LATTICE-DYNAMICS OF ALKALI-METALS IN A 3-BODY INTERACTION

The original model of Das et al. is modified in extending the electron-ion interaction on a three-body forces and including the crystal equilibrium condition to reduce one independent parameter. We studied the phonon dispersion relations along the three principal symmetry directions i.e. [xi, 0, 0], [xi, xi, 0] and [xi, xi, xi] and theta-T curves of alkali metals, Na, K, Rb, Cs and Li. There is close agreement between the computed results and the experimental observations.

Ultrastructure of haemocytes present during flight muscle differentiation of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides, Lepidoptera (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

The present work deals with the ultrastructure of the haemocytes present in the dorsal thoracic region of larvae and pre-pupae of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides. This is a region of intense muscular differentiation in this phase of life of the insect. Only plasmatocytes, granulocytes, and adiphoaemocytes were found in this area, all showing signs of being intermediate forms.

Nests and nesting sites of Brazilian forest rodents (Nectomys squamipes and Oryzomys intermedius) as revealed by a spool-and-line device

Patterns of nest construction and nest site selection of two murid rodents of the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest were described. The animals were captured in an area of about 1.5 ha of primary forest, marked, equipped with a spool-and-line device and released at the capture point. The next day we followed the thread to find their nests. In total 11 nests of Nectomys squamipes (Brants, 1827) and 13 of Oryzomys intermedius (Leche, 1886) were found. They were all egg-shaped, about 15 cm long and 10 cm wide, without any apparent entrance and consisted of dry leaves and grass. The two species differed in the selection of nest sites. The nests of N. squamipes were close to streams and built inside decomposed fallen logs or using natural entrances between the soil and tangled roots or rocky crevices. Nests of O. intermedius were built under or inside fallen logs and inside aerial root systems of palms. The spool-and-line technique used here is useful to provide detailed information on several aspects of the ecology and natural history of small mammals.

Fractal dimension and anisotropy of soil CO2 emission in an agricultural field during fallow

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

Microleakage in primary teeth restored by conventional or bonded amalgam technique.

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate marginal leakage in class V restorations in primary teeth restored with amalgam, using three different techniques. Thirty maxillary anterior primary teeth, clinically sound and naturally exfoliated, were used. In group 1 (n = 10), two thin layers of a copal varnish (Cavitine) were applied. In group 2 (n = 10), Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus, a dual adhesive system, was used according to manufacturer instructions. In group 3 (n = 10), One-Step adhesive system in combination with a low-viscosity resin (Resinomer) were used according to manufacturer instructions. All samples were restored with a high-copper dental amalgam alloy (GS 80, SDI). After restoration, the samples were stored in normal saline at 37 degrees C for 72 h. The specimens were polished, thermocycled (500 cycles, 5 degrees and 55 degrees C, 30-s dwell time) and impermeabilized with fingernail polish to within 1.0 mm of the restoration margins. The teeth were then placed in 0.5% methylene blue for 4 h. Finally, the samples were sectioned and evaluated for marginal leakage. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the filled adhesive resin (group 3) had the least microleakage. There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2.

Das plantas medicinais aos fitofármacos

The plants, since the antiquity, have been a resource within reach of the human being. Along millenniums, the man empirically deepened its knowledge for the improvement in the alimentation and cure conditions of its illnesses, demonstrating a narrow relation between plant use and its own evolution. A lot of people described the herbs utilization like medication form in their records and manuscripts, but many centuries have been passed until the true power of the plants was recognized. The great discoveries of the active plants principles only were possible after technological advances for the isolation and structural elucidation. Several active substances with pharmacological activity, many times indicated by the popular use, were going proved scientifically. Nowadays, the man still seeks solutions for several diseases and health problems and maybe the plants can contribute of more significant way for resolve them.

Comparative study of multiple dosage of quercetin against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rat kidneys

Quercetin, a typical bioflavonoid ubiquitously present in fruits and vegetables, is considered to be helpful for human health. Cisplatin (cDDP) is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of a wide range of solid tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of quercetin, a bioflavonoid with antioxidant potential, on cisplatin-induced nophrotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in rats. Gavage administrations of water, propylene glycol and quercetin (50 mg/kg) were made 24 and 1 h before saline or cDDP (5 mg/kg) ip injections and were repeated daily for 2, 5 or 20 subsequent days. Rats were killed 2, 5 and 20 days after ip injections, and blood and urine samples were collected to determine plasma creatinine, urine volume and osmolality. The kidneys were removed to determine the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and for histological studies. Cisplatin increased lipid peroxidation, urine volume and plasma creatinine levels and decreased urine osmolality. Treatment with quercetin attenuated these alterations. These results demonstrate the role of oxidative stress and suggest a protective effect of quercetin on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. Copyright © 2006 by Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences.

