Clinical evaluation of two packable resin-based composite restorations: A three-year report

This randomized clinical trial sought to evaluate the performance of two packable composites over a period of 36 months. A total of 39 Class I and II restorations were placed in the permanent teeth of 20 patients. Using United States Public Health Services criteria, two investigators evaluated the restorations immediately after placement and again after 12 and 36 months, examining color match, marginal discoloration, marginal integrity, recurrent caries, proximal contact, anatomical shape, surface texture, and postoperative sensitivity. It was concluded that the packable composites evaluated showed satisfactory clinical performance after three years.

Ecotoxicologia do glifosato e surfactante aterbane® br para guaru (Phalloceros caudimaculatus)

Aquatic macrophytes are important components of aquatic ecosystems, but these plants have become a problem due to their occurrence in different regions. Some studies aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of herbicides to control these macrophytes; however, few studies report the possible ecotoxicological effects. The objective of this study was to estimate the acute toxicity (LC (I)50;96h) and assess water quality variables for glyphosate in the Rodeo® formulation, Aterbane® BR surfactant and mixtures of glyphosate + 0.5% and 1.0% of surfactant, for the guaru fish (Phallocerus caudimaculatus). The guaru was exposed to increasing concentrations of glyphosate and a mixture of glyphosate + 0.5 and 1.0% of surfactant. The mixture of glyphosate and glyphosate + 0.5 and 1.0% of surfactant showed (LC (I)50;96h) > 975.0 mg L -1. For the surfactant, the rate was 5.81 mg L -1. The glyphosate and mixtures of glyphosate + 0.5% and 1.0% of surfactant caused a decrease in pH and dissolved oxygen and increased the electrical conductivity of water. Glyphosate in the Rodeo® formulation and the mixtures with surfactant Aterbane® BR can be classified as practically nontoxic, whereas surfactant Aterbane® BR can be considered as moderately toxic to guaru.

Preparedness for rain during sunny weather: Caribbean environmental sustainability in a nuclear age

Includes bibliography

Promoting corporate social responsibility in small and medium enterprises in the Caribbean: methodology report

Incluye Bibliografía

Caribbean Millennium Development Goals Report 2010

Includes bibliography

Role of stressful and traumatic life events in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Whilst genetic factors are thought to contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the role of environmental factors in OCD is only beginning to be understood. In this article, we review the influence of stress-related factors in OCD. Overall, studies indicate that: patients with OCD frequently report stressful and traumatic life events before illness onset, although these rates do not seem to be significantly different from those described in other disorders; the association between OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might result from symptom overlap, although cases of patients developing OCD after PTSD and showing obsessive-compulsive symptoms that were unrelated to trauma have been described fairly consistently; it is unclear whether patients with OCD and a history of stress-related factors (including stressful life events, traumatic life events or comorbid PTSD) may respond better or worse to the available treatments; and comorbid PTSD may modify the clinical expression of OCD-although controlled studies comparing pre-versus post-traumatic OCD patients are still unavailable. In conclusion, there is a growing evidence to suggest a role for stress-related factors in OCD. Although the available literature does not confirm the existence of a post-traumatic subtype of OCD, it does call for further systematic research into this topic. © 2011 Future Medicine Ltd.

Embryos refrozen-thawed by vitrification lead to live births: Case report

Objective: To describe two successful cases of utilizing refrozen blastocysts by vitrification derived from supernumerary embryos. Design: Case report. Setting: Private fertility clinic. Subjects: Two infertility couple. Interventions: Refrozen blastocysts by vitrification derived from supernumerary embryos. Main outcome measures: Obstetric and pediatric results. Results: Two pregnancies obtained from refrozen-warmed blastocysts led to two healthy babies being born without clinical or genetic problems. Conclusion: These case reports support the notion of safely repeating cryopreservation. However, despite these favorable results, there is still a need for prospective controlled studies on the obstetric and neonatal repercussions of refreezing and of vitrification in particular. © 2010 Middle East Fertility Society.

Attacks by jaguars (Panthera onca) on humans in central Brazil: Report of three cases, with observation of a death

Conflicts between humans and big cats have been known for centuries throughout the world, but have intensified in recent decades. Recently, attacks by Panthera onca on humans in Brazil have been brought to the forefront through exposure in the press and because of the severity of the attacks. We report 3 cases of patients attacked by jaguars in provoked and predatory situations. Two patients survived the attacks and one died. Attack mechanisms and lesions in victims are discussed. The attacks demonstrate a real risk of accidents from jaguars in certain regions, such as the Pantanal and the Amazon. © 2011 Wilderness Medical Society.

