Assessment of Intima-Media Thickness in Healthy Children Aged 1 to 15 Years

Abstract Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) has been shown to be increased in children and adolescents with traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, compared with those of healthy children. Objective: To assess the influence of sex, age and body mass index (BMI) on the CIMT in healthy children and adolescents aged 1 to 15 years. Methods: A total of 280 healthy children and adolescents (males, n=175; mean age, 7.49±3.57 years; mean BMI, 17.94±4.1 kg/m2) were screened for CIMT assessment. They were divided into 3 groups according to age: GI, 1 to 5 years [n=93 (33.2%); males, 57; mean BMI, 16±3 kg/m2]; GII, 6 to 10 years [n=127 (45.4%); males, 78; mean BMI, 17.9±3.7 kg/m2], and GIII, 11 to 15 years [n=60 (21.4%); males, 40; mean BMI, 20.9±4.5 kg/m2]. Results: There was no significant difference in CIMT values between male and female children and adolescents (0.43±0.06 mm vs. 0.42±0.05 mm, respectively; p=0.243). CIMT correlated with BMI neither in the total population nor in the 3 age groups according to Pearson correlation coefficient. Subjects aged 11 to 15 years had the highest CIMT values (GI vs. GII, p=0.615; GI vs. GIII, p=0.02; GII vs. GIII, p=0.004). Conclusions: CIMT is constant in healthy children younger than 10 years, regardless of sex or BMI. CIMT increases after the age of 10 years.

Biological aspects of the DM28C clone of Trypanosoma cruzi after metacylogenesis in chemically defined media

The biological characterization of the Trypanosoma cruzi clone Dm 28c in terms of its growth in LIT medium, cell-cycle, infectivity to mice and interaction with professional and non-professional phagocytic cells shows that it behaves as a bona fide T. cruzi representant. The biological properties of this myotropic clone do not change according to the origin of the trypomastigote forms (i. e., from triatomines, infected mice, cell-culture or from the chemically defined TAUP and TAU3AAG media). In addition Dm 28c metacyclic trypomastigotes from TAU3AAG medium display a high infectivity level to fibroblasts and muscle cells. Experiments on binding of cationized ferritin to trypomastigotes surface show the existence of cap-like structures of ferritin in regions near the kinetoplast. However the nature and role of these anionic sites remain to be determined. The results indicate that metacyclic trypomastigotes from Dm 28c clone obtained under chemically defined conditions reproduce the biological behaviour of T. cruzi, rendering this system very suitable for the study of cell-parasite interactions and for the isolation of trypanosome relevant macromolecules.

Seropositivity for hepatitis B virus, vaccination coverage, and vaccine response in dentists from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

This study investigated the seropositivity for hepatitis B virus (HBV), the vaccination index, and the vaccine response index in dentists from Campo Grande, MS. Blood samples from 474 dentists (63.7% women and 36.3% men), with a mean age of 38.5 ± 10.5 years were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the serological markers: HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc. The HBsAg positive samples were tested for anti-HBc IgM, HBeAg, and anti-HBe. A total of 51 (10.8%) dentists showed seropositivity for HBV. Three (0.6%) were HBsAg/anti-HBc/anti-HBe positive, 43 (9.1%) were anti-HBc/anti-HBs positive, and 5 (1.1%) had only anti-HBc. Viral DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in 9 (17.6%) out of 51 HBV seropositive samples. A vaccination index of 96.6% (458/474) was observed, although 73.1% (335/458)completed the three-dose schedule. Excluding 46 HBV seropositive individuals from 458 that reported vaccination, 412 were analyzed for vaccine response index. It was observed that 74.5% (307/412) were anti-HBs positive; this percentage increased to 79.1% when three doses were administered. The results showed a high vaccination index and a good rate of vaccine response; however, the failure in completing the three-dose schedule and the occurrence of HBV infection reinforce the need for more effective prevention strategies.

Discursive media strategies in the journalistic construction of schistosomiasis in Jaboticatubas, Minas Gerais

Using media discourse analysis for material published by the press on schistomisasis in the city of Jaboticatubas, the possible determining factors of narrative and discursive constructions in the diffusion of information are discussed. It was observed that media discourse treats schistosomiasis in 1962 as something from the natural order. By 1997 and 1998, the media discourse strategies reveal ideological treatment in favor of certain social segments. Situations are identified in which social agents in specific contexts construct the meanings of this endemic disease. It was concluded that the economic organization of space was a determining factor in the production and circulation of the media discourses.

