Traçadores: o uso de agentes químicos para estudos hidrológicos, ambientais, petroquímicos e biológicos

This paper presents a revision of the history, definitions, and classification of tracers (natural and artificial, internal and external). The fundamental ideas concerning tracers are described, followed by their application illustrated by typical examples. The advantages and disadvantages of five classes among the most frequently used external tracers (fluorescent, microbial, chemical, radioactive and activable isotopes) are also described in detail. This review also presents some interesting and modern applications of tracers in the areas of diagnostics in medical practice, environmental pollution, hydrology and petroleum chemistry.

Blendas de PHB e seus copolímeros: miscibilidade e compatibilidade

Poly(hydroxybutyrate) and its copolymers are linear polyesters behaving as conventional thermoplastic materials. However, they are totally biodegradable and produced by a wide variety of bacteria from renewable sources. Some properties and high production cost are still preventing future applications. In an attempt to improve the properties and to reduce cost blending PHB with others polymeric materials is one of the most efficient method. In this paper, miscibility, compatibility, morphological and mechanical aspects of PHB blends will be reviewed. An extensive revision over twenty last years was realized about works of blends based on PHB and its copolymers.

Uma revisão sobre o efeito Toms: o fenômeno onde macromoléculas atenuam a turbulência em um líquido

It is very well known that the addition of polymers to a liquid increases the shear viscosity of the solution. In other words, the polymer increases the dissipation of the flow energy. Contrarily, in turbulent flow, some particular macromolecules in very low concentration are able to produce large attenuation in the turbulence and thus, decreasing the dissipation of the energy. This article present a brief revision about macroscopic and molecular models used to explain this dynamic effect. Some of the experimental techniques used to quantify the attenuation of the turbulence and the main active substances are also discussed.

Do engenho à biorrefinaria: a usina de açúcar como empreendimento industrial para a geração de produtos bioquímicos e biocombustíveis

A sugar cane mill is at the present moment a modest biorefinery producing few products such as sugar, ethanol and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). In the near future, this mill can expand its production using several renewable feedstock's to produce biofuels and high value biobased chemicals. However, the choice of appropriate products for addition to the portfolio is challenged by a lack of broad-based conversion technology coupled with a plethora of potential targets. The intent of this revision was to catalyze research efforts to expand the list of products and to present an updated evaluation of potential target structures for chemical production.

Perfuração espontânea de colédoco em adolescente

Spontaneous perforation of the common bile duct is rare. It happens predominantly in children and it is related to obstructive disease of the biliary tract. We present a case of an 18 year-old male patient, with ulcerative rectocolitis associated with malignant tumor of the head of pancreas. The patient developed an acute abdomen syndrome and laparotomy, a spontaneous perforation of common bile duct was evidenced. The authors make a revision of the clinical aspects of that pathology.

Cirurgia do hiperparatireoidismo

Hyperparathyroidism is a desease caused by increase of parathormone secretion, leading to a misfunction of calcium metabolism. Although not very common among population in general, it is frequently observed in patients with cronic renal disease. It can involve a slight syntomatic form, but as a whole, its main repercurssions occur in skeletic muscles, urinary and intestinal systems. The authors conduct a broad revision of the literature, focusing on the methods of diagnosis and spot checking before and during the operations of parathyroid glands. Surgical recommendations, tatic aspects and types of surgery to be implemented are discussed. A systematization for adequate surgical technics performed at the General Surgery Service of Clementino Fraga Filho Hospital of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is fully discribed and recommended.

Hematoma retroperitoneal espontâneo

We present a case of a spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma in a 62 year-old man who was using acethylsalicylic acid (ASA). Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma is a rare, but potentially serious complication of anticoagulation therapy. Through literature revision, we have discussed the etiological aspects of this disease and the importance of obtaining the preoperative diagnosis for an appropriate and conservative operative treatment.

Paraganglioma gangliocítico duodenal

We present a case of a 42-year-old man with abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice and a mass in the second portion of the duodenum, near the papillary region. The patient was operated and the histological study of the specimen returned duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma (a rare submucosal benign tumor of the duodenum). We also describe, after revision of the literature, the pathology, the diagnosis and its treatment.

Temporary abdominal closure with zipper-mesh device for management of intra-abdominal sepsis

OBJECTIVE: to present our experience with scheduled reoperations in 15 patients with intra-abdominal sepsis. METHODS: we have applied a more effective technique consisting of temporary abdominal closure with a nylon mesh sheet containing a zipper. We performed reoperations in the operating room under general anesthesia at an average interval of 84 hours. The revision consisted of debridement of necrotic material and vigorous lavage of the involved peritoneal area. The mean age of patients was 38.7 years (range, 15 to 72 years); 11 patients were male, and four were female. RESULTS: forty percent of infections were due to necrotizing pancreatitis. Sixty percent were due to perforation of the intestinal viscus secondary to inflammation, vascular occlusion or trauma. We performed a total of 48 reoperations, an average of 3.2 surgeries per patient. The mesh-zipper device was left in place for an average of 13 days. An intestinal ostomy was present adjacent to the zipper in four patients and did not present a problem for patient management. Mortality was 26.6%. No fistulas resulted from this technique. When intra-abdominal disease was under control, the mesh-zipper device was removed, and the fascia was closed in all patients. In three patients, the wound was closed primarily, and in 12 it was allowed to close by secondary intent. Two patients developed hernia; one was incisional and one was in the drain incision. CONCLUSION: the planned reoperation for manual lavage and debridement of the abdomen through a nylon mesh-zipper combination was rapid, simple, and well-tolerated. It permitted effective management of severe septic peritonitis, easy wound care and primary closure of the abdominal wall.

