Effects of lead and/or zinc exposure during the second stage of rapid postnatal brain growth on delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase and negative geotaxis of suckling rats

Lead has been shown to produce cognitive and motor deficits in young rats that could be mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of the zinc-containing heme biosynthetic enzyme delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D). In the present study we investigated the effects of lead and/or zinc treatment during the second stage of rapid postnatal brain development on brain, kidney and blood ALA-D specific activity, as well as the negative geotaxis behavior of rats. Eight-day-old Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with saline, lead acetate (8 mg/kg) and/or zinc chloride (2 mg/kg) daily for five consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after treatment, ALA-D activity was determined in the absence and presence of DL-dithiothreitol (DTT). The negative geotaxis behavior was assessed in 9- to 13-day-old rats. Treatment with lead and/or zinc did not affect body, brain or kidney weights or brain- or kidney-to-body weight ratios of the animals. In spite of the absence of effect of any treatment on ALA-D specific activity in brain, kidney and blood, the reactivation index with DTT was higher in the groups treated with lead or lead + zinc than in the control group, in brain, kidney and blood (mean ± SEM; brain: 33.33 ± 4.34, 38.90 ± 8.24, 13.67 ± 3.41; kidney: 33.50 ± 2.97, 37.60 ± 2.67, 15.80 ± 2.66; blood: 63.95 ± 3.73, 56.43 ± 5.93, 31.07 ± 4.61, respectively, N = 9-11). The negative geotaxis response behavior was not affected by lead and/or zinc treatment. The results indicate that lead and/or zinc treatment during the second stage of rapid postnatal brain growth affected ALA-D, but zinc was not sufficient to protect the enzyme from the effects of lead in brain, kidney and blood.

Cultivation and identification of colon cancer stem cell-derived spheres from the Colo205 cell line

Our group established a method to culture spheres under serum-free culture condition. However, the biological characteristics and the tumorigenicity of spheres are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that sphere cells expressed high levels of the putative colorectal cancer stem cell markers CD133 and CD44. The CD133-positive rates were 13.27 ± 5.62, 52.71 ± 16.97 and 16.47 ± 2.45% in sphere cells, regular Colo205 cells and differentiated sphere cells, respectively, while the CD44-positive rates were 62.92 ± 8.38, 79.06 ± 12.10 and 47.80 ± 2.5%, respectively, and the CD133/CD44-double-positive rates were 10.77 ± 4.96, 46.89 ± 19.17 and 12.41 ± 2.27%, respectively (P < 0.05). Cancer sphere cells formed crypt-like structures in 3-D culture. Moreover, cells from cancer spheres exhibited more tumorigenicity than regular Colo205 cells in a xenograft assay. The cancer sphere cells displayed much higher oncogenicity than regular Colo205 cells to initiate neoplasms, as assayed by H&E staining, Musashi-1 staining and electron microscopy. Our findings indicated that the sphere cells were enriched with cancer stem cells (CSCs), and exhibited more proliferation capacity, more differentiation potential and especially more tumorigenicity than regular Colo205 cells in vitro and in vivo. Further isolation and characterization of these CSCs may provide new insights for novel therapeutic targets and prognostic markers.

Effect of vitamin D therapy in addition to amitriptyline on migraine attacks in pediatric patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementary vitamin D therapy in addition to amitriptyline on the frequency of migraine attacks in pediatric migraine patients. Fifty-three children 8-16 years of age and diagnosed with migraine following the International Headache Society 2005 definition, which includes childhood criteria, were enrolled. Patients were classified into four groups on the basis of their 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels. Group 1 had normal 25(OH)D levels and received amitriptyline therapy alone; group 2 had normal 25(OH)D levels and received vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day) plus amitriptyline; group 3 had mildly deficient 25(OH)D levels and received amitriptyline plus vitamin D (800 IU/day); and group 4 had severely deficient 25(OH)D levels and was given amitriptyline plus vitamin D (5000 IU/day). All groups were monitored for 6 months, and the number of migraine attacks before and during treatment was determined. Calcium, phosphorus alkaline phosphatase, parathormone, and 25(OH)D levels were also determined before and during treatment. Results were compared between the groups. Data obtained from the groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The number of pretreatment attacks in groups 1 to 4 was 7±0.12, 6.8±0.2, 7.3±0.4, and 7.2±0.3 for 6 months, respectively (all P>0.05). The number of attacks during treatment was 3±0.25, 1.76±0.37 (P<0.05), 2.14±0.29 (P<0.05), and 1.15±0.15 (P<0.05), respectively. No statistically significant differences in calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, or parathormone levels were observed (P>0.05). Vitamin D given in addition to anti-migraine treatment reduced the number of migraine attacks.

