Comparison between 100-g glucose tolerance test and two other screening tests for gestational diabetes: combined fasting glucose with risk factors and 50-g glucose tolerance test

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A falta de consenso sobre os protocolos de rastreamento e diagnóstico do diabetes gestacional, associada às dificuldades na realização do teste oral simplificado do diabete gestacional (o teste de tolerância a 100 g de glicose, considerado padrão-ouro) justificam a comparação com alternativas. O objetivo deste trabalho é comparar o teste padrão-ouro a dois testes de rastreamento: associação de glicemia de jejum e fatores de risco (GJ + FR) e o teste oral simplificado de tolerância a 50 g de glicose (TTG 50 g), com o teste de tolerância a 100 g de glicose (TTG 100 g). TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo de coorte longitudinal, prospectivo, realizado no Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. MÉTODOS: 341 gestantes foram submetidas aos três testes. Calcularam-se os índices de sensibilidade (S), especificidade (E), valores preditivos (VPP e VPN), razões de probabilidade (RPP e RPN) e resultados falsos (FP e FN), positivos e negativos da associação GJ + FR e do TTG 50 g em relação ao TTG 100 g. Compararam-se as médias das glicemias de uma hora pós-sobrecarga (1hPS) com 50 e 100 g. Na análise estatística, empregou-se o teste t de Student, com limite de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: A associação GJ + FR encaminhou mais gestantes (53,9%) para a confirmação diagnóstica que o TTG 50 g (14,4%). Os dois testes foram equivalentes nos índices de S (86,4 e 76,9%), VPN (98,7 e 98,9%), RPN (0,3 e 0,27) e FN (15,4 e 23,1%). As médias das glicemias 1hPS foram semelhantes, 106,8 mg/dl para o TTG 50 g e 107,5 mg/dl para o TTG 100 g. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados da eficiência diagnóstica associados à simplicidade, praticabilidade e custo referendaram a associação GJ + FR como o mais adequado para o rastreamento. A equivalência das glicemias de 1hPS permitiram a proposição de um novo protocolo de rastreamento e diagnóstico do diabete gestacional, com menores custo e desconforto.

Physiologic and productive responses of Holstein dairy cows with access to the constant or limited shade

The work: was carried out to evaluate the physiologic and productive responses of 16 Holstein breed cows, in different lactating stages and production levels, maintained in two free stall corral types, with or without plastic sheet covering, in the southeast-northwest of the covered area edges. The animals were confined in free stall system, during the months of the summer, with access to the constant or Limited shade. A complete randomized experimental design was: used. The physiological variables measured were respiratory frequency (morning an afternoon) and rectal temperature (morning and afternoon). The productive variables were milk production (morning, afternoon and daily), dry matter (DM) intake (% live weight) and efficiency of milk production (kg of milk/kg DM intake). The animals with access to the constant shade presented respiratory frequency (74.1 vs 81.0 breath/min.) and rectal temperature (39.5 vs 39.7 degrees C) lower and mirk production (22.6 vs 20.9 kg/day) and efficiency of milk production (1.3 vs 1.2 kg of milk/kg DM ingested) higher than the animals with access to the limited shade. There was no effect on the dry matter intake.

Effect of fluoride intake on carbohydrate metabolism, glucose tolerance, and insulin signaling

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

Influence of the Light-Curing Unit, Storage Time and Shade of a Dental Composite Resin on the Fluorescence

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of three light-curing units, storage times and colors of the dental composite resin on the fluorescence. The specimens (diameter 10.0 +/- 0.1 mm, thickness 1.0 +/- 0.1 mm) were made using a stainless steel mold. The mold was filled with the microhybrid composite resin and a polyethylene film covered each side of the mold. After this, a glass slide was placed on the top of the mold. To standardize the top surface of the specimens a circular weight (1 kg) with an orifice to pass the light tip of the LCU was placed on the top surface and photo-activated during 40 s. Five specimens were made for each group. The groups were divided into 9 groups following the LCUs (one QTH and two LEDs), storage times (immediately after curing, 24 hours, 7 and 30 days) and colors (shades: A(2)E, A(2)D, and TC) of the composite resin. After photo-activation, the specimens were storage in artificial saliva during the storage times proposed to each group at 37 C and 100% humidity. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post-hoc tests showed no significant difference between storage times (immediately, 24 hours and 30 days) (P > 0.05). The means of fluorescence had difference significant to color and light-curing unit used to all period of storage (P < 0.05). The colors had difference significant between them (shades: A2D < A2E < TC) (P < 0.05). The Ultraled (LED) and Ultralux (QTH) when used the TC shade showed higher than Radii (LED), however to A2E shade and A2D shade any difference were found (P > 0.05).

