Plasma D-lactate Levels in Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Premature Infants

Background: D-Lactate is normally present in the blood of humans at nanomolar concentrations due to methylglyoxal metabolism; millimolar D-lactate concentrations can arise due to excess gastrointestinal microbial production. Objectives: To examine the levels of plasma D-lactate in the necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. Patients and Methods: 128 premature infants were divided into control (group I, n = 69), feeding intolerance (group II, n = 42) and NEC (group III, n = 27) groups. Plasma D-lactate levels were measured at the onset of feeding intolerance or NEC and at weeks 2-3 in control infants (group I) by ELISA. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests and Student’s t-test. Results: In groups I, II, III, median birth weights were 1845.7 ± 267.5 g, 1913.1 ± 306.5 g, and 1898.4 ± 285.3 g, median gestational ages were 34.3 ± 1.7 weeks, 33.9 ± 2.2 weeks and 35.1 ± 2.6 weeks, ages of sampling were 12.3 ± 2.9 days, 14.6 ± 3.7 days and 15.1 ± 1.8 days, respectively. The differences of median birth weights, median gestational ages and ages of sampling were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The plasma D-lactate levels in groups I, II, III were 3.6 ± 1.9 μg/mL, 12.7 ± 8.3 μg/mL, and 35.4 ± 29.1 μg/mL, respectively, group III had higher plasma D-lactate level than groups I, II, and the difference among these groups was significant (x2 = 21.6, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Plasma D-lactate significantly increased early in NEC. Plasma D-lactate levels were associated with extensive disease in NEC infants. Therefore, it could be used as a diagnosis indicator in the early stage of NEC.

Timing versus caloric goal in nutritional therapy for critically ill patients

Introduction: Enteral nutrition is an important therapy for severely critically ill patients. The timing and amount of energy have been highly debated. Objective: The aim of the present study was to directly compare the timing and the caloric targets in critically ill patients. Methods: Retrospective cohort study conducted at a single center, comparing timing and caloric goal for critically ill patients. Patients were stratified according to the start of nutritional therapy (24, 48, or more than 48 h) and the amount of energy delivered (target adequacy of previously calculated percentage in the first week). Statistical analysis was performed using parametric and non-parametric tests for independent samples and logistic regression. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation or incidence and percentage. Results and discussion: There were no differences in major clinical outcomes in relation to the achievement of percentage of caloric goal at the end of the first week of the study. The beginning of caloric intake on the first day of hospitalization was associated with reduced mortality in the intensive care unit, but not with hospital mortality. The strategy of an early and limited amount of calories seems to be associated with a better outcome. Prospective studies evaluating and comparing these strategies are recommended.

. Attitudes of Elements of the Academic Community in Regard to the Rapid Test of HIV/AIDS

Background: Knowing one’s own seropositivity status of HIV/AIDS is important. Seropositivity can be determined by a rapid HIV/AIDS test. Attitudes towards a rapid test of HIV/AIDS show a predisposition to perform the analysis. Objective: This study investigated, the attitudes of students and staff in a Portuguese university toward rapid HIV/AIDS test. Methods: In a convenience sample, the data was collected on campus in three consecutive years. A selfadministered structured questionnaire was used for data collection. A validated scale for Portuguese students was applied. A sample of 947 (86.3%) students and 150 (13.7%) teaching and non-teaching staff participated. The average age was 24.30 years-old (SD=8.64). Non-parametric tests were applied. Results: Attitudes of professors and non-teaching staff are more favorable in relation to the rapid test of HIV/AIDS, compared to students. Attitudes are also more favorable in the first year in which the study was conducted with both employees and students. The male students express more traditional attitudes. Students of nursing polo have expressed more favorable attitudes to the rapid test of HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: The attitudes towards rapid test of HIV/AIDS are generally favorable. It is necessary to conduct further research considering professors and other university staff. Improving favorable attitudes toward rapid HIV/AIDS test must be a positive fact for health.

