Neck Nerve Trunks Schwannomas: Clinical Features and Postoperative Neurologic Outcome

Objectives/Hypothesis: To analyze clinical and epidemiological features of neck nerve schwannomas, with emphasis on the neurologic outcome after surgical excision sparing as much of nerve fibers as possible with enucleation technique. Study Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Review of medical records from 1987 to 2006 of patients with neck nerve schwannomas, treated in a single institution. Results: Twenty-two patients were identified. Gender distribution was equal and age ranged from 15 to 61 years (mean: 38.6 years). Seven vagal, four brachial plexus, four sympathetic trunk, three cervical plexus, and two lesions on other sites could be identified. Most common symptom was neck mass. Local or irradiated pain also occurred in five cases. Median growing rate of tumors was 3 mm per year. Nerve paralysis was noted twice (a vagal schwannoma and a hypoglossal paralysis compressed by a vagal schwannoma). Different techniques were employed, and seven out of nine patients kept their nerve function (78%) after enucleation. No recurrence was observed in follow-up. Conclusions: Schwannomas should be treated surgically because of its growing potential, leading to local and neural compression symptoms. When possible, enucleation, which was employed in 10 patients of this series, is the recommended surgical option, allowing neural function preservation or restoration in most instances. This is especially important in the head and neck, where denervation may have a significant impact on the quality of life.

Development of a synthetic 7-ketocholesterol- rich emulsion resembling chylomicrons

Lipid emulsions that mimic natural lipoproteins help to understand the metabolism and the constitutional organization of circulating lipids. Chylomicrons synthesised by enterocyte cells usually contain oxysterols such as 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC). Here we describe the development of a 7-KC-containing emulsion as a model for oxisterol-rich chylomicron. Different amounts of 7-KC were used. Emulsion characteristics as effective diameter, lipid saturation with radiolabeled lipids was evaluated. In conclusion, the production of a synthetic 7-KC-rich emulsion resembling hylomicrons was feasible, being a model for in vivo metabolism studies.

Effect of phototherapy with low intensity laser on local and systemic immunomodulation following focal brain damage in rat

Brain injury is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in trauma patients, but controversy still exists over therapeutic management for these patients. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of phototherapy with low intensity lasers on local and systemic immunomodulation following cryogenic brain injury. Laser phototherapy was applied (or not-controls) immediately after cryogenic brain injury performed in 51 adult male Wistar rats. The animals were irradiated twice (3 h interval), with continuous diode laser (gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs), 780 nm, or indium-gallium-aluminum-phosphide (InGaAlP), 660 nm) in two points and contact mode, 40 mW, spot size 0.042 cm(2), 3 J/cm(2) and 5 J/cm(2) (3 s and 5 s, respectively). The experimental groups were: Control (non-irradiated), RL3 (visible red laser/ 3 J/cm(2)), RL5 (visible red laser/5 J/cm(2)), IRL3 (infrared laser/ 3 J/cm(2)), IRL5 (infrared laser/5 J/cm(2)). The production of interleukin-1IL-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was analyzed by enzyme immunoassay technique (ELISA) test in brain and blood samples. The IL-1 beta concentration in brain of the control group ;was significantly reduced in 24 h (p < 0.01). This reduction was also observed in the RL5 and IRL3 groups. The TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations increased significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) in the blood of all groups, except by the IRL3 group. The IL-6 levels in RL3 group were significantly smaller than in control group in both experimental times. IL-10 concentration was maintained stable in all groups in brain and blood. Under the conditions of this study, it is possible to conclude that the laser phototherapy can affect TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 levels in the brain and in circulation in the first 24 h following cryogenic brain injury. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

INTENSITY-MODULATED AND 3D-CONFORMAL RADIOTHERAPY FOR WHOLE-VENTRICULAR IRRADIATION AS COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL WHOLE-BRAIN IRRADIATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LOCALIZED CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM GERM CELL TUMORS

