Nat2, Xrcc1 And Hogg1 Polymorphisms, Cigarette Smoking, Alcohol Consumption And Risk Of Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancer.

To evaluate associations between polymorphisms of the N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) and X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 1 (XRCC1) genes and risk of upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer. A case-control study involving 117 cases and 224 controls was undertaken. The NAT2 gene polymorphisms were genotyped by automated sequencing and XRCC1 Arg399Gln and hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphisms were determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction followed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. Slow metabolization phenotype was significantly associated as a risk factor for the development of UADT cancer (p=0.038). Furthermore, haplotype of slow metabolization was also associated with UADT cancer (p=0.014). The hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism (CG or GG vs. CC genotypes) was shown as a protective factor against UADT cancer in moderate smokers (p=0.031). The XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism (GA or AA vs. GG genotypes), in turn, was a protective factor against UADT cancer only among never-drinkers (p=0.048). Interactions involving NAT2, XRCC1 Arg399Gln and hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphisms may modulate the risk of UADT cancer in this population.

Presynaptic Neuromuscular Action Of A Methanolic Extract From The Venom Of Rhinella Schneideri Toad.

Rhinella schneideri, previously known as Bufo paracnemis, is a common toad in many regions of Brazil. Its venom exerts important cardiovascular effects on humans and other animals. Although this toad venom has been the subject of intense investigations, little is known about its neuromuscular activity. The neurotoxicity of a methanolic extract of R. schneideri venom was tested on mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm (PND) preparations mounted for conventional twitch tension recording - in response to indirect stimulation - and for electrophysiological measurements. Venom extract (50 μg/mL) increased the muscle twitch tension in PND preparations but did not significantly alter the resting membrane potential values. Electrophysiological evaluations showed that the extract (50 μg/mL) significantly augmented the frequency of miniature end-plate potential (from 38 ± 3.5 to 88 ± 15 after 60 minutes; n = 5; p < 0.05) and quantal content (from 128 ± 13 to 272 ± 34 after five minutes; n = 5; p < 0.05). Pretreatment with ouabain (1 μg/mL) for five minutes prevented the increase in quantal content (117 ± 18 and 154 ± 33 after five and 60 minutes, respectively). These results indicate that the methanolic extract of R. schneideri venom acts primarily presynaptically to enhance neurotransmitter release in mouse phrenic-diaphragm preparations.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology In The Diagnosis Of Perioral Adverse Reactions To Cosmetic Dermal Fillers.

Facial cosmetic procedures are increasingly requested, and dermal filler materials have been widely used as a nonsurgical option since the 1980s. However, injectable fillers have been implicated in local adverse reactions. Therefore, the aim of this article was to describe the use of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of foreign-body reactions to the perioral injection of dermal fillers. A 69-year-old woman presented with a painful nodule on her right nasolabial fold. Intraoral FNAC was performed, and cytologic smears were examined under optical and polarized light microscopy, showing birefringent microspheres, confirming the diagnosis of an adverse reaction caused by polymethyl methacrylate filler. FNAC is a less invasive method to confirm the diagnosis of adverse reactions caused by perioral cosmetic dermal fillers.

Reduced Plasma Angiotensin Ii Levels Are Reversed By Hydroxyurea Treatment In Mice With Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) pathogenesis leads to recurrent vaso-occlusive and hemolytic processes, causing numerous clinical complications including renal damage. As vasoconstrictive mechanisms may be enhanced in SCD, due to endothelial dysfunction and vasoactive protein production, we aimed to determine whether the expression of proteins of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may be altered in an animal model of SCD. Plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) was measured in C57BL/6 (WT) mice and mice with SCD by ELISA, while quantitative PCR was used to compare the expressions of the genes encoding the angiotensin-II-receptors 1 and 2 (AT1R and AT2R) and the angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE1 and ACE2) in the kidneys, hearts, livers and brains of mice. The effects of hydroxyurea (HU; 50-75mg/kg/day, 4weeks) treatment on these parameters were also determined. Plasma Ang II was significantly diminished in SCD mice, compared with WT mice, in association with decreased AT1R and ACE1 expressions in SCD mice kidneys. Treatment of SCD mice with HU reduced leukocyte and platelet counts and increased plasma Ang II to levels similar to those of WT mice. HU also increased AT1R and ACE2 gene expression in the kidney and heart. Results indicate an imbalanced RAS in an SCD mouse model; HU therapy may be able to restore some RAS parameters in these mice. Further investigations regarding Ang II production and the RAS in human SCD may be warranted, as such changes may reflect or contribute to renal damage and alterations in blood pressure.

Control Of The Properties Of Porous Chitosan-alginate Membranes Through The Addition Of Different Proportions Of Pluronic F68.

