Intraspecific variability of Holostylis reniformis: concentration of lignans, as determined by maceration and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE-CO2), as a function of plant provenance and plant parts

Maceration and supercritical fluid extraction were used to prepare extracts from parts of plants (Holostylis reniformis) collected in two different regions of Brazil. ¹H NMR, HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, HPLC-DAD, GC-MS, and chemometric techniques were used to analyse lignans in the extracts and showed that yields of SFE-CO2 were less than or equal to those of hexane maceration extracts. These analyses, in conjunction with the concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons, fatty acids and their methyl and ethyl derivatives in the extracts, also allowed the chemical composition of parts and provenance of the plant to be differentiated.

Glucose, Cholesterol, Total Protein and Growth Factor Insulin-like Type I in Follicular Fluid of River Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

In order to establish the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, total protein and growth factor insulin-like type I (IGF-I) in the follicular fluid, 26 Murrah breed river buffaloes, between 45 and 70 days postpartum, empty, multiparous, with average live weight of 675 +/- 56 kg and average body condition of 3.5 points on a scale of 1-5, were used in this study. The fluid was collected from dominant follicles with diameters between 8 and 12 mm by OPU, and was not taken into account the stage of the estrous cycle. Using this technique, the wave of follicular development was synchronized six days prior to collection. Biochemical analysis was performed to glucose and cholesterol through the enzymatic colorimetric method using commercial kit glicose CHOLESTEROL GOD-PAP and CHOD-PAP (Kovalent), respectively. Determination of total protein was carried out by using total protein commercial kit (Kovalent) Biuret method, and the readings were performed using absorption spectrophotometry with visible light. Concentration of IGF-I was measured by Radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique using commercial IRMA Kit IGF-I (INMUNOTECH). Descriptive statistics were developed using the PROC MEANS procedure of SAS (2009). Concentration of glucose (4.0 +/- 0.75 mmol / L-1) and IGF-I (340 +/- 129.83 ng / mL (-1)) were higher than those reported by other authors in river buffaloes and cows, respectively. However, cholesterol levels (0.51 +/- 0.12 mmol / L (-1)) and total protein (58.4 +/- 4.43 g / L (-1)) behaved inferior to other studies in same species. The results indicated that there is relationship among the nutritional aspects, diameter of follicles aspirated and productive period in the concentration of biochemical indicators.

Extended Daily Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury Patients: Metabolic and Fluid Control and Risk Factors for Death

Intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) and continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) are used as Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) therapy and have certain advantages and disadvantages. Extended daily dialysis (EDD) has emerged as an alternative to CRRT in the management of hemodynamically unstable AKI patients, mainly in developed countries.Objectives: We hypothesized that EDD is a safe option for AKI treatment and aimed to describe metabolic and fluid control of AKI patients undergoing EDD and identify complications and risk factors associated with death.Study Selection: This is an observational and retrospective study describing introduction of EDD at our institution. A total of 231 hemodynamically unstable AKI patients (noradrenalin dose between 0.3 and 1.0 ucg/kg/min) were assigned to 1367 EDD session. EDD consisted of 6-8 h of HD 6 days a week, with blood flow of 200 ml/min, dialysate flows of 300 ml/min.Data Synthesis: Mean age was 60.6 +/- 15.8 years, 97.4% of patients were in the intensive care unit, and sepsis was the main etiology of AKI (76.2). BUN and creatinine levels stabilized after four sessions at around 38 and 2.4 mg/dl, respectively. Fluid balance decreased progressively and stabilized around zero after five sessions. Weekly delivered Kt/V was 5.94 +/- 0.7. Hypotension and filter clotting occurred in 47.5 and 12.4% of treatment session, respectively. Regarding AKI outcome, 22.5% of patients presented renal function recovery, 5.6% of patients remained on dialysis after 30 days, and 71.9% of patients died. Age and focus abdominal sepsis were identified as risk factors for death. Urine output and negative fluid balance were identified as protective factors.Conclusions: EDD is effective for AKI patients, allowing adequate metabolic and fluid control. Age, focus abdominal sepsis, and lower urine output as well as positive fluid balance after two EDD sessions were associated significantly with death.

Content Validation of the Operational Definitions of the Nursing Diagnoses of Activity Intolerance, Excess Fluid Volume, and Decreased Cardiac Output in Patients With Heart Failure

