Low-intensity Treadmill Exercise-related Changes in the Rat Stellate Ganglion Neurons

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

Enhancement of optical absorption by modulation of the oxygen flow of TiO2 films deposited by reactive sputtering

Oxygen-deficient TiO2 films with enhanced visible and near-infrared optical absorption have been deposited by reactive sputtering using a planar diode radio frequency magnetron configuration. It is observed that the increase in the absorption coefficient is more effective when the O-2 gas supply is periodically interrupted rather than by a decrease of the partial O-2 gas pressure in the deposition plasma. The optical absorption coefficient at 1.5 eV increases from about 1 x 10(2) cm(-1) to more than 4 x 10(3) cm(-1) as a result of the gas flow discontinuity. A red-shift of similar to 0.24 eV in the optical absorption edge is also observed. High resolution transmission electron microscopy with composition analysis shows that the films present a dense columnar morphology, with estimated mean column width of 40nm. Moreover, the interruptions of the O-2 gas flow do not produce detectable variations in the film composition along its growing direction. X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman experiments indicate the presence of the TiO2 anatase, rutile, and brookite phases. The anatase phase is dominant, with a slight increment of the rutile and brookite phases in films deposited under discontinued O-2 gas flow. The increase of optical absorption in the visible and near-infrared regions has been attributed to a high density of defects in the TiO2 films, which is consistent with density functional theory calculations that place oxygen-related vacancy states in the upper third of the optical bandgap. The electronic structure calculation results, along with the adopted deposition method and experimental data, have been used to propose a mechanism to explain the formation of the observed oxygen-related defects in TiO2 thin films. The observed increase in sub-bandgap absorption and the modeling of the corresponding changes in the electronic structure are potentially useful concerning the optimization of efficiency of the photocatalytic activity and the magnetic doping of TiO2 films. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4724334]

Use of lithium niobate detector for measuring X-ray intensity in mammographic range

A detector system that can measure X-ray intensity in the mammographic range of 22 to 36 kVp (equivalent photon energies ofthe beam between 11 and 15 keV) is presented. It consists of a lithium mobate detector and a high-sensitivity current-to-voltage converter.

Pyroelectric composite film for X-ray intensity detection

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

Glia-Pinealocyte Network: The Paracrine Modulation of Melatonin Synthesis by Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)

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

Correlation between the intensity of venous reflux in the saphenofemoral junction and morphological changes of the great saphenous vein by duplex scanning in patients with primary varicosis

Aim. One of the major causes of chronic venous disease is venous reflux, the identification and quantification of which are important for diagnosis. Duplex scanning allows for the detection and quantification of reflux in individual veins. Evaluation of the great saphenous vein in primary varicosis is necessary for its preservation. Objective of the study is to evaluate a possible correlation between the intensity of reflux at the saphenofemoral junction, diameter alterations of the incompetent great saphenous vein and the practical effect of such correlation. Also to compare the clinical severity of the CEAP classification with such parameters.Methods. Three hundred limbs were submitted to duplex evaluation of their insufficient saphenous veins. Vein diameter was measured on five different points. Velocity and flow at reflux peak and reflux time were determined. The saphenous vein's diameters were correlated with velocity, flow and time. The three latter parameters and diameters were compared with clinical severity according to CEAP.Results. Correlation was found between the saphenous vein's diameters, velocity and flow. No correlation was observed between time and diameter in the thigh's upper and middle thirds. When comparing diameter, velocity and flow with CEAP clinical severity classification, an association was observed. The correlation between reflux time with clinical severity was weak.Conclusion. Reflux time is a good parameter for identifying the presence of reflux, but not for quantifying it. Velocity and peak flow were better parameters for evaluating reflux intensity as they were correlated with great saphenous vein alterations, and were associated with the disease's clinical severity. [Int Angiol 2010;29:323-30]

Increased production of hydrogen peroxide by peripheral blood monocytes associated with smoking exposure intensity in smokers

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

O exercício físico potencializa ou compromete o crescimento longitudinal de crianças e adolescentes? Mito ou verdade?

