Factors contributing to the differences in peritonitis rates between centers and regions

Despite improvements in connectology, peritoneal dialysis (PD) - associated peritonitis contributes significantly to morbidity and modality failure in patients maintained on PD therapy. A broad spectrum of organisms -gram-positive, gram-negative, fungal, anaerobic - are involved in this complication. In addition, a significant percentage of episodes involve polymicrobial and culture-negative infection. Technological advances are being developed to minimize the incidence of access-related complications such as peritonitis. Many traditional factors such as exit-site infection and poor technique have been already identified. In the present review, we discuss the geographic, patient selection, and clinical issues that can affect peritonitis rates in different areas of the world and in different centers in the same area.

Influence of sugar cane vinasse on the sorption and degradation of herbicides in soil under controlled conditions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analysis of Abstracts Presented at the Prosthodontic Research Section of IADR General Sessions 2004-2005: Demographics, Publication Rates, and Factors Contributing to Publication

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to describe the demographics of abstracts presented at the prosthodontics section of IADR General Sessions from 2004 to 2005, evaluate the publication rate of abstracts, and analyze the relationship between variables in abstracts and publication.Materials and Methods: Prosthodontics research section abstracts from the IADR General Session in 2004 and 2005 were evaluated for: number of authors, presentation type, origin, affiliation, topic, study design, statistics, study outcome, and funding. The publication rate was calculated following a PubMed search. The journal of publication, year of publication, and the length of time before publication were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis; the relationships between presentation type, study design, study outcome, statistics, funding, and publication were analyzed using logistic regression (alpha = 0.05).Results: From 346 abstracts, 37.0% were published. For oral presentations, 40.7% were published; 35.8% of poster presentations were published. The mean duration before publicationwas 26.4months. North America had themost abstracts, and Europe had the most publications. Fixed prosthodontic research had the highest number and proportion for publication. A significant association with publication was noted for neutral study outcomes (p = 0.018), studies with funding (p = 0.035), and abstracts from Europe (p = 0.001).Conclusions: The majority of abstracts from the prosthodontics research section of IADR General Sessions from 2004 and 2005 remain unpublished. A significant association for publication was noted with neutral outcomes, funding, and abstracts from Europe.

Analysis of the risk factors related to the immune humoral anti-Anaplasma marginale in dairy cattle

Anaplasma marginale is the most prevalent pathogen of cattle transmitted by ticks in the world. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for anaplasmosis in dairy cattle. Fifty dairy cattle from the herd of Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuaria do Estado do Rio de Janeiro were selected by proportional stratified sampling. The risk factors evaluated were: physiological state, race pattern, number of lactations, milk production, infestation by Rhipicephalus microplus and animal density. Antibody activity against A. marginale was determined using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentual values of seroprevalence for A. marginale were submitted to X2 test, and the level of minimum significance, to keep a factor in the model of logistic regression, was fixated in 5%. It was observed that pregnancy and lactation influenced significantly (p<0.05) in the seropositivity of the animals. Bos indicus animals had 5.21 times more chances of being seropositive than B. taurus animals. Primiparous female had 88% more chances of being seropositive than pluriparous female. Animals with high milk production were 63% more positive than low production animals. When infested by ticks the animals had 39% more chance of being seropositive to A. marginale. Bos indicus animals presented 5.21 times more chance of being seropositive than B. taurus animals. Primiparous females presented 88% more chance of being seropositive than the pluriparous ones. High milk production animals were 63% more positive than the low production ones. When infested by ticks the animals had 39% more chance of being seropositive to A. marginale. High density grazing provided for the animals 3.2 times more chances of being seropositive than low density ones. The herd was classified as erratic to A. marginale, even being placed in a steady enzootic area.

Childbirth care: contributing to the debate on human development

Com a finalidade de subsidiar gestores da área de saúde da mulher, na formulação de políticas públicas, voltadas ao desenvolvimento humano, realizou-se esta investigação, cujo objetivo foi avaliar a estrutura e o processo da atenção ao parto e ao neonato desenvolvido em região do interior paulista. Estudo epidemiológico, voltado para avaliação dos serviços de saúde, baseou-se na observação da assistência prestada pelo Sistema Único de Saúde em 12 maternidades e 134 partos, adotando-se padrões estabelecidos pelo Ministério da Saúde ou Organização Mundial de Saúde para comparação. Os resultados apontam problemas relacionados à estrutura em algumas maternidades, mostrando que práticas úteis ao parto normal ainda são pouco utilizadas, enquanto que outras prejudiciais ou ineficazes ainda são utilizadas rotineiramente. Reverter esse quadro será essencial para oferecer atendimento de qualidade às mulheres, com conseqüente redução nas taxas de mortalidade materna e neonatal, para que a região atinja as metas estabelecidas para ampliação do desenvolvimento humano no milênio.

