Expression of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) in non-trophoblastic elements of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: possible relationship with the prognosis.

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is a neoplasm with variability in its clinical behavior. Although there are several studies correlating stage and ABO isoantigen expression with invasiveness, there is no single predictor factor to assess the potential invasiveness, especially in the low grade, non-invasive TCC. In the present study we evaluated the correlation of histological grade plus stage and the expression of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), in 100 cases of TCC, with the clinical behavior. These features were correlated with tumor progression in patients with at least two years of follow up. We observed more aggressiveness in G4 group (high grade and invasive) (93% had tumor progression) when compared to G1 group (low grade and superficial) (11% had tumor progression). However in 25.5% of the TCC cases (groups G2: low grade and invasive and G3: high grade and superficial) the clinical behavior was intermediate, showing some limitation in using grading and staging only, as a predictive factor. There was an expression of beta-hCG in 21.4% of the cases in up to 25% of the tumor cells without any trophoblastic morphology. These beta-hCG producing TCC had a strong correlation with aggressiveness: 39.1% and 12.8% of the TCC expressed beta-hCG with and without tumor progression, respectively.

Testing anomalous Higgs couplings in triple photon production at the Tevatron collider

We derive bounds on Higgs and gauge-boson anomalous interactions using the CDF data for the process pp̄ → γγγ + X. We use a linearly realized SU L(2) X U Y(1) invariant effective Lagrangian to describe the bosonic sector of the Standard Model, keeping the fermionic couplings unchanged. All dimension-six operators that lead to anomalous Higgs interactions involving γ and Z are considered. We also show the sensitivity that can be achieved for these couplings at Fermilab Tevatron upgrades. © 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Efeitos da Seleção para Peso Pós-desmame sobre Medidas Corporais e Perímetro Escrotal de Machos Nelore de Sertãozinho (SP)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sleep apnea and automobile accidents: Review of regulation for drivers

Several studies show a crescent association between sleep-disordered breathing, excessive sleepiness and automobile accidents. Many countries already discussed about specific regulations for drivers with these conditions, including questionnaire and/or investigation by a qualified specialist. In Brazil, these discussions have barely begun. In view of that, we suggest some items to be included in our traffic law.

Estudo das características morfológicas dos pites nos materiais resistentes à corrosão

This paper has as a purpose a new alternative technique development to characterize pitting corrosion evolution, aiming classification, size and determination of morphological parameters which rule pits increase. In this case, the method will be applied to the 304 ABNT stainless steel, thermally treated and exposed to different times in salt spray. Different 304 steel conditions, rolled and thermally treated have exhibited similar geometry, predominantly conic, near-conic and irregular pits. On rolled steel, pits width increases faster than height; however, on thermally treated steel, pits are found to increase in height.

Mean-field model of jet formation in a collapsing Bose-Einstein condensate

We perform a systematic numerical study, based on the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation, of jet formation in collapsing and exploding Bose-Einstein condensates as in the experiment by Donley et al (2001 Nature 412 295). In the actual experiment, via a Feshbach resonance, the scattering length of atomic interaction was suddenly changed from positive to negative on a pre-formed condensate. Consequently, the condensate collapsed and ejected atoms via explosion. On disruption of the collapse by suddenly changing the scattering length to zero, a radial jet of atoms was formed in the experiment. We present a satisfactory account of jet formation under the experimental conditions and also make predictions beyond experimental conditions which can be verified in future experiments.

Relação peso-comprimento e fator de condição de Salminus hilarii Valenciennes 1850 (Osteichthyes, Characidae) em um trecho da bacia do rio Sorocaba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The length-weight relationship and condition factor of Salminus hilarii were analyzed in a section of the lower part of the Sorocaba river basin, São Paulo State. By studying male, female and immature individuals separately, different length-weight patterns were found for each. The same happened when distinct seasonal variations of the relationships were compared, related to feeding alterations and to the reproductive period of the species.

