Effect of Prophylactic Low Level Laser Therapy on Oral Mucositis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Objective was to determine whether prophylactic low level laser therapy (LLLT) reduces the risk of severe mucositis as compared to placebo or no therapy.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched until February 2014 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing prophylactic LLLT with placebo or no therapy in patients with cancer or undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). All analyses used random effects models.

Results

Eighteen RCTs (1144 patients) were included. Prophylactic LLLT reduced the overall risk of severe mucositis (risk ratio (RR) 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20 to 0.67; P = 0.001). LLLT also reduced the following outcomes when compared to placebo/no therapy: severe mucositis at the time of anticipated maximal mucositis (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.59), overall mean grade of mucositis (standardized mean difference −1.49, 95% CI −2.02 to −0.95), duration of severe mucositis (weighted mean difference −5.32, 95% CI −9.45 to −1.19) and incidence of severe pain (RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.37).

Conclusion

Prophylactic LLLT reduced severe mucositis and pain in patients with cancer and HSCT recipients. Future research should identify the optimal characteristics of LLLT and determine feasibility in the clinical setting.     

H(2)O(2) generation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae respiratory pet mutants: effect of cytochrome c

Impaired electron transport chain function has been related to increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Here we analyzed different pet mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in order to determine the relative contribution of respiratory chain components in ROS generation and removal. We found that the maintenance of respiration strongly prevented mitochondrial H(2)O(2) release and increased cellular H(2)O(2) removal. Among all respiratory-deficient strains analyzed, cells lacking cytochrome c (cyc3 point mutants) presented the highest level of H(2)O(2) synthesis, indicating that the absence of functional cytochrome c in mitochondria leads to oxidative stress. This finding was supported by the presence of high levels of catalase and peroxidase activity despite the lack of respiration. Furthermore, the addition of exogenous cytochrome c to isolated yeast mitoplasts significantly reduced H(2)O(2) detection in a manner enhanced by cytochrome c reduction and the presence of a functional respiratory chain. Together, our results indicate that the maintenance of electron transport by cytochrome c prevents ROS generation by the respiratory chain.     

The promoter of filamentation (POF1) protein from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> is an ATPase involved in the protein quality control process

Background

The gene YCL047C, which has been renamed promoter of filamentation gene (POF1), has recently been described as a cell component involved in yeast filamentous growth. The objective of this work is to understand the molecular and biological function of this gene.

Results

Here, we report that the protein encoded by the POF1 gene, Pof1p, is an ATPase that may be part of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein quality control pathway. According to the results, Δpof1 cells showed increased sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, heat shock and protein unfolding agents, such as dithiothreitol and tunicamycin. Besides, the overexpression of POF1 suppressed the sensitivity of Δpct1, a strain that lacks a gene that encodes a phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase, to heat shock. In vitro analysis showed, however, that the purified Pof1p enzyme had no cytidylyltransferase activity but does have ATPase activity, with catalytic efficiency comparable to other ATPases involved in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of proteins (ERAD). Supporting these findings, co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed a physical interaction between Pof1p and Ubc7p (an ubiquitin conjugating enzyme) in vivo.

Conclusions

Taken together, the results strongly suggest that the biological function of Pof1p is related to the regulation of protein degradation.

     

A new species of Curimatopsis Steindachner (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the Rio Nhamundá, Amazon basin

A new species of Curimatopsis is described from the Rio Nhamundá, Amazon basin in northern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from congeners by the presence of a distinctive concentration of dark pigmentation over the entire lower lobe of the caudal fin, reticulate pattern of body pigmentation, lower jaw longer than and overlapping the anterior portion of the upper jaw, crescent‐shaped posterior nostril and by morphometric and meristic data. Comments on the phylogenetic position of the new species within Curimatopsis are also provided.     

An integrative ichnological and taphonomic approach in a transgressive–regressive cycle: a case study from Devonian of Paraná Basin,Brazil

The palaeoenvironmental context of a section of the Devonian Ponta Grossa Formation (Paraná Basin) was examined using an integrated ichnological and taphonomic approach. Three taphofacies (T‐A, T‐B and T‐C) and six ichnofabrics are recognized. T‐A is mainly composed of disarticulated organisms and is associated with Chondrites, Planolites‐Palaeophycus, Asterosoma‐Zoophycos and Asterosoma‐Chondrites ichnofabrics, representing the Cruziana ichnofacies. The upward increase in diversity and abundance of body fossils for Taphofacies A can be explained by changes in sedimentation rates during aggradational to progradational phases. T‐B beds, represented by articulated brachiopods, occur in distal tempestites associated with the Skolithos ichnofabric (Skolithos ichnofacies) and represent higher hydrodynamic energy and oxygenation than in T‐A. Taphofacies C, characterized by a mix of articulated and disarticulated organisms, generally lacks bioturbation except for Chondrites ichnofabrics occurring only at the bed tops, suggesting low substrate oxygenation and low‐energy conditions. T‐C indicates the maximum transgression in the T‐R cycle, characterizing it as a good indicator of maximum flooding surfaces. The composite Asterosoma‐Teichichnus ichnofabric (bioturbation degree 5) occurs in layers without body fossils and represents suites of the Cruziana ichnofacies. This likely reflects intense intrastratal activity at all substrate levels, which facilitated the oxygenation of the substrate disallowing the preservation of organism remains. This observation indicates that the bioturbation is an important factor controlling the loss of taphonomic information within the TAZ, mainly when associated with detritus‐feeding trace fossils.     

