Microbiological quality of hamburgers sold in the streets of Cuiabá - MT, Brazil and vendor hygiene-awareness

This study evaluated the microbiological quality of hamburgers and the microbe community on the hands of vendors in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil, in relation to vendors´ awareness as to what constitute acceptable food-handling practices as part of a broad-spectrum research programme on street foods in Brazil . Sale of the hamburger known as the 'baguncinha' is common and widespread in urban Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Food inspectors encounter various difficulties in carrying out inspections. One hundred and five hamburgers samples were evaluated using conventional methods including tests for facultative aerobic and/or anaerobic mesophytic bacteria, coliform counts at 45 °C, the coagulase test for Staphylococcus, Gram-staining for the presence of Bacillus cereus, Clostridium sulphite reductase and Salmonella spp. The hamburgers were categorized as unsuitable for human consumption in 31.4% of samples, with those testing positive for coliforms and Staphylococcus at unacceptably high levels by Brazilian standards. High levels of microbiological contamination were detected on the hands of the food handlers and mesophytic bacterial counts reached 1.8 × 10(4) CFU/hand. Interviews were carried out by means of questionnaires to evaluate levels of awareness as to acceptable food handling practices and it was found that 80,1% of vendors had never participated in any kind of training.

Alterações dimensionais do côndilo mandibular em indivíduos de 3 a 20 anos de idade usando tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico: um estudo preliminar

INTRODUÇÃO: o exame de tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC) oferece excelente representação dos tecidos duros da articulação temporomandibular (ATM). OBJETIVO: investigar as alterações morfológicas do côndilo mandibular, da infância à idade adulta, utilizando a TCFC. MÉTODOS: um estudo transversal foi conduzido envolvendo 36 côndilos de 18 indivíduos com idades variando entre 3 e 20 anos. As imagens dos côndilos foram obtidas por meio do sistema i-CAT e medidas com uma ferramenta do programa específica para ATM, que permite cortes perpendiculares à cabeça do côndilo, com correção individual em função das diferenças angulares de cada um. As maiores distâncias nas vistas lateral e frontal foram consideradas tanto para os côndilos do lado direto como para os do lado esquerdo. RESULTADOS: a dimensão lateral do côndilo mandibular parece ser estabelecida de maneira precoce, sofrendo poucas alterações com o passar dos anos, enquanto a dimensão frontal tende a aumentar. Assimetrias entre o côndilo esquerdo e o direito foram comumente observadas; no entanto, tais diferenças não apresentaram significância estatística para as vistas lateral (P=0,815) e frontal (P=0,374). CONCLUSÕES: os côndilos apresentaram simetria com relação ao tamanho, sendo observado crescimento apenas na dimensão frontal Os resultados sugerem que a TCFC constitui-se numa ferramenta útil na mensuração e avaliação das dimensões condilares.

Prevalence of malocclusions in the 13-20-year-old categories of football athletes

The dentist can offer athletes improvement in their physical performance through the maintenance of oral health, preventing and treating any and all changes in the stomatognathic system, such as dental malocclusions, that compromise the athletes' performance. The objective of this study is to research the presence of dental malocclusions in athletes of the category between 13 and 20 years of age, from the São Paulo Football Club. 84 athletes participated in this study, dealing with the following topics: molar relation (Angle's classification); presence of overbite; underbite; overcrowding; abnormal spacing; open bite; and anterior, posterior, bilateral and unilateral crossbite; midline deviation and facial type (mesofacial, brachyfacial and dolichofacial). Only one table was made, showing percentages. In regard to Angle's molar relation, 89% are in Class I, 8% in Class II, 3% Class III, 9% of the athletes had overbite, 4% had underbite, 13% had overcrowding and 21% had abnormal spacing. In regard to the bite, 11% presented anterior open bite. In regard to crossbite, 7% presented unilateral crossbite on the right side and 2% on the left side; 5% presented posterior crossbite and 4% anterior crossbite. In regard to midline deviations, 4% presented deviation in the maxilla and 33% in the mandible. In regard to facial type: 39% are dolichofacial, 4% brachyfacial and 57% mesofacial. Based on the results shown, proposals for the implementation of dental, phoniatric, and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) practices are already being discussed with the multidisciplinary team of the club involved.