Growth, cysts and kinetics of Borrelia garinii (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetacea) in different culture media

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate cyst formation and growth parameters of Borrelia garinii in a range of media differing in formulation and cost. A qualitative assessment of morphology and motility of B. garinii was conducted. All media were prepared aseptically and used in test tubes or Petri dishes. For each medium, the initial spirochete concentration was standardized to 10³ spirochets/mL. The following culture media were suitable to grow B. garinii: Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly, brain heart infusion and PMR. Growth was minimal at six weeks post-inoculation and maximum spirochete density was observed between 9-12 weeks. Often, the cultures developed cysts of different sizes, isolated or in groups, with a spiraled portion of variable sizes, mainly in unfavorable culture media. Brazilian Lyme disease-like illness, also known as Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (BYS), is a new and interesting emerging tick-borne disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes, only during its cystic forms. It has been assumed that the peculiar clinical and laboratory features of BYS are consequential to the absence of a human sucker Ixodes ricinus complex tick at risk areas in Brazil, supporting the concept that the borrelia phenotypic expression pattern is modified as it is transmitted through the host.

Comparison of the methane oxidation rate in four media

Landfill gas emissions are one of the main sources of anthropogenic methane (CH4), a major greenhouse gas. In this paper, an economically attractive alternative to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste landfills was sought. This alternative consists in special biofilters as landfill covers with oxidative capacity in the presence of CH4. To improve the quality/cost ratio of the project, compost was chosen as one of the cover substrates and soil (Typic red yellow-silt-clay Podzolic) as the other. The performance of four substrates was studied in laboratory experiments: municipal solid waste (MSW) compost, soil, and two soil-compost at different proportions. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability and environmental compatibility as a means of CH4 oxidation in biofilters. Four biofilters were constructed in 60 cm PVC tubes with an internal diameter of 10 cm. Each filter contained 2.3 L of oxidizing substrate at the beginning of the experiment. The gas used was a mixture of CH4 and air introduced at the bottom of each biofilter, at a flow of 150 mL min-1, by a flow meter. One hundred days after the beginning of the experiment, the best biofilter was the MSW compost with an oxidation rate of 990 g m-3 day-1 , corresponding to an efficiency of 44 %. It can be concluded that the four substrates studied have satisfactory oxidative capacity, and the substrates can be used advantageously as cover substrate of MSW landfills.

Growth regulators, culture media and antibiotics in the in vitro shoot regeneration from mature tissue of citrus cultivars

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) combinations, basal media and beta-lactam antibiotics on in vitro organogenesis from mature stem segments of 'Pêra', 'Valência' and 'Bahia' sweet oranges and 'Cravo' rangpur lime. For induction of shoot regeneration, the segments of the four cultivars were placed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing the following BAP/NAA concentrations: 0.0/0.0; 0.25/0.0; 0.25/0.25; 0.5/0.0; 0.5/0.5; 1.0/0.0; 2.0/0.0; 2.0/0.25; 2.0/0.5; and 2.0/1.0 mg L-1. In order to test the influence of the culture media on shoot-bud induction, (MS), Murashige and Tucker (MT), and woody plant medium (WPM) formulations were evaluated, associated with the best combination of plant growth regulators obtained in the previous experiment. The influence of four beta-lactam antibiotics (timentin, cefotaxime sodium salt, meropenem trihydrate and augmentin) on shoot regeneration was determined. Better regeneration responses were achieved when internodal segments were cultured onto MS-based medium with 500 mg L-1 cefotaxime with the following BAP/NAA concentrations: 0.5 + 0.25 mg L-1 for 'Cravo', 1.0 + 0.25 mg L-1 for 'Valência' and 'Bahia', and 1.0 + 0.5 mg L-1 for 'Pêra'. Genotype, growth regulators, basal media and beta-lactam antibiotics affect the morphogenetic response in mature tissues of citrus.

Assessment of intima-media complex in carotid, femoral and right subclavian arteries for early investigation of atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients

Objective To compare automatic and manual measurements of intima-media complex (IMC) in common carotid, common femoral and right subclavian arteries of HIV-infected patients in relation to a control group, taking into consideration the classical risk factors for atherosclerosis. Materials and Methods The study sample comprised 70 HIV-infected patients and 70 non-HIV-infected controls paired according sex and age. Automatic (gold standard) and manual measurements of IMC were performed in the carotid arteries. Manual measurements were also performed in common femoral and right subclavian arteries. Bland-Altman graphs were utilized in the comparison and the adopted level significance was 5%. Results Intima-media complex alterations were not observed in any of the individuals as the mean automatic measurement in the right common carotid (RCC) artery was considered as the gold standard. As the gold standard was compared with the manual measurements (mean, maximum and minimum), no clinically significant alteration was observed. As the gold standard was compared with other sites, the difference was statistically and clinically significant at the origin of right subclavian artery (RCC: 0.51 mm vs. 0.91 mm) (p < 0.001). Conclusion HIV-infected individuals are not at higher risk for atherosclerosis than the control population.