Purpose: To compare the sparing potential of cerebral hemispheres with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for whole-ventricular irradiation (WVI) and conventional whole-brain irradiation (WBI) in the management of localized central nervous system germ cell tumors (CNSGCTs). Methods and Materials: Ten cases of patients with localized CNSGCTs and submitted to WVI by use of IMRT with or without a ""boost"" to the primary lesion were selected. For comparison purposes, similar treatment plans were produced by use of 3D-CRT (WVI with or without boost) and WBI (opposed lateral fields with or without boost), and cerebral hemisphere sparing was evaluated at dose levels ranging from 2 Gy to 40 Gy. Results: The median prescription dose for WVI was 30.6 Gy (range, 25.2-37.5 Gy), and that for the boost was 16.5 Gy (range, 0-23.4 Gy). Mean irradiated cerebral hemisphere volumes were lower for WVI with IMRT than for 3D-CRT and were lower for WVI with 3D-CRT than for WBI. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy was associated with the lowest irradiated volumes, with reductions of 7.5%, 12.2%, and 9.0% at dose levels., compared with 3D-CRT. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy provided of 20, 30, and 40 Gy, respectively statistically significant reductions of median irradiated volumes at all dose levels (p = 0.002 or less). However, estimated radiation doses to peripheral areas of the body were 1.9 times higher with IMRT than with 3D-CRT. Conclusions: Although IMRT is associated with increased radiation doses to peripheral areas of the body, its use can spare a significant amount of normal central nervous system tissue compared with 3D-CRT or WBI in the setting of CNSGCT treatment. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc.

The influence of the amount of sunscreen applied and its sun protection factor (SPF): evaluation of two sunscreens including the same ingredients at different concentrations

Background To estimate labeled sun protection factor (SPF) for sunscreen, the amount of product applied on volunteers, according to food and drug administration (FDA) and International protocols, is 2 mg/cm(2). However, different studies have shown that consumers actually apply much less product when exposed to the sun. Previous studies have reported contradictory findings in an attempt to correlate the amount applied in relation to SPF. The objective of the present study was to estimate the influence of the quantity of sunscreen applied in the determination of SPF, according to the FDA methodology. Subjects and methods Forty volunteers were included in two groups (SPF 15 and 30). The selected sunscreen was then applied in four different quantities (2, 1.5, 1.0 and 0.5 mg/cm(2)). All areas were irradiated with a solar simulator. After 24 h, the minimal erythemal dose (MED) and SPF were determined. Results In both groups, we observed that the SPF decreased when the amount of sunscreen applied was decreased. The differences between the 2 mg/cm(2) area and the others were significant in both groups (P < 0.001). The correlation between specified SPF and applied amount grew exponentially. Conclusion The protection provided by sunscreen is related to the amount of product applied. It is essential to educate consumers to apply larger amounts of sunscreen for adequate photoprotection.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables and C - reactive protein in women undergoing cosmetic surgery

Low-grade inflammation adversely influences metabolism and cardiovascular prognosis, nevertheless increased intake of fruits and vegetables has rarely been studied in this context. Objective: In a prospective controlled study, the effect on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was assessed. Methodology: Sixty consecutive women undergoing cosmetic abdominal surgery were instructed to consume six servings each of fruits and vegetables during the first postoperative month. Detailed 24h interviewer-administered dietary recall was conducted at baseline and at the end of the study, with weekly returns to monitor unscheduled dietary changes and compliance with the protocol. Variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA) were evaluated to confirm significance and minimize confounding variables. Results: No differences concerning age (42.2 +/- 5.3 vs 41.1 +/- 6.0 years) or BMI (25.5 +/- 3.1 vs 25.0 +/- 3.0 kg/m(2)) occurred. Ingestion of fruits increased to approximately 5.2 vs 3.9 and of vegetables 5.9 vs 3.4 servings/ day, respectively. CRP decreased more conspicuously in the treated group (P = 0.028), and correlation between vitamin C input and CRP in supplemented participants was demonstrated (P = 0.014). Conclusions: Higher intake of antioxidant foods was feasible, and an antiinflammaotory effect occurred. Further studies with longer administration and follow-up period are recommended.

Phenolics and Antioxidant Properties of Fruit Pulp and Cell Wall Fractions of Postharvest Banana (Musa acuminata Juss.) Cultivars

Banana fruits are important foods, but there have been very few studies evaluating the phenolics associated with their cell walls. In the present study, (+) catechin, gallocatechin, and (-) epicatechin, as well as condensed tannins, were detected in the soluble extract of the fruit pulp; neither soluble anthocyanidins nor anthocyanins were present. In the soluble cell wall fraction, two hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were predominant, whereas in the insoluble cell wall fraction, the anthocyanidin delphinidin, which is reported in banana cell walls for the first time, was predominant. Cell wall fractions showed remarkable antioxidant capacity, especially after acid and enzymatic hydrolysis, which was correlated with the total phenolic content released after the hydrolysis of the water-insoluble polymer, but not for the posthydrolysis water-soluble polymer. The acid hydrolysis released various monosaccharides, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis released one peak of oligosaccharides. These results indicate that banana cell walls could be a suitable source of natural antioxidants and that they could be bioaccessible in the human gut.

