Coordenação de relés de sobrecorrente e distância para sistemas de transmissão

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Reconfiguração de sistemas de distribuição operando em vários níveis de demanda através de uma meta-heurística de busca em vizinhança variável

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Lipodystrophy in HIV/AIDS patients with different levels of physical activity while on antiretroviral therapy

INTRODUÇÃO: A lipodistrofia relacionada ao uso de terapia antirretroviral (TARV) pode causar estigma estético e elevar o risco de doenças cardiovasculares. A atividade física pode ser uma alternativa válida para o tratamento e prevenção da lipodistrofia. Entretanto, poucos estudos tratam dessa temática. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a ocorrência de lipodistrofia relacionada ao uso de TARV em portadores de HIV/AIDS, com diferentes hábitos de atividades físicas. MÉTODOS: A casuística foi formada por 42 portadores de HIV em uso de TARV, do Centro de Testagem e Aconselhamento de Presidente Prudente. Para obtenção do nível de atividade física aplicou-se o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (IPAQ); a lipodistrofia foi diagnosticada pelo autorrelato do paciente e a confirmação médica. O percentual de gordura de tronco foi estimado pela absortometria por raio-X de dupla energia (DEXA). Foram coletados também dados referentes a sexo, idade, tempo de uso de TARV, valores de CD4 e carga viral. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se maior ocorrência de lipodistrofia no grupo sedentário quando comparado ao ativo, além de fator protetor da prática da atividade física em relação à ocorrência da lipodistrofia. O grupo com valores mais elevados de CD4 também apresentou maior proporção de sujeitos com lipodistrofia, além de maior proporção de ativos e de indivíduos com menor faixa etária. Os acometidos pela lipodistrofia apresentaram maiores valores de percentual de gordura de tronco, bem como, os sedentários em relação aos ativos. CONCLUSÕES: O estilo de vida fisicamente ativa resultou em efeito protetor para ocorrência da lipodistrofia relacionada ao uso da TARV.

Frequency of Candida spp. in the Oral Cavity of Brazilian HIV-Positive Patients and Correlation with CD4 Cell Counts and Viral Load

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Partial characterization of the polluting load of swine wastewater treated with an integrated biodigestion system

The stabilization of swine wastewaters from swine confined housing by the combination of a upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and waste stabilization ponds is a viable alternative to minimize the environmental impact caused by inadequate disposal of swine wastewaters. In the present study, the polluting load of pre-decanted swine wastewater treated with a series of two 0.705 m(3) UASB reactors and then in parallel in aerated and non-aerated stabilization tanks was investigated from January to July, 2000. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses were made adopting standard methods (Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th ed., American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, 1995). COD values decreased as the wastewater ran through the integrated biodigestion system dropping from about 3492 +/- 511-4094 mg l(-1) +/- 481 to 124 +/- 52-490 mg l(-1) +/- 230, while nitrate and nitrite levels increased in stabilization tanks, ranging respectively from 4 +/- 0 to 20 mg l(-1) +/- 3 and 3 +/- 1 to 11 mg l(-1) +/- 24. Although the removal of Escherichia coli was more than 97% +/- 6, the effluents of the treatment system still contained unacceptable levels of E. coli (1.6 x 10(3)-1.2 x 10(6) 100 ml(-1)) according to WHO guidelines for use of wastewater in agriculture and aquaculture. These results indicate the necessity of changes on operational characteristics of the treatment system such as an increase of the hydraulic retention time in UASB reactors or in stabilization tanks. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Relative contributions of beta-cell function and tissue insulin sensitivity to fasting and postglucose-load glycemia

We performed hyperglycemic clamps in 283 nondiabetic Caucasians and, with multiple linear regression, determined the contribution of beta-cell function and tissue insulin sensitivity to variations in glycemia and insulinemia during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) subjects had reduced insulin sensitivity(P < .02) and beta-cell function (P < .0001). Normal glucose tolerance (NGT) subjects with first-degree type 2 diabetic relatives had reduced first and second phase insulin secretion (both, P < .05), but normal insulin sensitivity(P = .37). beta-Cell function and insulin sensitivity accounted for one fourth of the variability in glucose tolerance. Fasting plasma glucose in subjects with NGT (n = 185) was a function of both phases of insulin secretion and of insulin sensitivity tall, P < .05), whereas, in IGT subjects (n = 98), it was a function of first phase insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity(P < .01). Two-hour glycemia was a function of second phase secretion and insulin sensitivity (P < .01). Fasting and 2-hour plasma insulin levels were determined by insulin sensitivity land glycemia) in NGT subjects (P < .001), but by second phase secretion in IGT (P < .001). We conclude that beta-cell function is reduced in subjects with IGT; glycemia and insulinemia are not regulated by the same mechanisms in IGT and NGT; insulin sensitivity does not contribute to insulinemia in IGT; family history of diabetes influences beta-cell function, but not insulin sensitivity in Caucasians. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.

