Development of a rapid one-step immunochromatographic assay for HCV core antigen detection

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A label-free immunosensor based on recordable compact disk chip for early diagnostic of the dengue virus infection

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in the reproductive system of male goats

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

Cistoadenoma mucinoso do apêndice: relato de caso

O cistoadenoma mucinoso do apêndice ceca l, um tipo de mucocele do apêndice, é uma neoplasia benigna caracterizada pela metaplasia focal ou difusa do epitélio superficial da mucosa, associada à dilatação do apêndice e produção de muco para a luz apendicular. No presente estudo os autores relatam um caso de cistoadenoma mucinoso do apêndice observado em uma mulher de 65 anos de idade, com dor e massa palpável no quadrante inferior direito do abdome, cujo quadro teve início há 1 ano. O diagnóstico de cistoadenoma do apêndice foi suspeitado através da ultrassonografia e tomografia computadorizada do abdome, e confirmado pelo exame histopatológico. A paciente também apresentava cálculos na vesícula biliar e um cisto renal à direita. A laparotomia foi indicada sendo realizada a apendicectomia, a colecistectomia e a exérese do cisto renal. Na presente discussão esperamos contribuir para o diagnóstico precoce dessa doença e a melhor compreensão de sua classificação e patogenia.

Sentinel node detection in cervical cancer with Tc-99m-phytate

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification using radioisotopic lymphatic mapping with technetium-99 m-labeled phytate in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for treatment of early cervical cancer.Methods. Between July 2001 and February 2003, 56 patients with cervical cancer 1160 stage I (it 53) or stage 11 (it 3) underwent sentinel lymph node detection with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (Te-99m-labeled phytate injected into the uterine cervix, at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, at a dose of 55-74 MBq in a volume of 0.8 ml) and intratoperative lymphatic mapping with a handheld gamma probe, Radical hysterectomy was aborted in three cases because parametrial invasion was found intraoperatively and we performed only sentinel node resection. The remaining 53 patients underwent radical hysterectomy with complete pelvic lymphadenectomy, Sentinel nodes were detected using a handheld gamma-probe and removed for pathological assessment during the abdominal radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.Results. One or more sentinel nodes were detected in 52 out of 56 eligible patients (92.8%). A total of 120 SLNs were detected by lymphoscintigraphy (mean 2.27 nodes per patient) and intraoperatively by gamma probe, Forty-four percent of SLNs were found in the external iliac area, 39% in the obturator region, 8.3% in interiliae region, and 6.7),) in the common iliac area. Unilateral sentinel nodes were found in thirty-one patients (59%). The remaining 21 patients (4100 had bilateral sentinel nodes, Microscopic nodal metastases were confirmed in 17 (32%) cases. In 10 of these patients, only SLNs had metastases. The 98 sentinel node.,, that were negative on hematoxylin and eosin were submitted to cytokeratin immunohistochemical analysis. Five (5.1%) micrometastases were identified with this technique. The sensitivity of the sentinel node was 82.3% (CI 95% - 56.6-96.2) and the negative predictive value was 92.1% (CI 95% 78.6 98.3) the accuracy of sentinel node in predicting the lymph node status was 94.2%,Conclusion. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative lymphatic mapping with Tc-99-labeled phytate are effective in identifying sentinel nodes in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and to select women in whom lymph node dissection call be avoided. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Detection of carbamate pesticides in vegetable samples using cholinesterase-based biosensors

Biosensors for determination of carbamates in vegetables based on five different cholinesterases as biorecognition elements and a screen-printed electrode system as an amperometric transducer were developed. Measurements were simply performed by dropping solutions (either sample or substrate) directly on the biosensor. The response of biosensors to selected carbamates (aldicarb, carbaryl, carbofuran, methomyl and propoxur) was characterized. The performance was evaluated on extracts of potatoes and carrots, the results from the AChE biosensor and a standard HPLC procedure were compared. Finally, the biosensor was used for the direct analysis of vegetable juices without any pretreatment steps. In this case, 10 mu g/L levels of added carbofuran and propoxur were reliably identified. The whole procedure takes less than 20 min including 10 min incubation with samples. The concentrations of carbamates determined with biosensor agreed well for carbofuran. Lower response was observed for propoxur.

