Importância do fonoaudiólogo no acompanhamento de indivíduos com hipotireoidismo congênito

TEMA: o hipotireoidismo congênito é uma alteração metabólica que traz conseqüência graves para indivíduos não tratados e mesmo as crianças que realizam o tratamento podem apresentar distúrbios do desenvolvimento. O Programa Nacional de Triagem Neonatal, instituído pelo Ministério da Saúde, prevê o acompanhamento longitudinal de indivíduos com equipe multidisciplinar. Entretanto, a Fonoaudiologia não é incluída nesta equipe. Deste modo, considerando a ocorrência de distúrbios da comunicação nestes indivíduos, realizou-se levantamento bibliográfico nas bases de dados Lilacs, MedLine e PubMed, no período de 1987 a 2007, referente às alterações em habilidades do desenvolvimento decorrentes do hipotireoidismo congênito. OBJETIVO: verificar, na literatura científica, presença de alterações do desenvolvimento em indivíduos com hipotireoidismo congênito e refletir sobre a importância da atuação fonoaudiológica, em conjunto com equipe multidisciplinar especializada, no acompanhamento dos mesmos. CONCLUSÃO: a literatura relata alterações nas habilidades do desenvolvimento (motoras, cognitivas, lingüísticas e de autocuidados) e destaca que crianças com hipotireoidismo congênito são de risco para alterações no desenvolvimento lingüístico e, portanto, necessitam do acompanhamento longitudinal do desenvolvimento comunicativo. Torna-se evidente a importância da atuação do fonoaudiólogo nos Programas de Triagem Neonatal credenciados pelo Ministério da Saúde. Ressalta-se ainda a necessidade de investigações referentes às outras alterações metabólicas contempladas nestes programas, nas quais o fonoaudiólogo pode atuar de modo a prevenir, habilitar e reabilitar os distúrbios da comunicação, contribuindo para o trabalho em equipe, promovendo saúde nesta população.

Produção de biotensoativos a partir de resíduos de óleos e gorduras

O presente trabalho visou a seleção de microrganismos com capacidade de produzir biotensoativos a partir de resíduos de óleos e gorduras gerados em restaurantes e indústrias alimentícias. Borra de soja, gordura de frango, gordura vegetal hidrogenada e óleo de soja usado em frituras foram estudados como fonte de carbono. Os isolados LMI 6c e LMI 7a, ambos pertencentes ao gênero Pseudomonas, foram selecionados como potenciais produtores de biotensoativos. Dentre os resíduos propostos, a borra de soja foi considerada o melhor substrato, gerando 9,69 g.L-1 de ramnolipídios e uma tensão superficial de 31 mN/m.

Artigos da revista Ciência Hoje como recurso didático no ensino de química

This paper presents the results from the selection and analysis of Ciência Hoje articles published from 2004 to 2009 with the aim to discuss some of their features which can assist teachers in chemistry teaching. Therefore, the articles were analyzed according to their content and format based on an analytical tool proposed by Kawamura and colleagues. The results indicate that this magazine offers a reasonable collection of articles related to chemistry with a variety of contents and approaches.

Effect of temperature on the electro-oxidation of ethanol on platinum

We present in this work an experimental investigation of the effect of temperature (from 25 to 180 ºC) in the electro-oxidation of ethanol on platinum in two different phosphoric acid concentrations. We observed that the onset potential for ethanol electro-oxidation shifts to lower values and the reaction rates increase as temperature is increased for both electrolytes. The results were rationalized in terms of the effect of temperature on the adsorption of reaction intermediates, poisons, and anions. The formation of oxygenated species at high potentials, mainly in the more diluted electrolyte, also contributes to increase the electro-oxidation reaction rate.

Influência das características das substâncias húmicas aquáticas na eficiência da coagulação com o cloreto férrico

The aim of this study was to verify the influence of the apparent molecular size of aquatic humic substances on the effectiveness of coagulation with ferric chloride. Coagulation-filtration tests using jar test and bench-scale sand filters were carried out on samples of water with true color of approximately 100 Hazen units, prepared with aquatic humic substances of different molecular sizes (F1: < 0.45 µm, F2: 100 kDa - 0.45 µm, F3: 30 - 100 kDa and F4': < 30 kDa). For the water samples with lower apparent molecular size fractions, greater dosages of coagulant was needed to remove the color around 5.0 Hanzen units, mainly because these water samples contain higher concentrations of fulvic acids, which exhibited a larger number of negatively-charged groups.

