Structural bases for a complete myotoxic mechanism: Crystal structures of two non-catalytic phospholipases A(2)-like from Bothrops brazili venom

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

Diagnóstico ambiental das áreas de expansão urbana do município de Jaguariúna - SP

The spatial chaotic urban growth is an increasing and common problem in Brazilian cities, especially in the State of São Paulo. In order to assist the territorial expansion planning, the present study aimed to conduct the environmental diagnosis of urban expansion areas in the City of Jaguariúna – SP, bounded by the Municipal Plan. From the preparation and analysis of thematic maps, literature review and field analysis, data were collected for use and occupation, geology, geomorphology, pedology, vegetation, water resources and features surrounding the five urban sprawl existing areas. It was noted, in general, that these areas are suitable for urban occupation, since they show flat geomorphology characteristics, with flattened, medium to large hills, slightly undulated, with low slope, and soils that do not present risks to the deployment of buildings, once properly managed. It was also observed a few water bodies crossing these areas and a few areas with native vegetation beyond permanent protection areas along the rivers. By the analysis of these areas and their surroundings, it was possible to determine on which area the urbanization process can occur more quickly. Thus, the study allows the City of Jaguariúna to perform a more effective occupation planning in these areas, always aiming the sustainable development and, consequently, the improvement in population’s quality of life, as well as the maintenance of environmental quality.

Análise preliminar da eficiência de sabonetes em barra frente a candida spp potencialmente patogênica ao organismo humano

O presente trabalho foi elaborado e realizado a fim de se demonstrar a importância da lavagem das mãos no cotidiano, uma vez que mãos humanas podem ser consideradas fonte de diversos agentes etiológicos de doenças que podem comprometer a saúde principalmente de pacientes debilitados. Para tanto, foram aplicados testes de sensibilidade a sabonetes utilizando-se métodos normatizados e validados pelo CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standartds Institute) e, por fim, foi verificado o efeito dos mesmos sobre biofilmes formados a partir de espécies e cepas fúngicas conseguidas por meio de lavagens das mãos de voluntários. As amostras utilizadas foram sabonetes em barra adquiridos do comércio, um de formulação bactericida (com adição de extrato de própolis) e outro de formulação comum. Foram realizadas lavagens com os sabonetes-amostra e água destilada, dentro de fluxo laminar, onde foi possível recolher a água usada no enxágüe. A partir do plaqueamento (em meio Sabouraud-dextrose com cloranfenicol 0,05%) das mãos voluntárias sem assepsia prévia, da água de lavagem e das mãos lavadas foram obtidas culturas fúngicas. Essas culturas foram selecionadas de acordo com a viabilidade de isolamento, e então foi feita a identificação das espécies. Através da triagem pelo método de identificação por ChromagarTM Candida, foi possível identificar que duas colônias obtidas das lavagens das mãos foram identificadas como C. krusei e C. albicans. C. albicans ainda pôde ser confirmada... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Modelo de referência para o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos de empresas eletrônicas de base tecnológica de médio porte

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Nonlocal effects in the 8Be breakup

A collective Hamiltonian for a two alpha particles aggregate, which describes the 8Be nucleus, encompassing a collective potential and an inertia function of that system, is obtained and analyzed through the use of a technique - derived from an approach of the generator coordinate method (GCM) - which allows for the extraction of collective information. The nucleon-nucleon interaction considered here is the one proposed by Volkov plus the Coulomb repulsion. It is shown that nonlocal effects appear in those collective functions describing the spontaneously occurring breakup process. Furthermore, the result for the inertia function stands for a microscopically generated evidence supporting a double-folding-based model of the real part of the nucleus-nucleus nonlocal interaction recently proposed.

Increased levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis are associated with ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease in humans: an in vivo study

Objective: This study investigated the role of periodontal disease in the development of stroke or cerebral infarction in patients by evaluating the clinical periodontal conditions and the subgingival levels of periodontopathogens. Material and Methods: Twenty patients with ischemic (I-CVA) or hemorrhagic (H-CVA) cerebrovascular episodes (test group) and 60 systemically healthy patients (control group) were evaluated for: probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing and plaque index. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were both identified and quantified in subgingival plaque samples by conventional and real-time PCR, respectively. Results: The test group showed a significant increase in each of the following parameters: pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, plaque index and number of missing teeth when compared to control values (p<0.05, unpaired t-test). Likewise, the test group had increased numbers of sites that were contaminated with P. gingivalis (60%x10%; p<0.001; chi-squared test) and displayed greater prevalence of periodontal disease, with an odds ratio of 48.06 (95% CI: 5.96-387.72; p<0.001). Notably, a positive correlation between probing depth and the levels of P. gingivalis in ischemic stroke was found (r=0.60; p=0.03; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test). A. actinomycetemcomitans DNA was not detected in any of the groups by conventional or real-time PCR. Conclusions: Stroke patients had deeper pockets, more severe attachment loss, increased bleeding on probing, increased plaque indexes, and in their pockets harbored increased levels of P. gingivalis. These findings suggest that periodontal disease is a risk factor for the development of cerebral hemorrhage or infarction. Early treatment of periodontitis may counteract the development of cerebrovascular episodes.