Teor de colesterol e composição centesimal de algumas espécies de peixes do estado do Ceará

O presente estudo tem como objetivo determinar o teor de colesterol total em amostras de pescado de água marinha e doce. As amostras analisadas foram o pargo marinho, Lutjanus purpureus, e os seguintes peixes de água doce: tilápia do Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus, curimatã, Prochilodus cearensis e a sardinha, Triportheus angulatus, adquiridas em pontos comerciais (frigoríficos, feira de pescado da praia de Mucuripe e feira-livre suburbana) de Fortaleza - Ceará. Além da determinação do teor de colesterol, também foram avaliados a composição química centesimal e o valor calórico das amostras. O teor médio de colesterol (mg.100 g-1) apresentado foi 33,5 para o pargo, 28,4 para a tilápia, 93,8 para o curimatã e 61,2 para a sardinha. Em relação à composição centesimal, os seguintes teores médios foram obtidos, respectivamente, para pargo, tilápia, curimatã e sardinha: 80,7; 80,2; 76,4 e 77,2% de umidade; 18,4; 17,7; 18,7 e 17,6% de proteína total; 1,0; 1,2; 3,2 e 4,6% de lipídio total; 0,7; 0,8; 0,8 e 1,0% de cinza, e 0,5; 0,6; 2,0 e 0,3% de carboidratos. O valor energético médio (kcal.100 g-1) foi de 83,6 para o pargo, 83,7 para a tilápia, 108,4 para o curimatã e de 111,8 para a sardinha.

Sensory quality attributes of lettuce obtained using different harvesting performance systems

The objective of this study was to determine the best lettuce cultivar (American 'Graciosa', 'Vanda', 'Marcela' and 'Lavínia') harvesting method. Therefore, quality and shelf-life were evaluated using sensory analyses. Lettuce heads was harvested with the root on by the producer, so that they were cut in different ways in the laboratory. The samples were stored in a cold chamber at 10 °C and 80% ± 2% of relative humidity for nine days, and the sensorial analyses were performed according to Qualitative Descriptive Analysis method on days 1, 3, 6, and 9 of storage by twelve trained testers. The results were evaluated by variance analysis, principal component analysis, and the Tukey test with a reliability of 95%. The results indicate that there was a reduction in the quality of lettuce between the 1st and the 5th day of storage and that after the sixth day of storage the lettuce samples were considered unfit for consumption, except for the 'Lavínia' lettuce cultivar with root and cut treatment 2. On the ninth day of storage all samples were considered inappropriate for consumption.

Estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea para tratamento de urgência ou urge-incontinência urinária em crianças e adolescentes: ensaio clínico fase II

ResumoObjetivo:Determinar a efetividade de 20 sessões de estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (TENS) parassacral com periodicidade de duas vezes semanais no tratamento da urgência ou urge-incontinência urinária em crianças e adolescentes.Métodos:Ensaio clínico fase II, envolvendo pacientes com idade entre 5 e 14 anos com urgência ou urge-incontinência urinária. Realizadas 20 sessões de TENS, duas vezes por semana (aparelho Dualpex 961 Quark®). Os resultados foram avaliados pelo diário miccional, ultrassonografia dinâmica do trato urinário inferior (USGD-TUI) pré e pós-tratamento e questionário sobre perdas urinárias em cada sessão.Resultados:A idade média das 25 crianças envolvidas no estudo foi 7,80 ± 2,22 anos, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (92%) e com urge-incontinência (92%). A comparação dos eventos de perda urinária pré e pós-tratamento foi estatisticamente significativa (p = 0,04); houve regressão do sintoma de perda urinária referida pelos acompanhantes em todas as crianças que completaram a 20ª sessão; os parâmetros da USGD-TUI, embora não estatisticamente significativos, demonstraram redução do percentual de crianças com contrações detrusoras (62,5% para 43,5%); maior adequação do volume vesical pré-miccional (4,2% versus 19,0%), respectivamente pré e pós-tratamento.Conclusões:A eletroestimulação realizada em duas sessões semanais demonstrou efetividade e metade dos pacientes apresentou regressão da incontinência urinária a partir da 12ª sessão, porém, é necessário maior número de pacientes para confirmação dos resultados obtidos.

[La salle à manger de la maison gothique et le salon de la maison chinoise] : [dessin] / Jn Jques Le Queu inv. et delin.

