Periostin as a modulator of chronic cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: After acute myocardial infarction, during the cardiac repair phase, periostin is released into the infarct and activates signaling pathways that are essential for the reparative process. However, the role of periostin in chronic cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between tissue periostin and cardiac variables in the chronic cardiac remodeling induced by myocardial infarction. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were assigned to 2 groups: a simulated surgery group (SHAM; n = 8) and a myocardial infarction group (myocardial infarction; n = 13). After 3 months, morphological, functional and biochemical analyses were performed. The data are expressed as means±SD or medians (including the lower and upper quartiles). RESULTS: Myocardial infarctions induced increased left ventricular diastolic and systolic areas associated with a decreased fractional area change and a posterior wall shortening velocity. With regard to the extracellular matrix variables, the myocardial infarction group presented with higher values of periostin and types I and III collagen and higher interstitial collagen volume fractions and myocardial hydroxyproline concentrations. In addition, periostin was positively correlated with type III collagen levels (r = 0.673, p = 0.029) and diastolic (r = 0.678, p = 0.036) and systolic (r = 0.795, p = 0.006) left ventricular areas. Considering the relationship between periostin and the cardiac function variables, periostin was inversely correlated with both the fractional area change (r = -0.783, p = 0.008) and the posterior wall shortening velocity (r = -0.767, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Periostin might be a modulator of deleterious cardiac remodeling in the chronic phase after myocardial infarction in rats.

Producing xylan/Eudragit (R) S100-based microparticles by chemical and physico-mechanical approaches as carriers for 5-aminosalicylic acid

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Competência em informação: perspectivas em torno da cultura escolar

Displays the Information Literacy as a method of training for access, evaluation and use of information, which has become, increasingly, the raw material indispensable for intellectual autonomy. Presents the articulation possible - and necessary - between Information and Cultural Competence in School, with emphasis on their relationship. Search is on School Culture, contexts for insertion of procedures developed by the Information Literacy, considering the dimensions of the organization, interpretation and knowledge production. It points out the advantages to realize the Culture School, through practical philosophical context, to support action planning, establishing, in the educational environment, actions related to the development of Competency Information. We used participation research action in the context of a public school in Campo Grande-MS, the research subjects were students of the 6º and 7º grades and their teachers. Data collection took place through observation and interviews relating the development of competencein Information and teaching practices It is noteworthy that this kind of responsibility if developed without an understanding of school culture, becomes a rambling and disjointed practice whose outcomes are at risk of not being achieved.

Facial Reanimation Utilizing Combined Orthodromic Temporalis Muscle Flap and End-to-Side Cross-Face Nerve Grafts

Individuals with facial paralysis of 6 months or more without evidence of clinical or electromyographic improvement have been successfully reanimated utilizing an orthodromic temporalis transfer in conjunction with end-to-side cross-face nerve grafts. The temporalis muscle insertion is released from the coronoid process of the mandible and sutured to a fascia lata graft that is secured distally to the commissure and paralyzed hemilip. The orthodromic transfer of the temporalis muscle overcomes the concave temporal deformity and zygomatic fullness produced by the turning down of the central third of the muscle (Gillies procedure) while yielding stronger muscle contraction and a more symmetric smile. The muscle flap is combined with cross-face sural nerve grafts utilizing end-to-side neurorrhaphies to import myelinated motor fibers to the paralyzed muscles of facial expression in the midface and perioral region. Cross-face nerve grafting provides the potential for true spontaneous facial motion. We feel that the synergy created by the combination of techniques can perhaps produce a more symmetrical and synchronized smile than either procedure in isolation.Nineteen patients underwent an orthodromic temporalis muscle flap in conjunction with cross-face (buccal-buccal with end-to-side neurorrhaphy) nerve grafts. To evaluate the symmetry of the smile, we measured the length of the two hemilips (normal and affected) using the CorelDRAW X3 software. Measurements were obtained in the pre- and postoperative period and compared for symmetry.There was significant improvement in smile symmetry in 89.5 % of patients.Orthodromic temporalis muscle transfer in conjunction with cross face nerve grafts creates a synergistic effect frequently producing an aesthetic, symmetric smile.This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors at www.spinger.com/00266.

Effect of fiber orientation on the shear behavior of glass fiber/epoxy composites

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

Analysis of the intestinal bacterial microbiota in maize- or sorghum-fed broiler chickens using real-time PCR

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A gênese do habitus e a construção da hexis corporal de bailarinos e jogadoras de futebol e suas implicações nos diferentes campos de atuação

This paper aims to show the beginning of habitus and the bodily hexis construction of male ballet dancer and female player soccer. Firstly, the habitus and the bodily hexis are established by the cultural inheritance of families (advices, likes, choices, prohibitions, and work divisions). After, they are restructured by the most diverse fields where this people act, mainly in the school, specifically at Physical Education classes (in the specialized places where these classes occur). Thus, it is possible to verify the success or the failure of their path lives and the possibility of a social ascent by the choice of these practices as professional career.

