Carlosbarbosaite, ideally (UO2)(2)Nb2O6(OH)(2)center dot 2H(2)O, a new hydrated uranyl niobate mineral with tunnels from Jaguaracu, Minas Gerais, Brazil: description and crystal structure

Carlosbarbosaite, ideally (UO2)(2)Nb2O6(OH)(2)center dot 2H(2)O, is a new mineral which occurs as a late cavity filling in albite in the Jaguaracu pegmatite, Jaguaracu municipality, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The name honours Carlos do Prado Barbosa (1917-2003). Carlosbarbosaite forms long flattened lath-like crystals with a very simple orthorhombic morphology. The crystals are elongated along [001] and flattened on (100); they are up to 120 mu m long and 2-5 mu m thick. The colour is cream to pale yellow, the streak yellowish white and the lustre vitreous. The mineral is transparent (as individual crystals) to translucent (massive). It is not fluorescent under either long-wave or short-wave ultraviolet radiation. Carlosbarbosaite is biaxial(+) with alpha = 1.760(5), beta = 1.775(5), gamma = 1.795(5), 2V(meas) = 70(1)degrees, 2V(calc) = 83 degrees. The orientation is X parallel to a, Y parallel to b, Z parallel to c. Pleochroism is weak, in yellowish green shades, which are most intense in the Z direction. Two samples were analysed. For sample I, the composition is: UO3 54.52, CaO 2.07, Ce2O3 0.33, Nd2O3 0.49, Nb2O5 14.11, Ta2O5 15.25, TiO2 2.20, SiO2 2.14, Fe2O3 1.08, Al2O3 0.73, H2O (calc.) 11.49, total 104.41 wt.%; the empirical formula is (square 0.68Ca0.28Nd0.02Ce0.02)(Sigma=1.00)[U-1.44 square O-0.56(2.88)(H2O)(1.12)](Nb0.80Ta0.52Si0.27Ti0.21Al0.11Fe0.10)(Sigma=2.01) O-4.72(OH)(3.20)(H2O)(2.08). For sample 2, the composition is: UO3 41.83, CaO 2.10, Ce2O3 0.31, Nd2O3 1.12, Nb2O5 14.64, Ta2O5 16.34, TiO2 0.95, SiO2 3.55, Fe2O3 0.89, Al2O3 0.71, H2O (calc.) 14.99, total 97.43 wt.%; the empirical formula is (square 0.67Ca0.27Nd0.05Ce0.01)(Sigma=1.00)[U-1.04 square O-0.96(2.08)(H2O)(1.92)] (Nb0.79Ta0.53Si0.42Ti0.08Al0.10Fe0.08)(Sigma=2.00)O-4.00(OH)(3.96)(H2O)(2.04). The ideal endmember formula is (UO2)(2)Nb2O6(OH)(2)center dot 2H(2)O. Calculated densities are 4.713 g cm(-3) (sample 1) and 4.172 g cm(-3) (sample 2). Infrared spectra show that both (OH) and H2O are present. The strongest eight X-ray powder-diffraction lines [listed as d in angstrom(I)(hkl)] are: 8.405(8)(110), 7.081(10)(200), 4.201(9)(220), 3.333(6)(202), 3.053(8)(022), 2.931(7)(420), 2.803(6)(222) and 2.589(5)(040,402). The crystal structure was solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction (R = 0.037) which gave the following data: orthorhombic, Cmem, a = 14.150(6), b = 10.395(4), c = 7.529(3) angstrom, V = 1107(1) angstrom(3), Z = 4. The crystal structure contains a single U site with an appreciable deficiency in electron scattering, which is populated by U atoms and vacancies. The U site is surrounded by seven 0 atoms in a pentagonal bipyramidal arrangemet. The Nb site is coordinated by four 0 atoms and two OH groups in an octahedral arrangement. The half-occupied tunnel Ca site is coordinated by four 0 atoms and four H2O groups. Octahedrally coordinated Nb polyhedra share edges and comers to form Nb2O6(OH)(2) double chains, and edge-sharing pentagonal bipyramidal U polyhedra form UO5 chains. The Nb2O6(OH)(2) and UO5 chains share edges to form an open U-Nb-phi framework with tunnels along [001] that contain Ca(H2O)(4) clusters. Carlosbarbosaite is closely related to a family of synthetic U-Nb-O framework tunnel structures, it differs in that is has an (OH)-bearing framework and Ca(H2O)(4) tunnel occupant. The structure of carlosbarbosaite resembles that of holfertite.

