Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in children: state of the art

Whole-body imaging in children was classically performed with radiography, positron-emission tomography, either combined or not with computed tomography, the latter with the disadvantage of exposure to ionizing radiation. Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in association with the recently developed metabolic and functional techniques such as diffusion-weighted imaging, has brought the advantage of a comprehensive evaluation of pediatric patients without the risks inherent to ionizing radiation usually present in other conventional imaging methods. It is a rapid and sensitive method, particularly in pediatrics, for detecting and monitoring multifocal lesions in the body as a whole. In pediatrics, it is utilized for both oncologic and non-oncologic indications such as screening and diagnosis of tumors in patients with genetic syndromes, evaluation of disease extent and staging, evaluation of therapeutic response and post-therapy follow-up, evaluation of non neoplastic diseases such as multifocal osteomyelitis, vascular malformations and syndromes affecting multiple regions of the body. The present review was aimed at describing the major indications of whole-body MRI in pediatrics added of technical considerations.

Ortner’s syndrome: a case report and literature review

AbstractThe authors report the case of a 55-year-old female, hypertensive, smoker patient presenting with dysphonia, dysphagia and persistent dry cough. Laryngoscopy diagnosed left vocal cord paralysis. Computed tomography demonstrated saccular aneurysm of the inferior wall of the aortic arch, stretching the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, a finding compatible with Ortner’s syndrome.

Chest magnetic resonance imaging: a protocol suggestion

Abstract In the recent years, with the development of ultrafast sequences, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been established as a valuable diagnostic modality in body imaging. Because of improvements in speed and image quality, MRI is now ready for routine clinical use also in the study of pulmonary diseases. The main advantage of MRI of the lungs is its unique combination of morphological and functional assessment in a single imaging session. In this article, the authors review most technical aspects and suggest a protocol for performing chest MRI. The authors also describe the three major clinical indications for MRI of the lungs: staging of lung tumors; evaluation of pulmonary vascular diseases; and investigation of pulmonary abnormalities in patients who should not be exposed to radiation.

Construção e avaliação de um eletrodo tubular sensível ao íon hidrogênio como detector em sistemas de análise em fluxo

The construction of a tubular hydrogen ion-selective potentiometric electrode without inner reference solution, based on the tridodecylamine (TDDA) ionophore, and its evaluation in a flow system are described. TDDA was dissolved in 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether, dispersed in a PVC membrane and applied directly to a conducting support which consisted of an epoxy resin and graphite mixture. The electrode was designed with a tubular geometry to effort facilities to be coupled as part of a flow injection network. The main working characteristics such as response time, linear pH range, selectivity and life time were evaluated and compared with those obtained which a conventionally shaped electrode based on the same sensor. The electrode showed a slope of 51-52 mV dec-1 within a linear pH range from 4.0 up to 12.0.

Classificação e definição dos métodos de análises em fluxo (Recomendações - IUPAC 1994)

The aim of this report is to classify analytical methods based on flowing media and to define (standardize) terminology. After the classification and a discussion of terms describing the systems and component parts, a section is devoted to terms describing the performance of flow systems. The list of terms included is restricted to the most relevant ones; especially "self-explanatory" terms are left out. It is emphasised that the usage of terms or expressions that do not adequately describe the processes or procedures involved should be strongly discouraged. Although belonging to the category of methods based on flowing media, chromatographic methods are not comprised in the present document. However, care has been taken that the present text is not in conflict with definitions in that domain. In documents in which flow methods are described, it should be clearly indicated how the sample and/or reagent is introduced and how the sample zone is transported. When introducing new techniques in the field, or variants of existing techniques, it is strongly recommended that descriptive terms rather than trivial or elaborate names are used.

Institutional Determinants of Military Spending

Drawing on a database for 1988-2006 containing information on 157 countries, we investigate the effects on military spending of government form, electoral rules, concentration of parliamentary parties, and ideology. From an OLS regression on pooled data, our results show that presidential democracies spend more than parliamentary systems on defense, whereas the presence of a plurality voting system will reduce the defense burden. Our findings suggest that, in contrast to theoretical predictions in the literature, institutions do not have the same impact on the provision of all public goods. We present as well evidence regarding the effect of ideology on defense spending.

A síntese do aduto binuclear [Fe(CNBu t)(CO)4(HgSO4 )]

The binuclear [Fe(CNBu t)(CO)4(HgSO4 )] adduct was obtained in the reaction of HgSO4 with [Fe(CNBu t)(CO)4] in methanol. This adduct, without a similar in the homoleptic pentacarbonyliron, was characterized by analytical and spectroscopic data. Further Mössbauer and molar conductivity studies have confirmed it's adduct nature.

