A Study of the Effect of Nitrogen and Air Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation Treatments on the Properties of Carbon Fiber

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

High sensitivity fiber optic angular displacement sensor and its application for detection of ultrasound

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of soluble fiber on hypertriglyceridemia and immune profile in HIV-positive individuals undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy

The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), since 1996, represented a profound impact on the natural history of HIV-infection by promoting important and sustainable viral replication suppression and increasing survival and quality of life among seropositive patients. Nonetheless, antiretroviral therapy has been observed to be accompanied by metabolic alterations such as dyslipidemia, especially hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and lipodystrophy (body fat redistribution). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a correlation between high triglyceride (TG) levels and higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Some investigators suggest dietary intervention as part of hyperlipidemia treatment, including an increase in soluble fiber intake (10-25g/day). Whereas some studies have demonstrated that both cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels decrease with the use of food fiber, others have shown just a serum triglyceride decrease, and others failed to observe any alteration in lipid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of soluble fiber (R) (partially hydrolyzed guar gum) supplementation on hypertriglyceridemia and immune profile in HIVpositive individuals on HAART. Nineteen HIV-positive individuals with hypertriglyceridemia (serum levels >= 150 to < 500mg/dl) were studied. of these individuals, 63.16% were males and 36.84% females, with mean age of 43.52 +/- 9.22 years. These individuals had been on the same HAART regimen for at least six months, had no change in therapy during the study and received 20g/day of soluble fiber for four months at pre-established times. Clinical-nutritional, biochemical (total proteins, albumin, globulin, total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, TG, TG/HDL-c and LDLc/HDL-c), hematimetric (hemoglobin, hematocrit and total lymphocytes), and immunologic (lymphocytes T CD4(+), T CD8(+); T CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio, viral load, TNF-alpha and IL-6) parameters were assessed in all patients at three time points (M0: pretreatment, M1: 30 days, and M2: four months after intervention). Significance level was set at 5% for all data statistically analyzed. Serum TG and TG/HDL-c ratio reduction was observed at all time points, but statistical significance was found just at M0 and M2. The remaining biochemical, hematimetric and immunologic parameters (lymphocytes T CD4(+), T CD8(+); T CD4(+)/ CD8(+) ratio, and viral load) showed no significant difference at all times. Regarding serum cytokines, TNF-alpha and IL-6 significantly decreased between M0 and M2, and only IL-6 reduced between M1 and M2. The data collected show that dietary and anthropometric parameters remained unchanged excluding potential confounding factors related with the effect of fiber supplementation on serum TG, TNF-alpha and IL-6. Thus, soluble fiber (R) contributed to an important reduction in hypertriglyceridemia and in the serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 in HIV-seropositive individuals on HAART. In addition, soluble fiber (R) might have minimized the process of atherosclerosis in these individuals, given that elevated serum levels of TG, TNF-alpha and IL-6 have been associated with the development of these lesions.

Prospective Evaluation of Dietary Treatment in Childhood Constipation: High Dietary Fiber and Wheat Bran Intake Are Associated With Constipation Amelioration

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate, over 24 months, the intake of dietary fiber (DF) and the bowel habit (BH) of constipated children advised a DF-rich diet containing wheat bran.Patients and Methods: BH and dietary data of 28 children with functional constipation defined by the Boston criteria were obtained at visit 1 (V1, n = 28) and at 4 follow-up visits (V2-V5, n = 80). At each visit the BH was rated BAD (worse/unaltered; improved but still complications) or RECOVERY (REC) (improved, no complications; asymptomatic), and a food intake questionnaire was applied. DF intake was calculated according to age (year)+5 to 10 g/day and bran intake according to international tables. Nonparametric statistics were used.Results: Median age (range) was 7.25 years (0.25-15.6 years); 21 children underwent bowel washout (most before V1/V2), and 14 had the last visit at V3/V4. DF intake, bran intake, and the BH rate significantly increased at V2 and remained higher than at V1 through V2 to V5. At V1, median DF intake was 29.9% below the minimum recommended and at the last visit 49.9% above it. Twenty-four children accepted bran at 60 visits, at which median bran intake was 20 g/day and median proportion of DF due to bran 26.9%. Children had significantly higher DF and higher bran intake at V2 to V5 at which they had REC than at those at which they presented BAD BH. DF intake > age+10 g/day was associated with bran acceptance and REC. At the last visit 21 children presented REC (75%); 20 of them were asymptomatic and 18 were off washout/laxatives.Conclusions: High DF and bran intake are feasible in constipated children and contribute to amelioration of constipation.

