Câncer de pulmão: tendências de mortalidade e fatores associados à sobrevida dos pacientes do Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva

O câncer de pulmão é um problema de saúde pública global que tem uma elevada taxa de letalidade e poderia ser evitado em grande parte, com a redução do tabagismo. Após o diagnóstico desta enfermidade as chances de cura são pequenas e as probabilidades de sobrevida, muito baixas. O propósito desta tese é analisar a tendência de mortalidade por câncer de pulmão e identificar fatores associados à sobrevida, em uma coorte de pacientes com câncer de pulmão, atendida no Hospital do Câncer I do Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva (HCI/INCA). Para atingir os objetivos, foram analisadas bases de dados secundários fornecidas pelo Registro Hospitalar de Câncer e pelo Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. Além disso, prontuários médicos também foram consultados. Três abordagens de análise  estudo de tendência temporal, estudo de perfil e análise de sobrevida  foram utilizadas para ilustrar diferentes aspectos do câncer de pulmão. Os resultados obtidos foram organizados prioritariamente no formato de artigos. O primeiro artigo trata da tendência de mortalidade por câncer de pulmão no Brasil entre 1980 e 2007 sob a ótica de uma metodologia que permite estimar os efeitos associados à idade na data do óbito, ao período de ocorrência do óbito e à coorte de nascimento da população estudada. Nesse artigo foram detectados resultados positivos, em relação à redução das taxas de mortalidade entre homens jovens. Entre as mulheres, destaca-se que o efeito coorte estimado indica que este grupo está experimentando atualmente uma tendência semelhante à que os homens experimentaram décadas atrás.O segundo artigo aborda o perfil dos indivíduos com câncer de pulmão, que foram atendidos no HCI/INCA entre 2000 e 2007, por meio da Análise de Correspondência Múltipla. Quatro grupos de pacientes foram identificados: fumantes, não fumantes, portadores de tumores do tipo carcinoma de pequenas células e portadores de tumores em estádios iniciais.

‘Scripture its own interpreter’: Mary Martha Sherwood, the Bible and female autobiography

This is a reading of the work of Mary Martha Sherwood, the Victorian Evangelist and Children’s Author (and pupil at the Abbey School, Reading). Based upon research on Sherwood’s private correspondences and diary conducted at UCLA with the aid of a Mitzi Myers (this before my arrival at Reading), the essay offers a radical reinterpretation of her work. Previously understood in terms of a rigid, if self-contradictory and ‘anxious’, Evangelism, the essay reads the diary through Sherwood’s little known Biblical scholarship. Through this I argue that Sherwood grants her own writing the status of Biblical truth precisely because of its contradictions and ‘anxiety’.

Fluxes of CO(2) above a plantation of Eucalyptus in southeast Brazil

Eddy-covariance measurements of net ecosystem exchange of CO(2) (NEE) and estimates of gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (R(E)) were obtained in a 2-4 year old Eucalyptus plantation during two years with very different winter rainfall In the first (drier) year the annual NEE GEP and RE were lower than the sums in the second (normal) year and conversely the total respiratory costs of assimilated carbon were higher in the dry year than in the normal year Although the net primary production (NPP) in the first year was 23% lower than that of the second year the decrease in the carbon use efficiency (CUE = NPP/GEP) was 11% and autotrophic respiration utilized more resources in the first dry year than in the second normal year The time variations in NEE were followed by NPP because in these young Eucalyptus plantations NEE is very largely dominated by NPP and heterotrophic respiration plays only a relatively minor role During the dry season a pronounced hysteresis was observed in the relationship between NEE and photosynthetically active radiation and NEE fluxes were inversely proportional to humidity saturation deficit values greater than 0 8 kPa Nighttime fluxes of CO(2) during calm conditions when the friction velocity (u) was below the threshold (0 25 ms(-1)) were estimated based on a Q(10) temperature-dependence relationship adjusted separately for different classes of soil moisture content which regulated the temperature sensitivity of ecosystem respiration (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Rediscovery and redescription of the type of Philodryas laticeps Werner, 1900 and the taxonomic status of P. oligolepis Gomes, 1921 (Serpentes, Colubridae)

Philodryas laticeps Werner, 1900 was previously known only from the holotype, which was believed to be lost during the World Wars. We found the holotype to be housed in the Museum fur Naturkunde, Berlin and here redescribe it and report on three additional specimens from the collections of the Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo and Museum fur Naturkunde, Berlin. We conclude that Philodryas oligolepis Gomes, 1921 and P. affinis Muller, 1928 are junior synonyms of Philodryas laticeps Werner, 1900. All specimens share the presence of a black mucosa surrounding the larynx and trachea in the floor of the mouth and distal rows of middle sized spines disposed in a typical ""V-shaped"" configuration on the asulcate surface of the hemipenial body, two uniquely derived features absent in all other species of the genus Philodryas. Intraspecific variation of external morphology, hemipenes, and coloration are documented.

Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and isotonic exercises in flexor and extensor muscles of knee of hemiplegic patients

Aim. To verify the muscular force and resistance to the movement of the flexor and extensor muscles of the knee of patients with spasticity after treatment with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and isotonic exercises. Patients and methods. The patients this study were divided into group I (NMES) and group 2 (isotonic exercises). Their muscular torque and resistance to the movement of the flexor and extensor knee muscles were measured by the isokinetic dynamometer and the degree of spasticity by the modified Ashworth scale before and after ten sessions. Results. Alterations in the scores of the modified Ashworth scale were not observed. An increase in the flexor torque in group 1 (p = 0.041) and in group 2 (p = 0.001) was verified. In the passive mode, group 1 presented a reduction of resistance to the flexion movement (p = 0.026), while in group 2, a reduction of resistance to both the flexion (p = 0,029) and extension movements (p = 0.019) was verified. Conclusions. The two therapeutical resources had their efficiency proven only for the increase of the force of the flexor muscles. The resistance to movement, the isotonic exercises were more effective because they promoted a reduction in the resistance of the flexor and extensor knee muscles.

Determination of dental decay rates with optical coherence tomography

We report the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect and quantify demineralization process induced by S. mutans biofilm in third molars human teeth. Artificial lesions were induced by a S. mutans microbiological culture and the samples (N = 50) were divided into groups according to the demineralization time: 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11days. The OCT system was implemented using a light source delivering an average power of 96 mu W in the sample arm, and spectral characteristics allowing 23 mu m of axial resolution. The images were produced with lateral scans step of 10 pan and analyzed individually. As a result of the evaluation of theses images, lesion depth was calculated as function of demineralization time. The depth of the lesion in the root dentine increased from 70 pm to 230,urn (corrected by the enamel refraction index, 1.62 @ 856 nm), depending of exposure time. The lesion depth in root dentine was correlated to demineralization time, showing that it follows a geometrical progression like a bacteria growth law. [GRAPHICS] Progression of lesion depth in root dentine as function of exposure time, showing that it follows a geometrical progression like a bacteria growth law(C) 2009 by Astro Ltd. Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Polymeric scaffolds for enhanced stability of melanin incorporated in liposomes

The use of melanin in bioinspired applications is mostly limited by its poor stability in solid films. This problem has been addressed here by incorporating melanin into dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl glycerol (DPPG) liposomes, which were then immobilized onto a solid substrate as an LbL film. Results from steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence indicated an increased stability for melanin incorporated into DPPG liposomes. If not protected by liposomes, melanin looses completely its fluorescence properties in LbL films. The thickness of the liposome-melanin layer obtained from neutron reflectivity data was 4.1 +/- 0.2 nm, consistent with the value estimated for the phospholipid bilayer of the liposomes, an evidence of the collapse of most liposomes. On the other hand, the final roughness indicated that some of the liposomes had their structure preserved. In summary, liposomes were proven excellent for encapsulation, thus providing a suitable environment, closer to the physiological conditions without using organic solvents or high pHs. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Inactivation of formyltransferase (wbkC) gene generates a Brucella abortus rough strain that is attenuated in macrophages and in mice

Rough mutants of Brucella abortus were generated by disruption of wbkC gene which encodes the formyltransferase enzyme involved in LPS biosynthesis. In bone marrow-derived macrophages the B. abortus Delta wbkC mutants were attenuated, could not reach a replicative niche and induced higher levels of IL-12 and TNF-alpha when compared to parental smooth strains. Additionally, mutants exhibited attenuation in vivo in C57BL/6 and interferon regulatory factor-1 knockout mice. Delta wbkC mutant strains induced lower protective immunity in C56BL/6 than smooth vaccine S19 but similar to rough vaccine RB51. Finally, we demonstrated that Brucella wbkC is critical for LPS biosynthesis and full bacterial virulence. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[(13)C(2)]- Acetaldehyde Promotes Unequivocal Formation of 1,N(2)-Propano-2 `-deoxyguanosine in Human Cells