Toward 'Complexics' as a transdiscipline

The proposed transdisciplinary field of ‘complexics’ would bring together allcontemporary efforts in any specific disciplines or by any researchersspecifically devoted to constructing tools, procedures, models and conceptsintended for transversal application that are aimed at understanding andexplaining the most interwoven and dynamic phenomena of reality. Our aimneeds to be, as Morin says, not “to reduce complexity to simplicity, [but] totranslate complexity into theory”.New tools for the conception, apprehension and treatment of the data ofexperience will need to be devised to complement existing ones and toenable us to make headway toward practices that better fit complexictheories. New mathematical and computational contributions have alreadycontinued to grow in number, thanks primarily to scholars in statisticalphysics and computer science, who are now taking an interest in social andeconomic phenomena.Certainly, these methodological innovations put into question and againmake us take note of the excessive separation between the training receivedby researchers in the ‘sciences’ and in the ‘arts’. Closer collaborationbetween these two subsets would, in all likelihood, be much moreenergising and creative than their current mutual distance. Humancomplexics must be seen as multi-methodological, insofar as necessarycombining quantitative-computation methodologies and more qualitativemethodologies aimed at understanding the mental and emotional world ofpeople.In the final analysis, however, models always have a narrative runningbehind them that reflects the attempts of a human being to understand theworld, and models are always interpreted on that basis.

Toward 'Complexics' as a transdiscipline

The proposed transdisciplinary field of ‘complexics’ would bring together allcontemporary efforts in any specific disciplines or by any researchersspecifically devoted to constructing tools, procedures, models and conceptsintended for transversal application that are aimed at understanding andexplaining the most interwoven and dynamic phenomena of reality. Our aimneeds to be, as Morin says, not “to reduce complexity to simplicity, [but] totranslate complexity into theory”.New tools for the conception, apprehension and treatment of the data ofexperience will need to be devised to complement existing ones and toenable us to make headway toward practices that better fit complexictheories. New mathematical and computational contributions have alreadycontinued to grow in number, thanks primarily to scholars in statisticalphysics and computer science, who are now taking an interest in social andeconomic phenomena.Certainly, these methodological innovations put into question and againmake us take note of the excessive separation between the training receivedby researchers in the ‘sciences’ and in the ‘arts’. Closer collaborationbetween these two subsets would, in all likelihood, be much moreenergising and creative than their current mutual distance. Humancomplexics must be seen as multi-methodological, insofar as necessarycombining quantitative-computation methodologies and more qualitativemethodologies aimed at understanding the mental and emotional world ofpeople.In the final analysis, however, models always have a narrative runningbehind them that reflects the attempts of a human being to understand theworld, and models are always interpreted on that basis.

Quantificação do linalol no óleo essencial da Aniba duckei Korstermans utilizando uma nova coluna capilar POLYH4-MD em Cromatografia Gasosa

In the present work a polyurethane polymer derived from castor oil was used as stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography. The polymer was obtained by reaction of hydroxylated compound and isocynate (NCO), forming urethane. Columns of 7 m x 0,25 mm were then coated with this stationary phase (film thickness of 0,25 µm) using static coating method. The Grob test was also performed. Samples of essential oil of the Aniba duckei Korstermans was then analysed in POLYH4-MD capillary column in order to evaluate its chromatographic perfomance. The linalool was found to be the major component and has been used as compound of departure for many important syntheses. Results show that the experimental columns give higher resolution and can be employed for analysis of essentials oils.

Determinação de compostos de massa molecular alta em folhas de plantas da Amazônia

The fractIons of dichloromethane extracts of leaves from andiroba (Carapa guianensis - Meliaceae), caapi (Banisteriopsis caapi - Malpighiaceae), cocoa (Theobroma cacao - Sterculiaceae), Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa - Lecytidaceae), cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum - Sterculiaceae), marupá (Simaruba amara - Simaroubaceae) and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis - Euphorbiaceae), were analyzed by HT-HRGC and HT-HRGC-MS. Esters of homologous series of fatty acids and long chain alcohols, phytol, amyrines and tocopherols were characterized. The characterization of the compounds was based mainly in mass spectra data and in addition by usual spectrometric data (¹H and 13C NMR, IR).

Novel neutral iron(II) isocyanide maleonitrile dithiolate [Fe(S2C2(CN)2)(t-BuNC) 4] compound

FeBr2 reacts with the S2C2(CN)2(2-) ion (1:1 ratio) in the presence of an excess of t-BuNC in THF to give the mixed ligand [Fe(S2C2(CN)2)(t-BuNC) 4] compound. This neutral product with a formal oxidation state of two for the iron atom was characterized by conductivity measurements, and, i.r., Mössbauer, 13C and ¹H n.m.r. spectroscopy. There is a Fe-C pi back-donation strengthened towards isocyanide ligands, according to the data of 13C, ¹H n.m.r. and Mössbauer spectroscopy.