Intertidal zonation of benthic macrofauna in a subtropical salt marsh and nearby unvegetated flat (SE, Brazil)

Intertidal zonation and seasonal variability of benthic macrofaunawere analysed along a Spartina alterniflora (Loisel) marshand nearby unvegetated flat in a subtropical bay. Fivereplicate samples were taken along six tidal levels from the uppermarsh, limited by mangroves, to the lower unvegetated flat.Sediment composition, live and dead above- and below-ground biomassof S. alterniflora and detritus biomass from the vegetatedand unvegetated areas were determined to evaluate whethervariations on plant structure and detritus along the 25 m transectaffect the dynamics of benthic invertebrates. Composition andabundance of invertebrates varied with the elevation and plantcover clearly plays a key role on the distribution patterns of themacrofauna. Below-ground and dead above-ground biomass presentedthe highest correlation with the densities of the invertebrates.Vertical distribution of benthic fauna, however, appears not to beaffected by bellow-ground fraction. Higher detritus biomass in theupper unvegetated flat coincided with higher densities ofdetritivorous or omnivorous species in this level. An eruptivealgal growth during summer affected positively most of the dominantspecies.     

Canola Oil in Lactating Dairy Cow Diets Reduces Milk Saturated Fatty Acids and Improves Its Omega-3 and Oleic Fatty Acid Content

To produce milk that is healthier for human consumption, the present study evaluated the effect of including canola oil in the diet of dairy cows on milk production and composition as well as the nutritional quality of this milk fat. Eighteen Holstein cows with an average daily milk yield of 22 (± 4) kg/d in the middle stage of lactation were used. The cows were distributed in 6 contemporary 3x3 Latin squares consisting of 3 periods and 3 treatments: control diet (without oil), 3% inclusion of canola oil in the diet and 6% inclusion of canola oil in the diet (dry matter basis). The inclusion of 6% canola oil in the diet of lactating cows linearly reduced the milk yield by 2.51 kg/d, short-chain fatty acids (FA) by 41.42%, medium chain FA by 27.32%, saturated FA by 20.24%, saturated/unsaturated FA ratio by 39.20%, omega-6/omega-3 ratio by 39.45%, and atherogenicity index by 48.36% compared with the control treatment. Moreover, with the 6% inclusion of canola oil in the diet of cows, there was an increase in the concentration of long chain FA by 45.91%, unsaturated FA by 34.08%, monounsaturated FA by 40.37%, polyunsaturated FA by 17.88%, milk concentration of omega-3 by 115%, rumenic acid (CLA) by 16.50%, oleic acid by 44.87% and h/H milk index by 94.44% compared with the control treatment. Thus, the inclusion of canola oil in the diet of lactating dairy cows makes the milk fatty acid profile nutritionally healthier for the human diet; however, the lactating performance of dairy cows is reduce.     

Diabetes Is Associated with Worse Clinical Presentation in Tuberculosis Patients from Brazil: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

The rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) worldwide, especially in developing countries, and the persistence of tuberculosis (TB) as a major public health issue in these same regions, emphasize the importance of investigating this association. Here, we compared the clinical profile and disease outcomes of TB patients with or without coincident DM in a TB reference center in Brazil.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of a TB patient cohort (treatment naïve) of 408 individuals recruited at a TB primary care center in Brazil between 2004 and 2010. Data on diagnosis of TB and DM were used to define the groups. The study groups were compared with regard to TB disease presentation at diagnosis as well as to clinical outcomes such as cure and mortality rates upon anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) initiation. A composite score utilizing clinical, radiological and microbiological parameters was used to compare TB severity between the groups.

Results

DM patients were older than non-diabetic TB patients. In addition, diabetic individuals more frequently presented with cough, night sweats, hemoptysis and malaise than those without DM. The overall pattern of lung lesions assessed by chest radiographic examination was similar between the groups. Compared to non-diabetic patients, those with TB-diabetes exhibited positive acid-fast bacilli in sputum samples more frequently at diagnosis and at 30 days after ATT initiation. Notably, higher values of the TB severity score were significantly associated with TB-diabetes comorbidity after adjustment for confounding factors. Moreover, during ATT, diabetic patients required more frequent transfers to TB reference hospitals for complex clinical management. Nevertheless, overall mortality and cure rates were indistinguishable between the study groups.

Conclusions

These findings reinforce the idea that diabetes negatively impacts pulmonary TB severity. Our study argues for the systematic screening for DM in TB reference centers in endemic areas.