Influence of feeding regime and finishing system on lamb muscle fiber and meat quality

Avaliou-se a influência dos níveis nutricionais da ovelha antes do parto, da idade à desmama e do sistema de terminação sobre as fibras musculares e a qualidade da carne dos cordeiros. Utilizaram-se matrizes mestiças Ile de France × Bergamacia criadas a pasto. As ovelhas foram divididas em dois grupos: um com suplementação alimentar 30 dias antes do parto e outro sem suplementação. Os animais (ovelha e cordeiros) foram subdivididos de acordo com a idade à desmama (45 ou 60 dias de idade) e os cordeiros desmamados foram submetidos a três sistemas de terminação: confinamento com dieta completa; confinamento somente com feno; e confinamento somente no pasto. O abate dos cordeiros foi realizado aos 30 kg de peso vivo ou aos 150 dias de idade. As características de carcaça analisadas foram morfofisiologia da fibra do músculo longissimus dorsi, fragmentação miofibrilar pós-morte (maturados nos dias 0, 3 e 7 pos mortem) e redução do pH e da temperatura da carne pós-abate. Não houve efeito da suplementação às ovelhas ou da idade à desmama sobre nenhuma das características avaliadas. A composição em fibras de contração lenta e oxidativa, contração rápida e oxidativa ou contração rápida e glicolítica não foi alterada pelos fatores em estudo, mas a área transversal das fibras foi menor nos cordeiros terminados com feno, assim como os valores de pH, temperatura e as medidas dos fragmentos de miofibrila. Com o aumento do tempo de maturação de 0 para 3 e 7 dias post mortem, houve redução do comprimento dos fragmentos de miofibrilas. O sistema de terminação de cordeiros em confinamento somente com feno interfere mais intensamente na qualidade da carne que o sistema de terminação a pasto ou em confinamento com dieta completa.

Age-related changes in muscle fiber type frequencies and cross-sectional areas in straightbred and crossbred rabbits

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

Muscle fiber type characterization and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform expression in Mediterranean buffaloes

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

Factors affecting on bond strength of glass fiber post cemented with different resin cements to root canal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Customized fiber glass posts. Fatigue and fracture resistance

Purpose: To evaluate the root fracture strength of human single-rooted premolars restored with customized fiberglass post-core systems after fatigue simulation. Methods: 40 human premolars had their crowns cut and the root length was standardized to 13 mm. The teeth were endodontically treated and embedded in acrylic resin. The specimens were distributed into four groups (n=10) according to the restorative material used: prefabricated fiber post (PFP), PFP+accessory fiber posts (PFPa), PFP+unidirectional fiberglass (PFPf), and unidirectional fiberglass customized post (CP). All posts were luted using resin cement and the cores were built up with a resin composite. The samples were stored for 24 hours at 37 degrees C and 100% relative humidity and then submitted to mechanical cycling. The specimens were then compressive-loaded in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/minute until fracture. The failure patterns were analyzed and classified. Data was submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha= 0.05). Results: The mean values of maximum load (N) were: PFP - 811.4 +/- 124.3; PFPa - 729.2 +/- 157.2; PFPf - 747.5 +/- 204.7; CP - 762.4 +/- 110. Statistical differences were not observed among the groups. All groups showed favorable restorable failures. Fiberglass customized post did not show improved fracture resistance or differences in failure patterns when compared to prefabricated glass fiber posts. (Am J Dent 2012;25:35-38).

