A double blind, randomized, multicenter, parallel group study of the effectiveness and tolerance of intraarticular hyaluronan in osteoarthritis of the knee

Objective. To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of a course of 5 injections of hyaluronan (HA) given at intervals of one week in patients with symptomatic, mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Methods: A double blind, randomized, parallel group, multicenter (17 centers), saline vehicle-controlled study was conducted over 18 weeks. Patients received either 25 mg (2.5 ml) HA in a phosphate buffered solution or 2.5 ml vehicle containing only the buffer by intraarticular injection. Five injections were given at one week intervals and the patients were followed for a further 13 weeks. The Western Ontario McMaster (WOMAC) OA instrument was used as the primary efficacy variable and repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to compare the 2 treatments over Weeks 6, 10, 14, and 18. Results. Of 240 patients randomized for inclusion in the study, 223 were evaluable for the modified intention to treat analysis. The active treatment and control groups were comparable for demographic details, OA history, and previous treatments. Scores for the pain and stiffness subscales of the WOMAC were modestly but significantly lower in the HA-treated group overall (Weeks 6 to 18; p < 0.05) and the statistically significant difference from the control was not apparent until after the series of injections was complete. The physical function subscale did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.064). Tolerability of the procedure was good and there were no serious adverse events that were considered to have a possible causal relationship with the study treatment. Conclusion. Intraarticular HA treatment was significantly more effective than saline vehicle in mild to moderate OA of the knee for the 13 week postinjection period of the study.

DEBATE EM TORNO DA REDAÇÃO E COMPOSIÇÃO DO LIVRO DE AMÓS: PROPOSTAS FUNDAMENTAIS PARA A TEORIA DA CRIAÇÃO COLETIVA A PARTIR DE AMÓS 6,1-14

Esta pesquisa se dedica ao debate em torno da redação e composição do livro de Amós, e pretende, primeiramente, apresentar e criticar algumas hipóteses sobre as camadas literárias, que poderiam pertencer ao próprio profeta, e os acréscimos tardios. Como primeiro passo para uma abordagem do problema redacional, este estudo examina algumas contribuições de especialistas estrangeiros e de estudiosos brasileiros, e tenta fazer um julgamento crítico de suas hipóteses sobre a redação do livro de Amós. A questão do processo redacional do livro de Amós tem sido, na verdade, objeto de uma animada discussão entre muitos estudiosos. Em segundo lugar, a leitura diacrônica é complementada com o estudo sincrônico do livro, isto é, com o debate em torno da estrutura não só da composição em Amós 6,1-14, mas também do livro todo. Em terceiro lugar, a partir da avaliação do resultado da pesquisa e com a utilização do método histórico-crítico, a composição em Amós 6,1-14 é analisada como uma unidade literária de sentido. Para tal análise são, indubitavelmente, relevantes algumas considerações prévias sobre o gênero literário da lamentação, a denúncia profética da injustiça social e a instituição do banquete do marzeah. Em seqüência, esta tese analisa o fenômeno literário dos panfletos proféticos e da organização social, que poderia estar por detrás de sua autoria. Por isso, e levando em conta o desafio de novas propostas metodológicas, esta pesquisa visa dar uma contribuição específica ao estudo de Amós. Ela se empenha em demonstrar que, em relação a Amós 6,1-14, o leitor está diante de uma criação coletiva. De fato, a mencionada composição é o resultado não só da pregação oral do próprio profeta, mas também, em razão de sua forma compósita, das vozes proféticas de pessoas oprimidas, que, impulsionadas pelo Espírito, confirmaram a denúncia severa de Amós e até a completaram com suas próprias experiências e sofrimentos. Finalmente, um despretensioso excursus examina o livro de Amós em um contexto literário mais amplo, para dar uma visão geral do debate em torno do processo redacional do Livro dos Doze Profetas, particularmente a partir de sua perspectiva escatológica mediante a categoria teológica do Dia do Senhor.(AU)

CL/RAMP2 and CL/RAMP3 produce pharmacologically distinct adrenomedullin receptors:a comparison of effects of adrenomedullin 22-52, CGRP 8-37 and BIBN4096BS

