Colorimetric Assessment of BCR-ABL1 Transcripts in Clinical Samples Via Gold Nanoprobes

Gold nanoparticles functionalized with thiolated oligonucleotides (Au-nanoprobes) have been used in a range of applications for the detection of bioanalytes of interest, from ions to proteins and DNA targets. These detection strategies are based on the unique optical properties of gold nanoparticles, in particular, the intense color that is subject to modulation by modification of the medium dieletric. Au-nanoprobes have been applied for the detection and characterization of specific DNA sequences of interest, namely pathogens and disease biomarkers. Nevertheless, despite its relevance, only a few reports exist on the detection of RNA targets. Among these strategies, the colorimetric detection of DNA has been proven to work for several different targets in controlled samples but demonstration in real clinical bioanalysis has been elusive. Here, we used a colorimetric method based on Au-nanoprobes for the direct detection of the e14a2 BCR-ABL fusion transcript in myeloid leukemia patient samples without the need for retro-transcription. Au-nanoprobes directly assessed total RNA from 38 clinical samples, and results were validated against reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The colorimetric Au-nanoprobe assay is a simple yet reliable strategy to scrutinize myeloid leukemia patients at diagnosis and evaluate progression, with obvious advantages in terms of time and cost, particularly in low- to medium-income countries where molecular screening is not routinely feasible. Graphical abstract Gold nanoprobe for colorimetric detection of BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts originating from the Philadelphia chromosome.

Infecções Retrofaríngeas e Laterofaríngeas em Crianças: A Experiência de um Hospital Pediátrico Durante a Última Década

Introdução: Apresentando-se muitas vezes de forma insidiosa e mascarando-se por tratamentos efectuados previamente, as infecções retro e laterofaríngeas são um desafio diagnóstico. São pouco frequentes na era antibiótica moderna, mas têm capacidade para causarem complicações potencialmente fatais. Material e métodos: Estudo retrospectivo dos casos e análise de dados relativos à epidemiologia, etiologia, apresentação clínica, diagnóstico, tratamento e complicações, de crianças diagnosticadas com infecções retro e laterofaríngeas, no nosso hospital pediátrico, desde Janeiro 2001 a Janeiro 2012. Resultados: Foram incluídas no estudo 23 crianças, com idades compreendidas entre os 3 meses e os 8 anos, com uma média de idades de 47 meses (4 anos). Treze (57%) apresentavam infecções retrofaríngeas, 2 (9%) infecções laterofaríngeas e 8 (35%) ambas. A incidência de casos foi maior no ano de 2010 (4 casos). Doze (52%) eram do sexo masculino e 11 (48%) do sexo feminino. A odinofagia (57%), a cervicalgia (26%) e a recusa alimentar (22%) foram as queixas mais comuns à apresentação. A febre (87%), o torcicolo e a rigidez cervical (65%), a tumefacção cervical (52%) e a prostração (35%) foram os achados físicos mais frequentes. Todos (100%) os doentes receberam antibioticoterapia endovenosa. O tratamento médico sem drenagem foi inicialmente proposto para 15 (65%) crianças. A falência no tratamento médico, requerendo cirurgia, ocorreu em 5 (33%) delas. Num dos casos, foi necessário efectuar uma nova drenagem cirúrgica. O tratamento cirúrgico foi inicialmente proposto para 8 (35%) crianças, tendo sido efectuado durante as primeiras 24 horas. Este tratamento não teve falência em nenhum (0%) dos casos, não tendo sido necessária a realização de uma segunda cirurgia. No entanto, numa das crianças, por aparecimento de um novo abcesso noutra localização, houve necessidade de se proceder à sua drenagem. Duas (9%) crianças tiveram complicações: mediastinite, trombose da veia jugular e síndrome de Claude Bernard Horner. Conclusões: Os sintomas na apresentação das infecções retro e laterofaríngeas na população pediátrica são variados, requerendo o seu diagnóstico um elevado índice de suspeição. O tratamento correcto e atempado é fundamental para um prognóstico favorável. O tratamento ideal nos doentes sem obstrução iminente da via aérea é controverso e objecto de debate, particularmente a escolha entre tratamento médico ou cirúrgico como primeira linha. Torna-se portanto, essencial, maior investigação nesta área, de forma a optimizar resultados.