A randomized controlled trial of fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion versus postnatal management of severe isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Objective Severe pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension are associated with reduced survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). We aimed to determine whether fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) improves survival in cases of severe isolated CDH. Methods Between May 2008 and July 2010, patients whose fetuses had severe isolated CDH (lung-to-head ratio < 1.0, liver herniation into the thoracic cavity and no other detectable anomalies) were assigned randomly to FETO or to no fetal intervention (controls). FETO was performed under maternal epidural anesthesia supplemented with fetal intramuscular anesthesia. Tracheal balloon placement was achieved with ultrasound guidance and fetoscopy between 26 and 30 weeks of gestation. All cases that underwent FETO were delivered by the EXIT procedure. Postnatal therapy was the same for both treated fetuses and controls. The primary outcome was survival to 6 months of age. Other maternal and neonatal outcomes were also evaluated. Results Twenty patients were enrolled randomly to FETO and 21 patients to standard postnatal management. The mean gestational age at randomization was similar in both groups (P = 0.83). Delivery occurred at 35.6 +/- 2.4 weeks in the FETO group and at 37.4 +/- 1.9 weeks in the controls (P < 0.01). In the intention-to-treat analysis, 10/20 (50.0%) infants in the FETO group survived, while 1/21 (4.8%) controls survived (relative risk (RR), 10.5 (95% CI, 1.5-74.7), P < 0.01). In the receivedtreatment analysis, 10/19 (52.6%) infants in the FETO group and 1/19 (5.3%) controls survived (RR, 10.0 (95% CI, 1.4-70.6) P < 0.01). Conclusion FETO improves neonatal survival in cases with isolated severe CDH. Copyright (C) 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ovarian and PGF2 alpha responses to stimulation of endogenous PRL pulses during the estrous cycle in mares

The effects of a PRL-stimulating substance (sulpiride) on PRL and PGF2 alpha secretion and on luteal and ovarian follicular dynamics were studied during the estrous cycle in mares. A control group (n = 9) and a sulpiride group (Sp; n = 10) were used. Sulpiride (25 mg) was given every 8 h from Day 13 postovulation to the next ovulation. Repeated sulpiride treatment did not appear to maintain PRL concentrations at 12-h intervals beyond Day 14. Therefore, the hypothesis that a long-term increase in PRL altered luteal and follicular end points was not testable. Hourly samples were collected from the hour of a treatment (Hour 0) to Hour 8 on Day 14. Concentrations of PRL increased to maximum at Hour 4 in the Sp group. The PRL pulses were more prominent (P < 0.008) in the sulpiride group (peak, 19.4 +/- 1.9 ng/mL; mean +/- SEM) than in the controls (11.5 +/- 1.8 ng/mL). Concentrations of a metabolite of PGF2a (PGFM), number, and characteristics of PGFM pulses, and concentrations of progesterone during Hours 0 to 8 were not affected by the increased PRL. A novel observation was that the peak of a PRL pulse occurred at the same hour or 1 h later than the peak of a PGFM pulse in 8 of 8 PGFM pulses in the controls and in 6 of 10 pulses in the Sp group (P < 0.04), indicating that sulpiride interfered with the synchrony between PGFM and PRL pulses. The hypothesis that sulpiride treatment during the equine estrous cycle increases concentrations of PRL and the prominence of PRL pulses was supported. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by right heart catheterisation in sickle cell disease

