Aim To determine new energy parameters in micro-CT to allow appropriate segmentation of dental cementum from the surrounding structures. Methods For this pilot study, 11 single-rooted premolar teeth of young subjects aged 12 to 21 were selected. The teeth were scanned using high-energy microtomography (SkyScan 1173, Bruker) with varying acquisition energies (60, 70, and 80 kV). Each tooth was scanned three times. The images were reconstructed and analyzed by calculating the volume (mm3) of dental cementum in the cervical, middle, and apical root thirds among the different scanned stacks. The mean cementum volume in the root thirds was obtained, and correlated with the patient’s age, using Pearson’s correlation. Results The mean age of the patients in the sample was 16,73 years. For the 60kV energy, the cementum volumes were 1.01 mm3, 1.00 mm3, and 0.58 mm3, for the cervical, middle, and apical thirds, respectively. For 70kV, it was 1.08 mm3, 1.20 mm3, and 0.71 mm3 for the respective thirds. And for 80kV,0.55 mm3, 0.91 mm3, and 0.67 mm3 for the respective thirds. Conclusion An acquisition energy of 70kV resulted in the best segmentation and reproducibility of the results. Micro-CT can be a useful tool to non-destructively evaluate the dental cementum. microCT micro CT structures study 1 singlerooted single rooted 2 selected highenergy high SkyScan 1173 Bruker 60, 60 (60 70 8 kV. kV . kV) times mm (mm3 cervical middle stacks obtained patient s Pearsons Pearson correlation 1673 16 73 16,7 years 101 01 1.0 100 00 058 0 58 0.5 respectively 108 08 120 20 1.2 071 71 0.7 80kV055 80kV 55 80kV,0.5 091 91 0.9 067 67 0.6 results MicroCT Micro nondestructively non destructively 117 6 (6 7 (mm 167 16, 10 1. 05 5 0. 07 80kV05 80kV,0. 09 9 06 ( 80kV0 80kV,0 80kV,

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the agreement of images in white light (WL), fluorescence (FL), and digital radiographs (DR), on the diagnosis and treatment decisions for occlusal caries lesions against a micro-CT gold standard. Material and Methods: Ten extracted third molars, with enamel and/or dentin caries (ICDAS 2-4), were included. Occlusal surface images were acquired with an intraoral camera (SoproLife®) in WL and FL modes. DR was obtained using an intraoral X-ray and a semi-direct digital system. A total of 780 images were needed, organized in a template, to be later examined by twenty-six dentists invited to compose the study. The Generalized Estimation Equations model was used to compare the proportions of the correct answers between the three methods and the gold standard. When significant, Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to identify differences (α=5%). Results: Most of the examiners were specialists (76.9%) with 14.5 years of experience. All diagnostic methods were similar and showed low agreement (DR 12.7%, WL 16.5%, and FL 16.5%) compared with gold standard caries diagnostic scores. Regarding treatment decisions, mean agreement for all diagnostic methods was higher (43.2%; p<0.001), and among all methods, WL (48.1%) and FL (51.2%) modes performed better than DR (30.4%, p<0.001). Conclusion: SoproLife® images could help clinicians to propose rational, minimally invasive treatments for occlusal caries lesions. Objective WL, , (WL) FL, (FL) DR, (DR) microCT micro CT Methods molars andor or ICDAS 24, 24 2 4 2-4) included SoproLife (SoproLife® Xray X ray semidirect semi direct system 78 needed template twentysix twenty six study significant posthoc post hoc α=5%. α5 α α=5% . 5 (α=5%) Results 76.9% 769 76 9 (76.9% 145 14 14. experience 127 12 7 12.7% 165 16 16.5% scores 43.2% 432 43 (43.2% p<0.001, p0001 p p<0.001 0 001 p<0.001) 48.1% 481 48 1 (48.1% 51.2% 512 51 (51.2% 30.4%, 304 30 (30.4% p<0.001. Conclusion rational (WL (FL 2-4 (SoproLife α=5 (α=5% 76.9 (76.9 12.7 16.5 43.2 (43.2 p000 p<0.00 00 48.1 (48.1 51.2 (51.2 30.4% 3 (30.4 2- α= (α=5 76. (76. 12. 16. 43. (43. p00 p<0.0 48. (48. 51. (51. 30.4 (30. (α= (76 (43 p0 p<0. (48 (51 30. (30 (α (7 (4 p<0 (5 (3 ( p<