Leak detection in petroleum pipelines using a fuzzy system

A methodology for pipeline leakage detection using a combination of clustering and classification tools for fault detection is presented here. A fuzzy system is used to classify the running mode and identify the operational and process transients. The relationship between these transients and the mass balance deviation are discussed. This strategy allows for better identification of the leakage because the thresholds are adjusted by the fuzzy system as a function of the running mode and the classified transient level. The fuzzy system is initially off-line trained with a modified data set including simulated leakages. The methodology is applied to a small-scale LPG pipeline monitoring case where portability, robustness and reliability are amongst the most important criteria for the detection system. The results are very encouraging with relatively low levels of false alarms, obtaining increased leakage detection with low computational costs. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sentinel node mapping in a pregnant woman with cervical cancer: a case report

The possibility of reducing morbidity associated with surgical dissection while maintaining accurate tumor staging is one of the greatest advantages of the sentinel node approach in surgical oncology. The sentinel node mapping has already proven to be useful in melanoma, breast cancer, and vulvar cancer. We report the first case of sentinel node detection by technetium-labeled radiocolloid in a pregnant woman with cervical cancer. The histologic analysis of the operative specimen showed a poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma with metastasis in the sentinel node and a neoplasic embolus in a blood vessel of the placental bed. The lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node detection are feasible during pregnancy.

Association of free amino acids with caries experience and mutans streptococci levels in whole saliva of children with early childhood caries

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the free amino acid content in whole saliva of children with (CE) and without early childhood caries (CF) (ECC), correlating these findings with caries experience and mutans streptococci (MS) levels in saliva.Design: Seventy-eight healthy children, both genders, 6-71 months age, were selected to participate in the study. Following examination for dmft scores calculation, unstimulated whole saliva was collected from all 78 participants, stored at -80 degrees C, and used for amino acid analysis, on a Biochem 20 plus amino acid analyzer. Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 52 children, transported, diluted and plated on MSB agar medium for detection of MS in cfu/mL.Results: Forty different free amino acids were identified in whole saliva, with great variation in their concentration. A statistically significant relation was found between caries experience and the presence of free proline and glycine. While proline (p = 0.0182) was more frequently absent in the CF group, the absence of glycine (p = 0.0397) was more often observed in the CE group. In the presence of higher levels of MS, free glycine reduced the risk of experiencing dental caries (p = 0.0419). Conversely, the presence of proline was found to increase the risk of experiencing the disease (p = 0.0492).Conclusions: The presence of free proline and absence of free glycine in children with ECC, highly contaminated with MS, increased the chances of experiencing dental caries in the present population. Further studies are needed to better understand this phenomenon. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous solidification of two catalyst wastes and their effect on the early stages of cement hydration

Two catalyst wastes (RNi and RAI) from polyol production were considered as hazardous, due to their respective high concentration of nickel and aluminum contents. This article presents the study, done to avoid environmental impacts, of the simultaneous solidification/stabilization of both catalyst wastes with type II Portland cement (CP) by non-conventional differential thermal analysis (NCDTA). This technique allows one to monitor the initial stages of cement hydration to evaluate the accelerating and/or retarding effects on the process due to the presence of the wastes and to identify the steps where the changes occur. Pastes with water/cement ratio equal to 0.5 were prepared, into which different amounts of each waste were added. NCDTA has the same basic principle of Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), but differs in the fact that there is no external heating or cooling system as in the case of DTA. The thermal effects of the cement paste hydration with and without waste presence were evaluated from the energy released during the process in real time by acquiring the temperature data of the sample and reference using thermistors with 0.03 A degrees C resolution, coupled to an analog-digital interface. In the early stages of cement hydration retarding and accelerating effects occur, respectively due to RNi and RAl presence, with significant thermal effects. During the simultaneous use of the two waste catalysts for their stabilization process by solidification in cement, there is a synergic resulting effect, which allows better hydration operating conditions than when each waste is solidified separately. Thermogravimetric (TG) and derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) of 4 and 24 h pastes allow a quantitative information about the main cement hydrated phases and confirm the same accelerating or retarding effects due to the presence of wastes indicated from respective NCDTA curves.

