Colheita de líquido cefalorraquidiano em cães: modificação de técnica prévia

Unlike the already described techniques, which are based on imaginary lines among extremities or bone projections, this research describes a collection technique modification of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in dogs, in the atlantooccipital space. The palpation of bone structures in this joint, plus the supported directioning of the needle, does make the collection easy, even by professionals which have no experience in this kind of procedure. The applied technique enabled the collection of adequate volumes of limpid and colorless CSF of 50 healthy dogs in the first attempt of collection. There was no contamination with blood during the procedure, what made possible the correct interpretation of laboratory parameters usually examined in CSF samples.

Leukocyte entry into the CNS of Leishmania chagasi naturally infected dogs

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

Avaliação e modelagem reológica de fluido de perfuração base água

The determination of the rheology of drilling fluids is of fundamental importance to select the best composition and the best treatment to be applied in these fluids. This work presents a study of the rheological behavior of some addictives used as viscosifiers in water-based drilling fluids. The evaluated addictives were: Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), Xanthan gum (GX), and Bentonite. The main objective was to rheologically characterize suspensions composed by these addictives, by applying mathematical models for fluid flow behavior, in order to determine the best flow equation to represent the system, as well as the model parameters. The mathematical models applied in this research were: the Bingham Model, the Ostwald de Wale Model, and the Herschel-Bulkley Model. A previous study of hydration time for each used addictive was accomplished seeking to evaluate the effect of polymer and clay hydration on rheological behavior of the fluid. The rheological characterization was made through typical rheology experiments, using a coaxial cylinder viscosimeter, where the flow curves and the thixotropic magnitude of each fluid was obtained. For each used addictive the rheological behavior as a function of temperature was also evaluated as well as fluid stability as a function of the concentration and kind of addictive used. After analyses of results, mixtures of polymer and clay were made seeking to evaluate the rheological modifications provided by the polymer incorporation in the water + bentonite system. The obtained results showed that the Ostwald de Waale model provided the best fit for fluids prepared using CMC and for fluids with Xanthan gum and Bentonite the best fit was given by the Herschel-Bulkley one

Numerical simulation of the liquid phase in SnO2 thin film deposition by sol-gel-dip-coating

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Numerical simulation of drop impact and jet buckling problems using the eXtended Pom-Pom model

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ativação local da rota da quinurenina por moduladores inflamatórios durante a meningite bacteriana.

Activation of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway (KP) by modulators of immune system has been observed during several neurological diseases. Here we assessed the association of chemo-/cytokine levels with the concentration of KP metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma samples from patients with bacterial meningitis (BM). All samples were collected from 42 patients diagnosed with acute bacterial meningitis (ABM), aseptic meningitis, tuberculous meningitis and patients without infection neurological disorders. CSF and plasma concentration of metabolites from the KP was assessed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and cytokines and chemokines by Bio-plex 200 suspension array system. Concentrations of the KP metabolites KYN and kynurenic acid (KYNA) were significantly higher in CSF of patients with ABM compared to other groups. Tryptophan (TRP), anthranilic acid (AA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) did not show statistical significance, although some of them presented a good accumulation during ABM. The expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1beta, IFN-gamma, IL-10, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, MCP-1 and G-CSF was about 100-fold higher in CSF from ABM patients than other infected groups. In all CSF and plasma samples, the concentration of IL-2, IL-12(p70), IL-4, IL-8 and GM-CSF was not significant. ABM still showed significant concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, IL-1Ra and MCP-1 in plasma samples. Based on the comparison of KP metabolites concentrations between plasma and CSF samples we conclude that the activation of the tryptophan pathway upon BM occurs within the brain. This increase in KP metabolites is most due to activation of the KP by molecules as IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in response to infection.

Antimicrobial resistance of isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae in a hospital of the Brazilian public system

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the predominant bacterial agent that affects the human population with pneumonia. This disease is an important cause of death in the elderly and the children under five years old. In this study, 29 strains of invasive S. pneumoniae were isolated from 29 patients of pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis in the laboratory of the Municipal Hospital in Paulinia, Brazil, from May 2006 to October 2007. Patients' age ranged from 8 months old to 60 years old. These strains of S. pneumoniae were isolated from blood, pleural fluid and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients. After typing of encapsulated strains of S. pneumoniae through quellung reaction, their resistance to antimicrobial agents was gauged through Disc Diffusion Technique followed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Among the 29 strains analyzed, 23 were methicillin-sensitive and six were methicillin-resistant and penicillin intermediate resistant. No strain presented full resistance to penicillin. Serotyping was performed only in two samples, which belonged to serotype 18. Our data may alert ambulatory regarding the incidence of pneumococcal strains resistant to the most common drugs due to inappropriate use of antimicrobials and also collaborate to the elaboration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines specific to each region.

