Intensified peginterferon α-2a dosing increases sustained virologic response rates in heavy, high viral load hepatitis c genotype 1 patients with high low-density lipoprotein

BACKGROUND AND GOAL: Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels achieve higher sustained virologic response (SVR) rates after peginterferon (PegIFN)/ribavirin treatment versus patients with lower LDL. Our aim was to determine whether SVR rates in patients with low/elevated LDL can be improved by dose intensification. STUDY: In PROGRESS, genotype 1 patients with baseline HCV RNA≥400,000 IU/mL and body weight ≥85 kg were randomized to 48 weeks of 180 μg/wk PegIFN α-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin (A: 1200 mg/d; B: 1400/1600 mg/d) or 12 weeks of 360 μg/wk PegIFN α-2a followed by 36 weeks of 180 μg/wk, plus ribavirin (C: 1200 mg/d; D: 1400/1600 mg/d). This retrospective analysis assessed SVR rates among patients with low (<100 mg/dL) or elevated (≥100 mg/dL) LDL. Patients with high LDL (n=256) had higher baseline HCV RNA (5.86×10 IU/mL) versus patients with low LDL (n=262; 4.02×10 IU/mL; P=0.0003). RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analysis identified a significant interaction between PegIFN α-2a dose and LDL levels on SVR (P=0.0193). The only treatment-related SVR predictor in the nested multiple logistic regression was PegIFN α-2a dose among patients with elevated LDL (P=0.0074); therefore, data from the standard (A+B) and induction (C+D) dose arms were pooled. Among patients with low LDL, SVR rates were 40% and 35% in the standard and induction-dose groups, respectively; SVR rates in patients with high LDL were 44% and 60% (P=0.014), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intensified dosing of PegIFN α-2a increases SVR rates in patients with elevated LDL even with the difficult-to-cure characteristics of genotype 1, high baseline viral load, and high body weight. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Analysis of the risk factors related to the immune humoral anti-Anaplasma marginale in dairy cattle

Anaplasma marginale is the most prevalent pathogen of cattle transmitted by ticks in the world. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for anaplasmosis in dairy cattle. Fifty dairy cattle from the herd of Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuaria do Estado do Rio de Janeiro were selected by proportional stratified sampling. The risk factors evaluated were: physiological state, race pattern, number of lactations, milk production, infestation by Rhipicephalus microplus and animal density. Antibody activity against A. marginale was determined using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentual values of seroprevalence for A. marginale were submitted to X2 test, and the level of minimum significance, to keep a factor in the model of logistic regression, was fixated in 5%. It was observed that pregnancy and lactation influenced significantly (p<0.05) in the seropositivity of the animals. Bos indicus animals had 5.21 times more chances of being seropositive than B. taurus animals. Primiparous female had 88% more chances of being seropositive than pluriparous female. Animals with high milk production were 63% more positive than low production animals. When infested by ticks the animals had 39% more chance of being seropositive to A. marginale. Bos indicus animals presented 5.21 times more chance of being seropositive than B. taurus animals. Primiparous females presented 88% more chance of being seropositive than the pluriparous ones. High milk production animals were 63% more positive than the low production ones. When infested by ticks the animals had 39% more chance of being seropositive to A. marginale. High density grazing provided for the animals 3.2 times more chances of being seropositive than low density ones. The herd was classified as erratic to A. marginale, even being placed in a steady enzootic area.

Characterization of high density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with banana peel fibers

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

A bayesian analysis for the parameters of the exponential-logarithmic distribution

The exponential-logarithmic is a new lifetime distribution with decreasing failure rate and interesting applications in the biological and engineering sciences. Thus, a Bayesian analysis of the parameters would be desirable. Bayesian estimation requires the selection of prior distributions for all parameters of the model. In this case, researchers usually seek to choose a prior that has little information on the parameters, allowing the data to be very informative relative to the prior information. Assuming some noninformative prior distributions, we present a Bayesian analysis using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. Jeffreys prior is derived for the parameters of exponential-logarithmic distribution and compared with other common priors such as beta, gamma, and uniform distributions. In this article, we show through a simulation study that the maximum likelihood estimate may not exist except under restrictive conditions. In addition, the posterior density is sometimes bimodal when an improper prior density is used. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Impact of diabetes mellitus and metabolic control on bone healing around osseointegrated implants: Removal torque and histomorphometric analysis in rats

