Systemic treatment in severe cases of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: an open trial

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the systemic drugs thalidomide, dapsone, colchicine, and pentoxifylline in the treatment of severe manifestations of RAS. METHODS: An open, 4-year clinical trial was carried out for 21 consecutive patients with severe RAS. Initially, patients were given a 2-week course of prednisone to bring them to a baseline status. Simultaneously, one of the four test drugs was assigned to each patient to be taken for a period of 6 months. During the course of the trial, patients were switched to one of the other three drugs whenever side effects or a lack of satisfactory results occurred, and the 6-month limit of the treatment was then reset. RESULTS: The most efficient and best-tolerated drug was thalidomide, which was administered to a total of eight patients and resulted in complete remission in seven (87.5%). Dapsone was prescribed for a total of nine patients, of whom eight (89%) showed improvement in their symptoms, while five showed complete remission. Colchicine was administered to a total of ten patients, with benefits observed in nine (90%), of whom four showed complete remission. Pentoxyfilline was administered to a total of five patients, with benefits observed in three (60%), of whom one patient showed complete remission. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic methods used in this trial provided significant symptom relief. Patients experienced relapses of the lesions; however, this occurred after withdrawal of their medication during the follow-up period.

Thermal performance of sisal fiber-cement roofing tiles for rural constructions

Roofing provides the main protection against direct solar radiation in animal housing. Appropriate thermal properties of roofing materials tend to improve the thermal comfort in the inner ambient. Nonasbestos fiber-cement roofing components reinforced with cellulose pulp from sisal (Agave sisalana) were produced by slurry and dewatering techniques, with an optional addition of polypropylene fibers. Nonasbestos tiles were evaluated and compared with commercially available asbestos-cement sheets and ceramic tiles (frequently chosen as roofing materials for animal housing). Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of tiles were determined by the parallel hot-wire method, along with the evaluation of the downside surface temperature. Cement-based components reinforced with sisal pulp presented better thermal performance at room temperature (25ºC), while those reinforced with sisal pulp added by polypropylene fibers presented better thermal performance at 60ºC. Non-asbestos cement tiles provided more efficient protection against radiation than asbestos corrugated sheets.

Monitorização materno-fetal durante procedimento odontológico em portadora de cardiopatia valvar

FUNDAMENTO: Os efeitos da anestesia local em odontologia com lidocaína e epinefrina, sobre parâmetros cardiovasculares de gestantes portadoras de valvopatias e seus conceptos, não estão esclarecidos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar e analisar parâmetros da cardiotocografia, de pressão arterial e eletrocardiográficos da gestante portadora de doença valvar reumática, quando submetida à anestesia local com 1,8 ml de lidocaína 2% sem vasoconstritor e com epinefrina 1:100.000, durante procedimento odontológico restaurador. MÉTODOS: Realizamos monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial, eletrocardiografia ambulatorial materna e cardiotocografia de 31 portadoras de cardiopatia reumática, entre a 28ª e 37ª semana de gestação, divididas em dois grupos conforme presença ou não do vasoconstritor RESULTADOS: Demonstrou-se redução significativa dos valores de frequência cardíaca materna nos dois grupos, durante o procedimento, quando comparado aos demais períodos (p < 0,001). Houve ocorrência de arritmia cardíaca em 9 (29,0%) pacientes, das quais 7 (41,8%) pertencentes ao grupo de 17 gestantes que recebeu anestesia com adrenalina. A pressão arterial materna não apresentou diferença quando comparamos períodos ou grupos (p > 0,05). O mesmo ocorreu (p > 0,05) com número de contrações uterinas, nível e variabilidade da linha de base e número de acelerações da frequência cardíaca fetal. CONCLUSÃO: O uso de 1,8 ml de lidocaína 2% associado à adrenalina mostrou-se seguro e eficaz em procedimento odontológico restaurador durante a gestação de mulheres com cardiopatia valvar reumática.

