle Assessment Scale) as well as the quantitative analysis of the wrinkle size by the Image J software, the depth and width of wrinkles (assessment of face impressions by optical coherence tomography) and the level of Satisfaction with Facial Appearance Overall will be compared with data collected before the start of the study. All data will be analyzed statistically according to their distribution, seeking a level of statistical significance of 0.05.
This protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Nove de Julho University (acceptance number: 4.365.565). This trial has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04911140). This study is recruiting.
Keloid scars are characterized by the excessive proliferation of fibroblasts and an imbalance between the production and degradation of collagen, leading to its buildup in the dermis. There is no ...“gold standard” treatment for this condition, and the recurrence is frequent after surgical procedures removal. In vitro studies have demonstrated that photobiomodulation (PBM) using the blue wavelength reduces the proliferation speed and the number of fibroblasts as well as the expression of TGF-β. There are no protocols studied and established for the treatment of keloids with blue LED. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the combination of PBM with blue light and the intralesional administration of the corticoid triamcinolone hexacetonide on the quality of the remaining scar by Vancouver Scar Scale in the postoperative period of keloid surgery. A randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial will be conducted involving two groups: 1) Sham (n = 29): intralesional administration of corticoid (IAC) and sham PBM in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid removal surgery; and 2) active PBM combined with IAC (n = 29) in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid removal surgery. Transcutaneous PBM will be performed on the keloid region in the preoperative period and on the remaining scar in the postoperative period using blue LED (470 nm, 400 mW, 4J per point on 10 linear points). The patients will answer two questionnaires: one for the assessment of quality of life (Qualifibro-UNIFESP) and one for the assessment of satisfaction with the scar (PSAQ). The team of five plastic surgeons will answer the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). All questionnaires will be administered one, three, six, and twelve months postoperatively. The keloids will be molded in silicone prior to the onset of treatment and prior to excision to assess pre-treatment and post-treatment size. The same will be performed for the remaining scar at one, three, six, and twelve months postoperatively. The removed keloid will be submitted to histopathological analysis for the determination of the quantity of fibroblasts, the organization and distribution of collagen (picrosirius staining), and the genic expression of TGF-β (qPCR). All data will be submitted to statistical analysis. Trial registration: This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04824612).
Groin hernias are among the oldest recorded afflictions of mankind. Most of them protrude through the inguinal canal, and only a few through the femoral canal. Usually, they are present as a painful ...lump in the groin region, and their complications arise if they become incarcerated or strangulated. Incarcerated hernias may contain a variety of contents, such as the omentum, small bowel, colon, bladder, appendix, stomach, or ovary as previously described. Usually, the history and a physical examination are sufficient to make the diagnosis. However, the wide use of CT has become an effective instrument to identify the contents of hernias and has helped surgeons program the best management. This article reports, for the first time, the case of an 81-year-old female with an incarcerated femoral hernia that contains the gallbladder.
Determining the period of weed coexistence with eucalyptus stands assists in the integrated management of weed competition, which reduces the application of herbicides, economic costs, and ...environmental damage. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the impact of a hybrid stand of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla trees on biomass production, the concentration and stock of macro and micronutrients, and the efficiency of nutrient utilization under different periods of coexistence with weeds. Our study is the first to report the impacts of weed management on the biomass and nutrients present in the leaves, branches, stembark, and stemwood at the time of mid-rotation (4.5 years old). The experiment was carried out in southern Brazil in the Pampa biome and followed a randomized block design, with three replications. The treatments consisted of increasing periods of coexistence with or control of weeds. The total biomass in the coexistence up to 378 days treatment was 53.7 Mg ha−1, and in the control treatment up to 168 days, it was 81.4 Mg ha−1, differing statistically. This reduction was in the order of 34%. The continuous presence of weeds led to a significant reduction in the production of wood and total biomass. The highest nutrient utilization efficiency (NUE) was observed for wood. The control of weeds for up to 168 days promoted greater productivity than controlling weeds for 378 days. This recommendation can be adopted by plantation managers for this region, reducing the amount of herbicide applied on the stand.
Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate Pseudobombax aff. petropolitanum (PP) contribution on annual fine litterfall, carbon content, and nutrient concentration, compared to other woody ...species (OS) on a neotropical inselberg in Espírito Santo state, Brazil. Annual fine litterfall was systematic monthly collected (November 2011-October 2012) by means of 15 littertraps (0.25 m2) placed in five transects, oven-dried (65 °C, 72 h), weighed, and C content and nutrients concentration (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) were estimated. PP performed lower litterfall, C content, and nutrient concentration excepting higher K concentration, compared to OS. The results suggested that PP performed higher nutrient conservation, which indicated its potential in restoring degraded areas observed in the inselberg.
Litter dynamics is one of the fundamental processes for the growth and maintenance of native forest fragments, being considered the main pathway for nutrient cycling in forests. Therefore, studies on ...accumulated litter and nutrient content provide information for a better understanding of nutrient dynamics. The aim of the study was to evaluate leaf litter and nutrient stock in different seasons and the instantaneous rate of decomposition in an Atlantic Forest Fragment over two years. Litter sampling was carried out in 12 permanent plots with dimensions of 20 m x 50 m. Litter dry mass and nutrient concentration were determined. The average annual accumulation of litter was 5269 kg ha-1. There was no statistically significant difference in the amount of litter between seasons. There was a statistically significant difference in the contents of N, P, K Ca and Mg between the different seasons. Nutrient stocks were 123.3, 92.8, 13.2, 11.8, 9.6, 3.0 kg ha-1 year-1 for Ca, N, Mg, S, K and P respectively. The total of nutrients in the accumulated litter was 253.7 kg ha-1 year-1. The litter renewal time was 281 days. The times required for 50% and 95% litter decomposition were 196 and 850 days. The average litter stocks, nutrients and decomposition are in line with other studies, indicating that the Atlantic Forest fragment seasonal semi-deciduous presents indicators of nutrient cycling. These results show that the ecosystem is sustainable from the point of view of cycling and nutrient release.
Keywords: ecosystem functions, nutrient cycling, secondary succession.
Abstract Litter dynamics is one of the fundamental processes for the growth and maintenance of native forest fragments, being considered the main pathway for nutrient cycling in forests. Studies on ...litter production and nutrient content therefore provide insights that provide a better understanding of nutrient dynamics. This study identifies the seasonality and meteorological conditions that influence the quantity and return of nutrients through litter in an Atlantic Forest fragment. Litter sampling was carried out monthly in 12 permanent plots. Each plot contained 5 littertraps distributed systematically. The litter was classified, and the dry mass and nutrients in the leaves and branches and miscellaneous fractions was quantified. Seasonal behavior was observed, with the highest depositions in the winter season. The average annual production was 6.78 Mg ha-1, with 64.9% being composed of leaves. The mean annual nutrient intake was 135.1, 115.7, 39.7, 23.5, 17.6 and 4.6 kg ha-1 for Ca, N, K, Mg, S and P, respectively. The meteorological variable precipitation influenced the deposition pattern. The increase in nutrient-use efficiency in the second year compared to the first indicates that plants strategically may be re-translocating relative amounts of their nutrients under water stress conditions.
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