Evaluation of fecal microorganisms of children with cleft palate before and after palatoplasty

This study isolated and quantified intestinal bacteria of children with cleft palate before and after palatoplasty. A prospective study was conducted from May 2007 to September 2008 on 18 children with cleft palate, aged one to four years, of both genders, attending a tertiary cleft center in Brazil for palatoplasty, to analyze the effect of surgical palate repair on the concentration of anaerobes Bacteroides sp, Bifidobacterium sp and microaerophiles Lactobacillus sp in feces of infants with cleft palate before and 24 hours after treatment with cefazolin for palatoplasty. There was significant reduction of Lactobacillus sp (p < 0.002), Bacteroides sp (p < 0.001) and Bifidobacterium sp (p = 0.021) after palatoplasty, revealing that surgery and utilization of cefazolin significantly influenced the fecal microbiota comparing collections before and after surgery. However, due to study limitations, it was not possible to conclude that other isolated factors, such as surgical stress, anesthetics and other medications used in palatoplasty might have a significant influence on the microbiota. Considering the important participation of the intestinal microbiota on both local and systemic metabolic and immunological activities of the host, professionals should be attentive to the possible influence of these changes in patients submitted to cleft repair.

Nematode resistance to ivermectin (630 and 700 mu g/kg) in cattle from the Southeast and South of Brazil

Two high doses of ivermectin (630 mu g/kg and 700 mu g/kg) that are sold commercially in Brazil were evaluated in dose-and-slaughter trials with 144 naturally nematode-infected cattle from eight regions within the states of Minas Gerias, Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Treatment groups were based on fecal egg counts 1, 2, and 3 days before treatment; all animals studied had a minimum egg count of at least 500 eggs per gram of feces (EPG). Post-mortem analyses were conducted on day 14. The highest levels of resistance to ivermectin were found for Haemonchus placei, Cooperia punctata and Oesophagostomum radiatum; all populations of H. placei were resistant to the 630 mu g/kg dose, and 67% were resistant to 700 mu g/kg; 86% of C. punctata were resistant to the 630 mu g/kg dose, and 33% were resistant to 700 mu g/kg. A combined analysis revealed that 57% of O. radiatum were resistant to the lower dose of ivermectin. H. placei, C. punctata and O. radiatum, in order, were the nematode populations with the highest indices of resistance, whereas Trichostrongylus axei was the most susceptible to 630 and 700 mu g/kg dosages of ivermectin. The results of helminthic resistance to ivermectin for different populations of H. placei and C. punctata described in the present study support previous literature data, in which a small decrease in the average parasitic burden of C. punctata and a consequent increase of H. placei were observed in cattle from the Southeast, South and Center-West regions of Brazil. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impact of adrenalectomy and dexamethasone treatment on testicular morphology and sperm parameters in rats: insights into the adrenal control of male reproduction

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Toxicity of cryoprotectants on Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837) (curimba) embryos in an experimental incubator (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Perfil audiológico em policiais militares do Estado de São Paulo

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

Influência de diferentes superfícies de implantes unitários com geometria do tipo hexágono externo, Platform Switching e Cone-Morse em osso tipo III e IV: estudo pelo método dos elementos finitos tridimensionais

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Efeitos de drogas antiplaquetárias na doença periodontal

The association between platelets, angiogenesis and progression or repair of periodontal disease has been little explored and, consequently, the results are inconclusive. The pathogenic bacteria present in the periodontal pocket release endotoxins that affect the endothelial integrity and are able to induce the production of chemical mediators derived from plasma proteins and blood clotting while altering platelet function. There is great interest in the modulation of platelet activity in vascular disorders, especially cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, antiplatelet drugs, that are commonly used in the prevention of thromboembolic diseases, such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and peripheral arterial disease, have been used. Aspirin is the only non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent with antiplatelet activity. In the periodontium, instead of only reduces levels of inflammatory cytokines, also significantly affects bleeding on probing, suggesting a dose-dependent modulation of periodontitis. In contrast, clopidogrel and ticlopidine are thienopyridine drugs with no known antiinflammatory action, suggesting that this benefit is related to an antiinflammatory effect indirectly correlated to their antiplatelet activity already established. In the literature there is limited information about the effect of these drugs on periodontium and periodontal disease development. Antiplatelet drugs hypothetically can change both the pathogenesis of periodontitis and subsequent periodontal tissue repair by blocking the secretion of chemical mediators which in general are important in modulating inflammation and tissue repair.

