Morphine infusions into the rostrolateral periaqueductal gray affect maternal behaviors

It is well established that morphine inhibits maternal behaviors. Previous studies by our group have shown activation of the rostrolateral periaqueductal gray (rlPAG) upon inhibition-intended subcutaneous injections of morphine. In this context, we demonstrated that a single naloxone infusion into the rlPAG, following this opioid-induced inhibition, reactivated maternal behaviors. Since these data were obtained by using peripheral morphine injections, the present study was designed to test whether morphine injected directly into the rlPAG would affect maternal behaviors. Our hypothesis that morphine acting through the rlPAG would disrupt maternal behaviors was confirmed with a local infusion of morphine. The mothers showed shorter latency for locomotor behavior to explore the home cage (P = 0.049). Inhibition was especially evident regarding retrieving (P = 0.002), nest building (P = 0.05) and full maternal behavior (P = 0.023). These results support the view that opioidergic transmission plays a behaviorally meaningful inhibitory role in the rostrolateral PAG.

Questões contemporâneas sobre natureza e cultura: notas sobre a Saúde Coletiva e a sociologia no Brasil

O presente artigo discute alguns aspectos da relação entre biológico e social, tomando por objeto o campo da Saúde Coletiva no Brasil e o campo das Ciências Sociais, mais especificamente a sociologia. Parte-se do pressuposto de que o conceito que norteia o campo da Saúde Coletiva, o da determinação social (formulado em meados dos anos 1970 e 1980), foi profundamente marcado por certa leitura do social, impregnada dos marcos teóricos clássicos das ciências sociais e marcada pelo cenário político-institucional em que os campos - da Saúde Coletiva e das Ciências Sociais - encontravam-se historicamente. O objetivo é discutir o esgotamento dessa formulação teórica tendo em vista o cenário das profundas mudanças ocorridas nas sociedades contemporâneas em sua etapa industrial tardia, pós-industrial ou tardo-moderna. Acredita-se que a discussão sobre os marcos teóricos constitutivos do campo da Saúde Coletiva contribuirá para um enfrentamento das questões de saúde mais consoante com as mudanças sociais ocorridas.

Análise das metodologias diretas e indiretas para a contagem de células somáticas no leite de cabras hígidas

A particularidade da secreção láctea caprina, do tipo apócrina, diferente da secreção merócrina da vaca, leva a erros de interpretação durante a realização de técnicas de avaliação da celularidade do leite de fêmeas desta espécie. Portanto, o presente trabalho teve o objetivo de determinar a contagem de células somáticas pelo método indireto California Mastitis Test (CMT), e por métodos diretos, incluindo a contagem por citometria de fluxo e a contagem microscópica direta, através da coloração de verde de metil e pironina-Y, além de comparar os métodos de contagem celular. Foram analisadas 102 amostras de 51 fêmeas caprinas, das raças Saanen, Parda Alpina e Toggenburg, criadas no Estado de São Paulo. Os animais foram categorizados segundo a fase da lactação, exame físico da glândula mamária e exame do leite. As amostras foram colhidas, após a realização do exame Califórnia Mastitis Test, em duas alíquotas, uma destinada à contagem celular automática e a outra, a contagem microscópica direta, utilizando-se o corante verde de metil e pironina- Y. De acordo com os diferentes escores do CMT, observou- se 74,5% de amostras negativas, 8,8% de amostras com escore traços, 8,8% de amostras ligeiramente positivas (+), 6,8% de amostras fracamente positivas (++) e 0,9% de amostras fortemente positivas (+++). Os valores medianos das contagens de células somáticas presentes no leite de cabras, avaliadas através de contador automático e microscopia direta, e analisadas de acordo com os diferentes escores do CMT, foram, respectivamente, 181.000, 578.000, 628.000, 1.421.500 e 5.542.000 células/mL de leite e 74.991, 271.396, 71.420, 640.995 e 5.049.394 células/ mL de leite, nos escores negativo, traços, +, ++ e +++. Os valores medianos obtidos através da contagem de células somáticas pelo método automático e microscópico direto, de acordo com as fases de lactação foram de 159.500, 508.000 e 277.500 células/mL de leite, e 62.493, 89.275 e 146.411. A correlação obtida entre a contagem celular automática e microscópica direta foi de 88%. A partir dos resultados observados pode-se concluir que existe diferença na contagem celular determinada através do método automático e microscópico sendo este último o mais adequado para a determinação da celularidade no leite de cabras.

