Anabolic hormones, particularly testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), serve a range of applications with distinct goals, benefits, and risks. This article aims to clarify four primary scenarios in which these hormones are used, to aid in reducing misunderstandings and promoting more evidence-based discussions. The first scenario, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), is well-documented as a treatment for hypogonadism, offering improvements in body composition, metabolic health, and cardiovascular outcomes with proper supervision. The second scenario involves therapeutic use of AAS in cases of significant catabolism, muscle loss, or other clinical conditions requiring anabolic support. Here, controlled studies underscore the potential of AAS to improve muscle mass, bone density, and physical function, though clinical practice underutilizes these therapies. A third, more debated scenario covers the controlled use of supraphysiological doses of testosterone and AAS for performance and aesthetics. Research, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), has shown measurable benefits in body composition and physical strength with minimal adverse effects when appropriately monitored. However, such uses remain controversial and are not widely endorsed by medical organizations due to ethical and safety concerns. The final scenario contrasts sharply with the others, detailing the risks associated with unregulated AAS abuse. This includes prolonged use, high dosages, poor-quality products from the underground market, and polypharmacy, which collectively heighten the risk of severe health consequences. This chaotic pattern of abuse complicates the assessment of AAS’s specific impact on health due to numerous confounding factors. A clearer distinction between these scenarios could enhance academic and clinical discourse, leading to more precise recommendations. By acknowledging the varied contexts in which AAS and testosterone are used, healthcare providers and researchers may make better-informed decisions, advancing safer practices and more effective guidelines.
Aims: To investigate the effects of a photobiomodulation protocol in the treatment of long COVID-19 xerostomia Study Design: This is a single-center, randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot clinical trial. Methodology: 10 patients with long COVID-19 xerostomia are randomized into two groups. The participants receive a standard xerostomia treatment and also a low-intensity photobiomodulation therapy or placebo photobiomodulation therapy on the cutaneous topography of the salivary glands (a RED LED cluster, 2 J/cm2, 108 J per session, twice a week for six weeks). The outcomes measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), Xerostomia Inventory (XI) Scale, Brazilian version of SF-36 Quality of Life Scale, Brazilian Version of Functional Independence Measure (FIM), sialometry and salivary pH before and after the therapeutic period of six weeks of intervention. Results: there were no significant differences between the photobiomodulation and placebo groups in the baseline or post-intervention moments for evaluated outcomes. In the individual analysis of the OHIP-14 and XI items, a difference was observed in the values of the PBM group comparing the pre-intervention baseline moment with the post-intervention PBM moment, not founded in the placebo group. No adverse effects are reported. Conclusion: This PBM protocol was not superior to placebo in treating long COVID xerostomia for the evaluated outcomes. This study has limitations such as the small sample size and unblinding issues, which may have leading to a lack of significant results for primary outcomes in both the PBM and placebo groups. PBM irradiation of the salivary glands could be studied as a future approach to improving salivary production in patients with xerostomia due to long COVID.
Objective: This study aimed to compare the shear bond strength of brackets bonded to tooth enamel with immediate and late light curing of different orthodontic resins. Materials and Methods: 108 bovine teeth were used, divided into three groups of 36, according to the type of resin used for bonding (G1 Transbond XT, G2 Orthocem, G3 Natural Ortho) and each group was subdivided into three subgroups of 12, with immediate light curing (T0), delay of 5 minutes (T5), and delay of 10 minutes (T10). The mandibular incisor brackets were bonded to the teeth and, after 24 hours, subjected to the shear test in a universal testing machine with a 500N load cell and a constant speed of 1mm/min. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: There was a significant difference between the types of resin and time for light curing. The Transbond XT resin showed significantly higher shear strength at times T5 and T10. Regarding the comparison between the light-curing times, there was a significant difference for the Transbond XT resin and all resins together, with the adhesion strength at T10 being significantly higher than at T0. Conclusion: The delay in photopolymerization tends to increase the adhesion strength of orthodontic resins, as there was a significant difference between immediate and 10-minute delayed photopolymerization when all resins were compared together.
Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of patients with tuberculosis (TB) in the municipality of Belém from 2019 to 2023 and identify the main risk factors that contribute to the prevalence of TB in affected individuals. Methods: This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive and quantitative study, using secondary data freely available on the TABNET/DATASUS platform, for the municipality of Belém, covering various variables. Results: The results show a higher prevalence among males (63.31%), adults (69.38%), those with incomplete primary education (29.22%) and those of brown race (72.22%). In addition, the pulmonary form of the disease (83.75%) and the type of entry as a new case (80.67%) were the most prevalent. Conclusions: It was concluded that the prevalence of tuberculosis in Belém is associated with specific sociodemographic characteristics, such as gender, age group, educational level and race. The pulmonary form of the disease and the predominance of new cases are the main aspects observed in the study and highlight the need to intensify Tuberculosis prevention and control strategies.
Background: Individuals with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) have been found to experience renal impairment, which can range from mild to severe. This trial aimed to assess renal dysfunction in adult individuals with TDT using urinary retinol binding protein (RΒP). Methods: Fifty adults with a history of TDT diagnosed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as children (Group I) and fifty healthy adults serving as controls (Group II) participated in the research. Results: The TDT (Group I) group had significantly higher levels of urinary retinol binding protein/creatinine ratio (RBP/Cr), urinary calcium/creatinine ratio (Ca/Cr), urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio (UA/Cr), and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) compared to the control (Group II) group. The urinary RBP/Cr ratio was positively correlated with the urinary Ca/Cr ratio, the urinary UA/Cr ratio, and ACR, and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The urinary RBP/Cr ratio significantly predicted the urinary Ca/Cr ratio and urinary UA/Cr ratio, with odds ratios of 1.544 and 4.590, respectively, P <0.05. Conclusions: One way to identify tubular dysfunction in TDT patients at an early stage is to evaluate the urinary RBP/Cr ratio.
