Essential role of TM V and VI for binding the C-terminal sequences of Des-Arg-kinins

In the kallikrein-kinin and renin-angiotensin systems the main receptors, B-1 and B-2 (kinin receptors) and AT(1) and AT(2) (angiotensin receptors) respectively, are seven-transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptors. Considering that the B, agonists Des-Arg(9)-BK (Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe), Lys-desArg(9)-BK or Des-Arg(10)-KD (Lys-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe) and the AT, agonist (Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-lle-His-Pro-Phe) have the same two residues at the C-terminal region (i.e. Pro-Phe), we hypothesized that TM V and TM VI of the B-1 receptor could play an essential role in agonist binding and activity, being these regions receptor sites for binding the C-terminal sequences of Des-Arg-kinins similarly to that observed to AT, receptor. To investigate this hypothesis, we replaced Arg(212) for Ala at the top of the TM V and the sequence 274-282 (CPYHFFAFL) in TM VI of the rat kinin B, receptor by the 32 receptor homologous sequence, 289-297 (FPFQISTFL) and subsequently analyzed the consequences of these mutations by competition binding and functional assays. Despite correct expression, observed at the mRNA and protein level by RT-PCR and confocal microscopy, respectively, no agonist binding and function was verified for the mutated receptors. Therefore, our results suggest an important role for Arg(212) in the TM V and a region of TM VI of rat B, receptor in the interaction with the C-terminal residues of Des-Arg-kinins, similar to that observed with AngII. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Randomized Clinical Trial to Examine Enhancing Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with Motivational Interviewing and Thought Mapping

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repeated and persistent attempts to control thoughts and actions with rituals. These rituals are used in order to prevent feared or personally distressing outcomes. Cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) has been reported to be effective for treating OCD patients. However, about one-third (30%) of patients do not benefit from CBGT. Some of these patients do not show significant improvement and continue to use rituals following CBGT, partially because they fail to complete the exposure and ritual prevention (ERP) exercises. Consequently, it is important to motivate patients to fully engage in CBGT treatment and complete the ERP exercises. Aims: A randomized behavioral trial examined 12 weeks of manual directed CBGT, with the addition of individual sessions of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Thought Mapping (TM), and compared treatment outcome to the effectiveness of CBGT group alone. Method: Subjects were randomized (n = 93) into a CBGT group or a CBGT group with MI+TM. Results: When the two groups were compared, both groups reduced OCD symptoms. However, symptom reduction and remission were significantly higher in the MI+TM CBGT group. Positive outcomes were also maintained, with additional symptom reduction at the 3-month follow-up for the MI TM CBGT group. Conclusions: Adding two individual sessions of MI and TM before CBGT successfully reduced OCD symptoms and was more effective than using CBGT group alone.

Influence of heavy rare earth ions substitution on microstructure and magnetism of nanocrystalline magnetite

In this work we report results on the influence of heavy rare earth ions substitution on microstructure and magnetism of nanocrystalline magnetite. A series of Fe(2.85)RE(0.15)O(4) (RE = Gd, Dy, Ho, Tm and Yb) samples have been prepared by high energy ball milling. Structure/microstructure investigations of two selected samples Fe(2.85)Gd(0.15)O(4) and Fe(2.85)Tm(0.15)O(4), represent an extension of the previously published results on Fe(3)O(4)/gamma-Fe(2)O(3), Fe(2.85)Y(0.15)O(4) and Fe(2.55)In(0.45)O(4) [Z. Cvejic, S. Rakic, A. Kremenovic, B. Antic, C. Jovalekic. Ph. Colomban, Sol. State Sciences 8 (2006) 908], while magnetic characterization has been done for all the samples. Crystallite/particle size and strain determined by X-ray diffractometry and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the nanostructured nature of the mechanosynthesized materials. X-ray powder diffraction was used to analyze anisotropic line broadening effects through the Rietveld method. The size anisotropy was found to be small while strain anisotropy was large, indicating nonuniform distribution of deffects in the presence of Gd and Tm in the crystal structure. Superparamagnetic(SPM) behavior at room temperature was observed for all samples studied. The Y-substituted Fe(3)O(4) had the largest He and the lowest M(S). We discuss the changes in magnetic properties in relation to their magnetic anisotropy and microstructure. High field irreversibility (H>20kOe) in ZFC/FC magnetization versus temperature indicates the existence of high magnetocrystalline and/or strain induced anisotropy. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Energy transfer processes in Yb(3+)-Tm(3+) co-doped sodium alumino-phosphate glasses with improved 1.8 mu m emission

