Diagnósticos e intervenções de enfermagem aos pacientes em terapia anticoagulante.

Patients under treatment with oral anticoagulants present specific needs for which nursing care plays an important role, especially to prevent complications. The present review was carried out aiming at discussing nursing diagnoses for these patients by using the system of the North American Nursing Diagnoses Association--NANDA. Diagnoses for such patients depict the risk of bleeding and rethrombosis almost always due to the ineffective control of the therapeutic regimen and the deficit in the volume of fluids during active bleeding. Also, nursing interventions and assessment criteria are proposed for such conditions. The authors see the team's preparation to deal with such therapy as relevant for successful assistance.

Resídue de polpas de frutas desidratadas na alimentação de leitões em fase de creche

It was evaluated chemically and biologically the powdered fruits pulp residue, used in human food industry. In the digestibility study it was used 12 commercial hybrids barrows piglets, with initial weight 12.2 ± 1,6 kg, allotted in individual cages. The treatments were a basal and a test diet. In the test diet the fruits pulp residue replaced 30% of the basal dry matter. The following values were obtained: dry matter 89,54%, starch 71,1%, glucose 5.4%, fructose 2,2%, crude protein 5,33%, gross energy 3771 kcal/kg, apparent digestible dry matter 96,01%, digestible energy 3448 kcal/kg, metabolizable energy 3389 kcal/kg. By bromatologic results and metabolism study, the powdered fruits pulp residue was characterized as an alternative to be evaluated in piglet diets. In the performance assay 90 piglets with initial weight of 6,60 ± 0,76 kg were allotted in a randomized block design, with six replications and three animals per experimental unit. The treatments were levels of powdered fruits pulp residue (0. 25, 50, 75 and 100%) replacing the corn of the control diet. The studied phases were initial-1 (14 days), initial-2 (21 days) and total period. On the performance there was no difference between the studied inclusion levels. For meal diets, the fruits pulp residue can replace the corn.

Mutagenic potential evaluation of the water of a river that receives tannery effluent using the Allium cepa test system

Several studies are being conducted to assess the toxicity and cytotoxicity of water bodies receiving industrial and domestic effluents, using the Allium cepa test. To assess the toxicity and mutagenicity of water possibly contaminated with chromium, derived from tannery activities, seasonal water samplings were performed in 2001 and 2002 at five different sites along the Sapucaizinho river, Municipality of Patrocinio Paulista, State of São Paulo, Brazil. A. cepa seeds were used as the test material and were submitted to germination in waters from the different collection sites, in Milli-Q water (negative control) and in aqueous solution of chromium (positive control). For the determination of cell division rates and mitotic irregularities, slides were prepared with root tip cells according to the standard Feulgen methodology. The results showed that the collection sites most heavily compromised by chromium emission presented low mitotic indices and a higher frequency of mitotic changes such as irregular anaphases (disorganized, multipolar, laggard), cells with chromosomal adherences, cells with micronuclei, and binucleate and/or multinucleate cells. © 2004 The Japan Mendel Society.

Arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction for fingerprinting the genotype identification of mutans streptococci in children with Down syndrome

This study investigated the possible intrafamilial similarity of mutans streptococcal strains in some families with a child with Down syndrome using chromosomal DNA fingerprinting. The isolates were genotyped using arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction with the OPA 02 and OPA 03 primers. The results showed that five children with Down syndrome harbored mutans streptococci genotypes different from those of their mothers. A matching of genotypes was observed within the control pair (mother/child without Down syndrome). After six months, new samples were collected from all participants. Analysis showed that samples from children with Down syndrome were colonized by a new strain of Streptococcus mutans that did not match the previously collected one. The results suggest the S. mutans indigenous bacteria change more than once in children with Down syndrome.

