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Background: The effects of exercise training on Chagas heart disease are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise training over functional capacity, cardiac function, quality of life, and biomarkers in Chagas heart disease., Methods: The PEACH study is a superiority randomized clinical trial which will include subjects who meet the following criteria: Chagas heart disease with a left ventricular ejection fraction below 45 % with or without heart failure symptoms; clinical stability in the last 3 months; adherence to clinical treatment; and age above 18 years. The exclusion criteria are: pregnancy; neuromuscular limitations; smoking; evidence of non-chagasic heart disease; systemic conditions that limit exercise practice or cardiopulmonary exercise test; unavailability to attend the center three times a week during the intervention period; and practitioners of regular exercise. The intervention group will perform an exercise training intervention three times per week during 6 months and will be compared to the control group without exercise. Both groups will undergo the same monthly pharmaceutical and nutritional counseling as well as standard medical treatment according to the Brazilian consensus on Chagas disease. The primary outcome is functional capacity based on peak exercise oxygen consumption during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes are: cardiac function; body composition; muscle respiratory strength; microvascular reactivity; cardiac rhythm abnormalities; autonomic function; biochemical; oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers; and quality of life. Subjects will be evaluated at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after randomization. Thirty patients will be randomly assigned into exercise or control groups at a ratio of 1:1., Discussion: Findings of the present study will be useful to determine if physical exercise programs should be included as an important additional therapy in the treatment of patients with Chagas heart disease., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02517632 (registered on 6 August 2015).

The authors report the cases of two young patients who had suffered a sporting accident with posterior traumatic dislocation of sternoclavicular joint. In one of the patients closed reduction was accomplished by keeping the limb in a sling. The second patient, after reduction was done, presented recurrence of the dislocation, thus requiring surgical treatment. It is important to observe the relevance of computed tomography to help diagnosing, as well as monitoring the reduction procedure. The objective of this study was to demonstrate two different types of treatment in a rare injury such as the posterior dislocation of sternoclavicular joint.

Candida species are some of the most common causes of fungal infection worldwide. The limited efficacy of clinically available antifungals warrants the search for new compounds for treating candidiasis. This study evaluated the effect of condensed tannin-rich fraction (F2 fraction) of Stryphnodendron adstringens on in vitro and in vivo growth of Candida tropicalis, and on yeast adhesion properties. F2 exhibited a fungistatic effect with the minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 0.5 to 8.0 μg/mL. A significant reduction in biofilm mass was observed after either pretreatment of planktonic cells for 2 h (mean reduction of 46.31±8.17%) or incubation during biofilm formation (mean reduction of 28.44±13.38%) with 4x MIC of F2. Prior exposure of planktonic cells to this F2 concentration also significantly decreased yeast adherence on HEp-2 cells (mean reduction of 43.13±14.29%), cell surface hydrophobicity (mean reduction of 25.89±10.49%) and mRNA levels of the genes ALST1-3 (2.9-, 1.8- and 1.8-fold decrease, respectively). Tenebrio molitor larvae, which are susceptible to C. tropicalis infection, were used for in vivo testing. Treatment with 128 and 256 μg/mL F2 significantly increased the survival of infected larvae. These results indicate a combined effect of F2 on inhibition of yeast growth and interference in yeast adhesion, which may contribute to the suppression of infection caused by C. tropicalis, thus reinforcing the potential of the condensed tannins from S. adstringens for the development of novel antifungal agents.

Estimates of extinction risk for Amazonian plant and animal species are rare and not often incorporated into land-use policy and conservation planning. We overlay spatial distribution models with historical and projected deforestation to show that at least 36% and up to 57% of all Amazonian tree species are likely to qualify as globally threatened under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. If confirmed, these results would increase the number of threatened plant species on Earth by 22%. We show that the trends observed in Amazonia apply to trees throughout the tropics, and we predict that most of the world's >40,000 tropical tree species now qualify as globally threatened. A gap analysis suggests that existing Amazonian protected areas and indigenous territories will protect viable populations of most threatened species if these areas suffer no further degradation, highlighting the key roles that protected areas, indigenous peoples, and improved governance can play in preventing large-scale extinctions in the tropics in this century.

The reconstruction of an acetabular bone defect is one of the most important aspects of revision total hip arthroplasty surgery. It can be done by the use of grafts. Therefore, many kinds of grafts may be used and lyophilized xenograft is an alternative example. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the histological findings of lyophilized bovine xenografts used in previous total hip arthroplasty revision surgery. A case series was carried out from July 2000 to April 2013 with the approval of the Hospital Ethics Committee. Fourteen subjects were analyzed. Of these, 64.3 % were female. The average age of the patients was 52.36 ± 18.55. Neoformed bone was present in 85.7 % of subjects, and constituted 61.79 % of the total bone matrix area. The diagnosis of xenograft absorption was present in 12 subjects. A strong inverse correlation between the percentage of neoformed bone and the percentage of xenograft in the total bone matrix by analysis of biopsies was found by the Pearson test (p = 0.001). No inflammatory response was found in the clinical status of the patients or in the histological analysis. Lyophilized bovine xenograft shown to be safe until the present moment, with acceptable results. Most of the cases presented new bone formation as expected (considered values greater than 30 %) and for this reason the xenograft has proven to be an osteoconductive compatible scaffold/trellis for the bone ingrowth. Therefore, it can be considered an alternative to other bone grafts in the treatment of bone loss.

Digoxin is used for heart failure associated to systolic dysfunction and high ventricular rate. It has a narrow therapeutic range and intoxication may occur due to drug interactions or comorbidities. The aim of this work was to study digoxin use in a public health unit delineating the profile of patients susceptible to digitalis intoxication. Medical records belonging to patients admitted to the cardiomyopathy ward of the health unit (2009-2010) and in use of digoxin were analyzed. Among 647 patients admitted, 185 individuals using digoxin and possessed records available. The registration of plasma digoxin concentration was found in 80 records and it was out of the therapeutic range in 42 patients (52.5%). This group of individuals was constituted mainly by males patients (79%), functional class III of heart failure (65%), exhibiting renal failure (33%). The evaluated sample reflects the epidemiology of heart failure in Brazil and, although pharmacotherapy had been according to Brazilian Guidelines, apparently the monitoring was not performed as recommended. This work highlighs the necessity of plasma digoxin constant monitoring during pharmacotherapy and the development of protocols that enable a safer use, especially in male patients, functional class III and with renal dysfunction.