Determinação da energia de ativação em hidrogéis poliméricos a partir de dados termogravimétricos

Curvas termogravimétricas com diferentes razões de aquecimento foram utilizadas para a determinação de parâmetros cinéticos seguindo o método de Flynn-Wall. Para isso, foi utilizado um hidrogel preparado a partir da mistura de dois polissacarídeos, quitosana/xantana (QX) e outro, contendo além destes, colágeno (QXC). Os resultados mostraram que o valor de energia de ativação para o hidrogel QX foi de 3,44 kJ.mol-1, enquanto que para o QXC foi de 14,84 kJ.mol-1, sugerindo que a água presente no hidrogel contendo colágeno está mais fortemente ligada aos biopolímeros. Isto pode ter ocorrido devido à presença de grupos carboxílicos na estrutura colagênica.

Hidrólise Enzimática de Biomassa

Production of ethanol from biomass fermentation has gained much attention recently. Biomass cellulosic material is first converted into glucose either by chemical or by enzymatic process, and then glucose is fermented to ethanol. Considering the current scenario, where many efforts are devoted for the search of green routes to obtaining ethanol from renewable sources, this review presents the relationship between structure and properties of cellulosic material, pre-treatments and hydrolysis of cellulosic material, and structure and function of cellulase enzyme complex.

Oxidative DNA damage induced by S(IV) in the presence of Cu(II) and Cu(I) complexes

The DNA damage induced by S(IV) in the presence of some Cu(II) complexes in air saturated solution was investigated. The addition of S(IV) to an air saturated solution containing CuII GGA (GGA = glycylglycyl-L-alanine), CuII G3 (G3 = triglycine) or CuII G4 (G4 = tetraglycine) and Ni(II) traces, causes rapid formation of the respective Cu(III) complex, with simultaneous O2 uptake and S(IV) oxidation. SO3•- and HO• were detected by EPR-spin trapping experiments. The DNA strand breaks were attributed to the oxysulfur radicals formed. In the reduction of Cu(II)/BCA (BCA = 4,4' dicarboxy-2-2'-biquinoline) by S(IV), with CuI BCA complex formation, there is the possible formation of carbon centered radical of BCA or peroxyl radical (ROO•) capable of oxidizing DNA bases. The intensity of DNA damage in the presence of these Cu(II) complexes and S(IV) (10-300 µmol L-1) followed the order: CuII BCA ∼ CuII G4 ∼ Cu(II) (added as Cu(NO3)2) > CuII G3 ∼ CuII GGA. Specifically for CuII BCA the damage occurred even at lower S(IV) concentration (0.1 µmol L-1). For the Cu(II) complexes with glycylglycylhistidine, glycylhistidylglycine, glycylhistidyllysine and glycylglycyltyrosylarginine the Cu(III) formation and the DNA damage was not observed.

Aversão alimentar adquirida e qualidade de vida em mulheres com neoplasia mamária

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o comportamento alimentar de mulheres com câncer de mama submetidas à quimioterapia, e sua relação com a qualidade de vida destas pacientes. MÉTODOS: A partir de um ensaio clínico do tipo antes e depois, selecionou-se 25 mulheres do Hospital AC Camargo (São Paulo, Brasil) durante o período de outubro de 2005 a abril de 2006. As pacientes inclusas no estudo apresentavam diagnóstico de câncer de mama, com estadiamento I e II e indicação de tratamento quimioterápico adjuvante. Nos momentos T0 (antes) e T1 (após o tratamento quimioterápico), o comportamento alimentar (consumo e aversão alimentar) foi avaliado por três recordatórios 24 horas e um questionário Food Action, respectivamente. A qualidade de vida foi monitorada por meio do questionário Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast. RESULTADOS: Após o tratamento quimioterápico (T1), o consumo de macro e micronutrientes não apresentou alterações significantes, mas o consumo de frutas e sucos aumentou (p=0,03). Perfil inverso foi observado em relação à preferência por café preto (p=0,01) e pelo grupo de bebidas (p<0,001). Alimentos gordurosos (38%), laticínios (23%), café preto (15%), chá (15%), chocolate (7%) e carne vermelha (7%) foram os principais alimentos associados ao desconforto das pacientes. Análises de qualidade de vida mostraram que o tratamento quimioterápico promoveu significante redução no bem estar físico (p<0,01). Após o mesmo, algumas variáveis do comportamento alimentar foram significantemente correlacionadas com os parâmetros de qualidade de vida. CONCLUSÃO: A relação bilateral entre comportamento alimentar e qualidade de vida foi modificada negativamente pelo tratamento quimioterápico.

Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in swine from Northeastern Brazil

A serologic survey was conducted among 130 swine slaughtered in the public slaughterhouse of the city of Patos, Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil, to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies, and to verify possible associations between sex of the animals and antibody prevalence. The sera were analyzed by indirect antibody tests, considering 1:64 (T. gondii) and 1:50 (N. caninum) dilutions as cut-off points. The prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was 36.2% (47/130) (95% CI = 27.9 - 45.0%) with reciprocal titers ranging from 64 to 2,048, and of anti-N. caninum antibodies was 3.1% (4/130) (95% CI = 0.8 - 7.7%) with reciprocal titers ranging from 50 to 6,400. Three of the four N. caninum-positive samples were also positive for T. gondii antibodies. All Neospora and Toxoplasma IFAT-positive animals were also positive for confirmatory immunoblotting techniques using total and purified N. caninum and T. gondii tachyzoite antigens, i.e., p38 (NcSRS2) and p30 (TgSAG1). There was no association between sex of animals and prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies. This is the first indication of N. caninum natural infection in pigs from Brazil.

Hyperglycemia can delay left ventricular dysfunction but not autonomic damage after myocardial infarction in rodents

Background: Although clinical diabetes mellitus is obviously a high risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI), in experimental studies disagreement exists about the sensitivity to ischemic injury of an infarcted myocardium. Recently, our group demonstrated that diabetic animals presented better cardiac function recovery and cellular resistance to ischemic injury than nondiabetics. In the present study, we evaluated the chronic effects of MI on left ventricular (LV) and autonomic functions in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control (C, n = 15), diabetes (D, n = 16), MI (I, n = 21), and diabetes + MI (DI, n = 30). MI was induced 15 days after diabetes (STZ) induction. Ninety days after MI, LV and autonomic functions were evaluated (8 animals each group). Left ventricular homogenates were analyzed by Western blotting to evaluate the expression of calcium handling proteins. Results: MI area was similar in infarcted groups (similar to 43%). Ejection fraction and + dP/dt were reduced in I compared with DI. End-diastolic pressure was additionally increased in I compared with DI. Compared with DI, I had increased Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange and phospholamban expression (164%) and decreased phosphorylated phospholamban at serine(16) (65%) and threonine(17) (70%) expression. Nevertheless, diabetic groups had greater autonomic dysfunction, observed by baroreflex sensitivity and pulse interval variability reductions. Consequently, the mortality rate was increased in DI compared with I, D, and C groups. Conclusions: LV dysfunction in diabetic animals was attenuated after 90 days of myocardial infarction and was associated with a better profile of calcium handling proteins. However, this positive adaptation was not able to reduce the mortality rate of DI animals, suggesting that autonomic dysfunction is associated with increased mortality in this group. Therefore, it is possible that the better cardiac function has been transitory, and the autonomic dysfunction, more prominent in diabetic group, may lead, in the future, to the cardiovascular damage.

Gene expression profile of the plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum under the antagonistic effect of Pantoea agglomerans

The pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum is an ongoing threat to agriculture, causing losses in grain yield and quality in diverse crops. Substantial progress has been made in the identification of genes involved in the suppression of phytopathogens by antagonistic microorganisms; however, limited information regarding responses of plant pathogens to these biocontrol agents is available. Gene expression analysis was used to identify differentially expressed transcripts of the fungal plant pathogen F. graminearum under antagonistic effect of the bacterium Pantoea agglomerans. A macroarray was constructed, using 1014 transcripts from an F. graminearum cDNA library. Probes consisted of the cDNA of F. graminearum grown in the presence and in the absence of P. agglomerans. Twenty-nine genes were either up (19) or down (10) regulated during interaction with the antagonist bacterium. Genes encoding proteins associated with fungal defense and/or virulence or with nutritional and oxidative stress responses were induced. The repressed genes coded for a zinc finger protein associated with cell division, proteins containing cellular signaling domains, respiratory chain proteins, and chaperone-type proteins. These data give molecular and biochemical evidence of response of F. graminearum to an antagonist and could help develop effective biocontrol procedures for pathogenic plant fungi.

