Computed tomographic dacryocystography in children undergoing balloon dacryoplasty

PURPOSE To ascertain whether the volume and circumference of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct as measured by contrast-enhanced computed tomographic dacryocystography (CT-DCG) before and after balloon dacryoplasty could be used to predict clinical success in children with congenital nasolacrimal obstruction. METHODS Nasolacrimal ducts of children aged 2 to 6 years with clinical signs of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction undergoing balloon dilation were imaged with contrast-enhanced CT-DCG before and 5 minutes after the procedure. The circumference of the most dilated portion of the lacrimal sac was measured on the axial plane. The volume of contrast within the nasolacrimal duct and sac was also measured before and after the procedure. Clinical success was defined as the disappearance of signs of epiphora. RESULTS A total of 18 nasolacrimal ducts of 13 children were included. The average circumference of the most dilated portion of the lacrimal sac was 1.30 +/- 0.45 cm (range, 0.64-2.50 cm) before the procedure. The average contrast volume was 0.12 +/- 0.08 cm(3) (range, 0.01-0.38 cm(3)) before and 0.07 +/- 0.06 cm(3) (range, 0.01-0.20 cm(3)) after (P = 0.01). Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression with a backward variable input model; a decrease in contrast volume before and after dilation (P = 0.04) was associated with clinical success, whereas the larger size of the most dilated portion of the lacrimal sac (P = 0.01) was associated with clinical failure. CONCLUSIONS Contrast-enhanced CT-DCG provides useful information about nasolacrimal anatomy in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The decrease in contrast volume before and after balloon dilation was predictive of success; A larger size of the most dilated portion of the lacrimal sac was associated with clinical failure. (J AAPOS 2012;16:464-467)

Assessment of the high-dose concept and level of control provided by MON 87701 x MON 89788 soybean against Anticarsia gemmatalis and Pseudoplusia includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil

BACKGROUND: Genetically modified MON 87701 X MON 89788 soybean (Glycine max), which expresses the Cry1Ac and EPSP-synthase proteins, has been registered for commercial use in Brazil. To develop an Insect Resistance Management (IRM) program for this event, laboratory and field studies were conducted to assess the high-dose concept and level of control it provides against Anticarsia gemmatalis and Pseudoplusia includens. RESULTS: The purified Cry1Ac protein was more active against A. gemmatalis [LC50 (FL 95%) = 0.23 (0.150.34) mu g Cry1Ac mL-1 diet] than P. includens [LC50 (FL 95%) = 3.72 (2.654.86) mu g Cry1Ac mL-1 diet]. In bioassays with freeze-dried MON 87701X MON 89788 soybean tissue diluted 25 times in an artificial diet, there was 100% mortality of A. gemmatalis and up to 95.79% mortality for P. includens. In leaf-disc bioassays and under conditions of high artificial infestation in the greenhouse and natural infestation in the field, MON 87701X MON 89788 soybean showed a high level of efficacy against both target pests. CONCLUSIONS: The MON 87701X MON 89788 soybean provides a high level of control against A. gemmatalis and P. includes, but a high-dose event only to A. gemmatalis. Copyright (c) 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Surgical Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients with BMI Below 35: Mid-term Outcomes of the Laparoscopic Ileal Interposition Associated with a Sleeve Gastrectomy in 202 Consecutive Cases

The objective of this study was to evaluate the mid-term outcomes of the laparoscopic ileal interposition into the jejunum (JII-SG) or into the duodenum (DII-SG) associated with sleeve gastrectomy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with BMI below 35. The procedures were performed on 202 consecutive patients. Mean age was 52.2 +/- 7.5. Mean duration of T2DM was 9.8 +/- 5.2 years. Insulin therapy was used by 41.1%. Dyslipidemia was observed in 78.2%, hypertension in 67.3%, nephropathy in 49.5%, retinopathy in 31.2%, coronary heart disease in 11.9%, and other cardiovascular events in 12.9%. Mean follow-up was 39.1 months (range, 25-61). Early and late mortality was 0.99% and 1.0%, respectively. Early reoperation was performed in 2.5%. Early and late major complications were 8.4% and 3.5%. Early most frequent complications were pneumonia and ileus. Intestinal obstruction was diagnosed in 1.5%. Mean BMI decreased from 29.7 to 23.5 kg/m(2), mean fasting glucose from 202.1 to 112.2 mg/dl, and mean postprandial glucose from 263.3 to 130 mg/dl. Triglycerides diminished from a mean of 273.4 to 110.3 mg/dl and cholesterol from a mean of 204.7 to 160.1 mg/dl. Hypertension was resolved in 87.5%. Mean hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) decreased from 8.7 to 6.2% after the JII-SG and to 5.9% following the DII-SG. HbA(1c) below 7% was seen in 89.9% of the patients and below 6.5% in 78.3%. Overall, 86.4% of patients were off antidiabetic medications. Both JII-SG and DII-SG demonstrated to be safe, effective, and long-lasting alternatives for the treatment of T2DM patients with BMI < 35. Beyond glycemic control, other benefits were achieved.