1. Adrenomedullin (AM) has two known receptors formed by the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CL) and receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) 2 or 3: We report the effects of the antagonist fragments of human AM and CGRP (AM 22-52 and CGRP 8-37) in inhibiting AM at human (h), rat (r) and mixed species CL/RAMP2 and CL/RAMP3 receptors transiently expressed in Cos 7 cells or endogenously expressed as rCL/rRAMP2 complexes by Rat 2 and L6 cells. 2. AM 22-52 (10 μM) antagonised AM at all CL/RAMP2 complexes (apparent pA 2 values: 7.34±0.14 (hCL/hRAMP2), 7.28±0.06 (Rat2), 7.00±0.05 (L6), 6.25±0.17(rCL/hRAMP2)). CGRP 8-37 (10 μM) resembled AM 22-52 except on the rCL/hRAMP2 complex, where it did not antagonise AM (apparent PA 2 values: 7.04±0.13 (hCL/hRAMP2), 6.72±0.06 (Rat2), 7.03±0. 12 (L6)). 3. On CL/RAMP3 receptors, 10 μM CGRP 8-37 was an effective antagonist at all combinations (apparent pA 2 values: 6.96±0.08 (hCL/hRAMP3), 6.18±0.18 (rCL/rRAMP3), 6.48±0.20 (rCL/ hRAMP3)). However, 10 μm AM 22-52 only antagonised AM at the hCL/hRAMP3 receptor (apparent PA 2 6.73±0.14). 4. BIBN4096BS (10 μM) did not antagonise AM at any of the receptors. 5. Where investigated (all-rat and rat/human combinations), the agonist potency order on the CL/ RAMP3 receptor was AM∼βCGRP>αCGRP. 6. rRAMP3 showed three apparent polymorphisms, none of which altered its coding sequence. 7. This study shows that on CL/RAMP complexes, AM 22-52 has significant selectivity for the CL/ RAMP2 combination over the CL/RAMP3 combination. On the mixed species receptor, CGRP 8-37 showed the opposite selectivity. Thus, depending on the species, it is possible to discriminate pharmacologically between CL/RAMP2 and CL/RAMP3 AM receptors.

Frontier exploration and the North Atlantic Igneous Province : new insights from a 2.6 km offshore volcanic sequence in the NE Faroe–Shetland Basin

Peer reviewed

Frontier exploration and the North Atlantic Igneous Province : new insights from a 2.6 km offshore volcanic sequence in the NE Faroe–Shetland Basin

Peer reviewed

Age determination on monazite from Forefinger Point granulites, East Antarctica (Table 2.6-1)

Electron microprobe (EMP) dating on monazite in granulite- facies rocks from Forefinger Point, East Antarctica, yielded dominant ages of 500 Ma on matrix monazites.They are associated with secondary cordierite, biotite and sapphirine, formed during nearly isothermal decompression after the high P-T assemblages involving garnet, orthopyroxene and sillimanite. Older ages around 750-1000 Ma are detected in monazite cores and in monazite inclusions in garnet porphyroblast. Combining the available age data and the reaction textures, it becomes evident that the Forefinger Point granulites have been overprinted by a granulite-facies decompressional event of Pan-African age. Moreover, EMP monazite dating imply that the Forefinger Point granulites have experienced at least two stages of metamorphic evolution.

Expression of high amounts of the CD117 molecule in a case of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma carrying the t(14:18) translocation.

The c-kit proto-oncogen (CD117) has been described to be present in normal and neoplastic hemopoietic cells including both myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Among the normal lymphoid cells CD117 expression would be restricted to a small subset of NK-cells, and to early T-cell precursors and it is not expressed by normal B-cells. Regarding chronic lymphoproliferative disorders the only data provided up to now suggests that CD117 expression is restricted to cases of Hodgkin's disease and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. In the present paper we describe a case of a B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorder carrying the t(14:18) translocation as demonstrated by molecular studies, in which the flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis of both peripheral blood and bone marrow samples revealed the expression of high amounts of the CD117 antigen in the surface of the clonal B-cell population. Further studies are necessary to explore both the functional role of c-kit expression in the neoplastic B-cells from this patient and its potential utility for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Stable expression of a human-like sialylated recombinant thyrotropin in a chinese hamster ovary cell line expressing 'alfa'2,6-sialyltransferase

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

Ontogenia del sistema digestivo y caracterización de la actividad enzimática de las larvas de chita Anisotremus scapularis (Tschudi, 1846)