Pratiche di formative assessment per promuovere abilita di comprensione dei testi. Una sperimentazione in una scuola secondaria di primo grado

I dati delle indagini sugli apprendimenti degli studenti in Italia rivelano l’esistenza di fragilità nell’acquisizione di competenze essenziali e di differenze tra i risultati conseguiti. Per innovare la didattica al fine di adeguarla ai bisogni degli studenti, gli esperti di Docimologia caldeggiano l’uso di pratiche di valutazione formativa, o formative assessment (FA). In ambito internazionale diversi studi hanno mostrato l'efficacia di tali prassi, mentre in Italia non esistono ricerche sperimentali finalizzate a studiarne l’impatto sugli apprendimenti. Il progetto è entrato all’interno di quest’ambito di studi per controllare l’efficacia di un insieme di pratiche di FA sull'incremento delle abilità di comprensione dei testi degli studenti. Lo scopo è stato perseguito realizzando una sperimentazione in una scuola secondaria di primo grado che ha coinvolto gli studenti di due classi prime, i quali sono stati suddivisi a metà attraverso tecniche di randomizzazione per formare i due gruppi, sperimentale e di controllo. Dopo aver effettuato una rilevazione iniziale delle abilità di comprensione dei testi degli studenti (pre-test), è stato realizzato con quelli del gruppo sperimentale un intervento composto da 15 incontri di FA della durata di due ore ciascuno. Alla fine, sono state effettuate due rilevazioni finali (post-test) utilizzando sia la stessa prova utilizzata come pre-test sia una prova parallela. È stata calcolata la differenza post-test-pre-test per ogni gruppo ed è stato verificato quanto avesse influito la partecipazione all’intervento sperimentale su tale differenza tramite test non parametrici. I risultati hanno mostrato un incremento di abilità lievemente maggiore nel gruppo sperimentale, se confrontato con quello del gruppo di controllo, anche se questa differenza tra i due gruppi non è statisticamente significativa. Sebbene le analisi non abbiano consentito di rifiutare l’ipotesi nulla, la rilevanza di tale progetto risiede nel tentativo di aprire il dibattito sull’efficacia di prassi di FA sugli apprendimenti degli studenti in Italia.

Alternative tests for correct specification of conditional predictive densities

We propose new methods for evaluating predictive densities that focus on the models' actual predictive ability in finite samples. The tests offer a simple way of evaluatingthe correct specification of predictive densities, either parametric or non-parametric.The results indicate that our tests are well sized and have good power in detecting mis-specification in predictive densities. An empirical application to the Survey ofProfessional Forecasters and a baseline Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium modelshows the usefulness of our methodology.

Weak Form Tests of Efficient Market Hypothesis: Evidence from CEE-Countries and Russian Stock Markets

Tämän tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää Venäjän, Slovakian, Tsekin, Romanian, Bulgarian, Unkarin ja Puolan osakemarkkinoiden heikkojen ehtojen tehokkuutta. Tämä tutkielma on kvantitatiivinen tutkimus ja päiväkohtaiset indeksin sulkemisarvot kerättiin Datastreamin tietokannasta. Data kerättiin pörssien ensimmäisestä kaupankäyntipäivästä aina vuoden 2006 elokuun loppuun saakka. Analysoinnin tehostamiseksi dataa tutkittiin koko aineistolla, sekä kahdella aliperiodilla. Osakemarkkinoiden tehokkuutta on testattu neljällä tilastollisella metodilla, mukaan lukien autokorrelaatiotesti ja epäparametrinen runs-testi. Tavoitteena on myös selvittääesiintyykö kyseisillä markkinoilla viikonpäiväanomalia. Viikonpäiväanomalian esiintymistä tutkitaan käyttämällä pienimmän neliösumman menetelmää (OLS). Viikonpäiväanomalia on löydettävissä kaikilta edellä mainituilta osakemarkkinoilta paitsi Tsekin markkinoilta. Merkittävää, positiivista tai negatiivista autokorrelaatiota, on löydettävissä kaikilta osakemarkkinoilta, myös Ljung-Box testi osoittaa kaikkien markkinoiden tehottomuutta täydellä periodilla. Osakemarkkinoiden satunnaiskulku hylätään runs-testin perusteella kaikilta muilta paitsi Slovakian osakemarkkinoilla, ainakin tarkastellessa koko aineistoa tai ensimmäistä aliperiodia. Aineisto ei myöskään ole normaalijakautunut minkään indeksin tai aikajakson kohdalla. Nämä havainnot osoittavat, että kyseessä olevat markkinat eivät ole heikkojen ehtojen mukaan tehokkaita

Linear and non-linear transmission of equity return volatility: evidence from the US, Japan and Australia

This paper models the transmission of shocks between the US, Japanese and Australian equity markets. Tests for the existence of linear and non-linear transmission of volatility across the markets are performed using parametric and non-parametric techniques. In particular the size and sign of return innovations are important factors in determining the degree of spillovers in volatility. It is found that a multivariate asymmetric GARCH formulation can explain almost all of the non-linear causality between markets. These results have important implications for the construction of models and forecasts of international equity returns.