Differential expression of CD90 and CD14 stem cell markers in malignant breast cancer cell lines

The recently emerged concept of cancer stem cell (CSC) has led to a new hypothesis on the basis for tumor progression. Basically, the CSC theory hypothesizes the presence of a hierarchically organized and relatively rare cell population, which is responsible for tumor initiation, self-renewal, and maintenance, in addition to accumulation of mutation and resistance to chemotherapy. CSCs have recently been described in breast cancer. Different genetic markers have been used to isolate breast CSCs, none of which have been correlated with the tumorigenicity or metastatic potential of the cells, limiting their precise characterization and clinical application in the development of therapeutic protocols. Here, we sought for subpopulations of CSCs by analyzing 10 judiciously chosen stem cell markers in a normal breast cell line (MCF10-A) and in four human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435, and Hs578-T) displaying different degrees of metastatic and invasiveness potential. We were able to identify two markers, which are differentially expressed in nontumorigenic versus tumor cells. The CD90 marker was highly expressed in the malignant cell lines. Interestingly, the CD14 molecule displayed higher expression levels in the nontumorigenic cell line. Therefore, we demonstrated that these two markers, which are more commonly used to isolate and characterize stem cells, are differentially expressed in breast tumor cells, when compared with nontumorigenic breast cells. (C) 2012 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry

GREEN MACHINING ORIENTED TO DIMINISH DENSITY GRADIENT FOR MINIMIZATION OF DISTORTION IN ADVANCED CERAMICS

After sintering advanced ceramics, there are invariably distortions, caused in large part by the heterogeneous distribution of density gradients along the compacted piece. To correct distortions, machining is generally used to manufacture pieces within dimensional and geometric tolerances. Hence, narrow material removal limit conditions are applied, which minimize the generation of damage. Another alternative is machining the compacted piece before sintering, called the green ceramic stage, which allows machining without damage to mechanical strength. Since the greatest concentration of density gradients is located in the outer-most layers of the compacted piece, this study investigated the removal of different allowance values by means of green machining. The output variables are distortion after sintering, tool wear, cutting force, and the surface roughness of the green ceramics and the sintered ones. The following results have been noted: less distortion is verified in the sintered piece after 1mm allowance removal; and the higher the tool wear the worse the surface roughness of both green and sintered pieces.

BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER IN PATIENTS WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER: PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL CORRELATES

Background The prevalence, sociodemographic aspects, and clinical features of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in patients with obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD) have been previously addressed in primarily relatively small samples. Methods We performed a cross-sectional demographic and clinical assessment of 901 OCD patients participating in the Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. We used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders; Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale; Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DY-BOCS); Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale; Clinical Global Impression Scale; and Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Results The lifetime prevalence of BDD was 12.1%. The individuals with comorbid BDD (OCD-BDD; n = 109) were younger than were those without it. In addition, the proportions of single and unemployed patients were greater in the OCD-BDD group. This group of patients also showed higher rates of suicidal behaviors; mood, anxiety, and eating disorders; hypochondriasis; skin picking; Tourette syndrome; and symptoms of the sexual/religious, aggressive, and miscellaneous dimensions. Furthermore, OCD-BDD patients had an earlier onset of OC symptoms; greater severity of OCD, depression, and anxiety symptoms; and poorer insight. After logistic regression, the following features were associated with OCD-BDD: current age; age at OCD onset; severity of the miscellaneous DY-BOCS dimension; severity of depressive symptoms; and comorbid social phobia, dysthymia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and skin picking. Conclusions Because OCD patients might not inform clinicians about concerns regarding their appearance, it is essential to investigate symptoms of BDD, especially in young patients with early onset and comorbid social anxiety, chronic depression, skin picking, or eating disorders. Depression and Anxiety 29: 966-975, 2012. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pachymetry-Guided Intrastromal Air Injection ("Pachy-Bubble") for Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty

To evaluate an innovative technique for intrastromal air injection to achieve deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) with bare Descemet membrane (DM). Thirty-four eyes with anterior corneal pathology, including 27 with keratoconus, underwent DALK. After 400 mm trephination with a suction trephine, ultrasound pachymetry was performed 0.8 mm internally from the trephination groove in the 11 to 1 o'clock position. In this area, a 2-mm incision was created, parallel to the groove, with a micrometer diamond knife calibrated to 90% depth of the thinnest measurement. A cannula was inserted through the incision and 0.5 mL of air was injected to dissect the DM from the stroma. After peripheral paracentesis, anterior keratectomy was carried out to bare the DM. A 0.25-mm oversized graft was sutured in place. Overall, 94.1% of eyes achieved DALK. Bare DM was achieved in 30 eyes, and a pre-DM dissection was performed in 2 eyes. Air injection was successful in detaching the DM (achieving the big bubble) in 88.2% of the eyes. In keratoconus eyes, the rate was 88.9%. All cases but one required a single air injection to achieve DM detachment. Microperforations occurred in 5 cases: 3 during manual layer-by-layer dissection after air injection failed to detach the DM, 1 during removal of the residual stroma after big-bubble formation, and 1 during the diamond knife incision. Two cases (5.9%) were converted to penetrating keratoplasty because of macroperforations. The technique was reproducible, safe, and highly effective in promoting DALK with bare DM.

