Evaluation of metals in water and sediments of micro-basins in the city of Americana, São Paulo state, Brazil

Water pollution found in major rivers in Brazil has its origin from urban sewage discharges and industrial effluent, carried out by small streams and rivers crossing cities. Therefore, studies related to hydrographic micro-basins offer the opportunity to establish environmental management strategies for restoring water resources, based on diagnosis of the water quality. Despite this understanding, few studies in urban and rural areas have been performed in a systematic manner in Brazilian micro-basins. The main goal of this research was to diagnose the water resources in micro-basins in the region of the district of Americana, São Paulo state, Brazil, through the quantification of metals in water and sediment. The methodology was based on the investigation of metals (Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn), in four micro-basins, determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The most significant result showed high concentration levels of chromium (969 μg L-1), downstream of the discharge of sewage from the city of Nova Odessa. This concentration in the river was above the allowed limit of Brazilian regulation agency (50 μg L-1 for Cr). Also high levels of Cr were found in the sediment (98.9 μg g-1) collected at the same monitored site. These results are important indicators of environmental performance and anthropogenic activities to help the government establish environmental management strategies aimed at the reduction of water pollution. © 2013 WIT Press.

Social and environmental indexes to determine the impacts of closed neighbourhoods in Brazil

São Paulo State, in Brazil, is getting increasingly crowded, like in other third world countries around the world, so should give great importance to city development. This work considered the phenomenon of closed neighbourhoods (CN) as an important factor to city planning, papers report many impacts of this model of neighbourhoods in other countries, but in Brazil its impacts are not yet well listed in the literature. The aim of this work was to determine indicators to achieve the social and environmental performances and verify their applicability on three different closed neighbourhoods in São Paulo state, Brazil. The indicators were condensed on indexes: water management, waste management, energy and emissions, legal compliance, environment and buildings, risk management, health and education and governance. The preliminary results indicated several social and environmental problems in all indexes. © 2013 WIT Press.

Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the annexin A1 protein and its mimetic peptide Ac2-26 in models of ocular inflammation in vivo and in vitro

Annexin A1 (AnxA1) is a protein that displays potent anti-inflammatory properties, but its expression in eye tissue and its role in ocular inflammatory diseases have not been well studied. We investigated the mechanism of action and potential uses of AnxA1 and its mimetic peptide (Ac2-26) in the endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) rodent model and in human ARPE-19 cells activated by LPS. In rats, analysis of untreated EIU after 24 and 48 h or EIU treated with topical applications or with a single s.c. injection of Ac2-26 revealed the anti-inflammatory actions of Ac2-26 on leukocyte infiltration and on the release of inflammatory mediators; the systemic administration of Boc2, a formylated peptide receptor (fpr) antagonist, abrogated the peptide's protective effects. Moreover, AnxA1-/- mice exhibited exacerbated EIU compared with wild-type animals. Immunohistochemical studies of ocular tissue showed a specific AnxA1 posttranslational modification in EIU and indicated that the fpr2 receptor mediated the anti-inflammatory actions of AnxA1. In vitro studies confirmed the roles of AnxA1 and fpr2 and the protective effects of Ac2-26 on the release of chemical mediators in ARPE-19 cells. Molecular analysis of NF-κB translocation and IL-6, IL-8, and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression indicated that the protective effects of AnxA1 occur independently of the NF-κB signaling pathway and possibly in a posttranscriptional manner. Together, our data highlight the role of AnxA1 in ocular inflammation, especially uveitis, and suggest the use of AnxA1 or its mimetic peptide Ac2-26 as a therapeutic approach. Copyright © 2013 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Pressão intra-ocular, condições endoteliais e prostaglandina E2 no humor aquoso de cães com catarata senil madura ou hipermatura

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Alterações clínicas, protéicas do humor aquoso, sorológicas e histopatológicas em olhos de cães (Canis familiaris) (Linnaeus, 1758), infectados experimentalmente, por via conjuntival, com Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi (Cunha & Chagas, 1937)

Pós-graduação em Cirurgia Veterinária - FCAV

As formas do humor. Copi: um caso argentino

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Revista Careta: um estudo sobre humor visual no Estado Novo (1937-1945)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Interferência dos fatores externos sobre os estados de humor em jovens atletas de voleibol