Application of non-isothermal cure kinetics on the interaction of poly(ethylene terephthalate) - Alkyd resin paints

Samples of paint (P), reused PET (PET-R) and paint/PET-R mixtures (PPET-R) were evaluated using DSC to verify their physical-chemical properties and thermal behavior. Films from paints and PPET-R are visually similar. It was possible to establish that the maximum amount of PET-R that can be added to paint without significantly altering its filming properties is 2%. The cure process (80-203°C) was identified through DSC curves. The kinetic parameters, activation energy (E a) and Arrhenius parameters (A) for the samples containing 0.5 to 1% of PET-R, were calculated using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa isoconversional method. It was observed that for greater amounts of PET-R added, there is a decrease in the E a values for the cure process. A Kinetic compensation effect (KCE), represented by the equation InA=-2.70+0.31E a was observed for all the samples. The most suitable kinetic model to describe this cure process is the autocatalytic Šesták-Berggreen, model applied to heterogeneous systems. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Methotrexate improves the health-related quality of life of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Objectives: To examine the change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its determinants in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) treated with methotrexate (MTX). Methods: Patients were extracted from the PRINTO clinical trial which aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of MTX administered in standard, intermediate or higher doses (10, 15 and 30 mg/m2/week respectively). Children with polyarticular-course JIA, who were less than 18 years and had a complete HRQOL assessment were included. Results: A total of 521 children were included. At baseline, patients with JIA showed poorer HRQOL (p<0.01) than healthy children. In 207/412 (50%) and 63 (15%) children, HRQOL values were 2 standard deviations below the mean of healthy controls in the physical and psychosocial summary scale, respectively. After 6 months of treatment with standard dose MTX, there was a statistically significant improvement in all HRQOL health concepts, particularly the physical ones. Similar improvements were observed in those who did not respond to a standard dose of MTX and were subsequently randomised to a higher dose. The presence of marked disability at baseline was associated with a fivefold increased risk of retaining poor physical health after 6 months of active treatment with standard dose MTX. Other less important determinants of retaining poor physical well-being were the baseline level of systemic inflammation, pain intensity and an antinuclear-antibody-negative status. Conclusions: MTX treatment produces a significant improvement across a wide range of HRQOL components, particularly in the physical domains, in patients with JIA.

Significado da presença de esquizócitos no sangue periférico de gestantes com pré-eclâmpsia

PURPOSE: to evaluate the significance of schizocytes presence in peripheral blood smear of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, identifying and correlating them with other markers of hemolysis and of the disease severity. METHODS: Seventh six glass slides of peripheral blood smear of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia have been evaluated. After the smear, the slides have been stained with Leishman's dye and stored till they were examined with a Leica, model DLMB microscope, provided with the Qwin Lite 2.5 software that made it possible to record the images of selected fields in CD-ROM. Ten fields with approximately 100 erythrocytes were counted in each glass slide. Schizocytes (irregular fragment or helmet-shaped, bite-shaped or triangular) were considered as present, when their percentage was equal or higher than 0.2%, their presence being correlated with other hemolysis markers (hemoglobin, total bilirubin, lactic desidrogenasis and reticulocytes), pre-eclampsia markers (proteinuria and platelet number). The Statistical Package in Social Science for Windows (SPSS), 10.0 version has been used for statistical analysis, at p<0.05. RESULTS: schizocytes have been present in 31.6% of the pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. In most (75%) of the blood smears there have been three or four schizocytes. There has been no correlation between schizocyte presence and any other hemolysis marker, any pre-eclampsia marker or disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: schizocytes have been identified in a small number and in less than a third of the pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. There has been no correlation with other hemolysis marker parameters or with the disease severity. This way, the presence of schizocytes is not a marker of the clinical evolution of pre-eclampsia.

