The use of the challenge test to analyse preservative efficiency in non-sterile cosmetic and health products: applications and critical points

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Organic and conventional fertilisation procedures on the nitrate, antioxidants and pesticide content in parts of vegetables

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

Transfer of Salmonella Enteritidis to four types of surfaces after cleaning procedures and cross-contamination to tomatoes

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the spread of Salmonella Enteritidis to different cutting boards (wood, triclosan-treated plastic, glass, and stainless steel) from contaminated poultry skin (5 log CFU/g) and then to tomatoes and to analyze the effect of different protocols used to clean these surfaces to control contamination. The following procedures were simulated: (1) no cleaning after handling contaminated poultry skin; (2) rinsing in running water; (3) cleaning with dish soap and mechanical scrubbing; and (4) cleaning with dish soap and mechanical scrubbing, followed by disinfection with hypochlorite. The pathogen was recovered from all surfaces following procedure 1, with counts ranging from 1.90 to 2.80 log, as well as from the tomatoes handled on it. Reduced numbers of S. Enteritidis were recovered using the other procedures, both from the surfaces and from the tomatoes. Counts were undetectable after procedure 4. From all surfaces evaluated, wood was the most difficult to clean, and stainless steel was the easiest. The use of hypochlorite as a disinfecting agent helped to reduce cross-contamination. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CPITN: time and cost estimates for periodontal prevention and treatment procedures.

The aim of this study was to estimate the necessary time and cost for periodontal prevention and treatment in a working population from sugar and alcohol refineries in Araraquara, SP, Brazil. A stratified sample of 528 employees aged 18-64 from administrative, industrial and agricultural staffs was examined by one examiner, previously trained, according to the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). The time required for procedures and the cost was extrapolated to the total worker population. The results showed that the estimated time required for periodontal prevention/treatment was 4527 hours. Of this time, 1783 hours were required for oral hygiene instruction, 2531 for scaling, 151 for surgery and 62 for maintenance. The cost would be US $17,655 for hiring a dentist for 8 hours/day to provide oral hygiene instruction, scaling, surgery and maintenance. However, the cost would be US $9,028 for hiring a dentist for 4 hours/day to provide surgery and maintenance and a dental hygienist for 8 hours/day to provide scaling and oral hygiene instruction. Taking into account epidemiologic, technical and economic aspects, the decision relating to manpower should be this second option.

Optimization procedures in the design of continuous induction hardening and tempering installations for magnetic steel bars

An inverse problem concerning the industrial process of steel bars hardening and tempering is considered. The associated optimization problem is formulated in terms of membership functions and, for the sake of comparison, also in terms of quadratic residuals; both geometric and electromagnetic design variables have been considered. The numerical solution is achieved by coupling a finite difference procedure for the calculation of the electromagnetic and thermal fields to a deterministic strategy of minimization based on modified Flctcher and Reeves method. © 1998 IEEE.

Microleakage evaluation of pit and fissure sealants done with different procedures, materials, and laser after invasive technique

This study evaluated the microleakage of pit and fissure sealants after different surface preparation (invasive technique and laser irradiation) and the use of different materials (fluoride resin-filled sealant, resin-modified glass ionomer cement and adhesive system). Eighty-four pre molars were used in this study, which were divided into seven groups. After the accomplishment of the different treatments, these were submitted to thermocycling process and assess for microleakage by examination under an epifluorescent microscope and scored zero to seven. Two specimens of each group were observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that laser irradiation did not lessen microleakage in pit and fissures when using a filled-resin sealant with fluoride or a resin-modified glass ionomer cement. The use of laser irradiation and adhesive system, followed by a resin-filled sealant with fluoride, showed the lowest microleakage scores in pit and fissures. Comparing this group to the resin-modified glass ionomer cement group, there was statistical significance. The use of a adhesive system decreased microleakage when using a fluoride resin-filled sealant with or without previous laser irradiation; although it was not statistically significant.

