Evaluation of nutritional indicators and body composition in patients with advanced liver disease enrolled for liver transplantation

PURPOSE: Malnutrition is prevalent in patients with advanced liver disease (LD) related to multifactorial causes. Fluid retention can underestimate the nutritional status based on anthropometric measures. We evaluated nutritional indicators and body composition (BC) in patients with liver cirrhosis and correlated them with LD severity. METHODS: Forty three patients with LD enrolled for liver transplantation were evaluated by Anthropometric measures, subjective evaluation (Global Assessment of Nutritional Status - SGA) and biochemical indicators. Single-frequency electrical bioimpedance (SFE-BIA) was used to evaluate body composition (BC). It measured resistance (R), reactance (Xc) and the phase angle (PA). LD severity was estimated by Child-Pugh and Meld criteria (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease). RESULTS: Child-Pugh index between patients was 7.11±1.70 and Meld was 12.23±4.22. Arm Circumference, Arm Muscle Circumference and Arm Muscle Area, SGA, hemoglobin, hematocrit and albumin showed better correlation with disease severity. Xc and PA showed correlation both with Meld and Child-Pugh score when BC were evaluated. PA was depleted in 55.8% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of malnutrition varied according to the method. Global assessment of nutritional status showed better correlation with disease severity than with objective methods. Single-frequency electrical bioimpedance for body composition analysis in cirrhotic patients must be cautiously used; however, primary vectors seems to be valid and promising in clinical practice.

Characterization of the intrahospital transport of critically ill patients

Objective: Characterizing the transport of critically ill patients in an adult intensive care unit.Methods: Cross-sectional study in which 459 intra -hospital transports of critically ill patients were included. Data were collected from clinical records of patients and from a form with the description of the materials and equipment necessary for the procedure, description of adverse events and of the transport team.Results: A total of 459 transports of 262 critically ill patients were carried out, with an average of 51 transports per month. Patients were on ventilatory support (41.3 %) and 34.5 % in use of vasoactive drugs. Adverse events occurred in 9.4% of transports and 77.3 % of the teams were composed of physicians, nurses and nurse technicians.Conclusion: The transport of critically ill patients occurred in the morning period for performing computerized tomographies (CT scans) with patients dependent on mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs. During the transports the equipment was functioning, and the adverse events were attributed to clinical changes of patients.

Characterization of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) expression in soft tissue sarcomas: distinct prognostic impact of MCT1 sub-cellular localization

Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a group of neoplasms, which, despite current therapeutic advances, still confer a poor outcome to half of the patients. As other solid tumors, STSs exhibit high glucose consumption rates, associated with worse prognosis and therapeutic response. As highly glycolytic tumors, we hypothesized that sarcomas should present an increased expression of lactate transporters (MCTs).Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of MCT1, MCT2, MCT4 and CD147 was assessed in a series of 86 STSs and the expression profiles were associated with patients' clinical-pathological parameters.Results: MCT1, MCT4 and CD147 were mainly observed in the plasma membrane of cancer cells (around 60% for MCTs and 40% for CD147), while MCT2 was conspicuously found in the cytoplasm (94.2%). Importantly, we observed MCT1 nuclear expression (32.6%). MCT1 and MCT4, alone or co-expressed with CD147 in the plasma membrane, were associated with poor prognostic variables including high tumor grade, disease progression and shorter overall survival. Conversely, we found MCT1 nuclear expression to be associated with low grade tumors and longer overall survival.Conclusions: The present work represents the first report of MCTs characterization in STSs. We showed the original finding of MCT1 expression in the nucleus. Importantly, opposite biological roles should be behind the dual sub-cellular localization of MCT1, as plasma membrane expression of MCT1 is associated with worse patients' prognosis, while nuclear expression is associated with better prognosis.

MICROSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF DUAL AND MULTIPHASE STEELS APPLIED TO AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

TRIP (Transformation Induced Plasticity) and DP (Dual-Phase) steels are written in a new series of steels which present excellent mechanical properties. As for microstructure aspect, TRIP steels consist on a ferrite matrix with a second phase dispersion of other constituents, such as bainite, martensite and retained austenite, while dual-phase steels consist on martensite dispersion in a ferrite matrix. In order to identify the different microconstituents present in these materials, microstructure characterization techniques by optical microscopy (using different etchants: LePera, Heat-Tinting and Nital) and scanning electron microscopy were carried out. This being so, microstructures were correlated with mechanical properties of materials, determined by means of tensile tests. It is concluded that steels assisted by TRIP effect have a strength and elongation relation higher than the dual-phase one. With microstructure characterization, it was observed phases present in these materials microstructure.