Práticas sócio-ambientais no espaço escolar: uma reflexão sobre a percepção dos usuários de duas escolas do ensino fundamental em João Pessoa, Paraíba

In the social-historical moment we live in, it is each time more evident the necessity of the people to learn to deal with the environment in conscientious way, taking care of themselves properly through it. In this direction, considering the school as a place where children, young and adolescents spend great part of their time, this work had as objective to examine the perception of school environment for students, professors and employees of two schools in João Pessoa city - Centro Estadual Experimental de Ensino-Aprendizagem Sesquicentenário and Escola Estadual de Ensino Fundamental e Médio Presidente Emílio Garrastazu Médici (Experimental State Center of Learning-teaching Sesquicentenário and Basic and High State School Education Emilio Garrastazu Médici President). From the presupposed that the environments in which and with which people live reflect their daily practices, the field work searched to identify the social-environmental practices that characterize the relation of these users with the school and, from this understanding, to infer some of their concerns regarding the environment as a whole. To analyze the use of the available physical space in the two institutions it was opted the use of the After-Occupation Evaluation, one of the approaches that feed the process of building production or built set, rescuing aspects related to its use, operation and maintenance. Besides analyzing diverse school environments (such as classroom circulations/accesses, library, pedagogical and sportive spaces) in relation to the environmental comfort and the perceptions of the main users of the schools (pupils, professors and employees), the dissertation tried to inquire the care (ambient education) of these users with the school space. In general, it was verified that the two schools have evaluations and perceptions really different for four reasons: (i) management of the schools; (ii) the users perception; (III) localization of schools and (IV) feeling of place, territoriality and appropriation

Intrinsic gas-phase electrophilic reactivity of Ccclic N-alkyl- and N-acyliminium ions

he intrinsic gas-phase reactivity of cyclic N-alkyl- and N-acyliminium ions toward addition of allyltrimethylsilane (ATMS) has been compared using MS2 and MS3 pentaquadrupole mass spectrometric experiments. An order of electrophilic reactivity has been derived and found to agree with orders of overall reactivity in solution. The prototype five-membered ring N-alkyliminium ion 1a and its N-CH3 analogue 1b, as well as their six-membered ring analogues 1c and 1d, lack N-acyl activation and they are, accordingly, inert toward ATMS addition. The five- and six-membered ring N-acyliminium ions with N-COCH3 exocycclic groups, 3a and 3b, respectively, are also not very reactive. The N-acyliminium ions 2a and 2c, with s-trans locked endocyclic N-carbonyl groups, are the most reactive followed closely by 3c and 3d with exocyclic (and unlocked) N-CO2CH3 groups. The five-membered ring N-acyliminium ions are more reactive than their six-membered ring analogues, that is:  2a > 2c and 3c > 3d. In contrast with the high reactivity of 2a, its N-CH3 analogue 2b is inert toward ATMS addition. For the first time, the transient intermediates of a Mannich-type condensation reaction were isolatedthe β-silyl cations formed by ATMS addition to N-acyliminium ionsand their intrinsic gas-phase behavior toward dissociation and reaction with a nucleophile investigated. When collisionally activated, the β-silyl cations dissociate preferentially by Grob fragmentation, that is, by retro-addition. With pyridine, they react competitively and to variable extents by proton transfer and by trimethylsilylium ion abstractionthe final and key step postulated for α-amidoalkylation. Becke3LYP/6-311G(d,p) reaction energetics, charge densities on the electrophilic C-2 site, and AM1 LUMO energies have been used to rationalize the order of intrinsic gas-phase electrophilic reactivity of cyclic iminium and N-acyliminium ions.

Condições metereológicas sinópticas e de mesoscala durante episódios de poluição atmosférica por matéria particulada na área da grande Lisboa