Autosomal recessive ataxias: 20 types, and counting

More than 140 years after the first description of Friedreich ataxia, autosomal recessive ataxias have become one of the more complex fields in Neurogenetics. Currently this group of diseases contains more than 20 clinical entities and an even larger number of associated genes. Some disorders are very rare, restricted to isolated populations, and others are found worldwide. An expressive number of recessive ataxias are treatable, and responsibility for an accurate diagnosis is high. The purpose of this review is to update the practitioner on clinical and pathophysiological aspects of these disorders and to present an algorithm to guide the diagnosis.

Modified silicas covalently bounded to 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)porphyrinato iron(III): synthesis, spectroscopic and EPR characterization. Catalytic studies

In this work we have studied cyclooctene epoxidation with PhIO, using a new iron porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)porphyrinato iron(III), supported on silica matrices via eletrostatic interaction and / or covalent bonds as catalyst. These catalysts were obtained and immobilized on the solid supports propyltrimethylammonium silica (SiN+); propyltrimethylammonium and propylimidazole silica [SiN+(IPG)] and chloropropylsilica (CPS) via elestrostatic interactions and covalent binding. Characterization of the supported catalysts by UV-Vis spectroscopy and EPR (Electron paramagnetic resonance) indicated the presence of a mixture of FeII and FeIII species in all of the three obtained catalysts. In the case of (Z)-cyclooctene epoxidation by PhIO the yields observed for cis-epoxycyclooctane were satisfactory for the reactions catalyzed by the three materials (ranging from 68% to 85%). Such results indicate that immobilization of metalloporphyrins onto solid supports via groups localized on the ortho positions of their mesophenyl rings can lead to efficient catalysts for epoxidation reactions. The catalyst 1-CPS is less active than 1-SiN and 1-SiN(IPG), this argues in favour of the immobilization of this metalloporphyrin onto solids via electrostatic interactions, which is easier to achieve and results in more active oxidation catalysts. Interestingly, the activity of the supported catalysts remained the same even after three successive recyclings; therefore, they are stable under the oxidizing conditions.

Aumento do índice de massa corporal após os 20 anos de idade e associação com indicadores de risco ou de proteção para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis

OBJETIVO: Investigar fatores sociodemográficos, de risco ou de proteção para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) que se associem ao aumento do índice de massa corporal (IMC) após os 20 anos de idade. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 769 mulheres e 572 homens do Sistema Municipal de Monitoramento de Fatores de Risco para DCNT, 2005, Florianópolis, SC. O aumento do IMC foi definido em percentagem, pela diferença entre o IMC em 2005 e aos 20 anos. RESULTADOS: Desde os 20 anos, o aumento do IMC foi superior a 10% para a maioria dos indivíduos. Nas análises múltiplas, o aumento do IMC foi associado a aumento da idade, baixo nível educacional (mulheres), ser casado (homens), não trabalhar, baixo nível de percepção de saúde, pressão alta, colesterol/triglicerídeos elevados (homens), realização de dieta, sedentarismo e ex-tabagismo (mulheres). CONCLUSÕES: Estratégias de saúde para prevenir o ganho de peso em nível populacional devem considerar principalmente os fatores sociodemográficos.