Dietary fish oil replacement with lard and soybean oil affects triacylglycerol and phospholipid muscle and liver docosahexaenoic acid content but not in the brain and eyes of surubim juveniles Pseudoplatystoma sp

Triplicate groups of juvenile suribim were fed for 183 days one of four different isonitrogenous (47.6% crude protein) and isolipidic (18.7% lipid) diets formulated using three different lipid sources: 100% fish oil (FO, diet 1); 100% pig lard (L, diet 2); 100% soybean oil (SO, diet 3), and FO/L/SO (1:1:1, w/w/w; diet 4). The tissue levels of fatty acids 18:2n - 6 and 18:3n - 3 decreased relative to corresponding dietary fatty acid values. The 20:5n - 3 and 22:6n - 3 composition of muscle and liver neutral lipids were linearly correlated with corresponding dietary fatty acid composition. In contrast, the 22:6n - 3 composition of the brain and eye were similar among treatments. The 22:6n - 3 level was enriched in all tissues, particularly in the neural tissues. Similar results were observed for tissue polar lipids: fatty acids content reflected dietary composition, with the exception of the 22:6n - 3 level, which showed enrichment and no differences between groups. Given these results, the importance of the biochemical functions (transport and/or metabolism) of 22:6n - 3 in the development of the neural system of surubim warrants further investigation. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.

Economic relations of Brazil and the United States and the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative

Includes bibliography

Estimativa da exigência hídrica do amendoim usando um modelo agrometeorológico

In the experimental area of the Department of Environmental Sciences (21.85° S; 48.43° W; 786 m), in the School of Agronomical Sciences, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, an experiment was carried out using peanut (Arachis hypogaea L), cv. IAC-TATU-ST, to quantify the crop daily water requirements. During the peanut crop cycle, the environmental variables, such as rainfall, air temperature, air relative humidity, soil matric potential, soil heat flux and radiation balance, have been registered continually. These measurements were used to calculate the daily crop evapotranspiration, by the Bowen ratio method. The water replacement required by the peanut crop was done the dripping irrigation system, oriented by a dynamic agrometeorological model that computes the entrance and exit of water in the soil. During the peanut crop cycle, 9.0 mm of water was used from sowing to emergence; 67.0 mm of water, in the growth stage; 166.0 mm, in the flowering stage; 124.0 mm in the final stage and 46.0 mm from physiological maturity to harvest. Oot of 412.0 mm of the total consumption, 246.0 mm of water was supplied by irrigation and 166.0 mm by the rain. The grain yield was 3.15 t ha-1 for 15% of humidity, and the water use efficiency was 0.764 kg m-3.

Integrated clinical treatment of gingival recession secondary to root perforation: case report.

Among the factors that influence the success of treatment of a root perforation, its location and possibility of contamination are determinant because the interaction of these 2 factors may result in significant periodontal injury. The management of cases of hard-to-reach contaminated perforations depends on the choice of an adequate technique. In the case reported in this article, controlled orthodontic tooth extrusion was successfully performed to treat gingival recession secondary to root perforation. The outcomes showed that this technique preserves the zone of attached gingiva, maintains the crown height, and prevents the involvement of the supporting bone tissue. The favorable clinical and radio?graphic conditions after 7 years of follow-up demonstrate the viability of this treatment approach.

Short Communication: In vitro evaluation of the abrasiveness of acidic dentifrices.

AIM: This in vitro study evaluated the abrasiveness of acidic fluoride (F) dentifrices with different F concentrations on bovine enamel. METHODS: Enamel blocks (4.0 x 4.0 mm2, n=120) were selected according to their surface microhardness and divided into 12 groups. Slurries of dentifrices were used containing 0 (placebo), 275, 412, 550 and 1,100 ppm F (pH 4.5 or 7.0), as well as testing two commercial dentifrices (Crest, positive control, 1,100 ppm F and Colgate Baby, 500 ppm F). Enamel blocks were partially protected with an adhesive tape (control area) and then brushed by an automated toothbrushing machine (16,000 strokes). During this process, 0.4 ml of the slurries were injected every 2 mins on the enamel blocks. After toothbrushing, enamel wear was determined by profilometry. STATISTICS: Results were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The mean values for pH in the suspensions during treatment were 6.93, 4.32, 7.56 and 8.19 for neutral experimental dentifrices, acidic experimental dentifrices, Crest and Colgate baby, respectively. The abrasiveness of the acidic dentifrices was similar (p<0.05) to the neutral ones, whereas commercial dentifrices yielded lower abrasion (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that a reduction of the pH of dentifrices does not increase their abrasiveness.