Objectives: The use of fixed orthodontic appliances makes it difficult to clean the teeth and accessories associated with it. For this reason, orthodontic patients have used oral antiseptics as coadjuvent means to reduce cariogenic plaque. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of oral antiseptics on the reduction of cariogenic plaque on orthodontic patients., Data: This review has been registered at PROSPERO--international prospective register of systematic reviews under the number CRD42013006857., Sources: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in the following electronic databases: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Embase and Cochrane, Grey literature and Clinical Trials, without limitations on the year of publication or language. Clinical studies in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances, who were making use of oral mouthwashes in order to reduce cariogenic plaque, were included. Articles with patients using systemic drugs, syndromic patients, those using mouthwashes for other purposes and/or using different cleaning techniques, and clinical cases were excluded. After selection by title and abstract, potentially eligible articles were read in full. The methodological quality and risk of biases of articles included were evaluated according to the characteristics of the study, measurements and statistical analyses of the study. The methodological quality was classified as high, moderate or low., Study Selection: The search identified 2716 articles, of which 15 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 8 analyzed chlorhexidine-based mouthwashes, while in 1 article Cetylpyridinium was used; 1 analyzed the mouthwash containing sanguinaria; 1 the use of NaF; 2 articles the use of AmF/SnF2; 2 the use of Listerine(®), 1 also analyzed the association between mouthwashes with octenidine and with PVP-I. Of the articles analyzed, 11 were classified as having high and 4 as having moderate methodological quality., Conclusion: There is evidence of effectiveness of the use of oral mouthwashes in the control of cariogenic plaque in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. The orthodontists may suggest the use of oral antiseptics in the oral hygiene of their patients as coadjuvent means to reduce cariogenic plaque., Clinical Significance: Given current evidence, orthodontists may prescribe mouthwash as an auxiliary method in the control of cariogenic biofilm in orthodontic patients., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAUs) are the most common lesion found in the oral cavity. There is no definitive cure for RAUs and current treatments are aimed at minimizing symptoms. Since low-level laser therapy (LLLT) modulates inflammatory responses, and promotes pain reduction and cellular biostimulation, LLLT can be suggested as an alternative treatment for RAUs. The literature concerning the potential of LLLT in the treatment of RAUs was evaluated. A systematic literature review identified 22 publications, of which only 2 studies were adopted. The eligibility criteria consisted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Both RCTs achieved significant results concerning LLLT and pain-level reductions and reduced healing times. Despite the variance in irradiation conditions applied in both studies, very similar wavelengths were adopted. There is accordingly strong evidence that wavelength plays an important role in RAU treatment. Taking into account the different parameters applied by selected RCTs, it is not possible to suggest that a specific protocol should be used. However, in light of the significant results found in both studies, LLLT can be suggested as an alternative for RAU treatment. Additional RCTs should be performed in order to reach a clinical protocol and better understand the application of LLLT in RAU treatment.

Background: HLA allele identification is used in bone marrow transplant programs as HLA compatibility between the donor and recipient may prevent graft rejection., Objective: This study aimed to estimate the frequency of alleles and haplotypes of the HLA system in the region of Bauru and compare these with the frequencies found in other regions of the country., Methods: HLA-A*, HLA-B*, and HLA-DRB1* allele frequencies and haplotypes were analyzed in a sample of 3542 volunteer donors at the National Registry of Voluntary Bone Marrow Donors (REDOME) in Bauru. HLA low resolution typing was performed using reverse line blot with the Dynal Reli(tm) SSO-HLA Typing Kit and automated Dynal AutoReli(tm)48 device (Invitrogen, USA)., Results: Twenty, 36, and 13 HLA-A*, HLA-B*, and HLA-DRB1* allele groups, respectively, were identified. The most common alleles for each locus were HLA-A*02, HLA-B*35, and HLA-DRB1*07. The most frequent haplotype was A*01-B*08-DRB1*03. Allele and haplotype frequencies were compared to other regions in Brazil and the similarities and differences among populations are shown., Conclusion: The knowledge of the immunogenic profile of a population contributes to the comprehension of the historical and anthropological aspects of different regions. Moreover, this helps to find suitable donors quickly, thereby shortening waiting lists for transplants and thus increasing survival rates among recipients.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, renal failure, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Over the last years, there has been an increasing demand in folk medicine for natural sources that could help in the treatment of chronic diseases, including diabetes. The rind of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. Flavicarpa) is traditionally used as a functional food due to its high concentration of soluble and insoluble fiber., Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of high-fiber diet albedo of passion fruit on the metabolic and biochemical profile in diabetic rats induced by alloxan (2%)., Design: The passion fruit mesocarp fiber was dried in an oven with circulating air at 60°C and pulverized. We used 32 adult male rats, divided into 4 groups: Wistar group 1 control (GC), Wistar group 2, 15% fiber (GF15), Wistar group 3, 30% fiber (GF30), Wistar group 4, fiber disolved in water (GFH2O). The ratio of passion fruit was prepared according to the AIN 93M guidelines, varying only the source of dietary fiber. The corresponding diet for each group was offered to the animals for 60 days., Results: There was a statically significant decrease in plasma glucose for GFH2O, GF15%, and GF30% groups with 27.0%, 37.4%, and 40.2%, respectively., Conclusion: The use of mesocarp fiber of passion fruit at concentrations of 15% and 30% are an important dietary supplement for the treatment of DM due to its potential hypoglycemic effect, and its ability to reduce triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol levels with a principal reduction of insulin and leptin.

This study evaluated the colour stability of temporary prosthetic restorations with different thicknesses submitted to artificial accelerated aging. The occlusal surfaces of 40 molars were grinded to obtain flat enamel surfaces. Twenty acrylic resin specimens [Polymethyl methacrylate (Duralay) and Bis-methyl acrylate (Luxatemp)] were made with two different thicknesses, 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm. Temporary restorations were fixed on enamel and CIE L*a*b* colour parameters of each specimen were assessed before and after artificial accelerated aging. All groups showed colour alterations above the clinically acceptable limit. Luxatemp showed the lowest colour alteration regardless its thickness and Duralay showed the greatest alteration with 0.5 mm.

