Generation and Biological Properties of a Recombinant Dodecahedron Containing the Short Fiber Protein of the Human Adenovirus 41

Objective: In order to gain further insight into the function of the enteric adenovirus short fiber (SF), we have constructed a recombinant dodecahedron containing the SF protein of HAdV-41 and the HAdV-3 penton base. Methods: Recombinant baculoviruses expressing the HAdV-41 SF protein and HAdV-3 penton base were cloned and amplified in Sf9 insect cells. Recombinant dodecahedra were expressed by coinfection of High Five (TM) cells with both baculoviruses, 72 h post-infection. Cell lysate was centrifuged on sucrose density gradient and the purified recombinant dodecahedra were recovered. Results: Analysis by negative staining electron microscopy demonstrated that chimeric dodecahedra made of the HAdV-3 penton base and decorated with the HAdV-41 SF were successfully generated. Next, recombinant dodecahedra were digested with pepsin and analyzed by Western blot. A 'site-specific' proteolysis of the HAdV-41 SF was observed, while the HAdV-3 penton base core was completely digested. Conclusion: These results show that, in vitro, the HAdV-41 SF likely undergoes proteolysis in the gastrointestinal tract, its natural environment, which may facilitate the recognition of receptors in intestinal cells. The results obtained in the present study may be the basis for the development of gene therapy vectors towards the intestinal epithelium, as well as orally administered vaccine vectors, but also for the HAdV-41 SF partner identification. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

Insecticidal Activity of the Granulosis Virus in Combination with Neem Products and Talc Powder Against the Potato Tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The potato tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is an important agricultural pest that causes significant economic losses to potato growers worldwide. The addition of an effective method of biological control for the potato tuberworm is greatly needed, and is currently unavailable in Brazil. The granulosis virus (Baculoviridae) is a promising biological control agent to protect post-harvest potatoes and in storage from the potato tuberworm. However, the control measure must be economically feasible. Liquid suspensions of a granulosis virus applied alone or in mixture with two commercial neem oil-based products (DalNeem (TM) and NeemAzal (TM)), and a dry powder formulation of viral granules were evaluated for control of potato tuberworm larvae by treating potato tubers under laboratory conditions. High larval mortality (86.7%) was achieved when DalNeem and virus were applied together at 4 mg of azadirachtin/L and 10(4) occlusion bodies (OBs)/mL, respectively. This combination resulted in a parts per thousand yen50% efficacy in relation to their counterparts alone. Conversely, NeemAzal did not enhance virus effectiveness against larvae of the potato tuberworm. The talc-based virus formulation was used for dusting seed tubers at different concentrations and resulted in 100% larval mortality at 5 x 10(8) OBs/g. Formulated and unformulated virus provided 50% mortality at 166 OBs/g and at 5.0 x 10(5) OBs/mL, respectively. As a result, talc-based virus formulation had a better control efficiency on potato tuberworm than the aqueous virus suspension. The granulosis virus combined with DalNeem at low rates or formulated with talc powder is a viable option to control the potato tuberworm under storage conditions.

Duration of dual antiplatelet therapy and outcomes after coronary stenting with the genous (TM) bio-engineered R stent (TM) in patients from the e-healing registry

Objective: We investigated the relation between duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and clinical outcomes up to 12 months after Genous (TM) endothelial progenitor cell capturing R stent (TM) placement in patients from the e-HEALING registry. Background: Cessation of (DAPT) has been shown to be associated with the occurrence of stent thrombosis (ST). After Genous placement, 1 month of DAPT is recommended. Methods: Patients were analyzed according to continuation or discontinuation of DAPT at a 30-day and 6-month landmark, excluding patients with events before the landmark. Each landmark was a new baseline, and outcomes were followed up to 12 months after stenting. The main outcome for our current analysis was target vessel failure (TVF), defined as target vessel-related cardiac death or myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization. Secondary outcomes included ST. (Un)adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for TVF were calculated with Cox regression. Results: No difference was observed in the incidence of TVF [HR: 1.03; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.651.65, P = 0.89] in patients continuing DAPT (n = 4,249) at 30 days versus patients stopped (n = 309), and HR: 0.82 (95% CI: 0.551.23, P = 0.34) in patients continuing DAPT (n = 2,654) at 6 months versus patients stopped [n = 1,408] DAPT). Furthermore, no differences were observed in ST. Even after addition of identified independent predictors for TVF, adjusted TVF hazards were comparable. Conclusions: In a post-hoc analysis of e-HEALING, duration of DAPT was not associated with the occurrence of the outcomes TVF or ST. The Genous stent may be an attractive treatment especially in patients at increased risk for (temporary) cessation of DAPT or bleeding. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Beta-alanine (Carnosyn (TM)) supplementation in elderly subjects (60-80 years): effects on muscle carnosine content and physical capacity

