RESUMEN

Seminal studies stated that bean proteins are efficient neuronal tracers with affinity for brain tissue. A low molecular weight peptide fraction (<3kDa) from Phaseolus vulgaris (PV3) was previously reported to be antioxidant, non-cytotoxic, and capable of reducing reactive oxygen species and increasing nitric oxide in cells. We evaluated the effects of PV3 (5, 50, 100, 500, and 5000 µg/kg) on behavior and the molecular routes potentially involved. Acute and chronic PV3 treatments were performed before testing Wistar rats: i) in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) to assess the anxiolytic-like effect; ii) in the open field (OF) to evaluate locomotion and exploration; and iii) for depression-like behavior in forced swimming (FS). Catecholaminergic involvement was tested using the tyrosine hydroxylases (TH) enzyme inhibitor, α-methyl-DL-tyrosine (AMPT). Brain areas of chronically treated groups were dissected to assess: i) lipid peroxidation (LPO); ii) carbonylated proteins (CP); iii) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities. Neuronal nitric oxide synthases (nNOS) and argininosuccinate synthase (ASS) protein expression was evaluated by western blotting. Acute treatment with PV3 increased the frequency and time spent in the EPM open arms, suggesting anxiolysis. PV3 increased crossing episodes in the OF. These PV3 effects on anxiety and locomotion were absent in the chronically treated group. Acute and chronic PV3 treatments reduced the immobility time in the FS test, suggesting an antidepressant effect. TH inhibition by AMPT reverted acute PV3 effects. PV3 decreased LPO and CP levels and SOD and CAT activities, whereas nNOS and ASS were reduced in few brain areas. In conclusion, PV3 displayed central antioxidant actions that are concomitant to catecholaminergic-dependent anxiolytic and antidepressant effects.

Asunto(s)

Phaseolus , Animales , Ratas , Peso Molecular , Óxido Nítrico , Ratas Wistar , Péptidos , Tirosina

RESUMEN

Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction have been used to study the effect of pressure on 2-(-α-methylbenzylamino)-5-dinitropyridine (MBANP). Several changes are observed with increasing pressure in the Raman spectra of this system, such as splitting of various bands and disappearance of bands. Discontinuous shifts in wavenumber vs pressure plot indicate that a conformational phase transition takes place around 0.5 GPa. The behavior of the Raman spectra indicates that MBANP molecules present conformational phase transition at high-pressure. X-ray diffraction, performed with synchrotron radiation, confirms the conformational changes observed by Raman experiments around 0.5 GPa. The pressure provokes a rotational movement of the benzene ring which can be associated with the conformational phase transition.

Asunto(s)

Espectrometría Raman , Sincrotrones , Conformación Molecular , Transición de Fase , Espectrometría Raman/métodos , Difracción de Rayos X

RESUMEN

Seminal studies stated that bean proteins are efficient neuronal tracers with affinity for brain tissue. A low molecular weight peptide fraction (<3kDa) from Phaseolus vulgaris (PV3) was previously reported to be antioxidant, non-cytotoxic, and capable of reducing reactive oxygen species and increasing nitric oxide in cells. We evaluated the effects of PV3 (5, 50, 100, 500, and 5000 µg/kg) on behavior and the molecular routes potentially involved. Acute and chronic PV3 treatments were performed before testing Wistar rats: i) in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) to assess the anxiolytic-like effect; ii) in the open field (OF) to evaluate locomotion and exploration; and iii) for depression-like behavior in forced swimming (FS). Catecholaminergic involvement was tested using the tyrosine hydroxylases (TH) enzyme inhibitor, α-methyl-DL-tyrosine (AMPT). Brain areas of chronically treated groups were dissected to assess: i) lipid peroxidation (LPO); ii) carbonylated proteins (CP); iii) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities. Neuronal nitric oxide synthases (nNOS) and argininosuccinate synthase (ASS) protein expression was evaluated by western blotting. Acute treatment with PV3 increased the frequency and time spent in the EPM open arms, suggesting anxiolysis. PV3 increased crossing episodes in the OF. These PV3 effects on anxiety and locomotion were absent in the chronically treated group. Acute and chronic PV3 treatments reduced the immobility time in the FS test, suggesting an antidepressant effect. TH inhibition by AMPT reverted acute PV3 effects. PV3 decreased LPO and CP levels and SOD and CAT activities, whereas nNOS and ASS were reduced in few brain areas. In conclusion, PV3 displayed central antioxidant actions that are concomitant to catecholaminergic-dependent anxiolytic and antidepressant effects.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) consists of the intravenous infusion of healthy hematopoietic stem cells to restore the medullary and immunologic function of patients affected by a series of hematologic, oncologic, immunologic, malignant and nonmalignant inherited or acquired diseases, with the possibility of cure or increase of disease-free survival. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the epidemiologic profile and the cases of death of patients who underwent HSCT. METHODS: This is a cohort quantitative study, nested with a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study of a hospital-based cohort that included the patients who underwent HSCT at a referral service in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, a region of northeastern Brazil. RESULTS: There was a slight male prevalence (52.94%), the age of the patients ranged from 2 to 73 years old, 18.38% were brown, 47.06% were married, 15.07% were students, 78.31% had a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, 93.38% developed gastrointestinal toxicities, all patients received chemotherapeutic treatment, 54.78% had allogeneic HSCT, and the cause of the most recorded deaths was septic shock (48.19%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed relevant scientific evidence on the clinical and epidemiologic profile of patients who underwent HSCT. In general, sociodemographic data are similar to national and international research results.

