Iron concentrations in breast milk and selected maternal factors of human milk bank donors

FAPESP n. 03/04061-2

Elderly online: Effects of a digital inclusion program in cognitive performance

There is little empirical data about the impact of digital inclusion on cognition among older adults. This paper aimed at investigating the effects of a digital inclusion program in the cognitive performance of older individuals who participated in a computer learning workshop named ""Idosos On-Line`` (Elderly Online). Forty-two aged individuals participated in the research study: 22 completed the computer training workshop and 20 constituted the control group. All subjects answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and completed the Addenbrooke`s cognitive examination, revised (ACE-R), which examines five cognitive domains: orientation and attention, memory, verbal fluency, language, and visuo-spatial skills. It was noted that the experimental group`s cognitive performance significantly improved after the program, particularly in the language and memory domains, when compared to the control group. These findings suggest that the acquisition of new knowledge and the use of a new tool, that makes it possible to access the Internet, may bring gains to cognition. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Resistance Training with Vascular Occlusion in Inclusion Body Myositis: A Case Study

GUALANO, B., M. NEVES JR, F. R. LIMA, A. L. PINTO, G. LAURENTINO, C. BORGES, L. BAPTISTA, G. G. ARTIOLI, M. S. AOKI, A. MORISCOT, A. H. LANCHA JR, E. BONFA, and C. UGRINOWITSCH. Resistance Training with Vascular Occlusion in Inclusion Body Myositis: A Case Study. Med Sci. Spot-is Exerc., Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 250-254, 2010. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy that produces remarkable muscle weakness. Resistance training with vascular occlusion has been shown to improve muscle strength and cross-sectional area in other muscle wasting conditions. Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of a moderate-intensity resistance training program combined with vascular occlusion by examining functional capacity, muscle morphology, and changes in the expression of genes related to muscle protein synthesis and proteolysis in a patient with IBM. Methods: A 65-yr-old man with IBM resistant to all proposed treatments underwent resistance training with vascular occlusion for 12 wk. Leg press one-repetition maximum; thigh cross-sectional area; balance, mobility, and muscle function; quality of life; and blood markers of inflammation and muscle damage were assessed at baseline and after the 12-wk program. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of mechanogrowth factor, mammalian target of rapamycin, atrogin-1, and muscle RING finger-1 were also quantified. Results: After the 12-wk training program, the patient`s leg press one-repetition maximum, balance and mobility function, and thigh cross-sectional area increased 15.9%, 60%, and 4.7%, respectively. All Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire subscales demonstrated improvements as well, varying from 18% to 600%. mRNA expression of mechanogrowth factor increased 3.97-fold, whereas that of atrogin-1 decreased 0.62-fold. Muscle RING finger-1 and mammalian target of rapamycin mRNA levels were only slightly altered, 1.18- and 1.28-fold, respectively. Importantly, the exercise did not induce disease flare. Conclusions: We describe a novel, and likely the first, nonpharmacological therapeutic tool that might be able to counteract the muscle atrophy and the declining strength that usually occur in IBM.

Artificial Pinning Center Studies in BI2212 Tapes and Bulks With Zirconium Oxide Inclusion

Zirconium oxide inclusion in Bi2212 superconducting tapes and bulks was studied as possible artificial pinning centers (APC). In order to analyze the zirconium oxide APC addition in Bi2212 samples, magnetization measurements were performed in bulks and transport properties measurements were performed on tapes. In magnetization measurements, the critical current densities are proportional to the width of the magnetization loop at each applied magnetic field. Addition of ZrO(2) in Bi2212 superconductors broadened the magnetization loop and enhanced the critical current densities at 4.2 K in bulks, as a clear indication that ZrO(2) addition improved the pinning and acted as APCs. In contrast, the transport critical current densities decreased in tapes.

