Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the third eyelid gland in a dog

A case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the third eyelid gland in a 7-year-old American Cocker Spaniel is reported. An enlargement of the third eyelid gland, abundant mucopurulent discharge, mild hyperemia and corneal pigmentation in the OD was present. Excisional biopsy of the mass revealed the gland was infiltrated and partially destroyed by a uniform population of neoplastic plasma cells. The neoplastic cells were positive for CD138, Ki-67 and lambda light chain. CD20, CD3, kappa light chain and cytokeratin were negative. Twelve months following surgery, no recurrence was observed. To the authors` knowledge, this is the first extramedullary plasmacytoma of the third eyelid gland reported in dogs.

A Precise Formulation of the Third Law of Thermodynamics

The third law of thermodynamics is formulated precisely: all points of the state space of zero temperature I""(0) are physically adiabatically inaccessible from the state space of a simple system. In addition to implying the unattainability of absolute zero in finite time (or ""by a finite number of operations""), it admits as corollary, under a continuity assumption, that all points of I""(0) are adiabatically equivalent. We argue that the third law is universally valid for all macroscopic systems which obey the laws of quantum mechanics and/or quantum field theory. We also briefly discuss why a precise formulation of the third law for black holes remains an open problem.

Quantitative Ventricular Neuroendoscopy Performed on the Third Ventriculostomy: Anatomic Study

BACKGROUND: One of the key elements for a successful endoscopic intervention in the ventricular system is the ability to recognize the anatomic structures and use them as a reference. OBJECTIVE: To measure the choroid plexus with endoscopy in the interventricular foramen, together with the structures on the third ventricle floor, and to compare these variables. METHODS: An observational prospective study was carried out on 37 brains of cadavers for which the cause of death was assessed at the Death Check Unit of the University of Sao Paulo in April 2008. This study was done on adults of both sexes with a rigid neuroendoscope. Endoscopic images were recorded, submitted for correction of distortion, and then measured. RESULTS: The measurements of the choroid plexus in the interventricular foramen, laterolateral distance of mammillary bodies, distance from the infundibular recess to the mammillary bodies, and area of the triangle in the tuber cinereum were 1.71 +/- 0.77 mm, 2.23 +/- 0.74 mm, 3.22 +/- 0.82 mm, and 3.69 +/- 2.09 mm(2), respectively. The ventricle floor was opaque in 84% of cases. The internal distance of mammillary bodies was absent in 89%. Associations between the translucent floor of the third ventricle and laterolateral distance of mammillary bodies, internal distance of mammillary bodies, and age were identified. CONCLUSION: Before this research, there was no record of the measurements of the choroid plexus in the interventricular foramen. The remaining variables of the present study show a greater number in normal brains compared with others.

Body weight as an indicator of fat-free mass in active elderly women

Objective: Fat-free mass (FFM) reduction and the tendency for a reduction in surrounding fatty issue and increase in the middle are a natural consequence of growing old and should be studied in order to gain a better understanding of the aging process. This study set out to find the FFM differences between active elderly women in two age groups (60-69 and 70-80 years) and to determine which of the anthropometric measurements, body weight (BW), abdominal circumference (AC), or body mass index (BMI) are the best predictors of FFM variation within the group. Methods: Eighty-one (n = 81) active elderly women of the Third Age willingly signed up to participate in the research during the activities at the University of the Third Age (UTA) in Brazil. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Body weight (BW), height (H) and the BMI were measured according to the international standards. The AC was measured in centimetres at the H of the navel and body composition was ascertained using bioimpedance analysis. The SAS program was used to perform the statistical analysis of independent samples and parametric data. Results: The results showed FFM values with significant differences between the two groups, with the lowest values occurring among the women who were over 70 years of age. In the analysis, the Pearson`s Correlation Coefficient for each measured independent variable was ascertained, with the BW measurement showing the highest ratio (0.900). Conclusions: The BW measurement was regarded as reliable, low-cost and easy to use for monitoring FFM in elderly women who engage in physical activities. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

HOST-MEDIATED INDUCTION OF alpha-AMYLASES BY LARVAE OF THE MEXICAN BEAN WEEVIL Zabrotes subfasciatus (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: BRUCHINAE) IS IRREVERSIBLE AND OBSERVED FROM THE INITIATION OF THE FEEDING PERIOD