This work addresses the development and characterization of porous chitosan-alginate based polyelectrolyte complexes, obtained by using two different proportions of the biocompatible surfactant Pluronic F68. These biomaterials are proposed for applications as biodegradable and biocompatible wound dressing and/or scaffolds. The results indicate that thickness, roughness, porosity and liquid uptake of the membranes increase with the amount of surfactant used, while their mechanical properties and stability in aqueous media decrease. Other important properties such as color and surface hydrophilicity (water contact angle) are not significantly altered or did not present a clear tendency of variation with the increase of the amount of surfactant added to the polyelectrolyte complexes, such as real density, average pore diameter, total pore volume and surface area. The prepared biomaterials were not cytotoxic to L929 cells. In conclusion, it is possible to tune the physicochemical properties of chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complexes, through the variation of the proportion of surfactant (Pluronic F68) added to the mixture, so as to enable the desired application of these biomaterials.

Evaluation Of Red Cell And Reticulocyte Parameters As Indicative Of Iron Deficiency In Patients With Anemia Of Chronic Disease.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mature red cell and reticulocyte parameters under three conditions: iron deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease, and anemia of chronic disease associated with absolute iron deficiency. Peripheral blood cells from 117 adult patients with anemia were classified according to iron status, and inflammatory activity, and the results of a hemoglobinopathy investigation as: iron deficiency anemia (n=42), anemia of chronic disease (n=28), anemia of chronic disease associated with iron deficiency anemia (n=22), and heterozygous β thalassemia (n=25). The percentage of microcytic red cells, hypochromic red cells, and levels of hemoglobin content in both reticulocytes and mature red cells were determined. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the accuracy of the parameters in differentiating between the different types of anemia. There was no significant difference between the iron deficient group and anemia of chronic disease associated with absolute iron deficiency in respect to any parameter. The percentage of hypochromic red cells was the best parameter to discriminate anemia of chronic disease with and without absolute iron deficiency (area under curve=0.785; 95% confidence interval: 0.661-0.909, with sensitivity of 72.7%, and specificity of 70.4%; cut-off value 1.8%). The formula microcytic red cells minus hypochromic red cells was very accurate in differentiating iron deficiency anemia and heterozygous β thalassemia (area under curve=0.977; 95% confidence interval: 0.950-1.005; with sensitivity of 96.2%, and specificity of 92.7%; cut-off value 13.8). The indices related to red cells and reticulocytes have a moderate performance in identifying absolute iron deficiency in patients with anemia of chronic disease.

Tissue Microarray Is A Reliable Method For Immunohistochemical Analysis Of Pleomorphic Adenoma.

To determine the most adequate number and size of tissue microarray (TMA) cores for pleomorphic adenoma immunohistochemical studies. Eighty-two pleomorphic adenoma cases were distributed in 3 TMA blocks assembled in triplicate containing 1.0-, 2.0-, and 3.0-mm cores. Immunohistochemical analysis against cytokeratin 7, Ki67, p63, and CD34 were performed and subsequently evaluated with PixelCount, nuclear, and microvessel software applications. The 1.0-mm TMA presented lower results than 2.0- and 3.0-mm TMAs versus conventional whole section slides. Possibly because of an increased amount of stromal tissue, 3.0-mm cores presented a higher microvessel density. Comparing the results obtained with one, two, and three 2.0-mm cores, there was no difference between triplicate or duplicate TMAs and a single-core TMA. Considering the possible loss of cylinders during immunohistochemical reactions, 2.0-mm TMAs in duplicate are a more reliable approach for pleomorphic adenoma immunohistochemical study.

Preparation, Characterization And In Vitro Digestibility Of Gellan And Chitosan-gellan Microgels.

Gellan microgels with potential application in delivery systems were obtained by physically cross-linked gellan gum. The microgels were produced by atomization followed by ionotropic gelation using CaCl2 (gellan/Ca) or KCl (gellan/K) as hardening agent and part of them were coated with chitosan in order to improve their resistance to gastric digestion. Size distribution, morphology and zeta potential of microgels were evaluated before and after in vitro digestion process. The long term stability was also evaluated. Spherical microparticles were obtained at gellan concentration above 0.6% w/w, showing average size among 70-120 μm. Most of the coated and uncoated microgels showed stability in aqueous media, except the uncoated gellan/K microgel. The in vitro digestion evaluation showed that all particles maintained their size and shape after the gastric digestion step. However, the enteric digestion caused disintegration of microgels indicating their potential application for enteric delivery systems. The chitosan-coated microgels showed lower degree of fragmentation when compared to the uncoated microgels, indicating that the coating process enable a better control of microgels releasing properties during the enteric digestion.

