Sawtooth waves during REM sleep after administration of haloperidol combined with total sleep deprivation in healthy young subjects

We sought to examine the possible participation of dopaminergic receptors in the phasic events that occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, known as sawtooth waves (STW). These phasic phenomena of REM sleep exhibit a unique morphology and, although they represent a characteristic feature of REM sleep, little is known about the mechanisms which generate them and which are apparently different from rapid eye movements. STW behavior was studied in 10 male volunteers aged 20 to 35 years, who were submitted to polysomnographic monitoring (PSG). On the adaptation night they were submitted to the first PSG and on the second night, to the basal PSG. On the third night the volunteers received placebo or haloperidol and spent the whole night awake. On the fourth night they were submitted to the third PSG. After a 15-day rest period, the volunteers returned to the sleep laboratory and, according to a double-blind crossover randomized design, received haloperidol or placebo and spent the whole night awake, after which they were submitted to the fourth PSG. The volunteers who were given haloperidol combined with sleep deprivation exhibited an elevation of the duration and density of the STW, without significant alterations of the other REM sleep phasic phenomena such as rapid eye movement. These findings suggest that sawtooth waves must have their own generating mechanisms and that the dopaminergic receptors must exert a modulating role since REM sleep deprivation, as well as administration of neuroleptics, produces supersensitivity of dopaminergic receptors.

Absence of peripheral blood mononuclear cells priming in hemodialysis patients

As a consequence of the proinflammatory environment occurring in dialytic patients, cytokine overproduction has been implicated in hemodialysis co-morbidity. However, there are discrepancies among the various studies that have analyzed TNF-alpha synthesis and the presence of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) priming in this clinical setting. We measured bioactive cytokine by the L929 cell bioassay, and evaluated PBMC TNF-alpha production by 32 hemodialysis patients (HP) and 51 controls. No difference in TNF-alpha secretion was observed between controls and HP (859 ± 141 vs 697 ± 130 U/10(6) cells). Lipopolysaccharide (5 µg/ml) did not induce any further TNF-alpha release, showing no PBMC priming. Paraformaldehyde-fixed HP PBMC were not cytotoxic to L929 cells, suggesting the absence of membrane-anchored TNF-alpha. Cycloheximide inhibited PBMC cytotoxicity in HP and controls, indicating lack of a PBMC TNF-alpha pool, and dependence on de novo cytokine synthesis. Actinomycin D reduced TNF-alpha production in HP, but had no effect on controls. Therefore, our data imply that TNF-alpha production is an intrinsic activity of normal PBMC and is not altered in HP. Moreover, TNF-alpha is a product of de novo synthesis by PBMC and is not constitutively expressed on HP cell membranes. The effect of actinomycin D suggests a putative tighter control of TNF-alpha mRNA turnover in HP. This increased dependence on TNF-alpha RNA transcription in HP may reflect an adaptive response to hemodialysis stimuli.

A method for multiple sequential analyses of macrophage functions using a small single cell sample

Microbial pathogens such as bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) induce the activation of macrophages. Activated macrophages can be characterized by the increased production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen metabolites, generated via NADPH oxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase, respectively, and by the increased expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules (MHC II). Multiple microassays have been developed to measure these parameters. Usually each assay requires 2-5 x 10(5) cells per well. In some experimental conditions the number of cells is the limiting factor for the phenotypic characterization of macrophages. Here we describe a method whereby this limitation can be circumvented. Using a single 96-well microassay and a very small number of peritoneal cells obtained from C3H/HePas mice, containing as little as <=2 x 10(5) macrophages per well, we determined sequentially the oxidative burst (H2O2), nitric oxide production and MHC II (IAk) expression of BCG-activated macrophages. More specifically, with 100 µl of cell suspension it was possible to quantify H2O2 release and nitric oxide production after 1 and 48 h, respectively, and IAk expression after 48 h of cell culture. In addition, this microassay is easy to perform, highly reproducible and more economical.

Effects of exercise training on atrophy gene expression in skeletal muscle of mice with chronic allergic lung inflammation

We evaluated the effects of chronic allergic airway inflammation and of treadmill training (12 weeks) of low and moderate intensity on muscle fiber cross-sectional area and mRNA levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle. Six 4-month-old male BALB/c mice (28.5 ± 0.8 g) per group were examined: 1) control, non-sensitized and non-trained (C); 2) ovalbumin sensitized (OA, 20 µg per mouse); 3) non-sensitized and trained at 50% maximum speed _ low intensity (PT50%); 4) non-sensitized and trained at 75% maximum speed _ moderate intensity (PT75%); 5) OA-sensitized and trained at 50% (OA+PT50%), 6) OA-sensitized and trained at 75% (OA+PT75%). There was no difference in muscle fiber cross-sectional area among groups and no difference in atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression between C and OA groups. All exercised groups showed significantly decreased expression of atrogin-1 compared to C (1.01 ± 0.2-fold): PT50% = 0.71 ± 0.12-fold; OA+PT50% = 0.74 ± 0.03-fold; PT75% = 0.71 ± 0.09-fold; OA+PT75% = 0.74 ± 0.09-fold. Similarly significant results were obtained regarding MuRF1 gene expression compared to C (1.01 ± 0.23-fold): PT50% = 0.53 ± 0.20-fold; OA+PT50% = 0.55 ± 0.11-fold; PT75% = 0.35 ± 0.15-fold; OA+PT75% = 0.37 ± 0.08-fold. A short period of OA did not induce skeletal muscle atrophy in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle and aerobic training at low and moderate intensity negatively regulates the atrophy pathway in skeletal muscle of healthy mice or mice with allergic lung inflammation.

