Under-reporting of energy intake is more prevalent in a healthy dietary pattern cluster

The aim of the present study was to determine whether under-reporting rates vary between dietary pattern Clusters. Subjects were sixty-five Brazilian women. During 3 weeks, anthropometric data were collected. total energy expenditure (TEE) was determined by the doubly labelled water method and diet Was Measured. Energy intake (El) and the daily frequency of consumption per 1000 kJ of twenty-two food groups were obtained from a FFQ. These frequencies were entered into a Cluster analysis procedure in order to obtain dietary patterns. Under-reporters were defined Lis those who did not lose more than 1 kg of body weight during the study and presented EI:TEE less than 0.82. Three dietary pattern clusters were identified and named according to their most recurrent food groups: sweet foods (SW). starchy foods (ST) and health), (H). Subjects from the healthy cluster had the lowest mean EI:TEE (SW = 0.86, ST = 0.71 and H = 0.58: P = 0.003) and EI - TEE (SW = -0.49 MJ, ST = - 3.20 MJ and H = -5.09 MJ; P = 0.008). The proportion of Under-reporters was 45.2 (95 % CI 35.5, 55.0) % in the SW Cluster: 58.3 (95 % CI 48.6, 68.0) % in the ST Cluster and 70.0 (95 % CI 61.0, 79) % in the H cluster (P=0.34). Thus, in Brazilian women, Under-reporting of El is not uniformly distributed among, dietary pattern clusters and tends to be more severe among subjects from the healthy cluster. This cluster is more consistent with both dietary guidelines and with what lay individuals usually consider `healthy eating`.

Subclinical thyroid dysfunctions are independent risk factors for mortality in a 7.5-year follow-up: the Japanese-Brazilian thyroid study

Objective: The currently available data concerning the influence of subclinical thyroid disease (STD) on morbidity and mortality are conflicting. Our objective was to investigate the relationships between STD and cardiometabolic profile and cardiovascular disease at baseline, as well as with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a 7.5-year follow-up. Design: Prospective, observational study. Methods: An overall of 1110 Japanese-Brazilians aged above 30 years, free of thyroid disease, and not taking thyroid medication at baseline were studied. In a cross-sectional analysis, we investigated the prevalence of STD and its relationship with cardiometabolic profile and cardiovascular disease. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were assessed for participants followed for up to 7.5 years. Association between STD and mortality was drawn using multivariate analysis, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: A total of 913 (82.3%) participants had euthyroidism, 99 (8.7%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, and 69 (6.2%) had subclinical hyperthyroidism. At baseline, no association was found between STD and cardiometabolic profile or cardiovascular disease. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs (95% confidence interval)) for all-cause mortality were significantly higher for individuals with both subclinical hyperthyroidism (HR, 3.0 (1.5-5.9); n=14) and subclinical hypothyroidism (HR, 2.3 (1.2-4.4); n=13) than for euthyroid subjects. Cardiovascular mortality was significantly associated with subclinical hyperthyroidism (HR, 3.3 (1.4-7.5); n=8), but not with subclinical hypothyroidism (HR, 1.6 (0.6-4.2); n=5). Conclusion: In the Japanese-Brazilian population, subclinical hyperthyroidism is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, while subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with all-cause mortality.

The intracratonic Caraibas-Itacarambi earthquake of December 09, 2007 (4.9 m(b)), Minas Gerais State, Brazil

On December 9, 2007, a 4.9 m(b) earthquake occurred in the middle of the Sao Francisco Craton, in a region with no known previous activity larger than 4 m(b). This event reached intensity VII MM (Modified Mercalli) causing the first fatal victim in Brazil. The activity had started in May 25, 2007 with a 3.5 magnitude event and continued for several months, motivating the deployment of a local 6-station network. A three week seismic quiescence was observed before the mainshock. Initial absolute hypocenters were calculated with best fitting velocity models and then relative locations were determined with hypoDD. The aftershock distribution indicates a 3 km long rupture for the mainshock. The fault plane solution, based on P-wave polarities and hypocentral trend, indicates a reverse faulting mechanism on a N30 degrees E striking plane dipping about 40 degrees to the SE. The rupture depth extends from about 0.3 to 1.2 km only. Despite the shallow depth of the mainshock, no surface feature could be correlated with the fault plane. Aeromagnetic data in the epicentral area show short-wavelength lineaments trending NNE-SSW to NE-SW which we interpret as faults and fractures in the craton basement beneath the surface limestone layer. We propose that the Caraibas-Itacarambi seismicity is probably associated with reactivation of these basement fractures and faults under the present E-W compressional stress field in this region of the South American Plate. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of CFTR and ClC-5 in Modulating Vacuolar H(+)-ATPase Activity in Kidney Proximal Tubule

