Immunomodulatory effects of low dose chemotherapy and perspectives of its combination with immunotherapy

Given that cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide, many efforts have been directed toward discovering new treatments and approaches to cure or control this group of diseases. Chemotherapy is the main treatment for cancer; however, a conventional schedule based on maximum tolerated dose (MTD) shows several side effects and frequently allows the development of drug resistance. On the other side, low dose chemotherapy involves antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory processes that help host to fight against tumor cells, with lower grade of side effects. In this review, we present evidence that metronomic chemotherapy, based on the frequent administration of low or intermediate doses of chemotherapeutics, can be better than or as efficient as MTD. Finally, we present some data indicating that noncytotoxic concentrations of antineoplastic agents are able to both up-regulate the immune system and increase the susceptibility of tumor cells to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Taken together, data from the literature provides us with sufficient evidence that low concentrations of selected chemotherapeutic agents, rather than conventional high doses, should be evaluated in combination with immunotherapy. Copyright © 2012 UICC.

Assessment of restorative treatment of patients with amelogenesis imperfecta

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess restorative treatment outcomes in the mixed dentition of amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) patients and determine the postrehabilitation oral health status and satisfaction of the patients. Methods: Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed on eight AI patients, who had 74 restorations placed in permanent incisors and molars, to allow evaluation of the integrity of the restorations and periodontal status post-treatment. Subjects completed a survey regarding esthetics, function, and sensitivity. Results: Among the 74 restorations evaluated, seven were lost; of the remaining restorations, 31 were posterior, and 36 were anterior. Ten were rated clinically unacceptable. Teeth with stainless steel crowns had a moderate gingival index (mean=2.3) and plaque index (mean=2.0) scores. Widening of the periodontal ligament and pulp canal obliteration were common radiographic findings. Subject's recall of satisfaction regarding esthetics (P=.002) and sensitivity (brushing-P=.03; eating-P=.01) showed a statically significant difference before and after treatment. Conclusions: During mixed dentition, teeth with amelogenesis imperfecta may be restored with conventional treatment modalities. Direct restorations should be considered interim with multiple repairs anticipated. Post-treatment, gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation were observed. Subjects were satisfied with their appearance and reported a decrease of hypersensitivity. © 2013 Publishing Technology.

The Chilean system of contributory pensions as locus of rivalry and of a new social compact

This study assesses the contributory pension system in Chile and offers some recommendations for reform, from the viewpoint of social rights that generate expectations of satisfaction. The primary objective of any pension system is to provide income security to the elderly, and contributory pensions must reflect the savings achieved throughout working life in order to guarantee that, for similar levels of effort, similar and proportionate protection will be obtained.

Futebol: representações e práticas de escolares do ensino fundamental

Este estudo buscou caracterizar as práticas e identificar representações sociais de escolares sobre o futebol no âmbito da aulas de Educação Física Escolar. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa de tipo etnográfico, que utilizou observação participante e entrevistas semiestruturadas, além de questionário, em uma turma de 29 alunos do 6º ano do Ensino Fundamental, em uma escola pública na cidade de Bauru - SP. Os resultados indicam que as mídias e a família são os principais elementos que constituem as representações dos alunos sobre o futebol, e que o modo como a prática do futebol é desenvolvida na escola ao mesmo tempo as constrói e realimenta. Concluímos que as representações sociais são um importante meio que orienta as relações dos alunos com o futebol, na medida em que influenciam a orientação e organização das suas condutas. Todavia, isto não torna homogêneas suas condutas e valores, pois os alunos buscam no futebol a satisfação de algo que é também pessoal, como diversão e amizades.