Variação do equilíbrio muscular durante uma temporada em jogadores de futebol categoria sub-20

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o equilíbrio muscular dos flexores e extensores (RFE) de joelho ao longo de uma temporada de treinamento em jogadores de futebol categoria sub-20. Fizeram parte da amostra 15 sujeitos pertencentes à equipe sub-20 da Associação Atlética Ponte Preta de Campinas. Os atletas participaram de um macrociclo de preparação (MP) de 29 semanas, composto por período preparatório e competitivo que foram divididos em quatro mesociclos: etapa geral (M1), etapa especial (M2), etapa pré-competitiva (M3) e etapa competitiva (M4). A RFE de ambos os membros foi determinada em dinamômetro isocinético utilizando o pico de torque (PT) obtido em três séries consecutivas de cinco repetições com velocidade de 60º/s. Avaliação isocinética foi realizada em quatro momentos ao longo do MP, sempre ao final de cada mesociclo (M1, M2, M3 e M4). Para análise estatística, foi empregado teste Friedman de medidas repetidas, seguida do teste de Wilcoxon e teste U de Mann-Whitney, com nível de significância de p<0,05. O PT nos músculos flexores de joelho, em ambos os membros, no M2 e M3 foram superiores aos observados em M1 e M4. O PT dos extensores de joelho em M1 foi significantemente inferior aos demais momentos do estudo (M2, M3 e M4), em ambos os membros. A RFE, em ambos os membros, foi inferior em M1 quando comparado a M2 e M3. A comparação da RFE entre os membros não revelou diferenças significantes em nenhum dos momentos do estudo (M1, M2, M3 e M4). Os resultados encontrados na presente investigação indicaram existência de alterações na magnitude da RFE, porém dentro da normalidade, e, manutenção da proporcionalidade entre os membros ao longo do MP. Esses resultados sugerem que não existem períodos sensíveis para a ocorrência de lesões em virtude de desequilíbrios musculares ao longo do MP em jogadores de futebol da categoria sub-20.

Saúde bucal no sistema único de saúde: 20 anos de lutas por uma política pública

Desde a criação do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) em 1988, a inserção da saúde bucal é marcada por conflitos e contradições, expressando os diferentes projetos em disputa na sociedade brasileira. No período pré-SUS predominavam programas odontológicos centralizados e verticais, tendo escolares e trabalhadores inscritos na previdência social como população-alvo. Com a criação do SUS, esse enfoque tornou-se incompatível com um sistema unificado e descentralizado de caráter universalista. Abriu-se, então, a possibilidade de conformação de uma agenda para gestão da saúde bucal enquanto política pública. Neste artigo são abordados alguns dos aspectos mais relevantes que marcaram os 20 anos de construção dessa política no plano nacional

Five-year follow-up of angiographic disease progression after medicine, angioplasty, or surgery

Background: Progression of atherosclerosis in coronary artery disease is observed through consecutive angiograms. Prognosis of this progression in patients randomized to different treatments has not been established. This study compared progression of coronary artery disease in native coronary arteries in patients undergoing surgery, angioplasty, or medical treatment. Methods: Patients (611) with stable multivessel coronary artery disease and preserved ventricular function were randomly assigned to CABG, PCI, or medical treatment alone (MT). After 5-year follow-up, 392 patients (64%) underwent new angiography. Progression was considered a new stenosis of >= 50% in an arterial segment previously considered normal or an increased grade of previous stenosis > 20% in nontreated vessels. Results: Of the 392 patients, 136 underwent CABG, 146 PCI, and 110 MT. Baseline characteristics were similar among treatment groups, except for more smokers and statin users in the MT group, more hypertensives and lower LDL-cholesterol levels in the CABG group, and more angina in the PCI group at study entry. Analysis showed greater progression in at least one native vessel in PCI patients (84%) compared with CABG (57%) and MT (74%) patients (p < 0.001). LAD coronary territory had higher progression compared with LCX and RCA (P < 0.001). PCI treatment, hypertension, male sex, and previous MI were independent risk factors for progression. No statistical difference existed between coronary events and the development of progression. Conclusion: The angioplasty treatment conferred greater progression in native coronary arteries, especially in the left anterior descending territories and treated vessels. The progression was independently associated with hypertension, male sex, and previous myocardial infarction.