Nonparametric specification tests for conditional duration models

This paper deals with the testing of autoregressive conditional duration (ACD) models by gauging the distance between the parametric density and hazard rate functions implied by the duration process and their non-parametric estimates. We derive the asymptotic justification using the functional delta method for fixed and gamma kernels, and then investigate the finite-sample properties through Monte Carlo simulations. Although our tests display some size distortion, bootstrapping suffices to correct the size without compromising their excellent power. We show the practical usefulness of such testing procedures for the estimation of intraday volatility patterns.

Liver breath tests non-invasively predict higher stages of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Effectively assessing subtle hepatic metabolic functions by novel non-invasive tests might be of clinical utility in scoring NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and in identifying altered metabolic pathways. The present study was conducted on 39 (20 lean and 19 obese) hypertransaminasemic patients with histologically proven NAFLD {ranging from simple steatosis to severe steatohepatitis [NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)] and fibrosis} and 28 (20 lean and eight overweight) healthy controls, who underwent stable isotope breath testing ([(13)C]methacetin and [(13)C]ketoisocaproate) for microsomal and mitochondrial liver function in relation to histology, serum hyaluronate, as a marker of liver fibrosis, and body size. Compared with healthy subjects and patients with simple steatosis, NASH patients had enhanced methacetin demethylation (P=0.001), but decreased (P=0.001) and delayed (P=0.006) ketoisocaproate decarboxylation, which was inversely related (P=0.001) to the degree of histological fibrosis (r=-0.701), serum hyaluronate (r=-0.644) and body size (r=-0.485). Ketoisocaproate decarboxylation was impaired further in obese patients with NASH, but not in patients with simple steatosis and in overweight controls. NASH and insulin resistance were independently associated with an abnormal ketoisocaproate breath test (P=0.001). The cut-off value of 9.6% cumulative expired (13)CO(2) for ketoisocaproate at 60 min was associated with the highest prediction (positive predictive value, 0.90; negative predictive value, 0.73) for NASH, yielding an overall sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 94%. In conclusion, both microsomal and mitochondrial functions are disturbed in NASH. Therefore stable isotope breath tests may usefully contribute to a better and non-invasive characterization of patients with NAFLD.

Indicadores dermatoglificos de aptidão fisica e efeito dos treinamentos intervalado versus continuo na pratica da corrida em piscina funda : intervenção com mulheres obesas

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Treinamento fisico militar e aptidão fisica relacionada a saude : estudo a partir de conscritos do Tiro-de-Guerra 02-40 Sorocaba, S.P

Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Educação Física

O ballet das lesões : associação entre agravos musculo-esqueleticos e aptidão fisica de praticantes de dança e de escolares

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Early morphological and histochemical alterations in rats subjected to ileocystoplasty

PURPOSE: To study morphologic and histochemical alterations arising at the ileocystoplasty site. METHODS: Sixteen Wistar female rats were subjected to ileocystoplasty and sacrificed after eight weeks. Material collected was divided into four groups for histological and histochemical studies: Group I (control) - isolated ileum segment removed during ileocystoplasty; Group II - ileoileal anastomosis; Group III - ileovesical anastomosis and Group IV - ileal segment from the neobladder. Histological and histochemical study assessed dysplasia, metaplasia, acute and chronic inflammation, fibrosis, atrophy, hypertrophy, total mucins, sialomucins and sulfomucins. The non-parametric Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were employed in statistical analysis. RESULTS: None of the groups presented dysplasia. Acute inflammation and atrophy occurred in Groups II, III and IV, not reaching statistical significance. Metaplasia was significant only in Group III (p=0.012). Chronic inflammation, fibrosis and hypertrophy were significant in Groups II, III and IV. There was a significant increase in total mucin content in Group IV (p=0.014) and a reduction in Group III (p=0.016). Increases in sialomucins were observed in samples for Groups III (p=0.003) and IV (p=0.002) along with reduced sulfomucins in samples from Groups III (p=0.013) and IV (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Ileocystoplasty in female rats caused squamous metaplasia, chronic inflammatory infiltration, fibrosis, hypertrophy, increase in sialomucin content, reduction in sulfomucins, and alterations in total mucin content with statistical significance, as well acute inflammatory infiltration and muscular atrophy with less intensity.