Report on maritime transport and the environment for Latin America

Includes bibliography

Testing extractants for Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in tropical soils treated with sewage sludge for 13 consecutive years

In this paper, we report on a field experiment being carried out in a Typic Eutrorthox. The experiment was initiated in the 1997-98 agricultural season as a randomized block design with four treatments (0, 5, 10, and 20 t ha -1) of sewage sludge and five replicates. Compound soil samples were obtained from 20 subsamples collected at depths of 0-0.1 and 0.1-0.2 m. Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations were extracted with DTPA pH 7.3; 0.1 mol L -1 HCl, Mehlich-I, Mehlich-III, and 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl 2. Metal concentrations were determined via atomic absorption spectrometry. Diagnostic leaves and the whole above-ground portion of plants were collected to determine Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations extracted by nitric-perchloric digestion and later determined via atomic absorption spectrometry. Sewage sludge application caused increases in the concentrations of soil Cu, Fe, and Mn in samples taken from the 0-0.1 m depth evaluated by the extractants Mehlich-I, Mehlich-III, 0.01 mol L-1 HCl and DTPA pH 7.3. None of the extractants provided efficient estimates of changes in Mn concentrations. The acid extractants extracted more Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn than the saline and chelating solutions. The highest concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Zn were obtained with Mehlich-III, while the highest concentrations of Mn were obtained with HCl. We did not observe a correlation between the extractants and the concentrations of elements in the diagnostic leaves nor in the tissues of the whole maize plant (Zea mays L.). © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Interclonal Variations in the Molecular Karyotype of Trypanosoma cruzi: Chromosome Rearrangements in a Single Cell-Derived Clone of the G Strain

Trypanosoma cruzi comprises a pool of populations which are genetically diverse in terms of DNA content, growth and infectivity. Inter- and intra-strain karyotype heterogeneities have been reported, suggesting that chromosomal rearrangements occurred during the evolution of this parasite. Clone D11 is a single-cell-derived clone of the T. cruzi G strain selected by the minimal dilution method and by infecting Vero cells with metacyclic trypomastigotes. Here we report that the karyotype of clone D11 differs from that of the G strain in both number and size of chromosomal bands. Large chromosomal rearrangement was observed in the chromosomes carrying the tubulin loci. However, most of the chromosome length polymorphisms were of small amplitude, and the absence of one band in clone D11 in relation to its reference position in the G strain could be correlated to the presence of a novel band migrating above or below this position. Despite the presence of chromosomal polymorphism, large syntenic groups were conserved between the isolates. The appearance of new chromosomal bands in clone D11 could be explained by chromosome fusion followed by a chromosome break or interchromosomal exchange of large DNA segments. Our results also suggest that telomeric regions are involved in this process. The variant represented by clone D11 could have been induced by the stress of the cloning procedure or could, as has been suggested for Leishmania infantum, have emerged from a multiclonal, mosaic parasite population submitted to frequent DNA amplification/deletion events, leading to a 'mosaic' structure with different individuals having differently sized versions of the same chromosomes. If this is the case, the variant represented by clone D11 would be better adapted to survive the stress induced by cloning, which includes intracellular development in the mammalian cell. Karyotype polymorphism could be part of the T. cruzi arsenal for responding to environmental pressure. © 2013 Lima et al.

Social and environmental indexes to determine the impacts of closed neighbourhoods in Brazil

São Paulo State, in Brazil, is getting increasingly crowded, like in other third world countries around the world, so should give great importance to city development. This work considered the phenomenon of closed neighbourhoods (CN) as an important factor to city planning, papers report many impacts of this model of neighbourhoods in other countries, but in Brazil its impacts are not yet well listed in the literature. The aim of this work was to determine indicators to achieve the social and environmental performances and verify their applicability on three different closed neighbourhoods in São Paulo state, Brazil. The indicators were condensed on indexes: water management, waste management, energy and emissions, legal compliance, environment and buildings, risk management, health and education and governance. The preliminary results indicated several social and environmental problems in all indexes. © 2013 WIT Press.

Some thoughts on the role of environmental impact assessment for developing countries and ECO's role in the Americas

Includes bibliography

Report of the Regional Preparatory Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, South Africa, 2002), Rio de Janeiro, 23-24 October 2001

Includes bibliography