Comprend : Géometral de la salle à manger de la maison gothique, côté de la porte d'ogive ; Géometral du salon de la maison chinoise, côté de la porte ovale du temple de la lumière

ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT DEVELOPMENTAL COORDINATION DISORDER

The purpose of this study was to determine whether children with potential developmental coordination disorder (p-DCD) demonstrate increased arterial stiffness and thickness compared to age and school matched controls (mean age 14.7 yrs). We also assessed whether these measures differed by sex. Compliance, distensibility, and intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured at the common carotid artery for 28 children with p-DCD and 47 controls. ECG-R-wave-toe pulse wave velocity (PWV) was also measured for 29 children with p-DCD and 45 controls. We found that compared to controls males with p-DCD had significantly higher PWV (3.8±0.2 vs. 4.1±0.3, p=0.001) and lower distensibility (0.82± 0.19 vs. 0.70± 0.17, p=0.034) while females showed no significant differences (p=0.523 and p=0.123 respectively). As a result, it is apparent that sex differences exist with respect to arterial health within this population and that children with p-DCD may be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease later in life.

Suivi postnatal à domicile après un congé précoce : Critères de sélection et Appréciation du délai

Aujourd’hui, la satisfaction des utilisateurs des services de santé est reconnue comme une mesure de la qualité des soins. Au Québec, le congé précoce en obstétrique constitue la norme pour les mères ayant donné naissance à un bébé en santé. Selon la littérature, cette pratique n’entraîne pas de répercussions négatives pour la santé des mères et de leur nouveau-né à condition qu’un suivi adéquat soit assuré. D’autre part, bien qu’il semble que la diminution de la durée du séjour hospitalier soit appréciée par les mères, peu de données sont disponibles relativement aux caractéristiques menant à l’appréciation du suivi postnatal. Objectifs : Cette étude s’intéresse principalement à la première visite à domicile effectuée par une infirmière suite au congé précoce en obstétrique. Dans un premier temps, elle vise à tracer un portrait des mères en fonction du délai de la première visite à domicile et, dans un second temps, à connaître les facteurs associés à l’appréciation, par les mères, du délai de cette visite. Méthode : Les données de cette étude ont été recueillies au Québec, entre janvier 2002 et janvier 2003, lors d’une enquête téléphonique effectuée auprès de mères de bébés nés en santé, un mois suivant leur accouchement vaginal sans complication (n=1548). Pour nos analyses, nous avons retranché les mères ayant eu une durée de séjour de plus de 60 heures, une grossesse de moins de 37semaines et un bébé pesant moins de 2500 g à la naissance. Notre échantillon se compose donc de 1351 mères. Résultats : 86,2 % des mères ont reçu une offre de visite à domicile. La majorité (80.2 %) des mères ont reçu la visite dans les trois premiers jours suivant leur retour à la maison, dont près du tiers (28,1 %), dans les 24 premières heures. Comparativement aux mères visitées au deuxième ou troisième jour suivant le congé, celles visitées dans les 24 premières heures ont jugé la durée de séjour hospitalier trop courte (p=0,018) et reçu un appel de l’infirmière qui a duré plus longtemps (p=0, 009). De plus, au moment du congé, elles perçoivent leur bébé en moins bonne santé (p=0,029). Elles ont aussi accouché d’un bébé plus petit (p=0,052) qui a tendance à avoir présenté des signes d’ictères pendant le séjour hospitalier (p=0,100). D’autre part, la majorité des mères (86,4 %) disent que le délai de la première visite à domicile est adéquat alors que 11,6 % le jugent trop court et 2,3 % trop long. Pour les mères visitées au premier jour, l’analyse multivariée révèle que certaines caractéristiques et certains besoins sont associés à la perception que le délai de la visite est trop court : une seule visite postnatale, un revenu familial de plus de 40 000 $, la perception que la durée de séjour est trop longue et le fait de ne pas allaiter. Pour les mères qui reçoivent la visite au deuxième et troisième jour, ce sont, seulement, le fait d’avoir été au rendez-vous médical et le fait d’avoir reçu une seule visite qui sont associés à la perception que le délai de la visite est trop court. Pour conclure, au Québec, le programme de suivi postnatal universel semble en mesure d’offrir une visite à domicile dans les délais prescrits à une majorité de mères. Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent que le délai de la première visite à domicile n’est pas optimal pour toutes les mères et permettent d’envisager que certaines mères auraient souhaité recevoir une seconde visite plus tardivement au cours de la période postnatale. D’autres recherches devront être effectuées afin de parfaire nos connaissances relativement au moment idéal pour réaliser les interventions postnatales.Mots clefs : Satisfaction, appréciation des utilisateurs, qualité des soins, programme universel, suivi postnatal, congé précoce en obstétrique, visite à domicile, délai de la visite, provision des services.