Lymphocyte transformation assay for C neoformans antigen is not reliable for detecting cellular impairment in patients with Neurocryptococcosis

Background: Cryptococcus neoformans causes meningitis and disseminated infection in healthy individuals, but more commonly in hosts with defective immune responses. Cell-mediated immunity is an important component of the immune response to a great variety of infections, including yeast infections. We aimed to evaluate a specific lymphocyte transformation assay to Cryptococcus neoformans in order to identify immunodeficiency associated to neurocryptococcosis (NCC) as primary cause of the mycosis.Methods: Healthy volunteers, poultry growers, and HIV-seronegative patients with neurocryptococcosis were tested for cellular immune response. Cryptococcal meningitis was diagnosed by India ink staining of cerebrospinal fluid and cryptococcal antigen test (Immunomycol-Inc, SP, Brazil). Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with C. neoformans antigen, C. albicans antigen, and pokeweed mitogen. The amount of H-3-thymidine incorporated was assessed, and the results were expressed as stimulation index (SI) and log SI, sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off value (receiver operating characteristics curve). We applied unpaired Student t tests to compare data and considered significant differences for p<0.05.Results: The lymphotoxin alpha showed a low capacity with all the stimuli for classifying patients as responders and non-responders. Lymphotoxin alpha stimulated by heated-killed antigen from patients with neurocryptococcosis was not affected by TCD4+ cell count, and the intensity of response did not correlate with the clinical evolution of neurocryptococcosis.Conclusion: Response to lymphocyte transformation assay should be analyzed based on a normal range and using more than one stimulator. The use of a cut-off value to classify patients with neurocryptococcosis is inadequate. Statistical analysis should be based on the log transformation of SI. A more purified antigen for evaluating specific response to C. neoformans is needed.

Simulação de Fluxo no Meio Poroso Utilizando o Fluent

The complexity of the Phenomenon of fluid flow in porous way causes a difficulty in its explicit description. Different in the cases where the flow is given through a pipe, where it is possible to measure the length and diameter of the pipe and to determine their ability to flow as a function of pressure, which is a complicated task in porous way. However, we try to approach clearly the equations used to conjecture the behavior of fluid flow in porous way. We made use of the Gambit to create a fractal geometry with the fluent we give the contour´s conditions we would want to analyze the data. The triangular mesh was created; it makes interactions with the discs of different rays, as barriers putted in the geometry. This work presents the results of a simulation with a flow of viscous fluids (oilliquid). The oil flows in a porous way constructed in 2D. The behavior evaluation of the fluid flow inside the porous way was realized with graphics, images and numerical results used for different datas analysis. The study was aimed in relation at the behavior of permeability (k) for different fractal dimensions. Taking into account the preservation of porosity and increasing the fractal distribution of the discs. The results showed that k decreases when we increase the numbers of discs, although the porosity is the same for all generations of the first simulation, in other words, the permeability decreases when we increase the fractality. Well, there are strong turbulence in the flow each time we increase the number of discs and this hinders the passage of the same to the exit. These results permitted to put in evidence how the permeability (k) is affected in a porous way with obstacles distributed in a diversified form. We also note that k decreases when we increase the pressure variation (P) within geometry. So, in front of the results and the absence of bibliographic subsidies about other theories, the work realized here can possibly by considered the unpublished form to explain and reflect on how the permeability is changed when increasing the fractal dimension in a porous way

Polioencefalomalacia experimental em bovinos induzida por toxicose por enxofre

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar os sinais clínicos, as concentrações do sulfeto de hidrogênio ruminal e as alterações anatomopatológicas associadas à intoxicação experimental por enxofre em bovinos. Foram utilizados dez bezerros mestiços leiteiros, sendo que quatro bovinos ingeriram ração sem sulfato de sódio (G1) e seis consumiram ração com sulfato de sódio (G2). Exames clínicos (temperatura retal, frequência cardíaca e respiratória e motricidade ruminal) e laboratoriais (hemograma, fibrinogênio, proteína plasmática, pH do fluido ruminal, concentração do sulfeto de hidrogênio ruminal, líquido cerebrospinal e histopatológico) foram realizados. A temperatura retal, frequência cardíaca, hemograma, fibrinogênio, proteína plasmática, pH do fluido ruminal e os valores do líquido cerebrospinal estavam dentro dos valores de referência para a espécie. Taquipnéia, hipomotricidade ruminal e elevados valores de sulfeto de hidrogênio ruminal foram observados nos bezerros do grupo G2. Um bezerro do grupo G2 apresentou sinais neurológicos e lesões histopatológicas de PEM. Dois animais de cada grupo foram eutanasiados. Lesões microscópicas foram observadas nos bezerros do G2. Histologicamente as alterações observadas foram necrose neuronal cortical e lesões hemorrágicas nos núcleos basais, tálamo, mesencéfalo, ponte e bulbo. O protocolo experimental constituído por uma dieta rica em carboidrato de alta fermentação, baixa quantidade de fibra efetiva e altos níveis de enxofre (0,52%) ocasionou alterações clinicas e histológicas e elevadas concentrações de sulfeto de hidrogênio ruminal compatíveis com quadro de intoxicação por enxofre.