Binary and ternary inclusion complexes of finasteride in HP beta CD and polymers: Preparation and characterization

The aim of this study was to determine whether inclusion complexes between 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP beta CD) and finasteride (FIN) are formed, and to characterize these. Equimolar FIN/HP beta CD solid systems in the presence or absence of 0.1% (w/v) of polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30) or 0.3% of chitosan were prepared by coevaporation and freeze-drying methods. The systems were characterized by phase solubility, NMR, DSC, and XRD analysis. The results suggest that true binary and ternary inclusion complexes were formed. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Obtention and Evaluation of Inclusion Complexes of Furosemide with beta-ciclodextrin and hidroxipropil-beta-ciclodextrin: Effects on Drug`s Dissolution Properties

Obtention and Evaluation of Inclusion Complexes of Furosemide with beta-ciclodextrin and hidroxipropil-beta-ciclodextrin: Effects on Drug`s Dissolution Properties. The purpose of this study was to prepare, characterize and evaluate the dissolution behavior of inclusion complexes of furosemide with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD). Solid complexes of furosemide with P-CD and-HP-beta-CD were prepared by using a freeze-drying method. Physical mixtures were prepared for comparison. The inclusion complexes were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Infrared (IR) and dissolution test. ""In vitro"" dissolutions assays were performed at pH 1,2; pH 4,5 and pH 6,8 media for a 60 min period. Statistical analysis employing ANOVA and Tukey`s Test, for the dissolution efficiency values (ED%), showed that complexation of furosemide with both cyclodextrins improved significantly ED% of the drug in all tested media, suggesting a minor pH influence on dissolution properties of the drug.

A new approach to the granulation of beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are annular oligosaccharides containing 6-12 glucose unities joined together by alpha-1,4 bonds. They have a conical-truncated shape with a lipophilic cavity in which different molecules can be included resulting in a stable inclusion complex. The cyclodextrins have been widely applied in pharmaceutical technology with the objective of increasing the solubility, stability and bioavailability of drugs in different pharmaceutical dosage forms, such as tablets. In order to obtain beta-CD tablets, liquid dispersions of drug/beta-CD are usually submitted to different drying processes, like spray-drying, freeze-drying or slow evaporation, being this dry material added to a number of excipients. However, such drying processes can generate particulate materials showing problems of flow and compressibility, needing their conversion into granulates by means of wetting with granulation liquid followed by additional drying. In this work, the main objective was to evaluate the preparation of tablets without the need of this additional drying step. For this purpose an aqueous dispersion containing acetaminophen/beta-CD complex and cornstarch was dried using a spouted bed and the obtained granules were compressed in tablets. Acetaminophen was used as model drug due to its low water solubility and the inexpensive and widely available cornstarch was chosen as excipient. Acetaminophen powder was added into a beta-cyclodextrin solution prepared in distilled water at 70 degrees C. Stirring was kept until this dispersion cooled to room temperature. Then cornstarch was added and the resulting dispersion was dried in spouted bed equipment. This material was compressed into tablets using an Erweka Korsh EKO tablet machine. This innovative approach allowed the tablets preparation process to be carried out with fewer steps and represents a technological reliable strategy to produce beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes tablets. (C) 2010 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and spectral investigation of Al(III) catechin/beta-cyclodextrin and Al(III) quercetin/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion compounds

Al-catechin/beta-cyclodextrin and Al-quercetin/beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) inclusion compounds were synthesized and characterized by IR, UV-vis, H-1 and C-13 NMR and TG and DTA analyses. Because quercetin is sparingly soluble in water, the stability constants of the Al-quercetin/beta-CD and Al-catechin/beta-CD compounds were determined by phase solubility studies. The A(L)-type diagrams indicated the formation of 1:1 inclusion compounds and allowed calculation of the stability constants. The thermodynamic parameters were obtained from the dependence of the stability constants on temperature and results indicated that the formation of the inclusion compounds is an enthalpically driven process. The thermal decomposition of the solid Al-quercetin/beta-CD and Al-catcchin/beta-CD inclusion compounds took place at different stages, compared with the respective precursors, proving that an inclusion complexation process really occurred. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Unusual Incorporation of Neutral and Low Water-Soluble Guest Molecules into Layered Double Hydroxides: The Case of Cucurbit [6 and 7]uril Inclusion Hosts

CNPq

Refolding and purification of the human secreted group IID phospholipase A(2) expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli

The secreted phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s) are water-soluble enzymes that bind to the surface of both artificial and biological lipid bilayers and hydrolyze the membrane phospholipids. The tissue expression pattern of the human group IID secretory phospholipase A(2) (hsPLA(2)-IID) suggests that the enzyme is involved in the regulation of the immune and inflammatory responses. With an aim to establish an expression system for the hsPLA(2)-IID in Escherichia coli, the DNA-coding sequence for hsPLA(2)-IID was subcloned into the vector pET3a, and expressed as inclusion bodies in E. coli (BL21). A protocol has been developed to refold the recombinant protein in the presence of guanidinium hydrochloride, using a size-exclusion chromatography matrix followed by dilution and dialysis to remove the excess denaturant. After purification by cation-exchange chromatography, far ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra of the recombinant hsPLA(2)-IID indicated protein secondary structure content similar to the homologous human group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2). The refolded recombinant hsPLA(2)-IID demonstrated Ca(2+)-dependent hydrolytic activity, as measuring the release free fatty acid from phospholipid liposomes. This protein expression and purification system may be useful for site-directed mutagenesis experiments of the hsPLA(2)-IID which will advance our understanding of the structure-function relationship and biological effects of the protein. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Democracy versus Republic: Inclusion and Desire in Social Struggles

This paper argues that the idea of inclusion is linked to the democratic tradition rather than to the republican one. By analyzing the origins and meaning of these two concepts, the author holds that democracy is rather linked to desire and republic to will (and to the expression of desire), and concludes that, since North Atlantic political tradition has not given a key role to desire, democracy, in order to overcome the difficulties it has been encountering in all parts of the world, should take more account of desire and of the social struggles it brings to the fore.

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH POLICY-MAKING A Case Study of the Brazilian Central Bank

A number of contemporary studies rightly emphasize the notion that policy outcomes result from institutional determinants. But as a growing literature on institutional development notes, these institutions are themselves impermanent. Sometimes, in crisis moments, institutions are replaced wholesale. More frequently, institutions evolve gradually over time. Using the Brazilian Central Bank as a case study, this article illustrates that the policy-making process itself can be a central driver of gradual institutional development, with institutions evolving through the accumulation of policy choices made over many years and under different policymakers in response to contemporaneous events and unforeseeable economic and political challenges.

Human immunodeficiency virus test-seeking blood donors in a large blood bank in Sao Paulo, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors are excluded from donation to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infection. Persons donating to be tested for HIV may therefore deny risk behaviors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A random sample of donors completed a survey on motivations, knowledge, and attitudes on the screening process. Donors were considered test seekers if they agreed with two statements ""I think that blood donation is a good, fast, and anonymous way to get my blood tested"" and ""I donate to get my test results."" This study was conducted from June to November 2006 at the largest blood bank in Sao Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: Of 3061 participants, 208 (7%) were test seekers. They tended to be male and had a lower educational level. They were more likely to have incorrect knowledge about blood safety (e.g., not knowing that a unit can test antibody negative and still transmit infection, 60% vs. 42%, p = 0.02), express dissatisfaction with screening questions (e.g., feeling that important questions were not asked, 14% vs. 5%, p < 0.01), and concur that donors do not answer questions truthfully (e.g., donors have more sexual partners than they admit, 29% vs. 18%, p < 0.01). Test seekers were more likely to believe that it is acceptable to donate blood to get tested for HIV (41% vs. 10%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Test-seeking motivation, coupled with low knowledge of window period risk, is counter to improving blood safety and to donor prevention needs. Donor education needs to be improved along with availability of appropriate HIV counseling and testing.

Microsatellite diversity and effective population size in a germplasm bank of Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa (Leguminosae), an endangered tropical tree: recommendations for conservation

Deforestation in southeast Brazil has led to the extinction of Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa and ex situ conservation has been established. In this study, the levels of genetic diversity and the effective population size of H. courbaril in a germplasm bank were investigated using six nuclear microsatellite loci. A total of 79 and 91 alleles were found in 65 seed-trees and their 176 offspring, respectively. Offspring have a higher average number of alleles per locus (A = 15.2) than seed-trees (A = 13.2), but lower observed heterozygosity (offspring: H (o) = 0.566; seed-trees: H (o) = 0.607). The estimate of outcrossing rate shows that the study population is perfectly outcrossed (t (m) = 0.978, P > 0.05). Significant deviations from random mating were detected through mating among relatives and correlated matings. The average variance in effective population size for each family was 2.63, with a total effective population size retained in the bank of 170.1. These results confirm that the preserved population of H. courbaril retains substantial genetic variability.