Objectives: To evaluate bone healing around dental implants with established osseointegration in experimental diabetes mellitus (DM) and insulin therapy by histomorphometric and removal torque analysis in a rat model. Materials and methods: A total of 80 male Wistar rats received a titanium implant in the tibiae proximal methaphysis. After a healing period of 60 days, the rats were divided into four groups of 20 animals each: a 2-month control group, sacrificed at time (group A), a diabetic group (group D), an insulin group (group I), and a 4-month control group (group C), subdivided half for removal torque and half for histomorphometric analysis. In the D and I groups the DM was induced by a single injection of 40 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin (STZ). Two days after DM induction, group I received subcutaneous doses of insulin twice a day, during 2 months. Groups C and D received only saline. Two months after induction of DM, the animals of groups D, C and I were sacrificed. The plasmatic levels of glucose (GPL) were monitored throughout the experiment. Evaluation of the percentages of bone-to-implant contact and bone area within the limits of the implant threads was done by histomorphometric and mechanical torque analysis. Data were analyzed by anova at significant level of 5%. Results: The GPL were within normal range for groups A, C and I and higher for group D. The means and standard deviations (SD) for histomorphometric bone area showed significant difference between group D (69.34 ± 5.00%) and groups C (78.20 ± 4.88%) and I (79.63 ± 4.97%). Related to bone-to-implant contact there were no significant difference between the groups D (60.81 + 6.83%), C (63.37 + 5.88%) and I (66.97 + 4.13%). The means and SD for removal torque showed that group D (12.91 ± 2.51 Ncm) was statistically lower than group I (17.10 ± 3.06 Ncm) and C (16.95 ± 5.39 Ncm). Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus impaired the bone healing around dental implants with established osseointegration because the results presented a lower percentage of bone area in group D in relation to groups C and I resulting in a lowest torque values for implant removal. Moreover, insulin therapy prevents the occurrence of bone abnormalities found in diabetic animals and osseointegration was not compromised. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Influence of stocking density on weight gain and behavior of feedlot lambs

The aim of this study was to verify the influence of the animal density on the weight gain and behavior of confined lambs. 86 animals were confined after weaning in 23 pens of two lambs each (double pens) and four pens of ten animals each (collective pens). During the 80 days of confinement all lambs received the same diet and the animals were weighed at the beginning of the trial and every 14 days for the control of the weight gain. The behavioral patterns were recorded by focal sampling method using a time sampling of 30 minutes, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, for 4 days. The behavioral variables were: posture (standing; lying), activity (eating; ruminating; leisure; drinking water; grooming) and events (nid-nodding; pushing; picking up; bellowing; mounting; defecating; urinating). For the evaluation of the weight gain and behavior of the animals an analysis of variance and multiple comparison procedure by Student t test was used. The average weight gain was higher for pen animals (0.228 kg/day) compared to the animals housed in the collective pens (0.208 kg/day; P = 0.07). A higher percentage of animals housed in double pens remained standing compared to the animals housed in collective pens at 8:30 am (P < 0.05), 11:30 am (P < 0.01), 2:30 pm (P < 0.01), 4:30 pm (P < 0.01), and 5:30 pm (P < 0.01). For the eating activity, it was observed that 6.9% more animals kept in the double pens remained in this activity at 8:30 am (P < 0.05) and 4:30 pm (P < 0.05), than in collective pen. No statistical difference was found for the other activities and events between treatments. The number of animals per group influenced the behavior of confined lambs, changing the pattern of food intake which could improve the weight gain. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of soy isoflavones on mammographic density and breast parenchyma in postmenopausal women: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effects of soy isoflavones on breast tissue in postmenopausal women. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 80 women (aged ≥45 y and with amenorrhea >12 mo) with vasomotor symptoms were randomized to receive either 250 mg of standardized soy extract corresponding to isoflavone 100 mg/day (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) for 10 months. Breasts were evaluated through mammographic density and breast parenchyma using ultrasound (US) at baseline and 10-month follow-up. Independent t test, analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ2 trend test were used in statistical analysis. RESULTS: Baseline clinical characteristics showed no significant differences between the isoflavone group and the placebo group, with mean (SD) age of 55.1 (6.0) and 56.2 (7.7) years, mean (SD) menopause duration of 6.6 (4.8) and 7.1 (4.2) years, and mean (SD) body mass index of 29.7 (5.0) and 28.5 (4.9) kg/m2, respectively (P > 0.05). The study was completed by 32 women on isoflavone and 34 women on placebo. The groups did not differ in mammographic density or breast parenchyma by US (P > 0.05). Within each group, the baseline and final moments did not differ in mammography or US parameters significantly (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of soy isoflavone extract for 10 months does not affect breast density, as assessed by mammography and US, in postmenopausal women. © 2013 by The North American Menopause Society.

