Efeito de soluções fluoretadas contendo xilitol e sorbitol no número de estreptococos do grupo mutans na saliva de seres humanos

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of 0.05% sodium fluoride solutions containing 2.5% or 12.5% xylitol on the number of Streptococcus mutans in the human mouth. Fifty boys between 8 and 16 years of age participated in this double-blind crossover study. Of the original 50 boys, 33 finished the study. Participants were randomly divided into four groups. The following solutions were employed: placebo solution; 0.05% sodium fluoride solution; 0.05% sodium fluoride + 2.5% xylitol + 2% sorbitol; 0.05% sodium fluoride + 12.5% xylitol + 2% sorbitol. Each solution was used for a 28-day period (20 mL/day, twice a day), with a 10-day washout period between solutions. There were no significant differences (P = 0.32) between the two xylitol-containing solutions (2.5% vs. 12.5%) concerning the number of Streptococcus mutans. However, there was a significant difference between these two xylitol-containing solutions and the sodium fluoride and placebo solutions (P < 0.001). Our results suggest that the 0.05% sodium fluoride solutions containing either 2.5% or 12.5% xylitol caused a significant reduction in the number of Streptococcus mutans.

Factors associated with red blood cell transfusions in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants in Brazilian neonatal units

Preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units frequently receive red blood cells (RBC) transfusions due to the anemia of prematurity. A number of variables related to gestational age, severity of illness and transfusion practices adopted in the neonatal unit where the neonate was born may contribute to the prescription of RBC transfusions. This study aimed to analyse the frequency and factors associated with RBC transfusions in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants. A prospective cohort of 4283 preterm infants (gestational age: 29.9 ± 2.9 weeks; birth weight: 1084 ± 275 g) carried out at 16 university hospitals in Brazil between January 2009 and December 2011 was analysed. Factors associated with RBC transfusions were evaluated using univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. A total of 2208 (51.6%) infants received RBC transfusions (variation per neonatal unit: 34.1% to 66.4%). RBC transfusions were significantly associated with gestational age (OR: -1.098; 95%CI: -1.12 to -1.04), SNAPPE II score (1.01; 1.00-1.02), apnea (1.69; 1.34-2.14), pulmonary hemorrhage (2.65; 1.74-4.031), need for oxygen at 28 days of life (1.56; 1.17-2.08), clinical sepsis (3.22; 2.55-4.05), necrotising enterocolitis (3.80; 2.26-6.41), grades III/IV intraventricular hemorrhage (1.64; 1.05-2.58), mechanical ventilation (2.27; 1.74-2.97), use of umbilical catheter (1.86; 1.35-2.57), parenteral nutrition (2.06; 1.27-3.33), >60 days of hospitalization (5.29; 4.02-6.95) and the neonatal unit where the neonate was born. The frequency of RBC transfusions varied among neonatal intensive care units. Even after adjusting for adverse health conditions and therapeutic interventions, the neonatal unit continued to influence transfusion practices in very-low birth-weight infants.

Supplementation with protected fat to manage gastro-intestinal nematode infection in Santa Ines sheep

This experiment aimed to determine the influence of supplementation with protected fat on nematode infections in periparturient sheep or sheep in their final stage of pregnancy. Fifty Santa Ines ewes received 200 g of concentrate/animal/day, mineral salt and water and were grouped according to their weight, hematocrit and the number of eggs per gram of feces (EPG). Two diets were used: a control treatment and a treatment consisting of supplementation with 30 g/animal/day of protected fat in the concentrate. Three monthly evaluations were performed over a total of 84 days of testing. The variables analyzed were weight, body condition, EPG and coprocultures; blood tests were performed for the determination of packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration and total plasma protein, and leukograms and eosinophil counts were performed. For weight and hemoglobin concentrations, interactions were observed between diet and collection date (P<0.05); body condition, total plasma protein, packed cell volume and total leukocytes did not differ statistically among treatments (P> 0. 05) but did differ by collection day (P <0.05). The EPG and eosinophil counts did not differ statistically by either diet or collection date (P>0.05). The genus Haemonchus was predominant, followed by the genera Cooperia, Trichostrongylus and Oesophagostomum. The protected fat did not decrease EPG and did not improve the blood parameters of infected sheep.

Correlações entre padrões hematológicos, parasitológicos e desempenho animal de ovelhas suplementadas com gordura protegida

The development of populations of gastrointestinal parasites resistant to antihelmintics has led to seeks new alternatives its control. Stimulation of natural immunity by means of animal nutrition has shown promising results in controlling nematodes in sheep. The addition of protected fat sources, containing essential fatty acids, may be an alternative due to many effects, among them, regulation of immunity expression and regulation of the inflammatory response by immune effectors. The aim of this study was to estimate correlations between haematological and parasitological patterns, animal performance through weight and body condition, under the influence of protected fat in ewes. Fifty Santa Ines sheep, in the final third of pregnancy or postpartum, in paddocks of Panicum maximum, received, individually, 200 g per day of concentrate, isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets, with or without the addition of protected fat. In general, except for total leukocytes and eosinophils, almost all of Pearson correlation coefficients of other variables were significant. However, the protected fat, in the amount offered, had no antihelmintic effect.