Demographic and metabolic characteristics of individuals with progressive glucose tolerance

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

Dimorphism, thermal tolerance, virulence and Heat shock protein 70 transcription in different isolates of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

The mycelia-to-yeast (M-Y) transition, thermal tolerance and virulence profiles were evaluated for nine isolates of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, including samples from two of the three recently discovered cryptic species, as well as their relation to the partial sequence and transcription of the hsp70 gene. The isolates Bt84 and T10 (from PS2 species) took more time to convert to yeast form and presented elongated yeast cells at 36 degrees C. Arthroconidia production was also observed during the M-Y transition for some isolates. Our data confirm that the hsp70 transcription may be associated with thermal tolerance, but this does not seem to be directly related to high virulence profiles. The partial sequencing of this gene allowed the separation of our isolates into two clusters that correspond to the two sympatric cryptic species occurring in an area hyperendemic for PCM (Botucatu, SP, Brazil).

Drought tolerance is associated with rooting depth and stomatal control of water use in clones of Coffea canephora

center dot Background and Aims Drought is a major environmental constraint affecting growth and production of Coffea canephora. Selection of C. canephora clones has been largely empirical as little is known about how clones respond physiologically to drought. Using clones previously shown to differ in drought tolerance, this study aimed to identify the extent of variation of water use and the mechanisms responsible, particularly those associated morphological traits.center dot Methods Clones (14 and 120, drought-tolerant; 46 and 109A, drought-sensitive, based on their abilities to yield under drought) were grown in 120-L pots until they were 12-months old, when an irrigation and a drought treatment were applied; plants were droughted until the pressure potential (Psi(x)) before dawn (pre-dawn) reached -3.0 MPa. Throughout the drought period, Psi(x) and stomatal conductance (g(s)) were measured. At the end of the experiment, carbon isotope ratio and parameters from pressure-volume curves were estimated. Morphological traits were also assessed.center dot Key Results and Conclusions With irrigation, plant hydraulic conductance (K-L), midday Psi(x) and total biomass were all greater in clones 109A and 120 than in the other clones. Root mass to leaf area ratio was larger in clone 109A than in the others, whereas rooting depth was greater in drought-tolerant than in drought-sensitive clones. Predawn Psi(x) of -3.0 MPa was reached fastest by 109A, followed progressively by clones 46, 120 and 14. Decreases in g(s) with declining Psi(x), or increasing evaporative demand, were similar for clones 14, 46, and 120, but lower in 109A. Carbon isotope ratio increased under drought; however, it was lower in 109A than in other clones. For all clones, Psi(x), g(s) and KL recovered rapidly following re-watering. Differences in root depth, KL and stomatal control of water use, but not osmotic or elastic adjustments, largely explained the differences in relative tolerance to drought stress of clones 14 and 120 compared with clones 46 and 109A.

Overexpression of plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein in transgenic tobacco increases tolerance to oxidative stress

An Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA clone encoding a plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein (AtPUMP1) was overexpressed in transgenic tobacco plants. Analysis of the AtPUMP1 mRNA content in the transgenic lines, determined by Northern blot, revealed variable levels of transgene expression. Antibody probing of Western blots of mitochondrial proteins from three independent transgenic lines showed significant accumulation of AtPUMP1 in this organelle. Overproduction of AtPUMP1 in transgenic tobacco plants led to a significant increase in tolerance to oxidative stress promoted by exogenous hydrogen peroxide as compared to wild-type control plants. These results provide the first biological evidence for a role of PUMP in protection of plant cells against oxidative stress damage.

An Arabidopsis Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein Confers Tolerance to Drought and Salt Stress in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aspirin increases tolerance to high temperature in seeds of Raphanus sativus L. cvar Early Scarlet Globe

The incubation of seeds of Raphanus sativus L. cvar Early Scarlet Globe with 10 mu M aspirin resulted in increase in the temperature range for germination. The analysis of percentage germination and germination rates indicated the increase in the optimum temperature from 21.4 to 26 degrees C although at 32.6 degrees C 80.8% of seeds germinated with aspirin and no germination in the control. The analysis of the kinetics of seed germination indicated that aspirin treatment resulted in germination by decreasing the enthalpy of activation of the process. The aspirin treatment also resulted in the synchronization of seed germination. on the base of our results we propose aspirin application in practice to increase the tolerance to high temperature and to synchronize seed germination at least in Raphanus sativus L. cvar early scarlet globe.

Physiological diversity in tolerance to water deprivation among species of South American desert rodents

Rodents from and and semi-arid deserts are faced with the problem of water conservation. The physiological responses of small rodents to such conditions have been intensively investigated over broad geographically disjunct areas. Despite the presence of xeric habitats in South America since the late Tertiary, some studies suggest that sigmodontine South-American desert rodents do not display the same diversity of physiological responses at the species level as those observed in other desert-dwelling species of rodents. In this paper, we analyzed the physiological responses to water deprivation, at the interespecific and interindividual level, among eight species of sigmodontine desert-dwelling rodents from different geographical areas within South-American deserts. Using randomization tests, we found no significant phylogenetic signal for resistance to water deprivation or for individual variability in this response. Contrary to our initial predictions, we observed that sigmodontine rodents from arid/semi-arid habitats (Monte Desert) had significantly lower rates of body mass loss per day (higher tolerances to water deprivation) than species from the hyperarid deserts. We showed that sigmodontine rodents from South America showed a remarkable diversity of physiological mechanisms for coping with water shortage resulting from different evolutionary adaptive strategies. This diversity, however, displays a rather unexpected pattern in terms of its geographical distribution. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.