Biowaiver monographs for immediate-release solid oral dosage forms: Stavudine

Literature data relevant to the decision to allow a waiver of in vivo bioequivalence (BE) testing for the approval of immediate-release (IR) solid oral dosage forms containing stavudine (d4T) are reviewed. According to Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), d4T can be assigned to BCS class I. No problems with BE of IR d4T formulations containing different excipients and produced by different manufacturing methods have been reported and, hence, the risk of bioinequivalence caused by these factors appears to be low. Furthermore, d4T has a wide therapeutic index. It is concluded that a biowaiver is appropriate for IR solid oral dosage forms containing d4T as the single active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) provided that (a) the test product contains only excipients present in the IR d4T drug products that have been approved in a number of countries for the same dosage form, and (b) both test product and its comparator are either very rapidly dissolving or rapidly dissolving with similarity of dissolution profiles demonstrated at pH 1.2, 4.5, and 6.8. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 101:1016, 2012

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of three myotoxic phospholipases A2 from Bothrops brazili venom

Two myotoxic and noncatalytic Lys49-phospholipases A2 (braziliantoxin-II and MT-II) and a myotoxic and catalytic phospholipase A2 (braziliantoxin-III) from the venom of the Amazonian snake Bothrops brazili were crystallized. The crystals diffracted to resolutions in the range 2.562.05 angstrom and belonged to space groups P3121 (braziliantoxin-II), P6522 (braziliantoxin-III) and P21 (MT-II). The structures were solved by molecular-replacement techniques. Both of the Lys49-phospholipases A2 (braziliantoxin-II and MT-II) contained a dimer in the asymmetric unit, while the Asp49-phospholipase A2 braziliantoxin-III contained a monomer in its asymmetric unit. Analysis of the quaternary assemblies of the braziliantoxin-II and MT-II structures using the PISA program indicated that both models have a dimeric conformation in solution. The same analysis of the braziliantoxin-III structure indicated that this protein does not dimerize in solution and probably acts as a monomer in vivo, similar to other snake-venom Asp49-phospholipases A2.

Vascular leiomyoma in the oral cavity

The aim of this study was to examine a case report of vascular leiomyoma located in the oral mucosa of the oral cavity. Vascular leiomyoma is a benign tumor arising from smooth muscle. One factor that makes vascular leiomyomas in the oral cavity rare is that there is little smooth muscle in the mouth. The most common histological subtype in the oral cavity is the vascular subtype. The greatest difficulty in histological diagnosis of this entity is the similarity in morphology with other malignancies, particularly of neural or fibroblastic lineage. Wide surgical resection is the only treatment reported in the literature with good results. The recurrence rate is very low if complete resection is achieved. The study of rare or unusual lesions is very important for the clinical diagnosis of vascular leiomyoma

SEM analysis and push-out bond strength of fiberglass posts luted with different cements of glass-ionomer in humid environment: pilot test

The objective of this study was to evaluate the push-out bond strength of fiberglass resin reinforced bonded with five ionomer cements. Also, the interface between cement and dentin was inspected by means of SEM. Fifty human canines were chose after rigorous scrutiny process, endodontically treated and divided randomly into five groups (n = 3) according to cement tested: Group I – Ionoseal (VOCO), Group II – Fugi I (GC), Group III – Fugi II Improved (GC), Group IV – Rely X Luting 2 (3M ESPE), Group V – Ketac Cem (3M ESPE). The post-space was prepared to receive a fiberglass post, which was tried before cementation process. No dentin or post surface pretreatment was carried out. After post bonding, all roots were cross-sectioned to acquire 3 thin-slices (1 mm) from three specific regions of tooth (cervical, medium and apical). A Universal test machine was used to carry out the push-out test with cross-head speed set to 0.5mm/mim. All failed specimens were observed under optical microscope to identify the failure mode. Representative specimens from each group was inspected under SEM. The data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levene’s tests and by two-way ANOVA, and Tukey’s port hoc test at a significance level of 5%. It was compared the images obtained for determination of types of failures more occurred in different levels. SEM inspection displayed that all cements filled the space between post and dentin, however, some imperfections such bubles and voids were noticed in all groups in some degree of extension. The push-out bond strength showed that cement Ketac Cem presented significant higher results when compared to the Ionoseal (P = 0.02). There were no statistical significant differences among other cements.

Push-out bond strengths of different dental cements used to cement glass fiber posts