Sodium alumino-phosphate glasses co-doped with Yb(3+) and Tm(3+) ions have been prepared with notably low OH(-) content, and characterized from the viewpoint of their spectroscopic properties. In these glasses, Yb(3+) acts as an efficient sensitizer of excitation energy at 0.98 mu m - which can be provided by high power and low cost diode lasers, and subsequently undergoes non-resonant energy transfer to Tm(3+) ions ((2)F(5/2), (3)H(6) --> (2)F(7/2), (3)H(5)). Through this process, the emitting level (3)F(4) is rapidly populated, generating improved emission at 1.8 mu m ((3)F(4) --> (3)H(6)). In order to guarantee the efficiency of such favorable energy transfer, energy losses via multiphonon decay, Yb-Yb radiative trapping, and non- radiative transfer to OH(-) groups were evaluated, and minimized when possible. The dipole - dipole energy transfer microscopic parameters corresponding to Yb(3+) --> Tm(3+), Yb(3+) --> Yb(3+) and Tm(3+) --> Tm(3+) transfers, calculated by the Forster-Dexter model, are C(Yb-Tm) = 2.9 x 10(-40) cm(6) s(-1), C(Yb-Yb) = 42 x 10(-40) cm(6) s(-1) and C(Tm-Tm) = 43 x 10(-40) cm(6) s(-1), respectively.

Theory of nitride oxide adsorption on transition metal (111) surfaces: a first-principles investigation

In this work, we report a density functional theory study of nitric oxide (NO) adsorption on close-packed transition metal (TM) Rh(111), Ir(111), Pd(111) and Pt(111) surfaces in terms of adsorption sites, binding mechanism and charge transfer at a coverage of Theta(NO) = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 monolayer (ML). Based on our study, an unified picture for the interaction between NO and TM(111) and site preference is established, and valuable insights are obtained. At low coverage (0.25 ML), we find that the interaction of NO/TM(111) is determined by an electron donation and back-donation process via the interplay between NO 5 sigma/2 pi* and TM d-bands. The extent of the donation and back-donation depends critically on the coordination number (adsorption sites) and TM d-band filling, and plays an essential role for NO adsorption on TM surfaces. DFT calculations shows that for TMs with high d-band filling such as Pd and Pt, hollow-site NO is energetically the most favorable, and top-site NO prefers to tilt away from the normal direction. While for TMs with low d-band filling (Rh and Ir), top-site NO perpendicular to the surfaces is energetically most favorable. Electronic structure analysis show that irrespective of the TM and adsorption site, there is a net charge transfer from the substrate to the adsorbate due to overwhelming back-donation from the TM substrate to the adsorbed NO molecules. The adsorption-induced change of the work function with respect to bare surfaces and dipole moment is however site dependent, and the work function increases for hollow-site NO, but decreases for top-site NO, because of differences in the charge redistribution. The interplay between the energetics, lateral interaction and charge transfer, which is element dependent, rationalizes the structural evolution of NO adsorption on TM(111) surfaces in the submonolayer regime.

Cervical Mobility in Women With Migraine

Objective.-To contrast the cervical range of motion (CROM) in women with episodic migraine (EM), transformed migraine (TM), and controls without migraine headaches. Background.-Migraineurs often complain about neck pain. Furthermore, neck problems can worsen the headaches in individuals with migraine. Individuals with neck pain usually have reduced CROM. Nonetheless, studies assessing the CROM in migraineurs are scarce. Methods.-Our sample was selected in an outpatient headache clinic, and consisted of 45 women aged 20-54 years old, 15 per group. Cervical mobility was evaluated in movements of flexion, extension, right lateral flexion, left lateral flexion, right rotation, and left rotation using the CROM technique, and was contrasted among the groups. Migraine clinical patterns were also evaluated ( frequency, duration of migraine, pain in the moment of evaluation, pain in movement, and pain localization) as a function of CROM. Results.-Compared with controls, individuals with TM had numerically inferior CROM in all parameters, and significant reduction in 3 of them: extension (59.3 vs 68.1, P = .02), left lateral flexion (44.5 vs 49.1, P = .03), and right rotation (62.2 vs 69.6, P = .02). Compared with individuals with migraine, the TM group presented significantly reduced mobility only for extension ( 59.3 vs 68.4, P = .02). Migraineurs also had numerically inferior ROM, contrasted to controls, in 5 of the 6 parameters, although significance was seen just for right rotation (60.8 vs 68.6 P < .01). There was no correlation between cervical mobility and migraine parameters. The CROM was not reduced for the symptomatic side of migraine, in cases of unilateral pain. Conclusion.-Contrasted to controls, individuals with episodic and TM have decreased cervical range of motion.