Systematic review of genus Cerradomys Weksler, percequillo and Voss, 2006 (Rodentia : Cricetidae : Sigmodontinae : Oryzomyini), with description of two new species from eastern Brazil

Cerradomy's is a monophyletic genus that includes four known species, Cerradomys subflavus, C maracajuensis, C. marinhus, and C. scotti, distributed throughout the open vegetation belt across South America, from northeastern Brazil to southeastern Bolivia, and from eastern to northwestern Paraguay. We revised the status of the species currently assigned to this genus by analyzing skins, skulls, karyotypes, and cytochrome b DNA sequences. We also described two novel species, one distributed in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Sergipe, and the other in the states of Paraiba, Pernambuco, Piaui, Ceara, and Maranhao. Molecular analysis suggested the following phylogenetics arrangement: (((C. subflavus-C. sp.n.2) C. sp.n.1) C scotti)(C. marinhus-C. maracajuensis)). Apparently, both novel species inhabit the Caatinga domain and penetrated the coastal Atlantic rainforest, differing from the remaining congeneric species that are typical open-area inhabitants.

Reduced transcription of TCOF1 in adult cells of Treacher Collins syndrome patients

Background: Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is an autosomal dominant craniofacial disorder caused by frameshift deletions or duplications in the TCOF1 gene. These mutations cause premature termination codons, which are predicted to lead to mRNA degradation by nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Haploinsufficiency of the gene product (treacle) during embryonic development is the proposed molecular mechanism underlying TCS. However, it is still unknown if TCOF1 expression levels are decreased in postembryonic human cells. Methods: We have estimated TCOF1 transcript levels through real time PCR in mRNA obtained from leucocytes and mesenchymal cells of TCS patients (n = 23) and controls (n = 18). Mutational screening and analysis of NMD were performed by direct sequencing of gDNA and cDNA, respectively. Results: All the 23 patients had typical clinical features of the syndrome and pathogenic mutations were detected in 19 of them. We demonstrated that the expression level of TCOF1 is 18-31% lower in patients than in controls (p < 0.05), even if we exclude the patients in whom we did not detect the pathogenic mutation. We also observed that the mutant allele is usually less abundant than the wild type one in mesenchymal cells. Conclusions: This is the first study to report decreased expression levels of TCOF1 in TCS adult human cells, but it is still unknown if this finding is associated to any phenotype in adulthood. In addition, as we demonstrated that alleles harboring the pathogenic mutations have lower expression, we herein corroborate the current hypothesis of NMD of the mutant transcript as the explanation for diminished levels of TCOF1 expression. Further, considering that TCOF1 deficiency in adult cells could be associated to pathologic clinical findings, it will be important to verify if TCS patients have an impairment in adult stem cell properties, as this can reduce the efficiency of plastic surgery results during rehabilitation of these patients.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism and dementia: the Sao Paulo Ageing & Health Study (SPAH)

Background: Several epidemiologic studies have shown a possible association between thyroid function and cognitive decline. Our aim was to evaluate the association of subclinical hyperthyroidism and dementia in a population sample of older people Methods: A cross-sectional study - Sao Paulo Ageing & Health Study (SPAH) - in a population sample of low-income elderly people >= 65 years-old to evaluate presence of subclinical thyroid disease as a risk factor for dementia. Thyroid function was assessed using thyrotropic hormone and free-thyroxine as well as routine use of thyroid hormones or antithyroid medications. Cases of dementia were assessed using a harmonized one-phase dementia diagnostic procedure by the ""10/66 Dementia Research Group"" including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Logistic regression models were used to test a possible association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and dementia. Results and discussion: Prevalence of dementia and of subclinical hyperthyroidism were respectively of 4.4% and 3.0%. After age adjustment, we found an association of subclinical hyperthyroidism and any type of dementia and vascular dementia (Odds Ratio, 4.1, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 1.3-13.1, and 5.3 95% CI, 1.1-26.4; respectively). Analyzing data by gender, we found an association of subclinical hyperthyroidism with dementia and Alzheimer's disease only for men (OR, 8.0; 95% CI, 1.5-43.4; OR, 12.4; 95% CI, 1.2-128.4; respectively). No women with subclinical hypothyroidism presented Alzheimer's disease in the sample. Conclusion: The results suggest a consistent association among people with subclinical hyperthyroidism and dementia.