Influência da resposta crônica sobre as variáveis hematológicas de indivíduos diabéticos tipo 2 submetidos a um treinamento misto de bola suíça

The main function of the immune system is the defense against infection, being composed by the leukocytes that modulate the immune response, which can be innate or adaptive. The physical exercise can causes positive or negative alterations in the total or relative number of leukocytes. When the exercise has a low or moderate intensity it`s considered beneficial for improving the function of the cells responsible for the defense and to reduce the risk of infectious illnesses. The type 2 diabetes is related to an incapacity of the body in rightly respond to insulin, associated to an resistance to its actions. The purpose of this research was to make a study of the immune system characteristics, as well as the type 2 diabetes and the relation among both and the physical exercise. So, it was analyzed a group of type 2 diabetics coming from Diabetics House of Franca -SP, treated through a program of mix physical training. Two collections of blood were pre and post training program for the pair comparable of the participants. It was found positive alterations of the subpopulations of leukocytes that show a probable improvement of the immunological state what allows us to suggest about a possible improvement of the immunological activity, what would be measured by the activation of these cells forward to an inflammatory/infectious condition. So, we suggest that future studies involving diabetes, immune system and physical exercise be encouraged.

Concordância entre dois testes de capacidade aeróbica máxima baseados na corrida em esteira e pista, com jogadores de futsal

The actual study goal is to test the Ellestad and Weltman protocol concordance in the prediction of VO2max in Futsal athletes. There was no significant difference between the two protocols, there was significant correlation between methods, but the Bland & Altman plotting shown very high amplitude in the Confident Interval at 95%.

Concordância dentre dois testes de capacidade aeróbia máxima em jogadores de futsal: teste de Ellestad e o vai e vem de 20m

O futsal é uma modalidade intermitente cuja a participação do metabolismo aeróbio é importante na ressíntese de ATP e CP gastos anaerobiamente. A capacidade aeróbia máxima (VO2max) pode ser mensurada por testes de campo e testes laboratoriais. Dentre os vários testes laboratoriais existentes, se destaca o teste de Ellestad, devido à sua segurança e capacidade diagnóstica de patologias cardíacas. Dentre os testes de campo se destaca o teste de Vai e Vem de 20m (VV20m), devido à sua alta validade e reprodutibilidade em adultos, e devido à alta especificidade ao futsal e ao futebol, comprovado pela existênicia de correlações significativas do desempenho no VV20m com várias medidas de performance no futebol. Porém, não existem estudos sobre a validação ou concordância do teste de Ellestad em atletas de esportes coletivos. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi testar a concordância do teste de Ellestad e o VV20m na predição do VO2max em atletas de futsal. Quinze jogadores semi-profissionais (25,4 ± 5,51 anos, 70,37 ± 5,74kg, 1,75 ± 0,04m e 8,43 ± 3,02% de gordura) realizaram os testes de Ellestad e o VV20m em ordens aleatórias, separados por quatro dias. A concordância foi testada pela comparação entre as diferenças (Teste t-studet para dados independentes), correlação (coeficiente de Pearson) e concordância (dipersão de Bland e Altman). Não houve diferença significativa entre os valores de VO2max estimados pelos dois protocolos, mas a correlação foi significativa (p < 0,05; r = 0,479; EPE: 1,8 mlO2×kg -1 ×min -1 ) entre os métodos. A análise de Bland e Altman apresentou concordância entre os testes para um intervalo de ±95% em torno da média da diferença (1,3 mlO2×kg -1 ×min -1 ), porém a dispersão indica um enviesamento positivo e significativo (p < 0,01), sugerindo que a a diferença aumenta com o aumento da média do VO2max. Assim, para atletas de alto rendimento, o teste de Ellestad não apresenta a mesma adequação na determinação do VO2max, quando comparado ao VV20m.

A metalloproteomics study on the association of mercury with breast milk in samples from lactating women in the Amazon region of Brazil

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

A maldição de Eva: vozes femininas nos romances A dança dos cabelos, Sombras de julho e O vestido, de Carlos Herculano Lopes

Pós-graduação em Estudos Literários - FCLAR

A representação do mar nos romances de Moacir C. Lopes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Skeletal abnormalities in humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae stranded in the Brazilian breeding ground

Skeletal tissues of 49 humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae that stranded between 2002 and 2011 along the Abrolhos Bank seashore and its adjacent waters in Brazil were studied. Twelve (24.5%) animals presented pathological changes in one or more bones. Degenerative changes and developmental malformations were most frequent (10.2% each), followed by inflammatory/infectious and traumatic lesions (8.2% each). Infectious diseases led to severe lesions of the caudal vertebrae of 2 whales. In one of these individuals, the lesions involved 6 caudal vertebrae, leading to ankylosis of 3 vertebrae. Degenerative changes were observed in the vertebral columns of 3 animals, involving the joints of 13 ribs of 1 individual, and in the humerus of 1 whale. Traumatic lesions, such as osseous callus in the ribs, were observed in 4 animals. In 1 whale, the rib showed severe osteomyelitis, possibly resulting from the infection of multiple fractures. Developmental abnormalities such as spina bifida on 3 cervical vertebrae of 1 whale, fusion of spinal processes on thoracic vertebrae of 1 individual and fusion of the first 2 ribs unilaterally or bilaterally in 4 animals were found. Chronic infectious conditions found in the axial skeleton may have restrained spinal mobility and had detrimental effects on the general health of the animals, contributing to stranding and death. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic study on skeletal lesions in stranded humpback whales.