Objective: Often, as diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) evolves insidiously, prevention is commenced late and diagnosis is made when vascular damage has been set. Hence, our hypothesis is that T2DM awareness may influence the outcome of atherothrombotic events., Methods: A consecutive cohort of patients manifesting ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) was classified according to the presence and awareness of the diagnosis of T2DM: known diabetes (kT2DM, n = 72), unknown diabetes (uT2DM, n = 80) and no diabetes (ND, n = 333). Medical history, laboratory data, and angiographic findings including myocardial blush grade (MBG) were prospectively obtained. The primary endpoint was in-hospital death and secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as sudden cardiac death, fatal MI and nonfatal MI that occurred from 30 days of study entry onwards., Results: With the exception of glycated hemoglobin (p = 0.001) and triglycerides (p = 0.04), no differences were found between groups for all other biochemical, clinical or angiographic admission characteristics. Myocardial tissue reperfusion defined as MBG 3 was observed in 62% in the ND group, 50% in the kT2DM group and 23% in the uT2DM group (p = 0.01). All-cause in-hospital mortality was higher in uT2DM (16.7%) than in kT2DM (8.4%) and both groups had a higher mortality rate as compared with the ND group (3.8%, p = 0.01). During follow-up (653 ± 26 days), the incidence of MACE was higher in uT2DM than in kT2DM and in both compared to the ND group (p = 0.002)., Conclusion: Unawareness of T2DM diagnosis is strongly associated with a poor short- and long-term outcome after MI.

Objective: To evaluate the color stability and surface roughness of 3 dental composites subjected to cigarette smoke and brushing., Methods: Twenty specimens were prepared for each type of restorative material used: nanohybrid (Tetric N-Ceram); hybrid (Z250-3M ESPE) and silorane-based microhybrid (Filtek P90-3M ESPE), which were divided into 2 groups (n=10), according to the type of finishing/polishing received: Group 1 - papers with decreasing abrasive grit and Group 2 - polyester matrix (without polishing). After initial readouts of color (Easy Shade-VITA) and surface roughness (SJ-201P Mitutoyo), specimens were subjected to action of smoke from 20 cigarettes, (Marlboro Red-Philip Morris). After each cigarette, the samples were submitted to brushing in a standardised device. After this, final readouts were taken to calculate change in color (ΔE and ΔL) and roughness (ΔRa), which were statistically analysed (2-way ANOVA, Bonferroni, and Student's-t tests respectively, p<0.05)., Results: Tetric N-Ceram presented color change at clinically unacceptable levels (ΔE>3.3) when the polyester strip was used for finishing, a result differing (p<0.05) from those of the other composites, which presented no difference between them (p>0.05). Unpolished composites presented higher Ra values than those that were polished (p<0.05), with exception of the silorane based composite., Conclusion: Absence of polishing increases cigarette capacity to stain composites and surface roughness of composites, with exception of the silorane based type., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the association between HIV and coronary artery disease (CAD), there are no specific recommendations for the cardiovascular evaluation of the HIV-infected population. Besides being a tool for the evaluation of CAD, the exercise treadmill test (ETT) provides insights into functional capacity and autonomic function, which have been frequently affected in HIV infection, and thus may be useful in this setting., Methods: Forty-nine HIV-infected individuals without known CAD underwent ETT. Peak oxygen consumption during exercise (VO2 peak), functional capacity (in metabolic equivalents [METs]), exercise-induced ischemia, chronotropic incompetence (CI) and abnormal heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise were studied., Results: VO2 peak was 31.4±4.8 mL/kg/min and functional capacity was 9.2±1.6 MET. CI was observed in 30.6%, and 10.2% had abnormal HRR. VO2 peak was lower in women and inversely correlated with age and body mass index. None of the patients displayed ischemic changes., Conclusion: Although functional capacity was good, risk markers such as CI and abnormal HRR were not infrequent. This study identifies a subgroup of HIV-infected patients-the older, overweight, or obese-who may have higher risk and deserve cardiovascular screening with the ETT.

Unlabelled: We evaluated the effects of anti-iNOS (1400W - W) associated with leukotriene antagonist (montelukast - M) or corticosteroid (dexamethasone - D) on distal lung of guinea pigs (GP) with chronic pulmonary inflammation., Methods: GP were inhaled with ovalbumin (OVA-2×/week/4 weeks), treated with M (OVAM), D (OVAD) and/or W (OVAW, OVADW, OVAMW) and distal lungs were evaluated by morphometry., Results: Isolated treatments were not sufficient to reduce all parameters. In OVADW, all parameters were reduced with greater reduction in elastic fibers, TIMP-1, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma and PGF2-alpha compared with OVAD (p<0.05). OVAMW potentiated the reduction of actin, elastic fibers, TIMP-1, IL-4, IL-5, TGF-beta, IFN-gamma, iNOS, and PGF2-alpha to a greater extent than OVAM (p<0.05). A reduction of TIMP-1, IL-4, IL-5, TGF-beta, IFN-gamma and iNOS was observed in OVADW compared with OVAMW (p<0.05)., Conclusions: Although anti-iNOS paired with montelukast or dexamethasone yields better results than isolated treatments, the most effective pairing for controlling inflammation, oxidative stress and remodeling in this asthma model was found to be corticosteroids and anti-iNOS., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aims: Compare the effects of montelukast or dexamethasone in distal lung parenchyma and airway walls of guinea pigs (GP) with chronic allergic inflammation., Methods: GP have inhaled ovalbumin (OVA group-2x/week/4weeks). After the 4th inhalation, GP were treated with montelukast or dexamethasone. After 72 hours of the 7th inhalation, GP were anesthetised, and lungs were removed and submitted to histopathological evaluation., Results: Montelukast and dexamethasone treatments reduced the number of eosinophils in airway wall and distal lung parenchyma compared to OVA group (P < 0.05). On distal parenchyma, both treatments were effective in reducing RANTES, NF- κ B, and fibronectin positive cells compared to OVA group (P < 0.001). Montelukast was more effective in reducing eotaxin positive cells on distal parenchyma compared to dexamethasone treatment (P < 0.001), while there was a more expressive reduction of IGF-I positive cells in OVA-D group (P < 0.001). On airway walls, montelukast and dexamethasone were effective in reducing IGF-I, RANTES, and fibronectin positive cells compared to OVA group (P < 0.05). Dexamethasone was more effective in reducing the number of eotaxin and NF- κ B positive cells than Montelukast (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: In this animal model, both treatments were effective in modulating allergic inflammation and remodeling distal lung parenchyma and airway wall, contributing to a better control of the inflammatory response.