O carste no plano de manejo do Parque Estadual Intervales e zona de amortecimento, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

O Parque Estadual Intervales (PEI) e sua Zona de Amortecimento (ZA), inseridos nos vales dos rios Ribeira de Iguape e Paranapanema, situam-se em domínios de rochas carbonáticas proterozóicas de grande interesse para a mineração, onde se verifica a formação de carste com ocorrência expressiva de cavernas. A caracterização do carste no PEI e ZA para o plano de manejo foi baseada em estudos geológicos e geomorfológicos que permitiram definir o grau de vulnerabilidade à contaminação do aquífero cárstico. As regiões de maior vulnerabilidade do carste no PEI e ZA são aquelas que permitem a introdução direta de contaminantes no aquífero e se caracterizam pela presença de feições cársticas tais como cavernas e sumidouros. Para as regiões onde a recarga ocorre exclusivamente por infiltração difusa e o escoamento superficial converge para rios de superfície, foi associado grau de vulnerabilidade intermediário. Considerando essa análise, foram identificadas áreas com maior potencial para impactos e feitas recomendações para a gestão do parque e sua zona de amortecimento.

Bovine gene polymorphisms related to fat deposition and meat tenderness

Leptin, thyroglobulin and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase play important roles in fat metabolism. Fat deposition has an influence on meat quality and consumers' choice. The aim of this study was to determine allele and genotype frequencies of polymorphisms of the bovine genes, which encode leptin (LEP), thyroglobulin (TG) and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT1). A further objective was to establish the effects of these polymorphisms on meat characteristics. We genotyped 147 animals belonging to the Nelore (Bos indicus), Canchim (5/8 Bos taurus + 3/8 Bos indicus), Rubia Gallega X Nelore (1/2 Bos taurus + 1/2 Bos indicus), Brangus Three-way cross (9/16 Bos taurus + 7/16 Bos indicus) and Braunvieh Three-way cross (3/4 Bos taurus + 1/4 Bos indicus) breeds. Backfat thickness, total lipids, marbling score, ribeye area and shear force were fitted, using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of the SAS software. The least square means of genotypes and genetic groups were compared using Tukey's test. Allele frequencies vary among the genetic groups, depending on Bos indicus versus Bos taurus influence. The LEP polymorphism segregates in pure Bos indicus Nelore animals, which is a new finding. The T allele of TG is fixed in Nelore, and DGAT1 segregates in all groups, but the frequency of allele A is lower in Nelore animals. The results showed no association between the genotypes and traits studied, but a genetic group effect on these traits was found. So, the genetic background remains relevant for fat deposition and meat tenderness, but the gene markers developed for Bos taurus may be insufficient for Bos indicus.

Polaron liquid-gas crossover at the orthorhombic-rhombohedral transition of manganites

High-resolution synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction in La(0.7)Ca(0.3)MnO(3) shows in detail a first-order structural phase transition from orthorhombic (space-group Pnma) to rhombohedral (space-group R (3) over barc) crystal structures near T(S)=710 K. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the rhombohedral phase strictly obeys the Curie-Weiss law as opposed to the orthorhombic phase. A concomitant change in the electrical resistivity behavior, consistent with an alteration from nonadiabatic to adiabatic small polaron hopping regimes, was also observed at T(S). The simultaneous change in transport and magnetic properties are identified as a transition from a correlated polaron liquid for TT(S), driven by the change in the crystal symmetry.

ETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM XYLOSE BY Pichia stipitis NRRL Y-7124 IN A STIRRED TANK BIOREACTOR

The ethanol production by Pichia stipitis was evaluated in a stirred tank bioreactor using semi-defined medium containing xylose (90.0 g/l) as the main carbon source. Experimental assays were performed according to a 2(2) full factorial design to evaluate the influence of aeration (0.25 to 0.75 vvm) and agitation (150 to 250 rpm) conditions on ethanol production. In the studied range of values, the agitation increase and aeration decrease favored ethanol production, which was maximum (26.7 g/l) using 250 rpm and 0.25 vvm, conditions that gave a volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (k(L)a value) of 4.9 h(-1). Under these conditions, the ethanol yield factor, ethanol productivity, and the process efficiency were 0.32 g/g, 0.32 g/l.h, and 63%, respectively. These results are promising and contribute to the development of a suitable process for ethanol production from xylose by Pichia stipitis.