Avaliação do Efeito Fotodinâmico sobre o Crescimento in vitro de Pythium insidiosum

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic method which employs a photosensitizer and light to cause cellular death. The chemical compounds have low or none toxicity for hosts cells. Under the incidence of light, in an appropriated wavelength, these chemical compounds produce reactive oxygen which affects the biomolecules of the target-cells. The specific illumination of the affected area increases the selectivity of the therapy, since the photodynamic process occurs only in the irradiated area. Pythiosis, for instance, is a life-threatening emerging disease caused by a fungus-like organism called Pythium insidiosum. The disease occurs in man and other animals, being mostly observed in horses. Human pythiosis may present as ophthalmic, cutaneous-subcutaneous and systemic forms of lesions. Due to the fact that P. insidiosum is not a true fungus, it is refractory to most antifungal drugs and the treatment of the disease is difficult. Extensive surgery procedures, such as limb amputation, are the treatment of choice, however relapses may occur frequently. Although not totally effective, the use of immunotherapy associated to surgery have shown some results. Considering that pythiosis is an emerging disease few explored in its etiological and therapeutic aspects, which are limited and few effective, it is of great importance to encourage the development of researches for new strategies of treatment. In this sense, it was evaluated the effect of PDT on in vitro growth of the pathogen employing two chemical compounds as photosensitizer, porphyrin and chlorine, at different concentrations in combination with several energetic dosages. Porphyrin showed inhibition of growth at 25mg/mL with 100J/cm2 of energetic dosage and chlorine showed similar results employing low concentrations (0,7, 1,0 and 1,3mg/mL) with 70J/cm2 of energetic dosage... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Aplicação da MTF e FWHM para análise de resolução espacial de sensores de Biossusceptometria AC

Neste trabalho foi analisada a resolução espacial de sensores de Biossusceptometria AC (BAC) correlacionando dois métodos consagrados em análise de resolução, a Função de Transferência Modulada (do inglês MTF) e a Largura à Meia Altura (FWHM) da Função de Espalhamento Pontual (PSF). A partir da aquisição da PSF do sistema, foi possível quantificar a resolução dos sensores pelos dois métodos. Foram analisados sensores de diferentes diâmetros para a obtenção da correlação entre os dois métodos. Foi variada também a corrente, indiretamente, pela variação de voltagem de excitação. Com estas metodologias foi possível avaliar a resolução de maneira pontual dos sensores, sendo possível otimizar a utilização dos sensores de acordo com a medida a ser realizada

Modelo de conjuntos fuzzy e de regressão logística para dados de obesidade

Obesidade e comumente definida como um excesso de gordura corporal, porém diante da dificuldade em mensurar tal gordura diretamente, esta tem sido definida como um excesso de peso mais do que um excesso de gordura corporal, que tem como desdobramento a ocorrência de doenças associadas e/ou prejuízos a saúde do indivíduo (4). Atualmente, o excesso de massa corpórea e verificado por meio de um Indice de Massa Corpórea (IMC), que considera o quociente entre o peso corporal (kg) e a estatura elevada ao quadrado (m2). Indivíduos com sobrepeso apresentam IMC de 25 at e 29; 9 kg=m2, e com obesidade apresentam IMC de 30 Kg=m2 ou mais, de acordo com a OMS (1). A identificação das causas da obesidade não é trivial e objetiva. Especialistas reconhecem que a obesidade e uma doença crônica, de difícil tratamento, denominada multifatorial, envolvendo em sua gênese diversos aspectos, entre eles: o consumo alimentar, aspectos ambientais, genéticos, psicossociais, entre outros. objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um modelo baseado em teoria dos conjuntos Fuzzy para a classificação de obesidade levando em consideração as suas causas, e compará-lo com um modelo de regressão logística através da curva ROC. Para estudar as causas da obesidade na população de moradores da região do Distrito Sul de Campinas, foram coletados dados de uma amostra aleatória de 651 indivíuos, por meio de entrevista domiciliar. No primeiro estágio amostral, a partir do cadastro de domicílios residenciais dos agentes comunitários de saúde, foram aleatoriamente sorteados 920 domicílios (15% a mais do inicialmente previsto para cobrir perdas). Foram coletados dados de identificação geral, como: nome, idade, sexo, anos de escolaridade, tipo de ocupação e dados de consumo alimentar. O diagnóstico foi observado através do IMC. Num estudo preliminar, no modelo fuzzy foram consideradas como variáveis... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Caracterização in vitro de técnica biomagnética empregando magnetômetros 3D para avaliar tempo de trânsito esofagiano

