How can an invasive grass affect fire behavior in a tropical savanna? A community and individual plant level approach

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Optimal digestible protein level for bullfrog tadpoles

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

Greater level of physical activity associated with better cognitive function in hemodialysis in end stage renal disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a lower exercise tolerance and poor functional capacity, carry on a sedentary lifestyle. Another important change found in patients with CKD is cognitive dysfunction. Physical inactivity has been associated with cognitive dysfunction in the general population, but few studies have evaluated this association in CKD. To assess the association between physical activity and cognitive function in patients with CKD on hemodialysis (HD). We evaluated 102 patients undergoing HD. The participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, which assesses the level of physical activity and the Mini Mental State Examination, used for cognitive screening. Patients were divided into three groups according to their level of physical activity (GI: active/GII: irregularly active/GIII: sedentary). It was applied logistic regression analysis and adopted as outcome variable the presence of cognitive impairment and preserving as independent variables those with a probability of statistical difference between groups of less than 0.1. It was considered statistically significant when p less than 0.05. The groups were similar in age, duration of HD, and smoking. Statistically significant difference regarding race, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, underlying disease and degree of cognitive impairment. Regarding laboratory data, the groups differed in terms of creatinine, glucose, hemoglobin and hematocrit. There was significant association with better physical activity and cognitive function, even adjusting for confounding variables. the highest level of physical activity was associated with better cognitive function in CKD patients undergoing HD.

PS-042c is low-dose combined oral contraceptives use associated to lower bone mineral content variation in adolescents over a one-year period?

Background Low dose combined oral contraceptives (COC) can interfere in bone mass acquisition during adolescence. To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) in female adolescents taking a standard low-dose (EE 20 µg/Desogestrel 150 µg) combination oral contraceptive (COC) over a one-year period and compare with healthy adolescents from the same age group not taking COCs.Methods A non-randomised parallel control study with one-year follow-up. Sixty-seven adolescents from 12 to 20 years of age, divided into COC users (n = 41) taking 20 µg EE/150 µg Desogestrel and non-user controls (n = 26), were evaluated through bone densitometry examinations at baseline and 12 months later. Comparisons between groups at study start was done through the Mann-Whitney test with significance level fixed at 5% or corresponding p value; comparisons between groups at study start and 12 months later used variations in median percentages for bone mass variables.Results COC users presented low bone mass acquisition in the lumbar spine and BMD and BMC median variations between baseline and at 12 months of 2.07% and +1.57% respectively whereas the control group presented variations of +12.16% and +16.84% for BMD and BMC, respectively, over the same period. The total body BMD and BMC presented similar evolution during the study in both groups. Statistical significance (pConclusion The use of a low COC dose (EE 20 µg/Desogestrel 150 µg) was associated to lower bone mass acquisition in adolescents during the study period.Trial registration: (Register Number):RBR-5 h9b3c

The canonical correlation between the biological markers of performance and physical fitness in high level judo athletes

The objective of this research was to verify the relationship between biological markers of performance of elite judo athletes and performance in different physical fitness tests. Twenty-one judo athletes were involved in the present observational and correlational study. Dermatoglyphic variables and the 2D:4D digit ratio were considered as biological markers, while the physical fitness variables analyzed were body fat, maximal strength, muscular power, the aerobic and anaerobic profile, and performance in specific tests. The statistics involved canonical correlations and a multivariate technique. A high and significant canonical correlation was observed between groups of variables, the first expressed by 1=0.999 (p<0.0001) and the second by 2=0.997 (p<0.001). It appears that, beyond height and body mass, total ridge count, pattern intensity for fingers and 2D:4D had more canonical loading. The physical fitness component of the first canonical variable incorporated, with high intensity were: the sum of skinfold thickness, the bench press onerepetition maximum (1RM), upper and lower body aerobic power. In the second canonical variable, physical fitness was composed of the squat 1RM, suspension time on the bar, the SJFT-index, and mean power during the upper body Wingate test. The data of this investigation showed the interdependence between biological markers of performance and physical fitness in high level judo athletes.