Mg(2+) Ions Bind at the C-Terminal Region of Skeletal Muscle alpha-Tropomyosin

Tropomyosin (Tm) is a dimeric coiled-coil protein that polymerizes through head-to-tail interactions. These polymers bind along actin filaments and play an important role in the regulation of muscle contraction. Analysis of its primary structure shows that Tm is rich in acidic residues, which are clustered along the molecule and may from sites for divalent cation binding. In a previous study, we showed that the Mg(2+)-induced increase in stability of the C-terminal half of Tin is sensitive to imitations near the C-terminus. In the present report, we study the interaction between Mg(2+) and full-length Tin and smaller fragments corresponding to the last 65 and 26 Tin residues. Although the smaller Tin peptide (Tm(259-284(W269))) is flexible and to large extent unstructured, the larger Tm(220-284(W269)) fragments forms a coiled coil in solution whose stability increases significantly in the presence of Mg(2+). NMR analysis shows thin Mg(2+) induces chemical shift perturbations in both Tm(220-284(W269)) and Tm(259-284(W269)) in the vicinity of His276, in which are located several negatively charged residues. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 583-590, 2009.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SENSITIVITY OF DIABETIC LOWER EXTREMITIES WITH AND WITHOUT ULCERS USING THE PSSD (TM)

Introduction To determine and compare thresholds of cutaneous sensitivity of lower extremities in diabetic patients with an ulcer on only one lower extremity Methods and Materials The study group included 20 patients with mean age of 61 6 and average time with diabetes of 12 4 years All patients were previously tested using Semmes-Weinstein monofilament 5 07 Sensitivity was evaluated using the two point discrimination test and the PSSD (TM) (Pressure-Specified Sensory Device) in order to assess touch thresholds in a quantitative manner, in g/mm(2) Three skin areas were tested hallux pulp, dorsum of foot and medial heel, including four tests 1 point static, 1 point moving, 2 points static and 2 points moving Results Mean 2 point discrimination distance in mm was higher in feet with ulcers, but the difference between extremities was only statistically significant for the hallux. With the PSSD (TM), all patients had higher pressure thresholds in feet with ulcers when compared with feet without ulcers, in all tests, with statistical significance Conclusion The PSSD (TM) was able to differentiate levels of sensation between extremities with and without ulcers in diabetic patients, with statistical significance

Reverse Microemulsion Synthesis, Structure, and Luminescence of Nanosized REPO(4):Ln(3+) (RE = La, Y, Gd, or Yb, and Ln = Eu, Tm, or Er)

A surfactant-mediated solution route for the obtainment of nanosized rare-earth orthophosphates of different compositions (LaPO(4):Eu(3+), (Y,Gd)PO(4):Eu(3+),LaPO(4):Tm(3+), YPO(4):Tm(3+), and YbPO(4):Er(3+)) is presented, and the implications of the morphology control on the solids properties are discussed. The solids are prepared in water-in-heptane microemulsions, using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and 1-butanol as the surfactant and cosurfactant; the alteration of the starting microemulsion composition allows the obtainment of similar to 30 nm thick nanorods with variable length. The morphology and the structure of the solids were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy and through powder X-ray diffractometry; dynamic light scattering and thermal analyses were also performed. The obtained materials were also characterized through vibrational (FTIR) and luminescence spectroscopy (emission/excitation, luminescence lifetimes, chromaticity, and quantum efficiency), where the red, blue, and upconversion emissions of the prepared phosphors were evaluated.

Mapping changes in coastline geomorphic features using Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery: examples in southeastern Brazil

Multitemporal Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) imagery was used to assess coastline morphological changes in southeastern Brazil. A spectral linear mixing approach (SLMA) was used to estimate fraction imagery representing amounts of vegetation, clean water (a proxy for shade) and soil. Fraction abundances were related to erosive and depositional features. Shoreline, sandy banks (including emerged and submerged banks) and sand spits were highlighted mainly by clean water and soil fraction imagery. To evaluate changes in the coastline geomorphic features, the fraction imagery generated for each data set was classified in a contextual approach using a segmentation technique and ISOSEG, an unsupervised classification. Evaluation of the classifications was performed visually and by an error matrix relating ground-truth data to classification results. Comparison of the classification results revealed an intense transformation in the coastline, and that erosive and depositional features are extremely dynamic and subject to change in short periods of time.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis: Performance of a rapid diagnostic test (Kalazar Detect (TM)) in dogs with and without signs of the disease