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on exercise capacity and the muscle carnosine content in elderly subjects. Eighteen healthy elderly subjects (60-80 years, 10 female and 4 male) were randomly assigned to receive either beta-alanine (BA, n = 12) or placebo (PL, n = 6) for 12 weeks. The BA group received 3.2 g of beta-alanine per day (2 x 800 mg sustained-release Carnosyn (TM) tablets, given 2 times per day). The PL group received 2 x (2 x 800 mg) of a matched placebo. At baseline (PRE) and after 12 weeks (POST-12) of supplementation, assessments were made of the muscle carnosine content, anaerobic exercise capacity, muscle function, quality of life, physical activity and food intake. A significant increase in the muscle carnosine content of the gastrocnemius muscle was shown in the BA group (+85.4%) when compared with the PL group (+7.2%) (p = 0.004; ES: 1.21). The time-to-exhaustion in the constant-load submaximal test (i.e., TLIM) was significantly improved (p = 0.05; ES: 1.71) in the BA group (+36.5%) versus the PL group (+8.6%). Similarly, time-to-exhaustion in the incremental test was also significantly increased (p = 0.04; ES 1.03) following beta-alanine supplementation (+12.2%) when compared with placebo (+0.1%). Significant positive correlations were also shown between the relative change in the muscle carnosine content and the relative change in the time-to-exhaustion in the TLIM test (r = 0.62; p = 0.01) and in the incremental test (r = 0.48; p = 0.02). In summary, the current data indicate for the first time, that beta-alanine supplementation is effective in increasing the muscle carnosine content in healthy elderly subjects, with subsequent improvement in their exercise capacity.

Effect of Nintendo Wii (TM)-based motor and cognitive training on activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomised clinical trial

Objectives To investigate the effect of Nintendo Wii (TM)-based motor cognitive training versus balance exercise therapy on activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson's disease. Design Parallel, prospective, single-blind, randomised clinical trial. Setting Brazilian Parkinson Association. Participants Thirty-two patients with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 and 2). Interventions Fourteen training sessions consisting of 30 minutes of stretching, strengthening and axial mobility exercises, plus 30 minutes of balance training. The control group performed balance exercises without feedback or cognitive stimulation, and the experimental group performed 10 Wii Fit (TM) games. Main outcome measure Section II of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-II). Randomisation Participants were randomised into a control group (n = 16) and an experimental group (n = 16) through blinded drawing of names. Statistical analysis Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). Results Both groups showed improvement in the UPDRS-II with assessment effect (RM-ANOVA P < 0.001, observed power = 0.999). There was no difference between the control group and the experimental group before training {8.9 [standard deviation (SD) 2.9] vs 10.1 (SD 3.8)}, after training [7.6 (SD 2.9) vs 8.1 (SD 3.5)] or 60 days after training [8.1 (SD 3.2) vs 8.3 (SD 3.6)]. The mean difference of the whole group between before training and after training was -0.9 (SD 2.3, 95% confidence interval -1.7 to -0.6). Conclusion Patients with Parkinson's disease showed improved performance in activities of daily living after 14 sessions of balance training, with no additional advantages associated with the Wii-based motor and cognitive training. Registered on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT01580787). (C) 2012 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fatores de risco pré-operatórios para mediastinite após cirurgia cardíaca: análise de 2768 pacientes

INTRODUÇÃO: A esternotomia mediana longitudinal é a via de acesso mais utilizada no tratamento das doenças cardíacas. As infecções profundas da ferida operatória no pós-operatório das cirurgias cardiovasculares são uma complicação séria, com alto custo durante o tratamento. Diferentes estudos têm encontrado fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de mediastinite e as variáveis pré-operatórias têm tido especial destaque. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é identificar fatores de risco pré-operatórios para o desenvolvimento de mediastinite em pacientes submetidos a revascularização do miocárdio e a substituição valvar. MÉTODOS: Este estudo observacional representa uma coorte de 2768 pacientes operados consecutivamente. O período considerado para análise foi de maio de 2007 a maio de 2009 e não houve critérios de exclusão. Foi realizada análise univariada e multivariada pelo modelo de regressão logística das 38 variáveis pré-operatórias eleitas. RESULTADOS: Nesta série, 35 (1,3%) pacientes evoluíram com mediastinite e 19 (0,7%) com osteomielite associada. A idade média dos pacientes foi de 59,9 ± 13,5 anos e o EuroSCORE de 4,5 ± 3,6. A mortalidade hospitalar foi de 42,8%. Na análise multivariada, foram identificadas três variáveis como preditoras independentes de mediastinite: balão intra-aórtico (OR 5,41, 95% IC [1,83 -16,01], P=0,002), hemodiálise (OR 4,87, 95% IC [1,41 - 16,86], P=0,012) e intervenção vascular extracardíaca (OR 4,39, 95% IC [1,64 - 11,76], P=0,003). CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo demonstrou que necessidade do suporte hemodinâmico pré-operatório com balão intra-aórtico, hemodiálise e intervenção vascular extracardíaca são fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de mediastinite após cirurgia cardíaca.