Toxic and genotoxic effects of trivalent and hexavalent chromium - A review

During the last years, the emission of heavy metals to the environment has increased, causing a severe negative impact to the ecosystems and seriously compromising human health due to their mutagenic potential. Tri- (III) and hexavalent (VI) chromium (Cr) constitute the oxidative states of the metal chromium that are active in living organisms. These two oxidation states of the chromium differ with regards to their cellular effects, mainly due to the different abilities they possess in relation to easy of transport through biological membranes. Cr VI is transported into the cell through transference channels of endogenous anions that are isostructural and isoelectronical to Cr VI, such as SO 4 -2 and HPO 4 -2. On the other hand, Cr III is unable to diffuse through the cell membrane. Its existence inside the cells is generally due to the reduction of Cr VI, the endocytosis, or the absortion by the cells via phagocytosis. Cr III acts directly on the DNA molecule, while Cr VI reacts little with this molecule. In the ecosystem, however, Cr VI is more dangerous since this is the form that presents greater reactivity with biological membranes, crossing them and being easily incorporated into the cell. In the cell it is biotransformed to Cr III, a potentially mutagenic molecule. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that organisms exposed to Cr VI present greater induction to a variety of damages to the DNA molecule. Among the damages induced by Cr, changes in the structure of the DNA molecule have been reported, with breaks of the major chain and base oxidation. In the organisms, these alterations generate chromosomal aberrations, micronucleus formation, sister chromatid exchanges, and errors in DNA synthesis.

Evaluation of the genotoxic potential due to the action of an effluent contaminated with chromium, by the comet assay in CHO-K1 cultures

The comet assay technique has been considered to be more efficient in the biomonitoring of aquatic environments that the micronucleus and sister chromatid exchange techniques. The comet assay has been used to determine breaks in the DNA strands of organisms exposed to pollutants with a genotoxic potential. The comet technique was applied to CHO-K1 cells in order to evaluate the genotoxic potential of the waters of the Sapucaizinho River (Municipality of Patrocínio Paulista, State of São Paulo, Brazil), which receive tannery effluents and therefore are contaminated with chromium. The results indicated high genotoxicity of the waters collected at sites located downstream from the emission of tannery effluents, where the concentration of chromium was found to be high.

Presence of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli in butcheries in Taquaritinga, SP, Brazil

The study was conducted in twenty-three butcheries in the city of Taquaritinga, State of São Paulo, Brazil, surveyed during a 10 months period. Among two hundred and eighty-seven Escherichia coli strains isolated from samples of ground beef, meat-grinding-machines and the hands of manipulators, five were recognized as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), showing virulence factors (P and S fimbriae, hemolysin and aerobactin) and presenting multidrug resistance. Retail-sold food may constitute an important vehicle for the dissemination of ExPEC in communities, giving rise to reasons for concern.

Detection of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in dental plaque samples from Brazilian preschool children by polymerase chain reaction

The purposes of this study were to detect S. mutans and S. sobrinus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and to relate their presence to the incidence of dental caries in 42 Brazilian preschool children. Dental plaque samples were collected from the cervical margin of all erupted teeth of 5-6 years old children with primary dentition, using a sterile explorer. Examination of the dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth) index, performed following the World Health Organization (WHO) caries diagnostic criteria, showed a 2.71 score. Prevalence of S. mutans and S. sobrinus was respectively, of 85.7% and 14.3%; no dental plaque sample was either positive or negative for both bacterial species. Children harboring either S. mutans or S. sobrinus presented the same caries prevalence. PCR showed good discriminative ability for differentiation between these species, and suggested that it is a technique suitable for epidemiological studies on mutans streptococci.

Multidrug-resistant urinary tract isolates of Escherichia coli from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Multiple resistances to antimicrobial drugs arising in Escherichia coli isolates may complicate therapeutic management of urinary tract infection (UTI) by this organism. In order to assess the multidrug resistance (MDR) among urinary E. coli isolates, we have tested 11 antimicrobial drugs against 67 isolates from outpatients attended in a tertiary-care teaching hospital and of 78 isolates from a municipal health unit, respectively in Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Seventy-six percent and 22% of the isolates from the tertiary-care hospital and the municipal unit, respectively, were resistant to three or more different classes of agents, and were considered to present MDR. Among the isolates from the hospital patients, 73.0%, 65.0%, 58.0%, 58.0% and 31.0% were resistant to tetracycline, ampicillin, cephalothin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and norfloxacin, respectively; resistance from the municipal unit patients were 31.0%, 37.0%, 8.0%, 29.0% and 12.0% respectively, to the same drugs. The predominant phenotype among the MDR isolates presented is ampicillin, TMP/SMX and tetracycline resistance. The high prevalence of drug resistance among UTI patients calls for continuous surveillance to assure effective control of this infection. © 2007 by The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Contexto Publishing. All rights reserved.

