Histology and histochemistry of the ventriculus of Dolichoderus (=Monacis) bispinosus (OLIVIER, 1792) (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

In this study we histologically and histochemically describe the ventriculus of Dolichoderus bispinosus. The epithelium consists of two basic cell types, highly basophilic generative cells, and digestive cells. The latter present several cytoplasmic vesicles. rich in acidic and neutral polysaccharides, and basic proteins. Also, these. cells exhibit an apocrine secretion pattern. A mass of fibrous material is observed on the surface of the epithelium. Finally, we discuss the results obtained. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biologia reprodutiva da raia-viola Rhinobatos percellens Walbaum, 1792 (Chondrichthyes, Rhinobatidae), da plataforma continental de São Paulo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of the Integrity of Horse Hoof Dermal and Epidermal Tissues Collected by Dorsal Transmural Access

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Diferentes dietas e pesos ao abate na produção de órgãos de cordeiros

O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar os pesos e porcentagens de órgãos em relação ao peso vivo ao abate (PVA), ao peso de corpo vazio (PCV) e ao peso total dos órgãos (PTO) de cordeiros inteiros 1/2 Ile de France 1/2 Ideal confinados, recebendo dietas com relações volumoso:concentrado de 50:50 e 30:70 e abatidos aos 30 ou 34 kg. Os parâmetros mensurados foram: língua, pulmões com traquéia, coração, fígado, pâncreas, timo, tireóide, adrenal, rins, testículos, baço, diafragma, bexiga, pênis e glândulas anexas. Os resultados obtidos revelaram diferenças entre os pesos ao abate nas porcentagens de língua, coração, pulmões com traquéia, diafragma, pâncreas, tireóide, baço e glândulas anexas em relação ao PVA; nas porcentagens de língua, pulmões com traquéia, fígado, pâncreas, baço e glândulas anexas em relação ao PCV e nas porcentagens de pulmões com traquéia, fígado, pâncreas, tireóide, baço e glândulas anexas em relação ao PTO. Dietas com diferentes relações volumoso:concentrado afetaram apenas as porcentagens de pâncreas em relação ao PVA, ao PCV e ao PTO. Verificaram-se interações entre relação volumoso:concentrado e peso vivo ao abate nos pesos dos pulmões com traquéia, fígado, pâncreas, tireóide e glândulas anexas.

Meningeal tumor: A rare extrahepatic association in patients with polycystic liver disease enrolled for liver transplantation

In the present study, we described a rare association of polycystic liver disease (PCLD) with intracranial meningiomas in patients included on a liver transplant list, focusing on the diagnosis, treatment and possible association with any genetic alterations. Two female patients, aged 39 and 49 years were included on a liver transplant list due to extensive PCLD, with symptoms related to an abdominal compartmental syndrome. Screening for extrahepatic manifestation revealed a right frontal meningioma in the first patient, and a parietal posterior calcified meningioma in the second patient, measuring 1 and 7x3x2 cm in diameter, respectively. Following tumor removal, the histological pattern was compatible with fibrous and transitional meningioma, respectively. Cytogenetic studies conducted following surgery did not reveal any changes in metaphase chromosomes. The postoperative follow-up for the two patients was uneventful, without complications, with the patients remaining on a liver transplant waiting list. We conclude that screening for extrahepatic manifestations of PCLD is mandatory, as certain lesions require treatment prior to liver transplantation. The lack of a genetic or familial association between these two cases show they are likely to have occurred by chance, rather than representing a previously unrecognized association between polycystic liver disease and cranial meningioma.

Tc-99m-sestamibi scintigraphy used to evaluate tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer: A quantitative analysis

To evaluate the tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Tc-99m-sestamibi breast scintigraphy was proposed as a quantitative method Fifty-five patients with ductal carcinoma were studied They underwent breast scintigraphy before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, along with clinical assessment and surgical specimen analysis The regions of interest on the lesion and contralateral breast were identified, and the pixel counts were used to evaluate lesion uptake in relation to background radiation The ratio of these counts before to after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was assessed The decrease in uptake rate due to chemotherapy characterized the scintigraphy tumor response The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the mean scintigraphic tumor response and histological type Dunn's multiple comparison test was used to detect differences between histological types The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare means between quantitative and qualitative variables scintigraphic tumor response vs clinical response and uptake before chemotherapy vs scintigraphic tumor response The Spearman's test was used to correlate the quantitative variables of clinical reduction in tumor size and scintigraphic tumor response All of the variables compared presented significant differences The change in Tc-99m-sestamibi uptake noted on breast scintigraphy, before to after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, may be used as an effective method for evaluating the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, since this quantification reflects the biological behavior of the tumor towards the chemotherapy regimen Furthermore, additional analysis on the uptake rate before chemotherapy may accurately predict treatment response