Variability of rainfall and temperature (1912-2008) parameters measured from Santa Maria (29 degrees 41 ' S, 53 degrees 48 ' W) and their connections with ENSO and solar activity

In this work, we analyze the long term variability of rainfall and temperature (1912-2008) of Santa Maria (29 degrees S, 53 degrees W) and its possible connection with natural influences such as solar activity and ENSO. Temperature and rainfall present similar frequencies as revealed by spectral analyses. This analysis shows a large number of short periods between 2-8 years and periods of 11.8-12.3, 19.1-21.0, and 64.3-82.5 years. The cross correlation for rainfall and temperature versus Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) have higher cross-power around 2-8 yr. Rainfall and temperature versus sunspot number (Rz) showed higher cross-power around the 11-yr solar cycle period. A high and continuous cross correlation was observed for Rz-22 yr versus rainfall and temperature. Furthermore, the power between 22-yr solar cycle and meteorological parameters was higher than that obtained with the 11-yr solar cycle, suggesting that the effect of Hale cycle on climate may be stronger than the Schwabe cycle effect. These results indicate that the variability of rainfall and temperature is closely related to the variation of the Southern Oscillation Index and solar activity, and that the El Nino Southern Oscillation and solar activity probably play an important role in the climate system over Southern Brazil. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CANOPIES OF Eucalyptus spp. USING RADIOMETRIC DATA FROM TM/Landsat 5

Empirical approaches and, more recently, physical approaches, have grounded the establishment of logical connections between radiometric variables derived from remote data and biophysical variables derived from vegetation cover. This study was aimed at evaluating correlations of dendrometric and density data from canopies of Eucalyptus spp., as collected in Capao Bonito forest unit, with radiometric data from imagery acquired by the TM/Landsat-5 sensor on two orbital passages over the study site (dates close to field data collection). Results indicate that stronger correlations were identified between crown dimensions and canopy height with near-infrared spectral band data (rho(s)4), irrespective of the satellite passage date. Estimates of spatial distribution of dendrometric data and canopy density (D) using spectral characterization were consistent with the spatial distribution of tree ages during the study period. Statistical tests were applied to evaluate performance disparities of empirical models depending on which date data were acquired. Results indicated a significant difference between models based on distinct data acquisition dates.

Applying the National Institute for Clinical Excellence criteria to patients treated with the Genous (TM) Bio-engineered R stent (TM): a sub-study of the e-HEALING (Healthy Endothelial Accelerated Lining Inhibits Neointimal Growth) worldwide registry

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend the use of bare-metal stents (BMS) in non-complex lesions with a low risk of restenosis (diameter a parts per thousand yen3 mm and lesion length a parts per thousand currency sign15 mm) and the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) in more complex lesions with a high risk of restenosis (diameter < 3.0 mm or lesion length > 15 mm). However, the guidelines were created based on studies evaluating BMS and DES only. We performed an analysis of patients undergoing non-urgent percutaneous coronary intervention with the novel endothelial cell capturing stent (ECS). The ECS is coated with CD34(+) antibodies that attract circulating endothelial progenitor cells to the stent surface, thereby accelerating the endothelialization of the stented area. We analyzed all patients enrolled in the worldwide e-HEALING registry that met the NICE criteria for either low-risk or high-risk lesions and were treated with a parts per thousand yen1 ECS. The main study outcome was target vessel failure (TVF) at 12-month follow-up, defined as the composite of cardiac death or MI and target vessel revascularization (TVR). A total of 4,241 patients were assessed in the current analysis. At 12-month follow-up, TVF occurred in 7.0% of the patients with low-risk lesions and in 8.8% of the patients with high-risk lesions (p = 0.045). When evaluating the diabetic patients versus the non-diabetic patients per risk group, no significant differences were found in TVF, MI or TVR in either risk group. The ECS shows good clinical outcomes in lesions carrying either a high or a low risk of restenosis according to the NICE guidelines with comparable rates of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis. The TVF rate with ECS was slightly higher in patients with high-risk lesions, driven by higher clinically driven TLR. The risk of restenosis with ECS in patients carrying high-risk lesions needs to be carefully considered relative to other risks associated with DES. Furthermore, the presence of diabetes mellitus did not influence the incidence of TVF in either risk group.

