The Conway-Maxwell-Poisson-generalized gamma regression model with long-term survivors

In this paper, we proposed a flexible cure rate survival model by assuming the number of competing causes of the event of interest following the Conway-Maxwell distribution and the time for the event to follow the generalized gamma distribution. This distribution can be used to model survival data when the hazard rate function is increasing, decreasing, bathtub and unimodal-shaped including some distributions commonly used in lifetime analysis as particular cases. Some appropriate matrices are derived in order to evaluate local influence on the estimates of the parameters by considering different perturbations, and some global influence measurements are also investigated. Finally, data set from the medical area is analysed.

Interior point method for long-term generation scheduling of large-scale hydrothermal systems

This paper presents an interior point method for the long-term generation scheduling of large-scale hydrothermal systems. The problem is formulated as a nonlinear programming one due to the nonlinear representation of hydropower production and thermal fuel cost functions. Sparsity exploitation techniques and an heuristic procedure for computing the interior point method search directions have been developed. Numerical tests in case studies with systems of different dimensions and inflow scenarios have been carried out in order to evaluate the proposed method. Three systems were tested, with the largest being the Brazilian hydropower system with 74 hydro plants distributed in several cascades. Results show that the proposed method is an efficient and robust tool for solving the long-term generation scheduling problem.

Potentially modifiable predictors of mortality in patients treated with long-term oxygen therapy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aesthetic correction of a hypertrophic sinus frontalis: A long-term follow-up evaluation and refinement of the method

Two cases treated for hypertrophy of the frontal sinus are presented. In both patients, the excised frontal bone was inverted, and the resultant cavity was filled with either bone dust from the parietal region or Medpor. The first patient is shown with an excellent result after a follow-up period of 16 years. The second patient, who also achieved an excellent result, is presented after a follow-up period of 5 years. Using Medpor instead of bone dust resulted in the advantage that the operation could be performed with the patient under local anesthesia with sedation and prevention of an additional donor site. The use of Medpor has certain advantages over the use of hydroxyapatite, not least of which is its significant lower cost.

Effects of long-term cyclosporin therapy on the periodontium of rats

Background: The treatment of cyclosporin A triggers an early bone loss and gingival overgrowth. There is a lack of studies exploring the effects of long-term cyclosporin A therapy on alveolar bone homeostasis and gingival tissue. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term therapy with cyclosporin A on the gingival tissue and on the alveolar bone metabolism in rats. Materials and methods: Rats were treated for 60, 120, 180 and 240 days with a daily subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg body weight of cyclosporin A. At the end of experimental periods, animals were killed and the serum calcium (Ca2+) and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured in all groups. After histological processing, the oral epithelium and the connective tissue, as well as volume densities of alveolar bone (Vb) and multinucleated osteoclasts (Vo), were assessed at the region of the lower first molars. Results: Significant increases in the serum alkaline phosphatase were observed in those groups that received cyclosporin A therapy. After 60 and 120 days of the treatment with cyclosporin A, evident gingival overgrowth associated with a significant increase of epithelium and connective tissue was observed, as well as a decrease of the densities of bone and an increase of densities of osteoclasts. After 180 and 240 days of the treatment, there was a reduction of the gingival overgrowth associated with significant decreases of epithelium and connective tissue, as well as an increase of bone densities and a decrease of osteoclasts. Conclusion: Within the limits of this experimental study, it can be concluded that the deleterious periodontal effects of cyclosporin A administration may be time-related side-effects. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2004.

Biochemical evaluation of glycemic levels of long-term tacrolimus therapy in rats

One of the more serious complications following transplantation is the development of post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM), which has a major impact on the quality of life, with effects ranging from the control of glycemia times to increased susceptibility to infections and cardiovascular complications. It has been suggested that immunosuppressive therapy, mainly tacrolimus therapy, may be an important factor in the development of PTDM. There is a lack of studies that explore the effects of long-term tacrolimus on PTDM in animal protocols. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the effects of long-term therapy with tacrolimus in rats. One group was treated with tacrolimus, injected subcutaneously, in a daily dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight. The chosen dose was sufficient to achieve therapeutic tacrolimus serum levels. The experimental periods were 60, 120, 180 and 240 days. One group was used as control and received daily subcutaneous injections of saline solution during all periods. A tendency towards increased glycemia levels during the initial periods (60 and 120 days) was observed. However, at 180 and 240 days, the glycemia levels were not statistically different from that of the control group of the same period. It may thus be concluded that the deleterious effects of tacrolimus therapy on glycemia may be a time-related side effect.

Euro and the financial relations between Latin America and Europe: medium- and long-term implications

Includes bibliography

Long-term ethanol consumption promotes hepatic tumorigenesis but impairs normal hepatocyte proliferation in rats

Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption has been related to an increased risk of several cancers, including that of the liver; however, studies in animal models have yet to conclusively determine whether ethanol acts as a tumor promoter in hepatic tumorigenesis. We examined whether prolonged alcohol consumption could act as a hepatic tumor promoter after initiation by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 20 mg DEN/kg body weight 1 wk before introduction of either an ethanol liquid diet or an isoenergic control liquid diet. Hepatic pathological lesions, hepatocyte proliferation, apoptosis, PPARα and PPARγ, and plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were assessed after 6 and 10 mo. Mean body and liver weights, plasma IGF-1 concentration, hepatic expressions of proliferating cellular nuclear antigen and Ki-67, and cyclin D1 in ethanol-fed rats were all significantly lower after 10 mo of treatment compared with control rats. In addition, levels of hepatic PPARγ protein, not PPARα, were significantly higher in the ethanol-fed rats after prolonged treatment. Although ethanol feeding also resulted in significantly fewer altered hepatic foci, hepatocellular adenoma was detected in ethanol-fed rats at 10 mo, but not in control rats given the same dose of DEN. Together, these results indicate that chronic, excessive ethanol consumption impairs normal hepatocyte proliferation, which is associated with reduced IGF-1 levels, but promotes hepatic carcinogenesis. © 2011 American Society for Nutrition.

