Introduction: Cervical cancer screening is an important tool in public health. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) has been performed at the studied hospital for 7 years. The present study compares the performance of 2 LBC techniques with conventional cytology. Objective: Our objective is to verify the sensitivity for the detection of neoplastic and preneoplastic epithelial atypia, as well as the positive predictive value of the 3 methodologies. Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 24,529 cases and evaluated the conventional cytology, ThinPrep®, and BD SurePath® performance categorizing the results according to the Bethesda system. We also compared the level of unsatisfactory samples, the presence of elements from the squamocolumnar junction, and the detection of pathogenic microorganisms. Results: ThinPrep® (1.43%) showed superior sensitivity over BD SurePath® (0.91%) and conventional cytology (0.71%) in terms of the detection of high-grade lesions; however, in terms of squamous atypia as a whole (ASC-US+), BD SurePath® (6.44%) proved to be more sensitive than conventional cytology (5.28%) and ThinPrep® (3.73%). Conclusions: The results show the advantage of implementing LBC in routine screening for cervical lesions. In this study, BD SurePath® achieved the overall best performance considering the studied variables.

Galls are anomalies in plant development of parasitic origin that affect the cellular differentiation or growth and represent a remarkable plant-parasite interaction. Byrsonima sericea DC. (Malpighiaceae) is a super host of several different types of gall in both vegetative and reproductive organs. The existence of galls in reproductive organs and their effects on the host plant are seldom described in the literature. In this paper, we present a novel study of galls in plants of the Neotropical region: the 'witches' broom' galls developed in floral structures of B. sericea. The unaffected inflorescences are characterised by a single indeterminate main axis with spirally arranged flower buds. The flower buds developed five unaffected brownish hairy sepals and five pairs of elliptical yellow elaiophores, five yellow fringed petals, 10 stamens and a pistil with superior tricarpellar and trilocular ovary. The affected inflorescences showed changes in architecture, with branches arising from the main axis and flower buds. The flower buds exhibited several morphological and anatomical changes. The sepals, petals and carpels converted into leaf-like structures after differentiation. Stamens exhibited degeneration of the sporogenous tissue and structures containing hyphae and spores. The gynoecium did not develop, forming a central meristematic region, from which emerges the new inflorescence. In this work, we discuss the several changes in development of reproductive structures caused by witches' broom galls and their effects on reproductive success of the host plants.

Background: Periodontitis constitutes a group of infectious diseases, associated with local and systemic etiological factors. Among these factors, the bacterial plaque has been considered the main causal factor. Biotherapies are homeopathic medicines prepared from biological products, such as bacteria and virsuses, and can be used to treat and to prevent infectious diseases [1].Aims: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the biotherapy as adjuvant in the treatment of chronic periodontal disease.Methodology: After the Ethics Committee approval, nine patients of both genders and with age ranging from 35 to 70 years old, diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were selected by dentistry professionals from the Periodontal Clinic of the Veiga de Almeida University (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). They were divided in three groups, with 3 patients each: Group 1-treated with biotherapy poll (BP); Group 2-treated with auto-isotherapy: Group 3 -treated with placebo (ethanol 30% v/v). Each test solution was used twice a day, in the posology of 6 drops/dose, for 90 days. Before the treatment, the dentists collected two samples (baseline) from the gingival fluid, with a sterile paper, with higher levels of Bleeding on Probing (BOP>5 mm) and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL>3 mm). These materials were transferred to eppendorf tubes containing microbiological medium for 15 days, and after the microbial growth, they were used as start point to the biotherapy compounding. All the solutions were prepared in 30 dH, using ethanol 30% (v/v) as vehicle, at Homeopathic Pharmacy (Faculdade de Farma? cia, UFRJ), following the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopea [2]. After the samples preparation, all patients were submitted a clinical evaluation and received the specific solutions. By the end of treatment scheme, the patients returned and were submitted a new clinical evaluation, as well as to the sample collection, following the same parameters used in the initial phase (BOP>5mm; CAL>3mm). Results and Discussion:The results from baseline (time zero) and after treatment (90-day) were analyzed by ANOVA followed by the Duncan test. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Group 1 presented the best clinical results and the best reduction in the microbiological index, with significance level (p<0.05). Group 2 had a significant improvement in clinical evaluation (p<0.05), however, without significance in the microbiological index, when compared to Group 1.