Biomaterials from blends of fluoropolymers and corn starch-implant and structural aspects

The development of polymeric blends to be used as matrices for bone regeneration is a hot topic nowadays. In this article we report on the blends composed by corn starch and poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, or poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), to obtain biocompatible materials. Blends were produced by compressing/annealing and chemically/structurally characterized by micro-Raman scattering and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopies, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), besides in vivo study to evaluate the tissue response. Vibrational spectroscopy reveals no chemical interaction between the polymers and starch, absence of material degradation due to compressing/annealing process or organism implantation, and maintenance of a and ferroelectric crystalline phases of PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE), respectively. As a consequence of absence of interaction between polymers and starch, it was possible to identify by SEM each material, with starch acting as filler. Elastic modulus (E') obtained from DMA measurement, independent of the material proportion used in blends, reaches values close to those of cancellous bone. Finally, the in vivo study in animals shows that the blends, regardless of the composition, were tolerated by cancellous bone. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative analysis between a PEM fuel cell and an internal combustion engine driving an electricity generator: Technical, economical and ecological aspects

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

Photosynthate partitioning and morphoanatomical aspects of photomorphogenic mutants of tomato

The aim of this study was to analyze photosynthate partitioning in tomato photomorphogenic mutants at the ends of the vegetative (40 days after emergence [DAE]) and reproductive (69 DAE) stages and to determine its interaction with morphoanatomical aspects. The mutants aurea (au), phytochrome-deficient, high pigment-1 (hp1), light-exaggerated response, were studied along with the non-mutant Micro-Tom (MT) cultivar. The plants were analyzed at 40 and 68 DAE to identify photosynthate source organs and tissues as well as the target organs of remobilized photosynthate during the reproductive stage. The plants were evaluated for their internal and external morphology as well as the percentage of dry mass of their organs. Photosynthate allocation in the hp1 mutant occurred primarily in the roots and leaves, and allocation in the au mutant occurred primarily in fruits. The au mutant showed a high capacity for photosynthate remobilization to fruit during the reproductive stage, and the predominant sources of these remobilized photosynthates were the leaf spongy parenchyma, the root vascular cylinder and the marrow stem.

Adhesion of Candida biofilm cells to human epithelial cells and polystyrene after treatment with silver nanoparticles

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genus Xylopia (Annonaceae): Chemical and Biological Aspects

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

Human-calf relationship and its implications on animal welfare

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Piezosurgery Applied to Implant Dentistry: Clinical and Biological Aspects

Piezosurgery is a new and modern technique of bone surgery in implantology. Selective cutting is possible for different ultrasonic frequencies acting only in hard tissues (mineralized), saving vital anatomical structures. With the piezoelectric osteotomy technique, receptor site preparation for implants, autogenous bone graft acquistition (particles and blocks), osteotomy for alveolar bone crest expansion, maxillary sinus lifting, and dental implant removal can be performed accurately and safely, providing excellent clinical and biological results, especially for osteocyte viability. The aim of this review was, through literature review, to present clinical applications of piezosurgery in implant dentistry and outline their advantages and disadvantages over conventional surgical systems. Moreover, this study addressed the biological aspects related to piezosurgery that differentiate it from those of bone tissue approaches. Overall, piezosurgery enables critical operations in simple and fully executable procedures; and effectively, areas that are difficult to access have less risk of soft tissue and neurovascular tissue damage via piezosurgery.

Echocardiographic and radiographic aspects of tetralogy of Fallot in a Border Collie: case report

Tetralogy of Fallot is a complex cardiac malformation characterized by four anatomical defects: pulmonary valve stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, interventricular septal defect and aortic dextroposition. Imaging techniques are useful in the diagnosis of this disease, such as radiography for screening and Doppler echocardiography for a definitive diagnosis. Our objective is to report the radiographic and Doppler echocardiographic aspects of a tetralogy of Fallot case in a 10 month-old Border Collie dog.

Tomographic and radiographic aspects of an infiltrative mediastinal lymphoma in a domestic cat with acute paraparesis: case report

Lymphomas are malignant neoplasms resulting from clonal proliferations of lymphocytes, originated from lymphoid organs, but can develop in any organ by the migration of lymphocytes to the organ's tissue. Lymphoma constitutes one of the most common neoplasms in cats. Imaging techniques like radiology, ultrasound and tomography may help in diagnosing and classifying lymphomas. Our objective is to report the radiographic and tomographic characteristics of a mediastinal lymphoma in a cat, which occupied a large thoracic and abdominal area and infiltrated into the medullary canal causing acute paraparesis. The tomographic exam was essential for identifying the mass, its extension and its location, besides identifying how compromised the adjacent structures were, but the histopathological examination was crucial to diagnose the nature of the lesion.

Moralidade e violência nas escolas na visão dos professores

Pós-graduação em Psicologia - FCLAS

Cytotoxic Effects of Zoledronic Acid on Human Epithelial Cells and Gingival Fibroblasts

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Home care: uma análise

Pós-graduação em Direito - FCHS

Outbreak control and clinical, pathological, and epidemiological aspects and molecular characterization of a bovine herpesvirus type 5 on a feedlot farm in S(a)over-tildeo Paulo State

This paper describes the control, epidemiological, pathological, and molecular aspects of an outbreak of meningoencephalitis in calves due to bovine herpesvirus 5 at a feedlot with 540 animals in Sa (a) over tildeo Paulo State, Brazil. The introduction of new animals and contact between the resident animals and the introduced ones were most likely responsible for virus transmission. Bovine herpesvirus 1 vaccine was used, resulting in the efficacy of the outbreak control, although two bovine herpesvirus 1 positive animals, vaccinated and revaccinated, presented meningoencephalitis, thereby characterizing vaccinal failure.

Morphological and morphometric aspects of early life stages of piabanha Brycon gouldingi (Characidae)

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

Voice disorders in teachers: clinical, videolaryngoscopical, and vocal aspects

Dysphonia is more prevalent in teachers than among the general population. The objective of this study was to analyze clinical, vocal, and videolaryngoscopical aspects in dysphonic teachers. Ninety dysphonic teachers were inquired about their voice, comorbidities, and work conditions. They underwent vocal auditory-perceptual evaluation (maximum phonation time and GRBASI scale), acoustic voice analysis, and videolaryngoscopy. The results were compared with a control group consisting of 90 dysphonic nonteachers, of similar gender and ages, and with professional activities excluding teaching and singing. In both groups, there were 85 women and five men (age range 31-50 years). In the controls, the majority of subjects worked in domestic activities, whereas the majority of teachers worked in primary (42.8%) and secondary school (37.7%). Teachers and controls reported, respectively: vocal abuse (76.7%; 37.8%), weekly hours of work between 21 and 40 years (72.2%; 80%), under 10 years of practice (36%; 23%), absenteeism (23%; 0%), sinonasal (66%; 20%) and gastroesophageal symptoms (44%; 22%), hoarseness (82%; 78%), throat clearing (70%; 62%), and phonatory effort (72%; 52%). In both groups, there were decreased values of maximum phonation time, impairment of the G parameter in the GRBASI scale (82%), decrease of F0 and increase of the rest of acoustic parameters. Nodules and laryngopharyngeal reflux were predominant in teachers; laryngopharyngeal reflux, polyps, and sulcus vocalis predominated in the controls. Vocal symptoms, comorbidities, and absenteeism were predominant among teachers. The vocal analyses were similar in both groups. Nodules and laryngopharyngeal reflux were predominant among teachers, whereas polyps, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and sulcus were predominant among controls.