Prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake in a group of adolescents using dietary reference intake- based methods

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a prevalência de ingestão inadequada de nutrientes em um grupo de adolescentes de São Bernardo do Campo-SP. Dados de consumo de energia e nutrientes foram obtidos por meio de recordatórios de 24 horas aplicados em 89 adolescentes. A prevalência de inadequação foi calculada utilizando o método EAR como ponto de corte, após ajuste pela variabilidade intrapessoal, utilizando o procedimento desenvolvido pela Iowa State University. As Referências de Ingestão Dietética (IDR) foram os valores de referência para ingestão. Para os nutrientes que não possuem EAR estabelecida, a distribuição do consumo foi comparada com a AI. As maiores prevalências de inadequação em ambos sexos foram observadas para o magnésio (99,3 por cento para o sexo masculino e 81,8 por cento para o feminino), zinco (44,0 por cento para o sexo masculino e 23,5 por cento para o feminino), vitamina C (57,2 por cento para o sexo masculino e 59,9 por cento para o feminino) e folato (34,8 por cento para o sexo feminino). A proporção de indivíduos com ingestão superior à AI foi insignificante (menor que 2,0 por cento) em ambos os sexos

Validation of reference genes for gene expression studies in the honey bee, Apis mellifera, by quantitative real-time RT-PCR

For obtaining accurate and reliable gene expression results it is essential that quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) data are normalized with appropriate reference genes. The current exponential increase in postgenomic studies on the honey bee, Apis mellifera, makes the standardization of qRT-PCR results an important task for ongoing community efforts. For this aim we selected four candidate reference genes (actin, ribosomal protein 49, elongation factor 1-alpha, tbp-association factor) and used three software-based approaches (geNorm, BestKeeper and NormFinder) to evaluate the suitability of these genes as endogenous controls. Their expression was examined during honey bee development, in different tissues, and after juvenile hormone exposure. Furthermore, the importance of choosing an appropriate reference gene was investigated for two developmentally regulated target genes. The results led us to consider all four candidate genes as suitable genes for normalization in A. mellifera. However, each condition evaluated in this study revealed a specific set of genes as the most appropriated ones.

Evaluation of rock mechanical behaviors under uniaxial compression with reference to assessed weathering grades

A weathering classification for granitic rock materials from southeastern Brazil was framed based on core characteristics. The classification was substantiated by a detailed petrographic study. Indirect assessment of weathering grades by density, ultrasonic and Schmidt hammer index tests was performed. Rebound values due to Schmidt hammer multiple impacts at one representative point were more efficient in predicting weathering grades than averaged single impact rebound values, P-wave velocities and densities. Uniaxial compression tests revealed that a large range of uniaxial compressive strength (214-153 MPa) exists in Grade I category where weathering does not seem to have played any role. It was concluded that variability in occurrences of quartz intragranular cracks and in biotite percentage, distribution and orientation might have played a key role in accelerating or decelerating the failure processes of the Grade I specimens. Deterioration of uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus and increase in Poisson`s ratio with increasing weathering intensity could be attributed to alteration of minerals, disruption of rock skeleton and microcrack augmentation. A crude relation between failure modes and weathering grades also emerged.

Defining Nutrient and Biochemical Oxygen Demand Baselines for Tropical Rivers and Streams in So Paulo State (Brazil): A Comparison Between Reference and Impacted Sites

Determining reference concentrations in rivers and streams is an important tool for environmental management. Reference conditions for eutrophication-related water variables are unavailable for Brazilian freshwaters. We aimed to establish reference baselines for So Paulo State tropical rivers and streams for total phosphorus (TP) and nitrogen (TN), nitrogen-ammonia (NH(4) (+)) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) through the best professional judgment and the trisection methods. Data from 319 sites monitored by the So Paulo State Environmental Company (2005 to 2009) and from the 22 Water Resources Management Units in So Paulo State were assessed (N = 27,131). We verified that data from different management units dominated by similar land cover could be analyzed together (Analysis of Variance, P = 0.504). Cumulative frequency diagrams showed that industrialized management units were characterized by the worst water quality (e.g. average TP of 0.51 mg/L), followed by agricultural watersheds. TN and NH(4) (+) were associated with urban percentages and population density (Spearman Rank Correlation Test, P < 0.05). Best professional judgment and trisection (median of lower third of all sites) methods for determining reference concentrations showed agreement: 0.03 & 0.04 mg/L (TP), 0.31 & 0.34 mg/L (TN), 0.06 & 0.10 mg-N/L (NH(4) (+)) and 2 & 2 mg/L (BOD), respectively. Our reference concentrations were similar to TP and TN reference values proposed for temperate water bodies. These baselines can help with water management in So Paulo State, as well as providing some of the first such information for tropical ecosystems.

