MICHELS SYNDROME IN A BRAZILIAN GIRL BORN TO CONSANGUINEOUS PARENTS

We report on a Brazilian girl born to consanguineous parents and presenting with craniosynostosis, telecanthus, blepharophimosis, blepharoptosis, epicanthus inversus, cleft lip and palate, skeletal defects, and hearing loss. This combination of anomalies appears to constitute the Michels syndrome. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus A Multinational Multicenter Study of Thirty-Eight Patients

Objective. To describe the clinical and laboratory features of macrophage activation syndrome as a complication of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods. Cases of juvenile SLE-associated macrophage activation syndrome were provided by investigators belonging to 3 pediatric rheumatology networks or were found in the literature. Patients who had evidence of macrophage hemophagocytosis on bone marrow aspiration were considered to have definite macrophage activation syndrome, and those who did not have such evidence were considered to have probable macrophage activation syndrome. Clinical and laboratory findings in patients with macrophage activation syndrome were contrasted with those of 2 control groups composed of patients with active juvenile SLE without macrophage activation syndrome. The ability of each feature to discriminate macrophage activation syndrome from active disease was evaluated by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results. The study included 38 patients (20 with definite macrophage activation syndrome and 18 with probable macrophage activation syndrome). Patients with definite and probable macrophage activation syndrome were comparable with regard to all clinical and laboratory features of the syndrome, except for a greater frequency of lymphadenopathy, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in patients with definite macrophage activation syndrome. Overall, clinical features had better specificity than sensitivity, except for fever, which was highly sensitive but had low specificity. Among laboratory features, the best sensitivity and specificity was achieved using hyperferritinemia, followed by increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypofibrinogenemia. Based on the results of statistical analysis, preliminary diagnostic guidelines for macrophage activation syndrome in juvenile SLE were developed.Conclusion. Our findings indicate that the occurrence of unexplained fever and cytopenia, when associated with hyperferritinemia, in a patient with juvenile SLE should raise the suspicion of macrophage activation syndrome. We propose preliminary guidelines for this syndrome in juvenile SLE to facilitate timely diagnosis and correct classification of patients.

Real-time optical monitoring of the dip coating process

A significant part of film production by the coating industry is based on wet bench processes, where better understanding of their temporal dynamics could facilitate control and optimization. In this work, in situ laser interferometry is applied to study properties of flowing liquids and quantitatively monitor the dip coating batch process. Two oil standards Newtonian, non-volatile, with constant refractive indices and distinct flow properties - were measured under several withdrawing speeds. The dynamics of film physical thickness then depends on time as t(-1/2), and flow characterization becomes possible with high precision (linear slope uncertainty of +/-0.04%). Resulting kinematic viscosities for OP60 and OP400 are 1,17 +/- 0,03. St and 9,9 +/- 0,2 St, respectively. These results agree with nominal values, as provided by the manufacturer. For more complex films (a multi-component sol-gel Zirconyl Chloride aqueous solution) with a varying refractive index, through a direct polarimetric measurement, allowing also determination of the temporal evolution of physical thickness (uncertainty of +/- 0,007 microns) is also determined during dip coating.

Anticoccidial effects of coumestans from Eclipta alba for sustainable control of Eimeria tenella parasitosis in poultry production

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy of a product containing coumestans from Eclipta alba. Experimental conditions were set up as to reproduce the environment conditions for husbandry adopted in commercial broiler farms. Broilers were raised in broiler chicken shed provided with feeders, drinkers, illumination and temperature control systems and floor covering to afford an adequate nourishing environment. Male Cobb broilers (240) were assigned to four experimental groups being each experimental group set apart in rice straw-covered shed isolated with wire mesh. One-day-old broilers were reared in a coccidian-free environment with ad libitum supply of filtered water and freely available standard feed, from the 1st to the 35th day of life. The T1 group received standard feed (negative control); T2 was treated with standard feed supplemented with 66 ppm of salinomycin (positive control); groups T3 and T4 had standard feed supplemented with the ethyl acetate fraction from methanolic extract of E. alba aerial parts, which contains the coumestans WL and DWL (120 and 180 ppm, respectively). The chicken broilers were individually infected with 2 x 104 oocysts of Eimeria tenella when they were 14 days old and were monitored weekly to evaluate zootechnical parameters such as weight gain and food conversion ratio. Counting of coccidial oocyst in chiken feces was assessed from random samples, from the 21st to 28th days of life, which corresponded to 7-14 days after the infection. Five chickens selected at random from each experimental group were subsequently euthanized at 21, 28 or 35 days of life to determine the lesion score in the cecal region and to excise a cecum portion for histopathological evaluation. The group treated with coumestans from E. alba presented an average weight gain and food conversion ratio higher than the negative control group and similar to the mean value of the positive control group. Coumestan-treated groups showed a significant decrease in the oocyst counting since the 21th day of life and displayed a reduced number of macroscopic lesions. Histopathological evaluations of cecum fragments showed that both treatments induced the migration of defense cells at the site of infection. A severe destruction of the cecal lining was found in the intestinal tract of broilers fed with a coumestans dose of 180 ppm. Overall, our results validate the use of a phytotherapy containing E. alba coumestans at a dose of 120 ppm as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent against avian coccidiosis. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diagnóstico diferencial da fobia social: Uma revisâo