On-line redox speciation analysis of antimony using L-proline immobilized on controlled pore glass and hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for detection

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

Choledochal cyst: A case associated with traumatic hemobilia

A case of choledochal cyst associated with traumatic hemobilia is presented. The symptomatology appeared only because of bleeding into the biliary tract following an automobile accident. The cyst was resected and a choledochal cystoduodenum anastomosis performed. The early result (12 mth) was very good.

Apoptosis in the early developing periodontium of rat molars

Development of the periodontium involves a series of complex steps that result in the formation of root dentine, cementum, bone and fibres of the ligament. These precisely controlled and timed events require the participation of the enamel organ derived epithelial cells of Hertwig's (HRS) and ectomesenchymal cells of the dental follicle. These events involve rapid turnover of the tissues and cells, including disappearance of epithelial cells of HRS. Thus, it seemed likely to us that programmed cell death (apoptosis) may play a role in the development of the periodontium. Fragments of first molars, obtained from 14- and 29-day-old rats, were fixed in glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde and processed for light and electron microscopy. For the TUNEL method for detection of apoptosis, specimens were fixed in 4% formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Results confirmed that epithelial cells of HRS maintain a close relationship with the forming dentine root, and that they may become trapped in the dentino-cemental junction. Some of the epithelial cells exhibited ultrastructural features which are consistent with the interpretation that they were undergoing programmed cell death, i.e. apoptosis. Periodontal fibroblast-like cells showed typical images of apoptosis and engulfed apoptotic bodies. TUNEL positive structures were present in all corresponding regions. It seems therefore that apoptosis of epithelial cells of HRS and fibroblast-like cells of the periodontal ligament constitutes an integral part of the developmental process of the tissues of the periodontium. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

In-process thermal damage detection in grinding with monitoring via Internet

This work aims the development of a dedicated system for detection of burning in surface grinding process, where the process will constantly be monitored through the acoustic emission and electric power of the induction motor drive. Acquired by an analog-digital converter, algorithms process the signals and a control signal is generated to inform the operator or interrupt the process in case of burning occurrence. Moreover, the system makes possible the process monitoring via Internet. Additionally, a comparative study between parameters DPO and FKS is carried through. In the experimental work one type of. steel (ABNT-1020 annealed) and one type of grinding wheel referred to as TARGA, model ART 3TG80.3 NVHB, were employed.

Interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 gene promoter polymorphisms, and early failure of dental implants

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the human interleukin (IL)-2 (T-330G) and IL-6 (G-174C) genes have modified the transcriptional activity of these cytokines and are associated with several diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between these single nucleotide polymorphisms and early implant failure. A sample of 74 nonsmokers was divided into 2 groups: test group comprising 34 patients (mean age 49.3 years) with ĝ‰¥1 implants that failed and control group consisting of 40 patients (mean age 43.8 years) with ĝ‰¥1 healthy implants. Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid from oral mucosa was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Monte Carlo simulations (P < 0.05) were used to assess differences in allele and genotypes frequencies of the single nucleotide polymorphisms between the 2 groups. No significant differences were observed in the allele and genotypes distribution of both polymorphisms when the 2 groups were compared. The results indicate that polymorphisms in the IL-2 (T-330G) and IL-6 (G-174C) genes are not associated with early implant failure, suggesting that the presence of those single nucleotide polymorphisms does not constitute a genetic risk factor for implant loss in the studied population. Copyright © 2005 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.