Influence of artificial accelerated ageing on the colour stability of paints used for ocular prosthesis iris painting

Objectives: To evaluate the colour stability of paints used for ocular prosthesis iris painting submitted for accelerated artificial ageing (AAA). Materials and methods: Forty specimens of acrylic resin for sclera (16 x 2 mm) were made and separated into eight groups (n = 10) according to the type of paint (gouache, GP; oil, OP; acrylic AP; and composite resin for characterisation, CR) and the colours used (blue/brown). After drying (72 h), a new layer of colourless acrylic resin was applied and the initial colour readout was performed (Spectrophotometer PCB 6807). New colour readouts were performed after AAA, and Delta E was calculated. Results: Statistical analysis (two-way ANOVA-Bonferroni, p < 0.05) demonstrated that the brown colour showed lower Delta E means in comparison with the blue colour, with statistically significant difference for AP only. Blue colour showed no statistically significant difference with regard to the type of paint used. Brown AP showed lower Delta E than the other groups, with significant difference for OP and GP. GP showed greater alteration in Delta E for the brown colour, being statistically similar only to OP. Conclusions: Only the AP group for brown pigment shows clinically acceptable values for colour stability after AAA.

A longitudinal study of Neospora caninum infection on three dairy farms in Brazil

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite that is one of the most important infectious causes of abortion in both dairy and beef cattle in many countries. The objectives of this longitudinal study were to determine the prevalence, rates of vertical and horizontal transmission of N. caninum and hazard for culling of N. caninum-seropositive animals in three Brazilian dairy herds. Blood samples from all animals were collected nine times at each of the three farms over a two-year period. Serum was tested for antibodies against N. caninum using the indirect fluorescent antibody test with a cutoff value of 1:100. The percentage of N. caninum-positive samples at each sampling time ranged at Farm 1 from 3.32% to 11.71%, at Farm 11 from 3.90% to 22.06% and at Farm III from 3.90% to 22.06%. The number of positive serological reactions varied in relation to the number of repeated samples taken from individual animals at each farm. In all herds, there was a high degree (P < 0.05) of association between the N. caninum serological status of dams and daughters. The seropositive conversion rate was estimated as 0.37%, 3.00% and 6.94% per 100 cow-years at Farms I, II and III, respectively. The seronegative conversion rate was estimated as 31.58% and 11.11% per 100 cow-years at Farms 1 and III, respectively. In all herds, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in the culling rate between the cattle that were seropositive cattle and seronegative for N. caninum infection. The results from this study confirm the importance of vertical transmission in the epidemiology of N. caninum. Although a few positive seroconversions indicated horizontal transmission, it does not appear to be the major route of infection for N. caninum. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Avaliação de resultados em um serviço de atenção secundária para pacientes com Diabetes mellitus

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o componente resultado em um serviço de atenção secundária a usuários com Diabetes mellitus tipo 2, tomando como indicadores os controles de pressão arterial, hemoglobina glicada e lipoproteína de baixa densidade. MÉTODOS: Estudo do tipo documental e retrospectivo envolvendo a análise desses indicadores, obtidos nos anos entre 2007 e 2009, com base na consulta de 108 prontuários de usuários de um serviço de atenção secundária, realizada na avaliação de cuidados em saúde. RESULTADOS: Os resultados evidenciaram que 30,3% dos usuários alcançaram a meta para a hemoglobina glicada, 48,1%, para a pressão arterial e 42,3%, para a lipoproteína de baixa densidade. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados avaliados foram semelhantes aos encontrados em outras investigações internacionais e nacionais, com grande proporção de usuários com DM2 estudados, apresentando controle dos níveis hemoglobina A1c, PA e LDL-C, aquém do preconizado nos consensos.