Background/Aims: It has been widely accepted that chloride ions moving along chloride channels act to dissipate the electrical gradient established by the electrogenic transport of H(+) ions performed by H(+)-ATPase into subcellular vesicles. Largely known in intracellular compartments, this mechanism is also important at the plasma membrane of cells from various tissues, including kidney. The present work was performed to study the modulation of plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase by chloride channels, in particular, CFTR and ClC-5 in kidney proximal tubule. Methods and Results: Using in vivo stationary microperfusion, it was observed that ATPase-mediated HCO(3)(-) reabsorption was significantly reduced in the presence of the Cl(-) channels inhibitor NPPB. This effect was confirmed in vitro by measuring the cell pH recovery rates after a NH(4)Cl pulse in immortalized rat renal proximal tubule cells, IRPTC. In these cells, even after abolishing the membrane potential with valinomycin, ATPase activity was seen to be still dependent on Cl(-). siRNA-mediated CFTR channels and ClC-5 chloride-proton exchanger knockdown significantly reduced H(+)-ATPase activity and V-ATPase B2 subunit expression. Conclusion: These results indicate a role of chloride in modulating plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase activity in proximal tubule and suggest that both CFTR and ClC-5 modulate ATPase activity. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel

Notes on beta-deformations of the pure spinor superstring in AdS(5) x S(5)

We study the properties of the vertex operator for the beta-deformation of the superstring in AdS(5) x S(5) in the pure spinor formalism. We discuss the action of supersymmetry on the infinitesimal beta-deformation, the application of the homological perturbation theory, and the relation between the worldsheet description and the spacetime supergravity description. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relaxation of the electrical resistivity in Cr-doped Nd(0.5)Ca(0.5)MnO(3) single crystals

We have performed a systematic study of the time and temperature dependencies of the electrical resistivity (rho(T, t)) inNd(0.5)Ca(0.5)Mn(1-x)Cr(x)O(3) single crystals with x = 0.02 and 0.07 in order to examine the dynamics of the phase separation. The relaxation effects can be described by the combination of a rapid exponential increase/decrease with a slower logarithmic contribution at longer times. The experimental results suggest the existence of a large temperature window in which huge relaxation effects occur, and the relative fraction of the coexisting phases rapidly changes as a function of time, depending on the initial magnetic state of the sample. The rho(T, t) relaxation measurements were shown to be a suitable tool for probing the dynamical nature of the phase separation, in which magnetically distinct phases compete against each other in a wide temperature range. In addition, the features observed in the rho(T, t) curves were found to be in excellent agreement with both the magnetic properties and the structural transitions observed in these manganites.

Quantum current algebra for the AdS(5) x S(5) superstring

The sigma model describing the dynamics of the superstring in the AdS(5) x S(5) background can be constructed using the coset PSU(2, 2 vertical bar 4)/SO(4, 1) x SO(5). A basic set of operators in this two dimensional conformal field theory is composed by the left invariant currents. Since these currents are not (anti) holomorphic, their OPE`s is not determined by symmetry principles and its computation should be performed perturbatively. Using the pure spinor sigma model for this background, we compute the one-loop correction to these OPE`s. We also compute the OPE`s of the left invariant currents with the energy momentum tensor at tree level and one loop.