ABSTRACT Considering the widespread popular use of Morus nigra and the amount of scientific information on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, the effectiveness of this phytotherapeutic compound in the parasitemia progression during the acute phase of Chagas disease and its role in the development of the inflammatory process as well as its effects on the oxidative damage in the chronic phase of infection were evaluated. Thus, 96 male Swiss mice were randomly divided into eight groups, four groups were uninfected controls, and four groups were intraperitoneally infected with 5.0 x 104 blood trypomastigotes forms of T. cruzi QM2 strain. Four batches composed of one uninfected and one infected group were respectively treated with 70% alcohol solution and 25 μL, 50 μL and 75 μL of the phytotherapeutic compound. Levels of antioxidant elements (TBARS, FRAP, GSH and Sulfhydryl groups) were measured in plasma samples. The phytotherapeutic compound’s antioxidant activity was measured by polyphenol and total flavonoid quantification, DPPH, NO, and FRAP method. Our results showed that the vehicle influenced some of the results that may have physiological relevance in Chagas disease. However, an important action of M. nigra tincture was observed in the progression of Chagas disease, since our results demonstrated a reduction in parasitemia of treated groups when compared to controls, especially in the group receiving 25 µL. However, in the chronic phase, the 50-µL dosage presented a better activity on some antioxidant defenses and minimized the tissue inflammatory process. Results indicated an important action of M. nigra tincture on the Chagas disease progression.

Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, which affects warm-blooded animals including humans. Its prevalence rates usually vary in different regions of the planet. Methods In this study, an analysis of the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among Brazilian students was proposed by means of IgG specific antibodies detection. The presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondiiantibodies by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was also evaluated in order to compare it with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to assess the use of 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride chromogens. Results The IFAT method showed a seroprevalence of 22.3%. These results were similar to those obtained by ELISA (24.1%). The seroprevalence was directly estimated from the IgG avidity, which showed that in a sample of 112 students, three of them had acute infection, an incidence of 1.6% in the studied population. Conclusion In this study, the use of different chromogenic substrates in immunoenzymatic ELISA assays did not display different sensitivity in the detection of T. gondii-reagent serum. The extrapolation of results to this population must be carefully considered, since the investigation was conducted on a reduced sample. However, it allows us to emphasize the importance of careful and well prepared studies to identify risk factors for toxoplasmosis, to adopt preventive measures and to offer guidance to at-risk populations about the disease.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of antigenic components recognized by serum IgG antibodies in Western blotting (WB) using a Strongyloides ratti larval extract for the diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis. In addition, the WB results were compared to the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) results. Serum samples of 180 individuals were analyzed (80 with strongyloidiasis, 60 with other intestinal parasitoses, and 40 healthy individuals). S. ratti was obtained from fecal culture of experimentally infected Rattus rattus. For IFAT, S. ratti larvae were used as antigen and S. ratti larval antigenic extracts were employed in WB and ELISA. Eleven S. ratti antigenic components were predominantly recognized by IgG antibodies in sera of patients with strongyloidiasis. There was a positive concordance for the three tests in 87.5% of the cases of strongyloidiasis. The negative concordance in the three tests was 94% and 97.5%, in patients with other intestinal parasitoses and healthy individuals, respectively. In cases of positive ELISA and negative IFAT results, diagnosis could be confirmed by WB. ELISA, IFAT, and WB using S. ratti antigens showed a high rate of sensitivity and specificity. In conclusion, WB using S. ratti larval extract was able to recognize 11 immunodominant antigenic components, showing to be a useful tool to define the diagnosis in cases of equivocal serology.