Ingested fluoride (F) is absorbed mainly in the small intestine, which is controlled by the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). Although important intestinal symptomatology has been described after excessive F exposure, there have been no studies reporting the effects of F on the ENS. In this study, the effects of chronic F exposure were evaluated on the duodenums of rats through proteomic and morphological analyses. Concentrations of 0, 10, or 50 ppm of F were applied to the drinking water for 30 days. Immunofluorescence techniques were performed in the myenteric plexus of the duodenum to detect HuC/D, neuronal nitric oxide (nNOS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), and substance P (SP). The 50 ppm F group presented a significant decrease in the density of nNOS-IR neurons. Significant morphological alterations were also observed in HUC/D-IR and nNOS-IR neurons; VIP-IR, CGRP-IR, and SP-IR varicosities for both groups (10 and 50 ppm F). Proteomic analysis of the duodenum demonstrated alterations in the expression of several proteins, especially those related to important biological processes, such as protein polymerization, which helps to explain the downregulation of many proteins upon exposure to 50 ppm of F.

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RESUMO Objetivo Investigar a influência do intervalo interestímulos no desempenho de crianças com deficiência auditiva de grau moderado e severo, adaptadas com aparelhos de amplificação sonora individuais (AASI), no teste PINT Brasil. Método Participaram do estudo 10 crianças com audição normal (GC) e 20 crianças com deficiência auditiva (GE). O teste PINT Brasil foi aplicado nas situações SEM pausa e COM pausa para os dois grupos. Resultados Na comparação entre as situações SEM pausa e COM pausa, houve diferença significativa apenas para o GE, indicando a SEM pausa com melhor desempenho. Nesta última condição, as oscilações ruidosas foram menores e não houve o acionamento repetido do redutor de ruído, o que possibilita a perda de informações da mensagem. Conclusão Conclui-se que o intervalo interestímulos no teste de percepção da fala PINT Brasil influenciou o desempenho das crianças com deficiência auditiva de grau moderado e severo, adaptadas com AASI. O melhor resultado foi encontrado na situação SEM PAUSA.

Phrases in Noise Test (PINT) Brazil: interpretation of normative dataThe scarcity of speech perception in noise' tests aimed at child population limits the evaluation of the performance of children in acoustically unfavorable situations, especially children with hearing-impairment (HI). The Phrases in Noise Test (PINT) Brazil can contribute to the evaluation of speech perception in noise in the national scenario. Thus, it is necessary to estimate the reference values for normality.This study aimed to: (1) establish the reference values for the PINT Brazil; (2) to investigate the effects of age for speech perception on silence and noise and (3) the benefits of spatial separation of speech and noise sources on speech perception performance in normal hearing children; (4) to verify if the variables of gender, school, socioeconomic level and moment of evaluation influence the children's performance for the test; and (5) make available to audiologists, through the website, the PINT Brazil for the evaluation and monitoring of oralized hearing impaired children. Observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative research. The sample consisted of 50 children, aged four years to 11 years and five months, divided into four subgroups, and 16 young adults, aged 20 years and 10 months to 28 years and six months. All subjects underwent 1) audiological evaluation; 2) assessment of speech perception in noise using the PINT Brazil, performed in silence, back noise (BN) and front noise (FN), and HINT Brazil only with adults, in BN and FN situations. Were the children and their families also submitted to the socioeconomic evaluation. All results were statistically analyzed by parametric or nonparametric tests, according to the data distribution.Younger children, aged four to five years old, had greater difficulty in speech perception in noise for BN and FN positions. The FN situation was more challenging for children, corroborating the advantages of spatial separation of speech and noise for evaluation in this population. In the case of adults, they performed worse compared to older children. Further investigations are suggested for the results found in speech perception in noise' tests in adults, since they were not the target population of the study. The variables gender, school, family socioeconomic level and moment of the evaluation did not show statistically significant difference and, therefore, did not influence the children's performance for the evaluation.Were established the reference values for the PINT Brazil with children from four to 11 years and five months of age. For comparison with the scores obtained in normal hearing children, should be considered the reference values according to the hearing age of children with HI. It is expected that, with the availability of the PINT Brazil Portal, access to the free and universal free trial will be facilitated, contributing to the clinical practice of Audiology in Brazil.