The biomagnetic techniques use different magnetic field detectors to measure parameters of the human physiology. Those techniques present the advantage of being noninvasive and radiation free. Among them we can show up the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID), the Current Alternate Biosusceptometry (ACB) and, more recently, the employment of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors. Those magnetic sensors have a low cost and good sensitivity to measure different physiological parameters using magnetic markers. The biomagnetic techniques have being used successfully through study on the characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract. Recent research, the magnetoresistors were used to evaluate the transit time and localization of magnetic sources in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this work is the characterization, with in vitro tests, of a biomagnetic instrumentation using two 3-axis magnetoresistors arranged in a gradiometric coplanar setup to evaluate esophageal transit time, analyze and compare the results of experimental signals and the magnetic theory, as well as evaluate the instrumentation gain with use of tri-axial sensor front to the mono-axial sensor. The instrumentation is composed by two three-axis sensing magnetometers, precision power supply and amplifier electronic circuits. The sensors fixed in a coplanar setup were separate by distance of 18 cm. The sensitivity tests had been carried through using a cylindrical magnet (ø = 4 mm and h = 4 mm) of neodymium-iron-boron (grid 35). The tests were done moving the permanent magnet on the sensors parallel axis, simulating the food transit in... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Sistema de cálculo para determinação do tempo de exposição em radioterapia veterinária

Radiotherapy in veterinary practice is already known and widely distributed in large specialized centers of developed countries. In early 2000, there were about 30 radiotherapy equipment specifically designed for the veterinary clinic in the United States. In Brazil, the veterinary radiotherapy is still confined to research in universities, where most of the procedures is radiation therapy performed with superficial x-ray machines, with a voltage between 50 and 150 kVp, focus-distance surface (DFS) between 20,0cm and 40,0cm. As that occurs in human medicine, new research strengthens the development and prospects for the use of radiotherapy as a safe option for treating cancer in animals. This paper presents a methodology for calculating the exposure time for superficial radiotherapy procedures in veterinary medicine for small animals (dogs and cats). The dosimetric parameters of X-rays are determined using a spreadsheet tool for Microsoft Office Excel, developed in this paper for a device Dermopan 2, Veterinary Hospital of UNESP in Araçatuba. Using the worksheet helps the veterinarian to determine the time of exposure to radiation determined for each clinical case, optimize the workflow for professionals in veterinary radiotherapy procedures, which often lack the medical physics in team and at the time of radiotherapy. The correct use of spreadsheet decreases the chances of errors in dose rates of radiation, providing a higher quality of care

Modelos de tratamento para adenocarcinomas de próstata tratados por radioterapia conformacional 3D

Radiotherapy is a branch of medical physics related to the treatment of malignant neoplasm, being an important instrument in the fight against cancer, when combined with the effort of a multidisciplinary team, composed of, physicians, physicists, nurses and technicians. Every year more than 3.5 million new cases of cancer are recorded in the world, being the prostate cancer responsible for approximately 25% of this amount (INCA and IARC, 2008). In this type of cancer, radiotherapy is a method indicated for treatement. The technological advance in this area over years has allowed a greater accuracy in the tumor location, more conformation of the radiation beam around the tumor, reducing the dose in healthy tissues and a consequent dose increase on treatment (Bedford et al., 1999). A radiotherapy planning, in which the physicist develops an important role, is composed of several steps, including choosing the best configuration of treatment beams. This choice has a close relationship with success of therapy and is critical to achieve the best distribution of dose inside the tumor and expose the least as possible the healthy tissue to radiation. In this work, two options for setting up camps in the first phase in a treatment of prostate cancer were simulated in computer planning: 4 fields orthogonal or “Box” with gantry angles in 00, 1800, 2700 e 90° and 4 fields angled or “X” (1350, 450, 3150 e 2250). The percentage of the rectal volume exposed to 40, 50, 60, 72 and 76 Gy should be limited to 60, 50, 25, 15 and 5% respectively (Greco et al., 2003). The femoral toxicity have limited dose by 70% of the total dose prescribed in a prostate treatment (Bedford et al., 1999). The planning of 27 patients with prostate adenocarcinoma submitted to 3D conformal radiotherapy were accompanied. As a result, it was assessed that the best TCP (tumor control probability)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Caracterização de sensores nanoplasmônicos produzidos com os polímeros pdma e paa: Micaela Gisoldi Ribeiro. –