TCF7L2 Polymorphism rs7903146 Is Associated with Coronary Artery Disease Severity and Mortality

Background: TCF7L2 polymorphisms have been consistently associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in different populations and type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially coronary artery disease. This study aimed to evaluate the association between TCF7L2 polymorphism rs7903146 and coronary artery disease in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Methods and Results: two populations were studied in order to assess severity of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular events incidence. Eight-hundred and eighty nine subjects who were referred for cardiac catheterization for coronary artery disease diagnosis were cross-sectionally evaluated for coronary lesions (atherosclerotic burden) and 559 subjects from the MASS-II Trial were prospectively followed-up for 5 years and assessed for major cardiovascular events incidence. As expected, rs7903146 T allele was associated with diabetes. Although diabetic patients had a higher prevalence of coronary lesions, no association between TCF7L2 genotype and coronary lesions was found in this subgroup. However, non-diabetic individuals carrying the T allele were associated with a significantly higher frequency of coronary lesions than non-diabetic non-carriers of the risk allele (adjusted OR = 2.32 95% CI 1.27-4.24, p = 0.006). Moreover, presence of multi-vessel coronary artery disease was also associated with the CT or TT genotypes in non-diabetics. Similarly, from the prospective sample analysis, non-diabetics carrying the CT/TT genotypes had significantly more composite cardiovascular end-points events than CC carriers (p = 0.049), mainly due to an increased incidence of death (p = 0.004). Conclusions: rs7903146 T allele is associated with diabetes and, in non-diabetic individuals, with a higher prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular events. name of registry site (see list below), registration number, trial registration URL in brackets.

Condylar displacement between centric relation and maximum intercuspation in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals

Objective: To measure condylar displacement between centric relation (CR) and maximum intercuspation (MIC) in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 70 non-deprogrammed individuals, divided equally into two groups, one symptomatic and the other asymptomatic, grouped according to the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD). Condylar displacement was measured in three dimensions with the condylar position indicator (CPI) device. Dahlberg's index, intraclass correlation coefficient, repeated measures analysis of variance, analysis of variance, and generalized estimating equations were used for statistical analysis. Results: A greater magnitude of difference was observed on the vertical plane on the left side in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals (P = .033). The symptomatic group presented higher measurements on the transverse plane (P = .015). The percentage of displacement in the mesial direction was significantly higher in the asymptomatic group than in the symptomatic one (P = .049). Both groups presented a significantly higher percentage of mesial direction on the right side than on the left (P = .036). The presence of bilateral condylar displacement (left and right sides) in an inferior and distal direction was significantly greater in symptomatic individuals (P = .012). However, no statistical difference was noted between genders. Conclusion: Statistically significant differences between CR and MIC were quantifiable at the condylar level in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. (Angle Orthod. 2010;80:835-842.)

Detection of high-velocity material from the wind-wind collision zone of Eta Carinae across the 2009.0 periastron passage

