Improved contact load-bearing capacity of ultra-fine grained titanium : Multilayering and grading

The contact load-bearing response and surface damage resistance of multilayered hierarchical structured (MHSed) titanium were determined and compared to monolithic nanostructured titanium. The MHS structure was formed by combining cryorolling with a subsequent Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT) producing a surface structure consisted of an outer amorphous layer containing nanocrystals, an inner nanostructured layer and finally an ultra-fine grained core. The combination of a hard outer layer, a gradual transition layer and a compliant core results in reduced indentation depth, but a deeper and more diffuse sub-surface plastic deformation zone, compared to the monolithic nanostructured Ti. The redistribution of surface loading between the successive layers in the MHS Ti resulted in the suppression of cracking, whereas the monolithic nanograined (NG) Ti exhibited sub-surface cracks at the boundary of the plastic strain field. Finite element models with discrete layers and mechanically graded layersrepresenting the MHS system confirmed the absence of cracking and revealed a 38% decrease in shear stress in the sub-surface plastic strain field, compared to the monolithic NG Ti. Further, the mechanical gradation achieves a more gradual stress distribution which mitigates the interface failure and increases the interfacial toughness, thus providing strong resistance to loading damage. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Comparison between live and photographed slit lamp grading of corneal staining

To compare live and photographic (still) grades of corneal staining of the same eyes and the repeatability of grading between two investigators.

Estudo comparativo da expressão imuno-histoquímica do ki-67 em carcinoma epidermóide de língua em pacientes jovens e idosos

The squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of epithelial origin in oral cavity and present high capacity to invade adjacent structures. Traditionally, SCC has a predominance of 50 years male patients with long-time use of tobacco and alcohol, and the tongue is the most affected anatomic site. At present, there is an increasing incidence of SCC in patients below 40 years of age, who has been exposed or not to risk factors, mainly for tongue lesions. This study aims to analyze cell proliferation index using Ki-67 antigen in SCC of the tongue for two groups of different age range: until 40 years and older than 50 years. The first group was composed by 16 patients and the second one was composed by 20 patients. Clinicopathological features of the cases were also assessed. There was a male predominance in both groups. Tobacco and alcohol habits were common for patients until 40 years (72,2%), as well as for patients older than 50 years (52,9%). The first group had statistical association with the presence of regional metastases (p = 0,036) and with the most advanced stages of the disease (p = 0,012). Considering the histological malignancy grading, there was higher incidence (56,2%) of high malignancy grade tumors in the group of patients until 40 years old, but no statistical difference has found between groups and histologic malignancy grading. Regarding the immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67, there was no statistically significant difference between the antibody expression of the groups, as well as between other clinical and histopathological parameters. This study identified no significant difference regarding cell proliferation between the analyzed groups

Expressão imuno-histoquimica da cicloxigenase-2 e p53 em cancinoma epidermóide oral

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm in the oral cavity, accounting for more than 90% of all malignancies in this location. Cyclooxygenases (COX s) are key enzymes on arachidonic acid metabolism and prostaglandin synthesis, being expressed basically in two forms: the constitutive (COX-1) and the inducible (COX-2). Increased levels on the expression of COX-2 have been implicated in the pathogenesis tumor progression of various forms of human cancer, including oral squamous cell carcinoma, some of what suggesting a possible interaction between COX-2 and the protein expressed by the tumor suppressor gene p53, mutated in more than 50% of all human cancers. The mean of the present research consisted in analyze the correlation between the expression of COX-2 and p53, at the protein level, as well as evaluate the difference on the expression of these two proteins with the histological grading of malignancy. 34 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma were selected and graded according to the histological grading system proposed by Bryne (1998) and the labeling indexes (LI s) for COX-2 and p53 evaluated using immunohistochemistry method. The results revealed that COX-2 was expressed in increased levels in most of the specimens, although there was no statistic significant correlation between LI s from COX-2 and p53 (p>0.05), and there were no statistical differences on the expression of these proteins between tumors of high and low grade of malignancy (p>0.05). Interestingly, the expression of COX-2 and p53 was detected in fragments of dysplastic oral epithelium adjacent to tumor areas, on basal and suprabasal layers. The absence of statistical correlation between the expression of COX-2 and p53 proteins do not rule ot the existence of a relation between them, were it may reflect the diversity of regulatory pathways between both, different direct and indirect inhibitory effects of COX-2 over p53, as well as the wide range of activation macheenisms for COX-2 and mutational status of the p53 gene Another conclusion point that the increased expression of COX-2 observed in oral squamous cell carcinomas suggest a role for this protein in the processes of pathogenesis and tumoral evolution of this malignant neoplasm

Estudo clínico-patológico do carcinoma epidermóide de língua e imunoistoquímico das proteínas BMP-2, BMPR-IA, BMPR-II e endoglina