A reference business process for ecological niche modelling

Ecological niche modelling combines species occurrence points with environmental raster layers in order to obtain models for describing the probabilistic distribution of species. The process to generate an ecological niche model is complex. It requires dealing with a large amount of data, use of different software packages for data conversion, for model generation and for different types of processing and analyses, among other functionalities. A software platform that integrates all requirements under a single and seamless interface would be very helpful for users. Furthermore, since biodiversity modelling is constantly evolving, new requirements are constantly being added in terms of functions, algorithms and data formats. This evolution must be accompanied by any software intended to be used in this area. In this scenario, a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an appropriate choice for designing such systems. According to SOA best practices and methodologies, the design of a reference business process must be performed prior to the architecture definition. The purpose is to understand the complexities of the process (business process in this context refers to the ecological niche modelling problem) and to design an architecture able to offer a comprehensive solution, called a reference architecture, that can be further detailed when implementing specific systems. This paper presents a reference business process for ecological niche modelling, as part of a major work focused on the definition of a reference architecture based on SOA concepts that will be used to evolve the openModeller software package for species modelling. The basic steps that are performed while developing a model are described, highlighting important aspects, based on the knowledge of modelling experts. In order to illustrate the steps defined for the process, an experiment was developed, modelling the distribution of Ouratea spectabilis (Mart.) Engl. (Ochnaceae) using openModeller. As a consequence of the knowledge gained with this work, many desirable improvements on the modelling software packages have been identified and are presented. Also, a discussion on the potential for large-scale experimentation in ecological niche modelling is provided, highlighting opportunities for research. The results obtained are very important for those involved in the development of modelling tools and systems, for requirement analysis and to provide insight on new features and trends for this category of systems. They can also be very helpful for beginners in modelling research, who can use the process and the experiment example as a guide to this complex activity. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of FAO Penman-Monteith and alternative methods for estimating reference evapotranspiration with missing data in Southern Ontario, Canada

Grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is an important agrometeorological parameter for climatological and hydrological studies, as well as for irrigation planning and management. There are several methods to estimate ETo, but their performance in different environments is diverse, since all of them have some empirical background. The FAO Penman-Monteith (FAD PM) method has been considered as a universal standard to estimate ETo for more than a decade. This method considers many parameters related to the evapotranspiration process: net radiation (Rn), air temperature (7), vapor pressure deficit (Delta e), and wind speed (U); and has presented very good results when compared to data from lysimeters Populated with short grass or alfalfa. In some conditions, the use of the FAO PM method is restricted by the lack of input variables. In these cases, when data are missing, the option is to calculate ETo by the FAD PM method using estimated input variables, as recommended by FAD Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56. Based on that, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the FAO PM method to estimate ETo when Rn, Delta e, and U data are missing, in Southern Ontario, Canada. Other alternative methods were also tested for the region: Priestley-Taylor, Hargreaves, and Thornthwaite. Data from 12 locations across Southern Ontario, Canada, were used to compare ETo estimated by the FAD PM method with a complete data set and with missing data. The alternative ETo equations were also tested and calibrated for each location. When relative humidity (RH) and U data were missing, the FAD PM method was still a very good option for estimating ETo for Southern Ontario, with RMSE smaller than 0.53 mm day(-1). For these cases, U data were replaced by the normal values for the region and Delta e was estimated from temperature data. The Priestley-Taylor method was also a good option for estimating ETo when U and Delta e data were missing, mainly when calibrated locally (RMSE = 0.40 mm day(-1)). When Rn was missing, the FAD PM method was not good enough for estimating ETo, with RMSE increasing to 0.79 mm day(-1). When only T data were available, adjusted Hargreaves and modified Thornthwaite methods were better options to estimate ETo than the FAO) PM method, since RMSEs from these methods, respectively 0.79 and 0.83 mm day(-1), were significantly smaller than that obtained by FAO PM (RMSE = 1.12 mm day(-1). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Political Parties and Governors as Determinants of Legislative Behavior in Brazil`s Chamber of Deputies, 1988-2006

This article examines the relative importance of regional and national forces in shaping the behavior of Brazilian legislators at the national level. A widely held view is that national legislators respond to state pressures in making decisions, rather than pressures from the national government. Governors not only can influence national debates but also can determine outcomes by exerting control over their states` legislative delegations. This article examines a dataset of all roll-call votes in the Chamber of Deputies between 1989 and 2006 to isolate and evaluate the impact of local pressures on legislative voting. Spanning the terms of five presidents and five different congresses, the data show that the local influence is weaker than the national on the voting decisions of individual legislators and the voting cohesion of state delegations. Alternative institutional resources allow the central government to counteract the centrifugal pressures of federalism and other institutional influences.