Objectives: To evaluate the colour stability of paints used for ocular prosthesis iris painting submitted for accelerated artificial ageing (AAA)., Materials and Methods: Forty specimens of acrylic resin for sclera (16 × 2 mm) were made and separated into eight groups (n = 10) according to the type of paint (gouache, GP; oil, OP; acrylic AP; and composite resin for characterisation, CR) and the colours used (blue/brown). After drying (72 h), a new layer of colourless acrylic resin was applied and the initial colour readout was performed (Spectrophotometer PCB 6807). New colour readouts were performed after AAA, and ΔE was calculated., Results: Statistical analysis (two-way anova-Bonferroni, p < 0.05) demonstrated that the brown colour showed lower ΔE means in comparison with the blue colour, with statistically significant difference for AP only. Blue colour showed no statistically significant difference with regard to the type of paint used. Brown AP showed lower ΔE than the other groups, with significant difference for OP and GP. GP showed greater alteration in ΔE for the brown colour, being statistically similar only to OP., Conclusions: Only the AP group for brown pigment shows clinically acceptable values for colour stability after AAA., (© 2011 The Gerodontology Society and John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Introduction: Despite all efforts to restrict its transmission, Chagas' disease remains a severe public health problem in Latin America, affecting 8-12 million individuals. Chronic Chagas' heart disease, the chief factor in the high mortality rate associated with the illness, affects more than half a million Brazilians. Its evolution may result in severe heart failure associated with loss of functional capacity and quality of life, with important social and medical/labor consequences. Many studies have shown the beneficial effect of regular exercise on cardiac patients, but few of them have focused on chronic Chagas' heart disease., Methods: This study evaluated the effects of an exercise program on the functional capacity of patients with chronic Chagas' disease who were treated in outpatient clinics at the Evandro Chagas Institute of Clinical Research and the National Institute of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The exercises were performed 3 times a week for 1 h (30 min of aerobic activity and 30 min of resistance exercises and extension) over 6 months in 2010. Functional capacity was evaluated by comparing the direct measurement of the O₂ uptake volume (VO₂) obtained by a cardiopulmonary exercise test before and after the program (p < 0.05)., Results: Eighteen patients (13 females) were followed, with minimum and maximum ages of 30 and 72 years, respectively. We observed an average increase of VO(2peak) > 10% (p = 0.01949)., Conclusions: The results suggest a statistically significant improvement in functional capacity with regular exercise of the right intensity.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of calcium aluminate cement (EndoBinder) in subcutaneous tissue of rats., Methods: Fifteen rats, weighing 300 g, were separated into 3 groups (n = 5) in accordance with the time of death (7, 21, 42 days). Two incisions were made in the dorsal subcutaneous tissue of each rat in which were implanted 2 polyethylene tubes filled with the test materials, EndoBinder (EB) and Grey MTA (GMTA). The external tube walls were considered the negative control group (CG). After 7, 21, and 42 days, animals were killed, obtaining 5 samples per group, at each time interval of analysis., Results: From the morphologic and morphometric analyses by using a score of (0-3) (50, 100, and 400×), results showed absence of inflammatory reaction (0) for EB after 42 days. However, for GMTA, a slight inflammatory reaction (1) was observed after 42 days, which means the persistence of a chronic inflammatory process. When compared with CG, tissue reaction ranging from discrete (1-7 days) to absent (0-42 days) was observed., Conclusions: EndoBinder presented satisfactory tissue reaction; it was biocompatible when tested in subcutaneous tissue of rats., (Copyright © 2012 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: Fibrin sealants or fibrin glue are products made from human plasma proteins, which mimic the final pathway of the coagulation cascade. Its application to stimulate the healing process has been a topic of debate in the literature. The use of fibrin sealants in phonosurgery has been empirical; there have been no studies that investigate the action of fibrin sealant in Reinke's space., Aim: To evaluate the effect of fibrin glue in healing of the vocal folds of pigs after surgical manipulation., Materials and Methods: This was a prospective and experimental study. Six animals had both vocal folds incised. Sealant was applied in one of them; the other served as a control. After three months, the animals were sacrificed and a collagen count was carried out., Results: The side on which glue was applied had an average of 27.8% against 20.4% of the side without glue., Conclusion: The collagen concentration in the samples where the fibrin sealant was applied was significantly higher compared to samples without glue. Thus, the presence of a fibrin sealant stimulates fibrogenesis in this tissue.

This paper describes the applicability of a Hg-electroplated-Pt ultramicroelectrode in the quantification of elemental sulphur in naphtha samples by square-wave voltammetry. A reproducible deposition methodology was studied and is reported in this paper. This methodology is innovative and relies on the quality of the mercury stock solution to obtain reproducible surfaces required for the analytical methodology. All analyses were performed using a Hg-electroplated-Pt ultramicroelectrode (Hg-Pt UME) due to the low sensibility of such devices to ohmic drops in resistive solutions. The responses of the peak areas in voltammetric experiments were linear in all of the range studied. The method developed here is accurate and reproducible, with a detection limit of 0.010 mg L(-1) and a good recovery range for both standard solutions of elemental sulphur (85 to 99%) and real naphtha sample (79%). These results attest to the potential for the application of this electroanalytical methodology in determining elemental sulphur in naphtha samples containing mercaptans and disulphides.

Background: The accurate prediction of the initiation of translation in sequences of mRNA is an important activity for genome annotation. However, obtaining an accurate prediction is not always a simple task and can be modeled as a problem of classification between positive sequences (protein codifiers) and negative sequences (non-codifiers). The problem is highly imbalanced because each molecule of mRNA has a unique translation initiation site and various others that are not initiators. Therefore, this study focuses on the problem from the perspective of balancing classes and we present an undersampling balancing method, M-clus, which is based on clustering. The method also adds features to sequences and improves the performance of the classifier through the inclusion of knowledge obtained by the model, called InAKnow., Results: Through this methodology, the measures of performance used (accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and adjusted accuracy) are greater than 93% for the Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus organisms, and varied between 72.97% and 97.43% for the other organisms evaluated: Arabidopsis thaliana, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Homo sapiens, Nasonia vitripennis. The precision increases significantly by 39% and 22.9% for Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus, respectively, when the knowledge obtained by the model is included. For the other organisms, the precision increases by between 37.10% and 59.49%. The inclusion of certain features during training, for example, the presence of ATG in the upstream region of the Translation Initiation Site, improves the rate of sensitivity by approximately 7%. Using the M-Clus balancing method generates a significant increase in the rate of sensitivity from 51.39% to 91.55% (Mus musculus) and from 47.45% to 88.09% (Rattus norvegicus)., Conclusions: In order to solve the problem of TIS prediction, the results indicate that the methodology proposed in this work is adequate, particularly when using the concept of acquired knowledge which increased the accuracy in all databases evaluated.