Abordagem metodológica para avaliação de relacionamentos de redes de empresas: um exemplo de aplicação na indústria brasileira de autopeças

Many researchers emphasize the increasing dynamics of business globalization, virtually as a new order of driving rules to be considered and included regarding operations management. In this sense, and trying to attain a set of suitable competitive conditions according to the needs of their business, the very internal processes of management and decision making have been growing in terms of complexity and range of issues to be considered. To do so, it is important to understand and absorb possible changes in competitive conditions as they arise. This paper aims to present a conceptual model and a case study to illustrate the assessment of the relationships involving actors within an operations network. The understanding of the basis behind these relationships and the identification of the existing hierarchic profile governing them, represent primary items to be considered embedded in a decision making system. The results obtained suggest the possibility to make use of the proposed model as an auxiliary tool to assess existing relationships within an operations network.

Book Review of Discovering North American Rock Art Edited by Lawrence L. Loendorf, Christopher Chippindale, and David S. Whitley

If readers of Great Plains Research are seeking a window on rock art research in North America, this book provides a few clear panes, a few that are hazy, and a few muddy ones. Like many edited volumes, the weaker contributions and lack of a consistent style limit the book's usefulness. Some authors target a general readership; others clearly are addressing colleagues. The book has two stated themes: the history of rock art research in North America and recent approaches to rock art analysis. Articles by Julie Francis and (jointly) David Whitley and Jean Clottes explore why rock art research has long been marginalized in North America. Unfortunately, both of these otherwise observant essays slip into advocacy of shamanism as a unifying or primary explanation for rock art, an interpretive model by no means universally accepted by today's rock art specialists.

A mixed model QTL analysis for sugarcane multiple-harvest-location trial data

Sugarcane-breeding programs take at least 12 years to develop new commercial cultivars. Molecular markers offer a possibility to study the genetic architecture of quantitative traits in sugarcane, and they may be used in marker-assisted selection to speed up artificial selection. Although the performance of sugarcane progenies in breeding programs are commonly evaluated across a range of locations and harvest years, many of the QTL detection methods ignore two- and three-way interactions between QTL, harvest, and location. In this work, a strategy for QTL detection in multi-harvest-location trial data, based on interval mapping and mixed models, is proposed and applied to map QTL effects on a segregating progeny from a biparental cross of pre-commercial Brazilian cultivars, evaluated at two locations and three consecutive harvest years for cane yield (tonnes per hectare), sugar yield (tonnes per hectare), fiber percent, and sucrose content. In the mixed model, we have included appropriate (co)variance structures for modeling heterogeneity and correlation of genetic effects and non-genetic residual effects. Forty-six QTLs were found: 13 QTLs for cane yield, 14 for sugar yield, 11 for fiber percent, and 8 for sucrose content. In addition, QTL by harvest, QTL by location, and QTL by harvest by location interaction effects were significant for all evaluated traits (30 QTLs showed some interaction, and 16 none). Our results contribute to a better understanding of the genetic architecture of complex traits related to biomass production and sucrose content in sugarcane.

Consanguineous unions and the burden of disability: A population-based study in communities of Northeastern Brazil

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify communities at high risk of transmitting recessive genetic disorders by measuring levels of endogamy and offspring's rate of disabilities. Methods: In a house-to-house population based-survey in the state of Paraiba, 20,462 couples were interviewed regarding kinship relation, number of siblings and offspring affected by mental or physical disabilities. Results: The rate of consanguineous unions in the communities ranged from 6.0% to 41.14%, showing an average value of 20.19% +/- 9.13%. The overall average inbreeding coefficient (F) was 0.00602 +/- 0.00253, ranging from 0.00134 to 0.01182. Communities situated on the backlands had an increased average value of F compared to those closer to the seashore (P = 0.024). The average rate of disabled offspring varied from 2.96% +/- 0.68% for unrelated unions to 10.44% +/- 16.86% for related couples at the level of double first cousins or uncleniece. The Spearman correlation coefficient between the overall rate of disabled offspring from all couples together and F was 0.510 (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Inbreeding increases the risk of disability which is unevenly distributed, varying considerably even in neighboring communities with similar Human Development Index and population density. Higher inbreeding communities are mostly located on the more economically underdeveloped backlands than on the coastal region. The identification of communities at high risk for genetic disorders could serve as basis for the establishment of Community Genetics programs. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Resting heart rate as a predictor of metabolic dysfunctions in obese children and adolescents