Evaluation of plasma homocysteine level according to the C677T and A1298C polymorphism of the enzyme MTHRF in type 2 diabetic adults

Objective: To determine plasma homocysteine levels during fasting and after methionine overload, and to correlate homocysteinemia according to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism in type 2 diabetic adults. Subjects and methods: The study included 50 type 2 diabetic adults (DM group) and 52 healthy subjects (Control group). Anthropometric data, and information on food intake, serum levels of vitamin B 12, folic acid and plasma homocysteine were obtained. The identification of C677T and A1298C polymorphisms was carried out in the MTHFR gene. Results: There was no significant difference in homocysteinemia between the two groups, and hyperhomocysteinemia during fasting occurred in 40% of the diabetic patients and in 23% of the controls. For the same polymorphism, there was not any significant difference in homocysteine between the groups. In the Control group, homocysteinemia was greater in those subjects with C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. Among diabetic subjects, those with the A1298C polymorphism had lower levels of homocysteine compared with individuals with C677T polymorphism. Conclusion: The MTHFR polymorphism (C677T and A1298C) resulted in different outcomes regarding homocysteinemia among individuals of each group (diabetic and control). These data suggest that metabolic factors inherent to diabetes influence homocysteine metabolism. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(7):429-34

PHOTOELASTIC ANALISYS IN THE LOWER REGION OF VERTEBRAL BODY L4

Objective: To analyze the shear forces on the vertebral body L4 when submitted to a compression force by means of transmission photoelasticity. Methods: Twelve photoelastic models were divided into three groups, with four models per group, according to the positioning of the sagittal section vertebrae L4-L5 (sections A, B and C). The simulation was performed using a 15N compression force, and the fringe orders were evaluated in the vertebral body L4 by the Tardy compensation method. Results: Photoelastic analysis showed, in general, a homogeneous distribution in the vertebral bodies. The shear forces were higher in section C than B, and higher in B than A. Conclusion: The posterior area of L4, mainly in section C, showed higher shear concentrations, corresponding to a more susceptible area for bone fracture and spondylolisthesis. Economic and Decision Analyses Development of an Economic or Decision Model. Level I

Leukocytes from wheezing infants release lower amounts of IL-12 and IFN-gamma compared to non-wheezing infants

Objective This study investigated environmental endotoxin exposure during early life, sensitization to aeroallergens, the production of cytokines by LPS-stimulated leukocytes, and the development of a wheezing phenotype in a prospective cohort of infants with high risk of developing allergic diseases. Materials and Methods Eighty-four infants were followed from birth until 30 months of age. We assessed endotoxin concentration in house dust of their homes during the first 6 months of life. At age 30 months they were clinically evaluated to determine the development of wheezing and other clinical events, were skin prick tested, and had blood samples collected for the evaluation of cytokine release by LPS-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Results The level of endotoxin exposure during early life was not associated with development of a wheezing phenotype. On the other hand a higher incidence of respiratory infections occurred among recurrent wheezing (RW) infants. PBMC from RW children exposed to higher levels of environmental endotoxin (above 50?EU/mg) released less Interleukin (IL)-12p70 and IFN-? compared to the non-RW group. TNF-a, IL-10, IL-4, IL-5, and IL17 production by LPS-stimulated PBMC from RW and non-RW children was equivalent in both groups of environmental endotoxin exposure. Conclusion In this prospective cohort of infants with high risk of developing allergic diseases we observed that RW and non-RW children were exposed to similar levels of endotoxin early in life. LPS-stimulated PBMC from RW infants exposed to higher levels of endotoxin released significantly less IL-12 and IFN-? compared to non-RW infants. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012. 47:10541060. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Translation and Cross-cultural Adaptation of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale Into a Brazilian Portuguese Version and Validation on Patients With Knee Injuries