Accuracy of Tc-99m-sestamibi scintimammography for breast cancer diagnosis

Scintimammography using Tc-99m-sestamibi is a noninvasive and painless diagnostic imaging method that is used to detect breast cancer when mammography is inconclusive Because of the advantages of labeling v '7,ith Tc-99m-sestamibi and its high efficiency in detecting carcinomas, it is the most widespread agent for this purpose Its accumulation in the tumor has multifactorial causes and does not depend on the presence of architectural distortion or local or diffuse density variation in the breast The objective of tfiis study was to evaluate the accuracy of scintimammography 1 for detecting breast cancer One hundred and fifty-seven patients presenting 158 palpable and non-palpable breast nodules were evaluated Three patients were male and 154 were female, aged between 14 and 81 years All patients underwent scintimammography, and the nodule was subjected i to cytological or histological study, i e, the gold standard for diagnosing cancer One hundred and eleven malignant and 47 benign nodules were detected, with predominance of ductal carcinomas (n=94) and fibroadenoma/fibrocysiic condition (n=11/n=11), respectively The mean size was 3 11 cm (7-10 cm) among the malignant nodules and 2 07 cm among the benign nodules (0 5-10 cm) The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 89, 89, 95, 78 and 89%, respectively Analysis on the histological types showed that the technique was more effective on tumors that were more aggressive, such as ductal carcinoma In this study, Tc-99m-sestamibi scintim immography was shown to be an important tool for diagnosing breast cancer when mammography was inconclusive

Physiotherapeutic stimulation: Early prevention of lymphedema following axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer treatment

The aim of this study was to confirm the effectiveness of early physiotherapeutic stimulation for lymphatic flaw progression in patients with breast cancer undergoing axillary dissection This was a randomized experimental study oil 22 patients who underwent lymphoscintigraphy in their arms on two different occasions, firstly without stimulation and secondly after randomization into two groups without physiotherapeutic stimulation (WOPS, n=10) and with physiotherapeutic stimulation (WPS, n=12) The lymphoscintigraphy scan was performed with (99m)Tc-phytate administered into the second interdigital space of the hand, ipsilaterally to the dissected axilla, in three phases dynamic, static, and delayed whole body imaging Physiotherapeutic stimulation was earned out using Foldi's technique In both groups, images from the two examinations of each patient were compared Flow progression was considered positive when, on the second damnation, the radiopharmaceutical reached areas more distant from the injection site Statistical analysis was used to evaluate frequencies, percentages and central trend measurements, and non-parametric tests were conducted Descriptive analysis showed that the WPS and WOPS groups were similar M terms of mean age, weight, height, body mass index and number of lymph nodes removed There were statistically significant associations between physiotherapeutic stimulation and radiopharmaceutical progression at all three phases of the study (p < 0 0001) Early physiotherapeutic stimulation in beast cancer patients undergoing radical axillary dissection is effective, and can therefore be indicated as a preventive measure against lymphedema

Efeito de parâmetros de extrusão na cor E propriedades de pasta da farinha de mandioquinha-salsa (Arracacia xanthorrhiza)