We report near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the Eta Carinae massive binary system during 2008-2009 using the CRIRES spectrograph mounted on the 8m UT 1 Very Large Telescope (VLT Antu). We detect a strong, broad absorption wing in He I lambda 10833 extending up to -1900 km s(-1) across the 2009.0 spectroscopic event. Analysis of archival Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph ultraviolet and optical data identifies a similar high-velocity absorption (up to -2100 km s(-1)) in the ultraviolet resonance lines of Si IV lambda lambda 1394, 1403 across the 2003.5 event. Ultraviolet resonance lines from low-ionization species, such as Si II lambda lambda 1527, 1533 and CII lambda lambda 1334, 1335, show absorption only up to -1200 km s(-1), indicating that the absorption with velocities -1200 to -2100 km s(-1) originates in a region markedly more rapidly moving and more ionized than the nominal wind of the primary star. Seeing-limited observations obtained at the 1.6m OPD/LNA telescope during the last four spectroscopic cycles of Eta Carinae (1989-2009) also show high-velocity absorption in He I lambda 10833 during periastron. Based on the large OPD/LNA dataset, we determine that material with velocities more negative than -900 km s(-1) is present in the phase range 0.976 <= phi <= 1.023 of the spectroscopic cycle, but absent in spectra taken at phi <= 0.947 and phi >= 1.049. Therefore, we constrain the duration of the high-velocity absorption to be 95 to 206 days (or 0.047 to 0.102 in phase). We propose that the high-velocity absorption component originates in shocked gas in the wind-wind collision zone, at distances of 15 to 45 AU in the line-of-sight to the primary star. With the aid of three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of the wind-wind collision zone, we find that the dense high-velocity gas is along the line-of-sight to the primary star only if the binary system is oriented in the sky such that the companion is behind the primary star during periastron, corresponding to a longitude of periastron of omega similar to 240 degrees-270 degrees. We study a possible tilt of the orbital plane relative to the Homunculus equatorial plane and conclude that our data are broadly consistent with orbital inclinations in the range i = 40 degrees-60 degrees.

LIFE CYCLE AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF AEGLA PAULENSIS (DECAPODA: ANOMURA: AEGLIDAE)

We describe growth, longevity, sex ratio, reproductive period, and recruitment of Aegla paulensis from Jaragua Stale Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil (23 degrees 27'27.9 '' S; 46 degrees 45'32.3 '' W). The population was sampled monthly (September 2007 through August 2009) with the aid of traps. Over five thousand individuals were captured, sexed, measured (carapace length = CL) and inspected for reproductive traits (females only), and then released back to the sampling site. The pattern of the reproductive cycle was strongly seasonal (austral mid autumn through late winter), with a single recruitment pulse per year. The obtained von Bertalanffy growth equations were CL = 21.25[1-e(-0.041(t + 1.250))] and CL = 16.52[1-e(-0.049(t + 1.823))] for males and females, respectively. Males (mean CL +/- SD = 11.86 +/- 2.79 mm) attain larger sizes than females (mean CL +/- SD = 10.84 +/- 2.36 mm). Aegla paulensis reproduces twice during an estimated life span of 40.2 months for females and 33.9 months for males. Temporal variation of sex ratio showed a distinctive pattern characterized by a sequence of three distinct periods that repeated from one year to another, and which suggested that a behavioral component influence the proportion of sex in adult specimens sampled with traps during reproductive and non-reproductive periods.

Compositional and textural properties of milkfat-soybean oil enzymatic interesterification

Milkfat-soybean oil blends were enzymatically interesterified (EIE) by Aspergillus niger lipase immobilized on SiO(2)-PVA hybrid composite in a solvent free system. An experimental mixture design was used to study the effects of binary blends of milkfat-soybean oil (MF:SBO) at different proportions (0:100; 25:75; 33:67; 50:50; 67:33; 75:25; 100:0) on the compositional and textural properties of the EIE products, considering, as response variables, the interesterification yield (IY), consistency and hardness. Lipase-catalysed interesterification reactions increased the relative proportion of TAGs` C(46)-C(52) and decreased the TAGs` C(40)-C(42) and C(54) concentrations. The highest IY was attained (10.8%) for EIE blend of MF:SBO 67:33 resulting in a more spreadable material at refrigerator temperature in comparison with butter, milkfat or non-interesterified (NIE) blend. In this case, consistency and hardness values were at least 32% lower than values measured for butter. Thus, using A. niger lipase immobilized on SiO(2)-PVA improves the textural properties of milkfat and has potential for development of a product incorporating unsaturated and essential fatty acids from soybean oil. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analog performance of standard and strained triple-gate silicon-on-insulator nFinFETs

This work shows a comparison between the analog performance of standard and strained Si n-type triple-gate FinFETs with high-K dielectrics and TiN gate material. Different channel lengths and fin widths are studied. It is demonstrated that both standard and strained FinFETs with short channel length and narrow fins have similar analog properties, whereas the increase of the channel length degrades the early voltage of the strained devices, consequently decreasing the device intrinsic voltage gain with respect to standard ones. Narrow strained FinFETs with long channel show a degradation of the Early voltage if compared to standard ones suggesting that strained devices are more subjected to the channel length modulation effect. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphology of cobalt ferrite nanoparticle-polyelectrolyte multilayered nanocomposites

