Assessment of the mechanics of a tissue-engineered rat trachea in an image-processing environment

OBJECTIVES: Despite the recent success regarding the transplantation of tissue-engineered airways, the mechanical properties of these grafts are not well understood. Mechanical assessment of a tissue-engineered airway graft before implantation may be used in the future as a predictor of function. The aim of this preliminary work was to develop a noninvasive image-processing environment for the assessment of airway mechanics.METHOD: Decellularized, recellularized and normal tracheas (groups DECEL, RECEL, and CONTROL, respectively) immersed in Krebs-Henseleit solution were ventilated by a small-animal ventilator connected to a Fleisch pneumotachograph and two pressure transducers (differential and gauge). A camera connected to a stereomicroscope captured images of the pulsation of the trachea before instillation of saline solution and after instillation of Krebs-Henseleit solution, followed by instillation with Krebs-Henseleit with methacholine 0.1 M (protocols A, K and KMCh, respectively). The data were post-processed with computer software and statistical comparisons between groups and protocols were performed.RESULTS: There were statistically significant variations in the image measurements of the medial region of the trachea between the groups (two-way analysis of variance [ANOVA], p<0.01) and of the proximal region between the groups and protocols (two-way ANOVA, p<0.01).CONCLUSIONS: The technique developed in this study is an innovative method for performing a mechanical assessment of engineered tracheal grafts that will enable evaluation of the viscoelastic properties of neo-tracheas prior to transplantation.

Cardiovascular risk and mortality in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing dialysis: sleep study, pulmonary function, respiratory mechanics, upper airway collapsibility, autonomic nervous activity, depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life: a prospective, double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most serious public health problems. The increasing prevalence of CKD in developed and developing countries has led to a global epidemic. The hypothesis proposed is that patients undergoing dialysis would experience a marked negative influence on physiological variables of sleep and autonomic nervous system activity, compromising quality of life.Methods/Design: A prospective, consecutive, double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial is proposed to address the effect of dialysis on sleep, pulmonary function, respiratory mechanics, upper airway collapsibility, autonomic nervous activity, depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life in patients with CKD. The measurement protocol will include body weight (kg); height (cm); body mass index calculated as weight/height(2); circumferences (cm) of the neck, waist, and hip; heart and respiratory rates; blood pressures; Mallampati index; tonsil index; heart rate variability; maximum ventilatory pressures; negative expiratory pressure test, and polysomnography (sleep study), as well as the administration of specific questionnaires addressing sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life.Discussion: CKD is a major public health problem worldwide, and its incidence has increased in part by the increased life expectancy and increasing number of cases of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Sleep disorders are common in patients with renal insufficiency. Our hypothesis is that the weather weight gain due to volume overload observed during interdialytic period will influence the degree of collapsibility of the upper airway due to narrowing and predispose to upper airway occlusion during sleep, and to investigate the negative influences of haemodialysis in the physiological variables of sleep, and autonomic nervous system, and respiratory mechanics and thereby compromise the quality of life of patients.

Effect of triceps surae and quadriceps muscle fatigue on the mechanics of landing in stepping down in ongoing gait

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Continuum resonances with shielded Coulomb-like potential and Efimov effect

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

Classes de palavras na perspectiva da gramática discursivo-funcional: o papel da nominalização no continuum categorial

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Indicators of the risk mechanics for Class-I and Class-II amalgam and composite resin restorations

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

A simple and fast method for assessment of the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium rating of fertilizers using high-resolution continuum source atomic and molecular absorption spectrometry

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

Proposta de mosaico de unidades de conservação para o continuum ecológico de Paranapiacaba (SP): estratégia de conservação possível ?

Em decorrência dos crescentes problemas ambientais e da perda de biodiversidade, diversas discussões tem ocorrido em todo o mundo com o objetivo de criar estratégias que solucionem ou minimizem tais problemas. O estabelecimento de áreas de proteção consiste em uma das estratégias já consagradas entretanto, sua concepção como ilhas isoladas tem se apresentado cada vez mais ineficiente. Reconhecendo as inter-dependências dos processos ecológicos, que se apresentam em diferentes escalas, tem crescido a concepção de gestão territorial integrada para as áreas de proteção, nas quais o manejo dos recursos naturais consideram, igualmente, a preservação da biodiversidade, o incentivo ao desenvolvimento sustentável e a valorização das dimensões sociais. Dentre os instrumentos propiciam a gestão integrada dos recursos naturais, tem-se os mosaicos de UC. No Brasil, os escassos remanescentes de Mata Atlântica representam áreas de grande preocupação ambiental, uma vez que estes ainda abrigam considerável parcela da biodiversidade mundial. O continnum ecológico de Paranapiacaba é um dos maiores e mais importantes remanescentes de Mata Atlântica e é composto por diversas UCs. Diante deste contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar as possibilidades e limites de uma proposta de criação de um Mosaico de UC na região deste continuum ecológico. Para tanto documentos diversos foram analisados e foram realizadas entrevistas com os gestores das UCs e com os moradores dos bairros localizados no entorno destas UCs. Percebeu-se que a relação entre os moradores do entorno e as UCs ainda precisam ser estreitadas, a fim de tornar estas UCs espaços de relevante interesse e utilização para os moradores auxiliando na resolução dos conflitos existentes. Os gestores entrevistados apontaram diversas vantagens da gestão integrada e acreditam que no continuum ecológico de Paranapiacaba existam diversos fatores favoráveis

Determination of lead in eye shadow and blush by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry employing directSolid sampling

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

Catching the bound states in the continuum of a phantom atom in graphene

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Celestial mechanics: from the errant stars to guidance of spacecrafts

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)