Hypothesis: The use of a material made of bacterial cellulose with the aim of obtaining vocal fold medialization has not hitherto been fully investigated. Although the material has been tested in other animal models, the evaluation did not include the larynx; hence, situations, such as tissue reaction, material absorption, and extrusion, need to be addressed to evaluate its usefulness as a material for laryngeal reconstruction., Objective: To evaluate the medialization, tissue response, and healing of rabbit vocal folds, after the implantation of a membrane of bacterial cellulose., Study Design: Experimental study., Methods: A total of 32 rabbits were used, two of which were used to check out the adequacy of the implant location. The animals were followed for 4 months and grouped according to follow-up times of 2, 4, and 16 weeks. All test animals received an implant of bacterial cellulose in one vocal fold and the injection of distilled water in the other, both performed by videoendoscopic cervicotomy. At the end of the follow-up, the presence of inflammatory and medial displacement was evaluated., Results: No statistically significant difference in the inflammatory parameters between the study and control vocal folds or among follow-up times was found. All animals receiving cellulose presented medial displacement of vocal folds, and all retained this material at the implant site up to study endpoint., Conclusion: Bacterial cellulose is a useful material for laryngeal medialization, showing no signs of rejection or absorption., (Copyright © 2011 The Voice Foundation. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim was to describe healthcare utilization by adults in a Brazilian city. The outcomes were medical appointments in the previous month and use of public (Unified National Health System - SUS) versus private healthcare services. A population-based cross-sectional study with 1,098 adults aged 20 years or over was carried out. No medical appointment in the previous month was reported by 623 persons (56.7%, 95%CI: 53.8-59.7). Of the 487 individuals who had consulted a physician, 51.2% used the public healthcare system, 26.9% private care, and 22% other services. Consultation was associated with female gender and older age. Individuals in the intermediate categories for income, schooling, and socioeconomic status consulted less than the corresponding high and low categories. The results suggest that the middle class in this city lacks the purchasing power to seek care in the private sector while also using public services less, thus generally seeking healthcare less frequently.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a low virulence mycobacterium, and the outcome of disease is dependent on the host genetics for either susceptibility per se or severity. The IFNG gene codes for interferon-γ (IFN-γ), a cytokine that plays a key role in host defense against intracellular pathogens. Indeed, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IFNG have been evaluated in several genetic epidemiological studies, and the SNP +874T>A, the +874T allele, more specifically, has been associated with protection against infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis. Here, we evaluated the association of the IFNG locus with leprosy enrolling 2,125 Brazilian subjects. First, we conducted a case-control study with subjects recruited from the state of São Paulo, using the +874 T>A (rs2430561), +2109 A>G (rs1861494) and rs2069727 SNPs. Then, a second study including 1,370 individuals from Rio de Janeiro was conducted. Results of the case-control studies have shown a protective effect for +874T carriers (OR(adjusted) = 0.75; p = 0.005 for both studies combined), which was corroborated when these studies were compared with literature data. No association was found between the SNP +874T>A and the quantitative Mitsuda response. Nevertheless, the spontaneous IFN-γ release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was higher among +874T carriers. The results shown here along with a previously reported meta-analysis of tuberculosis studies indicate that the SNP +874T>A plays a role in resistance to mycobacterial diseases.

The aim of this study was to determine if bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) transplantation is safe for moderate to severe idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). Clinical trials have shown that this procedure is safe and effective for ischemic patients, but little information is available regarding non-ischemic patients. Twenty-four patients with IDC, optimized therapy, age 46 ± 11.6 years, 17 males, NYHA classes II-IV, and left ventricular ejection fraction <35% were enrolled in the study. Clinical evaluation at baseline and 6 months after stem cell therapy to assess heart function included echocardiogram, magnetic resonance imaging, cardiopulmonary test, Minnesota Quality of Life Questionnaire, and NYHA classification. After cell transplantation 1 patient showed a transient increase in enzyme levels and 2 patients presented arrhythmias that were reversed within 72 h. Four patients died during follow-up, between 6 and 12 weeks after therapy. Clinical evaluation showed improvement in most patients as reflected by statistically significant decreases in Minnesota Quality of Life Questionnaire (63 ± 17.9 baseline vs 28.8 ± 16.75 at 6 months) and in class III-IV NYHA patients (18/24 baseline vs 2/20 at 6 months). Cardiopulmonary exercise tests demonstrated increased peak oxygen consumption (12.2 ± 2.4 at baseline vs 15.8 ± 7.1 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ at 6 months) and walked distance (377.2 ± 85.4 vs 444.1 ± 77.9 m at 6 months) in the 6-min walk test, which was not accompanied by increased left ventricular ejection fraction. Our findings indicate that BMMC therapy in IDC patients with severe ventricular dysfunction is feasible and that larger, randomized and placebo-controlled trials are warranted.

Aim: To compare the optical densities (OD) of calcium hydroxide (CH) and glass ionomer cement with the same thicknesses of the dental structures., Materials and Methods: Eighteen specimens of each material, with thicknesses of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mm were made in a Teflon matrix. To compare the radiopacity of the materials with the dental structures, dental cuts of the first molars, increasing in thickness from 0.5 to 3.0 mm, were obtained. To standardize the radiographs, a transparent acrylic matrix (Standardizing Device) was developed and used. Thirty radiographs were taken, five for each tested material., Results: Statistical analysis (Two-way ANOVA - Bonferroni, P < 0.05) demonstrated that when the materials were compared, there was statistically significant difference between the ODs, only for the thickness of 1.0 mm (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The thickness of the material contributed to its radiopacity, and these materials had to be used in a thickness between 1.5 and 2.0 mm.

The growth of aquaculture production systems, mostly the sport-fishing kind, coupled with a lack of control, brings about concerns on the quality of water and food produced. The current paper determines which factors may trigger the growth of cyanobacteria, with subsequent concentrations of microcystins in collected water samples, at the surface and in the water column, from 10 aquaculture systems, during the dry and rainy seasons. The above is undertaken by measurements of biotic (counting of Chlorophyceae, cyanobacteria, and microcystin-LR [MC-LR]) and abiotic (total nitrogen and total phosphorus) factors. Because the water from the 10 aquaculture production systems had MC-LR concentrations that were highly correlated with Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) biomass, most MC-LR microcystins were produced by this species. The MC-LR concentrations and M. aeruginosa counting were positively correlated with nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios and suggest that parameters may affect not only the M. aeruginosa biomass, but also MC-LR concentrations.