A combinação de polímeros com nanopartículas de metais nobres resultam na formação de filmes finos, que podem ser utilizado na fabricação de nanosensores. Esses filmes finos possuem propriedades exclusivas, que causam ressonância plasmônica de superfície pela mudança conformacional dos mesmos. Essa variação conformacional é causada pela interação com analito ou por estímulo externo, podendo ser analisada por espectroscopia de absorção na região do UV-vis. Este simples e econômico meio de transdução do sinal apresenta-se como uma ferramenta bastante promissora, e se combinado com a alta seletividade encontrada em reações biológicas, torna-se ainda mais promissora no desenvolvimento de sensores. Os esforços desse projeto foram concentrados para o desenvolvimento dos sensores que respondam a estímulos externo e baseado na utilização de polímeros escovas. Este trabalho de conclusão de curso foi baseada na produção de sensores nanoplasmônicos, que na presença de fatores externos causam modificação estrutural dos filmes finos poliméricos depositados sobre um substrato e dão um resposta altamente seletiva. As mudanças conduzirão à geração de sinais ópticos ou eletroquímico, que serão medidos por transmissão de ressonância plasmônica de superfície ou via eletroquímica. Foram realizados experimentos de voltametria cíclica e impedância eletroquímica em pH=3 para avaliar a capacidade de eletródica deste material. Também foram efetuados experimentos por espectrofotometria de absorção na região de ultravioleta-visível em pHs variando de 3 a 7 para se analisar o efeito plasmônico do material. Pode-se notar que em pH mais ácidos o polímero se mostrou mais condutor e de acordo com a literatura este efeito é causado pela expansão polimérica que deixa o mesmo em seu estado ativo ON (expandido). Já em pH mais básicos os polímeros demonstraram um comportamento inverso por os mesmo se contraem, ...

Avaliação teórico-experimental da distribuição de dose absorvida em radioterapia em tumores de pele

O trabalho propõe rotinas computacionais usando o Método de Monte Carlo com o Código MCNP-5, para analisar os perfis de dose de radiação liberada nos tratamentos de tumores de pele e otimizar os cálculos radiométricos dos feixes de radiação estudados. Foram realizadas medidas dosimétricas do feixe de radiação, comparando os resultados obtidos com os respectivos valores fornecidos pelo serviço de física médica das instituições, com resultados informados pelo fabricante do equipamento e com as simulações computacionais efetuadas com o Código MCNP-5. A quantificação dos erros relativos percentual entre os resultados simulados e os fornecidos pelo Serviço de Radioterapia (E1), os informados pelo fabricante (E2) e os medidos experimentalmente (E3) são inferiores a 4,0% e validam a metodologia computacional proposta para avaliação do comportamento do feixe de raios-X superficial e do feixe de raios γ da unidade de Cobaltoterapia. A metodologia de análise do espectro energético e da curva de porcentagem de dose profunda (PDP) desenvolvida neste trabalho pode ser estendida para estudos de outros feixes clínicos e subsidiar os dados radiométricos utilizados nos planejamentos e cálculos de dose realizados pelo profissional da física médica na sua rotina nos Serviços de Radioterapia