Pós-graduação em Ciências da Motricidade - IBRC

Humor e sátira: a outra face de Edgar Allan Poe

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Homo Risibilis: ensaio sobre o processo de construção do humor nas obras infantis de Monteiro Lobato

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A recepção de O Primo Basílio na imprensa brasileira do século XIX: Caricatura, Humor e Crítica Literária

Posto à venda em Portugal, em fevereiro de 1878, o romance O Primo Basílio, de Eça de Queirós, não demorou muito para chegar às livrarias do Rio de Janeiro. O sucesso quase instantâneo da obra despertou a reação dos meios intelectuais brasileiros, em particular dos críticos literários, divididos entre a acusação e a defesa da obra quanto à moralidade. A recepção do livro de Eça também repercutiu na imprensa brasileira de caricaturas da época, embora aqui, em lugar das charges, tenha prevalecido a sátira verbal, na forma das piadas, poemas e pequenas histórias picantes, sob o influxo da crítica literária, questão discutida no presente artigo.

Condições do humor aquoso, quanto à contaminação, na facoemulsificação com implante de lente intraocular em cães

Pós-graduação em Cirurgia Veterinária - FCAV

Intraocular pressure, specular microscopy, and prostaglandin E-2 concentration in dogs with mature and hypermature cataract

This study aimed to evaluate and correlate intraocular pressure (IOP), endothelial cell density (CD), and hexagonality (HEX), and the aqueous humor prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) concentration in dogs with mature (MG, n = 8) and hypermature (HG, n = 8) cataracts. Eight laboratory beagles with no ocular abnormalities were included as a control group (CG). The IOP was measured using a digital applanation tonometer. Noncontact specular microscopy was used to evaluate CD and HEX. Samples of aqueous humor were used to determine prostaglandin E-2 concentration using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Data were compared by ANOVA and Bonferroni's multiple comparison test, and possible correlations among the PGE(2) aqueous concentration and corneal endothelium cell parameters were assessed by Person's test (P < 0.05). Average values of IOP (P = 0.45) and CD (P = 0.39) were not significantly different between MG, HM, and CG. Average values of HEX were lower, and PGE(2) concentration was increased in the MG and HG in comparison with CG (P < 0.05); however, such parameters did not change significantly between MG and HG (P > 0.05). PGE(2) values did not correlate with IOP, CD, and HEX in any group (P > 0.05). Although there were a small number of dogs studied, our results demonstrated that cataract progression from mature to hypermature did not have a significant change in PGE(2) aqueous concentration, IOP, corneal endothelial cell count, or morphology. In addition, PGE(2) concentration was not correlated with parameters of the corneal endothelium or IOP in dogs with mature or hypermature cataracts.

A new surgical technique to treat corneal perforations using amniotic membrane and surgical adhesive

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

A interferência do estado de humor na melhora dos componentes da capacidade funcional em idosos

Mood States are feelings auto regulation deliver to individual better quality of life and healthy aging. The declines of the aging process can be minimized with the regular practice of physical activity and systematized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dance program in mood states, depressive symptoms and functional capacity in elderly participants of PROFIT. METHOD: The sample was composed of 20 elderly people. The Training Group was formed by 15 elders who participated in a protocol of dance with duration of 1 hour, three times per week, for 12 weeks and the Control Group, composed of 5 elderly, did not attend any program of physical activity. The participants were evaluated by the List of States of Mind Reduced and Illustrated, Geriatric Depression Scale and the battery of tests of AAHPERD. For the mood states was used non-parametric analysis, according to the technique of Binomial Analysis. To compare the components of functional capacity between the groups was used analysis of variance for repeated measures two-way ANOVA and the level of significance was set at 5 %. RESULTS: The functional components remained favorable, highlighting Agility (pre = 21.03 ± 1.64 sec./ post = 18.63 ± 2.26 sec.) And aerobic endurance (pre = 495.94 ± 46.48 sec. / post = 448.01 ± 12.27 sec.). In the comparison between positive and negative functional levels and mood states showed no relationship between these variables, dealing with different aspects and has influence one another. The state post-dancing sessions mood in GT were more positive even for elderly patients with depressive symptoms even unproven statistically, depressive symptoms were maintained or reduced mostly. CONCLUSION: The dance practice maintains the functionality of components; modifies mood states to positive levels and reduces or prevents the onset of depressive symptoms and complications in elderly