Optical and electrical properties of amorphous zinc tin oxide thin films examined for thin film transistor application

Structural, electronic, and optical properties of amorphous and transparent zinc tin oxide films deposited on glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) were examined for two chemical compositions of Zn:Sn=1:1 and 2:1 as a function of oxygen partial pressure PO2 used for the film deposition and annealing temperature. Different from a previous report on sputter-deposited films Chiang et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 013503 2005 , the PLD-deposited films crystallized at a lower temperature 450 °C to give crystalline ZnO and SnO2 phases. The optical band gaps Tauc gaps were 2.80−2.85 eV and almost independent of oxygen PO2 , which are smaller than those of the corresponding crystals 3.35−3.89 eV . Films deposited at low PO2 showed significant subgap absorptions, which were reduced by postthermal annealing. Hall mobility showed steep increases when carrier concentration exceeded threshold values and the threshold value depended on the film chemical composition. The films deposited at low PO2 2 Pa had low carrier concentrations. It is thought that the low PO2 produced high-density oxygen deficiencies and generated electrons, but these electrons were trapped in localized states, which would be observed as the subgap absorptions. Similar effects were observed for 600 °C crystallized films and their resistivities were increased by formation of subgap states due to the reducing high-temperature condition. High carrier concentrations and large mobilities were obtained in an intermediate PO2 region for the as-deposited films.

El Parc Nacional de Cabrera, un tresor per descobrir. 'El Parque nacional de Cabrera : un tesoro por descubrir'.

Material didáctico dirigido a alumnado de segundo ciclo de educación secundaria. Financiado por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente

Utilidad de la resonancia magnética en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda

Comparar el resultado de la resonancia magnética en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda con el patrón de oro (estudio histopatológico o seguimiento clínico del paciente) con el fin de establecer la utilidad de ésta como prueba diagnóstica y poder incluirla dentro del algoritmo de estudio de esta patología cuando hay sospecha clínica y un resultado negativo o dudoso de la ecografía abdominal

Niveles de vitamina d y prevalencia de déficit de vitamina d en mujeres postmenopáusicas mayores de 50 años en Bogotá

Objetivo: Describir los niveles de vitamina D y calcular prevalencia de déficit de vitamina D en mujeres postmenopáusicas mayores de 50 años que asisten a consulta de medicina general en una muestra en de la ciudad de Bogotá durante el periodo 2013-2014. Pacientes y métodos: Realizamos un estudio descriptivo para estimar el déficit de VD en mujeres postmenopáusicas entre 50 y 80 años en la ciudad de Bogotá y la prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D. Durante el periodo octubre 2013 a octubre 2014 se analizaron 320 muestras, se identificaron las características socio-demográficas, patológicas y la exposición a radiación ultravioleta de cada participante. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables, se estableció su asociación con el déficit de vitamina D su aporte estadístico con al mismo. Resultados :El promedio de edad en la muestra fue de 61 años y el promedio de edad en la que reportaron la ultima menstruación fue a los 43 años. Con respecto a las características socio-demográficas 50% de las mujeres pertenecieron a los estratos 3 y 4, únicamente 11% de los pacientes realizaron una carrera universitaria y 73% de la mujeres fueron amas de casa. Con respecto a los niveles de vitamina D, 81% de los pacientes presentaron niveles anormales y el promedio de 25(OH)D en la población estudio fue de 19,81ng/ml. Conclusión: La prevalencia de déficit de vitamina D en mujeres bogotanas postmenopáusicas es significativo. Se requiere incrementar la exposición solar o dar suplencia con vitamina D para disminuir el riesgo de fracturas.

Análisis de los efectos económicos y socio-políticos en Chile de la tradición exportadora minera y del TLC entre China y Chile, en especial para el período 2006-2012

Esta monografía pretende evaluar los efectos de la tradición exportadora minera y el TLC entre China y Chile desde las perspectivas de violencia estructural y desarrollo como libertad de Amartya Sen y Johan Galtung, respectivamente. A través del análisis de algunos procesos históricos que han configurado las actuales dinámicas mineras y comerciales en Chile, y de las libertades reales que poseían los chilenos antes y después de la entrada en vigor del acuerdo, se logra comprender la manera en la que los fenómenos estudiados logran constreñir o impulsar el desarrollo de las capacidades de los chilenos para llevar a cabo las vidas que desean.

Protección miocárdica con custodiol y trastornos de la osmolalidad

En análisis retrospectivo evaluamos 91 pacientes llevados a cirugía cardiaca entre 2013 y 2014 en la Fundación Cardioinfantil, en quienes se administro Custodiol, analizando los niveles de sodio y osmolalidad plasmática efectiva antes, durante y después del procedimiento quirúrgico. Nosotros evaluamos la relación entre administración de Custodiol y cambios en el sodio y osmolalidad plasmática del paciente llevado a cirugía cardiaca.