Radioterapia em câncer de mama: importância da determinação da curva de isodose

The study analyzed contours of the thoracic region of patients undergoing radiotherapy of breast tumors in Hospital Manuel de Abreu of Bauru (institution 1) and the Hospital da Faculdade de Medicina of Botucatu (Institution 2). Were prepared isodose curves corresponding to the contours of the patient, which were presented for radiotherapists doctors both hospital services that enabled the choice of the curve isodose that provides the best distribution of radiation dose in the irradiated volume. Some boundaries were digitized in one institution and sent for preparation of isodose lines in the institution 2, both curves plotted in each of the institutions and for the same contour, were compared, showing that the methodology of Curves of distance is feasible and reliable, while optimizing the routine procedures regarding the handling of isodose plans provided by different radiation equipment. It compares the calculation of the exposure time determined using the isodose curve selected by calculating the value obtained considering the PDP at the point of the middle line of separation between the internal and external fields, the difference between the two methods for determining exposure time was around 2.4%. A study on the angle of the radiation beam at the input field (region breast-air) was conducted showing that, once known a tangent angle of the input beam, one can estimate the angle of the wedge filter used in some procedures for uniformity of dose within the irradiated volume compensation and the lack of tissue in the treatment volume. A comparative study between the isodose curves produced manually with the curves obtained in a two-dimensional computer system, the computer system showed that provides further information regarding the dose gradient within the irradiated volume, in addition to reducing the time spent in preparing the curves isodose

Modelo discreto para o ciclo eritrocitário da Malária

In this work, some aspects of the erythrocyte cycle of the malaria parasite was incorporated into a cellular automata model to simulated the major factors leading to disruption of the erythrocyte cycle and consequent appearance of gametocytes, which infected the mosquitoes. Furthermore, the time seies of parasitaemia of infected patients was analyzed and compared to simulated data. The results suggested that differences in the temporal patterns of the asexual parasitaemia are associated with different effectiveness of the immune system in controlling the infection

Sistema de cálculo computacional da unidade monitora para feixes de elétrons em radioterapia

In radiation theraphy with electron beam, the electrons are produced in linear accelerators, and energy the most used have between 4MeV and 20MeV. Generally, the treatments are done for superficial injuries, because the low penetration of these particles. In this work a system for calculation of monitor units (U.M.) for cases of treatments with electron beam was developed. The Excel program of Microsoft was used and is easily found in the operational system of the personal microcomputers. In the Excel has been inserted the pertinent data of the linear accelerator of Varian, model 2100C, used in the Service of radiation theraphy of the Hospital of the Clinics of the College of Medicine of the UNESP of Botucatu. For some values of the physical parameters, such as: factors field and factors calibration, not supplied in the tests of acceptance of the machine, still proceeded calculations from interpolation and extrapolation. The mathematical formulas for automatic search of these and others factors used in the calculations of the determination of the U.M had been developed in agreement available routines in Excel. For this the functions had been used the function IF (that it imposes search condition) and the PROCH (that looks a value in a column from determined line), beyond the basic functions of addition, multiplication and division. It is intended to optimize the routine of the Services of radiation theraphy that perform through eletrontheraphy procedures, speeding the calculations and minimizing the occurrence of errors and uncertainties deriving of the maken a mistake manipulation of the parameters gotten in tables of data of electron beams

Práticas alternativas e complementares no tratamento do câncer: revisão integrativa da literatura

