Tomografia computadorizada da coluna lombar após artrodese com emprego de material metálico: avaliação da qualidade da imagem para diferentes algoritmos matemáticos

OBJETIVO: Selecionar os melhores algoritmos para o exame de coluna lombar na avaliação de artrodese com material metálico. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se um equipamento de tomografia computadorizada de 16 fileiras de detectores. Imagens de dez pacientes foram reconstruídas com filtros 20, 40, 60 e 80 e realizadas reformatações em três dimensões e multiplanares com espessuras de 2 mm e 4 mm. Um total de 320 imagens foi avaliado por três experientes radiologistas, que deram notas de 1 a 5 (1 = não-aceitável; 2 = abaixo dos padrões; 3 = aceitável; 4 = acima da média; 5 = excelente). Além disso, foram realizadas medidas de ruído para correlação com o tipo de filtro utilizado. RESULTADOS: As médias do valor de ruído para reconstrução com 2 mm e filtros 20, 40, 60 e 80 foram de 24,7 ± 4,3; 35,5 ± 4,2; 106,0 ± 18,5 e 145,9 ± 26,9, respectivamente, e para 4 mm foram de 18,1 ± 2,4; 25,1 ± 4,6; 76,7 ± 17,2 e 106,6 ± 23,4. CONCLUSÃO: As imagens coloridas em três dimensões são mais bem visualizadas com filtro 20, entretanto, nas imagens em tons de cinza um filtro intermediário de 40 ou 60 pode ser útil para demonstrar os parafusos com maior detalhe. Para reconstruções multiplanares com espessura de 2 mm o filtro 40 é mais bem aceito, e para uma espessura de 4 mm um filtro 60 apresentou melhor qualidade.

Embolismo por mercúrio metálico: relato de caso

Relata-se um caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, de 29 anos de idade, que na tentativa de auto-extermínio injetou 2 ml de mercúrio industrial no antebraço esquerdo. O estudo radiológico mostrou várias esferas metálicas no subcutâneo da fossa olecraniana e ao longo das veias do braço esquerdo, com disseminação para pulmões, coração, fígado, baço e encéfalo.

Quantificação volumétrica da hiperplasia neointimal em artérias ilíacas após implante de suporte intravascular metálico

OBJETIVO: Quantificar a hiperplasia neointimal em artérias ilíacas após stent, correlacionando fatores clínicos, arteriais e materiais dos stents. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: De junho de 2003 a agosto de 2005, 60 pacientes realizaram angioplastia transluminal percutânea e stent. Desses, 30 foram reestudados com ultrassonografia intravascular. Os dados foram analisados no laboratório de análise quantitativa. RESULTA-DOS: Dezesseis pacientes eram do sexo masculino (53,3%) e 14 (46,7%), do sexo feminino. A média de idade foi de 60,3 anos. Apresentaram hipertensão arterial 22 pacientes (73,3%), tabagismo, 18 (62,1%), hiperlipidemia, 20 (66,7%), e diabetes, 9 (30%). Foram implantados 20 stents de nitinol (66,7%) e 10 de aço inoxidável (33,3%). Quatro pacientes eram TASC A (13,3%), 15 eram TASC B (50%) e 11, TASC C (36,7%). O volume da hiperplasia variou de 49,02 mm³ a 112,87 mm³ (média de 80,33 mm³). O percentual de obstrução intra-stent variou de 18% a 47% (média de 27,4%). Os resultados clínicos obtidos com stent se mantiveram até o reestudo. CONCLUSÃO: A hiperplasia neointimal sempre ocorre após a angioplastia transluminal percutânea e stent, porém os percentuais de obstrução não foram superiores a 50% em nenhum caso. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante dos percentuais de obstrução intra-stent quanto aos materiais dos stents, aos fatores clínicos e aos fatores arteriais.

Espectroscopia óptica de vidros fluoroindatos dopados com íons Er3+ e Yb3+

Optical spectroscopy in the 400-1700nm wavelength range was performed on rare earth doped heavy metal fluoride (HMF) glasses. In the present work In-based fluoride glasses with a fixed 2 mol % YbF3 concentration and an ErF3 content ranging from 0 to 8 mol % were investigated. According to the experimental spectroscopic data a dependence in the absorption coefficient, the photoluminescence intensity and in the radiative lifetime could be verified as a function of the ErF3 content. In addition, at liquid nitrogen temperature, light emission corresponding to indirect transitions in the infrared energy range could be easily observed as a consequence of the low phonon frequency characteristic of this class of fluoride glasses. For all the studied compositions, strong upconversion to the green and red light was observed by pumping these Er3+- and Yb3+-doped HMF glasses with 790 and 980nm photon sources.

Determinação permanganimétrica de íons Fe3+ com o uso de zinco metálico como redutor - uma contribuição ao ensino de química analítica

The classical volumetric titration of Fe2+ with MnO4-, used in some routine analysis as well as in undergraduate courses was improved. SnCl2 (to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+) and HgCl2 (to oxidize excess SnCl2) were substituted by metallic zinc in boiling solutions, thus avoiding the toxic HgCl2 and Hg2Cl2; nitrate ions do not interfere in the improved methodology (it is an interference in the classical one) and the reproducibility of the determinations is increased by using metallic zinc. Determinations by students of undergraduate courses are discussed.