Adaptação fonológica de nomes próprios de origem estrangeira: comparação entre português arcaico e português brasileiro

This paper aims to discuss the phonological adaptation of proper nouns of foreign origin in two moments of the language temporal continuum: Archaic and Brazilian Portuguese.

Orthognathic Surgery in Patients With Cleidocranial Dysplasia

The aim of this study was to report the orthodontic-surgical approach of a 21-year-old female patient diagnosed with cleidocranial dysplasia. An orthognathic surgery was performed in the maxilla and mandible during the same procedure to correct an existing dentofacial deformity (class III malocclusion). In addition, malar prostheses were used to correct midface deficiency. After surgical intervention, orthodontic treatment continued in order to promote stability, function, and aesthetics. Cases of cleidocranial dysplasia treated with the defined criteria can bring aesthetic and functional benefits to the patient.

Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for Vriesea simplex (Bromeliaceae) and cross-amplification in other species of Bromeliaceae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci: Epidemiological and molecular aspects

Infections caused by the genus Staphylococcus are of great importance for human health. Staphylococcus species are divided into coagulase-positive staphylococci, represented by S. aureus, a pathogen that can cause infections of the skin and other organs in immunocompetent patients, and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) which comprise different species normally involved in infectious processes in immunocompromised patients or patients using catheters. Oxacillin has been one of the main drugs used for the treatment of staphylococcal infections; however, a large number of S. aureus and CNS isolates of nosocomial origin are resistant to this drug. Methicillin resistance is encoded by the mecA gene which is inserted in the SCCmec cassette. This cassette is a mobile genetic element consisting of five different types and several subtypes. Oxacillin-resistant strains are detected by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Epidemiologically, methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains can be divided into five large pandemic clones, called Brazilian, Hungarian, Iberian, New York/Japan and Pediatric. The objective of the present review was to discuss aspects of resistance, epidemiology, genetics and detection of oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus spp., since these microorganisms are increasingly more frequent in Brazil.

O cuidador de paciente com neoplasia cerebral maligna primária: os desafios do cuidado

Patients with primary malignant brain tumor endure several motor and cognitive dysfunctions, demanding the presence of a caregiver even more because the time necessary for their assistance increases considerably. Usually this task is performed by a family relative, whose activities include taking care of the patient’s personal hygiene, escorting them to medical appointments, managing their money and performing their housework. All of this overwhelms the caregiver both physical and psychologically. This bibliographic research intends to analyze the role in which a caregiver plays in the quality of life of those kinds of patients, the complications of such task, the caregivers’ needs and the daily life of those terminal patients. It was used CAPES, PubMed and Google Academic databases for researching articles related to family caregivers who assisted adult patients with primary malignant brain tumor. The study concluded that being a caregiver of patients in such conditions harms one’s quality of life, with consequences such as stress, insomnia, financial problems and lack of social support. Theirs needs include: having someone to talk to about the matter, attending programs for reducing stress and increasing their knowledge about the disease. In advanced phases of the condition, the patient shows great mobility problems, aphasia and regular seizures, which end up overwhelming the caregiver. The level of quality of life found was above other types of cancer’s caregivers. Therefore, they represent a group with special needs, which should be especially handled by health professionals.

Sílica mesoporosa como suporte sólido para o ancoramento da molécula 4-amino-3-hidrazino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole e aplicação na adsorção de Cu(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) e Co(II) em amostras aquosas

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Parâmetros hemetológicos da tilápia-do-Nilo: efeito da dieta suplementada com levedura e zinco e do estímulo pelo frio

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

Qualidade pós-colheita de abacates "hass" mantidos em temperatura ambiente e tratados com diferentes radiações

This study aimed the avocado ‘Hass’ conservation with the use of radiation. We performed two experiments: Experiment I – fruits irradiated with different doses of cobalt-60 gamma irradiation(0,0; 0,2; 0,4; 0,6 e 1,0 kGy); Experiment II – fruit irradiated by electron accelerator in different doses (0,0; 0,48; 0,8; 1,12 e 1,45 MeV), both maintained at room temperature of 21±1 °C and at relative humidity of 79±5 %. Antioxidant capacity, total phenolic compounds, fresh weight loss, and respiration rate evaluation were performed every three days for 12 days. The experimental design was completely randomized with three replicates per treatment. For statistical analysis, the Tukey test at 5% probability was employed. Under the conditions in which the experiments were performed, the results showed that the gamma radiation use retained the fruits for 12 days, regardless the doses applied. The radiation by electron accelerator use also promote the fruits preservation, regardless the doses employed.