Key Participants Of The Tumor Microenvironment Of The Prostate: An Approach Of The Structural Dynamic Of Cellular Elements And Extracellular Matrix Components During Epithelial-stromal Transition.

Cancer is a multistep process that begins with the transformation of normal epithelial cells and continues with tumor growth, stromal invasion and metastasis. The remodeling of the peritumoral environment is decisive for the onset of tumor invasiveness. This event is dependent on epithelial-stromal interactions, degradation of extracellular matrix components and reorganization of fibrillar components. Our research group has studied in a new proposed rodent model the participation of cellular and molecular components in the prostate microenvironment that contributes to cancer progression. Our group adopted the gerbil Meriones unguiculatus as an alternative experimental model for prostate cancer study. This model has presented significant responses to hormonal treatments and to development of spontaneous and induced neoplasias. The data obtained indicate reorganization of type I collagen fibers and reticular fibers, synthesis of new components such as tenascin and proteoglycans, degradation of basement membrane components and elastic fibers and increased expression of metalloproteinases. Fibroblasts that border the region, apparently participate in the stromal reaction. The roles of each of these events, as well as some signaling molecules, participants of neoplastic progression and factors that promote genetic reprogramming during epithelial-stromal transition are also discussed.

Sistema MINUS® - técnica minimamente invasiva para o tratamento das fraturas transtrocanterianas do fêmur

The MINUS system was developed as a minimally invasive procedure that uses a diaphyseal cephalic extramedullary implant for the treatment of transtrochanteral fractures of the femur in elderly patients. The implant consists of a sliding screw coupled to a plate adapted to the minimally invasive technique. The surgical access is approximately three centimeters in length located on the lateral surface of the hip, below the projection of the small trochanter. A perfectly adapted instrument was used for the procedure, which also requires the use of an image intensifier, reducing surgery time and rate of bleeding. The objective of this study is to present a new instrument and implant, developed specifically for treatment with the minimally invasive technique, reducing the length of the conventional surgical access from 10 to three centimetres. This new implant was given the commercial name of MINUS System.

Aceitação-rejeição para estudar e agressividade na escola

The relationship between aggressiveness and peer acceptance-rejection were analyzed in 1281 elementary school children. Sociometric measure was based on three positive and three negative classmates choices. The aggressiveness scales gathered information about familiar, scholar and general situations. There were no statistically insignificant differences among the schools related to the sociometric and aggressiveness in familiar situation measures. The scales of the scholar and general aggressiveness formed two sub-groups, in which two schools showed less aggressiveness and the two other more aggressiveness. Scholar aggressiveness showed significant correlations with the sociometric status in all schools and the general aggressiveness in one of them, suggesting that the most social acceptance, the lesser the student's aggressiveness. As the correlations were low, extreme groups in acceptance-rejection conditions had been studied and the scales of scholar and general aggressiveness had differentiated these groups in only one school.

Quality of life in patients with ileal pouch for ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION:proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and is associated with the prospect of cure. Experience gained over the years has demonstrated the occurrence of a high number of complications as well as bowel disorders that can compromise quality of life (QoL).OBJECTIVE:evaluate QoL in patients with IPAA for ulcerative colitis.PATIENTS AND METHODS:the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) was used to assess QoL in patients with IPAA after its validation in Portuguese.RESULTS:thirty-one patients submitted to IPAA by the same group of professionals were evaluated. QoL was classified as regular in all domains evaluated (intestinal and systemic symptoms and emotional and social aspects). There were no differences in relation to gender, type of pouch or postoperative time. However, elderly patients showed a tendency toward lower scores. Having a professional activity was associated with higher scores in systemic symptoms and social aspects (p < 0.05). Patients with ileostomy showed lower values in the domains of systemic symptoms, emotional and social aspects (p <0.05).CONCLUSION:in all domains assessed, patients with IPAA for UC had QoL classified as regular. Ileostomy and lack of professional activity negatively influenced QoL.

Caminhando na cidadania para alem das incapacidades em hanseniase : atividade fisica a partir de unidade de referencia do Sistema Unico de Saude

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Wavelets And Adaptive Grids For The Discontinuous Galerkin Method

In this paper, space adaptivity is introduced to control the error in the numerical solution of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws. The reference numerical scheme is a new version of the discontinuous Galerkin method, which uses an implicit diffusive term in the direction of the streamlines, for stability purposes. The decision whether to refine or to unrefine the grid in a certain location is taken according to the magnitude of wavelet coefficients, which are indicators of local smoothness of the numerical solution. Numerical solutions of the nonlinear Euler equations illustrate the efficiency of the method. © Springer 2005.