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are cytokines involved in proliferation and angiogenesis of many kind of human cancer. The present study analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of BMP-2, BMPR-II, BMPR-IA and endoglin (CD105) and their relationship with the biological behavior and local angiogenesis in tongue oral squamous cells carcinoma (SCC). The sample consisted of 25 cases of tongue SCC without metastasis, 25 tongue SCC with metastasis and 25 cases of Inflamatory Fibrous Hyperplasia (IFH).The histological grade of malignancy proposed by Bryne (1998), adapted by Miranda (2002) was used to classify all tongue SCC cases. Score 0 was attributed to absent-weak immunoexpression and score 1 for strong immunostaning and pattern of distribution was focal or diffuse. Microvessel counts (MVC) was established for CD105. Most of the patients with tongue SCC was male. The principal age in tongue SCC without metastasis was over 65 years and in tongue SCC with metastasis was between 45-65 years. There were predominance of stage II in TNM and in the specimens with high-grade, independent of studied group. For BMP-2, 56% of tongue SCC without metastasis and 72% tongue SCC with metastasis exhibited score 1 while the IFH showed secore 0 in 72% of the cases, with statistical association (p=0,007). Considering the BMPR-II, 52% of tongue SCC without metastasis exhibited score 0; 56% tongue SCC with metastasis and 60% IFH showed score 1. The majority cases of BMPR-IA demonstrated score 1 and 100% of CD105 exhibited strong immunoexpression in tongue SCC. Regarding the pattern distribution, it was noted a tendency to diffuse pattern for the proteins in all groups. The means of MVC were similar in tongue SCC without metastasis (32,91) and in tongue SCC with metastasis (32,05), however existed statistical difference with IFH (p<0,001). There was statistical association of BMP-2 expression with BMPR-II (p=0,008), BMPR-IA (p=0,006) and CD105 (p=0,046). An association between TNM and BMP-2 immunoexpression and their receptors was not detected, nevertheless this association was found with MVC (p=0,047) whose averages were higher for the stages II (35,97) e IV (35,69). No association between histological grading and these proteins was observed. This study suggests that the superexpression of BMP-2 signaling pathways acts on cell proliferation in tongue SCC and can be implicated with more invasive potential. Additionaly, the CD105 is a potent biological marker of neovascularization in this neoplasm and their association with BMP-2 and BMPR-IA receptor, showed that this type of cancer in BMP-2 is presented as pro-angiogenic in the metastatic process

Avaliação imuno-histoquímica das galectinas-1, -3, -4 e -7 em carcinoma epidermóide de língua.

Several studies are carried out with aim to establish parameters to determine biologic behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma, in order this neoplasm presents high rates of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of present research was to performe a clinic, morphologic and immunohistochemical analysis by the expression of galectins 1, 3, 4 and 7 in 65 cases of tongue squamous cell carcinoma, correlating this expression with clinics (outcome of the disease, metastasis and clinical staging) and morphologic parameters (malignancy histologic gradation system). The clinical and morphologic parameters analysed and expression of galectins 1, 3, 4 and 7 were submitted to statistical analysis (Qui2 test), observing that can be utilized as indicators of the biological behavior of the tongue squamous cell carcinoma. The galectin 1 was expressed in 87,7% of cases studied and it exhibit statistically significant correlation with metastasis (p=0,033) and clinical staging (p=0,016), it is located mostly in the citoplasm of the stomal cells. The immunoexpression of galectin 3 in 87,7% of cases was correlated with the presence of metastasis (p=0,033) and malignancy histological gradation system (p=0,031), observed, mostly of cases, in tongue squamous cell carcinoma of malignancy high grading. The galectin 4 showed no statistical significance to any of the parameters evaluated. The expression of galectin 7 in 73,8% of cases showed statistically significant correlation with the malignancy histologic grading (p=0,005), which is marking exclusively found in neoplastic epithelial cells, in the mostly of cases, it is found in cytoplasm and membrane (50%). The expressive immunopositivy of the galectins 1, 3 and 7, observed in this research, leads us to suggest a broad participation of these proteins in oral carcinogenesis, and its possible use as markers of biological behavior and tumor progression in cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

The higher grading structure of the WKI hierarchy and the two-component short pulse equation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Grading and staging chronic hepatitis C and its relation to genotypes and epidemiological factors in brazilian blood donors