FAM5C Contributes to Aggressive Periodontitis

Aggressive periodontitis is characterized by a rapid and severe periodontal destruction in young systemically healthy subjects. A greater prevalence is reported in Africans and African descendent groups than in Caucasians and Hispanics. We first fine mapped the interval 1q24.2 to 1q31.3 suggested as containing an aggressive periodontitis locus. Three hundred and eighty-nine subjects from 55 pedigrees were studied. Saliva samples were collected from all subjects, and DNA was extracted. Twenty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected and analyzed by standard polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan chemistry. Non-parametric linkage and transmission distortion analyses were performed. Although linkage results were negative, statistically significant association between two markers, rs1935881 and rs1342913, in the FAM5C gene and aggressive periodontitis (p = 0.03) was found. Haplotype analysis showed an association between aggressive periodontitis and the haplotype A-G (rs1935881-rs1342913; p = 0.009). Sequence analysis of FAM5C coding regions did not disclose any mutations, but two variants in conserved intronic regions of FAM5C, rs57694932 and rs10494634, were found. However, these two variants are not associated with aggressive periodontitis. Secondly, we investigated the pattern of FAM5C expression in aggressive periodontitis lesions and its possible correlations with inflammatory/immunological factors and pathogens commonly associated with periodontal diseases. FAM5C mRNA expression was significantly higher in diseased versus healthy sites, and was found to be correlated to the IL-1 beta, IL-17A, IL-4 and RANKL mRNA levels. No correlations were found between FAM5C levels and the presence and load of red complex periodontopathogens or Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. This study provides evidence that FAM5C contributes to aggressive periodontitis.

Direct and transdentinal antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine

Purpose: To evaluate the antibacterial effect of different chlorhexidine (CHX) concentrations against Streptococcus mutans using the agar-diffusion method with and without human dentin discs placed between the bacteria and the test substances. Methods: For the direct application (agar-well technique), a base layer containing 15 mL of BHI agar and 300 mu L. of S. mutans inoculum (10(9) cfu/mL) was prepared in Petri dishes. Six wells per dish were made at equidistant points and immediately filled with CHX gels (0.12%, 0.2%, 1% and 2%), 35% phosphoric acid and pure natrosol (n=6 wells/substance). Paper discs soaked in sterile distilled water served as control group (n=6). For the indirect application (transdentinal diffusion), 0.2 mm- and 0.5 mm-thick human dentin discs (36 discs/thickness) had the hydraulic conductance determined, which allowed the homogeneous allocation of them to the experimental and control groups. The discs were placed at equidistant points on the Petri dishes containing BHI with the S. mutans inoculum (six discs per dish; one per substance) with the pulpal side in contact with the bacteria. In the discs treated with CHX gels, dentin surface was etched with H(3)PO(4) and rinsed with distilled water before CHX gel application for 1 minute. After both direct and indirect application, the dishes were incubated for 24 hours and the bacterial growth inhibition zones formed around the wells and dentin discs were measured. Data were analyzed statistically by the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests at 5% significance level. Results: In the direct test, all CHX concentrations presented a dose-dependent antibacterial activity against S. mutans. In the indirect test, there were statistically significant differences (P< 0.05) among all groups and the largest microbial growth inhibition zones were observed when 2% CHX was applied on 0.2 mm-thick discs (P< 0.05). It was concluded that all evaluated CHX gels exhibited both direct and transdentinal antibacterial activity against S. mutans. This effect of CHX was strongly influenced by the CHX concentration as well as the dentin barrier thickness. (Am J Dent 2010;23:255-259).