On the regularity of the pressure field of relaxed solutions to Euler equations with variable density

In this paper we improve the regularity in time of the gradient of the pressure field in the solution of relaxed version of variational formulation proposed by V. I. Arnold and by Y. Brenier, for the incompressible Euler equations with variable density. We obtain that the pressure field is not only a measure, but a function in Lloc2((0,T);BVloc(D)) as an extension of the work of Ambrosio and Figalli (2008) in [1] to the variable density case. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Phylogenetic analysis of 16S mitochondrial DNA data in sloths and anteaters

We sequenced part of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene in 17 extant taxa of Pilosa (sloths and anteaters) and used these sequences along with GenBank sequences of both extant and extinct sloths to perform phylogenetic analysis based on parsimony, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods. By increasing the taxa density for anteaters and sloths we were able to clarify some points of the Pilosa phylogenetic tree. Our mitochondrial 16S results show Bradypodidae as a monophyletic and robustly supported clade in all the analysis. However, the Pleistocene fossil Mylodon darwinii does not group significantly to either Bradypodidae or Megalonychidae which indicates that trichotomy best represents the relationship between the families Mylodontidae, Bradypodidae and Megalonychidae. Divergence times also allowed us to discuss the taxonomic status of Cyclopes and the three species of three-toed sloths, Bradypus tridactylus, Bradypus variegatus and Bradypus torquatus. In the Bradypodidae the split between Bradypus torquatus and the proto-Bradypus tridactylus / B. variegatus was estimated as about 7.7 million years ago (MYA), while in the Myrmecophagidae the first offshoot was Cyclopes at about 31.8 MYA followed by the split between Myrmecophaga and Tamandua at 12.9 MYA. We estimate the split between sloths and anteaters to have occurred at about 37 MYA.

Density, proportion, and dendritic coverage of retinal ganglion cells of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus jacchus)

We performed a quantitative analysis of M and P cell mosaics of the common-marmoset retina. Ganglion cells were labeled retrogradely from optic nerve deposits of Biocytin. The labeling was visualized using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) histochemistry and 3-3'diaminobenzidine as chromogen. M and P cells were morphologically similar to those found in Old- and New-World primates. Measurements were performed on well-stained cells from 4 retinas of different animals. We analyzed separate mosaics for inner and outer M and P cells at increasing distances from the fovea (2.5-9 mm of eccentricity) to estimate cell density, proportion, and dendritic coverage. M cell density decreased towards the retinal periphery in all quadrants. M cell density was higher in the nasal quadrant than in other retinal regions at similar eccentricities, reaching about 740 cells/mm2 at 2.5 mm of temporal eccentricity, and representing 8-14% of all ganglion cells. P cell density increased from peripheral to more central regions, reaching about 5540 cells/mm2 at 2.5 mm of temporal eccentricity. P cells represented a smaller proportion of all ganglion cells in the nasal quadrant than in other quadrants, and their numbers increased towards central retinal regions. The M cell coverage factor ranged from 5 to 12 and the P cell coverage factor ranged from 1 to 3 in the nasal quadrant and from 5 to 12 in the other quadrants. These results show that central and peripheral retinal regions differ in terms of cell class proportions and dendritic coverage, and their properties do not result from simply scaling down cell density. Therefore, differences in functional properties between central and peripheral vision should take these distinct regional retinal characteristics into account.

Analysis of electronic structure of boron nitride nanotubes with different positions of intrinsic impurities

The pristine boron nitride nanotubes have a large direct band gap around 5 eV. This band gap can be engineered by doping. We investigate electronic structure of the doped hexagonal boron nitride (5,5) nanotubes using the linearized augmented cylindrical wave method. In particular, this work focuses on systematical study of the band gap and the density of states around the Fermi-level when the nanotubes are doped by intrinsic impurities of two substitutional boron atoms in a super cell and a comparative analysis of the relative stability of three structures studied here. This corresponds to 3.3% of impurity concentration. We calculate 29 configurations of the nanotubes with different positions of the intrinsic impurities in the nanotube. The band gap and density of states around the Fermi level show strong dependence on the relative positions of the impurity atoms. The two defect sub bands called D^∏(B) appear in the band gap of the pristine nanotube. The doped nanotubes possess p-type semiconductor properties with the band gap of 1.3-1.9 eV.