A sociedade atual tem valorizado de forma significativa a aparência alta e esbelta. Essa constituição física tem sido reforçada desde a infância e atinge a população adolescente, que deseja enquadrar-se nos estereótipos, particularmente aqueles veiculados pela mídia. Nesse sentido, profissionais de saúde são questionados rotineiramente sobre os efeitos positivos que o exercício físico exerce sobre o crescimento longitudinal de crianças e adolescentes. Procurou-se revisar a literatura especializada a respeito dos principais efeitos que o exercício físico exerceria sobre a secreção e atuação do hormônio de crescimento (GH) nos diversos tecidos corporais, durante a infância e adolescência. Através dessa revisão, foi possível verificar que o exercício físico induz a estimulação do eixo GH/IGF-1. Embora muito se especule quanto ao crescimento ósseo ser potencializado pela prática de exercícios físicos, não foram encontrados na literatura científica específica estudos bem desenvolvidos que forneçam sustentação a essa afirmação. No tocante aos efeitos adversos advindos do treinamento físico durante a infância e adolescência, aparentemente, esses foram independentes do tipo de esporte praticado, porém resultantes da intensidade do treinamento. A alta intensidade do treinamento parece ocasionar uma modulação metabólica importante, com a elevação de marcadores inflamatórios e a supressão do eixo GH/IGF-1. Entretanto, é importante ressaltar que a própria seleção esportiva, em algumas modalidades, recruta crianças e/ou adolescentes com perfis de menor estatura, como estratégia para obtenção de melhores resultados, em função da facilidade mecânica dos movimentos. Através dessa revisão, fica evidente a necessidade de realização de estudos longitudinais, nos quais os sujeitos sejam acompanhados antes, durante e após sua inserção nas atividades esportivas, com determinação do volume e da intensidade dos treinamentos, para que conclusões definitivas relativas aos efeitos sobre a estatura final possam ser emanadas.

Evaluation of zona pellucida birefringence intensity during in vitro maturation of oocytes from stimulated cycles

Background: This study evaluated whether there is a relationship between the zona pellucida birefringence (ZP-BF) intensity and the nuclear (NM) and cytoplasmic (CM) in vitro maturation of human oocytes from stimulated cycles.Results: The ZP-BF was evaluated under an inverted microscope with a polarizing optical system and was scored as high/positive (when the ZP image presented a uniform and intense birefringence) or low/negative (when the image presented moderate and heterogeneous birefringence). CM was analyzed by evaluating the distribution of cortical granules (CGs) throughout the ooplasm by immunofluorescence staining. CM was classified as: complete, when CG was localized in the periphery; incomplete, when oocytes presented a cluster of CGs in the center; or in transition, when oocytes had both in clusters throughout cytoplasm and distributed in a layer in the cytoplasm periphery Nuclear maturation: From a total of 83 germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes, 58 of oocytes (69.9%) reached NM at the metaphase II stage. From these 58 oocytes matured in vitro, the high/positively scoring ZP-BF was presented in 82.7% of oocytes at the GV stage, in 75.8% of oocytes when at the metaphase I, and in 82.7% when oocytes reached MII. No relationship was observed between NM and ZP-BF positive/negative scores (P = 0.55). These variables had a low Pearson's correlation coefficient (r = 0.081). Cytoplasmic maturation: A total of 85 in vitro-matured MII oocytes were fixed for CM evaluation. Forty-nine oocytes of them (57.6%) showed the complete CM, 30 (61.2%) presented a high/positively scoring ZP-BF and 19 (38.8%) had a low/negatively scoring ZP-BF. From 36 oocytes (42.3%) with incomplete CM, 18 (50%) presented a high/positively scoring ZPBF and 18 (50%) had a low/negatively scoring ZP-BF. No relationship was observed between CM and ZP-BF positive/negative scores (P = 0.42). These variables had a low Pearson's correlation coefficient (r = 0.11).Conclusions: The current study demonstrated an absence of relationship between ZP-BF high/positive or low/negative score and nuclear and cytoplasmic in vitro maturation of oocytes from stimulation cycles.

Evaluation of low intensity laser's action on silicone mammary implant pseudocapsules in rats

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do laser de baixa intensidade sobre a contração da pseudocápsula que ocorre ao redor de implantes de silicone. MÉTODOS: 60 ratos machos divididos em dois grupos receberam implante de silicone. Grupo I: implante no subcutâneo da região dorsal, sem tratamento após a cirurgia; Grupo II: animais receberam sete sessões de irradiação com laser de baixa intensidade após o implante. Trinta, 60 e 180 dias após a cirurgia, foi feita a tonometria dos implantes, em seguida, os animais foram sacrificados, removendo-se o material de estudo que foi preparado para exame histológico, avaliando-se morfometricamente a espessura da pseudocápsula e a reação inflamatória. A análise estatistica pela técnica da Análise de Variância e Teste de Tukey (P<0.0 5). RESULTADOS: Pressões significativamente menores foram encontradas nos animais do grupo Grupo II. O estudo histológico não mostrou diferença significativa entre os grupos, destacando-se apenas maior quantidade de vasos intumescidos no Grupo II. A espessura da pseudocápsula foi menor no Grupo II. CONCLUSÃO: O laser de baixa intensidade altera o processo de reparação tecidual ao redor dos implantes, sugerindo que o mesmo possa ser útil para a modelação das contraturas que se estabelecem ao redor dos implantes de silicone.

NF-kappa B signaling modulation by EBV and KSHV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)