K-41(n, gamma)K-42 thermal and resonance integral cross section measurements

We measured the K-41 thermal neutron absorption and resonance integral cross sections after the irradiation of KNO3 samples near the core of the IEA-R1 IPEN pool-type research reactor. Bare and cadmium-covered targets were irradiated in pairs with Au-Al alloy flux-monitors. The residual activities were measured by gamma-ray spectroscopy with a HPGe detector, with special care to avoid the K-42 decay beta(-) emission effects on the spectra. The gamma-ray self-absorption was corrected with the help of MCNP simulations. We applied the Westcott formalism in the average neutron flux determination and calculated the depression coefficients for thermal and epithermal neutrons due to the sample thickness with analytical approximations. We obtained 1.57(4) and 1.02(4) b, for thermal and resonance integral cross sections, respectively, with correlation coefficient equal to 0.39.

Platinum-Based Nanoalloys PtnTM55-n (TM=Co, Rh, Au): A Density Functional Theory Investigation

Structural and electronic properties of the PtnTM55-n (TM = Co, Rh, Au) nanoalloys are investigated using density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation and employing the all-electron projected augmented wave method. For TM = Co and Rh, the excess energy, which measures the relative energy stability of the nanoalloys, is negative for all Pt compositions. We found that the excess energy has similar values for a wide range of Pt compositions, i.e., n = 20-42 and n = 28-42 for Co and Rh, respectively, with the core shell icosahedron-like configuration (n = 42) being slightly more stable for both Co and Rh systems because of the larger release of the strain energy due to the smaller atomic size of the Co and Rh atoms. For TM = Au, the excess energy is positive for all compositions, except for n = 13, which is energetically favorable due to the formation of the core-shell structure (Pt in the core and Au atoms at the surface). Thus, our calculations confirm that the formation of core-shell structures plays an important role to increase the stability of nanoalloys. The center of gravity of the occupied d-states changes almost linearly as a function of the Pt composition, and hence, based on the d-band model, the magnitude of the adsorption energy of an adsorbate can be tuned by changing the Pt composition. The magnetic moments of PtnCo55-n decrease almost linearly as a function of the Pt composition; however, the same does not hold for PtRh and PtAu. We found an enhancement of the magnetic moments of PtRh by a few times by increasing Pt composition, which we explain by the compression effects induced by the large size of the Pt atoms compared with the Rh atoms.

BAY 41-2272, a soluble guanylate cyclase agonist, activates human mononuclear phagocytes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Phagocyte function is critical for host defense against infections. Defects in phagocytic function lead to several primary immunodeficiencies characterized by early onset of recurrent and severe infections. In this work, we further investigated the effects of BAY 41-2272, a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) agonist, on the activation of human peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) and THP-1 cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH THP-1 cells and PBM viability was evaluated by methylthiazoletetrazolium assay; reactive oxygen species production by lucigenin chemiluminescence; gene and protein expression of NAPDH oxidase components by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively; phagocytosis and microbicidal activity by co-incubation, respectively, with zymosan and Escherichia coli; and cytokine release by elisa. KEY RESULTS BAY 41-2272, compared with the untreated group, increased spreading of monocytes by at least 35%, superoxide production by at least 50%, and gp91PHOX and p67PHOX gene expression 20 to 40 times, in both PBM and THP-1 cells. BAY 41-2272 also augmented phagocytosis of zymosan particles threefold compared with control, doubled microbicidal activity against E. coli and enhanced the release of TNF-a and IL-12p70 by both PBM and THP-1 cells. Finally, by inhibiting sGC with ODQ, we showed that BAY 41-2272-induced superoxide production and phagocytosis is not dependent exclusively on sGC activation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In addition to its ability to induce vasorelaxation and its potential application for therapy of vascular diseases, BAY 41-2272 was shown to activate human mononuclear phagocytes. Hence, it is a novel pro-inflammatory drug that may be useful for controlling infections in the immunocompromised host.