Novel magnetic nanocomposite films with controlled morphology were produced via the electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly of cationic CoFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles and anionic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy thiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) complex. The electrostatic interaction between nanoparticle and the polyelectrolyte complex ensured a stepwise growth of the nanocomposite film with virtually identical amounts of materials being adsorbed at each deposition cycle as observed by UV-vis spectroscopy. AFM images acquired under the tapping mode revealed a globular morphology with dense and continuous layers of nanoparticles with voids being filled with polymeric material. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Extracts Obtained by Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE): Global Yields, Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Estimation of the Cost of Manufacturing

In this work, supercritical technology was used to obtain extracts from Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) with CO(2) and the cosolvent H(2)O at 1, 10, and 20% (w/w). The raw material was obtained from hydroponic cultivation. The extract`s global yield isotherms, chemical compositions, antioxidant activity, and cost of manufacturing were determined. The extraction assays were done for pressures of 10 to 30 MPa at 303 to 323 K. The identification of the compounds present in the extracts was made by GC-MS and ESI-MS. The antioxidant activity of extracts was determined using the coupled reaction of beta-carotene and linolenic acid. At 1% of cosolvent, the largest global yield was obtained at 10 MPa and 303 K (2%, dry basis-d.b.); at 10% of cosolvent the largest global yield was obtained at 10 and 15 MPa (11%, d.b.), and at 20% of cosolvent the largest global yield was detected at 30 MPa and 303 K (24%, d.b.). The main components identified in the extracts were eugenol, germacrene-D, epi-alpha-cadinol, malic acid, tartaric acid, ramnose, caffeic acid, quinic acid, kaempferol, caffeoylquinic acid, and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside. Sweet basil extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity compared to beta-carotene. Three types of SFE extracts from sweet basil were produced, for which the estimated cost of manufacturing (class 5 type) varied from US$ 47.96 to US$ 1,049.58 per kilogram of dry extract.

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of seed and skin extracts of red grape (Vitis vinifera and Vitis labrusca) pomace from Brazilian winemaking

The phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity of seed and skin of pomace from the vinification of grape varieties widely produced in Brazil were investigated with a view to their exploitation as a potential source of natural antioxidants. There was a greater concentration of phenolic compounds in the seeds (2128 to 16,518 mg of catechin equivalents (CE)/100 g) than in the skins (660 to 1839 mg CE/100 g). The highest antioxidant activity values determined as DPPH radical-scavenging ability and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) were found for the seeds of the Pinot Noir variety (16,925 mu mol Trolox equivalents (TE)/100 g and 21,492 mu mol Fe(2+)/100 g, respectively) and in the skin extracts of the Isabel variety (3640 mu mol TE/100 g and 4362 mu mol Fe(2+)/100 g, respectively). The skin of Cabernet Sauvignon and Primitivo varieties had the highest contents of anthocyanins (935 and 832 mg/100 g, respectively). The grape seed extracts were rich in oligomeric and polymeric flavanols. The data suggested that grape seed and skin extracts may be exploited as antioxidant agents. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Successful Endomyocardial Biopsy Guided by Transthoracic Two-Dimensional Echocardiography

Introduction. Two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography is an excellent alternative method to perform endomyocardial biopsies (EB) in special situations, mainly when the patient is in a critical state and cannot go to the catheterization laboratory or when there are contraindications to the use of fluoroscopy as in the pregnancy. Objective. This single-center experience analyzed the last 25 years use of an EB technique guided by echocardiography realized at the bedside on critical patients. Methods. From 1985 to 2010, we performed 76 EB guided by 2-D echocardiography on 59 patients, among whom 38 (64.4%) were critically ill with examinations at the bedside; among 10 (16.9%) subjects, the procedure was carried out simultaneously with fluoroscopy for safety`s sake during the learning period. In addition, 8 (13.6%) were unavailable for fluoroscopy, and 3 (5.1%) required a hybrid method due to an intracardiac tumor. Results. The main adverse effects included local pain (n = 4, 5.6%); difficult out successful puncture due to previous biopsies (n = 4, 5.6%); local hematoma without major consequences (n = 3, 4.2%); failed but ultimately successful puncture on the first try due to previous biopsies or (n = 3, 4.2%); obesity and immediate postoperative period with impossibility to pass the bioptome into the right ventricle; however 2 days later the procedure was repeated successfully by echocardiography (n = 1, 1.4%). All myocardial specimens displayed suitable size. There were no undesirable extraction effects on the tricuspid valve tissue. In this series, there was no case of death, hemopericardium, or other major complication as a direct consequence of the biopsy. Conclusion. 2-D echocardiography is a special feature to guide EB is mainly in critically ill patients because it can be performed at the bedside without additional risk or disadvantages of fluoroscopy. The hybrid method associating 2-D echocardiography and fluoroscopy allows the procedure in different situations such as intracardiac tumor cases.