Objectives To consensually validate the operational definitions of the nursing diagnoses activity intolerance, excessive fluid volume, and decreased cardiac output in patients with decompensated heart failure. Method Consensual validation was performed in two stages: analogy by similarity of defining characteristics, and development of operational definitions and validation with experts. Results A total of 38 defining characteristics were found. Operational definitions were developed and content-validated. One hundred percent of agreement was achieved among the seven experts after five rounds. Ascites was added in the nursing diagnosis excessive fluid volume. Conclusion The consensual validation improves interpretation of human response, grounding the selection of nursing interventions and contributing to improved nursing outcomes. Implications for Practice Support the assessment of patients with decompensated heart failure. Objetivos Realizar a validacAo consensual das definicoes operacionais dos diagnosticos de enfermagem Intolerancia a atividade, Volume de liquidos excessivo e Debito cardiaco diminuido em pacientes com insuficiencia cardiaca descompensada. Metodo ValidacAo consensual em duas etapas: Analogia de semelhanca das caracteristicas definidoras e desenvolvimento de definicoes operacionais e validacAo com expertst. Resultados Foram encontradas 38 caracteristicas definidoras para os diagnosticos de enfermagem. Suas definicoes operacionais foram desenvolvidas e seu conteudo validado. Os resultados mostram que houve 100% de concordancia entre os sete experts apos cinco rodada. As definicoes operacionais foram classificadas com base no nivel de concordanica. Ascite foi acrescentada ao diagnostico Volume de liquidos excessivo. ConclusAo A validacAo consensual melhora a interpretacAo das respostas humanas, embasando a selecAo de intervencoes de enfermagem e contribuindo para melhorar os resultados. Implicacoes Para A Pratica Apoio a avaliacAo dos pacientes com insuficiencia cardiaca descompensada.

Pentraxin-3 concentration in the amniotic fluid of women at term, in spontaneous preterm labor and when not in labor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Uterine Involution, Fluid Accumulation and Ovarian Activity after Injection of Prostaglandin at Different Periods of Buffalo Puerperium

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chloprostenol administration, at early or intermediary puerperium, under uterine involution, intrauterine fluid accumulation and ovarian activity return. 30 Murrah postpartum buffaloes were randomly divided into three groups: CONT (saline, n = 10); CLO2 (chloprostenol at days 2 and 5 postpartum, n = 10) and; CLO15 (chloprostenol at days 15 and 20 postpartum, n = 10). Gynecological exams were performed at days 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 postpartum, when uterine involution degree (1 to 3 scale, by transrectal palpation), intrauterine fluid accumulation (0 to 3 scale, by ultrasound exam) and ovarian activity (B-mode ultrasound exam) were evaluated. CLO2 group presented higher uterine involution (2.00 +/- 0.23, 1.66 +/- 0.23, 1.58 +/- 0.23 for groups CLO2, CONT and CLO15, respectively) and faster ovarian activity return in relation to groups CONT and CLO15 (P < 0.05). Groups CLO2 and CLO15 showed lower intrauterine fluid accumulation compared to CONT group (2.04 +/- 0.20, 1.58 +/- 0.20, 1.92 +/- 0.20 for groups CONT, CLO2 and CLO15, respectively; P < 0.05). Prostaglandin analogue administration in postpartum buffalo benefited uterine involution, lochia expulsion and ovarian activity return, improving reproductive efficiency in this specie.

Assessing melatonin and its oxidative metabolites amounts in biological fluid and culture medium by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS)

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

Plaque control improves the painful symptoms of oral lichen planus gingival lesions. A short-term study

BackgroundLichen planus is a mucocutaneous disease with manifestation in the oral mucosa, the gingiva being one of the most affected regions. In some cases, the lesion may be painful and lead to fragility of the tissues, so that precise diagnosis and adequate treatment are indispensible factors for improving the clinical condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of plaque control in the improvement of clinical features and painful symptoms of oral lichen planus with gingival involvement.MethodsTwenty patients diagnosed with gingival lichen planus confirmed by histopathological examination were selected. The patients were evaluated by a trained examiner, with regard to the clinical features of the lesions [Index of Escudier etal. (Br J Dermatol, 157, 2007, 765)]; painful symptoms (Visual Analog Scale); and periodontally, as regards the visible plaque and gingival bleeding indices. Periodontal treatment consisted of supragingival scaling and oral hygiene instruction, with professional plaque removal afterward for a period of 4weeks. The entire sample was evaluated at the baseline and at the conclusion of treatment, and the results were analyzed by the Wilcoxon nonparametric test.ResultsThe data demonstrated that the majority of patients were women (90%), with a mean age of 55.9years. Periodontal treatment resulted in statistically significant reduction (P<0.05) in the periodontal indices, with consequent improvement in the clinical features and painful symptoms of the lesions.ConclusionsIt was demonstrated that plaque control was effective in improving the clinical features and painful symptoms of oral lichen planus with gingival involvement.