Shearless transport barriers in magnetically confined plasmas

Shearless transport barriers appear in confined plasmas due to non-monotonic radial profiles and cause localized reduction of transport even after they have been broken. In this paper we summarize our recent theoretical and experimental research on shearless transport barriers in plasmas confined in toroidal devices. In particular, we discuss shearless barriers in Lagrangian magnetic field line transport caused by non-monotonic safety factor profiles. We also discuss evidence of particle transport barriers found in the TCABR Tokamak (University of Sao Paulo) and the Texas Helimak (University of Texas at Austin) in biased discharges with non-monotonic plasma flows.

Genome Sequence of Exiguobacterium antarcticum B7, Isolated from a Biofilm in Ginger Lake, King George Island, Antarctica

Exiguobacterium antarcticum is a psychotropic bacterium isolated for the first time from microbial mats of Lake Fryxell in Antarctica. Many organisms of the genus Exiguobacterium are extremophiles and have properties of biotechnological interest, e. g., the capacity to adapt to cold, which make this genus a target for discovering new enzymes, such as lipases and proteases, in addition to improving our understanding of the mechanisms of adaptation and survival at low temperatures. This study presents the genome of E. antarcticum B7, isolated from a biofilm sample of Ginger Lake on King George Island, Antarctic peninsula.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Aerobic Exercise in Mice Exposed to Air Pollution

VIEIRA, R. D. P., A. C. TOLEDO, L. B. SILVA, F. M. ALMEIDA, N. R. DAMACENO-RODRIGUES, E. G. CALDINI, A. B. G. SANTOS, D. H. RIVERO, D. C. HIZUME, F. D. T. Q. S. LOPES, C. R. OLIVO, H. C. CASTRO-FARIA-NETO, M. A. MARTINS, P. H. N. SALDIVA, and M. DOLHNIKOFF. Anti-inflammatory Effects of Aerobic Exercise in Mice Exposed to Air Pollution. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 44, No. 7, pp. 1227-1234, 2012. Purpose: Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) results in lung inflammation. Regular aerobic exercise improves the inflammatory status in different pulmonary diseases. However, the effects of long-term aerobic exercise on the pulmonary response to DEP have not been investigated. The present study evaluated the effect of aerobic conditioning on the pulmonary inflammatory and oxidative responses of mice exposed to DEP. Methods: BALB/c mice were subjected to aerobic exercise five times per week for 5 wk, concomitantly with exposure to DEP (3 mg.mL (1); 10 mu L per mouse). The levels of exhaled nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, cellularity, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were analyzed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the density of neutrophils and the volume proportion of collagen fibers were measured in the lung parenchyma. The cellular density of leukocytes expressing IL-1 beta, keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC), and TNF-alpha in lung parenchyma was evaluated with immunohistochemistry. The levels of IL-1 beta, KC, and TNF-alpha were also evaluated in the serum. Results: Aerobic exercise inhibited the DEP-induced increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species (P < 0.05); exhaled nitric oxide (P < 0.01); total (P < 0.01) and differential cells (P < 0.01); IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P < 0.05); the level of neutrophils (P < 0.001); collagen density in the lung parenchyma (P < 0.05); the levels of IL-6, KC, and TNF-alpha in plasma (P < 0.05); and the expression of IL-1 beta, KC, and TNF-alpha by leukocytes in the lung parenchyma (P < 0.01). Conclusions: We conclude that long-term aerobic exercise presents protective effects in a mouse model of DEP-induced lung inflammation. Our results indicate a need for human studies that evaluate the pulmonary responses to aerobic exercise chronically performed in polluted areas.

Urinary glycosaminoglycans in horse osteoarthritis. Effects of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine

Our objectives were to characterize the urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in horse osteoarthritis, and to investigate the effects of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine (GlcN) upon the disease. Urinary GAGs were measured in 47 athletic horses, 20 healthy and 27 with osteoarthritis. The effects of CS and GlcN were investigated in mild osteoarthritis. In comparison to normal, urinary GAGs were increased in osteoarthritis, including mild osteoarthritis affecting only one joint. Treatment with CS + GlcN led to a long lasting increase in the urinary CS and keratan sulfate (KS), and significant improvement in flexion test of tarsocrural and metacarpophalangeal joints was observed. In conclusion, urinary CS and KS seems to reflect the turnover rates of cartilage matrix proteoglycans, and the measurement of these compounds could provide objective means of evaluating and monitoring joint diseases. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.