Larvae of Zabrotes subfasciatus secrete alpha-amylases that are insensitive to the alpha-amylase inhibitor found in seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris. By analyzing amylase activities during larval development on P. vulgaris, we detected activity of the constitutive amylase and the two inducible amylase isoforms at all stages. When larvae were transferred from the non alpha-amylase inhibitor containing seeds of Vigna unguiculata to P. vulgaris, the inducible alpha-amylases were expressed at the same level as in control larvae fed on P. vulgaris. Interestingly, when larvae were transferred from seeds of P. vulgaris to those of V. unguiculata, inducible alpha-amylases continued to be expressed at a level similar to that found in control larvae fed P. vulgaris continuously. When 10-day-old larvae were removed from seeds of V. unguiculata and transferred into capsules containing flour of P. vulgaris cotyledons, and thus maintained until completing 17 days ( age when the larvae stopped feeding), we could detect higher activity of the inducible alpha-amylases. However, when larvae of the same age were transferred from P. vulgaris into capsules containing flour of V. unguiculata, the inducible alpha-amylases remained up-regulated. These results suggest that the larvae of Z. subfasciatus have the ability to induce insensitive amylases early in their development. A short period of feeding on P. vulgaris cotyledon flour was sufficient to irreversibly induce the inducible alpha-amylase isoforms. Incubations of brush border membrane vesicles with the alpha-amylase inhibitor 1 from P. vulgaris suggest that the inhibitor is recognized by putative receptors found in the midgut microvillar membranes. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Body composition and quality of life (QoL) of the elderly offered by the ""University Third Age`` (UTA) in Brazil

The investigation of the factors that interfere in the well-being of the elderly and their QoL can provide theoretical and methodological subsidies in structuring actions and policies in the health area, in order to fulfill the needs of that population. In this descriptive transversal study, body composition and QoL of elderly women at the UTA program in Piracicaba (Sao Paulo, Brazil) were verified. The participants were 81 women from UTA, and the general levels of physical activity were evaluated, as well as body weight (BW), height, and bodymass index (BMI). The waist circumference (WC) was measured at the level of the umbilical scar and the body composition by impedance (BIA 310e). QoL was verified by means of WHOQOL-Bref and statistical analysis developed with the SAS program. The decrease of weight, height, BMI, and fat-free mass (FFM) was observed among the several age groups, although with no significant difference. The average levels of the general QoL scores and physical, psychological and environmental domains decreased in higher age groups, but social domains showed the opposite result. This fact can be a particular characteristic of the UTA group, and factors the influence such behavior are yet to be studied. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the buccal vestibule-palatal diffusion of 4% articaine hydrochloride in impacted maxillary third molar extractions

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vestibular-palatal diffusion of 4% articaine with epinephrine 1: 100,000 and 1: 200,000, in impacted maxillary third molar extractions, without palatal injection. Materials and Method: Two hundred teeth were selected from patients age 15 to 46. Patients were divided into 4 groups: 1A, were anesthetized with 4% articaine 1: 100,000 and the surgery was initiated 5 minutes following anesthesia. 1B, used 4% articaine 1: 100,000 but the surgery was started 10 minutes after anesthesia. 2A, used 4% articaine 1: 200,000 the surgery was started 5 minutes after. 2B, used 4% articaine 1: 200,000 but 10 minutes was allowed for anesthetic diffusion before the initiation of in groups (50 extractions each) only buccal vestibule anesthesia was initially administered (i.e. no palatal injections were used). Results: The rate of sufficient vestibule-palatal diffusion, as determined by the lack of necessity of supplemental palatal anesthesia, was: 1A(84%), 1B(98%), 2A(78%), 2B(82%). Chi-square (X2) and residual analyses showed that a higher vestibule-palatal diffusion was obtained using 4% articaine 1: 100,000 with a period of 10 minutes (p<0.05). Conclusions: Most of the extractions could be performed only with vestibule anesthesia. However, vasoconstrictor concentration and the time interval between administration of the anesthetic and initiation of surgery did influence buccal vestibule-palatal diffusion of 4% articaine in the extraction models used.