Reference Values of Tissue Doppler Imaging and Pulsed Doppler Echocardiography for Analysis of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Healthy Adults

To determine reference values for tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and pulsed Doppler echocardiography for left ventricular diastolic function analysis in a healthy Brazilian adult population. Observations were based on a randomly selected healthy population from the city of Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil. Healthy volunteers (n = 275, 61.7% women) without prior histories of cardiovascular disease underwent transthoracic echocardiography. We analyzed 175 individuals by TDI and evaluated mitral annulus E`- and A`-waves from the septum (S) and lateral wall (L) to calculate E`/A` ratios. Using pulsed Doppler echocardiography, we further analyzed the mitral E- and A-waves, E/A ratios, isovolumetric relaxation times (IRTs), and deceleration times (DTs) of 275 individuals. Pulsed Doppler mitral inflow mean values for men were as follows: E-wave: 71 +/- 16 cm/sec, A-wave: 68 +/- 15 cm/sec, IRT: 74.8 +/- 9.2 ms, DT: 206 +/- 32.3 ms, E/A ratio: 1.1 +/- 0.3. Pulsed Doppler mitral inflow mean values for women were as follows: E-wave: 76 +/- 17, A-wave: 69 +/- 14 cm/sec, IRT: 71.2 +/- 10.5 ms, DT: 197 +/- 33.3 ms, E/A ratio: 1.1 +/- 0.3. IRT and DT values were higher in men than in women (P = 0.04 and P = 0.007, respectively). TDI values in men were as follows: E`S: 11 +/- 3 cm/sec, A`S: 13 +/- 2 cm/sec, E`S/A`S: 0.89 +/- 0.2, E`L: 14 +/- 3 cm/sec, A`L: 14 +/- 2 cm/sec, E`L/A`L: 1.1 +/- 0.4. E-wave/ E`S ratio: 6.9 +/- 2.2; E-wave / E`L ratio: 4.9 +/- 1.7. In this study, we determined pulsed Doppler and TDI derived parameters for left ventricular diastolic function in a large sample of healthy Brazilian adults. (Echocardiography 2010;27:777-782).

Concepts and determination of reference values for human biomonitoring of environmental contaminants

Human biomonitoring (HBM) of environmental contaminants plays an important role in estimating exposure and evaluating risk, and thus it has been increasingly applied in the environmental field. The results of HBM must be compared with reference values ( RV). The term ""reference values"" has always been related to the interpretation of clinical laboratory tests. For physicians, RV indicate ""normal values"" or ""limits of normal""; in turn, toxicologists prefer the terms ""background values"" or ""baseline values"" to refer to the presence of contaminants in biological fluids. This discrepancy leads to the discussion concerning which should be the population selected to determine RV. Whereas clinical chemistry employs an altered health state as the main exclusion criterion to select a reference population ( that is, a ""healthy"" population would be selected), in environmental toxicology the exclusion criterion is the abnormal exposure to xenobiotics. Therefore, the choice of population to determine RV is based on the very purpose of the RV to be determined. The present paper discusses the concepts and methodology used to determine RV for biomarkers of chemical environmental contaminants.

A longitudinal study on the transmission dynamics of human Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi infection in Amazonian Brazil, with special reference to its prevalence and incidence

This was a longitudinal study carried out during a period over 2 years with a cohort of 946 individuals of both sexes, aged 1 year and older, from an endemic area of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in Para State, Brazil. The object was to analyze the transmission dynamics of human Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi infection based principally on the prevalence and incidence. For diagnosis of the infection, the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and leishmanin skin test (LST) were performed with amastigote and promastigote antigens of the parasite, respectively. The prevalence by LST (11.2%) was higher (p < 0.0001) than that (3.4%) by IFAT, and the combined prevalence by both tests was 12.6%. The incidences by LST were also higher (p < 0.05) than those by IFAT at 6 (4.7% A- 0.6%), 12 (4.7% A- 2.7%), and 24 months (2.9% A- 0.3%). Moreover, there were no differences (p > 0.05) between the combined incidences by both tests on the same point surveys, 5.2%, 6.3%, and 3.6%. During the study, 12 infected persons showed high IFAT IgG titers with no LST reactions: five children and two adults developed AVL (2,560-10,120), and two children and three adults developed subclinical oligosymptomatic infection (1,280-2,560). The combined tests diagnosed a total of 231 cases of infection leading to an accumulated prevalence of 24.4%.

