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Red onion skin (Allium cepa var ascalonicum) contains various ingredients that may function as antibacterial agents against microorganisms, as well as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulator agents for host cells, such as macrophages. Pseudomonas aeruginosa found in the oral cavity is commensal bacteria that may turn into opportunistic pathogen by utilizing its virulence factors such as motility and adhesion to the host cell. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of red-onion-skin ethanolic extract towards P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027 on the motility and adhesion ability, furthermore, to know its effect on the macrophage phagocytosis. The research was conducted into three parts of experiment using red-onion-skin ethanolic extract. Extract-induced bacterial motility test was carried out on semi-solid media, stained using 0.1% crystal violet, then the radial length of the bacterial movement was measured. The bacterial adhesion index to buccal cells was calculated after incubated for two hours and stained with Gram stain. Phagocytic activity of the host cells on P. aeruginosa was done by exposing the extract to the mouse peritoneal macrophages, then the phagocytosed bacteria were counted after Giemsa staining. Statistical test results from the three experiments showed significant differences between the test groups compared to the control groups (p

The paper describes a theoretical study of adhesive friction at elastic–plastic contact of rough surfaces based on n-point asperity model. Well defined adhesion index and plasticity index are used to study the prospective situations arising out of variation in load, material properties, and surface roughness. Results are obtained for the behavior of friction force, applied load, and coefficient of friction for different combinations of adhesion index, plasticity index and mean separation of surfaces. The results obtained are in line with earlier models. It is observed that the tensile load required in maintaining a separation increases with increase in adhesion effect and extent of plastic deformation. Also coefficient of friction increases with adhesion effect.

The work analyses the technical evaluation process of the suspension system for vehicles that have been adapted to natural-gas-fuelled engines from power light-duty gasoline, and diesel vehicles; this evaluation is done through a mechanical review established by national regulations. The development of this analysis is focused on establishing the relationship between the natural-gas-fuelled equipment and the dynamic effect caused by the extra-weight, according to two measuring criteria that determine the safety and driving comfort, these are: (i) tire-road adhesion index; and (ii) tire excitation phase angle. The paper also proposes new elements that can be added to the current national regulations and that are currently applied to assess the suspension of natural gas vehicles, recorded using a test standard benchmark for the evaluation of the suspension.

Lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) é uma doença autoimune e multissistêmica. Ocorre predominantemente no gênero feminino. O tratamento é diversificado e contém regras complexas, dificultando a adesão. Esta pesquisa estudou os efeitos de três condições de intervenção sobre comportamentos de adesão ao tratamento em mulheres com LES. Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal com coleta de dados em intervalos de 30, 60, 90 e 120 dias. Participaram quinze pacientes com diagnóstico de LES, em seguimento no ambulatório de um hospital da rede pública de saúde. Utilizou-se: formulário de observação da consulta médica; protocolo de análise de prontuário; roteiros de entrevistas; checklist sobre adesão ao tratamento; formulários de registro de automonitorização; escala analógica visual de dor; Inventário Beck para depressão (BDI); questionário de avaliação de qualidade de vida SF-36 e o índice de atividade da doença (SLEDAI). As participantes foram distribuídas sequencialmente em três condições de intervenção: Condição A (n=5), rotina e entrevista; Condição B (n=5), rotina e entrevista com uso de checklist; Condição C (n=5), rotina, entrevista com uso de checklist e registros de automonitorização. Fez-se análise quanti-qualitativa, comparando-se os dados nos diferentes momentos do estudo. Como resultado observou-se que, independentemente da condição à qual a participante foi exposta, houve melhora na adesão relatada, bem como no estado clínico e na qualidade de vida das participantes ao final do estudo; entretanto, as participantes da Condição C mantiveram os comportamentos de adesão instalados mesmo após a retirada do procedimento de intervenção, sugerindo melhor índice de adesão ao tratamento (média de 95,71). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune and multisystem disease. It occurs predominantly in women. The treatment is diverse and contains complex rules, which difficult to adhesion. This research studied the effects of three intervention conditions on behaviors adherence to treatment in women with SLE. This is a longitudinal study with data collection at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. Participant are fifteen patients with SLE, followed at an outpatient clinic of a public hospital. We used: observation form of medical consultation; chart analysis protocol; interview scripts; checklist on adherence to treatment; self-monitoring registration forms; visual analogue pain scale; Beck depression inventory (BDI); Quality of life Assessment Questionnaire SF-36 and Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Participants were distributed sequentially in three intervention conditions: Condition A (n = 5), routine and interview; Condition B (n = 5), and routine interview with use of checklist; Condition C (n = 5), routine interview with use of self-monitoring checklist and records. There was quantitative and qualitative analysis, comparing the data in different times of the study. As a result, it was found that, regardless of the condition to which the participant was exposed, there was improvement in reported adherence, the clinical status and quality of life of the participants at the end of the study; however, participants of Condition C kept the adherence behaviors installed even after the withdrawal of the intervention procedure, suggesting better compliance rate to treatment (average of 95.71).

Background Ingestion of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) has traditionally been utilized for prevention of urinary tract infections. The proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberry, in particular the A-type linkages have been implicated as important inhibitors of primarily P-fimbriated E. coli adhesion to uroepithelial cells. Additional experiments were required to investigate the persistence in urine samples over a broader time period, to determine the most effective dose per day and to determine if the urinary anti-adhesion effect following cranberry is detected within volunteers of different origins. Methods Two separate bioassays (a mannose-resistant hemagglutination assay and an original new human T24 epithelial cell-line assay) have assessed the ex-vivo urinary bacterial anti-adhesion activity on urines samples collected from 32 volunteers from Japan, Hungary, Spain and France in a randomized, double-blind versus placebo study. An in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model was used to evaluate the influence of cranberry regimen on the virulence of E. coli strain. Results The results indicated a significant bacterial anti-adhesion activity in urine samples collected from volunteers that consumed cranberry powder compared to placebo (p < 0.001). This inhibition was clearly dose-dependent, prolonged (until 24 h with 72 mg of PAC) and increasing with the amount of PAC equivalents consumed in each cranberry powder regimen. An in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model showed that cranberry acted against bacterial virulence: E. coli strain presented a reduced ability to kill worms after a growth in urines samples of patients who took cranberry capsules. This effect is particularly important with the regimen of 72 mg of PAC. Conclusions Administration of PAC-standardized cranberry powder at dosages containing 72 mg of PAC per day may offer some protection against bacterial adhesion and virulence in the urinary tract. This effect may offer a nyctohemeral protection.