Induction of chromosome aberrations in the Allium cepa test system caused by the exposure of seeds to industrial effluents contaminated with azo dyes

Numerous potentially mutagenic chemicals have been studied mainly because they can cause damaging and inheritable changes in the genetic material. Several tests are commonly used for biomonitoring pollution levels and to evaluate the effects of toxic and mutagenic agents present in the natural environment. This study aimed at assessing the potential of a textile effluent contaminated with azo dyes to induce chromosomal and nuclear aberrations in Allium cepa test systems. A continuous exposure of seeds in samples of the textile effluent in different concentrations was carried out (0.3%, 3%, 10%, and 100%). Cells in interphase and undergoing division were examined to assess the presence of chromosome aberrations, nuclear changes, and micronuclei. Our results revealed a mutagenic effect of the effluent at concentrations of 10% and 100%. At lower concentrations, the effluent (3% and 0.3%) did not induce mutagenic alterations in the test organism A. cepa. These findings are of concern, since cell damage may be transmitted to subsequent generations, possibly affecting the organism as a whole, as well as the local biota exposed to the effluent discharge. If the damage results in cell death, the development of the organism may be affected, which could also lead to its death. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

O Agronegócio e o problema do trabalho infantil

This article attempts to identify and analyze the motives that led several sectors of agro-business to engage in the struggle for the eradication of child labor in Brazil, as launched by international organizations for the defense of children's and adolescents' rights. It is our hypothesis that economic globalization and the internationalization of children's rights have given visibility to the problem of child labor, thus demanding the mobilization of entrepreneurial sectors linked to agro-business productive chains in Brazil. The article is divided into four inter-related sections. In the first one, we attempt to provide evidence for the interference of social and labor problems within the ambit of the economic activities of the agro-business sector, within the current context of globalization. This is followed by a study of major UN, UNICEF and ILO investments to internalize children's rights and policies to combat child labor, giving salience to their repercussions in Brazil. In the third section, we analyze strategies adopted by firms linked to agro-business with the purpose of avoiding the use of child labor within their productive chains. Finally, we seek to understand the motivations that have led agro-businessmen to take part in the struggle against child labor. We conclude that firms linked to agro-business took up the project of combating child labor in virtue of the internationalization of children and adolescents' rights, the inclusion of social issues in international markets, the intensification of the fiscalization of public power, the growth of action around entrepreneurial social responsibility and increased consumer consciousness.

Measurement of the muon stopping power in lead tungstate

A large sample of cosmic ray events collected by the CMS detector is exploited to measure the specific energy loss of muons in the lead tungstate (PbWO4) of the electromagnetic calorimeter. The measurement spans a momentum range from 5 GeV/c to 1 TeV/c. The results are consistent with the expectations over the entire range. The calorimeter energy scale, set with 120 GeV/c electrons, is validated down to the sub-GeV region using energy deposits, of order 100 MeV, associated with low-momentum muons. The muon critical energy in PbWO4 is measured to be 160+5 -68 GeV, in agreement with expectations. This is the first experimental determination of muon critical energy. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.

Commissioning of the CMS experiment and the cosmic run at four tesla

The CMS Collaboration conducted a month-long data-taking exercise known as the Cosmic Run At Four Tesla in late 2008 in order to complete the commissioning of the experiment for extended operation. The operational lessons resulting from this exercise were addressed in the subsequent shutdown to better prepare CMS for LHC beams in 2009. The cosmic data collected have been invaluable to study the performance of the detectors, to commission the alignment and calibration techniques, and to make several cosmic ray measurements. The experimental setup, conditions, and principal achievements from this data-taking exercise are described along with a review of the preceding integration activities. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.

Performance of the CMS Level-1 trigger during commissioning with cosmic ray muons and LHC beams

The CMS Level-1 trigger was used to select cosmic ray muons and LHC beam events during data-taking runs in 2008, and to estimate the level of detector noise. This paper describes the trigger components used, the algorithms that were executed, and the trigger synchronisation. Using data from extended cosmic ray runs, the muon, electron/photon, and jet triggers have been validated, and their performance evaluated. Efficiencies were found to be high, resolutions were found to be good, and rates as expected. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.

Performance of the CMS drift-tube chamber local trigger with cosmic rays

The performance of the Local Trigger based on the drift-tube system of the CMS experiment has been studied using muons from cosmic ray events collected during the commissioning of the detector in 2008. The properties of the system are extensively tested and compared with the simulation. The effect of the random arrival time of the cosmic rays on the trigger performance is reported, and the results are compared with the design expectations for proton-proton collisions and with previous measurements obtained with muon beams. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.