Comparative study of multiple dosage of quercetin against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rat kidneys

Quercetin, a typical bioflavonoid ubiquitously present in fruits and vegetables, is considered to be helpful for human health. Cisplatin (cDDP) is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of a wide range of solid tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of quercetin, a bioflavonoid with antioxidant potential, on cisplatin-induced nophrotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in rats. Gavage administrations of water, propylene glycol and quercetin (50 mg/kg) were made 24 and 1 h before saline or cDDP (5 mg/kg) ip injections and were repeated daily for 2, 5 or 20 subsequent days. Rats were killed 2, 5 and 20 days after ip injections, and blood and urine samples were collected to determine plasma creatinine, urine volume and osmolality. The kidneys were removed to determine the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and for histological studies. Cisplatin increased lipid peroxidation, urine volume and plasma creatinine levels and decreased urine osmolality. Treatment with quercetin attenuated these alterations. These results demonstrate the role of oxidative stress and suggest a protective effect of quercetin on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. Copyright © 2006 by Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences.

Haemonchus contortus: A multiple-resistant Brazilian isolate and the costs for its characterization and maintenance for research use

The aim of this work was to determine the resistance level of Haemonchus contortus isolated from the Santa Inês flock of the Embrapa (Brazilian government's Agricultural Research Company), Southeast Livestock Unit (CPPSE), as well as to determine costs of characterizing and maintaining this isolate in host donors. Forty-two male Santa Inês lambs were experimentally infected with 4000 H. contortus infective larvae of the field isolate of CPPSE, called Embrapa2010, and divided into six treatment groups, which received triclorfon, albendazol plus cobalt sulfate, ivermectin, moxidectin, closantel and levamisole phosphate, as well as a negative control group (water). Egg per gram (EPG) counts were performed at 0, 3, 7, 10 and 14. days post treatment when the animals were slaughtered for parasite count. The data were analyzed using the RESO statistical program, considering anthelmintic resistance under 95% of efficacy. EPG and worm count presented a linear and significant relation with 94% determination coefficient. The susceptibility results obtained by RESO through both criteria (EPG and worm count) were equal, except for closantel, showing that the isolate Embrapa2010 is resistant to benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones and imidazothiazoles. The need of a control group did not appear to be essential since the result for susceptibility in the analyses with or without this group was the same. Suppression in egg production after treatment did not occur in the ivermectin and moxidectin groups. In the control group, the establishment percentage was just 12.5 because of the low number of third-stage larvae, resistance (innate and infection immunity) of the animals studied plus good nutrition. Drug classes presented similar efficacy between adults and immature stages. The costs for isolate characterization were calculated for 42 animals during 60. days. The total cost based on local market rates was approximately US$ 8000. The precise identification of Brazilian isolates and their establishment in host donors would be useful for laboratorial anthelmintic resistance diagnoses through in vitro tests, which has an annual cost of approximately US$ 2500 for maintenance in host donors. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Multi-choice mixed integer goal programming optimization for real problems in a sugar and ethanol milling company

Goal Programming (GP) is an important analytical approach devised to solve many realworld problems. The first GP model is known as Weighted Goal Programming (WGP). However, Multi-Choice Aspirations Level (MCAL) problems cannot be solved by current GP techniques. In this paper, we propose a Multi-Choice Mixed Integer Goal Programming model (MCMI-GP) for the aggregate production planning of a Brazilian sugar and ethanol milling company. The MC-MIGP model was based on traditional selection and process methods for the design of lots, representing the production system of sugar, alcohol, molasses and derivatives. The research covers decisions on the agricultural and cutting stages, sugarcane loading and transportation by suppliers and, especially, energy cogeneration decisions; that is, the choice of production process, including storage stages and distribution. The MCMIGP allows decision-makers to set multiple aspiration levels for their problems in which the more/higher, the better and the less/lower, the better in the aspiration levels are addressed. An application of the proposed model for real problems in a Brazilian sugar and ethanol mill was conducted; producing interesting results that are herein reported and commented upon. Also, it was made a comparison between MCMI GP and WGP models using these real cases. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Toxicidade de formicidas utilizados em pastagens sobre a formiga não-alvo Ectatomma brunneum (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Ectatomminae) e seus efeitos na dinâmica populacional em condições de laboratório

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analysis of cardiopulmonary and metabolic variables measured during laboratory and sport-specific incremental tests for table tennis performance prediction

Purpose. - The purposes of this study were: i) to compare the physiological responses measured during a specific table tennis incremental test with the physiological responses measured during cycling, arm cranking, and treadmill running tests; and ii) to verify the accuracy of table tennis performance prediction based on the physiological responses from these tests.Methods. - Eleven national level male table tennis players participated in the study and undertook incremental tests using ergometers. Table tennis performance was defined as the ranking obtained during a simulated tournament between the participants.Results. - In general, peak values for physiological variables (e.g., (V) over dotO(2PEAK) and [La]PEAK) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the specific test (e.g., (V) over dotO(2PEAK) = 39.9 +/- 1.5 ml.kg(-1) per minute and [La]PEAK = 6.4 +/- 0.5 mmol.L-1) than during cycling (e.g., (V) over dotO(2PEAK) = 41.3 +/- 1.4 ml.kg(-1) per minute and [La]PEAK = 10.2 +/- 0.7 mmol.L-1) or running (e.g., (V) over dotO(2PEAK) = 43.9 +/- 1.5 ml.kg(-1) per minute and [La]PEAK = 10.0 +/- 0.7 mmol.L-1), but higher than during arm cranking (e.g., (V) over dotO(2PEAK) = 26.6 +/- 1.6 ml.kg(-1) per minute and [La]PEAK = 8.9 +/- 0.6 mmol.L-1). At respiratory compensation point intensity (RCP), only the variables measured on arm cranking were lower (P < 0.05) than on the other ergometers. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed significant correlation between table tennis performance and lactate concentration ([La]) and also rate of perceived effort (RPE) at RCP during cycling (r = 0.89; P < 0.05).Conclusion. - In conclusion, the significant differences obtained between the specific and laboratory ergometers demonstrate the need to use a specific test to measure physiological parameters in table tennis and the physiological parameters measured, independent of the ergometer used, are unable to predict table tennis performance. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