Recent studies have recognised the importance of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in sickle cell disease (SCD). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and prognostic impact of PH and its features in patients with SCD. 80 patients with SCD underwent baseline clinical evaluation, laboratory testing, 6-min walk tests (6MWTs) and echocardiography. Patients with a peak tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV) of >= 2.5 m.s(-1) were further evaluated through right heart catheterisation (RHC) to assure the diagnosis of PH. Our study evidenced a 40% prevalence of patients with elevated TRV at echocardiography. RHC (performed in 25 out of 32 patients) confirmed PH in 10% (95% CI 3.4-16.5%) of all patients, with a prevalence of post-capillary PH of 6.25% (95% CI 0.95-11.55%) and pre-capillary PH of 3.75% (95% CI -0.4-7.9%). Patients with PH were older, had worse performance in 6MWTs, and more pronounced anaemia, haemolysis and renal dysfunction. Survival was shorter in patients with PH. Our study reinforced the use of echocardiography as a screening tool for PH in SCD and the mandatory role of RHC for proper diagnosis. Our findings confirmed the prognostic significance of PH in SCD as its association to pronounced haemolytic profile.

Utilização de terapêuticas comprovadamente úteis no tratamento da coronariopatia aguda: comparação entre diferentes regiões brasileiras. Análise do Registro Brasileiro de Síndromes Coronarianas Agudas (BRACE - Brazilian Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes)

FUNDAMENTO: Pouco se sabe, em nosso meio, sobre diferenças regionais no tratamento da coronariopatia aguda. OBJETIVO: Analisar o comportamento regional relativamente à utilização de terapêuticas comprovadamente úteis na coronariopatia aguda. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados aleatoriamente 71 hospitais, respeitando-se a proporcionalidade do país em relação à localização geográfica, entre outros critérios. Na população global, foi analisada regionalmente a utilização de AAS, clopidogrel, inibidor da ECA/bloqueador de AT1, betabloqueador e estatina, isoladamente e agrupados por escore individual que variou de 0 (nenhum medicamento utilizado) a 100 (todos utilizados). No infarto com supradesnivelamento de ST (IAMCSST) foram analisadas diferenças regionais sobre utilização de terapêuticas de recanalização (fibrinolíticos e angioplastia primária). RESULTADOS: No global da população, nas primeiras 24 horas de hospitalização, a média de escore na região Norte-Nordeste (70,5 ± 22,1) foi menor (p < 0,05) do que nas regiões Sudeste (77,7 ± 29,5), Centro-Oeste (82 ± 22,1) e Sul (82,4 ± 21). Por ocasião da alta, o escore da região Norte-Nordeste (61,4 ± 32,9) foi menor (p < 0,05) do que nas regiões Sudeste (69,2 ± 31,6), Centro-Oeste (65,3 ± 33,6), e Sul (73,7 ± 28,1); adicionalmente, o escore do Centro-Oeste foi menor (p < 0,05) do que o do Sul. No IAMCSST, o uso de terapêuticas de recanalização foi maior no Sudeste (75,4%, p = 0,001 em relação ao restante do país), e menor no Norte-Nordeste (52,5%, p < 0,001 em relação ao restante do país). CONCLUSÃO: O uso de terapêuticas comprovadamente úteis no tratamento da coronariopatia aguda está aquém do desejável no país, com importantes diferenças regionais.

Polifarmácia entre idosos do Município de São Paulo - Estudo SABE

Foi avaliado o uso de cinco ou mais medicamentos (polifarmácia) e seus fatores associados por idosos do município de São Paulo. Realizou-se estudo transversal de base populacional: Estudo SABE - Saúde, Bem-estar e Envelhecimento, no ano de 2006. A amostra foi composta por 1.115 idosos com 65 anos e mais, que correspondiam a 422.377 indivíduos do Município de São Paulo. Utilizou-se regressão logística múltipla. A prevalência de polifarmácia foi de 36%. Sexo feminino (OR = 1,7; IC 95%: 1,0; 2,9), idade igual ou superior a 75 anos (OR = 1,9; IC 95%: 1,3; 2,7), maior renda (OR = 1,8; IC 95%: 1,2; 2,8), estar trabalhando (OR = 1,8; IC 95%: 1,1; 2,9), auto avaliação de saúde regular (OR = 1,6; IC 95%: 1,1; 2,3) ou ruim (OR = 2,6; IC 95%: 1,4; 4,9), hipertensão (OR = 2,0; IC 95%: 1,4; 2,9), diabetes (OR = 4,1; IC 95%: 2,2; 7,5), doença reumática (OR = 2,3; IC 95%: 1,5; 3,6) e problemas cardíacos (OR = 2,9; IC 95%: 1,9; 4,5) apresentaram associação positiva com polifarmácia. Usar apenas o sistema público de saúde (OR = 0,5; IC 95%: 0,3; 0,7) associou-se inversamente à polifarmácia. Os medicamentos mais utilizados foram os de ação no sistema cardiovascular e trato alimentar e metabolismo. No âmbito da farmacoepidemiologia, o conhecimento dos fatores associados a polifarmácia, como os identificados nesse estudo, pode ser útil para alertar os profissionais da saúde quanto à importância de identificar e monitorar os grupos de idosos mais vulneráveis a polifarmácia.