O presente estudo analisa a associação entre partículas inaláveis (PM10) à superfície e determinadas situações meteorológicas, com base em dados (1999-2003) de concentração de partículas finas e grosseiras de estações de qualidade do ar da região de Lisboa e observações meteorológicas. Associaram-se os episódios de poluição a situações sinópticas, com base em cartas de superfície do modelo do Centro Europeu de previsão a médio prazo (ECMWF). Os episódios que ocorrem com maior frequência no Inverno estão associados a um anticiclone. Depressões de origem térmica e vales que se estendem do Norte de África ocorrem poucas vezes, mas a probabilidade de se verificar um episódio com essas situações é elevada. Para cinco destes episódios analisaram-se campos do modelo ECMWF (escala sinóptica) e do modelo ALADIN (mesoscala). As elevadas concentrações de partículas associadas aos episódios estudados resultaram de uma forte influência do nível850 hPa, corroborados pelo modelo de retro-trajectórias do KNMI. ABSTRACT; The present study analyses the relationship between particles (PM10) and specific meteorological patterns based on fine and coarse particles concentration data (1999 to 2003) from the Lisbon area air quality network and meteorological observations. Associations were established between PM10 events and synoptic patterns based on surface fields from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Model. Winter events occur mainly under high pressure conditions. Thermal lows and troughs over North Africa affecting the lberian Península occur less frequently; however, the probability of a PM event with this synoptic pattern is high. Meteorological fields from the ECMWF model (synoptic scale) and the ALADIN model (mesoscale) were analyzed for five of these episodes. The 850 hPa level is quite relevant for determining high PM10 concentrations at the surface, as confirmed by KNMI trajectory model.

NUTRITION AND HEALTH STATUS OF HIV-INFECTED ADULTS ON ARVS AT AMREF CLINIC KIBERA URBAN SLUM, KENYA

The health of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) is nutritionally challenged in many nations of the world. The scourge has reduced socio-economic progress globally and more so in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where its impact has been compounded by poverty and food insecurity. Good nutrition with proper drug use improves the quality of life for those infected but it is not known how PLWHA exposed to chronic malnutrition and food shortages from developing nations adjust their nutrition with use of Anti-Retro-viral Drugs (ARVs). This study assessed nutritional status, dietary practices, and dietary management of common illnesses that hinder daily food intake by the patients and use of ARVs with food recommendations provided by the health care givers. A descriptive case study design was used to sample 120 HIV-infected patients using systematic sampling procedure. These patients sought health care from an urban slum, Kibera AMREF clinic. Data were collected by anthropometric measurements, bio-chemical analysis, semi-structured questionnaire and secondary data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the Nutri-Survey software packages were used to analyze data. Dietary intakes of micro-nutrients were inadequate for >70% of the patients when compared to the Recommended Daily Requirements. When Body Mass Indices (BMI) were used, only 6.7% of the respondents were underweight (BMI<18.5kg/m2) and 9.2% were overweight (BMI> 25kg/m2), serum albumin test results (mean 3.34±0.06g/dl) showed 60.8% of the respondents were protein deficient and this was confirmed by low dietary protein intakes. The BMI was not related to dietary nutrient intakes, serum albumin and CD4 cell counts (p>0.05). It appeared that there was no significant difference in BMI readings at different categories of CD4 cell count (p>0.05) suggesting that the level of immunity did not affect weight gain with ARV as observed in many studies from developed countries. Malnutrition was, therefore, evident among the 60.8% of the cases as identified by serum albumin tests and food intake was not adequate (68%) for the patients as they ate once a day due to lack of food. National food and nutrition policy should incorporate food security boosting guidelines for the poor people infected with HIV and using ARVs.

Conidiobolomicosis nasal en una oveja (Ovis aries) en Uruguay

Resumen La conidiobolomicosis es una enfermedad causada por Conidiobolus spp. que afecta a varias especies de animales, incluyendo ovinos, llamas, ciervos, caballos, perros y humanos. En ovinos se caracteriza por lesiones granulomatosas en la cavidad nasal. Aunque la enfermedad es endémica en distintas regiones de Brasil, aún no ha sido reportada en Uruguay. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir un caso de conidiobolomicosis nasal en una oveja en Uruguay y proveer una breve revisión bibliográfica. El caso ocurrió en marzo del 2015 en una oveja de 19 meses de edad en un establecimiento ubicado en el departamento de Colonia. Los principales signos clínicos fueron debilidad, secreción nasal, obnubilación, torneo y exoftalmos unilateral. Los principales hallazgos patológicos fueron rinosinusitis granulomatosa necrotizante localmente extensiva, afectando la región posterior de la cavidad nasal, con desplazamiento del tabique nasal y osteítis necrotizante/osteolítica de los huesos faciales, con extensión al tejido subcutáneo facial y espacio retro-ocular derechos. Microscópicamente se constató la presencia de hifas intralesionales, identificadas por inmunohistoquímica como Conidiobolus spp., rodeadas por material de Splendore-Hoeppli. Se concluye que la conidiobolomicosis ocurre esporádicamente en Uruguay y que debe ser considerada dentro de los diagnósticos diferenciales de rinitis en ovinos en este País