Background/aims: No prospective study has been published investigating etiology of HCC in Latin America. The primary aim of this prospective study was to analyze the etiology of liver disease in patients with HCC from our area. Secondary aims were to evaluate staging using Okuda and BCLC classifications; and percentage of patients receiving treatment., Methods: The Governing Board of the Latin American Association for the Study of the Liver designed the protocol. During a 18 month period, all members were invited to load their incident HCC cases on line., Results: 240 cases from 9 countries were uploaded, 174 were male (72.5%), median age was 64 years, interquartile range 57-72. In 85.4% of cases, patients had underlying cirrhosis. Main etiological factors were: HCV in 74 patients (30.8%), alcohol in 49 (20.4%), cryptogenic cirrhosis in 35 (14.6%), HBV in 26 (10.8%), HCV plus alcohol in 14 (5.8%). Considering the combinations, hepatitis C was shown in 91 patients (38%); chronic alcoholism in 68 patients (28%); and hepatitis B in 33 patients (14%). There were no significant differences between the groups in the age at diagnosis. Percentage of male gender was higher in groups of alcohol (94%), HCV plus alcohol (93%) and HBV (85%) than in cryptogenic cirrhosis (60%) and HCV (59%) (p<0.001)., Conclusions: Our prospective study showed that hepatitis C is the more frequent etiology of HCC in Latin America, followed by alcoholic cirrhosis. Demographical results showed a male predominance (male:female ratio 2.6) with an important proportion of patients being diagnosed at their sixties.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the color stability, surface roughness, and surface porosity of acrylic resins for eye sclera polymerized by different heat sources and submitted to accelerated artificial aging (AAA)., Materials and Methods: Three groups of ten specimens each were formed according to the heat source used during the polymerization cycle: GI-short cycle, GII-long cycle, and GIII-dry-heat oven. The groups were submitted to color spectrophotometry through the CIE L a b system and to surface roughness and porosity analysis using a Surfcorder IF 1700 profilometer. After the tests, specimens were submitted to AAA, with a maximum aging time of 384 hours, corresponding to a year of clinical use. After aging, the color and roughness of each group were assessed., Results: The results showed that the variability of DeltaE was clinically unacceptable for all groups but the method of polymerization was insignificant (p > 0.05) for color change. For roughness, polymerization cycle was significant for the results. GIII (0.23 +/- 0.06) presented the highest roughness difference (before and after AAA), statistically significant (p < 0.05) from GII. No statistically significant difference could be found among groups when considering the porosity test., Conclusion: It may be concluded that irrespective of the type of heat used for polymerization, there was an intense color alteration, to clinically unacceptable levels, when the specimens were submitted to AAA. For the other properties, alterations were less intense.

Unlabelled: Several materials have been proposed for nasal reconstruction. There is no consensus on which is the best. The cellulose blanket produced by bacteria may be a possible cartilaginous addition element to the nose., Aim: to study tissue reaction to cellulose in the dorsal nose of rabbits., Materials and Methods: 22 New Zealand rabbits were used. In 20 a cellulose blanket was implanted in the nasal dorsum and 2 served as controls. They were followed up through a period of three and six months, after which their nostrils and nasal dorsums were removed and histological studies were carried out on them, considering defined parameters of inflammation such as vascular congestion, intensity of the inflammatory process and presence of purulent exudate., Results: The inflammatory process remained stable, showing its relationship with the surgical procedure and not with the presence of the cellulose blanket. There were no statistical differences in the other parameters., Conclusion: The cellulose blanket produced by Acetobacter xylinum presented good biocompatibility, remained stable during the entire study period, and could be considered a good material for elevating the nasal dorsum.

Unlabelled: Exuberant scarring tissue formation is among the failure causes of tracheal stenosis surgery. Dressings that could avoid such reaction could be very helpful in these cases. Bacterial cellulose, produced by acetobacter xylinun can be useful in these cases. There are no studies in the laryngotracheal region., Aim: To assess subglottic tissue response in rabbits after scarification and placement of cellulose dressing, and comparing it to a control group., Study Design: Experimental., Materials and Methods: 26 rabbits underwent laryngotracheal scarification, received the dressing and were compared to the control group. We established four follow up periods. Laryngotracheal specimens underwent histological exam and the results were statistically assessed., Results: The study group had statistically similar results when compared to the control group in the following parameters: vascular congestion, purulent oozing, acute inflammation, epithelial integrity, fibrous proliferation and granulous proliferation., Conclusion: We did not observe differences between the study and control groups as far as inflammation and scarring are concerned. There were no inflammatory signs associated with the use of the cellulose membrane that did no occur because of surgery.

The majority of TP53 polymorphisms and cervical cancer association studies have only analyzed codon 72 polymorphism. Eight polymorphisms were reported in the region encompassing exon 2 to 4 of TP53 that codify the aminoterminal p53 region containing domains involved in the transcription transactivation and apoptosis induction. We investigated if the polymorphisms present in this region were associated with cervical cancer risk. A total of 140 samples (83 from Brazilian patients with cervical carcinoma and 57 from Brazilian healthy women) were analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Only three from the eight TP53 polymorphisms described in the analyzed region were polymorphic within our samples: the 11827 base from intron 2, the 16bp duplication in the intron3 and the codon 72 (Arg>Pro) from exon 4. No statistically significant association was observed between polymorphisms from intron 2 and the 16bp duplication from intron 3 with cervical cancer. No statistically significant difference in the frequency of homozygotes for Arg in relation to other genotypes was found when comparing patient and healthy groups (OR=0.70; 95% CI= 0.31-1.56; p= 0.222). However, Arg/Pro heterozygotes were more frequent within HPV positive cancer patients than in healthy women (p=0.023; OR (Arg/Pro:Pro/Pro)= 5.82; 95% CI: 1.22-30.78; p=0.024).

Leishmania amazonensis infection leads to progressive diseases in a majority of inbred strains of mice. Glutathione (GSH) participates in a large number of cellular phenomena and seems to be essential for several immune functions, including host defense during leishmaniasis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of N-acetyl-L: -cysteine (NAC), as GSH supplement, on the course of L. amazonensis infection in susceptible BALB/c mice. The treatment with NAC (200 mg/kg daily) was effective in raising GSH levels in both lymph node and spleen cells. Although this treatment did not change the footpad swelling development in L. amazonensis-infected mice, it caused a significant decrease in the number of parasites recovered from the footpad lesion and draining popliteal lymph node. Our data suggest that intracellular Leishmania killing in vivo was improved by the augment of GSH levels through NAC administration.