Long-term follow-up of topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid photodynamic therapy diode laser single session for non-melanoma skin cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is based on the association of a light source and tight sensitive agents in order to cause the selective death of tumor cells. To evaluate topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) and diode laser photodynamic single session therapy single session for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), a long-term follow-up was performed. Nineteen Bowen`s disease (BD) and 15 basal cell. carcinoma (BCC) lesions were submitted to 6-h topical and occlusive 20% 5-ALA plus DMSO and EDTA, and later were exposed to 630 nm diode laser, 100 or 300 J cm(-2) dose. At 3 months tumor-free rate was 91.2% (31/34) whereas at 60 months, 57.7% (15/26), slightly higher in BCC (63.6%; 7/11). The relation between the reduction of the clinical response and the increase of tumor dimension observed at 18 months was lost at 60 months. The sBCC recurrence was earlier compared to the nBCC one. ALA-PDT offered important advantages: it is minimally invasive, an option for patients under risk of surgical complications; clinical feasibility; treatment of multiple lesions in only one session or lesions in poor heating sites and superior esthetical results. However, the recurrence rate increase after ALA-PDT diode laser single session can be observed at tong-term follow-up, and the repetitive sessions, an additional. advantage of the method, is strongly recommended. The clinical response and recurrence time seem to be related to the laser light dose and NMSC types/sub-types, thickness and dimension, which must be considered for the choice of the ALA-PDT. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Eu(2)O(3) doping on Ta(2)O(5) crystal growth by the laser-heated pedestal technique

High energy band gap hosts doped with lanthanide ions are suitable for optical devices applications To study the potential of Ta(2)O(5) as a host compound pure and Eu(2)O(3)-doped Ta(2)O(5) crystal fibers were grown by the laser-heated pedestal growth technique in diameters ranging from 250 to 2600 pm and in lengths of up to 50 mm The axial temperature gradient at the solid/liquid interface of pure Ta(2)O(5) fibers revealed a critical diameter of 2200 gm above which the fiber cracks X-ray diffraction measurements of the pure Ta(2)O(5) single crystals showed a monoclinic symmetry and a growth direction of [1 (1) over bar 0] An analysis of the pulling rate as a function of the fiber diameter for Eu(2)O(3)-doped Ta(2)O(5) fibers indicated a well defined region in which constitutional supercooling is absent Photoluminescence measurements of pure Ta(2)O(5) crystals using excitation above the band gap (3 8 eV) were dominated by a broad unstructured green band that peaked at 500 nm Three Eu(3+)-related optical centers were identified in the doped samples with nominal concentrations exceeding 1 mol% Two of these centers were consistent with the ion in the monoclinic phase with different oxygen coordinations The third one was visible in the presence of the triclinic phase (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Accumulation of (5 ` S)-8,5 `-cyclo-2 `-deoxyadenosine in organs of Cockayne syndrome complementation group B gene knockout mice

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a human genetic disorder characterized by sensitivity to UV radiation, neurodegeneration, premature aging among other phenotypes. CS complementation group B (CS-B) gene (csb) encodes the CSB protein (CSB) that is involved in base excision repair of a number of oxidatively induced lesions in genomic DNA in vivo. We hypothesized that CSB may also play a role in cellular repair of the DNA helix-distorting tandem lesion (5`S)-8,5`-cyclo-2`-deoxyadenosine (S-cdA). Among many DNA lesions. S-cdA is unique in that it represents a concomitant damage to both the sugar and base moieties of the same nucleoside. Because of the presence of the C8-C5` covalent bond, S-cdA is repaired by nucleotide excision repair unlike most of other oxidatively induced lesions in DNA, which are subject to base excision repair. To test our hypothesis, we isolated genomic DNA from brain, kidney and liver of wild type and csb knockout (csb(-/-)) mice. Animals were not exposed to any exogenous oxidative stress before the experiment. DNA samples were analysed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with isotope-dilution. Statistically greater background levels of S-cdA were observed in all three organs of csb(-/-) mice than in those of wild type mice. These results suggest the in vivo accumulation of S-cdA in genomic DNA due to lack of its repair in csb(-/-) mice. Thus, this study provides, for the first time, the evidence that CSB plays a role in the repair of the DNA helix-distorting tandem lesion S-cdA. Accumulation of unrepaired S-cdA in vivo may contribute to the pathology associated with CS. Published by Elsevier B.V.