U-Pb zircon ages of orthogneisses and supracrustal rocks of the Cariris Velhos belt: Onset of Neoproterozoic rifting in the Borborema Province, NE Brazil

New geochronological and geochemical constraints on Precambrian sedimentary and volcanic successions exposed in the western part of the Central Domain of the Borborema Province, NE Brazil, indicate the presence of two distinct tectono-stratigraphic complexes: Riacho Gravata and Sao Caetano. Both complexes and associated orthogneisses are referred in the literature as the Cariris Velhos belt, having depositional, extrusive, or intrusive ages within the interval 985-913 Ma. The Riacho Gravata complex consists of bimodal (but mostly felsic) volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks, muscovite+/-graphite schists, quartzites, and marble with local occurrences of banded-iron-formation. The Sao Caetano complex mainly consists of metagreywackes, marbles, calc-silicate rocks, and rare meta-mafic rocks. Meta-mafic rocks from both complexes have geochemical signatures similar to those of continental flood basalts, with epsilon Nd (1.0 Ga) values ranging from -1.0 to -2.8. Felsic volcanic rocks from the Riacho Gravata complex show epsilon Nd (1.0 Ga) values ranging from -1.0 to -7.4 and geochemical signatures similar to A(2)-type granitoids. New SHRIMP U-Pb zircon data from felsic volcanic rocks within the Riacho Gravata complex yielded ages of 1091 +/- 13 Ma and 996 +/- 13 Ma. In contrast, meta-graywackes from the Sao Caetano complex show a maximum deposition age of ca. 806 Ma in the northern part and ca. 862 Ma in the southern part of the outcrop area. The orthogneisses show epsilon Nd (1.0 Ga) values ranging from 1.0 to -4.2 with U/Pb TIMS and SHRIMP ages ranging from 960 to 926 Ma and geochemical signatures of A(2)-type granitoids. The data reported in this paper suggest at least two periods of extension within the Central Domain of the Borborema Province, the first starts ca. 1091 Ma with magmatism and deposition, creating the Riacho Gravata basin and continued intrusion of A-type granites to 920 Ma. A second rift event, which reactivated old faults, generated a basin with a maximum deposition age of ca. 806 Ma. Furthermore, the oldest granitoids cutting these metasedimentary rocks have crystallization ages of ca. 600 Ma. This suggests that the second rift event could be early Brasiliano in age. The resulting Sao Caetano basin received detritus from a variety of sources, although detritus from the Riacho Gravata complex dominated. Deposition ages of the Riacho Gravata and the Sao Caetano complexes are coeval with deposits in other basins of the Borborema Province (Riacho do Tigre in the Central Domain; Macurure and Maranco in the Sergipano Belt of the Southern domain). The Macaubas Group from SE Brazil and its counterparts in Africa, the Zadanian and Mayumbian Groups, in the western edge of the Congo Craton are also coeval. Closure of the Riacho Gravata and Sao Caetano basins occurred during the Brasiliano convergence (705-600 Ma). During the last stage of convergence, ca. 612 Ma, pull-apart basins were created and filled; final basin closure took place 605-592 Ma, after deposition ceased. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Application of the Z-scan technique to determine the optical Kerr coefficient and two-photon absorption coefficient of magnetite nanoparticles colloidal suspension

We investigate the occurrence of the optical Kerr effect and two-photon absorption when an oil-based magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles colloidal suspension is illuminated with high intensity femtosecond laser pulses. The frequency of the pulses is controlled and the Z-scan technique is employed in our measurements of the nonlinear optical Kerr coefficient (n(2)) and two-photon absorption coefficient (beta). From these values it was possible to calculate the real and imaginary parts of the third-order susceptibility. We observed that increasing the pulse frequency, additional physical processes take place, increasing artificially the absolute values of n(2) and beta. The experimental conditions are discussed to assure the obtention of reliable values of these nonlinear optical parameters, which may be useful in all-optical switching and optical power limiting applications. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4723829]

Safety assessment of oral photodynamic therapy in rats

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is based on the synergism of a photosensitive drug (a photosensitizer) and visible light to destroy target cells (e.g., malignant, premalignant, or bacterial cells). The aim of this study was to investigate the response of normal rat tongue mucosa to PDT following the topical application of hematoporphyrin derivative (Photogem®), Photodithazine®, methylene blue (MB), and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with MB. One hundred and thirty three rats were randomly divided in various groups: the PDT groups were treated with the photosensitizers for 10 min followed by exposure to red light. Those in control groups received neither photosensitizer nor light, and they were subjected to light exposure alone or to photosensitizer alone. Fluorescent signals were obtained from tongue tissue immediately after the topical application of photosensitizers and 24 h following PDT. Histological changes were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, 7, and 15 days post-PDT treatment. Fluorescence was detected immediately after the application of the photosensitizers, but not 24 h following PDT. Histology revealed intact mucosa in all experimental groups at all evaluation time points. The results suggest that there is a therapeutic window where PDT with Photogem®, Photodithazine®, MB, and MB-loaded PLGA nanoparticles could safely target oral pathogenic bacteria without damaging normal oral tissue.