This study compares the retention and penetration of a conventional resin-based sealant (Fluroshield) and a photochromatic flowable composite resin (Tetric Flow Chroma) placed on occlusal pits and fissures and submitted to thermal or chemical cycling regimens. Penetration assessment--ten premolars were sealed with each material, isolated (except for the sealed surface) and immersed in 0.2% Rhodamine B. The teeth were serially sectioned in a mesiodistal direction. The images of the sections were digitized and analyzed (ImageLab). The distance between the most superficial and the deepest points on the occlusal central groove was calculated to determine the groove's total depth. The length of the central groove filled with the sealant was divided by its total depth to obtain the percentage of sealing of the occlusal groove. Retention assessment--30 premolars were sealed, their occlusal surfaces were photographed and the area occupied by the sealing materials was demarcated (ImageLab). The teeth were submitted to different treatments: thermocycled, stored in artificial saliva and immersed in acetic acid and saliva (10 cycles/day protocol for 30 days). New photographs were taken to assess the final area occupied by the materials. The difference between the final and initial area was calculated to obtain the material loss. The data was analyzed (two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test P<0.05). Both materials presented similar penetration of the occlusal central groove. After thermal and chemical cycling, the materials did not differ with respect to retention, except for immersion in acetic acid. In this case, Tetric Flow Chroma presented greater retention than Fluoroshield.

Unlabelled: Experimental models for clinical studies of rhinosinusitis are needed., Aim: to define a reliable, solid and reproducible experimental model for inflammatory rhinosinusitis with no innoculation of infectious agents in rabbits., Study Design: Experimental., Material and Method: Twenty 20 rabbits were divided into 4 groups submitted to 4 different interventions: the placement of a unilateral nasal fossa sponge, unilateral obliteration of the nasal ostium with cyanoacrylate, unilateral placement of antigens in the maxillary cavity and unilateral placement of blood in the maxillary cavity. The animals were monitored for 15 days and then anesthetized and sacrificed; the maxillary sinuses were evaluated histologicaly and results were compared with controls and between the intervention groups., Conclusion: Sponje and glue as agents of meatal obstruction and toxoid applied in the antrum are efficient as methods for rhinosinusitis modeling. Blood was not efficient in producing sinusitis.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death in renal transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CVD risk factors among Brazilian adult renal transplant recipients., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 192 cases in which the evaluated CVD risk factors were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, obesity, overweight, abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidemia., Results: Hypertension, abdominal obesity, and hypercholesterolemia were the highest prevalent risk factors among the total population with prevalences of approximately 60%. The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher (P < .001) in recipients with normal graft function (28%) than in those with impaired graft function (7%). Abdominal obesity was also higher (P = .02) in the normal graft function group (77%) than in recipients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) values <60 mL/min (61%). There were positive, significant correlations between CrCl and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.47; P < .001) and between CrCl and waist circumference (WC) (r = 0.44; P < .001). BMI (r = 0.31; P < .001) and WC (r = 0.27; P < .001) were also positively associated with triglyceride levels. There were negative associations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (HDL-c) with BMI (r = -0.28; P < .01) and WC (r = -0.32; P < .01)., Conclusions: The high prevalence of CVD risk factors among renal transplant recipients emphasizes the importance of taking appropriate therapeutic measures to reduce modifiable risk factors, reducing CVD and its consequences.

In this study, we aimed to compare the Mitsuda skin test with the alleles HLA-DR2/HLA-DR3 and HLA-DQ1, in relation to the clinical forms of leprosy in 176 patients (50 TT, 50 LL and 76 B). The results obtained did not reveal any association between the Mitsuda reaction and the HLA alleles in the clinical forms isolated. However, when analyzed according to Mitsuda test response, a significant association was found between patients with negative Mitsuda reaction and HLA-DQ1 (p=0.002). No association was observed between positive Mitsuda reaction and the HLA-DR2/DR3 alleles. We concluded that the allele HLA-DQ1 has an important participation when there is no response to the Mitsuda test. We suggest that more specific studies should be developed on this allele.

Objective: Obesity may be a risk factor for renal graft loss. The purpose of this study was to assess weight gain and its association with glomerular filtration rate after kidney transplant., Methods: This retrospective analysis of 152 adult renal transplant outpatients (77 males, 75 females; mean age, 45.6 +/- 10.1 years) with at least 6 months posttransplantation (post-tx) included body weight and creatinine clearance (CrCl) measured pretransplantation (pre-tx) as well as at 6 months (post-tx1), 1 year (post-tx2), 5 years (post-tx3), 10 years (post-tx4), 15 years (post-tx5), and 20 years (post-tx6) post-tx. Weight gain was determined by subtracting patient preoperative weight from the post-tx weights., Results: The weight gain post-tx versus pre-tx was progressive and significant (P < .001) post-tx1, 8.7 +/- 10.9% (n = 152); post-tx2, 12.4 +/- 11.5% (n = 150); post-tx3, 16.6 +/- 14.8% (n = 102); post-tx4, 20.1 +/- 18.1% (n = 47); post-tx5, 20.8 +/- 19.8% (n = 17); and post-tx6, 21.0 +/- 32.5% (n = 11). There was a positive and significant correlation between weight gain and CrCl during most times post-tx: post-tx2 (r = 0.32; P < .000); post-tx3 (r = 0.54; P < .0001); post-tx4 (r = 0.47; P = .01); and post-tx6 (r = 0.92; P < .001)., Conclusions: There was a great increase in body weight after kidney transplantation. The excessive body weight gain was associated with a better glomerular filtration rate.

Potamotrygonidae is the representative family of South American freshwater elasmobranchs. It is a monophyletic group containing 20 species grouped into three genera. Three species belonging to two genera of this family were collected from the middle Negro River, Amazonas, Brazil, and studied cytogenetically: Paratrygon aiereba, Potamotrygon motoro and Potamotrygon orbignyi. Paratrygon aiereba presented 2n = 90 chromosomes and 4M+2SM+10ST+74A. Both species of Potamotrygon presented 2n = 66 chromosomes and differed in their chromosomal formulas: P. motoro had 18M+12SM+10ST+26A and P. orbignyi had 22M+10SM+8ST+26A. No sex heteromorphism was detected. The Fundamental Number (FN) was 106 for the three species. A system of multiple NORs was found in the three species, but with interspecific differences in terms of location and position of the active Ag-NORs sites. Paratrygon aiereba presented only four sites on the short arms of two chromosomal pairs, both in terminal regions. Potamotrygon motoro presented seven sites, on the long and short arms, all in terminal regions of non-homologous chromosomes; P. orbignyi presented eight sites on the long arms, all in terminal regions, of non-homologous chromosomes. The constitutive heterochromatin was in pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes, and no significant interspecific difference was found in relation to this marker.

We study the phenomenon of unlimited energy growth for a classical particle moving in the annular billiard. The model is considered under two different geometrical situations: static and breathing boundaries. We show that when the dynamics is chaotic for the static case, the introduction of a time-dependent perturbation allows that the particle experiences the phenomenon of Fermi acceleration even when the oscillations are periodic.