HER2 Testing in Breast Carcinoma Very Low Concordance Rate Between Reference and Local Laboratories in Brazil

Breast cancer accounts for approximately one quarter of all cancers in females. HER2 gene amplification or HER2 protein overexpression, detected in about 20% of breast carcinomas, predicts a more aggressive clinical course and determines eligibility for targeted therapy with trastuzumab. HER2 testing has become an essential part of the clinical evaluation of all breast carcinoma patients, and accurate HER2 results are critical in identifying patients who may be benefited from targeted therapy. This study investigated the concordance in the results of HER2 immunohistochemistry assays performed in 500 invasive breast carcinomas between a reference laboratory and 149 local laboratories from all geographic regions of Brazil. Our results showed an overall poor concordance (171 of 500 cases, 34.2%) regarding HER2 results between local and reference laboratories, which may be related to the low-volume load of HER2 assays, inexperience with HER2 scoring system, and/or technical issues related to immunohistochemistry in local laboratories. Standardization of HER2 testing with rigorous quality control measures by local laboratories is highly recommended to avoid erroneous treatment of breast cancer patients.

Fetal tricuspid valve Doppler at 11-13 weeks and 6 days: reference values and reproducibility

Objective To determine normal blood flow velocities across the fetal tricuspid valve (TV) at 11-13 weeks and 6 days of gestation and to examine the reproducibility of these measurements. Methods A prospective study involving 166 normal singleton pregnancies examined at 11-13 weeks and 6 days was carried out. Descriptive analysis of E- and A-waves` maximum velocities, E/A ratio, duration of the cardiac cycle (C) and diastole (D) and D/C ratio were calculated. Intraobserver and interobserver agreement analysis was performed in a subgroup of 12 cases. Results Average (+/- SD) flow velocities were: E-wave, 25.0 (+/- 4.6) cm/s; A-wave. 42.9 (+/- 5.9) cm/s; E/A, 0.58 (+/- 0.07); cardiac cycle, 390 (+/- 21.1) ms; diastole, 147 (+/- 18) ms and D/C, 0.38 (+/- 0.04). Significant correlation was observed between all parameters (except A-wave) and gestational age but not with nuchal translucency (NT). Intraclass correlation coefficients (interobserver, intraobsever examiner I and intraobserver examiner 2) were: E-wave, 0.53, 0.53 and 0.64; A-wave, 0.45, 0.46 and 0.49; cardiac cycle, 0.70, 0.79 and 0.84 and diastole, 0.63, 0.85 and 0.82, respectively. Conclusions The present study establishes normal Doppler parameters for blood flow across the TV at 11 - 13 weeks and 6 days and demonstrates that these parameters do not correlate with NT measurement and have good/moderate reproducibility. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

LONGITUDINAL REFERENCE VALUES FOR DUCTUS VENOSUS DOPPLER IN LOW-RISK PREGNANCIES

The aim of this study was to establish normal ranges of blood flow velocities and indices in the fetal ductus venosus (DV) during the second half of normal pregnancy. A Doppler study of 60 healthy pregnant women without fetal pathologies was performed during the second half of pregnancy. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), peak diastolic velocity (PDV), maximum velocity during atrial contraction (VAC), peak systolic velocity/maximum velocity during atrial contraction (S/A ratio), pulsatility index for the vein (PIV), preload index (PLI) and velocity index for the vein (VIV) were calculated from the DV at 4-week intervals. A significant increase in PSV, PDV and VAC was observed from the 20-23(6/7) to the 28-31(6/7) weeks, with stabilization of values until the end of the pregnancy. On the other hand, the study showed a significant decrease for the S/A ratio, PIV, PLI and VIV from the 20-23(6/7) to the 28-31(6/7) weeks and remaining stable from then until term. (E-mail:dralemar@uol.com.br) (C) 2010 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.

Reference distribution of the bioelectrical impedance vector in healthy term newborns

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a new method that is used for the routine monitoring of the variation in body fluids and nutritional status with assumptions regarding body composition values. The aim of the present study was to determine bivariate tolerance intervals of the whole-body impedance vector and to describe phase angle (PA) values for healthy term newborns aged 7-28 d. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on healthy term neonates born at a low-risk public maternity. General and anthropometric neonatal data and bioelectrical impedance data (800 mu A-50 kHz) were obtained. Bivariate vector analysis was conducted with the resistance-reactance (RXc) graph method. The BIVA software was used to construct the graphs. The study was conducted on 109 neonates (52.3% females) who were born at term, adequate for gestational age, exclusively breast-fed and aged 13 (SD 3.6) d. We constructed one standard, reference, RXc-score graph and RXc-tolerance ellipses (50, 75 and 95 %) that can be used with any analyser. Mean PA was 3.14 (SD 0.43)degrees (3.12 (SD 0.39)degrees for males and 3.17 (SD 0.48)degrees for females). Considering the overlapping of ellipses of males and females with the general distribution, a graph for newborns aged 7-28 d with the same reference tolerance ellipse was defined for boys and girls. The results differ from those reported in the literature probably, in part, due to the ethnic differences in body composition. BIVA and PA permit an assessment without the need to know body weight and the prediction error of conventional impedance formulas.

Hyperkalemia: A quick reference

This article serves as a quick reference for hyperkalemia. Guidelines for analysis and causes, signs, and a stepwise approach are presented.