Baterias de níquel-hidreto metálico, uma alternativa para as baterias de níquel-cádmio

Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries have emerged as an alternative for replacement of nickel-cadmium batteries, because of their more environmental compatibility and high energy capacity. In this article, we described the properties and applications for Ni-MH batteries, giving some emphasis on the metal-hydride electrode, including the description of composition, the charge storage capacity and the discharge profile. The key component of the nickel-metal hydride electrode is a hydrogen storage alloy whose composition is formulated to obtain a high stable material over a large number of charge-discharge cycles.

Filme fino de ZrO2 enxertado sobre a superfície de sílica gel: preparação e propriedade de adsorção de Cr(VI)

The present experiment describes an easy procedure for obtaining SiO2/ZrO2 by reacting ZrOCl2 with SiO2 with the following characteristics: S BET = 500 m² g-1 and an average pore diameter of 6 nm. The material obtained presented 1.3 wt% ZrO2 content corresponding to 140 mumol g-1. The average density of ZrO2 onto SiO2/ZrO2 matrix is 2.8x10-11 mol cm-2. The adsorption isotherm for Cr(VI) showed a maximum of adsorption value (200 mumol g-1) at pH 2. The adsorption can be described by the reaction: =Zr(OH)2 + 2HCrO4- + 2H+ [(=Zr(OH2+)2) (HCrO4-)2]. Above the zero point of charge, i.e. pH > 5.5 due to the surface charge inversion, desorption of Cr(VI) occurs according to the reaction: [(=Zr(OH2+)2) (HCrO4-)2] + 6OH- (=ZrO2)2- + 6H2O + 2CrO4(2-).

Análise de suspensões de argilas por espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma induzido com configuração axial

The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of direct introduction of clay slurries in an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer with axial view configuration. Calibration was performed using a certified reference material with a mean particle size of 13 µm (IPT-42) and the analytical curve was applied for quantification of two others reference materials (IPT-28 and IPT-32) and four samples. It was demonstrated that the analytical curve thus obtained was not completely suitable for IPT-28 and samples due to different mineralogical phases determined by X-ray diffraction. After considering this effect, it was possible for most elements to obtain results in agreement with certified values or with values obtained by a conventional technique at a 95% confidence level. It was demonstrated that the ICP-OES with axial view configuration did not present any incompatibility with the direct introduction of a complex inorganic suspension.

Formação e caracterização óptica de filmes automontados de POMA/PPV

A study is presented of the formation and optical properties of polymeric heterostructures from poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and poly(o-methoxyaniline) (POMA) produced via the self-assembly technique. POMA layers were obtained in a non self-limiting process from its emeraldine salt, semiconducting form in HCl solution. Thermal conversion of PPV was performed at low temperatures with the substitution of the counter-ion Cl in the PPV precursor by a long sulfonic chain, the dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) ion. The optical properties of PPV films converted in this way are not affected by POMA, which can be used as transparent electrode of PPV luminescent devices.

Síntese e caracterização de alfa-fosfato de zircônio(IV) contendo agregados de cobre metálico

The alpha-zirconium (IV) hydrogenphosphate (alpha-ZrP) has received great attention in the last years due to its properties like ion exchange, intercalation, ionic conductivity and catalytic activity. This work reports a method to produce metallic copper clusters on alpha-ZrP to be used as catalysts in petrochemical processes. It was found that the solids were non-crystalline regardless of the uptake of copper and the reduction. The specific surface area increased as a consequence of the increase of the interlayer distance to accept the copper ions between the layers. During the reduction, big clusters of copper (0,5-11µ) with different sizes and shapes were produced.

Decomposição de argilas em forno de microondas e determinação simultânea dos seus constituintes principais por espectrometria de emissão óptica em plasma indutivamente acoplado

In this work a closed-vessel microwave-assisted acid decomposition procedure for clays was developed. Aluminum, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Si, and Ti were determined in clay digestates by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The most critical parameter for total decomposition of clays was the composition of the reagent mixture. The applied power and the heating time exerted a less critical influence. Best decomposition conditions were attained using a reagent mixture containing 4 mL aqua regia plus 3 mL HF and the heating program was implemented in 12 min. The accuracy of the results was demonstrated using two standard reference materials and a paired t-test showed a good agreement between determined and certified values at a 95% confidence level.

Degradação de corantes reativos pelo sistema ferro metálico/peróxido de hidrogênio

In this work the degradation of aqueous solutions of reactive azo-dyes is reported using a combined reductive/advanced oxidative process based in the H2O2/zero-valent iron system. At optimized experimental conditions (pH 7, H2O2 100 mg L-1, iron 7 g L-1) and using a continuous system containing commercial iron wool, the process afforded almost total discolorization of aqueous solutions of three reactive azo-dyes (reactive orange 16, reactive black 5 and brilliant yellow 3G-P) at a hydraulic retention time of 2.5 min. At these conditions the hydrogen peroxide is almost totally consumed while the released total soluble iron reaches a concentration compatible with the current Brazilian legislation (15 mg L-1).

Estudo de homogeneidade de lote de material silício metálico candidato a material de referência

From the perspective of the uncertainties in chemical measurements all uncertainty sources should be part of the uncertainty of the reference material. When the primary methods are not available, interlaboratorial comparisons are used as a means of certification. The material to be distributed to the laboratories should have its homogeneity confirmed. The uncertainty due to this factor will be added to the characterization uncertainty. This work presents a homogeneity study of a lot of silicon metal of chemical degree where the uncertainty due to inhomogeneity is obtained using analysis of variance.