Dentin permeability of the apical third in different groups of teeth

This ex vivo study evaluated dentin permeability of the root canal in the apical third of different human groups of teeth. Eighty teeth were used, 8 from each dental group: maxillary and mandibular central incisors, lateral incisors and canines, maxillary first premolars (buccal and palatal roots), mandibular first premolars, and maxillary and mandibular second premolars, totalizing 88 roots that were distributed in 11 groups. The root canals were instrumented, irrigated with 1% NaOCl and 15% EDTA. Roots were immersed in 10% copper sulfate for 30 min and then in 1% rubeanic acid alcohol solution for the same period; this chemical reaction reveals dentin permeability by the formation of copper rubeanate, which is a dark-colored compound. Semi-serial 100-µm-thick cross-sections were obtained from the apical third of the roots. Five sections of each apical third were washed, dehydrated, cleared and mounted on glass slides for examination under optical microscopy. The percentage of copper ion infiltration and the amount of tubular dentin were quantified by morphometric analysis. The penetration of copper ions in the apical third ranged from 4.60 to 16.66%. The mandibular central and lateral incisors presented the highest dentin permeability (16.66%), while the maxillary canines and mandibular second and first premolars presented the lowest dentin permeability (4.60%, 4.80% and 5.71%, respectively; p<0.001). The other teeth presented intermediate permeability. In conclusion, dye penetration into dentin tubules at the apical region is strongly dependent on the group of teeth evaluated.

Time trends and predictors of mortality from ill-defined causes in old age: 9 year folllow-up of the Bambuí cohort study (Brazil)

The study objective was to examine differentials in time trends and predictors of deaths assigned to symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions in comparison with other ill-defined conditions (ill-defined cardiovascular diseases, cancer and injury) in a population-based cohort study. Of 1,606 baseline participants aged 60 years and over, 524 died during 9-year follow-up and were included in this study. Deaths coded to "symptoms" declined by 77% in the period from 1997-1999 to 2003-2005. Deaths coded to other ill-defined conditions remained unchanged. The calendar period 2003-2005 (RR = 0.25; 95%CI: 0.09-0.70) and in-hospital deaths (RR = 0.16; 95%CI: 0.08-0.34) were independently associated with "symptoms", but not with other ill-defined conditions. Baseline socio-demographic characteristics and chronic diseases were not predictors of these outcomes. International and national agencies have focused on the reduction of deaths assigned to "symptoms" to improve the registration of vital statistics, while other ill-defined conditions have received little attention. Our data provide evidence supporting the need to redress this situation.

Prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Brazilian children: follow-up at school age of two Brazilian birth cohorts of the 1990's

Background: Few cohort studies have been conducted in low and middle-income countries to investigate non-communicable diseases among school-aged children. This article aims to describe the methodology of two birth cohorts, started in 1994 in Ribeirao Preto (RP), a more developed city, and in 1997/98 in Sao Luis (SL), a less developed town. Methods: Prevalences of some non-communicable diseases during the first follow-up of these cohorts were estimated and compared. Data on singleton live births were obtained at birth (2858 in RP and 2443 in SL). The follow-up at school age was conducted in RP in 2004/05, when the children were 9-11 years old and in SL in 2005/06, when the children were 7-9 years old. Follow-up rates were 68.7% in RP (790 included) and 72.7% in SL (673 participants). The groups of low (<2500 g) and high (>= 4250 g) birthweight were oversampled and estimates were corrected by weighting. Results: In the more developed city there was a higher percentage of non-nutritive sucking habits (69.1% vs 47.9%), lifetime bottle use (89.6% vs 68.3%), higher prevalence of primary headache in the last 15 days (27.9% vs 13.0%), higher positive skin tests for allergens (44.3% vs 25.3%) and higher prevalence of overweight (18.2% vs 3.6%), obesity (9.5% vs 1.8%) and hypertension (10.9% vs 4.6%). In the less developed city there was a larger percentage of children with below average cognitive function (28.9% vs 12.2%), mental health problems (47.4% vs 38.4%), depression (21.6% vs 6.0%) and underweight (5.8% vs 3.6%). There was no difference in the prevalence of bruxism, recurrent abdominal pain, asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness between cities. Conclusions: Some non-communicable diseases were highly prevalent, especially in the more developed city. Some high rates suggest that the burden of non-communicable diseases will be high in the future, especially mental health problems.

Age distribution of the central stars of galactic disk planetary nebulae

Context. Determination of the ages of central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPN) is a complex problem, and there is presently no single method that can be generally applied. We have developed several methods of estimating the ages of CSPN, based on both the observed nebular properties and some properties of the stars themselves. Aims. Our aim is to estimate the ages and the age distribution of CSPN and to compare the derived results with mass and age determinations of CSPN and white dwarfs based on empirical determinations of these quantities. Methods. We considered a sample of planetary nebulae in the galactic disk, most of which (similar to 69%) are located in the solar neighbourhood, within 3 kpc from the Sun. We discuss several methods of deriving the age distribution of CSPN, namely; (i) the use of an age-metallicity relation that also depends on the galactocentric distance; (ii) the use of an age-metallicity relation obtained for the galactic disk; and (iii) the determination of ages from the central star masses obtained from the observed nitrogen abundances. Results. We estimated the age distribution of CSPN with average uncertainties of 1-2 Gyr, and compared our results with the expected distribution based both on the observed mass distribution of white dwarfs and on the age distribution derived from available mass distributions of CSPN. Based on our derived age distributions, we conclude that most CSPN in the galactic disk have ages under 6 Gyr, and that the age distribution is peaked around 2-4 Gyr.