Effect of a hyperbolide mastication apparatus for the treatment of severe sleep bruxism in a child with cerebral palsy: Long-term follow-up

Purpose: Sleep bruxism is common among the various oromotor alterations found in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Few studies have investigated the use of the mastication device denominated hyperbola (HB) and none was found describing the use of such a device for the treatment of bruxism in children with CP. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the HB on electromyographic (EMG) activity in the jaw-closing muscles and the reduction in sleep bruxism in a child with CP using surface EMG analysis before and after nine months of treatment. Methods: A seven-year-old boy with severe spastic CP and sleep bruxism was enrolled in this study. The HB was chosen as the treatment option for sleep bruxism in this case because the child did not accept an occlusal splint. The HB has a hyperbolic shape and is made of soft, non-toxic, odorless, tasteless silicone. There are five different sizes of HB manufactured based on the diversity of tooth sizes. This device produces proprioceptive excitation in the dentoalveolar nerve, spindles and Golgi tendon organs. HB has been employed for the treatment of temporomandibular disorder, abnormal oro-dental development, abnormal occlusion, xerostomy, halitosis and bruxism. HB therapy was performed for 5 min six times a day over a nine-week period. Surface EMG of the mandible at rest and during maximum contraction was performed on the masseter and temporalis muscles bilaterally to evaluate electromyographic activity before and after nine months of HB usage. Results: HB usage led to a visible tendency toward the reorganization of mastication dynamics, achieving a marked balance in electromyographic activity of the jaw-closing muscles and improving the child's quality of life. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, this noninvasive therapy may be useful for individuals with cerebral palsy due to its positive effects and low cost, which allows its use in the public health realm. Further clinical studies with a larger sample size are needed to validate these results and allow the development of a new treatment protocol for patients with spastic cerebral palsy. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Short and long-term repercussions of the experimental diabetes in embryofetal development

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

Effect of long-term storage on nanomechanical and morphological properties of dentin-adhesive interfaces

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

Weight Training, Aerobic Physical Activities, and Long-Term Waist Circumference Change in Men

ObjectiveFindings on weight training and waist circumference (WC) change are controversial. This study examined prospectively whether weight training, moderate to vigorous aerobic activity (MVAA), and replacement of one activity for another were associated with favorable changes in WC and body weight (BW).MethodsPhysical activity, WC, and BW were reported in 1996 and 2008 in a cohort of 10,500 healthy U.S. men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Multiple linear regression models (partition/substitution) to assess these associations were used.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, a significant inverse dose-response relationship between weight training and WC change (P-trend<0.001) was observed. Less age-associated WC increase was seen with a 20-min/day activity increase; this benefit was significantly stronger for weight training (-0.67 cm, 95% CI -0.93, -0.41) than for MVAA (-0.33 cm, 95% CI -0.40, -0.27), other activities (-0.16 cm, 95% CI -0.28, -0.03), or TV watching (0.08 cm, 95% CI 0.05, 0.12). Substituting 20 min/day of weight training for any other discretionary activity had the strongest inverse association with WC change. MVAA had the strongest inverse association with BW change (-0.23 kg, 95% CI -0.29, -0.17).ConclusionsAmong various activities, weight training had the strongest association with less WC increase. Studies on frequency/volume of weight training and WC change are warranted.

Long-term evaluation of oral gavage with periodontopathogens or ligature induction of experimental periodontal disease in mice

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

Efficiency and costless of a long-term physical exercise program to nom-medicated hypertensive males

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Long-term recovery patterns of arctic tundra after winter seismic exploration

In response to the increasing global demand for energy, oil exploration and development are expanding into frontier areas of the Arctic, where slow-growing tundra vegetation and the underlying permafrost soils are very sensitive to disturbance. The creation of vehicle trails on the tundra from seismic exploration for oil has accelerated in the past decade, and the cumulative impact represents a geographic footprint that covers a greater extent of Alaska’s North Slope tundra than all other direct human impacts combined. Seismic exploration for oil and gas was conducted on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA, in the winters of 1984 and 1985. This study documents recovery of vegetation and permafrost soils over a two-decade period after vehicle traffic on snow-covered tundra. Paired permanent vegetation plots (disturbed vs. reference) were monitored six times from 1984 to 2002. Data were collected on percent vegetative cover by plant species and on soil and ground ice characteristics. We developed Bayesian hierarchical models, with temporally and spatially autocorrelated errors, to analyze the effects of vegetation type and initial disturbance levels on recovery patterns of the different plant growth forms as well as soil thaw depth. Plant community composition was altered on the trails by species-specific responses to initial disturbance and subsequent changes in substrate. Long-term changes included increased cover of graminoids and decreased cover of evergreen shrubs and mosses. Trails with low levels of initial disturbance usually improved well over time, whereas those with medium to high levels of initial disturbance recovered slowly. Trails on ice-poor, gravel substrates of riparian areas recovered better than those on ice-rich loamy soils of the uplands, even after severe initial damage. Recovery to pre-disturbance communities was not possible where trail subsidence occurred due to thawing of ground ice. Previous studies of disturbance from winter seismic vehicles in the Arctic predicted short-term and mostly aesthetic impacts, but we found that severe impacts to tundra vegetation persisted for two decades after disturbance under some conditions. We recommend management approaches that should be used to prevent persistent tundra damage.