Experimental Active Vibration Control in Truss Structures Considering Uncertainties in System Parameters

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

Influence of processing parameters on nanomaterials synthesis efficiency by a carbothermal reduction process

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

Estimative of genetic parameters in progeny test of Pinus caribaea Morelet var. hondurensis Barret & Golfari by quantitative traits and microsatellite markers

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

Mating system parameters at hierarchical levels of fruits, individuals and populations in the Brazilian insect-pollinated tropical tree, Tabebuia roseo-alba (Bignoniaceae)

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

The first report of the human platelet alloantigen 4b allele in a Brazilian

The human platelet alloantigen (HPA) 4b allele is rarely observed in Caucasians and the observed incidence in Asians is usually lower than 1.0%. We report the first Brazilian with the allele HPA-4b, and were able to determined that he inherited it from his father.

Semen parameters, fertility and testosterone levels in male rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Allelic Frequencies of HPA-1 to 5 Human Platelet Antigens in Patients Infected With Hepatitis C Virus

Studies have suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) may infect not only hepatocytes but may also be carried by platelets. Platelets express more than 20 polymorphic antigenic determinants on their surface, which are called human platelet antigens (HPA), To determine the allele frequency of the HPA-1 to -5 in patients infected with HCV, blood samples were collected from 257 blood donors for the control group and from 191 patients infected with HCV. DNA was isolated and amplified for genes HPA-1 to -4 using PCR Sequence Specific Primers (PCR-SSP) and HPA-5 using PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The allelic and genotypic frequency of HPA-5a in patients infected with HCV was found to be significantly lower(P < 0.05) than in the controls, and HPA-5b from patients infected with HCV was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in controls. The increase in HPA5b allelic frequency in HCV infection may indicate a possible association between HCV infection and HPAs. J. Med. Virol. 81:757-759, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Platelet activation: ultrastructure and morphometry in platelet-rich plasma of horses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Pulmonary tuberculosis: Hematology, serum biochemistry and the relation with the disease duration

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between hematological and biochemical parameters and tuberculosis process activity time according to clinical complaint duration. It was a retrospective study analyzing medical records from 80 pulmonary tuberculosis patients at Botucatu Medical School University Hospital ( Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil), who were divided into 2 groups according to clinical complaint duration: Group 1 ( G1) - up to three months; Group 2 ( G2) - over three months. Parameters included: age, gender, bacilloscopy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR), platelet count, alpha1-globulin, alpha2-globulin, gamma globulin, mucoprotein, alpha1-acid glycoprotein values, and the presence of risk factors such as smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual promiscuity, contact with tuberculosis carriers, and previous treatment. Groups were compared by calculating t and p, and Chi-square (X-2) and p. Comparisons revealed a tendency towards smoking with a higher frequency of smokers in G1 ( 0.05< p< 0.10). G1 also tended to present greater platelet values than G2 ( 0.05< p< 0.10) and presented significantly higher ESR values than G2 ( p< 0.05). Other factors did not show any significantly different behavior between groups ( p> 0.05). A correlation was found between ESR, platelet count, smoking and less than three months clinical duration.

Immunovirological parameters and cytokines in HIV infection

Enquanto modernas terapias antirretrovirais (TARV) têm resultado em menores índices de morbidade e mortalidade e na melhora visível dos parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais em infectados pelo HIV, sabe-se que seu uso em longo prazo contribui com aparecimento dos vários eventos não associados à aids como doenças cardiovasculares, cânceres e osteoporose, comorbidades as quais têm sido propostas como algumas das mais importantes que privam a maioria dos infectados pelo vírus a apresentarem prognóstico ainda melhor. Isso ocorre porque, mesmo com diminuição da inflamação e ativação imune após intervenção medicamentosa ao paciente, tais parâmetros continuam maiores que os apresentados por indivíduos saudáveis e o desequilíbrio dos perfis de citocinas também persiste. Por isso, avaliações de outros biomarcadores na prática clínica são necessárias para complementar os exames já realizados rotineiramente e permitir o monitoramento mais eficaz dos portadores do HIV. Esta revisão tem o intuito de investigar o papel das citocinas como potenciais marcadores, relacionando estudos sobre o comportamento de várias delas em diversas fases da infecção por HIV, na presença ou não de TARV.

Hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of silibinin on experimental preeclampsia induced by 1-NAME in rats

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

Respiratory Parameters and Exercise Functional Capacity in Preeclampsia

Objective: To evaluate maximal respiratory pressures, pulmonary volumes and capacities and exercise functional capacity in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Method: Primigravid women with preeclampsia and healthy primigravid women were evaluated by means of manovacuometry, spirometry and the 6-minute walk test. Results: The group with preeclampsia showed higher minute ventilation and lower forced vital capacity and exercise tolerance. The presence of preeclampsia and forced vital capacity were predictors in the six-minute walk test. Conclusion: Preeclampsia showed significant alterations in the respiratory system and was associated with lower exercise tolerance; however, it did not affect respiratory muscle functions.