O interesse no tema pela praticas alternativa e complementar na saúde vem aumentado, principalmente entre pacientes oncológicos, que buscam uma melhor qualidade de vida e algumas alternativas para amenizar os efeitos colaterais do tratamento convencional. Fazer uma revisão integrativa da produção científica em periódicos nacionais e internacionais, acerca das praticas integrativas e complementares no tratamento do paciente com câncer. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, indexada nas bases de dados MEDLINE e LILACS, no período de 2000 a 2010. Após exclusão daqueles que se repetiam entre as bases de dados e dos que não se encaixam nos critérios de inclusão, resultaram 19 artigos. A coleta de dados foi realizada nos meses de janeiro a março de 2011 por meio de um instrumento elaborado pela pesquisadora. Utilizou-se do aplicativo Microsoft Excel 2007 para organizar o banco referente aos dados quantitativos. Os dados quantitativos, referentes às variáveis da caracterização da produção científica, foram apresentados em tabelas e submetidos à análise estatística descritiva. A análise de conteúdo, na abordagem representacional e do tipo temática (Bardin, 1977) foi utilizada como estratégia metodológica qualitativa para organizar, sistematicamente, a produção do conhecimento. A caracterização do corpus de análise aponta uma produção majoritária de publicações internacionais (94,74%). A maior parte das publicações é oriunda dos Estados Unidos da América (EUA), correspondendo a 36,86% da amostra. O método qualitativo foi predominante (84,21%). Da análise temática emergiram quatro temas: Tema 1. Relação médico-paciente com o profissional da Medicina alternativa e complementar (MAC); Tema 2. Crenças e costumes relacionados ao uso das MACs; Tema 3. Variedades das MACs e suas interações...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Utilização da instrumentação virtual em Labview para criação da interface gráfica do amplificador lock-in utilizado em estudos fisiológicos a partir da comunicação via porta serial

This work presents the development of a graphical interface to the Lock-in Amplifier, which is used in physiological studies on the motility of the gastrointestinal tract in rats and signal processing. With a simple and low cost instrumentation, the resources offered by the virtual interface of LabVIEW software allows the creation of commands similar to the actual instrument that, through communication via standard serial port, transmits data between a PC and peripheral device performing specific and particular needs in the amplifier. Created for the lock-in amplifier model SR830 Stanford Research Systems, the remote manipulation gives the user greater accessibility in the process of configuration and calibration. And, since the software is installed, there is the advantage of eliminating the need of purchase new devices to upgrade the system. The commands created were made to perform six basic modifications that are used in routine of the Biomagnetism Laboratory. The instrumentation developed has the following controls: Amplitude, Frequency, Time Constant, slope low pass filter, sensitivity and offset

Espectrometria de massa para análise isotópica dos bio-elementos

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique widely used in several areas of academic research. It allows the knowledge of the information about the micro-world of atoms leading to significant advances in science today. The analysis of stable isotopes of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, also known as bio-elements, shows itself as a major area of interest in using the proposed method. The development of techniques and equipment coupled with mass spectrometry promises to deliver even greater progress in this field, in particular, for the biological sciences and related areas. The pyrolytic method in reduction of organic compounds at high temperatures provides simultaneous isotopic analysis of bio-elements H and O, by the gases released, H2 and CO after the pyrolitic process, significantly reducing analysis time and the amount of material to sample. This paper presents a review of mass spectrometry with its basic principles of operation, and pyrolytic method for reducing compounds at temperatures above 1400 ° C for isotopic analysis of bio-elements

Avaliação do efeito da gastrectomia na motilidade e no esvaziamento gástrico em ratos por biosusceptometria de corrente alternada

The study of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) functions is necessary due to the increasing number of pathologies associated with it. Directly influencing the quality of life, the gastrointestinal tract provides a number of parameters that, when analyzed, allow us to describe its dysfunctions. Thus, many techniques can be combined to obtain these properties related to the GIT. However, these techniques are often invasive, require surgery, catheter insertion, or to build a temporal model of these functions, require the sacrifice of animals in a series of data collection. The technique used in this study has the advantage of having a low operating cost, being free of ionizing radiation, non-invasive and is known as biosusceptometry AC (BAC), used to evaluate the properties of the GI tract by monitoring the position and concentration of materials magnetically marked. The sensor consists of two pairs of coils, one reference and one for detection. A fixed base line separates the sensing and reference coils, and also functions as support for the instrumentation. It is also important to note that the detection coils are arranged in a first order (subtraction) gradiometric way. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of gastrectomy in gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit time of solid food in rats using a BAC system associated with magnetic markers. To realize this study was constructed a dedicated BAC sensor, built to analyze these GIT properties. Data acquisition was obtained by aligning the magnetic sensor with the stomach and colon of the animal at pre-determined intervals. Thus, when approaching the magnetic material of the sensor, the balance created between the two sides of the sensor is broken. This imbalance can be measured, digitized and acquired. Tracer was used as a ration magnetically marked with ferrite... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)