A study of the main oxidation products of natural pyrite by voltammetric and photoelectrochemical responses

(Photo)electrochemical experiments on pyrite electrodes in acetic acid-acetate buffer (pH = 4.5) are conducted to clarify the main oxidation reactions and the nature of the products. Electrochemical reactions in the -0.40 to 1.25 V (SHE) potential range are studied, and the production of iron (III) polysulfide from anodically formed iron oxides and polysulfides is discussed. Charges experimentally obtained are considered for the estimation of the most likely stoichiometry of the metallic polysulfide. The photoselectivity of the pyrite corrosion process indicates that the oxidation reactions of Fe2+ and S-2(2-) an not consecutive. The changes in stoichiometry and/or annihilation of crystalline structure defects are responsible for the observed photosensitivity of pyrite. A description of light effects on the interfacial behaviour and stability of pyrite is presented in terms of conduction and valence band energies, and thermodynamic potentials. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Factors associated to Theileria equi in equids of two microregions from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Amostras de soro de 714 equídeos das microrregiões de Itaguaí e Serrana, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, foram submetidas ao teste de imunofluorescência indireta (título 1:80) para Theileria equi. A prevalência entre as microrregiões e os fatores associados à soropositividade foram avaliados e a razão de prevalência (RP) calculada. A prevalência geral para T. equi foi de 81,09% (n = 579), com maior prevalência (p < 0,05) para microrregião de Itaguaí (85,43%), quando comparado a Serrana (76,92%). A região, altitude, nível da propriedade e origem dos equídeos foram associados (p < 0,05) com a soropositividade para T. equi. Equídeos criados na microrregião de Itaguaí (RP = 1,11; p = 0,003) e em altitudes abaixo de 500 m (RP = 1.10; p = 0,014) apresentaram maior chance de se tornarem soropositivos para T. equi. Além disso, quando são criados em propriedades de nível ruim (RP = 1,13; p = 0,018) e nascidos na propriedade (RP = 1,10; p = 0,008) apresentaram mais chance de terem contato com T. equi. As principais espécies de carrapatos encontradas parasitando os equídeos foram Amblyomma cajennense e Dermacentor (Anocentor) nitens. As microrregiões estudadas são endêmicas para theileriose equina e de estabilidade enzoótica para T. equi. Apenas os fatores relacionados à área de coleta das amostras de soro influenciaram a soropositividade dos equídeos para T. equi naquela região.

IgE antibody response to the main antigenic component of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) has two main clinical presentations, a chronic form (CF) and an acute, more severe form (AF). The AF is associated with a more marked dysfunction of the patient's immune response, and a distinct anti-Paracoccidioides brasiliensis immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG antibody subclass expression, compared with that seen in the CF. In this study we investigated the presence of IgE antibodies against the main P. brasiliensis antigen (a 43-kDa molecule) in the serum of PCM patients using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that 100% of the AF patients (n = 16) produced IgE antibodies, mostly at high levels, whereas only 9 (27%) out of 33 CF patients produced this isotype. Interestingly, these nine patients presented higher serological titers on the counter-immunoelectrophoresis assays than did those who did not produce IgE; a finding that suggests that they had a relatively more severe disease. As IgE is a characteristic feature of the AF patients, and switching to a positive IgE response is dependent on interleukin-4, our results support the notion that the relatively more severe impairment of cellular immunity in the AF is probably related to a Th-2 pattern of immune response.

Anxiolytic-like effect of way-100635 microinfusions into the median (but not dorsal) raphe nucleus in mice exposed to the plus-maze: influence of prior test experience

Studies in several laboratories have confirmed the anxiolytic potential of a wide range of 5-HT1A receptor antagonists in rats and mice, with recent evidence pointing to a postsynaptic site of action in the ventral hippocampus. It would, therefore, be predicted that blockade of 5-HT1A somatodendritic autoreceptors in the midbrain raphe nuclei should produce anxiogenic-like effects. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of WAY-100635 microinfusions (0, 1.0 or 3.0 mug in 0.1 mul) into the dorsal (DRN) or median (MRN) raphe nuclei on behaviours displayed by male Swiss-Webster mice in the elevated plus-maze. As this test is sensitive to prior experience. The effects of intra-raphe infusions were examined both in maze-naive and maze-experienced subjects. Sessions, were videotaped and subsequently scored for conventional indices of anxiety (open arm avoidance) and locomotor activity (closed arm entries), as well as a range of ethological measures (e.g. risk assessment). In maze-naive mice, intra-MRN (but not intra-DRN) infusions of WAY-100635 (3.0 mug) increased open arm exploration and reduced risk assessment. Importantly, these effects could not be attributed to a general reduction in locomotor activity. A similar, though somewhat weaker, pattern of behavioural change was observed in maze-experienced animals. This unexpected anxiolytic effect of 5-HT1A autoreceptor blockade in the MRN cannot be accounted fur by a disinhibition of 5-HT release in forebrain targets (e.g. hippocampus and amygdala), where stimulation of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors enhances anxiety-like responses. However, as the MRN also projects to the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), an area known to be sensitive to the anti-aversive effects or 5-HT, it is argued that present results may reflect increased 5-HT release at this crucial midbrain locus within the neural circuitry of defense. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Contribution of structural order-disorder to the room-temperature photoluminescence of lead zirconate titanate powders

Intense and broad visible photoluminescent (PL) band was observed at room temperature in structurally disordered PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 powders. The lead zirconate titanate PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 powders prepared by the polymeric precursor method and heat treated at different temperatures were structurally characterized at long range by means of X-ray diffraction. The PL was measured at room temperature samples heat treated at different temperatures. Experimental measurements and quantum-mechanical calculations showed that the high structural order and the high structural disorder in PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 lattice are not favorable to the intense PL emission. Only samples containing simultaneous structural order and disorder in their lattice present the intense visible PL emission at room temperature. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Tolerance to the air exposition test of Hoplias lacerdae larvae and juvenile during its initial development

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparison of logistic and neural network models to fit to the egg production curve of White Leghorn hens

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Banana Peel Applied to the Solid Phase Extraction of Copper and Lead from River Water: Preconcentration of Metal Ions with a Fruit Waste

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

IMPROVEMENT TO THE MARGINAL COPING FIT of COMMERCIALLY PURE TITANIUM CAST IN PHOSPHATE-BONDED INVESTMENT BY USING A SIMPLE PATTERN COATING TECHNIQUE

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