Use of semi-seletive media for detection of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on bean and soybean seeds

This work was aimed at evaluating the possibility of using bromophenol blue as an indicator for detecting the presence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in the seeds of dry-beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and soybean (Glycine max), through incubation of the seeds on an agar medium and "blotter" substrates. The seeds were artificially inoculated with four S. sclerotiorum isolates, plated on the agar medium, named Neon, and on modified Neon agar media all incubated at 14 and 20 ºC for seven days in the dark. Half of the seeds inoculated were surface desinfested prior to plating on the medium. The seeds showing change of colour in the medium, from blue to light yellow, as well as formation of typical mycelium and sclerotia in some cases, were considered to be infected or contaminated by S. sclerotiorum. The two incubation temperatures compared did not show significant (P<0.05) differences in detection level for most of the isolates tested on the different media. According to results obtained in this study, the Neon agar medium with incubation at 14 or 20 ºC has proved to be a reliable and quick method for the detection of S. sclerotiorum mycelium in naturally infected seeds of bean and soybean.

A model for specific interactions of manganese-phthalocyanine in protic media

Extinction coefficients (e) changes of manganese phthalocyanine (Mn-Pc) were studied in different organic solvents and related to solvent polarity scales; (Kosower's values (Z), Dimroth's values (E T), donor numbers (DN) and linear solvation energy relationships (LSER) or linear free energy relationships (LFER));, theoretical molecular orbital calculations and ligand/solvent coordination processes in order to predict molecular interaction with the medium and identification of predominant intermolecular forces.

Titrimetric assay of lisinopril in aqueous and non-aqueous media

Four simple titrimetric procedures are described for the determination of lisinopril (LNP) in bulk and in pharmaceuticals based on the neutralization of basic-amino and acidic carboxylic acid groups present in LNP. Method A is based on the neutralization of basic amino groups using perchloric acid as titrant in anhydrous acetic acid medium. Method B, method C and method D are based on neutralization of carboxylic acid group using NaOH, sodium methoxide and methanolic KOH, as titrants, respectively. Method A is applicable over 2.0-20.0 mg range and the calculations are based in the molar ratio of 1:2 (LNP:HClO4). Method B, method C and method D are applicable over 2.0-20.0 mg, 1.0-10.0 mg and 5.0-15.0 mg range, respectively, and their respective molar ratios are 1:1 (LNP:NaOH), 1:2 (LNP:CH3ONa) and 1:1 (LNP:KOH). Intraday and inter day accuracy and precision of the methods were evaluated and the results showed intra- and inter-day precision less than 2.7% (RSD), and accuracy of < 2.5 % (RE). The developed methods were applied to determine LNP in tablets and the results were validated statistically by comparing the results with those of the reference method by applying the Student's t-test and F-test. The accuracy was further ascertained by recovery studies via standard addition technique. No interferences from common tablet exipients was observed.

Soil water evaporation under densities of coverage with vegetable residue

This study was conducted at the Agronomic Institute of Paraná (IAPAR) in Londrina, State of Paraná (PR), Brazil (latitude 23º18'S, longitude 51º09'W and average altitude of 585 m). The local climate, according to the classification of Köeppen, is Cfa type, i.e., humid subtropical climate, with rain in all seasons and can occur dry seasons during the winter. It was determined soil evaporation (E) under different coverage densities with residue from the wheat crop. The treatments were installed in weighting lysimeters of 2.66 m² and 1.3 m deep, which allows to determine E by the mass difference with measuring precision of 0.1mm at one hour intervals. Treatments consisted of 0; 2.5; 5 and 10 t ha-1 of wheat crop residues, placed evenly over each lysimeter. In the first cycle (September 22nd to October 20th, 2008), the reduction of E, as compared to a bare soil, was 4; 15 and 24%, while in the second cycle (December 1st to 30th, 2008), the reduction was of 15; 22 and 25%, respectively, for the treatments of 2.5; 5 and 10 t ha-1.

Coverage mobilization by different no-tillage in-line handling mechanisms

Vegetation cover on soil acts positively in maintaining temperature and soil moisture, yet, it has been imposing specific operational conditions on seeders. The objective of this study was to evaluate performance of different mechanisms regarding straw mobilization, employed in a no-till seeder. The experimental area was conducted on clayey soil under no-tillage with a large quantity of sorghum residue. The experiment was established in a randomized block design, as the treatments consisted of a combination of two mechanisms at front of the furrow opener composed of cutting disc and row cleaners, and three mechanisms behind the seed furrower, covering discs prototype model M1, Spider and commercial model, with the combination of cutting disc and Spider model not being evaluated. We assessed the coverage permanence on soil index, vegetation mass on surface and inside the line. The treatment containing the row cleaner mechanism efficiently removed straw from the surface of sowing line as well as the return one acted on straw replacement. It was identified that use of the cutting disc at the front of seeder contributed to the increase of straw installation inside the line, three times more than in the row cleaner system when operating individually. Covering mechanism with row cleaners reduced straw inside the line and kept line covering similar to treatment of cutting disc operating alone.