Effect of time in hardness test on artificially demineralized human dental enamel

A cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH) test was carried out in human dental enamel exposed to a demineralizing solution in order to evaluate two different times of indentation in sound tissue and artificially induced caries. Twenty caries-free extracted human molars had one of their smooth surfaces sectioned and the enamel surface was isolated with nail polish except for an area of 6 mm2. These specimens were submitted to artificially induced enamel caries on a lactate buffer containing 0.1 ppm fluoride (F) during 28 days. All specimens were bisected to create groups A and B in which CSMH test was performed employing a Knoop indenter with a 25g load for 5 or 10 s, respectively. Student's paired t-test (p<0.05) was used to determine statistically significant differences between group A and B in 7 depths. There were no significant differences between any of the analyzed depths. Since the present experiment showed no significant difference when comparing indentations made with a 25 g load during either 5 or 10 s in different depths, this method can be used with either one of the time intervals tested without compromising a CSMH test on artificially demineralized human enamel.

Evaluación del impacto de una intervención educativa en atención farmacéutica y farmacia clínica

Introduction: The World Health Organization considers pharmaceutical care (PC) of fundamental importance for the patient and the community. Its exercise requires knowledge and skills, which can be acquired in academic and/or continuing educations, credited for effectiveness and impact evaluation. However, few manuscripts in the literature have showed the contribution of the educational interventions on the knowledge, skill and attitude of students and professionals who participate in scientifi c events related to PC. Objective: To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention (EI), and its degree of satisfaction, to pharmacists and pharmacy students. Method: A quasi-experimental study was performed, through an extension course with 40 hours of lectures approaching issues related to PC and clinical pharmacy (CP). Participants answered a survey which was handed out before and after the EI. The statistic tests of Sinais and Mann-Whitney were applied to evaluate the EI signifi cance. Results: Participants (n= 49) were mostly (n= 34) students and performing activities related to PC and CP (n= 20). Statistics differences, before and after the EI, were found in the scores of knowledge, skill and attitude (p <0.001). The evaluated item which showed the most improvement was the last one. Most (n= 30) had exceeded or met their expectations (n= 19). Conclusions: The analysis of the data led us to conclude that an EI of 40 h/week about knowledge, skill and attitude in PC using traditional methods, improves knowledge and problem-solving skills of participants. ©2012 Ediciones Mayo, S.A. All rights reserved.

Intervenções farmacêuticas na atenção à saúde mental: Uma revisão

Uma revisão dirigida foi realizada nas bases de dados IBECS, LILACS e MEDLINE, até fevereiro/2011, para identificar intervenções farmacêuticas (IF) na atenção farmacêutica em saúde mental e os seus resultados. Para a busca utilizaram-se os descritores em saúde: Pharmaceutical Care, Pharmaceutical Services, Medication Adherence, Pharmacists, Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Mental Health Assistance, Community Mental Health Services, Mentally Ill Persons andMental Disorders. Identificaram-se 1686 publicações, das quais 21 contemplaram os critérios de inclusão. Após exploração do material, apenas cinco estudos tratavam-se de IF. Todos foram conduzidos no nível secundário de atenção, com abordagem individual, por meio do acompanhamento da terapia (3), intervenção educativa por cartas a médicos e pacientes (1), aconselhamento farmacêutico presencial e remoto e inserção de terapia com sistema transdérmico de nicotina (1). Os resultados, tais como promoção da adesão e resolução de problemas relacionados a medicamentos foram positivos para a terapêutica. No entanto, é necessário que as IF monitorem os parâmetros clínicos, as mudanças de hábitos, a melhora na qualidade de vida e os aspectos farmacoeconômicos a fim de avaliar os seus impactos. Palavras-chave:Atenção Farmacêutica. Assistência Farmacêutica. Adesão à Medicação. Farmacêuticos. Saúde Mental. ABSTRACT Pharmaceutical interventions in mental health services: a review A directed review was performed in IBECS, LILACS and MEDLINE databases, until February/2011, in order to identify the studies which developed pharmaceutical interventions (PI) in pharmaceutical care in mental health services and estimated their results. The search was carried out using the follow health science descriptors: Pharmaceutical Care, Pharmaceutical Services, Medication Adherence, Pharmacists, Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Mental Health Assistance, Community Mental Health Services, Mentally Ill Persons andMental Disorders. It was identified 1686 manuscripts, of whose 21 contemplated the inclusion criteria. After the content analysis of the eligible manuscripts, only five developed PI. All of them were conducted in the second level of health care, with individual approach, through: therapy follow-up (3), educational interventions by letters to physicians and patients (1), presence or remote pharmaceutical counseling and inclusion of therapy with nicotine transdermal patch (1). The data, such as adherence promotion and solving drug related problems, were positive for the therapeutic. However, it is necessary that the PI monitor the clinical parameters, the habit changes, the improvement in the quality of life and the pharmacoeconomic aspects, in order to assess their impacts. Keywords: Pharmaceutical Care. Pharmaceutical Services. Medication Adherence. Pharmacists. Mental Health. Mental Disorders.