Ileal amino acid digestibility in canola meals from yellow- and black-seeded Brassica napus and Brassica juncea fed to growing pigs

Twelve ileal cannulated pigs (30.9 ± 2.7 kg) were used to determine the apparent (AID) and standardized (SID) ileal digestibility of protein and AA in canola meals (CM) derived from black- (BNB) and yellow-seeded (BNY) Brassica napus canola and yellow-seeded Brassica juncea (BJY). The meals were produced using either the conventional pre-press solvent extraction process (regular meal) or a new, vacuum-assisted cold process of meal de-solventization (white flakes) to provide 6 different meals. Six cornstarch-based diets containing 35% canola meal as the sole source of protein in a 3 (variety) × 2 (processing) factorial arrangement were randomly allotted to pigs in a 6 × 7 incomplete Latin square design to have 6 replicates per diet. A 5% casein diet was fed to estimate endogenous AA losses. Canola variety and processing method interacted for the AID of DM (P = 0.048), N (P = 0.010), and all AA (P < 0.05), except for Arg, Lys, Phe, Asp, Glu, and Pro. Canola variety affected or tended to affect the AID of most AA but had no effect on the AID of Lys, Met, Val, Cys, and Pro, whereas processing method had an effect on only Lys and Asp and tended to affect the AID of Thr, Gly and Ser. The effects of canola variety, processing method, and their interaction on the SID values for N and AA followed a similar pattern as for AID values. For the white flakes, SID of N in BJY (74.2%) was lower than in BNY and BNB, whose values averaged 78.5%; however, among the regular meals, BJY had a greater SID value for N than BNY and BNB (variety × processing, P = 0.015). For the white flakes, the SID of Ile (86.4%), Leu (87.6%), Lys (88.9%), Thr (87.6%) and Val (84.2%) in BNB were greater than BNY and BJY. Opposite results were observed for the regular processing, with SID of Lys (84.1%), Met (89.5%), Thr (84.1%), and Val (83.6%) being greater in BJY, followed by BNB and BNY(variety × processing, P < 0.057). The SID of Met was greatest for the white flakes (90.2%) but least for the regular processing (83.0%) in BNY (variety × processing, P < 0.057). It was concluded that the AID and SID of N and AA of the CM tested varied according to canola variety and the processing method used. Overall, the SID values for Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Thr, and Val averaged across CM types and processing methods were 81.8, 82.6, 83.4, 85.9, 80.8, and 78.4%, respectively.

Influência da altura da maré em estudos de populações de Ocypode quadrata através da contagem de tocas