Flow injection amperometric determination of persulfate in cosmetic products using a Prussian Blue film-modified electrode

A flow-injection system with a glassy carbon disk electrode modified with Prussian Blue film is proposed for the determination of persulfate in commercial samples of hair bleaching boosters by amperometry. The detection was obtained by chronoamperometric technique and the sample is injected into the electrochemical cell in a wall jet configuration. Potassium chloride at concentration of 0.1 mol L-1 acted as sample carrier at a flow rate of 4.0 mL min-1 and supporting-electrolyte. For 0.025 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) applied voltage, the proposed system handles ca. 160 samples per hour (1.0 10-4 - 1.0 10-3 mol L-1 of persulfate), consuming about 200 μL sample and 11 mg KCl per determination. Typical linear correlations between electrocatalytic current and persulfate concentration was ca. 0.9998. The detection limit is 9.0 10-5 mol L-1 and the calculated amperometric sensibility 3.6 103 μA L mol -1. Relative standard deviation (n =12) of a 1.0 10-4 mol L-1 sample is about 2.2%. The method was applied to persulfate determination in commercial hair-bleaching samples and results are in agreement with those obtained by titrimetry at 95% confidence level and good recoveries (95 - 112%) of spiked samples were found. © 2003 by MDPI.

Effect of microwave disinfection procedures on torsional bond strengths of two hard chairside denture reline materials

Purpose: This study evaluated the potential effects of denture base resin water storage time and an effective denture disinfection method (microwave irradiation at 650 W for 6 minutes) on the torsional bond strength between two hard chairside reline resins (GC Reline and New Truliner) and one heat-polymerizing denture base acrylic resin (Lucitone 199). Materials and Methods: Cylindrical (30 x 3.9 mm) denture base specimens (n = 160) were stored in water at 37°C (2 or 30 days) before bonding. A section (3.0 mm) was removed from the center of the specimens, surfaces prepared, and the reline materials packed into the space. After polymerization, specimens were divided into four groups (n = 10): Group 1 (G1) - tests performed after bonding; Group 2 (G2) - specimens immersed in water (200 ml) and irradiated twice (650 W for 6 minutes); Group 3 (G3) - specimens irradiated daily until seven cycles of disinfection; Group 4 (G4) - specimens immersed in water (37°C) for 7 days. Specimens were submitted to a torsional test (0.1 Nm/min), and the torsional strengths (MPa) and the mode of failure were recorded. Data from each reline material were analyzed by a two-way analysis of variance, followed by Neuman-Keuls test (p = 0.05). Results: For both Lucitone 199 water storage periods, before bonding to GC Reline resin, the mean torsional strengths of G2 (2 days - 138 MPa; 30 days - 132 MPa), G3 (2 days - 126 MPa; 30 days - 130 MPa), and G4 (2 days - 130 MPa; 30 days - 137 MPa) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than G1 (2 days - 108 MPa; 30 days - 115 MPa). Similar results were found for Lucitone 199 specimens bonded to New Truliner resin, with G1 specimens (2 days - 73 MPa; 30 days - 71 MPa) exhibiting significantly lower mean torsional bond strength (p < 0.05) than G2 (2 day - 86 MPa; 30 days - 90 MPa), G3 (2 days - 82 MPa; 30 days - 82 MPa), and G4 specimens (2 days - 78 MPa; 30 days - 79 MPa). The adhesion of both materials was not affected by water storage time of Lucitone 199 (p > 0.05). GC reline showed a mixed mode of failure (adhesive/cohesive) and New Truliner failed adhesively. Conclusions: Up to seven microwave disinfection cycles did not decrease the torsional bond strengths between the hard reline resins, GC Reline and New Truliner to the denture base resin Lucitone 199. The effect of additional disinfection cycles on reline material may be clinically significant and requires further study. Copyright © 2006 by The American College of Prosthodontists.

Ensaio randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado de anestesia tópica induzida por iontoforese de lidocaína

Introduction: Needle infi ltration of local anesthetic is a painful procedure, thus, a topical anesthetic is a comfortable alternative; however, it is diffi cult to deliver transcutaneous polar drugs. Iontophoresis is a noninvasive technique that uses electrical current for releasing electrically charged drugs through biological membranes. Objective: To evaluate the anesthesia induced by iontophoresis of lidocaine for a standardized painful stimulus. Material and methods: Randomized, controlled, double-blind study, involving 10 volunteers under the anesthetic effects of topical application of lidocaine gel 2% and noradrenaline 1:50,000, with or without iontophoresis of 1.85 milliamps for 13 minutes. Pain sensitivity was evaluated by the prick of a 21G needle in the arms posterior region, using a visual numerical scale. Results: Patients mean age was 50.8 ± 11.4 years. Nine of them were women. All had previously received infi ltrative anesthesia. Iontophoresis was well tolerated by volunteers. The median pain scores were 0 and 3 for the arm that received the iontophoresis and for the one that did not receive, respectively (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The anesthetic effect in the region subjected to iontophoresis suggests an effi cient and comfortable method for promoting local anesthesia in the surgical approach of pediatric, hyperalgic, or needlephobic patients.