Progression of chronic hepatitis C is known to be associated with some factors, but influence of HCV genotypes is still controversial. Association between HCV genotypes and other risk factors was examined to determine which factors are associated with progression of infection. One hundred consecutive anti-HCV positive volunteer blood donors were evaluated for several risk factors, examined for HCV genotypes, and submitted to hepatic biopsy and biochemical exams.HCV genotyping were carried out in 89 patients and hepatic biopsy in 78. Transmission routes were found to be illicit intravenous drug use (26%), Gluconergan® use in a non-safe manner (48%) and blood transfusion (15%). HCV genotype was 1 in 45%, 3 in 40%, and it was not associated with the stage of fibrosis or with inflammatory activity. There was no significant association of factors related to infection, chronic alcohol use, or duration of illness, with progression of the lesion. There was a significant association of aminotransferase levels and the fibrosis stage. Univariate analysis showed that the age at contamination, patient's age, GT-gamma, and aminotransferase levels over three times the upper normal limits, were associated with fibrosis stages 2 to 4. Multivariate analysis detected age (odds ratio=1.19), and GT-gamma (odds ratio=2.02) as independent factors.

Solitary fibrous tumor with atypical histological features occurring in the palatine tonsil: an uncommon neoplasm in an uncommon site

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm that usually arises in the pleura. Although this tumor has been described in other sites, including the head and neck area, in the oropharynx it is extremely rare. We report the first case of a SFT arising from the palatine tonsil of a 62-year-old man. The tumor consisted of spindle-shaped cells distributed in a haphazard pattern and presented atypical histological features such as hypercellular areas and high mitotic count. Immunohistochemical studies showed strong positivity for CD34 and bcl-2, and weak positivity for desmin. Smooth muscle actin, S-100 protein and cytokeratines were negative. The patient was well without disease 1 year after surgery.

PRACTICAL LAND GRADING BASED ON LEAST SQUARES.

Practical methods for land grading design of a plane surface for rectangular and irregularly shaped fields based on a least squares analysis are presented. The least squares procedure leads to a system of three linear equations with three unknowns for determination of the best-fit plane. The equations can be solved by determinants (Cramer's rule) using a procedure capable of solution by many programmable calculators. The detailed computational process for determining the equation of the plane and a simple method to find the centroid location of an irregular field are also given. An illustrative example and design instructions are included to demonstrate the application of the design procedure.

Expression of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) in non-trophoblastic elements of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: possible relationship with the prognosis.

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is a neoplasm with variability in its clinical behavior. Although there are several studies correlating stage and ABO isoantigen expression with invasiveness, there is no single predictor factor to assess the potential invasiveness, especially in the low grade, non-invasive TCC. In the present study we evaluated the correlation of histological grade plus stage and the expression of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), in 100 cases of TCC, with the clinical behavior. These features were correlated with tumor progression in patients with at least two years of follow up. We observed more aggressiveness in G4 group (high grade and invasive) (93% had tumor progression) when compared to G1 group (low grade and superficial) (11% had tumor progression). However in 25.5% of the TCC cases (groups G2: low grade and invasive and G3: high grade and superficial) the clinical behavior was intermediate, showing some limitation in using grading and staging only, as a predictive factor. There was an expression of beta-hCG in 21.4% of the cases in up to 25% of the tumor cells without any trophoblastic morphology. These beta-hCG producing TCC had a strong correlation with aggressiveness: 39.1% and 12.8% of the TCC expressed beta-hCG with and without tumor progression, respectively.

Higher grading conformal affine Toda theory and (generalized) sine-Gordon/massive Thirring duality

Some properties of the higher grading integrable generalizations of the conformal affine Toda systems are studied. The fields associated to the non-zero grade generators are Dirac spinors. The effective action is written in terms of the Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten (WZNW) action associated to an affine Lie algebra, and an off-critical theory is obtained as the result of the spontaneous breakdown of the conformal symmetry. Moreover, the off-critical theory presents a remarkable equivalence between the Noether and topological currents of the model. Related to the off-critical model we define a real and local lagrangian provided some reality conditions are imposed on the fields of the model. This real action model is expected to describe the soliton sector of the original model, and turns out to be the master action from which we uncover the weak-strong phases described by (generalized) massive Thirring and sine-Gordon type models, respectively. The case of any (untwisted) affine Lie algebra furnished with the principal gradation is studied in some detail. The example of s^l(n) (n = 2, 3) is presented explicitly. © SISSA/ISAS 2003.

Single testicular metastasis mimicking primary testicular neoplasm: A rare manifestation of prostate cancer

The incidence of secondary testicular tumors ranges from 0.02 to 2.5% among autopsies in general. With the exception of leukemias and lymphomas, prostate cancer is the most common primary site. It is diagnosed in autopsies or incidentally, following therapeutic orchiectomies in more advanced stages of the disease. In the present report, we show a case of testicular metastasis derived from prostate neoplasm whose clinical presentation as a single metastasis was similar to a primary testicular neoplasm. The diagnosis was evidenced after orchiectomy by histological examination and immunohistochemical tests.