Composição físico-química e aceitação sensorial da inflorescência de gengibre orgânico (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Em Morretes - PR, Brasil, existe uma demanda da utilização integral da planta do gengibre (rizoma e parte aérea), portanto, o conhecimento da composição química e a avaliação sensorial de inflorescência de gengibre tornam-se importantes. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar a composição físico-química e aceitação sensorial de inflorescência de gengibre orgânico. Com a inflorescência de gengibre orgânico, foram elaborados chá, suco e salada e foi verificada sua aceitação com utilização de escala hedônica. As inflorescências de gengibre orgânico, verde e rosada, respectivamente, apresentaram 93,23 e 94,54% de umidade, 0,83 e 0,81% de cinzas, 17,98 e 12,36% de proteínas, 3,90 e 3,81% de lipídios, 19,22 e 23,99% de fibra bruta e 58,07 e 59,03% de carboidratos. Com o amadurecimento, as inflorescências de gengibre têm o seu teor de proteínas diminuído e o teor de fibras aumentado. Para o consumo das inflorescências, indica-se sua utilização para o preparo de chá, produto que apresentou mais de 80% de aceitação pelos julgadores.

Modeling the water uptake by chicken carcasses during cooling by immersion

In this study, water uptake by poultry carcasses during cooling by water immersion was modeled using artificial neural networks. Data from twenty-five independent variables and the final mass of the carcass were collected in an industrial plant to train and validate the model. Different network structures with one hidden layer were tested, and the Downhill Simplex method was used to optimize the synaptic weights. In order to accelerate the optimization calculus, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to preprocess the input data. The obtained results were: i) PCA reduced the number of input variables from twenty-five to ten; ii) the neural network structure 4-6-1 was the one with the best result; iii) PCA gave the following order of importance: parameters of mass transfer, heat transfer, and initial characteristics of the carcass. The main contributions of this work were to provide an accurate model for predicting the final content of water in the carcasses and a better understanding of the variables involved.

Uso de imagens digitais para avaliação de plântulas de feijão

Com o objetivo de observar o crescimento inicial de feijão, utilizando a avaliação de plântulas por meio de imagens digitais, processadas pelo programa Sigma Scan Pro v. 5.0 e pelo método tradicional de laboratório, foi conduzido o experimento avaliando a influência da temperatura, das cultivares e de diferentes lotes de sementes de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). O experimento foi conduzido em câmaras climatizadas no Laboratório Didático e de Pesquisas em Sementes do Departamento de Fitotecnia - UFSM, onde foram utilizadas as temperaturas constantes de 10, 15, 20, 25 e 30º C, as cultivares Valente e Uirapuru e quatro lotes com diferentes níveis de qualidade fisiológica, obtidos por meio de envelhecimento acelerado durante períodos de zero, 12, 24 e 36 horas (41º C e 100% de UR do ar). A captação de imagens ocorreu concomitantemente à avaliação visual do crescimento das plântulas, utilizando câmera digital (Sony® 3.2 mp). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro repetições e 10 amostras. Os testes realizados foram: comprimento do hipocótilo e da raiz primária de plântulas normais, por meio do método tradicional e da coleta de imagens digitais das mesmas plantas. A partir dos resultados pode-se considerar que as avaliações de crescimento das plântulas por meio da análise de imagens digitais e pelo procedimento tradicional apresentam resultados semelhantes e são eficientes para a avaliação do vigor de sementes de feijão.

O que é que o reeleito tem? O retorno: o esboço de uma teoria da reeleição no Brasil

This article compares the determinants of electoral success in two consecutive Brazilian legislative elections, 1998 and 2002. There is a clear difference between both periods that renders the comparison especially interesting. In 1998 the incumbent president was running for reelection whereas in 2002 it was an open seat contest. We hypothesize that in 1998 the proximity of the Federal Deputy with the president and the allocation of federal monies controlled by the Executive Branch played a more significant role in affecting reelection success than in 2002. Hence, if the President is himself running for reelection is an important intervening contextual variable in understanding reelection success of Federal Deputies.

Lois des Lombards.

Acquis le 28 janvier 1843 de Benjamin Duprat, libraire, suite à la vente Saibante pour le prix de 900 francs; cf. B.n.F., département des Manuscrits, registre des acquisitions 1833-1848, n° 3163; — note "Questo codice è assai diffusamente descritto ed illustrato in una epistola di Lucio Doglioni al P. Paolo Canciani, la quale trovasi nel tomo secondo pag. 461 dell' opera: Canciani Barbarorum leges antiquae. Apparteneva al convento di Sa. Eufemia di Verona, indi passo nella Bibltioteca del Mse Gianfilippi" (f. de garde); — Pierre Pithou; cf. B.n.F., département des Manuscrits, nouv. acq. fr. 5527, f. 109

Comunicación educativa y creación de ambientes de aprendizaje en la Preparatoria núm. 16 : propuesta de formación magisterial

Tesis (Maestría en Formación y Capacitación de Recursos Humanos) UANL

Diagnóstico de necesidades de capacitación e implementación de un programa de mejora continua en una empresa del ramo joyero

Tesis (Maestría en Psicología Laboral y Organizacional) UANL

Desarrollo y evaluación de un procedimiento de microextracción en fase sólida para la determinación de hidrocarburos aromáticos policíclicos en agua potable

Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias con Orientación Terminal en Química Biomédica) UANL

Diabetes mellitus e hipertensión arterial en relación al ausentismo laboral

Tesis ( Maestría en Salud Pública, Especialidad Salud en el Trabajo) UANL.FaSPyN

Las piruetas del perico

UANL

La sociología política

UANL