Five Percent 5-Fluorouracil in a Cream or for Superficial Peels in the Treatment of Advanced Photoaging of the Forearms: A Randomized Comparative Study

BACKGROUND The antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is used for topical treatment of actinic keratosis. Overall improvement in the skin is also observed. Additionally, 5-FU was reported to be used for superficial peels.OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 5% 5-FU cream compared with peels for photodamaged forearms.METHODS This interventional, randomized, comparative, evaluator-blind study included 32 patients with severe photoaging of forearms. The regimens comprised either application of 5% 5-FU cream everyday for 4 weeks on 1 forearm and 4 weekly peels on the other. Efficacy assessment included: clinical photodamage scores, opinion of patients and investigators, and blind photographic evaluation by independent observers. Skin biopsies were performed for histologic and immunohistochemical analysis. Safety evaluation comprised observation of adverse events.RESULTS Clinical and histologic findings confirmed the benefits of topical 5% 5-FU, in cream or peels, which improved skin appearance and decreased the dermal elastotic material. Immunohistochemistry showed reduced levels of epidermal p53 and increase in the level of procollagen I. Results were maintained after 6 months. Predictable adverse events occurred, with no differences between treatments. Patients reported better tolerability to peels.CONCLUSION Five percent 5-FU cream or peels was safe and effective for the treatment of photodamaged forearms. Decreased epidermal p53 levels and new dermal collagen were confirmed.

Equine mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow, adipose tissue and umbilical cord: immunophenotypic characterization and differentiation potential

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Characterization of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in milk from cows with mastitis in Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morphological and molecular characterization and phylogenetic relationships of a new species of trypanosome in Tapirus terrestris (lowland tapir), Trypanosoma terrestris sp nov., from Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil

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

Using Proteomic Strategies for Sequencing and Post-Translational Modifications Assignment of Antigen-5, a Major Allergen from the Venom of the Social Wasp Polybia paulista

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

Characterization of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network material

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of Different Surface Treatments on Bond Strength of Resin Composite Using the Intrinsic Characterization Technique

Objective: This study evaluated the influence of different surface treatments on the resin bond strength/light-cured characterizing materials (LCCMs), using the intrinsic characterization technique. The intrinsic technique is characterized by the use of LCCMs between the increments of resin composite (resin/thin film of LCCM/external layer of resin covering the LCCM).Materials and Methods: Using a silicone matrix, 240 blocks of composite (Z350/3M ESPE) were fabricated. The surfaces received different surface treatments, totaling four groups (n=60): Group C (control group), no surface treatment was used; Group PA, 37% phosphoric acid for one minute and washing the surface for two minutes; Group RD, roughening with diamond tip; and Group AO, aluminum oxide. Each group was divided into four subgroups (n=15), according to the LCCMs used: Subgroup WT, White Tetric Color pigment (Ivoclar/Vivadent) LCCM; Subgroup BT, Black Tetric Color pigment (Ivoclar/Vivadent) LCCM; Subgroup WK, White Kolor Plus pigment (Kerr) LCCM; Subgroup BK, Brown Kolor Plus pigment (Kerr) LCCM. All materials were used according to the manufacturer's instructions. After this, block composites were fabricated over the LCCMs. Specimens were sectioned and submitted to microtensile testing to evaluate the bond strength at the interface. Data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (surface treatment and LCCMs) and Tukey tests.Results: ANOVA presented a value of p<0.05. The mean values (+/- SD) for the factor surface treatment were as follows: Group C, 30.05 MPa (+/- 5.88)a; Group PA, 23.46 MPa (+/- 5.45)b; Group RD, 21.39 MPa (+/- 6.36)b; Group AO, 15.05 MPa (+/- 4.57)c. Groups followed by the same letters do not present significant statistical differences. The control group presented significantly higher bond strength values than the other groups. The group that received surface treatment with aluminum oxide presented significantly lower bond strength values than the other groups.Conclusion: Surface treatments of composite with phosphoric acid, diamond tip, and aluminum oxide significantly diminished the bond strength between composite and the LCCMs.

Methods and results of a search for gravitational waves associated with gamma-ray bursts using the GEO 600, LIGO, and Virgo detectors

In this paper we report on a search for short-duration gravitational wave bursts in the frequency range 64 Hz-1792 Hz associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), using data from GEO 600 and one of the LIGO or Virgo detectors. We introduce the method of a linear search grid to analyze GRB events with large sky localization uncertainties, for example the localizations provided by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM). Coherent searches for gravitational waves (GWs) can be computationally intensive when the GRB sky position is not well localized, due to the corrections required for the difference in arrival time between detectors. Using a linear search grid we are able to reduce the computational cost of the analysis by a factor of O(10) for GBM events. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our analysis pipeline can improve upon the sky localization of GRBs detected by the GBM, if a high-frequency GW signal is observed in coincidence. We use the method of the linear grid in a search for GWs associated with 129 GRBs observed satellite-based gamma-ray experiments between 2006 and 2011. The GRBs in our sample had not been previously analyzed for GW counterparts. A fraction of our GRB events are analyzed using data from GEO 600 while the detector was using squeezed-light states to improve its sensitivity; this is the first search for GWs using data from a squeezed-light interferometric observatory. We find no evidence for GW signals, either with any individual GRB in this sample or with the population as a whole. For each GRB we place lower bounds on the distance to the progenitor, under an assumption of a fixed GW emission energy of 10(-2)M circle dot c(2), with a median exclusion distance of 0.8 Mpc for emission at 500 Hz and 0.3 Mpc at 1 kHz. The reduced computational cost associated with a linear search grid will enable rapid searches for GWs associated with Fermi GBM events once the advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors begin operation.

Impedance-derived electrochemical capacitance spectroscopy for the evaluation of lectin-glycoprotein binding affinity

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

FEA and microstructure characterization of a one-piece Y-TZP abutment

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

Facile synthesis and characterization of ZrO2 nanoparticles prepared by the AOP/hydrothermal route

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