Low serum potassium levels increase the infectious-caused mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients: a propensity-matched score study

Background and ObjectivesHypokalemia has been consistently associated with high mortality rate in peritoneal dialysis. However, studies investigating if hypokalemia is acting as a surrogate marker of comorbidities or has a direct effect in the risk for mortality have not been studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of hypokalemia on overall and cause-specific mortality.Design, Setting, Participants and MeasurementsThis is an analysis of BRAZPD II, a nationwide prospective cohort study. All patients on PD for longer than 90 days with measured serum potassium levels were used to verify the association of hypokalemia with overall and cause-specific mortality using a propensity match score to reduce selection bias. In addition, competing risks were also taken into account for the analysis of cause-specific mortality.ResultsThere was a U-shaped relationship between time-averaged serum potassium and all-cause mortality of PD patients. Cardiovascular disease was the main cause of death in the normokalemic group with 133 events (41.8%) followed by PD-non related infections, n=105 (33.0%). Hypokalemia was associated with a 49% increased risk for CV mortality after adjustments for covariates and the presence of competing risks (SHR 1.49; CI95% 1.01-2.21). In contrast, in the group of patients with K < 3.5mEq/L, PD-non related infections were the main cause of death with 43 events (44.3%) followed by cardiovascular disease (n=36; 37.1%). For PD-non related infections the SHR was 2.19 (CI95% 1.52-3.14) while for peritonitis was SHR 1.09 (CI95% 0.47-2.49).ConclusionsHypokalemia had a significant impact on overall, cardiovascular and infectious mortality even after adjustments for competing risks. The causative nature of this association suggested by our study raises the need for intervention studies looking at the effect of potassium supplementation on clinical outcomes of PD patients.

Changes in gene expression in PBMCs profiles of PPAR alpha target genes in obese and non-obese individuals during fasting

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of microwave-assisted pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass immersed in alkaline glycerol for fermentable sugars production

A pretreatment with microwave irradiation was applied to enhance enzyme hydrolysis of corn straw and rice husk immersed in water, aqueous glycerol or alkaline glycerol. Native and pretreated solids underwent enzyme hydrolysis using the extract obtained from the fermentation of Myceliophthora heterothallica, comparing its efficiency with that of the commercial cellulose cocktail Celluclast (R). The highest saccharification yields, for both corn straw and rice husk, were attained when biomass was pretreated in alkaline glycerol, method that has not been previously reported in literature. Moreover, FTIR, TG and SEM analysis revealed a more significant modification in the structure of corn straw subjected to this pretreatment.Highest global yields were attained with the crude enzyme extract, which might be the result of its content in a great variety of hydrolytic enzymes, as revealed zymogram analysis. Moreover, its hydrolysis efficiency can be improved by its supplementation with commercial beta-glucosidase.

Systemic blood flow relations in conscious South American rattlesnakes

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

Aquecimento vocal para o canto erudito: teoria e prática

Vocal warm-ups are essential for the technical training of the singer, for good speech and performance, as well as essential for good vocal health and a long-lasting career. Objective: To analyze the theory and practice of the vocal warm-up in classical singing, from the perspective of different professionals in the voice field including: teachers, speech therapists and singers. Method: descriptive search, quantitative in nature, cross-sectional, with a questionnaire for voice teachers, singers and audiologists. The sample consisted of 165 subjects: 86 voice teachers, 64 speech pathologists, and 15 singers. Results: Teachers of Singing (97.7 %), singers (95.3 %) and students (93.3 %) use the vocal warm-up. Conclusion: From the results we can infer that most of the professionals surveyed point to the importance of the implementation of the vocal warm-up before a performance, and the strategy used by most voice instructors, speech therapists and singers is vocalization, i.e. aesthetic warm-up.

Nutritional status and immune response in murine experimental Jorge Lobo's disease

There are no studies investigating the role of nutritional status and immunity associated with Jorge Lobo's disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein-calorie malnutrition on the immune response of BALB/c mice inoculated with Lacazia loboi. In this study,the animals were divided into four groups: G1: inoculated with restricted diet, G2: not inoculated with restricted diet, G3: inoculated with regular diet, G4: not inoculated with regular diet. The animals of groups G1 and G2 were submitted to malnutrition for 20 days and once installed the animals were inoculated intradermally into the footpad. After 4 months, they were euthanised for the isolation of peritoneal lavage cells and removal of the footpad. The production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α, H2 O2 and nitric oxide (NO) was evaluated in the peritoneal lavage cells. The footpad was evaluated regarding the size of macroscopic lesions, number of fungi and viability index. The results showed that the infection did not exert great influence on the body weight of the mice and previous malnutrition was an unfavourable factor for viability index, number of fungi, macroscopic lesion size in the footpad and production of H2 O2 , NO, IL-12, IL-10 and IFN-γ, suggesting that malnutrition significantly altered fungal activity and peritoneal cells. The results suggest considerable interaction between nutrition and immunity in Jorge Lobo's disease.