Pregnancy outcome in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus: A Brazilian multicenter cohort study

Objective. To determine pregnancy outcome and fetal loss risk factors in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). Methods. A total of 315 female patients with JSLE followed in 12 Brazilian pediatric rheumatology centers were consecutively selected. Menarche was observed in 298 (94.6%) patients. Patients` medical records were reviewed for pregnancy outcomes and demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data. Results. A total of 24 unplanned pregnancies occurred in 298 (8%) patients. The outcomes were 5 (21%) early fetal losses (prior to 16 wks gestation), 18 (75%) live births, and 1 (4%) death due to preeclampsia and premature birth. The frequencies of active diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, proteinuria >= 0.5 g/day, and arterial hypertension at the beginning of pregnancy were higher in pregnancies resulting in fetal losses than in live births [60% vs 5% (p = 0.02), 60% vs 5% (p = 0.02), 60% vs 5% (p = 0.02), respectively]. JSLE pregnancies with fetal losses had a significantly higher mean SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) at the start of pregnancy compared with those with live births (9.40 +/- 7.47 vs 3.94 +/- 6.00; p = 0.049). Four pregnancies were inadvertently exposed to intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy for renal involvement despite contraceptive prescriptions, resulting in fetal loss in 3 (p = 0.02). In multivariate analysis only intravenous cyclophosphamide use at start of pregnancy (OR 25.50, 95% CI 1.72-377.93, p = 0.019) remained as an independent risk factor for fetal loss. Conclusion. We identified immunosuppressive therapy as the major contributing factor for fetal loss in JSLE, reinforcing the importance of contraception.

Risk factors for Chagas` disease reactivation after heart transplantation

Background: Chagas` disease is the illness caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and it is still endemic in Latin America. Heart transplantation is a therapeutic option for patients with end-stage Chagas` cardiomyopathy. Nevertheless, reactivation may occur after transplantation, leading to higher morbidity and graft dysfunction. This study aimed to identify risk factors for Chagas` disease reactivation episodes. Methods: This investigation is a retrospective cohort study of all Chagas` disease heart transplant recipients from September 1985 through September 2004. Clinical, microbiologic and histopathologic data were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (version 13) software. Results: Sixty-four (21.9%) patients with chronic Chagas` disease underwent heart transplantation during the study period. Seventeen patients (26.5%) had at least one episode of Chagas` disease reactivation, and univariate analysis identified number of rejection episodes (p = 0.013) and development of neoplasms (p = 0.040) as factors associated with Chagas` disease reactivation episodes. Multivariate analysis showed that number of rejection episodes (hazard ratio = 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06 to 1.62; p = 0.011), neoplasms (hazard ratio = 5.07; 95% CI: 1.49 to 17.20; p = 0.009) and use of mycophenolate mofetil (hazard ratio = 3.14; 95% CI: 1.00 to 9.84; p = 0.049) are independent determinants for reactivation after transplantation. Age (p = 0.88), male gender (p = 0.15), presence of rejection (p = 0.17), cytomegalovirus infection (p = 0.79) and mortality after hospital discharge (p = 0.15) showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusions: Our data suggest that events resulting in greater immunosuppression status contribute to Chagas` disease reactivation episodes after heart transplantation and should alert physicians to make an early diagnosis and perform pre-emptive therapy. Although reactivation led to a high rate of morbidity, a low mortality risk was observed.