Optical third-harmonic spectroscopy of the magnetic semiconductor EuTe

EuTe possesses the centrosymmetric crystal structure m3m of rocksalt type in which the second-harmonic generation is forbidden in electric dipole approximation but the third-harmonic generation (THG) is allowed. We studied the THG spectra of this material and observed several resonances in the vicinity of the band gap at 2.2-2.5 eV and at higher energies up to 4 eV, which are related to four-photon THG processes. The observed resonances are assigned to specific combinations of electronic transitions between the ground 4f(7) state at the top of the valence band and excited 4f(6)5d(1) states of Eu(2+) ions, which form the lowest energy conduction band. Temperature, magnetic field, and rotational anisotropy studies allowed us to distinguish crystallographic and magnetic-field-induced contributions to the THG. A strong modification of THG intensity for the 2.4 eV band and suppression of the THG for the 3.15 eV band was observed in applied magnetic field. Two main features of the THG spectra were assigned to 5d(t(2g)) and 5d(e(g)) subbands at 2.4 eV and 3.15 eV, respectively. A microscopic quantum-mechanical model of the THG response was developed and its conclusions are in qualitative agreement with the experimental results.

Professional development and a discussion of the professional preparation provided by information and library science degree programs in public universities in Madrid, 2000-2005

A study was designed to determine how the degree programs in Information and library science available in 2000-2005 at the public universities of Madrid fit the tabour market needs of their students. The methodology used was the development of a questionnaire addressed to graduates. Although the number of surveys completed is not high (118), the authors believe that the results obtained permit a series of conclusions that may be extrapolated to the entire cohort.

Using bifurcations in the determination of lock-in ranges for third-order phase-locked loops

Transmission and switching in digital telecommunication networks require distribution of precise time signals among the nodes. Commercial systems usually adopt a master-slave (MS) clock distribution strategy building slave nodes with phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits. PLLs are responsible for synchronizing their local oscillations with signals from master nodes, providing reliable clocks in all nodes. The dynamics of a PLL is described by an ordinary nonlinear differential equation, with order one plus the order of its internal linear low-pass filter. Second-order loops are commonly used because their synchronous state is asymptotically stable and the lock-in range and design parameters are expressed by a linear equivalent system [Gardner FM. Phaselock techniques. New York: John Wiley & Sons: 1979]. In spite of being simple and robust, second-order PLLs frequently present double-frequency terms in PD output and it is very difficult to adapt a first-order filter in order to cut off these components [Piqueira JRC, Monteiro LHA. Considering second-harmonic terms in the operation of the phase detector for second order phase-locked loop. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst [2003;50(6):805-9; Piqueira JRC, Monteiro LHA. All-pole phase-locked loops: calculating lock-in range by using Evan`s root-locus. Int J Control 2006;79(7):822-9]. Consequently, higher-order filters are used, resulting in nonlinear loops with order greater than 2. Such systems, due to high order and nonlinear terms, depending on parameters combinations, can present some undesirable behaviors, resulting from bifurcations, as error oscillation and chaos, decreasing synchronization ranges. In this work, we consider a second-order Sallen-Key loop filter [van Valkenburg ME. Analog filter design. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston; 1982] implying a third order PLL The resulting lock-in range of the third-order PLL is determined by two bifurcation conditions: a saddle-node and a Hopf. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Age-related association of rDNA and telomeres with the nuclear matrix in mouse hepatocytes

Transcribed sequences have been suggested to be associated with the nuclear matrix, differing from non-transcribing sequences, which have been reported to be contained in DNA loops. However, although a dozen of genes have their expression level affected by aging, data on chromatin-nuclear matrix interactions under this physiological condition are still scarce. In the present study, liver imprints from young, adult and old mice were subjected to FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) for 45S rDNA and telomeric sequences, with or without a lysis treatment to produce extended chromatin fibres. There was an increased amount of 45S rDNA sequences located in DNA loops as the animals grow older, while telomeric sequences were always observed in DNA loops irrespective of the animal age. We assume that active rRNA genes associate with the nuclear matrix, while DNA loops contain silent sequences. Transcription of each 45S rDNA repeat unit is suggested to be dependent on its interaction with the nuclear matrix.