Patrimônio, documentos e informação

This work seeks to develop an observation about the monumental historical heritage from the perspective of Information Science, and still draw a possible connection between the context of the monumental heritage and documents, focus on the archival (manuscripts), in the intention of justifying the inclusion of the latter together the first, among the units legally and socially understood as forms of representation of history, collective memory and identity. For this, we support in the literature in the fields of anthropology, history and architecture, to contextualize the monuments, and Information Science and Archival Science to understood documents and information, and set up a projection.

Possible mechanism by which zinc protects the testicular function of rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in testicular function of rats due to cigarette smoke exposure and the possible mechanism by which zinc protects against these alterations. Methods: MaleWistar rats (60 days old) were randomly divided into 3 groups: control (G1, n = 10); exposed to cigarette smoke (G2, n = 10; 20 cigarettes/day/9 weeks) and exposed to cigarette smoke and supplemented with zinc (G3, n = 8; 20 cigarettes/day/9 weeks; 20 mg/kg zinc chloride daily for 9 weeks, by gavage). After the treatment period, the animals were euthanized, and materials were collected for analyses. Results: G2 rats showed a reduction in body mass; impaired sperm concentration, motility, morphology and vitality; and increased malonaldehyde and thiol group levels and superoxide dismutase activity as compared to G1. Zinc prevented the reduction of sperm concentration and the excessive increase of lipid peroxidation and induced an increase in plasma testosterone levels, wet weight of testis and thiol group concentration. Conclusions: Exposure to cigarette smoke led to harmful effects on testicular function at least partially due to the exacerbation of oxidative stress. Supplementary zinc had an important modulator/protector effect on certain parameters. The mechanism of zinc protection can be through an increase of SH concentration. Thus, zinc supplementation may be a promising addition to conventional treatments for male infertility related to smoking. Copyright © 2012 by Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences.

In vitro assessment of dentin erosion after immersion in acidic beverages: Surface profile analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of some acidic drinks on dentin erosion, using methods of surface profile (SP) analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). One hundred standardized dentin slabs obtained from bovine incisor roots were used. Dentin slabs measuring 5x5 mm were ground flat, polished and half of each specimen surface was protected with nail polish. For 60 min, the dentin surfaces were immersed in 50 mL of 5 different drinks (Gatorade®, Del Valle Mais orange juice®, Coca-Cola®, Red Bull® and white wine), 20 blocks in each drink. The pH of each beverage was measured. After the erosive challenge, the nail polish was removed and SP was analyzed. The mineral concentration of dentin surfaces was determined by means of EDXRF. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). SP analysis showed that Red-Bull had the highest erosive potential (p<0.05). EDXRF results exhibited a decrease in phosphate in the groups immersed in Red-Bull, orange juice and white wine (p<0.05), and no significant difference in calcium content between the reference surface and eroded surface. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that all studied beverages promoted erosion on root dentin and Red Bull had the highest erosive potential. There was no correlation between pH of beverages and their erosive potential and only the P content changed after erosive challenge.