Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children with obstructive sleep apnea and primary snoring

Objective: To evaluate the systemic blood pressure (BP) during daytime and nighttime in children with sleep breathing disorders (SBD) and compare parameters of BP in children with diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) to those one with primary snoring (PS).Methods: Children, both genders, aged from 8 to 12 years, with symptoms of SBD realized an overnight polysomnography followed by a 24 h recording of ambulatory BP.Results: All subjects presented with a history of snoring 7 nights per week. Children who have apnea/hipoapnea index >= four or a apnea index >= one presented a mean BP of 93 +/- 7 mmHg and 85 +/- 9 mmHg diurnal and nocturnal respectively whereas children who have a apnea/hipoapnea < four or a apnea index < one presented 90 +/- 7 mmHg and 77 +/- 2 mmHg. Eight children out of fourteen, from OSA group, lost the physiologic nocturnal dipping of the blood pressure. Among OSA children 57% were considered non-dippers. Two (16%) have presented absence of nocturnal dipping among children with primary snoring. The possibility of OSA children loosing physiologic blood pressure dipping was 6.66 higher than the possibilities of patients from PS group.Discussion: Our results indicate that children with sleep apnea syndrome exhibit a higher 24 h blood pressure when compared with those of primary snoring in form of decreased degree of nocturnal dipping and increased levels of diastolic and mean blood pressure, according to previous studies in literature. OSA in children seems to be associated to the development of hypertension or other cardiovascular disease. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of glass ionomer cements on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells

Glass ionomer cements are widely used in dentistry as restorative materials and adhesives for composite restorations. However, the results of genotoxicity studies using these materials are inconclusive in literature. The goal of this study was to examine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of three different glass ionomer cements available commercially (Ketac Cem, Ketac Molar and Vitrebond) by the single cell gel (comet) assay and trypan blue exclusion test, respectively. For this, such materials were exposed to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in vitro for 1 h at 37 degrees C. Data were assessed by Kruskall-Wallis nonparametric test. The results showed that the powder from Ketac Molar displayed genotoxicity only in the maximum concentration evaluated (100 mu g/mL). In the same way, the liquid from Vitrebond at 0.1% dilution caused an increase of DNA injury. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in cytotoxicity provoked by all powders tested of glass ionomer cements were observed for exposure at 1000 mu g/mL concentration. With respect to liquids of glass ionomer cements evaluated, the major toxic effect on cell viability was produced at 10%, beginning at the dilution of 0.5% for Vitrebond. Taken together, we conclude that some components of glass ionomer cements show both genotoxic and cytotoxic effects.

Dentistry in Brazil: Its History and Current Trends

The objectives of this article are to provide a short history of dentistry and dental education in Brazil and to analyze the nature of its development to date. The databases consulted are those provided by the Brazilian Federal Council of Dentistry, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brazilian Ministry of Education, National Institute of Studies and Educational Research Anisio Teixeira, and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Formal dental education in Brazil started in the late nineteenth century with the creation of courses annexed to existing schools of medicine in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. Today, there are 191 institutions of higher education nationwide granting degrees in dentistry (137 private [71.7 percent] and fifty-four public [28.3 percent]), with a total of 17,157 student positions offered annually. These schools graduate around 10,000 professionals per year-one of the highest rates in the world. Both the distribution of schools of dentistry and of dentists varies among the regions of the country, with the greatest concentrations in major metropolitan centers with high population density, resulting in limited coverage in the more deprived regions. A review of epidemiological data for oral health and distribution of dentists in Brazil indicates that there is a lack of systematic planning for the allocation of the dental workforce and a lack of consideration of regional needs in the development of dental training programs in Brazil today.

Evaluation of different protocols for anatomical studies in Parmeliaceae (lichenized Ascomycota)

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

OIL GLANDS IN PTERODON PUBESCENS BENTH. (LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE): DISTRIBUTION, STRUCTURE, and SECRETION MECHANISMS

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

Occurrence of Microcerella halli (Engel) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in snake carrion in southeastern Brazil

Occurrence of Microcerella halli (Engel) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in snake carrion in southeastern Brazil. The occurrence of 27 second-instar larvae of the flesh fly Microcerella halli (Engel, 1931) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in a carcass of a snake usually called as Urutu, Bothrops alternatus (Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854) (Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae) is reported. The snake was kept in captivity in a snake farm in Morungaba, São Paulo state, Brazil. Descriptions of reptile carcass colonization by insects and general biological data of this flesh fly are scarce and this necrophagic behavior is described for the first time in literature.