La chita Anisotremus scapularis es un pez marino que habita las costas de Perú, es muy valorado para el consumo humano directo, y, es considerada una especie con potencial acuícola. El cultivo larval en muchas especies de peces marinos se considera como uno de los cuellos de botella para el desarrollo de la tecnología de cultivo a escala comercial, este es el caso de la chita. Como primer alimento y durante los primeros días de vida de las larvas se les suministra presas vivas, y posteriormente, cuando poseen un sistema digestivo más desarrollado, se les suministra alimento balanceado. Sin embargo, los alimentos vivos más empleados no satisfacen los requerimientos nutricionales de las larvas convirtiéndose en un punto crítico. Es por ello, que en los últimos años diversas investigaciones han concentrado sus esfuerzos en la sustitución del alimento vivo por alimento balanceado; no obstante, esto exige un buen conocimiento de la organización y funcionalidad del sistema digestivo. En este sentido, en el presente trabajo se investigan algunos aspectos de la fisiología nutricional de las larvas de chita durante los primeros 30 días de vida. Las larvas fueron cultivadas a partir de huevos obtenidos de desoves naturales de un lote de reproductores mantenidos en cautiverio en el Laboratorio de Cultivo de Peces del Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE). El estudio del crecimiento en longitud, los análisis histológicos y la caracterización enzimática se realizaron a partir de muestras de larvas colectadas a los 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 y 30 días después de la eclosión (DDE). Para los análisis histológicos, las larvas fueron sometidas a un proceso de deshidratación e inclusión en parafina, y teñidos utilizando la técnica de hematoxilina-eosina. La cuantificación de las enzimas digestivas de la chita, proteasas totales (ácidas y alcalinas), tripsina, leucina aminopeptidasa, lipasas dependientes de sales biliares y alfa-amilasa se llevó a cabo con técnicas espectrofotométricas. Al momento de la eclosión, las larvas poseen un tubo digestivo recto e histológicamente indiferenciado ubicado dorsalmente con respecto al saco vitelino, que se caracteriza por poseer una gota de aceite. Entre los 2 y 4 DDE, se observaron los mayores cambios en el desarrollo del sistema digestivo, entre los más importantes están la diferenciación de la bucofaringe, esófago e intestino, plegamiento de la mucosa intestinal, la formación de las microvellosidades en los enterocitos y el desarrollo de sus glándulas anexas, hígado y páncreas, los cuales permitieron la ingestión, digestión y absorción de los primeros alimentos exógenos ingeridos por las larvas. El mayor cambio que se observó en días posteriores fue la observación de un estómago en desarrollo, con la diferenciación de las glándulas gástricas (26 DDE). Las enzimas digestivas analizadas, fueron detectadas desde el momento de la eclosión de las larvas, antes de la apertura de la boca, y se incrementaron con la edad de los organismos. En general, se observó incrementos en la actividad total de las enzimas digestivas a partir de los 8 y 10 DDE o a los 4 mm de longitud total (LT), particularmente con aumentos más marcados en la actividad de las lipasas y de la leucina aminopeptidasa. Para la actividad de proteasas alcalinas totales, tripsina y alfa-amilasa, los aumentos fueron evidentes a partir de los 22 DDE o entre 6 y 7 mm de LT. La actividad de las proteasas ácidas se evidenció e incrementó a partir del 26 DDE o a los 9 mm de LT. En cuanto los patrones de actividad específica, en general, se observaron incrementos súbitos de la actividad que se relacionan con los periodos de transición de la alimentación endógena a exógena (3-6 DDE), y con el cambio de alimentación de rotíferos a metanauplios de Artemia (26 DDE). También, exceptuando la actividad de la leucina aminopeptidasa, se observaron estos incrementos súbitos antes de la primera alimentación. Con base al análisis histológico y bioquímico de las larvas de chita, se recomienda iniciar el destete a los 26 DDE.

Síntese e caracterização do líquido iônico tetrafluoroborato de 1-metil-3-(2,6-(S)-dimetiloct-2-eno)-imidazol como eletrólito para produção de hidrogênio via eletrólise da água

Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic compounds liquid at room temperature, good electrical conductors, with the potential to form as a means for electrolyte on electrolysis of water, in which the electrodes would not be subjected to such extreme conditions demanding chemistry [1]. This paper describes the synthesis, characterization and study of the feasibility of ionic liquid ionic liquid 1-methyl-3(2,6-(S)-dimethyloct-2-ene)-imidazole tetrafluoroborate (MDI-BF4) as electrolyte to produce hydrogen through electrolysis of water. The MDI-BF4 synthesized was characterized by thermal methods of analysis (Thermogravimetric Analysis - TG and Differential Scanning Calorimetry - DSC), mid-infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform by method of attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hydrogen (NMR 1H) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Where thermal methods were used to calculate the yield of the synthesis of MDI-BF4 which was 88.84%, characterized infrared spectroscopy functional groups of the compound and the binding B-F 1053 cm-1; the NMR 1H analyzed and compared with literature data defines the structure of MDI-BF4 and the current density achieved by MDI-BF4 in the voltammogram shows that the LI can conduct electrical current indicating that the MDI-BF4 is a good electrolyte, and that their behavior does not change with the increasing concentration of water

Otimização do descascamento químico de raízes do yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia Poepp.)