Bone morphogenetic proteins: promising molecules for bone healing, bioengineering, and regenerative medicine

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

Relações públicas e web 2.0: a manutenção do relacionamento entre artista e público pela internet

The objective of this study is a explanation about the action possibilities of the Public Relations professional as a manager of communication between the musical celebrity and his publics. For this purpose, a bibliographical research was made about Internet question like his history, the evolution of Web 2.0 and even about different kinds of virtualization, introducing with interactivity. Other researches was been made like social culture topics and even the studies of Public Relations actions in the artistic scene, acting like a manager of different publics relationships in the virtual contacts. A study case with the virtual communication tools employed in the career of Hugo e Tiago, one of the country artists in Brazil, is also in this studies. Otherwise, the study explains about the different ways of Public Relations actions, his upgrades along with the new communication tools and his new types of making relations with more and more different publics. Working with new strategies and keeping his objectives in the organization and public relationship, Public Relations brands a new vision to this type of communication professional, who becomes even more important in the actual organizations scenario

A iniciação à docência em professores de educação física: os portfólios e as possibilidades de construção da profissão

No Brasil não há uma tradição de programas de iniciação à docência, mas é sabido que tais programas auxiliam na imersão e consolidação do profissional professor, que na fase inicial da carreira, apresenta necessidades específicas. Dessa forma este estudo se propõe a desvelar como um grupo de iniciação à docência (PIBID - área de Educação Física) tem construído o seu percurso no âmbito do ensino, da introdução ao ensino, entendendo esta perspectiva também como um modelo de educação centrado na iniciação. Assim sendo, este trabalho tem como objetivo central compreender a iniciação a docência no âmbito do projeto PIBID de educação física, buscando identificar os elementos que são apontados pelos estudantes como significativos nesse processo de aprendizagem. Especificamente se busca (a) averiguar os elementos que compõem a iniciação a docência dentro dos relatos dos estudantes; (b) identificar os elementos que são apontados pelos estudantes como significativos nesse processo de aprendizagem da docência e (c) analisar o sentido que estes estudantes atribuem para esta experiência na compreensão do ser professor. Opta-se metodologicamente pela pesquisa qualitativa, estudo descritivo, tendo como técnicas a fonte documental e a análise de conteúdo. Os documentos utilizados nesta pesquisa serão Relatórios de Experiência do 1º Semestre, documentos sobre a Contribuição do Projeto Interdisciplinar, Relatos de Experiência como Aluno da Educação Básica dentre outros produzidos por bolsistas do PIBID. Foram encontrados 3 eixos temáticos acerca dos resultados: Tornar-se professor: um processo e uma escolha, Iniciação à docência: Elementos que a compõem, ; PIBID e a aprendizagem da docência: contribuições e limites. Adicionamos ainda as sugestões, limites e críticas emitidas pelos bolsistas sobre o Programa. Realizamos a discussão destes eixos a partir de 5 pontos:...

O Estágio Supervisionado e sua Contribuição para a Formação Inicial do Professor

Pós-graduação em Educação - FCT

Veríssimo passando Érico a limpo: espelhos e biblioteca em Solo de clarineta

Pós-graduação em Letras - FCLAS

Morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular study of renal lesions in canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL)

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is an anthropozoonosis characterized by a clinically chronic progressive disease. Non lymphoid organs are also affected, especially the kidneys. Dogs with leishmaniasis usually die with renal failure despite treatment. Haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining in kidney tissue sections has low sensitivity for parasite identification. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are efficient methods for Leishmania sp. antigen and DNA detection in cases of low parasite burden. The present study aims to identify renal lesions of CVL and correlate them with microscopic findings determined by histochemistry, IHC and PCR. Both IHC and PCR provided similar positivity for amastigote identification, 3/20 animals (15%), thus increasing detection of the parasite in renal tissues when compared with histopathologic examination. The lesion most commonly observed with visceral leishmaniasis-positive canine kidney tissue was membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, followed by interstitial nephritis without correlation to the number of amastigotes.

Leishmania sp. amastigotes identification in canine transmissible venereal tumor

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease with Leishmania chagasi being the etiological agent of canine visceral leishmaniasis in South America. Canine venereal tumor is a transplantable round cell tumor of histiocytic origin which is mostly observed in sexually active male and female intact dogs. It has been shown that Leishmania amastigotes have higher tropism for the canine male genital tract tissues and venereal leishmaniasis transmission has been documented in dogs but, to date, a canine venereal tumor-dependent transmission route has not been fully demonstrated. In this report, a 10-year-old, mixed breed, intact female dog presented a vaginal venereal transmissible tumor but no other clinical abnormalities otherwise. Unexpectedly, tumor tissue imprint smears examination revealed Leishmania sp. amastigotes within infiltrating macrophages. In addition to the cytological direct identification, the protozoan was confirmed within the neoplastic tissue by means of immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction. This report illustrates an asymptomatic Leishmania sp. infection that may have started on or from the canine venereal tumor tissue, the latter option further supporting previous evidence of such an alternative vector-independent route of transmission for canine visceral leishmaniasis in areas where these diseases coexist.

Satisfação e o emprego no Sistema Público de Saúde na área de saúde bucal

The aim this study was to know work conditions of dental surgeon in Brazilian Health System (SUS), by their perception, analyzing: type of ingress, work regime, workload, realized income, existence of Career Plan, Posts and Ages (PCCS) and satisfaction with public employment. The sample was constituted by dental surgeons (n=83) of 12 cities public system from Health Regional Department XV – São José do Rio Preto City – São Paulo State. Data collection was by interviews using a questionnaire. Results point that 19% of interviewed people didn’t take an open competition to ingress on SUS. Statutory scheme of work was more adopted getting 57% of professionals. Different working days were observed: 57% is relative to 20 hours, 7% to 30 hours and 36 hours to 40 hours. About satisfaction with incomes, 66% of professionals were dissatisfied, observing the absence of PCCS in 11 cities. About satisfaction with public employment, just 5% said to be “dissatisfied”; 11% “few satisfied” and the majority 62% and 22% affirmed to be “satisfied” and “satisfied so much” respectively. Although PCCS not to be reality in studied cities and the majority of professionals to say “to be dissatisfied” with wage, around totality of interviewed people is “dissatisfied” with public employment on SUS.

A vivência de mulheres em cargos em cargos executivos em grandes empresas: uma análise interseccional das desigualdades de gênero e de Raça

Pós-graduação em Ciências Sociais - FCLAR