Maternal alcohol consumption may influence cord blood ascorbic acid concentration: findings from a study of Brazilian mothers and their newborns

Studies that have investigated ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations in cord blood have pointed to significant associations with maternal blood AA concentrations. smoking, age, diet, type of delivery, duration of gestation, fetal distress and birth weight. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between cord blood AA concentrations in newborns and maternal characteristics. A total of 117 Brazilian healthy parturients were included in this cross-sectional study. The concentrations of AA in blood were determined by the HPLC method. Data concerning socio-economic, demographic, obstetric, nutritional and health characteristics of the parturients, including alcohol consumption and smoking habit, were assessed by a standardised questionnaire. A FFQ was used to investigate the intake of foods rich in vitamin C. Cord blood AA concentration was significantly correlated with per capita income (r 0.26; P=0.005), maternal blood AA concentration (r 0.48; P<0.001) and maternal vitamin C-rich food intake score (r 0.36; P<0.001). The linear regression model including maternal AA concentration, alcohol consumption, smoking, parity, vitamin C-rich food intake score and per capita income explained 31.13% of the variation in cord blood AA concentrations in newborns. We recommend further experimental studies to assess the effects of ethanol on placental AA uptake, and epidemiological cohort studies to evaluate in detail the influence of maternal alcohol consumption on cord blood AA concentrations.

Identification of fructooligosaccharides in different banana cultivars

Banana has been currently indicated as a good source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are considered to be functional components of foods. However, significant differences in their amounts in bananas have been observed in the literature. This work aims to identify and quantify FOS during ripening in different banana cultivars belonging to the most common genomic groups cultivated in Brazil. Considering that these differences can be due to cultivar, stage of ripening, and the methodologies used for FOS analyses, sugar contents were analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). An initial screening of eight cultivars (Ouro, Nanicao, Prata, Maca, Mysore, Pacovan, Terra, and Figo) in a full-ripe stage showed that 1-kestose, the first member of the FOS series (amounts between 297 and 1600 mu g/g of DM), was accumulated in all of them. Nystose, the second member, was detected only in Prata cultivar. Five of the cultivars were analyzed during ripening, and a strong correlation could be established with a specific sucrose level (similar to 200 mg/g of DM), which seems to trigger the synthesis of 1-kestose (the low amounts of FOS, below the functional recommended dose, indicates that banana cannot be considered a good source of FOS).

Transcriptional changes in U343 MG-a glioblastoma cell line exposed to ionizing radiation

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly invasive and radioresistant brain tumor. Aiming to study how glioma cells respond to gamma-rays in terms of biological processes involved in cellular responses, we performed experiments at cellular context and gene expression analysis in U343-MG-a GBM cells irradiated with 1 Gy and collected at 6 h post-irradiation. The survival rate was approximately 61% for 1 Gy and was completely reduced at 16 Gy. By performing the microarray technique, 859 cDNA clones were analyzed. The Significance Analysis of Microarray algorithm indicated 196 significant expressed genes (false discovery rate (FDR) = 0.42%): 67 down-regulated and 97 up-regulated genes, which belong to several classes: metabolism, adhesion/cytoskeleton, signal transduction, cell cycle/apoptosis, membrane transport, DNA repair/DNA damage signaling, transcription factor, intracellular signaling, and RNA processing. Differential expression patterns of five selected genes (HSPA9B, INPP5A, PIP5K1A, FANCG, and TPP2) observed by the microarray analysis were further confirmed by the quantitative real time RT-PCR method, which demonstrated an up-regulation status of those genes. These results indicate a broad spectrum of biological processes (which may reflect the radio-resistance of U343 cells) that were altered in irradiated glioma cells, so as to guarantee cell survival.

DETERMINATION OF ENERGY VALUE OF HAMBURGERS AND MEATBALLS BY DIRECT CALORIMETRY AND FOOD ANALYSIS COMPOSITION. COMPARISON WITH NUTRITION INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON PACKAGES

The nutritional composition found in the laboratory and those present on labels of manufactured foods can differ significantly. The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritional composition of hamburgers and meatballs and compare them with your labels. The food analysis was performed following the Analytical Standards Institute`s Adolfo Lutz and energy content was determined by bomb calorimetry. Regarding the energy value, all the samples had values less than informed on the label. The content of lipids of hamburgers and meatballs ( except the beef) were lower than those reported on the label. The values of protein for the meatballs and chicken hamburger had lower values than those labels. Thus, the labels may overestimate as underestimate some nutritional values, leading to population erroneous information.