Effect of Resin Cement System and Root Region on the Push-out Bond Strength of a Translucent Fiber Post

Objectives: This study evaluated the bond strength of luting systems for bonding glass fiber posts to root canal dentin. The hypothesis tested was that there are no differences in bond strength of glass fiber posts luted with different cement systems.Methods: Forty bovine incisors were randomly assigned to five different resin cement groups (n=8). After endodontic treatment and crown removal, translucent glass fiber posts were bonded into the root canal using five different luting protocols (self-cured cement and etch-and-rinse adhesive system; dual-cured cement and etch-and-rinse adhesive system; self-cured cement and self-etch adhesive system; dual-cured cement and self-etch adhesive system; and dual-cured self-adhesive cement). Push-out bond strength was evaluated at three different radicular levels: cervical, middle, and apical. The interface between resinous cement and the post was observed using a stereoscopic microscope.Results: Analysis of variance showed a statistically significant difference among the cements (p<0.05) and the root canal thirds (p<0.05). The self-adhesive resinous cement had lower values of retention.Conclusions: The resin cements used with etch-and-rinse and self-etch adhesive systems seem to be adequate for glass fiber post cementation.

Heart failure increases atrogin-1 and MuRF1 gene expression in skeletal muscle with fiber type-specific atrophy

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

Determination of lead in the absence of supporting electrolyte using carbon fiber ultramicroelectrode without mercury film

The determination of lead ions directly in water, for application in analysis of samples of environmental interest, was studied by electroanalytical techniques. Linear sweep anodic stripping voltammetry with a carbon fiber disk ultramicroelectrode (7.0 mu m in diameter), without mercury film, has been used for lead determination, by standard addition, in purified water in the absence of supporting electrolyte. The response was linear in the range from 10.0 to 50.0 mu g L-1, with a detection limit of 0.8 mu g L-1, for 300 s preconcentration time, at -1.2 V and 1.0 V s(-1) scan rate. The reliability of the analytical procedure was evaluated by precision using relative standard deviations (5.6%, for three repetitive stripping current measurements of solution with 10.0 mu g L-1 lead ions) and by the accuracy with recovery experiments (mean of 110.8%) for the same concentration.

Effects of mechanical cycling on the bonding of zirconia and fiber posts to human root dentin

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of cyclical mechanical loading on the bond strength of a fiber and a zirconia post bonded to root dentin.Materials and Methods: Forty single-rooted human teeth (maxillary incisors and canines) were sectioned, and the root canals were prepared at 12 mm. Twenty randomly seleced specimens received a quartz fiber post (FRC) (D.T. Light-Post) and 20 others received a zirconia post (ZR) (Cosmopost). The posts were resin luted (All Bond 2 + resin cement Duo-link) and each specimen was embedded in epoxy resin inside a PVC cylinder. Ten specimens with FRC post and 10 specimens with ZR post were submitted to fatigue testing (2,000,000 cycles; load: 50 N; angle of 45 degrees; frequency: 8 Hz), while the other 20 specimens were not fatigued. Thus, 4 groups were formed: G1: FRC+O cycles; G2: FRC+2,000,000 cycles; G3: ZR+O cycles; G4: ZR+2,000,000 cycles. Later, the specimens were cut perpendicular to their long axis to form 2-mm-thick disk-shaped samples (4 sections/specimen), which were submitted to the push-out test (1 mm/min). The mean bond strength values (MPa) were calculated for each tooth (n = 10) and data were submitted to statistical analysis (alpha = 0.05).Results: Two-way ANOVA revealed that the bond strength was significantly affected by mechanical cycling (p = 0.0014) and root post (p = 0.0325). The interaction was also statistically significant (p = 0.0010). Tukey's test showed that the mechanical cycling did not affect the bonding of FRC to root dentin, while fatigue impaired the bonding of zirconium to root dentin.Conclusion: (1) the bond strength of the FRC post to root dentin was not reduced after fatigue testing, whereas the bonding of the zirconia post was significantly affected by the fatigue. (2) Cyclical mechanical loading appears to damage the bond strength of the rigid post only.