Current visceral leishmaniasis (VL) control programs in Brazil include the infected dog elimination but, despite this strategy, the incidence of human VL is still increasing. One of the reasons is the long delay between sample collection, analysis, control implementation and the low sensitivity of diagnostic tests. Due to the high prevalence of asymptomatic dogs, the diagnosis of these animals is important considering their vector infection capacity. Hence, a rapid and accurate diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis is essential for an efficient surveillance program. In this study we evaluated the performance of rK39 antigen in an immunochromatographic format to detect symptomatic and asymptomatic Leishmania chagasi infection in dogs and compared the results with those using a crude antigen ELISA. The sensitivity of rK39 dipstick and ELISA were 83% vs. 95%, respectively, while the specificity was both 100%. Our results also demonstrated that the dipstick test was able to detect infected dogs presenting different clinical forms. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bond strength of Epiphany (TM) Sealer combined with different adhesive systems photo-activated with LED and QTH

The Epiphany (TM) Sealer is a new dual-curing resin-based sealer and has been introduced as an alternative to gutta-percha and traditional root canal sealers. The canal filling is claimed to create a seal with the dentinal tubules within the root canal system producing a `monoblock` effect between the sealer and dentinal tubules. Therefore, considering the possibility to incorporate the others adhesive systems, it is important to study the bond strength of the resulting cement. Forty-eight root mandibular canines were sectioned 8-mm below CEJ. The dentine discs were prepared using a tapered diamond bur and irrigated with 1% NaOCl and 17% EDTA. Previous the application Epiphany (TM) Sealer, the Epiphany (TM) Primer, AdheSE, and One Up Bond F were applied to the root canal walls. The LED and QTH (Quartz Tungsten Halogen) were used to photo-activation during 45 s with power density of 400 and 720 mW/cm(2), respectively. The specimens were performed on a universal testing machine at a cross-head speed of 1 mm/min until bond failure occurred. The force was recorded and the debonding values were used to calculate Push-out bond strength. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey`s post-hoc tests showed significant statistical differences (P < 0.05) to Epiphany (TM) Sealer/Epiphany (TM) Primer/QTH and EpiphanyTM Sealer/AdheSE/QTH, which had the highest mean values of bond strength. The efficiency of resin-based filling materials are dependent the type of light curing unit used including the power density, the polymerization characteristics of these resin-based filling materials, depending on the primer/adhesive used.

Behaviors and hygiene habits of complete denture wearers

In this study, a questionnaire was applied to patients from Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the hygiene methods and habits concerning the use of complete dentures, the age of dentures, and whether patients have been instructed on how to clean their dentures. The mean age of patients was 63.35 years, and most of them were females (82.08%). The results showed that 62.26% of the respondents had been using the same maxillary complete denture for more than 5 years, and 49.06% used the same mandible complete denture for more than 5 years. Of the patients interviewed, 58.49% slept with the dentures. Mechanical brushing was the most used cleaning method by the patients (100%), using water, dentifrice and toothbrush (84.91%). Most patients (51.89%) reported never having been instructed by their dentists as to how to clean their dentures. Based on the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the patients interviewed had limited knowledge about prosthetic hygiene and oral care. The method more used by patients was the mechanical method of brushing, most patients used the same complete dentures for more than 5 years and slept with the dentures.

Phase transitions in biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and poly (vinyl alcohol)

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the hydrolysis degree (HD) and the concentration (C PVA) of two types of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and the effect of the type and the concentration of plasticizers on the phase properties of biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and PVA, using a response-surface methodology. The films were made by casting and the studied properties were their glass (Tg) and melting (Tm) transition temperatures, which were determined by diferential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For the data obtained on the first scan, the fitting of the linear model was statistically significant and predictive only for the second melting temperature. In this case, the most important effect on the second Tm of the first scan was due to the HD of the PVA. In relation to the second scan, the linear model could be fit to Tg data with only two statistically significant parameters. Both the PVA and plasticizer concentrations had an important effect on Tg. Concerning the second Tm of the second scan, the linear model was fit to data with two statistically significant parameters, namely the HD and the plasticizer concentration. But, the most important effect was provoked by the HD of the PVA.

Mentors, students, and the undergraduate medical course: a virtuous circle

BACKGROUND: Mentoring Programs have been developed in several medical schools, but few studies have investigated the mentors'perspective. PURPOSES: To explore mentors'perceptions regarding their experience. METHODS: Mentors at a medical school were invited to participate in an in-depth interview including questions on satisfaction, difficulties, and perception of changes resulting from the program. RESULTS: Mentors' satisfaction and difficulties are strongly associated with students'involvement in the activity. Mentors believe changes observed in students were more related to life issues; for some mentors, there is no recognition or awareness of the program. However, most of the mentors acknowledged important changes in relation to themselves: as teachers, faculty members, and individuals. CONCLUSION: Attendance is crucial for both the mentoring relationship and strengthening of the program. Students involved in the activity motivate mentors in teaching and curriculum development, thereby creating a virtuous circle and benefiting undergraduate medical education as a whole.