Profile of hip arthroplasty patients in a teaching hospital

OBJECTIVE: to characterize the epidemiological profile of patients undergoing hip replacement, primary or revisional. METHODS: we conducted a retrospective, descriptive study, including hip arthroplasties performed from January 2009 to June 2012 in a Belo Horizonte teaching hospital, Minas Gerais State - MG, Brazil. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: orthopedic procedures represented 45% of the operations at the hospital in the period, 1.4% hip arthroplasties. There were 125 hip replacements, 85 total, 27 partial and 13 reviews. Among the patients, 40% were male and 60% were female. Age ranged between 20 and 102 years, mean and median of 73 and 76 years, respectively. The most frequent diagnosis (82%) was femoral neck fracture by low-energy trauma caused by falling form standing position. In 13 revision operations, 12 required removal of the prosthesis. The infectious complication led to revision in 54% of the time, followed by dislocation (15%), peri-prosthetic fracture (15%) and aseptic loosening (15%). The infection etiologic agent was identified in 43% of occasions. The average length of the prosthesis to a revision operation was eight months. CONCLUSION: patients undergoing hip arthroplasty are elderly, with femoral neck fracture caused by falling form standing position, affecting more women. The incidence of hip prosthesis loosening was 10%. The main cause of the infection was loosening. The incidence of revisional hip arthroplasty was 10% and the incidence of hospital mortality in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty was 7.2%.

Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability and Health Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphoedema into Portuguese Language

Objective The objective of the study is to describe the process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability, and Health Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphoedema (Lymph-ICF-LL) into (Brazilian) Portuguese. Methods The process was comprised of five steps - translation, back translation, revision by an expert panel, pretest, and final translation. The first translation was performed by two professionals of the healthcare area, and the back translation was performed by two translators. An expert panel assessed the questions for semantics and idiomatic, cultural, and conceptual equivalence. The pretest was conducted on 10 patients with lymphedema. Results Small differences were identified between the translated and back-translated versions, which were revised by the expert panel. The patients included in the pretest found 10 questions difficult to understand; these questions were reassessed by the same expert panel. Conclusion The results of the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Lymph- ICF-LL resulted in a Brazilian Portuguese version, which still requires validation with various samples of the local population.

Revisão taxonômica do gênero Periandra Mart. ex Benth. (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Phaseoleae)

O gênero Periandra Mart. ex Benth. é constituído por seis espécies, essencialmente brasileiras, distribuídas principalmente em campos e cerrados. Nesta revisão o gênero foi dividido em dois subgêneros: Periandra subg. Periandra e Periandra subg. Coccinea Funch & Barroso. A proposta destes subgêneros foi baseada em caracteres macromorfológicos, abordados neste trabalho, e polínicos, tratados anteriormente. Nenhuma das variedades anteriormente descritas para P. mediterranea foi aceita. Uma espécie, P. berteriana, foi considerada duvidosa.

Lectotypifications in Ditassa R.Br. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae)

As results of a revision of the Brazilian species of Ditassa, lectotypes for D. endoleuca Schltr., D. pauciflora Decne. and D. ramosa E. Fourn. (= D. blanchetii Decne.) are designated.

A new species of Bulbophyllum Thouars (Orchidaceae) from Minas Gerais, Brazil

During the taxonomic revision of the Neotropical Bulbophyllum (Orchidaceae) species, a new species was discovered from Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais State, described and illustrated here as B. hatschbachianum E. C. Smidt & Borba. This species belongs to the Neotropical section Xiphizusa (Rchb. f.) Cogn. and posses a lip epichile completely different from the related species. It is closely to B. plumosum (Barb. Rodr.) Cogn. due to its vegetative morphology, but has different flower size, color and lip epichile. In B. plumosum the epichile is thin, longer and wider than the hipochile. In B. hatschbachianum the epichile is fleshy, shortest than the hipochile, thin, and sharply narrower than the hipochile. The flowers of this new species is similar to the Mexican B. solteroi R. González, but the general morphology of the lip, trichome size and the geographical distribution clearly distinguishes apart the two species.

Phylogenetic analyses of Cladophora vagabunda (L.) C. Hoek (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta) from Brazil based on SSU rDNA sequences

The complete SSU rDNA was sequenced for 10 individuals of Cladophora vagabunda collected along the coast of Brazil. For C. rupestris (L.) Kütz. a partial SSU rDNA sequence (1634 bp) was obtained. Phylogenetic trees indicate that Cladophora is paraphyletic, but the section Glomeratae sensu lato including C. vagabunda from Brazil, Japan and France, C. albida (Nees) Kütz., C. sericea (Hudson) Kütz., and C. glomerata (L.) Kütz. is monophyletic. Within this group C. vagabunda is paraphyletic. The sequence identity for the SSU rDNA varied from 98.9% to 100% for the Brazilian C. vagabunda, and from 98.3% to 99.7% comparing the Brazilian individuals to the ones from France and Japan. Sequence identity of the Brazilian C. vagabunda to C. albida and C. sericea vary from 98.0% to 98.6%. The SSU rDNA phylogeny support partially the morphological characteristics presented by Brazilian populations of C. vagabunda. On the other hand, C. rupestris from Brazil does not group with C. rupestris from France, both sequences presenting only 96.9% of identity. The inclusion of sequences of individuals from Brazil reinforces the need of taxonomical revision for the genus Cladophora and for the complex C. vagabunda.