Influence of angiotensinogen and angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphisms on cardiac hypertrophy and improvement on maximal aerobic capacity caused by exercise training

Background The allele threonine (T) of the angiotensinogen has been associated with ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients and soccer players. However, the long-term effect of physical exercise in healthy athletes carrying the T allele remains unknown. We investigated the influence of methionine M or T allele of the angiotensinogen and D or I allele of the angiotensin-converting enzyme on left-ventricular mass index (LVMI) and maximal aerobic capacity in young healthy individuals after long-term physical exercise training. Design Prospective clinical trial. Methods Eighty-three policemen aged between 20 and 35 years (mean +/- SD 26 +/- 4.5 years) were genotyped for the M235T gene angiotensinogen polymorphism (TT, n=25; MM/MT, n=58) and angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism (11, n=18; DD/DI, n=65). Left-ventricular morphology was evaluated by echocardiography and maximal aerobic capacity (VO(2peak)) by cardiopulmonary exercise test before and after 17 weeks of exercise training (50-80% VO(2peak)). Results Baseline VO(2peak) and LVMI were similar between TT and MM/MT groups, and II and DD/DI groups. Exercise training increased significantly and similarly VO(2peak) in homozygous TT and MM/MT individuals, and homozygous II and DD/DI individuals. In addition, exercise training increased significantly LVMI in TT and MM/MT individuals (76.5 +/- 3 vs. 86.7 +/- 4, P=0.00001 and 76.2 +/- 2 vs. 81.4 +/- 2, P=0.00001, respectively), and II and DD/DI individuals (777 +/- 4 vs. 81.5 +/- 4, P=0.0001 and 76 +/- 2 vs. 83.5 +/- 2, P=0.0001, respectively). However, LVMI I in TT individuals was significantly greater than in MM/MT individuals (P=0.04). LVMI was not different between 11 and DD/DI individuals. Conclusion Left-ventricular hypertrophy caused by exercise training is exacerbated in homozygous TT individuals with angiotensinogen polymorphism. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 16:487-492 (C) 2009 The European Society of Cardiology

Acquired tolerance of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Micro-Tom) plants to cadmium-induced stress

The effects of varying concentrations of cadmium (Cd) on the development of Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Micro-Tom (MT) plants were investigated after 40 days (vegetative growth) and 95 days (fruit production), corresponding to 20 days and 75 days of exposure to CdCl(2), respectively. Inhibition of growth was clearly observed in the leaves after 20 days and was greater after 75 days of growth in 1 mM CdCl(2), whereas the fruits exhibited reduced growth following the exposure to a concentration as low as 0.1 mM CdCl(2). Cd was shown to accumulate in the roots after 75 days of growth but was mainly translocated to the upper parts of the plants accumulating to high concentrations in the fruits. Lipid peroxidation was more pronounced in the roots even at 0.05 mM CdCl(2) after 75 days, whereas in leaves, there was a major increase after 20 days of exposure to 1 mM CdCl(2), but the fruit only exhibited a slight significant increase in lipid peroxidation in plants subjected to 1 mM CdCl(2) when compared with the control. Oxidative stress was also investigated by the analysis of four key antioxidant enzymes, which exhibited changes in response to the increasing concentrations of Cd tested. Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activity was shown to increase after 75 days of Cd treatment, but the major increases were observed at 0.1 and 0.2 mM CdCl(2), whereas guaiacol peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) did not vary significantly from the control in leaves and roots apart from specific changes at 0.5 and 1 mM CdCl(2). The other two enzymes tested, glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), did not exhibit any significant changes in activity, apart from a slight decrease in SOD activity at concentrations above 0.2 mM CdCl(2). However, the most striking results were obtained when an extra treatment was used in which a set of plants was subjected to a stepwise increase in CdCl(2) from 0.05 to 1 mM, leading to tolerance of the Cd applied even at the final highest concentration of 1 mM. This apparent adaptation to the toxic effect of Cd was confirmed by biomass values being similar to the control, indicating a tolerance to Cd acquired by the MT plants.