Coliform density in oyster culture waters and its relationship with environmental factors

The objective of this work was to evaluate the total and thermotolerant coliform densities in the oyster culture water of Cananeia, SP, Brazil, correlating these densities with environmental variables and tidal variations. Superficial water samples were collected in two tide conditions (spring and neap) from three areas of Cananéia municipality (Mandira, Itapitangui and Cooperostra). The three studied areas showed good conditions for the culture regarding coliform densities. The two tidal conditions differed significantly as to total coliform concentration; however, the same procedure was not performed for thermotolerant coliforms. No correlation was observed between water temperature, pH, and concentrations of total and thermotolerant coliforms. Coliform density was positively correlated with rainfall and negatively correlated with salinity. Spring and neap tides differed significantly as to coliform number. Simple diagnosis of environmental conditions of the crop fields is insufficient to assess water quality of shellfish cultivation. A continuous monitoring program of planted areas is necessary both for the assessment of water quality potential for marine culture and for ensuring safe consumption of seafood, besides constituting an important tool to understand the relationships between contamination and the involved environmental variables.

Aeroelastic stability analysis using linear matrix inequalities

The present work describes an alternative methodology for identification of aeroelastic stability in a range of varying parameters. Analysis is performed in time domain based on Lyapunov stability and solved by convex optimization algorithms. The theory is outlined and simulations are carried out on a benchmark system to illustrate the method. The classical methodology with the analysis of the system's eigenvalues is presented for comparing the results and validating the approach. The aeroelastic model is represented in state space format and the unsteady aerodynamic forces are written in time domain using rational function approximation. The problem is formulated as a polytopic differential inclusion system and the conceptual idea can be used in two different applications. In the first application the method verifies the aeroelastic stability in a range of air density (or its equivalent altitude range). In the second one, the stability is verified for a rage of velocities. These analyses are in contrast to the classical discrete analysis performed at fixed air density/velocity values. It is shown that this method is efficient to identify stability regions in the flight envelope and it offers promise for robust flutter identification.

Histological analysis of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone during dental movement in diabetic rats subjected to low-level laser therapy

Objective: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the histological changes of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone during dental movement in diabetic rats subjected to low level laser therapy (LLLT).Methods: The movement of the upper molar was performed in 60 male Wistar rats divided into four groups (n = 15): CTR (control), DBT (diabetic), CTR/LT (irradiated control) and DBT/LT (irradiated diabetic). Diabetes was induced with alloxan (150 mg/kg, i.p.). LLLT was applied with GaAlAs laser at 780 nm (35 J/cm(2)). After 7, 13 and 19 days, the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone were histologically analyzed.Results: The mean of osteoblasts (p < 0.01) and blood vessels (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased in DBT compared with CTR at 7 days, whereas the mean of osteoclasts was lower at 7 (p < 0.001) and 13 days (p < 0.05). In DBT/LT, only the mean of osteoclasts was lower than in CTR (p < 0.05) at 7 days, but no difference was observed at 13 and 19 days (p > 0.05). The collagenization of the periodontal ligament was impaired in DBT, whereas DBT/LLT showed density/disposition of the collagen fibers similar to those observed in CTR.Conclusions: LLLT improved the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone remodeling activity in diabetic rats during dental movement. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessment of the Correlation Between Insertion Torque and Resonance Frequency Analysis of Implants Placed in Bone Tissue of Different Densities

The primary stability of dental implants is fundamental for osseointegration. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the correlation between insertion torque (IT) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) of implants placed in mandibles and maxillas of different bone densities. Eighty dental implants were placed in maxillas and mandibles, and IT and the implant stability quotient (ISQ) were measured at the time of implant insertion. Bone density was assessed subjectively by the Lekholm and Zarb index. The type I and II densities were grouped together (group A)as were the type III and IV densities (group B). The IT in group A was higher (Student t test, P = .0013) than in group B (46.27 +/- 18.51 Ncm, 33.62 +/- 14.74 Ncm, respectively). The implants placed in group A showed higher ISQ (Student t test, P = .0004) than those placed in group B (70.09 +/- 7.50, 63.66 +/- 8.00, respectively). A significant correlation between IT and the ISQ value was observed for group A (Pearson correlation test; r = 0.35; P = .0213) and for group B (r = 0.37; P = .0224). Within the limitations of this study, it was possible to conclude that there is a correlation between IT and RFA of implants placed in mandibles and maxillas of different bone densities.