An Efficient Parallel Algorithm for Multiple Sequence Similarities Calculation Using a Low Complexity Method

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

Modeling of multiple cracks in reinforced concrete members using solid finite elements with high aspect ratio

This paper presents a new technique to model interfaces by means of degenerated solid finite elements, i.e., elements with a very high aspect ratio, with the smallest dimension corresponding to the thickness of the interfaces. It is shown that, as the aspect ratio increases, the element strains also increase, approaching the kinematics of the strong discontinuity. A tensile damage constitutive relation between strains and stresses is proposed to describe the nonlinear behavior of the interfaces associated with crack opening. To represent crack propagation, couples of triangular interface elements are introduced in between all regular (bulk) elements of the original mesh. With this technique the analyses can be performed integrally in the context of the continuum mechanics and complex crack patterns involving multiple cracks can be simulated without the need of tracking algorithms. Numerical tests are performed to show the applicability of the proposed technique, studding also aspects related to mesh objectivity.

Precise determination of the mass of the Higgs boson and tests of compatibility of its couplings with the standard model predictions using proton collisions at 7 and 8 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Q-angle static or dynamic measurements, which is the best choice for patellofemoral pain?

The elevated Q-angle seems to be one of the most suggested factors contributing to patellofemoral pain. Females with patellofemoral pain are often evaluated through static clinical tests in clinical practice. However, the adaptations seem to appear more frequently in dynamic conditions. Performing static vs. dynamic evaluations of widely used measures would add to the knowledge in this area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the reliability and discriminatory capability of three Q-angle measurements: a static clinical test, peak dynamic knee valgus during stair ascent and a static measurement using a three-dimensional system. Twenty-nine females with patellofemoral pain and twenty-five pain-free females underwent clinical Q-angle measurement and static and dynamic knee valgus measurements during stair ascent, using a three-dimensional system. All measurements were obtained and comparisons between groups, reliability and discriminatory capability were calculated. Peak dynamic knee valgus was found to be greater in the patellofemoral pain group. On the other hand, no significant effects were found for static knee valgus or clinical Q-angle measurements between groups. The dynamic variable demonstrated the best discriminatory capability. Low values of reliability were found for clinical Q-angle, in contrast to the high values found for the three-dimensional system measurements. Based on our findings, avoiding or correcting dynamic knee valgus during stair ascent may be an important component of rehabilitation programs in females with patellofemoral pain who demonstrate excessive dynamic knee valgus. Q-angle static measurements were not different between groups and presented poor values of discriminatory capability.

P-220-Escherichia coli displaying virulence features of multiple diarrheogenic pathotypes detected in a Crohn's disease patient

Background: The number of Escherichia coli in the gut of Crohn's disease (CD) patients is higher than that of normal subjects, but the virulence potential of these bacteria is not fully known. Previous studies have shown that these E. coli are closely related to extraintestinal pathogenic categories (ExPEC), are able to invade epithelial cells, and usually do not produce exotoxins. We report here the detection, in a CD patient, of an E. coli which belongs to a classical enteropathogenic (EPEC) serotype and displays virulence markers of enteroinvasive (EIEC), enteroaggregative (EAEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) pathotypes. Methods: The E. coli strain was isolated, in 2009, by classical bacteriological procedures from a 56 year old woman who underwent ileo-terminal resection 1 year before, due to intestinal obstruction. The bacterial characterization was carried out by in vitro adhesion and invasion assays to cultured epithelial cells and macrophages and screening by PCR to identify virulence genetic markers of diarrheogenic E. coli (DEC) and to detect one of the gene combinations which define the phylogroups of the E. coli reference (EcoR) collection. The strain was also tested for the ability to produce biofilm and shiga cytotoxins and had its whole genome sequenced by Ion Torrent Sequencing Technology. Results: The studied strain, which was detected both in ileum biopsies and the stools of the patient, displayed the aggregative adherence (AA) phenotype to Hep-2 cells and an ability to enter Caco-2 cells 3x as high as that of EIEC reference strain and 89% of that of the prototype AIEC LF82 strain. Although it could invade cultured macrophages, the strain was unable to replicate inside these cells. PCR screening revealed the presence of eae, aggR and stx1. Tests with bacterial culture supernatants in Vero cells demonstrating cytotoxicity suggested the production of Stx1. In addition, the strain revealed to be a strong biofilm producer, belonged to the B2 EcoR phylogroup, to the O126:H27 serogroup and to the multilocus sequencing type (MLST) ST3057. The 2 later features were deduced from the whole genome sequence of the strain. Conclusions: The characterization of this E. coli isolate from a CD patient revealed a combination of virulence markers of distinct DEC pathotypes, namely eae and stx1 of EHEC, AA, aggR and biofilm formation of EAEC, and invasiveness of EIEC. These features along with its serotype and phylogroup identity seem to suggest a potential to be involved in CD, an observation which should be tested with additional studies.