A review of postfeeding larval dispersal in blowflies: implications for forensic entomology

Immature and adult stages of blowflies are one of the primary invertebrate consumers of decomposing animal organic matter. When the food supply is consumed or when the larvae complete their development and migrate prior to the total removal of the larval substrate, they disperse to find adequate places for pupation, a process known as postfeeding larval dispersal. Several important ecological and physiological aspects of this process were studied since the work by Green (Ann Appl Biol 38:475, 1951) 50 years ago. An understanding of postfeeding larval dispersal can be useful for determining the postmortem interval (PMI) of human cadavers in legal medicine, particularly because this interval may be underestimated if older dispersing larvae or those that disperse longer, faster, and deeper are not taken into account. In this article, we review the process of postfeeding larval dispersal and its implications for legal medicine, in particular showing that aspects such as burial behavior and competition among species of blowflies can influence this process and consequently, the estimation of PMI.

Seasonal variation in natural populations of Drosophila spp. (Diptera) in two woodlands in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rate in Brazilian igneous rocks

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Behavior of an albino vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffroy) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), in captivity

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of the passive recovery period on the lactate minimum speed in sprinters and endurance runners

The objective of this study was to verify the effect of the passive recovery time following a supramaximal sprint exercise and the incremental exercise test on the lactate minimum speed (LMS). Thirteen sprinters and 12 endurance runners performed the following tests: 1) a maximal 500 m sprint followed by a passive recovery to determine the time to reach the peak blood lactate concentration; 2) after the maximal 500 m sprint, the athletes rested eight mins, and then performed 6 x 800 m incremental test, in order to determine the speed corresponding to the lower blood lactate concentration (LMS1) and; 3) identical procedures of the LMS1, differing only in the passive rest time, that was performed in accordance with the time to peak lactate (LMS2). The time (min) to reach the peak blood lactate concentration was significantly higher in the sprinters (12.76+/-2.83) than in the endurance runners (10.25+/-3.01). There was no significant difference between LMS1 and LMS2, for both endurance (285.7+/-19.9; 283.9+/-17.8 m/min; r= 0.96) and sprint runners (238.0+/-14.1; 239.4+/-13.9 m/min; r= 0.93), respectively. We can conclude that the LMS is not influenced by a passive recovery period longer than eight mins (adjusted according with the time to peak blood lactate), although blood lactate concentration may differ at this speed. The predominant type of training (aerobic or anaerobic) of the athletes does not seem to influence the phenomenon previously described.

Gastroprotective activity of Pradosia huberi on experimentally induced gastric lesions in rodents: Role of endogenous sulphydryls and nitric oxide

Pradosia huberi is a medicinal plant very common in the Amazonian forest population. The research interest in this plant is justifiable because of its potential medicinal value in gastritis and gastric ulcer mentioned in local folk medicine. In this paper, we evaluated the acute toxicity and antiulcerogenic effect of a hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) obtained from Pradosia huberi barks in rodents. No acute toxicological sign or symptom was observed in animals treated with the highest dose (5000 mg/kg, p.o.) of Pradosia huberi. In the HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer model, HAE demonstrated significant inhibition of the ulcerative lesion index by 73% (500 mg/kg) and 88% (1000 mg/kg), respectively, in relation to the control value (p < 0.05). The gastric damage induced by absolute ethanol in rats was effectively reduced by 84, 88 and 81% (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) when compared with the control group (p < 0.01). In the NSAID-induced lesion model, HAE also showed antiulcerogenic effect with decrease in gastric lesions of 56% (250 mg/kg), 57% (500 mg/kg) and 67% (1000 mg/kg) when compared with animals treated with vehicle (p < 0.05). In the gastric ulcer induced by pylorus ligature model, the administration of HAE by oral and intraduodenal routes inhibited the gastric lesion index by 79 and 52% (500 mg/kg), respectively. HAE administered orally or intraduodenally was able to change gastric juice parameters (pH, volume and acid output) as well as those treated with cimetidine. The treatment with HAE (p.o.) significantly increased gastric volume, the pH values and promoted reduced acid output (1) < 0.01). By comparative effect (intraduodenal and oral route), we observed that HAE was better for local activity in gastric mucosa than in systemic action. HAE also has a non-specific activity when found to be the inhibitor of intestinal motility (p > 0.01). The mechanism of action of HAE did not seem to be related to the NO-inhibitor but showed the participation of endogenous sulphydryl group in the gastroprotective action. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Preliminary studies of Mammea americana L. (Guttiferae) bark/latex extract point to an effective antiulcer effect on gastric ulcer models in mice

