Avaliação por ressonância magnética das injúrias musculares traumáticas

Neste trabalho foram avaliados 43 exames de ressonância magnética de perna ou coxa, com alterações traumáticas relacionadas à prática de esportes. Os estiramentos foram as lesões mais encontradas e apresentaram imagem iso ou hipointensa em T1 e hiperintensa em T2, sendo classificados, de acordo com a porcentagem de fibras lesadas, em graus 1, 2 e 3. Em segundo foram observadas as contusões, cujas características foram sinal hipo ou isointenso em T1 e hiperintenso em T2, e, por fim, as fibroses, que se caracterizaram por sinal hipointenso em T1 e em T2.

Permuurahaishapon valmistaminen putkireaktorissa

Työn tavoitteena oli suunnitella ja mitoittaa permuurahaishapon valmistukseen käytettävä putkireaktori. Reaktorin kapasiteetiksi asetettiin 100 kg/h puhdasta tuotetta. Permuurahaishappo on hyvin herkkä reagoimaan ja voi konsentroituina pitoisuuksina räjähtää huoneenlämmössäkin spontaanisti. Tästä syystä suunnittelun lähtökohdaksi asetettiin 10 % konversio, jolloin permuurahaishapon osuudeksi tuotevirrasta saadaan noin 6 p-%. Reaktorin viipymäajaksi määritettiin 680 sekuntia. Reaktoriputken sisähalkaisijaksi määritettiin ISO-standardin DN 40 mukainen halkaisija. Putken sisäpinnan pinnoitteeksi valittiin polytetrafluorieteeni ja pinnoitteen paksuudeksi 0,127 mm. Reaktorin tilavuudeksi laskettiin 0,25 m3, jolloin reaktioputken pituudeksi saatiin 170 metriä. Reaktio-olosuhteiden homogenisoimiseksi poikkileikkauksen alalla laskettiin tarvittavien staattisten sekoittimien määrä. Sekoitintyypiksi valittiin Sulzerin SMV-malli, joita tarvitaan yhteensä 531 elementtiä. Työssä tarkasteltiin myös putkireaktorin lämmönsiirtoa.

Activity of daptomycin- and vancomycin-loaded poly-epsilon-caprolactone microparticles against mature staphylococcal biofilms.

The aim of the present study was to develop novel daptomycin-loaded poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) microparticles with enhanced antibiofilm activity against mature biofilms of clinically relevant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and polysaccharide intercellular adhesin-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis. Daptomycin was encapsulated into PCL microparticles by a double emulsion-solvent evaporation method. For comparison purposes, formulations containing vancomycin were also prepared. Particle morphology, size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, surface charge, thermal behavior, and in vitro release were assessed. All formulations exhibited a spherical morphology, micrometer size, and negative surface charge. From a very early time stage, the released concentrations of daptomycin and vancomycin were higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration and continued so up to 72 hours. Daptomycin presented a sustained release profile with increasing concentrations of the drug being released up to 72 hours, whereas the release of vancomycin stabilized at 24 hours. The antibacterial activity of the microparticles was assessed by isothermal microcalorimetry against planktonic and sessile MRSA and S. epidermidis. Regarding planktonic bacteria, daptomycin-loaded PCL microparticles presented the highest antibacterial activity against both strains. Isothermal microcalorimetry also revealed that lower concentrations of daptomycin-loaded microparticles were required to completely inhibit the recovery of mature MRSA and S. epidermidis biofilms. Further characterization of the effect of daptomycin-loaded PCL microparticles on mature biofilms was performed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed an important reduction in MRSA biofilm, whereas S. epidermidis biofilms, although inhibited, were not eradicated. In addition, an important attachment of the microparticles to MRSA and S. epidermidis biofilms was observed. Finally, all formulations proved to be biocompatible with both ISO compliant L929 fibroblasts and human MG63 osteoblast-like cells.

Stress oxydant chez l'enfant prématuré : causes, biomarqueurs et possibilités thérapeutiques [Oxidative stress after preterm birth: Origins, biomarkers, and possible therapeutic approaches].

The survival of preterm babies has increased over the last few decades. However, disorders associated with preterm birth, known as oxygen radical diseases of neonatology, such as retinopathy, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular leukomalacia, and necrotizing enterocolitis are severe complications related to oxidative stress, which can be defined by an imbalance between oxidative reactive species production and antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress causes lipid, protein, and DNA damage. Preterm infants have decreased antioxidant defenses in response to oxidative challenges, because the physiologic increase of antioxidant capacity occurs at the end of gestation in preparation for the transition to extrauterine life. Therefore, preterm infants are more sensitive to neonatal oxidative stress, notably when supplemental oxygen is being delivered. Furthermore, despite recent advances in the management of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, controversies persist concerning the oxygenation saturation targets that should be used in caring for preterm babies. Identification of adequate biomarkers of oxidative stress in preterm infants such as 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, and adduction of malondialdehyde to hemoglobin is important to promote specific therapeutic approaches. At present, no therapeutic strategy has been validated as prevention or treatment against oxidative stress. Breastfeeding should be considered as the main measure to improve the antioxidant status of preterm infants. In the last few years, melatonin has emerged as a protective molecule against oxidative stress, with antioxidant and free-radical scavenger roles, in experimental and preliminary human studies, giving hope that it can be used in preterm infants in the near future.

Impact of quality improvement tools on the performance of firms using different quality management systems

This study compares the impact of quality management tools on the performance of organisations utilising the ISO 9001:2000 standard as a basis for a quality-management system band those utilising the EFQM model for this purpose. A survey is conducted among 107 experienced and independent quality-management assessors. The study finds that organisations with qualitymanagement systems based on the ISO 9001:2000 standard tend to use general-purpose qualitative tools, and that these do have a relatively positive impact on their general performance. In contrast, organisations adopting the EFQM model tend to use more specialised quantitative tools, which produce significant improvements in specific aspects of their performance. The findings of the study will enable organisations to choose the most effective quality-improvement tools for their particular quality strategy