Acetaldehyde is an environmentally widespread genotoxic aldehyde present in tobacco smoke, vehicle exhaust and several food products. Endogenously, acetaldehyde is produced by the metabolic oxidation of ethanol by hepatic NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase and during threonine catabolism. The formation of DNA adducts has been regarded as a critical factor in the mechanisms of acetaldehyde mutagenicity and carcinogenesis. Acetaldehyde reacts with 2`-deoxyguanosine in DNA to form primarily N(2)-ethylidene-2`-deoxyguanosine. The subsequent reaction of N(2)-ethylidenedGuo with another molecule of acetaldehyde gives rise to 1,N(2)-propano-2`-deoxyguanosine (1,N(2)-propanodGuo), an adduct also found as a product of the crotonaldehyde reaction with dGuo. However, adducts resulting from the reaction of more than one molecule of acetaldehyde in vivo are still controversial. In this study, the unequivocal formation of 1,N(2)-propanodGuo by acetaldehyde was assessed in human cells via treatment with [(13)C(2)]-acetaldehyde. Detection of labeled 1,N(2)-propanodGuo was performed by HPLC/MS/MS. Upon acetaldehyde exposure (703 mu M), increased levels of both 1,N(2)-etheno-2`-deoxyguanosine (1,N(2)-epsilon dGuo), which is produced from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes formed during the lipid peroxidation process, and 1,N(2)-propanodGuo were observed. The unequivocal formation of 1,N(2)-propanodGuo in cells exposed to this aldehyde can be used to elucidate the mechanisms associated with acetaldehyde exposure and cancer risk.

Pt film electrodes prepared by the Pechini method for electrochemical decolourisation of Reactive Orange 16

Electrochemical decolourisation of Reactive Orange 16 was carried out in an electrochemical flow-cell, using as working electrodes a Pt thin film deposited on a Ti substrate (Pt/Ti) prepared by the Pechini method and a pure platinum (Pt) foil. Using the Pt/Ti electrodes better results for dye decolourisation were obtained under milder conditions than those used for pure Pt. For the Pt electrode, colour removal of 93 % (lambda = 493 nm) was obtained after 60 min, at 2.2 V vs. RHE, using 0.017 mol L(-1) NaCl + 0.5 mol L(-1) H(2)SO(4) solution. For the Pt/Ti electrode there was better colour removal, 98%, than for the Pt electrode. Moreover, we used 0.017 mol L(-1) NaCl solution and the applied potential was 1.8 V. Under this condition after 15 min of electrolysis, more than 80% of colour was removed. The rate reaction constant, assuming a first order reaction, was 0.024 min(-1) and 0.069 min(-1), for Pt and Pt/Ti electrodes, respectively.

The value of oral history in natural resource management : the Balcombe Estuary Reserve, Mount Martha, Victoria

This study investigates the benefits of using oral history as a tool for the sustainable management of estuaries. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted to generate oral history records for the Balcombe Estuary Reserve, a small estuary in a periurban zone on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. These interviews establish a more complete picture of changes in land use and ecological change to the estuary since European settlement of the area, and document community values. The interviews were followed with a survey to further explore management issues in the area. Use of oral history was found to be an effective approach to assist holistic estuarine management, especially when complemented by other sources of information.

Antimanic-like activity of candesartan in mice: possible involvement of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic mechanisms

Activation of the brain angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) triggers pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory mechanisms which are involved in the neurobiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Candesartan (CDS) is an AT1 receptor antagonist with potential neuroprotective properties. Herein we investigated CDS effects against oxidative, neurotrophic inflammatory and cognitive effects of amphetamine (AMPH)-induced mania. In the reversal protocol adult mice were given AMPH 2mg/kg i.p. or saline and between days 8 and 14 received CDS 0.1, 0.3 or 1mg/kg orally, lithium (Li) 47.5mg/kg i.p., or saline. In the prevention treatment, mice were pretreated with CDS, Li or saline prior to AMPH. Locomotor activity and working memory performance were assessed. Glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) and TNF-α levels were evaluated in the hippocampus (HC) and cerebellar vermis (CV). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta (GSK-3beta) levels were measured in the HC. CDS and Li prevented and reversed the AMPH-induced increases in locomotor activity. Only CDS prevented and reversed AMPH-induced working memory deficits. CDS prevented AMPH-induced alterations in GSH (HC and CV), TBARS (HC and CV), TNF-α (HC and CV) and BDNF (HC) levels. Li prevented alterations in BDNF and phospho-Ser9-GSK3beta. CDS reversed AMPH-induced alterations in GSH (HC and CV), TBARS (HC), TNF-α (CV) and BDNF levels. Li reversed AMPH-induced alterations in TNF-α (HC and CV) and BDNF (HC) levels. CDS is effective in reversing and preventing AMPH-induced behavioral and biochemical alterations, providing a rationale for the design of clinical trials investigating CDS׳s possible therapeutic effects.

Interview with Martha "Marty" Grigsby

In her December 10, 2012 interview with Robert Ryals, Martha Grigsby detailed her thoughts and memories of her time at Winthrop University. Grigsby shares the story of how she was able to attend Winthrop and the members of her community who assisted her in this process. Included are details of working in the dining hall on a scholarship, how relationships were formed amongst students, and how the students navigated Winthrop’s strict rules. Grigsby concludes her interview by stating how Winthrop helped her career as an educator and how she has stayed involved as an alumna. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.