Plant extracts are some of the most attractive sources of new drugs and have shown promising results for the treatment of gastric ulcers. Several folk medicinal plants and herbs have been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, including gastric ulcers. Mammea americana L. (Guttiferae) fruit is very common in the diet of the population of northern South America. Our research interest in this plant arose because of its potential medicinal value as a tonic and against stomachache, as used in folk medicine. In this paper we evaluated three different extracts (ethanolic/EtOH, methanolic/MeOH and dichloromethane/DCM) obtained from M. americana L., for their ability to protect the gastric mucosa against injuries caused by necrotizing agents (0.3 M HCI/60% EtOH), hypothermic restraint stress, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID, indomethacin) and pylorus ligation. In the HCI/EtOH-induced gastriculcer model, EtOH and DCM extracts demonstrated significant inhibition of the ulcerative lesion index by 54% (12.0 +/- 2.6 mm) and 86% (3.7 +/- 1.8 mm), respectively, in relation to the control value (26.0 +/- 1.4 mm) (p < 0.000 1). In the NSAID/cholinomimetic-induced lesion model, both EtOH and DCM extracts showed antiulcerogenic effects with significant reduction in the damage to these gastric lesions of 36% (8.3 +/- 2.0 mm) and 42% (7.5 +/- 1.4 mm), respectively, as compared to the control group (13.0 +/- 0.9 mm) (p < 0.0001). In the gastric ulcer induced by hypothermic-restraint stress, both extracts also showed significant activity, and inhibited the gastric lesion index by 58% and 75%, respectively. The EtOH and DCM extracts also changed gastric juice parameters as well as those of cimetidine, decreased gastric acid secretion significantly (p < 0.0001), increased pH values and promoted reduced acid output (p < 0.0001). In all gastric-ulcer-induced models, MeOH extract did not show any significant antiulcerogenic activity, nor did it change gastric-juice parameters (p > 0.05). The results suggest that EtOH and DCM extracts obtained from M. americana possess excellent antisecretory and/or gastrotective effect in all gastric ulcer models. These results suggest that the antiulcerogenic compound(s) present in M. americana may be clustered in the apolar fraction, which will be investigated by our group for the probable mechanisms of action. (c) 2004 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Multi-wavelength holography in Bi12TiO20 crystals: Applications in refractometry

We present a recent development in holography with multimode, large free-spectral range (FSR) diode lasers in photorefractive sillenite crystals. A novel refractometry method based on this type of holographic recording in Bi12TiO20 (BTO) crystals is proposed. The holographic image of a prism-shaped transparent sample appears covered of interference fringes, and as the sample is properly translated, the fringes run along the holographic image. An expression providing the refractive index of the medium as a function of the sample displacement and the correspondent number of running fringes was derived. The refractive indexes of optical (BK7) glass, ethanol, hexan, cumene and aqueous solution of NaCl with different concentrations were measured in order to test the method. The obtained results are in good agreement with the ones reported in literature or measured by us using a commercial Abbe refractometre. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Changes in physiological and stroking parameters during interval swims at the slope of the d-t relationship

The slope of the distance-time relationship from maximal 200 and 400 in bouts (S(200-400)) has been increasingly employed for setting training intensities in swimming. However, physiological and mechanical responses at this speed are poorly understood. Thus, this study investigated blood lactate, heart rate (HR), stroke rate (SR), stroke length (SL) and RPE responses to an interval swimming set at S(200-400) in trained swimmers. In a 50-m pool, twelve athletes (16.5 +/- 1.2 yr, 176 +/- 7 cm, 68.4 +/- 5.4 kg, and 7.8 +/- 2.5% body fat) performed maximal 200 and 400 m crawl trials for S(200-400) determination (1.28 +/- 0.05 m/s). Thereafter, swimmers were instructed to perform 5 x 400 in at this speed with 1.5 min rest between repetitions. Three athletes Could not complete the set (exhaustion at 21.0 +/- 3.1 min). For the remaining swimmers (total set duration = 32.0 +/- 1.3 min) significant increases) (p < 0.05) in blood lactate (5.7 +/- 0.8-7.9 +/- 2.4 mmol/l), SR (29.6 +/- 3.2-32.1 +/- 4.1 cycles/min), HR (169 +/- 11-181 +/- 8 bpm) and RPE (13.3 +/- 1.6-16.3 +/- 2.6) were observed through the IS. Conversely, SL decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from the first to the fifth repetition (2.48 +/- 0.22-2.31 +/- 0.24 m/cycle). These results suggest that interval swimming at S(200-400) represents an intense physiological, mechanical and perceptual stimulus that can be sustained for a prolonged period by most athletes. (C) 2008 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.