Práticas sócio-ambientais no espaço escolar: uma reflexão sobre a percepção dos usuários de duas escolas do ensino fundamental em João Pessoa, Paraíba

In the social-historical moment we live in, it is each time more evident the necessity of the people to learn to deal with the environment in conscientious way, taking care of themselves properly through it. In this direction, considering the school as a place where children, young and adolescents spend great part of their time, this work had as objective to examine the perception of school environment for students, professors and employees of two schools in João Pessoa city - Centro Estadual Experimental de Ensino-Aprendizagem Sesquicentenário and Escola Estadual de Ensino Fundamental e Médio Presidente Emílio Garrastazu Médici (Experimental State Center of Learning-teaching Sesquicentenário and Basic and High State School Education Emilio Garrastazu Médici President). From the presupposed that the environments in which and with which people live reflect their daily practices, the field work searched to identify the social-environmental practices that characterize the relation of these users with the school and, from this understanding, to infer some of their concerns regarding the environment as a whole. To analyze the use of the available physical space in the two institutions it was opted the use of the After-Occupation Evaluation, one of the approaches that feed the process of building production or built set, rescuing aspects related to its use, operation and maintenance. Besides analyzing diverse school environments (such as classroom circulations/accesses, library, pedagogical and sportive spaces) in relation to the environmental comfort and the perceptions of the main users of the schools (pupils, professors and employees), the dissertation tried to inquire the care (ambient education) of these users with the school space. In general, it was verified that the two schools have evaluations and perceptions really different for four reasons: (i) management of the schools; (ii) the users perception; (III) localization of schools and (IV) feeling of place, territoriality and appropriation

Incorporação de Software multimédia e de informação em sistema informação geográfica

Dissertação de mestrado, Geomática, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2014

Propuesta de un sistema de evaluación del desempeño laboral para mejorar el rendimiento de los trabajadores de las empresas que fabrican muebles con finos acabados, del departamento de San Miguel, año 2015

El presente trabajo de investigación surge de la necesidad de que las empresas en estudio cuenten con una herramienta objetiva que genere una cultura de evaluación basada en resultados. El objetivo de este trabajo es proponer un sistema interno de evaluación del desempeño del personal de las empresas en estudio con el fin de mejorar su rendimiento. Debido a la naturaleza de las empresas y a que éstas no cuentan con una cultura de evaluación-retro-alimentación del desempeño, se propone la aplicación del método de escalas gráficas de calificación para medir el desempeño de los trabajadores. Se propuso un sistema de evaluación del desempeño laboral para mejorar el rendimiento de los trabajadores de las empresas que fabrican muebles con finos acabados en el Departamento de San Miguel en el año 2015, mediante la identificación del análisis interno y externo para conocer la situación actual; se sugirieron métodos de evaluación para mejorar el desempeño laboral de los trabajadores, se brindaron políticas de compensaciones y beneficios que aumenten la motivación de los trabajadores y se realizó un sistema de seguimiento que permitió evaluar la calidad total. La metodología utilizada fue de tipo correlacional dado que se midió el grado de relación que existe entre dos o más variables, se utilizó también una metodología descriptiva, para describir la relación entre evaluación del desempeño y rendimiento. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que las empresas no cuentan con un sistema de evaluación establecido, solamente se evalúa mediante la observación; los empleados están siendo evaluados únicamente por el dueño en tiempos irregulares imposibilitando mejorar el rendimiento de la empresa; las empresa no poseen políticas de compensación y beneficios establecidos, ofreciendo recompensas pero no mantienen motivados a los trabajadores. Como resultado de este trabajo, se proporciona a las empresas en estudio un instrumento para evaluar el desempeño y un procedimiento que puede servir como guía para la realización del sistema de evaluación, definiendo: responsabilidades, frecuencias, método y formato a utilizar. Asociado a lo antes expuesto se recomienda la implementación de un sistema de evaluación del desempeño para beneficio tanto de la empresa como de los trabajadores, debido a que es un medio a través del cual es posible incrementar la productividad por medio del desarrollo y la satisfacción personal y laboral de los trabajadores. Para la implementación de este sistema, se recomienda dedicar tiempo y esfuerzo para realizar entrevistas para retro-alimentar al empleado sobre los resultados obtenidos y promover su desarrollo.