Asunto(s)

Trasplante de Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/estadística & datos numéricos , Mieloma Múltiple/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Brasil/epidemiología , Niño , Preescolar , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Femenino , Trasplante de Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/efectos adversos , Trasplante de Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/métodos , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mieloma Múltiple/terapia , Prevalencia , Derivación y Consulta/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto Joven

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: The quality of corneal tissue is influenced by several factors inherent to the recipient, donor, donation process, and transplantation that may primarily or secondarily interfere in the survival of a corneal graft. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the factors inherent to the donation process, specifically related to the harvesting and processing of tissue and to the donor, that may interfere with the quality of corneal tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study carried out from January to April 2015 at the Onofre Lopes University Hospital, Natal/RN, Brazil. A survey of the keratoplasties performed between the years 2010 and 2014 was carried out, totaling 258 donated corneas. RESULTS: The mean age of donors was 42.08 years, ranging from 2-80 years. As for quality, 64.45% of the corneas were classified as good, 23.05% as regular, 11.33% as poor, and 1.17% as excellent. The mean time between death and preservation was approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes, and the mean time elapsed until use was 10 days after immersion in preservation medium. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Factors inherent in the donation process that may interfere with the quality of the corneal graft correspond to factors of a chronological nature: donor age and time elapsed between death and preservation of the graft.

Asunto(s)

Trasplante de Córnea , Preservación de Órganos/estadística & datos numéricos , Factores de Tiempo , Recolección de Tejidos y Órganos/estadística & datos numéricos , Trasplantes/clasificación , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Brasil , Niño , Preescolar , Córnea/patología , Córnea/cirugía , Estudios Transversales , Bancos de Ojos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Preservación de Órganos/métodos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Donantes de Tejidos/estadística & datos numéricos , Recolección de Tejidos y Órganos/métodos , Trasplantes/patología , Trasplantes/cirugía , Adulto Joven

RESUMEN

CONTEXT: Routine immunization of groups at high risk for influenza has been progressively implemented as a matter of Brazilian public health policy. Although the benefits of the vaccination for healthy young adults are still controversial, it has been offered yearly to hundreds of thousands of Brazilian workers, generally as part of wellness initiatives in the workplace. OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of subjects that accepted or refused to be vaccinated against influenza and to report on respiratory symptoms in both groups, one year after the campaign date. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: Workers at a subsidiary of an international bank in São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 124 persons that did not accept and 145 that voluntarily accepted the vaccine completed 12 months of follow-up. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Data concerning gender, age, tobacco use, and any history of chronic respiratory illness such as asthma, bronchitis, rhinitis, and repetitive upper-respiratory infections, were recorded at the time of vaccination. After that, workers were asked monthly by questionnaire or telephone about respiratory symptoms, days of work lost and medical consultations. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant differences regarding age (P = 0.004) with the vaccinated group (V) being younger than the non-vaccinated (NV) one, and with reference to previous repetitive upper-respiratory infections being higher among the V group (P < 0.0001). During the follow-up, the V group reported more occurrences of upper respiratory symptoms (P < 0.0001), due to both non-influenza (P < 0.0001) and influenza-like illness (P = 0.045). Differences were also found between V and NV groups concerning days off work and number of medical consultations due to upper-respiratory symptoms and non-influenza illness. Gender and history of repetitive upper-respiratory infections were the best predictors of influenza-like illness-related events. CONCLUSIONS: The making of previous reference to repetitive upper-respiratory infections was a major difference between those who accepted or rejected the vaccine. The vaccination itself was not sufficient to reduce the number of occurrences of respiratory symptoms and related absenteeism to levels similar to those found among non-vaccinated people.

Asunto(s)

Promoción de la Salud , Vacunas contra la Influenza/administración & dosificación , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud , Enfermedades Respiratorias/epidemiología , Vacunación , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiología , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Gripe Humana/epidemiología , Gripe Humana/prevención & control , Masculino , Estudios Prospectivos , Enfermedades Respiratorias/prevención & control , Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio/epidemiología , Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio/prevención & control

RESUMEN

This study was designed to verify the risk factors for developing upper extremities musculoskeletal disorders (UEMD) among workers engaged in customer service tasks performed by telephone at a private banking corporation in São Paulo, Brazil. The monthly incidence of UEMD in hands and/or wrists in this group was studied retrospectively from January 1993 to June 1995. The statistical analysis was done by using multiple linear regression with the monthly incidence of UEMD considered as dependent variable in models controlled for age, seniority, mean daily regular worktime and overtime per operator, time pressure at work, rest/work schedule, management status, personnel training on postural and muscle stretching, and ergonomic hazards. The variables associated with UEMD were the following: time pressure at work (coefficient = 0.049; p = 0.008) and rest/work schedule (coefficient = -0.047; p = 0.02). The results indicate that working conditions are significantly associated with UEMD, and changes in the working schedule may decrease the incidence of this problem in workers assigned to tasks related to the interactive use of computer-accessible databases during telephone contacts.

Asunto(s)

Brazo , Computadores , Trastornos de Traumas Acumulados/epidemiología , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/epidemiología , Enfermedades Profesionales/epidemiología , Teléfono , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiología , Trastornos de Traumas Acumulados/complicaciones , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Modelos Lineales , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/etiología , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/prevención & control , Enfermedades Profesionales/etiología , Enfermedades Profesionales/prevención & control , Ocupaciones , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo

RESUMEN

O autor, com este trabalho, demonstra como e feito o calculo do poder dioptrico da lente intraocular na afacia por meio de um ecografo - o DBR-300 da Sonometrics Systems, e de calculadora programavel - Texas Instruments 59.Mostra em detalhes a maneira correta de utilizacao do aparelho e apresenta, atraves de uma calculadora simples e de facil manuseio, os programas que permitem a obtencao do grau da lente intraocular apropriada para um maior conforto visual do paciente

Asunto(s)

Catarata , Ojo , Lentes Intraoculares , Ultrasonido