Measurement of melatonin in body fluids: Standards, protocols and procedures

Background and Purpose: The circadian rhythm of melatonin in saliva or plasma, or of the melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (a6MTs) in urine, is a defining feature of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) function, the body's endogenous oscillatory pacemaker. The primary objective of this review is to ascertain the clinical benefits and limitations of current methodologies employed for detection and quantification of melatonin in biological fluids and tissues. Data Identification: A search of the English-language literature (Medline) and a systematic review of published articles were carried out. Study Selection: Articles that specified both the methodology for quantifying melatonin and indicated the clinical purpose were chosen for inclusion in the review. Data Extraction: The authors critically evaluated the methodological issues associated with various tools and techniques (e.g. standards, protocols, and procedures). Results of Data Synthesis: Melatonin measurements are useful for evaluating problems related to the onset or offset of sleep and for assessing phase delays or advances of rhythms in entrained individuals. They have also become an important tool for psychiatric diagnosis, their use being recommended for phase typing in patients suffering from sleep and mood disorders. Additionally, there has been a continuous interest in the use of melatonin as a marker for neoplasms of the pineal region. Melatonin decreases such as found with aging are or post pinealectomy can cause alterations in the sleep/wake cycle. The development of sensitive and selective methods for the precise detection of melatonin in tissues and fluids has increasingly been shown to have direct relevance for clinical decision making. Conclusions: Due to melatonin's low concentration, as well as the coexistence of numerous other compounds in the blood, the routine determination of melatonin has been an analytical challenge. The available evidence indicates however that these challenges can be overcome and consequently that evaluation of melatonin's presence and activity can be an accessible and useful tool for clinical diagnosis. © Springer-Verlag 2010.

Management procedures for sustainable development (applicable to municipalities, micro-regions and river basins)

Includes bibliography

Multiple minima hypersurfaces procedures for biomimetic ligands screening

In this work the interaction of the pesticide carbaryl with two groups of biomimetic ligands, peptides and MIPs was screened by multiple minima hypersurfaces (MMH) procedures, through the AM1 semiempirical method. Data related to the properties of the molecular association of the complex biomimetic ligand-pesticide were obtained and compared with another molecular modeling algorithm named Leapfrog, as included in the Sybyl software package, and experimental results from the literature, remarking good correlation between them. All important MMH program parameters (cells number, box size, conformers) were studied and optimized with the aim of getting the minimum computation time without losing the correlation with experimental data. The data demonstrated that MMH approach can be used as a fast biomimetic ligand screening tool for MIPs. In the case of peptides the computation time was not comparable with the molecular dynamics methods conventionally used for this approach. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Conservative reconstruction of the smile by orthodontic, bleaching, and restorative procedures

The following is a clinical case report of a patient whose chief complaint was the presence of generalized spacing in the maxillary anterior segment following orthodontic treatment. After meticulous clinical analyses and discussions of the clinical procedures to be adopted, dental bleaching was performed in both arches with 10% hydrogen peroxide (Opalescence Trèswhite Supreme 10% Hydrogen Peroxide - Ultradent Products, Inc., South Jordan, USA) after the conclusion and stabilization of orthodontic treatment. Then, the orthodontic appliance was removed and the diastemas in the maxillary anterior teeth were closed with Amelogen Plus (Ultradent Products, Inc., South Jordan, USA) resin composite. It was observed that the association of orthodontic, bleaching, and restorative procedures was capable of restoring dental shape, function, and esthetics, allowing the patient to smile without hesitation.

The CELADE data bank. Data available and procedures to obtain tapes and tabulations

El presente documento incluye una lista de los micro-datos existentes en cintas magneticas en el Banco de Datos de CELADE a la vez que explica los procedimientos para la obtencion de los datos y tabulaciones estandarizadas disponibles en el Banco. Como parte del Programa de Informacion en Poblacion para America Latina (INFOPAL) la funcion del Banco es adquirir y hacer disponible para el procesamiento computarizado, micro-datos tales como las muestras de los censos de poblacion de 1960 y 1970 de los paises de la region, estudios comparativos de migracion interna e internacional, de fecundidad y aborto y otros estudios