A forty-one-year-old male with systolic heart failure, FC-III NYHA, clinical stage C due to dilated cardiomyopathy was submitted to an autologous transplant of the mononuclear fraction of bone marrow via coronary artery system through heart catheterism. Two months after the procedure, there was a decrease in plasma BNP and cardiac area reduction at the thorax X-ray and nuclear magnetic resonance. The echocardiogram showed decrease of the secondary regurgitation and mitral ring dilatation. There was a better performance at the ergospirometry, with increase of the maximum oxygen consumption and consequent reduction in drug therapy. The absence of adverse events characterized by clinical/hemodynamic instability, enzymatic alteration or electrocardiogram demonstrate the safety and feasibility of this procedure carried out and described with pioneering spirit in dilated cardiomyopathy.

To investigate the role of the N-terminal region in the lytic mechanism of the pore-forming toxin sticholysin II (St II), we studied the conformational and functional properties of peptides encompassing the first 30 residues of the protein. Peptides containing residues 1-30 (P1-30) and 11-30 (P11-30) were synthesized and their conformational properties were examined in aqueous solution as a function of peptide concentration, pH, ionic strength, and addition of the secondary structure-inducing solvent trifluoroethanol (TFE). CD spectra showed that increasing concentration, pH, and ionic strength led to aggregation of P1-30; as a consequence, the peptide acquired beta-sheet conformation. In contrast, P11-30 exhibited practically no conformational changes under the same conditions, remaining essentially structureless. Moreover, this peptide did not undergo aggregation. These differences clearly point to the modulating effect of the first 10 hydrophobic residues on the peptides aggregation and conformational properties. In TFE both the first ten hydrophobic peptides acquired alpha-helical conformation, albeit to a different extent, P11-30 displayed lower alpha-helical content. P1-30 presented a larger fraction of residues in alpha-helical conformation in TFE than that found in St II's crystal structure for that portion of the protein. Since TFE mimics the membrane environment, such increase in helical content could also occur upon toxin binding to membranes and represent a step in the mechanism of pore formation. The peptides conformational properties correlated well with their functional behavior. Thus, P1-30 exhibited much higher hemolytic activity than P11-30. In addition, P11-30 was able to block the toxin's hemolytic activity. The size of pores formed in red blood cells by P1-30 was estimated by measuring the permeability to PEGs of different molecular mass. The pore radius (0.95 +/- 0.01 nm) was very similar to that of the pore formed by the toxin. The results demonstrate that the synthetic peptide P1-30 is a good model of St II conformation and function and emphasize the contribution of the toxin's N-terminal region, and, in particular, the hydrophobic residues 1-10 to pore formation., (Copyright 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Jorge Lobo's disease is a cutaneous/subcutaneous mycosis with a chronic course, caused by the fungus Lacazia loboi. Considering its epidemiology and the few studies on immunological aspects of this disease, the objective of the present study was to investigate a possible association between HLA class II specificities in 21 Jorge Lobo's disease patients, by comparing them with healthy individual of the same ethnic group. HLA typing was performed using PCR-SSP method. The result did not show any association between HLA antigens and Jorge Lobo's disease. Although not statistically significant, a decreased frequency of HLA-DR7 was observed in the patients compared to the controls (0% x 18%). This suggests a negative association (protective) between HLA-DR7 and Jorge Lobo's disease. Further studies, however, are needed for a better understanding of the susceptibility and/or protection mechanisms involved.

The role of oxidative stress in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus was investigated by measuring lipid peroxidation level, nitrite content, GSH concentration, and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. The control group was subcutaneously injected with 0.9% saline. The experimental group received pilocarpine (400 mg.kg(-1), subcutaneous). Both groups were killed 24 h after treatment. After the induction of status epilepticus, there were significant increases (77% and 51%, respectively) in lipid peroxidation and nitrite concentration, but a 55% decrease in GSH content. Catalase activity was augmented 88%, but superoxide dismutase activity remained unaltered. These results show evidence of neuronal damage in the hippocampus due to a decrease in GSH concentration and an increase in lipid peroxidation and nitrite content. GSH and catalase activity are involved in mechanisms responsible for eliminating oxygen free radicals during the establishment of status epilepticus in the hippocampus. In contrast, no correlations between superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were observed. Our results suggest that GSH and catalase activity play an antioxidant role in the hippocampus during status epilepticus.

Pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) is an useful model to study the involvement of neurotransmitter systems as epileptogenesis modulators. Some researches have shown that pharmacological manipulations in dopaminergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic systems alter the occurrence of pilocarpine-induced SE. The control group was treated with 0.9% saline (control group, s.c.). Another group of rats received pilocarpine (400mg/kg, s.c.) and both groups were sacrificed 24 h after the treatment. This work was performed to determine the alterations in monoamine levels (dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE)) and their metabolites (3,4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanilic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)) after pilocarpine-induced SE in hippocampus and frontal cortex of adult rats. The monoamines and their metabolites were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. DA and 5-HIAA concentrations were not altered in the hippocampus of the pilocarpine group, but in the same group the 5-HT (160%), DOPAC (316%) and HVA (21%) levels increased, whereas, the NE (47%) content declined. For the frontal cortex determinations, there was an increase of 20 and 72% in DA and DOPAC levels, respectively, and a decrease in NE (32%), 5-HT (33%) and 5-HIAA (19%) concentrations, but HVA content remained unaltered. These results indicate that pilocarpine-induced SE can alter monoamine levels in different ways depending on the brain area studied, suggesting that different mechanisms are involved.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) contribute to caregiver burden and institutionalization of elderly. Neuroleptics are prescribed to control agitation. Side effects of typical neuroleptics are harmful, making atypical neuroleptics an indication., Objectives: To evaluate efficacy and tolerability of risperidone oral solution (ROS) given once daily to demented elderly outpatients with BPSD (agitation)., Method: Patients (n=26), 76.35+/-8.63 years, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed. (DSM-IV) criteria for dementia. RSO was given, starting dose of 0.25 mg and increments of 0.25 mg every week. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessed cognitive status, Behavioral and Emotional Activities Manifested in Dementia (BEAM-D) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) measured BPSD, Extrapiramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS) evaluated extrapyramidal symptoms. Cardiovascular side effects were evaluated clinically., Results: There was a 26% reduction in agitation and no cardiovascular side effects in the range from 1.0 to 1.25 mg. Side effects were more prevalent above 2.5 mg., Conclusion: Risperidone oral solution improved agitation with good tolerability from 0.5 to 1.25 mg. A single dose with increments of 0.25 mg may be more acceptable to patients and caregivers.