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical measurement. OBJECTIVE: To translate and culturally adapt the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) into a Brazilian Portuguese version, and to test the construct and content validity and reliability of this version in patients with knee injuries. BACKGROUND: There is no Brazilian Portuguese version of an instrument to assess the function of the lower extremity after orthopaedic injury. METHODS: The translation of the original English version of the LEFS into a Brazilian Portuguese version was accomplished using standard guidelines and tested in 31 patients with knee injuries. Subsequently, 87 patients with a variety of knee disorders completed the Brazilian Portuguese LEES, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form and a visual analog scale for pain. All patients were retested within 2 days to determine reliability of these measures. Validation was assessed by determining the level of association between the Brazilian Portuguese LEFS and the other outcome measures. Reliability was documented by calculating internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and standard error of measurement. RESULTS: The Brazilian Portuguese LEES had a high level of association with the physical component of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (r = 0.82), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (r = 0.87), the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (r = 0.82), and the pain visual analog scale (r = -0.60) (all, P<.05). The Brazilian Portuguese LEES had a low level of association with the mental component of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (r = 0.38, P<.05). The internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = .952) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.957) of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the LEES were high. The standard error of measurement was low (3.6) and the agreement was considered high, demonstrated by the small differences between test and retest and the narrow limit of agreement, as observed in Bland-Altman and survival-agreement plots. CONCLUSION: The translation of the LEFS into a Brazilian Portuguese version was successful in preserving the semantic and measurement properties of the original version and was shown to be valid and reliable in a Brazilian population with knee injuries. J Ort hop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(11):932-939, Epub 9 October 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.4101

Is income area level associated with blood pressure in adults regardless of individual-level characteristics? A multilevel approach

This population-based health survey was carried out in Florianopolis, Brazil, to assess the association between adult systolic blood pressure (SBP) and contextual income level, after controlling for potential individual-level confounders. A statistically significant negative association between SBP levels and contextual income was identified after adjusting for individual-level characteristics. SBP levels in the highest and in the intermediate tertiles of contextual income were 5.78 and 2.82 mmHg lower, respectively, than that observed in the bottom tertile. The findings suggest an association between income area level and blood pressure, regardless of well-known individual-level hypertension risk factors. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Expression profile of apoptosis-related genes in childhood adrenocortical tumors: low level of expression of BCL2 and TNF genes suggests a poor prognosis

Background: Impaired apoptosis has been implicated in the development of childhood adrenocortical tumors (ACT), although the expression of apoptosis-related gene expression in such tumors has not been reported. Methods: The mRNA expression levels of the genes CASP3, CASP8, CASP9, FAS, TNF, NFKB, and BCL2 were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR in consecutive tumor samples obtained at diagnosis from 60 children with a diagnosis of ACT and in 11 non-neoplastic adrenal samples. BCL2 and TNF protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results: A significant association was observed between tumor size >= 100 g and lower expression levels of the BCL2 (P=0.03) and TNF (P=0.05) genes; between stage IV and lower expression levels of CASP3 (P=0.008), CASP9 (P=0.02), BCL2 (P=0.002), TNF (P=0.05), and NFKB (P=0.03); Weiss score >= 3 and lower expression of TNF (P=0.01); unfavorable event and higher expression values of CASP9 (P=0.01) and lower values of TNF (P=0.02); and death and lower expression of BCL2 (P=0.04). Underexpression of TNF was associated with lower event-free survival in uni- and multivariate analyses (P<0.01). Similar results were observed when patients with Weiss score <3 were excluded. Conclusion: This study supports the participation of apoptosis-related genes in the biology and prognosis of childhood ACT and suggests the complex role of these genes in the pathogenesis of this tumor.

Habitat alteration and community-level effects of an invasive ecosystem engineer: a case study along the coast of NSW, Australia

We investigated the effects of the habitat-modifying green algae Caulerpa taxifolia on meiobenthic communities along the coast of New South Wales, Australia. Samples were taken from unvegetated sediments, sediments underneath the native seagrass Zostera capricorni, and sediments invaded by C. taxifolia at 3 sites along the coast. Meiofaunal responses to invasion varied in type and magnitude depending on the site, ranging from a slight increase to a substantial reduction in meiofauna and nematode abundances and diversity. The multivariate structure of meiofauna communities and nematode assemblages, in particular, differed significantly in sediments invaded by C. taxifolia when compared to native habitats, but the magnitude of this dissimilarity differed between the sites. These differential responses of meiofauna to C. taxifolia were explained by different sediment redox potentials. Sediments with low redox potential showed significantly lower fauna abundances, lower numbers of meiofaunal taxa and nematode species and more distinct assemblages. The response of meiofauna to C. taxifolia also depended on spatial scale. Whereas significant loss of benthic biodiversity was observed locally at one of the sites, at the larger scale C. taxifolia promoted an overall increase in nematode species richness by favouring species that were absent from the native environments. Finally, we suggest there might be some time-lags associated with the impacts of C. taxifolia and point to the importance of considering the time since invasion when evaluating the impact of invasive species.