Background: Recent studies have identified that a higher resting heart rate (RHR) is associated with elevated blood pressure, independent of body fatness, age and ethnicity. However, it is still unclear whether RHR can also be applied as a screening for other risk factors, such as hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Thus, the purpose of the presented study was to analyze the association between RHR, lipid profile and fasting glucose in obese children and adolescents. Methods: The sample was composed of 180 obese children and adolescents, aged between 7-16 years. Whole-body and segmental body composition were estimated by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Resting heart rate (RHR) was measured by heart rate monitors. The fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glucose, using the colorimetric method. Results: Fasting glucose, TC, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C and RHR were similar in both genders. The group of obese subjects with a higher RHR presented, at a lower age, higher triglycerides and TC. There was a significant relationship between RHR, triglycerides and TC. In the multivariate model, triglycerides and TC maintained a significant relationship with RHR independent of age, gender, general and trunk adiposity. The ROC curve indicated that RHR has a high potential for screening elevated total cholesterol and triglycerides as well as dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Elevated RHR has the potential to identify subjects at an increased risk of atherosclerosis development.

Evaluation of relative biological efficiency of additives in sugarcane ensiling

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding alkalis on the fermentative pattern, aerobic stability and nutritive value of the sugarcane silage. A completely randomized design with 6 additives in two concentrations (1 or 2%), plus a control group, totalizing 13 treatments [(6x2)+1] with four replications, was used. The additives were sodium hydroxide (NaOH), limestone (CaCO3), urea (CO(NH2)(2)), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), quicklime (CaO) and hydrated lime (Ca(OH)(2)). The material was ensiled in 52 laboratory silos using plastic buckets with 12 L of capacity. Silos were opened 60 days after ensiling, when organic acids concentration, aerobic stability and chemical composition were determined. The Relative Biological Efficiency (RBE) was calculated by the slope ratio method, using the data obtained from ratio between desirable and undesirable silage products, according to the equation: D/U ratio = [lactic/(ethanol + acetic + butyric)]. All additives affected dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber contents and buffering capacity. Except for urea and quicklime, all additives increased the in vitro dry matter digestibility. In general, these additives altered the fermentative pattern of sugarcane silage, inhibiting alcoholic fermentation and improving lactic acid production. The additive that showed the best RBE in relation to sodium hydroxide (100%) was limestone (89.4%). The RBE values of urea, sodium bicarbonate and hydrated lime were 49.2%, 47.7% and 34.3%, respectively.

Feasibility of Intralaminar, Lateral Mass, or Pedicle Axis Vertebra Screws in Children Under 10 Years of Age: A Tomographic Study

BACKGROUND: There are several techniques for screw insertion in upper cervical spine surgery, and the use of the 3.5-mm screw is usually the standard. However, there is no consensus regarding the feasibility of using these screws in the pediatric population. OBJECTIVE: To determine the measurement of the lamina angle, lamina and pedicle length and thickness, and lateral mass length of the topographic axial view of the axis vertebra of 2- to 10-year-old children to guide the use of surgical screws. METHODS: Seventy-five computed tomography scans from 24- to 120-month-old patients were studied. Measurements were taken in an axial view of C2 and correlated with 2 age groups and both sexes. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student t test. RESULTS: In the 24- to 48-month age group, only 5.5% of the lamina and 8.3% of the pedicles had thicknesses < 3.5 mm. In the 49- to 120-month age group, there were no lamina thickness values < 3.5 mm, and 1.2% of pedicle thicknesses were < 3.5 mm. Both age groups had no lamina and pedicle lengths < 12 mm and no lateral mass lengths > 12 mm. CONCLUSION: In the majority of cases, the use of 3.5-mm lamina and pedicle screws in children is feasible. A base value of 45 degrees for the spinolaminar angle can be adopted as a reference for insertion of screws in the C2 lamina. This information can be particularly useful for decision making during preoperative planning for C1-C2 or craniocervical arthrodesis in children.