Incorporação do vínculo de suavidade no ajuste de histórico de reservatórios de petróleo

The history match procedure in an oil reservoir is of paramount importance in order to obtain a characterization of the reservoir parameters (statics and dynamics) that implicates in a predict production more perfected. Throughout this process one can find reservoir model parameters which are able to reproduce the behaviour of a real reservoir.Thus, this reservoir model may be used to predict production and can aid the oil file management. During the history match procedure the reservoir model parameters are modified and for every new set of reservoir model parameters found, a fluid flow simulation is performed so that it is possible to evaluate weather or not this new set of parameters reproduces the observations in the actual reservoir. The reservoir is said to be matched when the discrepancies between the model predictions and the observations of the real reservoir are below a certain tolerance. The determination of the model parameters via history matching requires the minimisation of an objective function (difference between the observed and simulated productions according to a chosen norm) in a parameter space populated by many local minima. In other words, more than one set of reservoir model parameters fits the observation. With respect to the non-uniqueness of the solution, the inverse problem associated to history match is ill-posed. In order to reduce this ambiguity, it is necessary to incorporate a priori information and constraints in the model reservoir parameters to be determined. In this dissertation, the regularization of the inverse problem associated to the history match was performed via the introduction of a smoothness constraint in the following parameter: permeability and porosity. This constraint has geological bias of asserting that these two properties smoothly vary in space. In this sense, it is necessary to find the right relative weight of this constrain in the objective function that stabilizes the inversion and yet, introduces minimum bias. A sequential search method called COMPLEX was used to find the reservoir model parameters that best reproduce the observations of a semi-synthetic model. This method does not require the usage of derivatives when searching for the minimum of the objective function. Here, it is shown that the judicious introduction of the smoothness constraint in the objective function formulation reduces the associated ambiguity and introduces minimum bias in the estimates of permeability and porosity of the semi-synthetic reservoir model

Caracterização macro, meso e microscópica das estruturas frágeis do corpo arenítico conglomerático da região de Santana do Acaraú (CE) e seu embasamento circundante

The structural framework of the sedimentary basins usually plays an important role in oil prospects and reservoirs. Geometry, interconectivity and density of the brittle features developed during basin evolution could change the permo-porous character of the rocks involved in generation, migration and entrapment of fluid flow. Once the structural characterization of the reservois using only sub-surface data is not an easy task, many studies are focused in analogous outcrops trying to understand the main processes by which brittle tectonic is archieved. In the Santana do Acaraú region (Ceará state, NE Brazil) a pack of conglomeratic sandstone (here named CAC) has its geometry controlled mainly by NE trending faults, interpreted as related to reactivation of a precambrian Sobral Pedro II Lineament (LSP-II). Geological mapping of the CAC showed a major NE-SW trending synform developed before its complete lithification during a dextral transpression. This region was then selected to be studied in details in order of constrain the cretaceous deformation and so help the understanding the deformation of the basins along the brazilian equatorial margin. In order to characterize the brittle deformation in different scales, I study some attributes of the fractures and faults such as orientation, density, kinematic, opening, etc., through scanlines in satellite images, outcrops and thin sections. The study of the satellite images showed three main directions of the macrostructures, N-S, NE-SW and E-W. Two of theses features (N-S and E-W) are in aggreement with previous geophysical data. A bimodal pattern of the lineaments in the CAC´s basement rocks has been evidenciated by the NE and NW sets of structures obtained in the meso and microscale data. Besides the main dextral transpression two others later events, developed when the sediments were complety lithified, were recognized in the area. The interplay among theses events is responsible for the compartimentation of the CAC in several blocks along within some structural elements display diferents orientations. Based on the variation in the S0 orientation, the CAC can be subdivided in several domains. Dispite of the variations in orientations of the fractures/faults in the diferents domains, theses features, in the meso and microscopic scale, are concentrated in two sets (based on their trend) in all domains which show similar orientation of the S0 surface. Thus the S0 orientation was used to group the domains in three major sets: i) The first one is that where S0 is E-W oriented: the fractures are oriented mainly NE with the development of a secondary NW trending; ii) S0 trending NE: the fractures are concentrated mainly along the trend NW with a secondary concentration along the NE trend; iii) The third set, where S0 is NS the main fractures are NE and the secondary concentration is NW. Another analized parameter was the fault/fracture length. This attribute was studied in diferent scales trying to detect the upscale relationship. A terrain digital model (TDM) was built with the brittlel elements supperposed. This model enhanced a 3D visualization of the area as well as the spatial distribution of the fault/fractures. Finally, I believe that a better undertanding of the brittle tectonic affecting both CAC and its nearby basement will help the future interpretations of the tectonic envolved in the development of the sedimentary basins of the brazilian equatorial margin and their oil reservoirs and prospects, as for instance the Xaréu field in the Ceará basin, which subsurface data could be correlated with the surface ones