Keratosis pilaris and prevalence of acne vulgaris: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris has an important genetic predisposition, as well as keratosis pilaris. Clinical observations suggest that patients with keratosis pilaris have less frequent or less severe acne breakouts; however, we found no studies on this regard OBJECTIVE: To determine if the presence of keratosis pilaris is associated with lower prevalence and severity of acne. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with dermatology outpatients aged between 14 and 35 years. We evaluated history and clinical grade of acne, demographic variables, history of atopy, smoking, and use of hormonal contraceptives. Two groups were defined by the presence or absence of moderate to severe keratosis pilaris on the arms and were compared by bivariate analysis and by conditional multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: We included 158 patients (66% women), with a median age of 23 +/- 11 years. Twenty-six percent of them had keratosis pilaris, which was associated with a history of atopy (odds ratio [OR]=2.80 [1.36 to 5.75]; p<0.01). Acne was present in 66% of subjects, and was related to family history of acne (OR=5.75 [2.47 to 13.37]; p<0.01). In bivariate and multivariate analysis, the group with keratosis pilaris had a less frequent history of acne (OR=0.32 [0.14 to 0.70]; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The presence of moderate to severe keratosis pilaris on the arms was associated with lower prevalence of acne vulgaris and lower severity of facial lesions in adolescents and young adults.

Methods of Analysis for Peritubular Capillaritis and Glomerulitis in Acute Renal Rejection: Capillaritis in Management of Routine Diagnosis

Glomerulitis and peritubular capillaritis have been recognized as important lesions in acute renal rejection (AR). We studied glomerulitis and peritubular capillaritis in AR by 2 methods and investigated associations with C4d, type/grade of AR, and allograft survival time. Glomerulitis was measured according to Banff scores (glomerulitis by Banff Method [gBM]) and by counting the number of intraglomerular inflammatory cells (glomerulitis by Quantitative Method [gQM]). Capillaritis was classified by the Banff scoring system (peritubular capillaritis by Banff Method [ptcBM]) and by counting the number of cells in peritubular capillaries in 10 high-power fields (hpf; peritubular capillaritis by Quantitative Method [ptcQM]). These quantitative analyses were performed in an attempt to improve our understanding of the role played by glomerulitis and capillaritis in AR. The g0 + g1 group (gBM) associated with negative C4d (P = .02). In peritubular capillaritis, a larger number of cells per 10 hpf in peritubular capillaries (ptcQM) were observed in positive C4d cases (P = .03). The group g2 + g3 (gBM) correlated with graft loss (P = .01). Peritubular capillaritis was not significantly related to graft survival time. Our study showed that the Banff scoring system is the best method to study glomerulitis and observed that the evaluation of capillaritis in routine biopsies is difficult and additional studies are required for a better understanding of its meaning in AR biopsy specimens of renal allografts.

Characteristics of fricatives consonants orthography in Brazilian children

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Modos de ler e ações de leitura waysto read and actions of reading

This paper is the result of discussions held during the initial research on ways of reading and reading activities, to obtain the title of the Ph.D. graduate program in Education at UNESP - Marilia. The paper seeks to rethink the practice followed the reality historically constructed as reference, creating a dialectic movement, and a constant construction, and the overcoming of it. In this perspective, we approach possible practices that can enhance the student's prior knowledge, and from it, to propose ways of action that lead to the development of the subject through the processes of teaching and learning of reading in school. From the study of actions that are agreed as reading practices, the study proposes to work with the Reading Strategies to promote the development of the individual. Among the different results that have been announced in the research, we highlight the need for conscious mediation of the teacher in the act of teaching reading and conscious participation of the student in the process. Partial results give evidence to confirm the hypothesis that: intentional actions are driving the learning of children in activity in the classroom, considering their experiences and choices of the teacher as mediator in the process. Students in third grade of elementary school are the subjects of research, theory and practice. The researcher is the mediator and proposer of the actions based on microgenetic research.

Characteristics of the acquisition of sonorant consonants orthography in Brazilian children from a São Paulo municipality

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efficacy of a perceptual and visual-motor skill intervention program for students with dyslexia