HEALTH PROBLEMS AWARENESS DURING TRAVEL AMONG FACULTY MEMBERS OF A LARGE UNIVERSITY IN LATIN AMERICA. PRELIMINARY REPORT

Health safety during trips is based on previous counseling, vaccination and prevention of infections, previous diseases or specific problems related to the destination. Our aim was to assess two aspects, incidence of health problems related to travel and the traveler’s awareness of health safety. To this end we phone-interviewed faculty members of a large public University, randomly selected from humanities, engineering and health schools. Out of 520 attempts, we were able to contact 67 (12.9%) and 46 (68.6%) agreed to participate in the study. There was a large male proportion (37/44, 84.1%), mature adults mostly in their forties and fifties (32/44, 72.7%), all of them with higher education, as you would expect of faculty members. Most described themselves as being sedentary or as taking occasional exercise, with only 15.9% (7/44) taking regular exercise. Preexisting diseases were reported by 15 travelers. Most trips lasted usually one week or less. Duration of the travel was related to the destination, with (12h) or longer trips being taken by 68.2% (30/44) of travelers, and the others taking shorter (3h) domestic trips. Most travelling was made by air (41/44) and only 31.8% (14/44) of the trips were motivated by leisure. Field research trips were not reported. Specific health counseling previous to travel was reported only by two (4.5%). Twenty seven of them (61.4%) reported updated immunization, but 11/30 reported unchecked immunizations. 30% (9/30) reported travel without any health insurance coverage. As a whole group, 6 (13.6%) travelers reported at least one health problem attributed to the trip. All of them were males travelling abroad. Five presented respiratory infections, such as influenza and common cold, one neurological, one orthopedic, one social and one hypertension. There were no gender differences regarding age groups, destination, type of transport, previous health counseling, leisure travel motivation or pre-existing diseases. Interestingly, the two cases of previous health counseling were made by domestic travelers. Our data clearly shows that despite a significant number of travel related health problems, these highly educated faculty members, had a low awareness of those risks, and a significant number of travels are made without prior counseling or health insurance. A counseling program conducted by a tourism and health professional must be implemented for faculty members in order to increase the awareness of travel related health problems.

Somente um deve vencer: as bases de recrutamento dos candidatos à Prefeitura das capitais brasileiras em 2008

Não é segredo para os estudiosos e é reconhecido pelos atores envolvidos no jogo político que o Prefeito desempenha importantes atividades, podendo influenciar o dia-a-dia da população, a relação com outras esferas de governo e as eleições gerais. Tomando como universo empírico os candidatos ao cargo de Prefeito das capitais brasileiras em 2008, procuramos identificar e analisar as bases de recrutamento desses concorrentes ao principal posto político do município. As interpretações correntes na literatura concentram-se sobre os vencedores da disputa eleitoral, deixando de lado os derrotados. O que os vencedores têm que os derrotados não têm? Seria o perfil dos vencedores diferente daquele encontrado no grupo dos derrotados? Com o propósito de oferecer uma contribuição aos estudos das bases de recrutamento dos membros pertencentes às elites locais, o texto está organizado em uma única seção, onde vamos discutir três dimensões: (i) gênero, faixa etária e naturalidade; (ii) nível de instrução, grupo profissional e mandato executivo e (iii) gastos com campanha e tamanho do patrimônio. Essas características podem ajudar a construir um perfil sociopolítico dos membros pertencentes aos grupos dos vencedores e dos derrotados nas eleições municipais de 2008 para o cargo de Prefeito das capitais brasileiras. Além disso, o estudo desses atributos pode indicar quais predominaram na disputa eleitoral, isto é, quais deles podem mostrar as características que circundam o processo seletivo dos integrantes do distinto grupo político.

Família interdita: transgeracionalidade e subjetivação em três obras ficcionais

O objetivo deste estudo foi discutir a transmissão psíquica geracional em duas obras do escritor Mia Couto: Antes de nascer o mundo (2009) e Um rio chamado tempo, uma casa chamada terra (2003), e no conto A terceira margem do rio, de Guimarães Rosa (1962). As três obras são narradas pelos filhos e destacam a família como epicentro de uma trama de segredos, interditos e culpabilizações transmitidos de uma geração a outra, possibilitando a compreensão de que o seio familiar permite não apenas a organização das experiências emocionais, mas a também a transmissão de aspectos intersubjetivos aos quais nem sempre as personagens têm acesso. Os segredos ou a não revelação das verdadeiras histórias dos personagens são apenas uma das formas de transmissão, pois, mesmo ocultando o interditado, transfere-se algo, de modo que o não revelar também é uma maneira de destacar o interdito, aquilo que ainda não foi elaborado e que, por conseguinte, não recebeu inscrição psíquica.