No supralitoral de praias arenosas, o número limitado de espécies da macrofauna e a maior constância destas entre praias (comparado ao médio litoral), apresenta-se ora como pró, ora como contra, a identificação de organismos adequados ao monitoramento e avaliação da qualidade ambiental. Assim, o crescente esforço para identificar padrões espaciais/temporais dessas espécies leva a um aumento de questionamentos metodológicos. Visamos responder se há necessidade de fixar condições de maré (alta ou baixa; sizígia ou quadratura) para estudos com o caranguejo Ocypode quadrata. 1) Altura da maré e quantificação de indivíduos. Nove praias foram avaliadas em cada estação do ano, através de três transectos de 2 m perpendiculares à linha d'água, em condições de maré aleatórias. A altura da maré foi registrada para cada transecto e correlacionada com: o comprimento total do transecto; a amplitude de ocorrência de O. quadrata. Houve correlação significativa entre a altura da maré e o comprimento dos transectos em 4 das 9 praias; em nenhum caso houve correlação significativa entre as amplitudes de maré e de ocorrência dos animais. 2) Marés de sizígia e quadratura e quantificação de indivíduos. Em uma área de estudo fixa, foram traçados transectos na preamar e baixa-mar das marés de sizígia e quadratura ao longo de um mês. Não houve variação significativa de acordo com o tipo de maré, mas houve aumento significativo ao longo do tempo. O estudo se iniciou em maré de sizígia, o que pode ter levado a menor média geral nessa condição. Assim, o estudo aponta que condições de maré não sejam essenciais para a quantificação de populações de Ocypode - contanto que se evite condições extremas -, um ponto facilitador do trabalho com este organismo.

Hydroxocobalamin quantification in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry in a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid, sensitive and specific method for quantifying hydroxocobalamin in human plasma using paracetamol as the internal standard (IS) is described. The analyte and the IS were extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using an organic solvent (ethanol 100%; -20°C). The extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS). Chromatography was performed on Prevail C8 3 μm, analytical column (2.1×100 mm i.d.). The method had a chromatographic run time of 3.4 min and a linear calibration curve over the range 5-400 ng.mL-1 (r>0.9983). The limit of quantification was 5 ng.mL-1. The method was also validated without the use of the internal standard. The precision in the intra-batch validation with IS was 9.6%, 8.9%, 1.0% and 2.8% whereas without IS was 9.2%, 8.2%, 1.8% and 1.5% for 5, 15, 80 and 320 ng/mL, respectively. The accuracy in intra-batch validation with IS was 108.9%, 99.9%, 98.9% and 99.0% whereas without IS was 101.1%, 99.3%, 97.5% and 92.5% for 5, 15, 80 and 320 ng/mL, respectively. The precision in the inter-batch validation with IS was 9.4%, 6.9%, 4.6% and 5.5% whereas without IS was 10.9%, 6.4%, 5.0% and 6.2% for 5, 15, 80 and 320 ng/mL, respectively. The accuracy in inter-batch validation with IS was 101.9%, 104.1%, 103.2% and 99.7% whereas without IS was 94.4%, 101.2%, 101.6% and 96.0% for 5, 15, 80 and 320 ng/mL, respectively. This HPLC-MS-MS procedure was used to assess the pharmacokinetics of Hydroxo cobalamin following intramuscular injection 5000 μg in healthy volunteers of both sexes (10 males and 10 females). The volunteers had the following clinical characteristics (according to gender and expressed as mean ± SD [range]): males: age: 32.40 ± 8.00 y [23.00-46.00], height: 1.73 ± 0.07 m [1.62-1.85], body weight: 72.48 ± 10.22 Kg [60.20- 88.00]; females: age: 28.60 ± 9.54 y [18.00-44.00], height: 1.60 ± 0.05 m [1.54-1.70], body weight: 58.64 ± 6.09 Kg [51.70- 66.70]. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from the hydroxocobalamin plasma concentration vs. time curves: AUClast, T1/2, Tmax, Vd, Cl, Cmax and Clast. The pharmacokinetic parameters were 120 (± 25) ng/mL for Cmax, 2044 (± 641) ng.h/mL for AUClast, 8 (± 3.2) ng.mL-1 for Clast, 38 (± 15.8) hr for T1/2 and 2.5 (range 1-6) hr for Tmax. Female volunteers presented significant (p=0.0136) lower AUC (1706 ± 704) ng.h/mL) and larger (p=0.0205) clearance (2.91 ± 1.41 L/hr), as compared to male 2383 ± 343 ng.h/mL and 1.76 ± 0.23 L/hr, respectively. These pharmacokinetic differences could explain the higher prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in female patients. The method described validated well without the use of the internal standard and this approach should be investigated in other HPLC-MS-MS methods.