Purpose: To verify the efficacy of a perceptual and visual-motor skill intervention program for students with dyslexia. Methods: The participants were 20 students from third to fifth grade of a public elementary school in Marília, São Paulo, aged from 8 years to 11 years and 11 months, distributed into the following groups: Group I (GI; 10 students with developmental dyslexia) and Group II (GII; 10 students with good academic performance). A perceptual and visual-motor intervention program was applied, which comprised exercises for visual-motor coordination, visual discrimination, visual memory, visual-spatial relationship, shape constancy, sequential memory, visual figure-ground coordination, and visual closure. In pre- and post-testing situations, both groups were submitted to the Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills (TVPS-3), and the quality of handwriting was analyzed using the Dysgraphia Scale. Results: The analyzed statistical results showed that both groups of students had dysgraphia in pretesting situation. In visual perceptual skills, GI presented a lower performance compared to GII, as well as in the quality of writing. After undergoing the intervention program, GI increased the average of correct answers in TVPS-3 and improved the quality of handwriting. Conclusion: The developed intervention program proved appropriate for being applied to students with dyslexia, and showed positive effects because it provided improved visual perception skills and quality of writing for students with developmental dyslexia.

Reliability of pelvic floor muscle strength assessment in healthy continent women

Background: The aim of this study was to compare pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength using transvaginal digital palpation in healthy continent women in different age groups, and to compare the inter- and intra-rater reliability of examiners performing anterior and posterior vaginal assessments.Methods: We prospectively studied 150 healthy multiparous women. They were distributed into four different groups, according to age range: G1 (n = 37), 30-40 years-old; G2 (n = 39), 41-50 years-old; G3 (n = 39), 51-60 years-old; and G4 (n = 35), older than 60 years-old. PFM strength was evaluated using transvaginal digital palpation in the anterior and posterior areas, by 3 different examiners, and graded using a 5-point Amaro's scale.Results: There was no statistical difference among the different age ranges, for each grade of PFM strength. There was good intra-rater concordance between anterior and posterior PFM assessment, being 64.7%, 63.3%, and 66.7% for examiners A, B, and C, respectively. The intra-rater concordance level was good for each examiner. However, the inter-rater reliability for two examiners varied from moderate to good.Conclusions: Age has no effect on PFM strength profiles, in multiparous continent women. There is good concordance between anterior and posterior vaginal PFM strength assessments, but only moderate to good inter-rater reliability of the measurements between two examiners.

Characterization of aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)(3)) for use as a porogenic agent in castable ceramics

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Guidelines for the management and treatment of periodic fever syndromes Familial Mediterranean Fever

To establish guidelines based on scientific evidence for the management of familial Mediterranean fever. The Guideline was prepared from 5 clinical questions that were structured through PICO (Patient, Intervention or indicator, Comparison and Outcome), to search in key primary scientific information databases. After defining the potential studies to support the recommendations, these were graduated considering their strength of evidence and grade of recommendation. 10,341 articles were retrieved and evaluated by title and abstract; from these, 46 articles were selected to support the recommendations. 1. The diagnosis of FMF is based on clinical manifestations, characterized by recurrent febrile episodes associated with abdominal pain, chest or arthritis of large joints; 2. FMF is a genetic disease presenting an autosomal recessive trait, caused by mutation in the MEFV gene; 3. Laboratory tests are not specific, demonstrating high serum levels of inflammatory proteins in the acute phase of the disease, but also often showing high levels even between attacks. SAA serum levels may be especially useful in monitoring the effectiveness of treatment; 4. The therapy of choice is colchicine; this drug has proven effectiveness in preventing acute inflammatory episodes and progression towards amyloidosis in adults; 5. Based on the available information, the use of biological drugs appears to be an alternative for patients with FMF who do not respond or are intolerant to therapy with colchicine.

The interactive whiteboard in primary school: a case study of a brazilian district school

Interactive whiteboards (IWB) consist of a set of technological equipment organized in order to fulfill a specific task, enabling the development of didactic activities. Because they are associated to computers’ potentiality, interactive whiteboards can provide bigger interactivity between: teacher and students, students and content, and among students. This work’s main objective is to present some of the results yielded from a research related to the way students perceive interactive whiteboards in the classroom. In order to analyze the IWB usage dynamics, some educational applications in the field of mathematics were applied in the 3rd grade of elementary school. Aside from observation, video recordings were made and students were interviewed about the interactive whiteboard, in order to understand how these students observe and engage with the technological tool. IWB do not transform classroom’s reality by themselves, however, their physical presence and usage amount to external reinforcement can change student’s behavior positively.

Evaluation of the Flanagan Quality of Life Scale for older adults

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)