Quality control of blood irradiation with a teletherapy unit: damage to stored red blood cells after cobalt-60 gamma irradiation

BACKGROUND: Previous publications have documented the damage caused to red blood cells (RBCs) irradiated with X-rays produced by a linear accelerator and with gamma rays derived from a Cs-137 source. The biologic effects on RBCs of gamma rays from a Co-60 source, however, have not been characterized. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study investigated the effect of 3000 and 4000 cGy on the in vitro properties of RBCs preserved with preservative solution and irradiated with a cobalt teletherapy unit. A thermal device equipped with a data acquisition system was used to maintain and monitor the blood temperature during irradiation. The device was rotated at 2 r.p.m. in the irradiation beam by means of an automated system. The spatial distribution of the absorbed dose over the irradiated volume was obtained with phantom and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). Levels of Hb, K+, and Cl- were assessed by spectrophotometric techniques over a period of 45 days. The change in the topology of the RBC membrane was investigated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Irradiation caused significant changes in the extracellular levels of K+ and Hb and in the organizational structure of the phospholipid bilayer of the RBC membrane. Blood temperature ranged from 2 to 4 degrees C during irradiation. Rotation at 2 r.p.m. distributed the dose homogeneously (92%-104%) and did not damage the RBCs. CONCLUSIONS: The method used to store the blood bags during irradiation guaranteed that all damage caused to the cells was exclusively due to the action of radiation at the doses applied. It was demonstrated that prolonged storage of Co-60-irradiated RBCs results in loss of membrane phospholipids asymmetry, exposing phosphatidylserine (PS) on the cells` surface with a time and dose dependence, which can reduce the in vivo recovery of these cells. A time- and dose-dependence effect on the extracellular K+ and plasma-free Hb levels was also observed. The magnitude of all these effects, however, seems not to be clinically important and can support the storage of irradiated RBC units for at last 28 days.

Cultural consonance and adult body composition in urban Brazil

In previous research in Brazil, we found socioeconomic and gender differences in body mass and percent body fat, consistent with a model in which individuals in higher socioeconomic strata, especially women, could achieve a cultural ideal of body size and shape. In this article, using new data, we examine these processes more precisely using measures of cultural consonance. Cultural consonance refers to the degree to which individuals approximate, in their own beliefs and behaviors, the shared prototypes for belief and behavior encoded in cultural models. We have found higher cultural consonance in several domains to be associated with health outcomes. Furthermore, there tends to be a general consistency in cultural consonance across domains. Here we suggest that measures of body composition can be considered indicators of individuals` success in achieving cultural ideals of the body, and that cultural consonance in several domains will be associated with body composition. Using waist circumference as an outcome, smaller waist size was associated with higher cultural consonance in lifestyle (beta = -0.311, P < 0.01) and higher cultural consonance in the consumption of high prestige foods (beta = -0.260, P < 0.01) for women (n = 161), but not for men (n = 106), controlling for age, family income, tobacco use, and dietary intake of protein and carbohydrates. Similar results were obtained using the body mass index and weight as outcomes, while there were no associations with height. These results help to illuminate the cultural mediation of body composition.

Iron Fortification Strategies for the Control of Childhood Anemia in Brazil

This article presents data on the fortification of foods, necessary as an important public health approach for the success in reducing anemia. The use of food vehicles, iron salts and their costs, as well as recent work on iron fortification of foods in Brazil are reviewed. Recent research serves as a cornerstone for countries that attempt to implement permanent, long-lasting iron fortification programs aimed at the prevention of anemia considering cultural habits, type of iron salts and at-risk groups.

Experimental selective choriocapillaris photothrombosis using a modified indocyanine green formulation

Background: This in vivo study assessed and compared the effectiveness of an aqueous indocyanine green (ICG) formulation (R-ICG) and a lipid ICG formulation (L-ICG) in occluding the rabbit choriocapillaris, and determined the singlet oxygen quantum yields and aggregation properties of both formulations in vitro. Methods: Singlet oxygen production and aggregation were compared. The eye fundus of 30 albino rabbits was irradiated 0-15 min after dye injection using an 810 nm diode laser. Fluorescein angiography and light microscopy were used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of R-ICG and L-ICG. Results: L-ICG decreased the dimerisation constant and the tendency of ICG to form aggregates, and increased the efficiency of ICG in generating singlet oxygen (R-ICG, Phi Delta= 0.120 and L-ICG, Phi Delta= 0.210). Using a 10 mg/kg dose, choriocapillaris occlusion was achieved at a light dose of 35.8 J/cm(2) with L-ICG and 71.6 J/cm(2) with R-ICG with minimal damage to the neurosensory retina. Conclusion: Restrictions to the use of ICG in aqueous solution, low singlet oxygen quantum yields and high aggregation tendency, were overcome with L-ICG. The lower laser irradiance required to obtain choriocapillaris occlusion may suggest that L-ICG is a more potent and selective photosensitiser than R-ICG.