Intensified peginterferon α-2a dosing increases sustained virologic response rates in heavy, high viral load hepatitis c genotype 1 patients with high low-density lipoprotein

BACKGROUND AND GOAL: Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels achieve higher sustained virologic response (SVR) rates after peginterferon (PegIFN)/ribavirin treatment versus patients with lower LDL. Our aim was to determine whether SVR rates in patients with low/elevated LDL can be improved by dose intensification. STUDY: In PROGRESS, genotype 1 patients with baseline HCV RNA≥400,000 IU/mL and body weight ≥85 kg were randomized to 48 weeks of 180 μg/wk PegIFN α-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin (A: 1200 mg/d; B: 1400/1600 mg/d) or 12 weeks of 360 μg/wk PegIFN α-2a followed by 36 weeks of 180 μg/wk, plus ribavirin (C: 1200 mg/d; D: 1400/1600 mg/d). This retrospective analysis assessed SVR rates among patients with low (<100 mg/dL) or elevated (≥100 mg/dL) LDL. Patients with high LDL (n=256) had higher baseline HCV RNA (5.86×10 IU/mL) versus patients with low LDL (n=262; 4.02×10 IU/mL; P=0.0003). RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analysis identified a significant interaction between PegIFN α-2a dose and LDL levels on SVR (P=0.0193). The only treatment-related SVR predictor in the nested multiple logistic regression was PegIFN α-2a dose among patients with elevated LDL (P=0.0074); therefore, data from the standard (A+B) and induction (C+D) dose arms were pooled. Among patients with low LDL, SVR rates were 40% and 35% in the standard and induction-dose groups, respectively; SVR rates in patients with high LDL were 44% and 60% (P=0.014), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intensified dosing of PegIFN α-2a increases SVR rates in patients with elevated LDL even with the difficult-to-cure characteristics of genotype 1, high baseline viral load, and high body weight. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Impact of Epstein-Barr virus load, virus genotype, and frequency of the 30bp deletion in the viral BNLF-1 gene in patients harboring the human immunodeficiency virus

Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at higher risk of developing Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-associated lymphomas. The usefulness of monitoring EBV in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients infected with HIV has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the EBV viral load in PBMCs, the frequency of viral genotypes, and the presence of the 30-bp deletion in the BNLF-1 gene. DNA samples from 156 patients attending the HIV/AIDS Day Clinic at Botucatu School of Medicine, Sao Paulo State University were evaluated. The EBV viral load was detectable by real time PCR in 123/156 (78.8%) cases and was higher in patients not receiving antiretroviral treatment or under therapeutic failure than in patients under successful highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (P=0.0076). Overall, the profile of patients with high EBV viral load included elevated HIV viremia (P=0.0005), longer time of HIV diagnosis (P=0.0026), and increased levels of T CD8 + lymphocytes (P=0.0159). The successful amplification of the EBNA-2 gene by nested-PCR was achieved in 95 of 123 (77.2%) cases, of which 75.8% were EBV-1, 9.5% EBV-2, and 14.7% were co-infected with both EBV-1 and -2. The analysis of the BNLF-1 gene was possible in 99 of 123 (80.5%) cases, of which 50.5% had the 30-bp deletion. EBV-1 was more common than EBV-2, which may reflect the fact that the cohort was predominantly Caucasian and heterosexual. J. Med. Virol. 85:2110-2118, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Periodontopathogens levels and clinical response to periodontal therapy in individuals with the interleukin-4 haplotype associated with susceptibility to chronic periodontitis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Resistance training with excessive training load and insufficient recovery alters skeletal muscle mass-related protein expression

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A longer time of exposure to antiretroviral therapy improves selenium levels

Background &aims: Selenium is an essential mineral for immunological function, performing crucial functions at the cellular level. This micronutrient has been determined to be frequently deficient in HIV infected patients, with correlations between reduced immunological function and greater susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of time of exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the biochemical profile of selenium in HIV-infected patients.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 50 HIV-positive men with different quantitations of viral load and CD4+ T cells, who were either receiving or not receiving ART. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine body composition, biochemical analysis of selenium and albumin, anthropometric measurements were performed. The subjects were divided into groups according to the use of ART or not: The Control Group (CG) was 10 treatment-nave volunteers, Group G < 2 was 20 volunteers on ART for less than 2 years, and Group G > 2 was 20 volunteers on ART for >2 years.Results: The body mass index showed that all subjects were of normal weight. The group with a longer time of exposure to ART (G > 2) had undetectable viremia and a higher CD4+ T cell count: 593.1 +/- 234.6 mm(3). Selenium values (mu g/L) were 55.9 +/- 11.9 for CG, 52.1 +/- 10.5 for G < 2, and 66.9 +/- 20.8 for G > 2, with a significant difference between groups G < 2 and G > 2 (p < 0.05), and only G > 2 showed normal selenium values.Conclusions: Most of the men studied showed selenium deficiency, except for the subjects with a longer exposure to antiretroviral treatment. Thus, an adequate selenium concentration is related to better control of virology and of immunologic function. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Combined training (aerobic plus strength) potentiates a reduction in body fat but demonstrates no difference on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women when compared to aerobic training with a similar training load

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of aerobic and combined training on the body composition and lipid profile of obese postmenopausal women and to analyze which of these models is more effective after equalizing the training load. Sixty five postmenopausal women (age=61.0±6.3 years) were divided into three groups: Aerobic Training (AT,n= 15), Combined Training (CT,[strength+aerobic],n=32) and control group (CG,n=18). Their body composition: upper body fat (TF), fat mass (FM), percentage of fat mass and fat free mass (FFM) were estimated by DXA. The lipid profile, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were assessed. There was a statistically significant difference in the TF (AT= -4.4 %, CT= -4.4%, and CG= 1.0%, p= 0.001) and FFM (AT= 1.7%, CT= 2.6%, and CG= -1.4%, p= 0.0001) between the experimental and the control groups. Regarding the percentage of body fat, there was a statistically significant difference only between the CT and CG groups (AT= -2.8%, CT= -3.9% and CG= 0.31%, p= 0.004). When training loads were equalized, the aerobic and combined training decreased core fat and increased fat-free mass, but only the combined training potentiated a reduction in percentage of body fat in obese postmenopausal women after the training program. HDL-c levels increased in the combined group and the chol/HDL ratio (atherogenic index) decreased in the aerobic group, however, there were no significant differences between the intervention programs. Taken together, both the exercise training programs were effective for improving body composition and inducing an anti-atherogenic status.