Chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC), an especially aggressive inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy caused by lifelong infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major cause of cardiomyopathy in Latin America. Although chronic myocarditis may play a major pathogenetic role, little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for its severity. The aim of this study is to study the genes and microRNAs expression in tissues and their connections in regards to the pathobiological processes. To do so, we integrated for the first time global microRNA and mRNA expression profiling from myocardial tissue of CCC patients employing pathways and network analyses. We observed an enrichment in biological processes and pathways associated with the immune response and metabolism. IFNγ, TNF and NFkB were the top upstream regulators. The intersections between differentially expressed microRNAs and differentially expressed target mRNAs showed an enrichment in biological processes such as Inflammation, inflammation, Th1/IFN-γ-inducible genes, fibrosis, hypertrophy, and mitochondrial/oxidative stress/antioxidant response. MicroRNAs also played a role in the regulation of gene expression involved in the key cardiomyopathy-related processes fibrosis, hypertrophy, myocarditis and arrhythmia. Significantly, a discrete number of differentially expressed microRNAs targeted a high number of differentially expressed mRNAs (>20) in multiple processes. Our results suggest that miRNAs orchestrate expression of multiple genes in the major pathophysiological processes in CCC heart tissue. This may have a bearing on pathogenesis, biomarkers and therapy.

Background. Genetic polymorphisms in certain cytokines and chemokines have been investigated to understand why some individuals display implant flaws despite having few risk factors at the time of implant. Purpose. To investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms in interleukin- (IL-) 10 [-1082 region (A/G)] and RANKL [-438 region (A/G)] with the failure of dental implants. Materials and Methods. This study included 90 partially edentulous male and female patients who were rehabilitated with a total of 245 Straumann dental implants. An implant was considered a failure if any of the following occurred: mobility, persistent subjective complaint, recurrent peri-implant infection with suppuration, continuous radiolucency around the implant, probing depth ≥ 5 mm, and bleeding on probing. Buccal mucosal cells were collected for analysis of RANKL438 and IL-10. Results. The implant success rate in this population was 34.4%. The mutant allele (G) in RANKL had an incidence of 52.3% and mutant allele (A) in IL-10 was observed in 37.8%. No statistically significant difference was detected between the failure of the implant and the genotypes and allelic frequencies. Conclusion. No association was detected between the genetic polymorphisms of RANKL (-438) and IL-10 (-1082) and the failure of dental implants in the population studied.

Cryopreservation aims to cease all biological functions of living tissues in a reversible and controlled manner, i.e., to permit the recovery of cells by maintaining a high degree of their viability and functional integrity. The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the influence of cryopreservation on undifferentiated mesenchymal cells derived from the periodontal ligament of human third molars. Mesenchymal cells were isolated from six healthy teeth and cultured in α-MEM medium supplemented with antibiotics and 15% FBS in a humid atmosphere with 5% CO(2) at 37°C. The cells isolated from each tooth were divided into two groups: group I (fresh, non-cryopreserved cells) was immediately cultured, and group II was submitted to cryopreservation for 30 days. The rates of cell adhesion and proliferation were analyzed in the two groups by counting the cells adhered to the wells at 24, 48 and 72 h after plating. The number of cells per well was obtained by counting viable cells in a hemocytometer using the Trypan blue exclusion method. Differences between groups at each time point were evaluated by the Wilcoxon test. The Friedman test was used to determine differences between time points and, if detected, the Wilcoxon test with Bonferroni correction was applied. The results showed no significant difference in the in vitro growth capacity of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells between the two groups. In conclusion, cryopreservation for 30 days had no influence on periodontal ligament mesenchymal cells.

RESUMO: Na odontologia, a fitoterapia já vem sendo utilizada com sucesso há vários anos. Tratase de um meio terapêutico que apresenta como vantagem sobre as medicações alopáticas o fato de apresentar reações adversas mínimas. A Uncaria tomentosa é uma planta indígena da floresta Amazônica e de outras áreas tropicais da América do Sul e Central. Tem aplicação no tratamento de diversas patologias, entre elas a candidose. Este trabalho avalia clínico e laboratorialmente a ação do gel da Uncaria tomentosa em pacientes portadores de candidose na cavidade oral. Foram selecionados 20 pacientes que apresentaram clínico e laboratorialmente infecção pelo Candida. Os mesmos foram divididos em 2 grupos. O grupo-teste (Uncaria tomentosa/Imuno-Max Gel), composto por 10 pacientes, foi orientado a utilizar o gel da Uncaria tomentosa, sobre as lesões na cavidade oral, 3x ao dia por um período de 14 dias. O grupo-controle (Miconazol/Daktarin Gel) utilizou a medicação da mesma forma prescrita para o grupo-teste. Após o período de tratamento, os pacientes retornaram para nova avaliação clínica e laboratorial. A Uncaria tomentosa mostrou ser um fitofármaco promissor na odontologia, apresentando vantagem sobre o miconazol de não ter provocado reações adversas nos pacientes, uma vez que, 40% dos pacientes do grupo-controle, apresentaram reações indesejáveis.Unitermos: Candidíase, Uncaria tomentosa, miconazol.ABSTRACT: "Clinical and laboratorial evaluation of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat´s Claw) gel on oral candidiasis". In dentistry, the phytotherapy is already being used successfully for some years now. It is about a promising therapeutical way in the pharmaceutical field, having as advantage on pharmacotherapy medications the fact to present minimum adverse reactions. The Uncaria tomentosa is an aboriginal plant of the Amazonian forest and other tropical areas of the South and Central America. It has application in the treatment of several pathologies, including candidiasis. This work evaluates, clinical and laboratorial, the action of the Uncaria tomentosa gel in the oral cavity candidiasis patients. Twenty patients which presented clinical and laboratorial signs of Candida infection were selected. They were divided in 2 groups. The test-group (Uncaria tomentosa/IMUNO-MAX Gel), with 10 patients, was told to use the Uncaria tomentosa gel, on the oral cavity injuries, 3 times a day for a period of 14 days. The control-group (Miconazol/ DAKTARIN Gel) used the prescribed medication in the same way of the test-group. After the treatment period, the patients returned for a new clinical and laboratorial evaluation. The Uncaria tomentosa showed to be a promising phytotherapeutical medication in dentistry, in the field of the anti-fungi treatment, presenting as advantage on the Miconazol not causing adverse reactions in the patients, once 40% of the control-group patients showed undesirable reactions.

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Bone marrow fat of small alveolar bone biopsy specimens can be quantified with sufficient spatial resolution using an ultra-high-field MRI scanner and a T1-weighted pulse sequence.

Narrow gap welding is a prevalent technique used to decrease the volume of molten metal and heat required to fill a joint. Consequently, deleterious effects such as distortion and residual stresses may be reduced. One of the fields where narrow groove welding is most employed is pipeline welding where misalignment, productivity and mechanical properties are critical to a successful final assemblage of pipes. This work reports the feasibility of joining pipe sections with 4 mm-wide narrow gaps machined from API X80 linepipe using cold wire gas metal arc welding. Joints were manufactured using the standard gas metal arc welding and the cold wire gas metal arc welding processes, where high speed imaging, and voltage and current monitoring were used to study the arc dynamic features. Standard metallographic procedures were used to study sidewall penetration, and the evolution of the heat affected zone during welding. It was found that cold wire injection stabilizes the arc wandering, decreasing sidewall penetration while almost doubling deposition. However, this also decreases penetration, and incomplete penetration was found in the cold wire specimens as a drawback. However, adjusting the groove geometry or changing the welding parameters would resolve this penetration issue.