The Ruthenium Complex cis-(Dichloro)tetraammineruthenium(III) Chloride Presents Selective Cytotoxicity Against Murine B Cell Lymphoma (A-20), Murine Ascitic Sarcoma 180 (S-180), Human Breast Adenocarcinoma (SK-BR-3), and Human T Cell Leukemia (Jurkat) Tumor Cell Lines

The aim of present study was to verify the in vitro antitumor activity of a ruthenium complex, cis-(dichloro)tetraammineruthenium(III) chloride (cis-[RuCl(2)(NH(3))(4)]Cl) toward different tumor cell lines. The antitumor studies showed that ruthenium(III) complex presents a relevant cytotoxic activity against murine B cell lymphoma (A-20), murine ascitic sarcoma 180 (S-180), human breast adenocarcinoma (SK-BR-3), and human T cell leukemia (Jurkat) cell lines and a very low cytotoxicity toward human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The ruthenium(III) complex decreased the fraction of tumor cells in G0/G1 and/or G2-M phases, indicating that this compound may act on resting/early entering G0/G1 cells and/or precycling G2-M cells. The cytotoxic activity of a high concentration (2 mg mL(-1)) of cis-[RuCl(2)(NH(3))(4)]Cl toward Jurkat cells correlated with an increased number of annexin V-positive cells and also the presence of DNA fragmentation, suggesting that this compound induces apoptosis in tumor cells. The development of new antineoplastic medications demands adequate knowledge in order to avoid inefficient or toxic treatments. Thus, a mechanistic understanding of how metal complexes achieve their activities is crucial to their clinical success and to the rational design of new compounds with improved potency.

Ten-Year Follow-Up Survival of the Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study (MASS II) A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of 3 Therapeutic Strategies for Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease

Background-This study compared the 10-year follow-up of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery surgery (CABG), and medical treatment (MT) in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease, stable angina, and preserved ventricular function. Methods and Results-The primary end points were overall mortality, Q-wave myocardial infarction, or refractory angina that required revascularization. All data were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. At a single institution, 611 patients were randomly assigned to CABG (n = 203), PCI (n = 205), or MT (n = 203). The 10-year survival rates were 74.9% with CABG, 75.1% with PCI, and 69% with MT (P = 0.089). The 10-year rates of myocardial infarction were 10.3% with CABG, 13.3% with PCI, and 20.7% with MT (P < 0.010). The 10-year rates of additional revascularizations were 7.4% with CABG, 41.9% with PCI, and 39.4% with MT (P < 0.001). Relative to the composite end point, Cox regression analysis showed a higher incidence of primary events in MT than in CABG (hazard ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval 1.78 to 3.11) and in PCI than in CABG (hazard ratio 1.85, 95% confidence interval 1.39 to 2.47). Furthermore, 10-year rates of freedom from angina were 64% with CABG, 59% with PCI, and 43% with MT (P < 0.001). Conclusions-Compared with CABG, MT was associated with a significantly higher incidence of subsequent myocardial infarction, a higher rate of additional revascularization, a higher incidence of cardiac death, and consequently a 2.29-fold increased risk of combined events. PCI was associated with an increased need for further revascularization, a higher incidence of myocardial infarction, and a 1.46-fold increased risk of combined events compared with CABG. Additionally, CABG was better than MT at eliminating anginal symptoms.

Validity of the self reporting questionnaire-20 in epidemiological studies with older adults

This study examined the validity of the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) in a population-based survey with older adults in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The study sample consisted of 2,008 individuals aged 65 years or more who were living in an economically disadvantaged area of the city. The geriatric mental state (GMS) was used as the gold standard for the assessment of common mental disorders (CMD). The optimal SRQ-20 threshold for case definition was 4/5 (sensitivity = 76.1%, specificity = 74.6%, area under ROC curve = 0.82). Women, older participants and those with lower income were more likely to be misclassified by the questionnaire. The inclusion of older persons with dementia or psychosis did not change the ability of the SRQ-20 to identify cases of CMD. The SRQ-20 may be a useful instrument to be used in large epidemiological studies in resource-poor settings for the identification of cases of depression and anxiety in later life. The performance of the SRQ-20 among older adults was similar to that observed with the adult population in Brazil.