Statement of problem: Since the introduction of glass fiber posts, irreversible vertical root fractures have become a rare occurrence; however, adhesive failure has become the primary failure mode. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the push-out bond strength of glass fiber posts cemented with different luting agents on 3 segments of the root. Material and methods: Eighty human maxillary canines with similar root lengths were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=10) according to the cement assessed (Rely X luting, Luting and Lining, Ketac Cem, Rely X ARC, Biscem, Duo-link, Rely X U100, and Variolink II). After standardized post space preparation, the root dentin was pretreated for dualpolymerizing resin cements and untreated for the other cements. The mixed luting cement paste was inserted into post spaces with a spiral file and applied to the post surface that was seated into the canal. After 7 days, the teeth were sectioned perpendicular to their long axis into 1-mm-thick sections. The push-out test was performed at a speed of 0.5 mm/min until extrusion of the post occurred. The results were evaluated by 2-way ANOVA and the all pairwise multiple comparison procedures (Tukey test) (?=.05). Results: ANOVA showed that the type of interaction between cement and root location significantly influenced the push-out strength (P<.05). The highest push-out strength results with root location were obtained with Luting and Lining (S3) (19.5 ±4.9 MPa), Ketac Cem (S2) (18.6 ±5.5 MPa), and Luting and Lining (S1) (18.0 ±7.6 MPa). The lowest mean values were recorded with Variolink II (S1) (4.6 ±4.0 MPa), Variolink II (S2) (1.6 ±1.5 MPa), and Rely X ARC (S3) (0.9 ±1.1 MPa). Conclusions: Self-adhesive cements and glass ionomer cements showed significantly higher values compared to dual-polymerizing resin cements. In all root segments, dual-polymerizing resin cements provided significantly lower bond strength. Significant differences among root segments were found only for Duo-link cement.

L'irrazionalità. Un caso di studio sull'uso della storia nella trasmissione del sapere matematico.

L’impiego della storia della matematica è auspicato oggi più di ieri dalle attuali Indicazioni nazionali per i Licei ed è supportato da numerosi quadri teorici,che traghettano la storia della matematica dalle rive dell’essere artefatto all’essere conoscenza. In particolare nel secondo paragrafo del primo capitolo di questa tesi vengono presentati gli ostacoli epistemologici di Guy Brousseau, l’approccio socio-culturale di Louis Radford, l’approccio ”voci ed echi” di Paolo Boero ed infine lo spaesamento di Barbin. Nel terzo paragrafo vengono analizzati quei contributi che mirano a rendere più operativo l’entusiasmo suscitato dall’uso della storia nell’insegnamento della matematica. Quindi il primo capitolo ha l’obiettivo di porre le basi teoriche all’uso della storia nella trasmissione del sapere matematico; pertanto ho deciso di mettere a punto una sperimentazione da condurre in una classe seconda di Liceo Scientifico avente come oggetto una fonte storica. Come argomento è stato scelto l’irrazionalità, introdotto in tale trattazione nel secondo capitolo: nel primo paragrafo viene trattato il problema della nascita dell’incommensurabilità, mentre nel secondo vengono analizzate le numerose dimostrazioni che sono state proposte nel corso dei secoli in merito all’incommensurabilità di lato e diagonale di un quadrato partendo da Aristotele ed Euclide, passando per Alessandro d’Aforisia e Platone, attraversando le dimostrazioni geometriche e quelle che sfruttano il metodo dell’anthyphairesis, per giungere ad una dimostrazione moderna che non presta il fianco alle critiche aristoteliche proposte da Salomon Ofman. Nel terzo capitolo viene presentata la sperimentazione che ho condotto, anteponendo a ciò i criteri adottati per la scelta del brano, ossia le lezione di Geometria tratta dal Menone di Platone ed un breve tributo alla figura di Platone e alla sua opera da cui è tratto il brano scelto come fonte storica. Tale capitolo è articolato in tre paragrafi: nel terzo vengono descritte dettagliatamente tutte le attività condotte in classe e vengono presentati i lavori e le risposte degli studenti. Infine, nel quarto capitolo, vengono esaminati dettagliatamente i risultati dei ragazzi alla luce dei quadri teorici precedentemente introdotti e vengono messe in luce le peculiarità dell’attività dell’argomentare e le doti e mancanze relative a ciò degli studenti.

Distinct subcellular expression patterns of neutral endopeptidase (CD10) in prostate cancer predict diverging clinical courses in surgically treated patients

PURPOSE: Neutral endopeptidase (CD10), an ectopeptidase bound to the cell surface, is thought to be a potential prognostic marker for prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Prostate cancer patients (N = 3,261) treated by radical prostatectomy at a single institution were evaluated by using tissue microarray. Follow-up data were available for 2,385 patients. The cellular domain (membranous, membranous-cytoplasmatic, and cytoplasmatic only) of CD10 expression was analyzed immunohistochemically and correlated with various clinical and histopathologic features of the tumors. RESULTS: CD10 expression was detected in 62.2% of cancer samples and occurred preferentially in higher Gleason pattern (P < 0.0001). CD10 expression positively correlated with adverse tumor features such as elevated preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), higher Gleason score, and advanced stage (P < 0.0001 each). Survival analyses showed that PSA recurrence was significantly associated with the staining pattern of CD10 expression. Outcome significantly declined from negative over membranous, membranous-cytoplasmatic, to exclusively cytoplasmatic CD10 expression (P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, CD10 expression was an independent predictor for PSA failure (P = 0.0343). CONCLUSIONS: CD10 expression is an unfavorable independent risk factor in prostate cancer. The subcellular location of CD10 protein is associated with specific clinical courses, suggesting an effect on different important biological properties of prostate cancer cells. The frequent expression of CD10 in prostate cancer and the strong association of CD10 with unfavorable tumor features may qualify this biomarker for targeted therapies.