Social phobia is a common mental disorder that can cause considerable distress and impairment in functioning and quality of life but it is still an underdiagnosed and undertreated disorder. The differential diagnosis is not always simple. because its clinical features overlap with many other mental and non-mental disorders characterized by social avoidance. The aim of this study was to review the literature and discuss the differential diagnosis of social phobia with the following conditions. normal social anxiety (shyness), depressive disorders, alcoholism, body dysmorphic disorder, panic disorder and agoraphobia, simple phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, delusional disorders and avoidant and schizoid personality disorders. A Medline and Lilacs search was conducted between 1990 and 2002, using the key words social phobia, social anxiety disorder, diagnosis and defferential diagnosis. The accurate diagnosis is very important for the appropriate treatment approach.

Double optical monitoring of time-dependent film formation

A brief overview of optical monitoring for vacuum and wet bench film deposition processes is presented. Interferometric and polarimetric measurements are combined with regard to simultaneous real-time monitoring of refractive index and physical thickness. Monitor stability and accuracy are verified with transparent oil standards. This double optical technique is applied to dip coating with a multi-component Zirconyl Chloride aqueous solution, whose time varying refractive index and physical thickness curves indicate significant sensitivity to changes of film flow properties during the process.

Temporal evolution of sulfated zirconia sol-gel during dip coating: Analysis of mass drainage with time-varying refractive index

The formation of sulfated zirconia films from a sol-gel derived aqueous suspension is subjected to double-optical monitoring during batch dip coating. Interpretation of interferometric patterns, previously obscured by a variable refractive index, is now made possible by addition of its direct measurement by a polarimetric technique in real time. Significant sensitivity of the resulting physical thickness and refractive index curves (uncertainties of ±7 nm and ±0.005, respectively) to temporal film evolution is shown under different withdrawal speeds. As a first contribution to quantitative understanding of temporal film formation with varying nanostructure during dip coating, detailed analysis is directed to the stage of the process dominated by mass drainage, whose simple modeling with temporal t-1/2 dependence is verified experimentally. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Propriedades físico-hídricas, desenvolvimento radicular e produtividade da soja em dois tipos de manejos de solo

The soybean culture is part of crop rotation used by irrigators from the southwestern region of São Paulo State that perform no-tillage soil management as a form of sustainable soil use. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of this conservationist practice on physicalhydric properties, soil compaction, root development, and soybean culture production components in relation to the conventional management. The experiment was conducted at the Buriti-Mirim Farm, Angatuba, SP, in Brazil, using an area irrigated by a center pivot system divided into two types of soil management: conventional and no-tillage. Although the no-tillage management presented higher soil density, lower water available and lower soil resistance to penetration, both soil managements showed no difference in relation to root development.

Influência de pontas de pulverização e adjuvantes no potencial de redução de deriva em túnel de vento

The drift is intimately linked to inappropriate use of pesticides and an important factor for reducing it, is the correct selection of spray nozzles and adjuvants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the drift potential in wind tunnel with different spray nozzles and different concentrations of adjuvants. The experiment was composed by six spray solutions (vegetable oil (in three concentrations), mineral oil, surfactant and reducing drift), which were applied with two nozzles, one pre-orifice flat fan (DG 8003 VS) and other with air induction (AI 8003 VS), totaling 12 treatments, with three repetitions. The equipment used was a wind tunnel, where the drift collections were made at different points. The treatments averages were compared using Confidence Interval at 5% probability. The analysis of the percentage of drift showed that the treatments had different behaviors. The nonylphenol ethoxylate adjuvant presented the highest drift when applied with the nozzle of pre-orifice and the lowest drift when applied with the air induction. The behavior of these nozzles when the oil-based adjuvant was used showed apposite results to those obtained for the surfactant. For the DG nozzles the lowest percentage of drift, at all analyzed distances, was observed to the treatment with vegetable oil (1.0%) and with the AI nozzles the lower drift was found for the treatment with nonylphenol ethoxylate (0.0625%), for the four distances in the collection. The result showed that both the spray nozzles and adjuvants alter directly the drift potential. There was no proportionately between the concentration of the oil-based adjuvant and the drift percentage.