Processou-se neste trabalho a farinha de mandioquinha-salsa (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.) em uma linha de extrusão (mono rosca) variando as condições operacionais: umidade da farinha (11-19%), temperatura de extrusão (86-154ºC) e taxa de rotação da rosca (136-272rpm). Os parâmetros de cor analisados foram luminosidade (L*) e os componentes de cromaticidade a* e b*. Os parâmetros de propriedade de pasta analisados foram viscosidade inicial, pico de viscosidade, quebra de viscosidade, tendência a retrogradação e viscosidade final. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a umidade da matéria-prima interferiu nos componentes de cor das farinhas com efeito significativo sobre a luminosidade e croma a*, e a temperatura interferiu no croma b* . Quanto ao efeito dos parâmetros de processo sobre as propriedades de pasta, a umidade interferiu nas viscosidades inicial e final dos produtos, pico e quebra de viscosidade, enquanto a temperatura de extrusão e a rotação da rosca tiveram influência sobre a tendência a retrogradação e viscosidade final dos produtos.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Abatacept in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Objective. We previously documented that abatacept was effective and safe in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who had not previously achieved a satisfactory clinical response with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or tumor necrosis factor blockade. Here, we report results from the long-term extension (LTE) phase of that study.Methods. This report describes the long-term, open-label extension phase of a double-blind, randomized, controlled withdrawal trial in 190 patients with JIA ages 6-17 years. Children were treated with 10 mg/kg abatacept administered intravenously every 4 weeks, with or without methotrexate. Efficacy results were based on data derived from the 153 patients who entered the open-label LTE phase and reflect >= 21 months (589 days) of treatment. Safety results include all available open-label data as of May 7, 2008.Results. of the 190 enrolled patients, 153 entered the LTE. By day 589, 90%, 88%, 75%, 57%, and 39% of patients treated with abatacept during the double-blind and LTE phases achieved responses according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Pediatric 30 (Pedi 30), Pedi 50, Pedi 70, Pedi 90, and Pedi 100 criteria for improvement, respectively. Similar response rates were observed by day 589 among patients previously treated with placebo. Among patients who had not achieved an ACR Pedi 30 response at the end of the open-label lead-in phase and who proceeded directly into the LTE, 73%, 64%, 46%, 18%, and 5% achieved ACR Pedi 30, Pedi 50, Pedi 70, Pedi 90, and Pedi 100 responses, respectively, by day 589 of the LTE. No cases of tuberculosis and no malignancies were reported during the LTE. Pneumonia developed in 3 patients, and multiple sclerosis developed in 1 patient.Conclusion. Abatacept provided clinically significant and durable efficacy in patients with JIA, including those who did not initially achieve an ACR Pedi 30 response during the initial 4-month open-label lead-in phase.

Ameloblastic carcinoma of the maxilla: A case report

This study aims to present the clinical features and treatment of a case of maxillary ameloblastic carcinoma. A meloblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant odontogenic carcinoma that has metastatic potential. Due to its rare incidence, there are few studies focusing on its radiological characteristics. When ameloblastic carcinoma demonstrates an aggressive appearance, it may be diagnosed as a malignant tumor; however, in cases showing a non-aggressive appearance, it is difficult to distinguish ameloblastic carcinoma from ameloblastoma. We report a case of ameloblastic carcinoma of the maxilla in a 59-year-old male patient, including the clinical signs, radiological images and pathological features. A partial area was surgically excised under local anesthesia and the material was sent to the Laboratory of Oral Pathology. The histological sections revealed a fragmented odontogenic tumor of epithelial origin, consisting of solid parenchyma and also revealed basal cells resembling ameloblasts, occasionally arranged in palisades. Certain parts of the architecture resembled that of an ameloblastoma; however, the cytology of other areas confirmed the diagnosis of ameloblastic carcinoma of the maxilla. The patient was scheduled for definitive surgery, including a right maxillectomy and radiotherapy. The patient was followed up every 3 months. After 2 years follow-up, there were no clinical or radiological signs of recurrence.

In vitro exposure to fullerene C60 influences redox state and lipid peroxidation in brain and gills from Cyprinus carpio (Cyprinidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da Polpa de Citros Peletizada como Material para Cama de Frangos de Corte

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

alpha-SiAlON ceramics with elongated grain morphology using an alternative sintering additive

In this work, the use of a natural yttrium oxide and rare earth oxide solid solution (CRE2O3) as stabilizers of the alpha-Si3N4 phase to form alpha-SiAlON has been investigated. This oxide mix is produced at FAENQUIL-DEMAR, at a cost of only 20% of pure commercial Y2O3. Two alpha-SiAlONs using pure Y2O3 or CRE2O3 have been prepared, using mixes of 20% by volume of a molar fraction of 9:1 of AlN to Y2O3 or AlN to CRE2O3, respectively, with 80% alpha-Si3N4. Samples were gas pressure-sintered at 1900 degreesC, under 1.5 MPa of N-2 for 60 min. Both compositions yielded alpha-SiAlON ceramics with high relative densities (98% t.d.), hardness of 18 GPa and fracture toughness of 5 Mpa m(1/2), with homogeneous microstructures composed of elongated alpha-SiAlON grains with aspect ratios of 5. It is concluded that the mixed rare earth concentrate (CRE2O3) can be used to produce alpha-SiAlON ceramics with similar microstructures and mechanical properties of alpha-SiAlON ceramics fabricated using pure Y2O3, but with the advantage of its lower production cost. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to pyrazinamide

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)