A full factorial design 2³ was used to evaluate the effect of process variables in chemical peeling of yacon roots, cultivated in Curitiba, State of Paraná. Eleven treatments, with three central points, were done in which they had been evaluated at three different levels of sodium hydroxide solution, % (g/100 mL) [6, 10, 14], temperature of the same solution, °C [70, 80, 90], and residence time in the sodium hydroxide solution, minutes [2, 4, 6]. All the studied variables had affected significantly (p<0.05) the yield of yacon roots subjected to chemical peeling. The variable that most affected the yield was the time of permanence in the sodium hydroxide solution. The mathematical model obtained for the yield (%) was good with R² aj = 0.8497, and non significant lack of fit (p=0.9312).Therefore, the model can be used for predictive purposes. In the central point a satisfactory yield (84% to 87%) with a high percentage of removed peel was obtained (96% to 98%) indicating that the treatment with 10% of sodium hydroxide solution, temperature of 80º C per 4 minutes can be used in the chemical peeling of yacon roots.

Unusual 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) spectrophotometric behavior in water/ethanol and water/DMSO mixtures

The absorption spectra of DPH at fixed concentration do not change with water content in organic solvents. It exhibits monomer bands, such as those obtained in ethanol. The absorption did not change for solutions up to 54 and 46% of water in ethanol and DMSO, respectively, for [DPH] = 5.0 × 10-6 mol L-1 at 30 °C. However, at the same experimental conditions, a gradual sharp decay of the DPH fluorescence is observed. It is proposed that water molecules below these water concentration limits act as quenchers of the excited states of DPH. Stern-Volmer quenching constants by intensities measurements are 7.4 × 10-2 (water/ethanol) and 2.6 × 10-2 L mol-1 (water/DMSO). DPH lifetime measurements in the absence and presence of water resulted in 7.1 × 10-2 L mol-1 in water/ethanol, which pointed out that the process is a dynamic quenching by water molecules. For experiments using DPH as probe, this process can affect data, leading to misunderstanding interpretation.

Distribution of interleukin-2,-4,-10, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta mRNAs in oral lichen planus

In the present study. MRNA for the cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-10 tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta-1) were investigated in oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions using in situ hybridization with S-35-labelled oligonucleotide probes on frozen tissue sections. In addition, the expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-10 and IL-4 mRNAs was analysed in cultured lesional T lymphocytes from oral lichen planus by polymerase chain reaction. Cells expressing mRNA for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta(1) were found in all the biopsies studied. Approximately 1-2% of the total number of infiltrating cells in the lesions were positive for each of the different cytokine mRNAs. Most biopsies contained basement membrane-oriented, mRNA-positive cells. In the cultured T-cell lines, message for IFN-gamma was detected in all the patients, IL-10 in all but one, and IL-4 in just one of the seven patients investigated. The results suggest that mRNA for both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, i.e., mixed T-helper 1 (T(H)1) and T(H)2 cytokine profiles, are generated simultaneously by a limited number of cells in chronic lesions of OLP. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Special issue: Selected papers from the sixth IFIP 2.6 working conference on visual database systems: Guest editors' introduction

While multimedia data, image data in particular, is an integral part of most websites and web documents, our quest for information so far is still restricted to text based search. To explore the World Wide Web more effectively, especially its rich repository of truly multimedia information, we are facing a number of challenging problems. Firstly, we face the ambiguous and highly subjective nature of defining image semantics and similarity. Secondly, multimedia data could come from highly diversified sources, as a result of automatic image capturing and generation processes. Finally, multimedia information exists in decentralised sources over the Web, making it difficult to use conventional content-based image retrieval (CBIR) techniques for effective and efficient search. In this special issue, we present a collection of five papers on visual and multimedia information management and retrieval topics, addressing some aspects of these challenges. These papers have been selected from the conference proceedings (Kluwer Academic Publishers, ISBN: 1-4020- 7060-8) of the Sixth IFIP 2.6 Working Conference on Visual Database Systems (VDB6), held in Brisbane, Australia, on 29–31 May 2002.