Effect of follicular fluid supplementation during in vitro maturation on total cell number in bovine blastocysts produced in vitro

This study evaluated the influence of follicular fluid (FF) added to the maturation medium on the quality of bovine embryos produced in vitro. In the first experiment, oocytes were matured in media containing five different FF concentrations with different maturation times and classified according to meiotic progression and migration of cortical granules. In the second experiment, oocytes matured in the same media were fertilized at three different maturation times; thereafter, cleavage and blastocyst rates were evaluated. In the third experiment, oocytes were matured in media containing three different FF concentrations at two different maturation times, and embryo quality, inferred by the ratio of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells compared with total cell number, was evaluated. Higher FF concentration (75 - 100% FF) slowed meiotic progression and CG migration (control - 78.13% vs. treated - 52.58% and control - 52.7% vs. treated - 11.59%, respectively, at 24 h of maturation). Also, FF at concentration of 75% or 100% had a negative influence on cleavage and blastocyst rates (control - 90.13% vs. treated - 82.64% and control - 35.73% vs. treated - 11.57%, respectively, at 24 h of maturation). The 50% FF resulted in embryos with increased inner cell mass numbers (control - 29.91 vs. treated - 35.49, at 24 h of maturation) and total cell numbers (control - 109.53 vs. treated - 120.67, at 26 h of maturation). Even though higher concentration of FF added to the maturation medium reduced embryonic development rates, in lower concentrations, FF slowed the meiotic progression and migration of CG and contributed to increases in inner cell mass number. Thus, FF added to the maturation medium enhances the number of cells in bovine embryos produced in vitro, especially for inner cell mass.

Control of instabilities in non-Newtonian free surface fluid flows

Free surface flows in inclined channels can develop periodic instabilities that are propagated downstream as shock waves with well-defined wavelengths and amplitudes. Such disturbances are called roll waves and are common in channels, torrential lava, landslides, and avalanches. The prediction and detection of such waves over certain types of structures and environments are useful for the prevention of natural risks. In this work, a mathematical model is established using a theoretical approach based on Cauchy's equations with the Herschel-Bulkley rheological model inserted into the viscous part of the stress tensor. This arrangement can adequately represent the behavior of muddy fluids, such as water-clay mixture. Then, taking into account the shallow water and the Rankine-Hugoniot's (shock wave) conditions, the equation of the roll wave and its properties, profile, and propagation velocity are determined. A linear stability analysis is performed with an emphasis on determining the condition that allows the generation of such instabilities, which depends on the minimum Froude number. A sensitivity analysis on the numerical parameters is performed, and numerical results including the influence of the Froude number, the index flow and dimensionless yield stress on the amplitude, the wavelength of roll waves and the propagation velocity of roll waves are shown. We show that our numerical results were in agreement with Coussot's experimental results (1994).

A two-fluid model for refrigerant flow through adiabatic capillary tubes

This work presents a numerical model to simulate refrigerant flow through capillary tubes, commonly used as expansion devices in refrigeration systems. The flow is divided in a single-phase region, where the refrigerant is in the subcooled liquid state, and a region of two-phase flow. The capillary tube is considered straight and horizontal. The flow is taken as one-dimensional and adiabatic. Steady-state condition is also assumed and the metastable flow phenomena are neglected. The two-fluid model, considering the hydrodynamic and thermal non-equilibrium between the liquid and vapor phases, is applied to the two-phase flow region. Comparisons are made with experimental measurements of the mass flow rate and pressure distribution along two capillary tubes working with refrigerant R-134a in different operating conditions. The results indicate that the present model provides a better estimation than the commonly employed homogeneous model. Some computational results referring to the quality, void fraction, velocities, and temperatures of each phase are presented and discussed.

Fluid-dynamic assessment of sugarcane bagasse to use as feedstock in bubbling fluidized bed gasifiers

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of low-level laser therapy on the proliferation and apoptosis of gingival fibroblasts treated with zoledronic acid

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

Synergistic Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Antimicrobial Peptides Human Beta-Defensin-3 (hBD-3) and Cathelicidin (LL-37) in a Three-Dimensional Co-Culture Model of Gingival Epithelial Cells and Fibroblasts

Given the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens, antimicrobial peptides that can also modulate the immune response may be a novel approach for effectively controlling periodontal infections. In the present study, we used a three-dimensional (3D) co-culture model of gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts stimulated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of human beta-defensin-3 (hBD-3) and cathelicidin (LL-37) and to determine whether these antimicrobial peptides can act in synergy. The 3D co-culture model composed of gingival fibroblasts embedded in a collagen matrix overlaid with gingival epithelial cells had a synergistic effect with respect to the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 in response to LPS stimulation compared to fibroblasts and epithelial cells alone. The 3D co-culture model was stimulated with non-cytotoxic concentrations of hBD-3 (10 and 20 mu M) and LL-37 (0.1 and 0.2 mu M) individually and in combination in the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS. A multiplex ELISA assay was used to quantify the secretion of 41 different cytokines. hBD-3 and LL-37 acted in synergy to reduce the secretion of GRO-alpha, G-CSF, IP-10, IL-6, and MCP-1, but only had an additive effect on reducing the secretion of IL-8 in response to A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS stimulation. The present study showed that hBD-3 acted in synergy with LL-37 to reduce the secretion of cytokines by an LPS-stimulated 3D model of gingival mucosa. This combination of antimicrobial peptides thus shows promising potential as an adjunctive therapy for treating inflammatory periodontitis.