An experimental study of low-level laser therapy in rat Achilles tendon injury

The aim of this controlled animal study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) administered 30 min after injury to the Achilles tendon. The study animals comprised 16 Sprague Dawley male rats divided in two groups. The right Achilles tendons were injured by blunt trauma using a mini guillotine, and were treated with LLLT or placebo LLLT 30 min later. The injury and LLLT procedures were then repeated 15 hours later on the same tendon. One group received active LLLT (lambda = 904 nm, 60 mW mean output power, 0.158 W/cm(2) for 50 s, energy 3 J) and the other group received placebo LLLT 23 hours after LLLT. Ultrasonographic images were taken to measure the thickness of the right and left Achilles tendons. Animals were then killed, and all Achilles tendons were tested for ultimate tensile strength (UTS). All analyses were performed by blinded observers. There was a significant increase in tendon thickness in the active LLLT group when compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05) and there were no significant differences between the placebo and uninjured left tendons. There were no significant differences in UTS between laser-treated, placebo-treated and uninjured tendons. Laser irradiation of the Achilles tendon at 0.158 W/cm(2) for 50 s (3 J) administered within the first 30 min after blunt trauma, and repeated after 15 h, appears to lead to edema of the tendon measured 23 hours after LLLT. The guillotine blunt trauma model seems suitable for inflicting tendon injury and measuring the effects of treatment on edema by ultrasonography and UTS. More studies are needed to further refine this model.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in human progressive-intensity running: effects on exercise performance, skeletal muscle status, and oxidative stress

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on exercise performance, oxidative stress, and muscle status in humans. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial was performed with 22 untrained male volunteers. LLLT (810 nm, 200 mW, 30 J in each site, 30 s of irradiation in each site) using a multi-diode cluster (with five spots - 6 J from each spot) at 12 sites of each lower limb (six in quadriceps, four in hamstrings, and two in gastrocnemius) was performed 5 min before a standardized progressive-intensity running protocol on a motor-drive treadmill until exhaustion. We analyzed exercise performance (VO(2 max), time to exhaustion, aerobic threshold and anaerobic threshold), levels of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the markers of muscle damage creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Compared to placebo, active LLLT significantly increased exercise performance (VO(2 max) p = 0.01; time to exhaustion, p = 0.04) without changing the aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. LLLT also decreased post-exercise lipid (p = 0.0001) and protein (p = 0.0230) damages, as well as the activities of SOD (p = 0.0034), CK (p = 0.0001) and LDH (p = 0.0001) enzymes. LLLT application was not able to modulate CAT activity. The use of LLLT before progressive-intensity running exercise increases exercise performance, decreases exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage, suggesting that the modulation of the redox system by LLLT could be related to the delay in skeletal muscle fatigue observed after the use of LLLT.

Energy-level statistics of interacting trapped bosons

It is a well-established fact that statistical properties of energy-level spectra are the most efficient tool to characterize nonintegrable quantum systems. The statistical behavior of different systems such as complex atoms, atomic nuclei, two-dimensional Hamiltonians, quantum billiards, and noninteracting many bosons has been studied. The study of statistical properties and spectral fluctuations in interacting many-boson systems has developed interest in this direction. We are especially interested in weakly interacting trapped bosons in the context of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) as the energy spectrum shows a transition from a collective nature to a single-particle nature with an increase in the number of levels. However this has received less attention as it is believed that the system may exhibit Poisson-like fluctuations due to the existence of an external harmonic trap. Here we compute numerically the energy levels of the zero-temperature many-boson systems which are weakly interacting through the van der Waals potential and are confined in the three-dimensional harmonic potential. We study the nearest-neighbor spacing distribution and the spectral rigidity by unfolding the spectrum. It is found that an increase in the number of energy levels for repulsive BEC induces a transition from a Wigner-like form displaying level repulsion to the Poisson distribution for P(s). It does not follow the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble prediction. For repulsive interaction, the lower levels are correlated and manifest level-repulsion. For intermediate levels P(s) shows mixed statistics, which clearly signifies the existence of two energy scales: external trap and interatomic interaction, whereas for very high levels the trapping potential dominates, generating a Poisson distribution. Comparison with mean-field results for lower levels are also presented. For attractive BEC near the critical point we observe the Shnirelman-like peak near s = 0, which signifies the presence of a large number of quasidegenerate states.