Caracterização de reservatórios siliciclásticos neoaptianos: um estudo do membro carmópolis no campo de Camorim, sub-bacia de Sergipe, Brasil

The Camorim Oilfield, discovered in 1970 in the shallow water domain of the Sergipe Sub-basin, produces hydrocarbons from the Carmópolis Member of the Muribeca Formation, the main reservoir interval, interpreted as siliciclastics deposited in an alluvial-fluvial-deltaic context during a late rifting phase of Neoaptian age, in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin. The structural setting of the field defines different production blocks, being associated to the evolution of the Atalaia High during the rift stage and subsequent reactivations, encompassing NE-SW trending major normal faults and NWEW trending secondary faults. The complexity of this field is related to the strong facies variation due to the interaction between continental and coastal depositional environments, coupled with strata juxtaposition along fault blocks. This study aims to geologically characterize its reservoirs, to provide new insights to well drilling locations in order to increase the recovery factor of the field. Facies analysis based on drill cores and geophysical logs and the 3D interpretation of a seismic volume, provide a high resolution stratigraphic analysis approach to be applied in this geodynamic transitional context between the rift and drift evolutionary stages of the basin. The objective was to define spatial and time relations between production zones and the preferential directions of fluid flow, using isochore maps that represent the external geometry of the deposits and facies distribution maps to characterize the internal heterogeneities of these intervals, identified in a 4th order stratigraphic zoning. This work methodology, integrated in a 3D geological modelling process, will help to optimize well drilling and hydrocarbons production. This methodology may be applied in other reservoirs in tectonic and depositional contexts similar to the one observed at Camorim, for example, the oil fields in the Aracaju High, Sergipe Sub-basin, which together represent the largest volume of oil in place in onshore Brazilian basins

Edema cerebral crônico na neurocisticercose

Neste estudo retrospectivo, relatam-se as características clínicas do edema cerebral crônico (ECCr) em 34 pacientes com neurocisticercose (NCC), que apresentavam edema cerebral difuso, à tomografia computadorizada (TC), como característica comum. Todos foram tratados com dextroclorofeniramina e, 32 deles, com albendazol. O ECCr predominou no sexo feminino (73,5%) na faixa etária dos 11 - 40 anos (92,3%). A cefaléia ocorreu em 94,1% dos pacientes, náuseas/vômitos em 47,1%, crises epilépticas em 41,1% e distúrbios psíquicos em 38,2%. A hiperreflexia ocorreu em 82,3% e o papiledema em 58,8% e o exame neurológico normal em 11,8%. Na TC, o edema esteve associado a calcificações em 61,8% dos casos. As pressões liquóricas foram mais elevadas (p< 0,05) antes do tratamento. Atualmente, estão assintomáticos, ou com melhora clínica, 79,4% dos pacientes (57,1% deles sem medicação). Discute-se a possibilidade do ECCr, na NCC, ser uma manifestação antigênica, sem a presença concomitante de cistos parasitários, e poder representar mais uma condição clínica associada à hipertensão intracraniana benigna.

Estudo das manifestações neurológicas em 93 doentes com intoxicação exógena por substancias químicas não medicamentosas

Foram analisadas as manifestações neurológicas em 93 doentes com suspeita de intoxicação exógena. A detecção das substancias tóxicas foi realizada no sangue, urina e líquido cefalorraqueano. Verificou-se nítido predomínio do comprometimento do sistema nervoso central em relação ao periférico e aparente tropismo de herbicidas e organofosforados para o sistema nervoso central, comparando-se o comportamento dos metais pesados e organoclorados. São analisados os prováveis mecanismos de ação dessas substancias no sistema nervoso e são apresentados os sinais e/ou sintomas que foram observados.