Efeito de dois sistemas de manejo do solo nas propriedades físicohídricas, desenvolvimento radicular e produtividade do milho irrigado

Corn cultivation is part of crop rotation used by irrigation farmers from the southwestern region of São Paulo state, Brazil, who use no-tillage soil management as a kind of sustainable use of soil. The effect of this conservative practice on physical and hydrical properties of the soil, root development and corn crop yield compared to the conventional management was the objective of this work. The experiment was held at the Buriti-Mirim Farm, Angatuba, SP, Brazil, using an irrigated area with a center pivot system and two types of soil management: conventional and no-tillage systems. Although the no-tillage management had higher soil density and less water availability, no significant difference was found for both management systems concerning soil resistance to penetration, root development and crop yield. In both systems of soil management, 90% of roots were concentrated in the first 0-20cm of soil layer.

Evaporação de gotas de caldas contendo fungicidas e adjuvantes depositadas em superfície

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Propriedades físico-hídricas, compactação do solo, desenvolvimento radicular e produtividade da soja em diferentes manejos de solo

A cultura da soja (Glycine Max L.) faz parte da rotação de culturas praticadas pelos irrigantes do sudoeste paulista, os quais praticam o plantio direto como forma de uso sustentável do solo. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito dessa prática conservacionista sobre as propriedades físico-hídricas do solo, sobre sua compactação, sobre o desenvolvimento radicular e sobre a produtividade da cultura da soja, comparativamente com o preparo convencional. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Buriti-Mirim, município de Angatuba, SP (23º30'13" S, 48º35'37" W; 640m), durante o segundo semestre de 2003, utilizando uma área de Argissolo Acinzentado irrigada por pivô central, dividida em dois tipos de manejo do solo preparo convencional e plantio direto. Embora no plantio direto tenha-se encontrado maior densidade do solo, menor quantidade de água disponível e menor resistência do solo à penetração, os dois manejos não diferiram quanto ao desenvolvimento radicular e a produtividade da soja.

A influência da música eletroacústica sobre obras para piano de György Ligeti e a criação de estilemas pianísticos

Pós-graduação em Música - IA

Glycosomal Targets for Anti-Trypanosomatid Drug Discovery

Glycosomes are peroxisome-related organelles found in all kinetoplastid protists, including the human pathogenic species of the family Trypanosomatidae: Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. Glycosomes are unique in containing the majority of the glycolytic/gluconeogenic enzymes, but they also possess enzymes of several other important catabolic and anabolic pathways. The different metabolic processes are connected by shared co-factors and some metabolic intermediates, and their relative importance differs between the parasites or their distinct life-cycle stages, dependent on the environmental conditions encountered. By genetic or chemical means, a variety of glycosomal enzymes participating in different processes have been validated as drug targets. For several of these enzymes, as well as others that are likely crucial for proliferation, viability or virulence of the parasites, inhibitors have been obtained by different approaches such as compound libraries screening or design and synthesis. The efficacy and selectivity of some initially obtained inhibitors of parasite enzymes were further optimized by structure-activity relationship analysis, using available protein crystal structures. Several of the inhibitors cause growth inhibition of the clinically relevant stages of one or more parasitic trypanosomatid species and in some cases exert therapeutic effects in infected animals. The integrity of glycosomes and proper compartmentalization of at least several matrix enzymes is also crucial for the viability of the parasites. Therefore, proteins involved in the assembly of the organelles and transmembrane passage of substrates and products of glycosomal metabolism offer also promise as drug targets. Natural products with trypanocidal activity by affecting glycosomal integrity have been reported.

O novíssimo Príncipe: Gramsci e a reconstrução da teoria marxista do Partido

It is only in his Prison Notebooks, through the political formula crystallized in the 'Modern Prince', that gramscian theory of the political party reaches its final configuration. Beyond to direct dialogue with the leninian formulations and those subsequently developed by the Communist International, is also noticeable echoes of critical dialogue with elitist sociology of the political party of Robert Michels. Largely, is thanks to this critical and nonsectarian approach that Gramsci could produce one of the most original reflection on the party organization within the Marxist tradition, facing the issues previously neglected of oligarchyzation and bureaucratization of workers' parties, thus providing a possible theoretical overrun for the inevitability of elitist thesis of split between the party leader's core interests and the interests of their social reference. The objective of this work is to restore some contributions of Gramsci to the reconstruction of theory of the revolutionary party today.