bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survey of Jail Visitors About Visitation Policies
Authors: Sturges Judith E. , Al-Khattar Aref M.
Published: November 2009

Little has been written about policies affecting the public who visit jails. As the number of jail inmates increases, many offenders’ families are affected. For the majority, their first contact with the criminal justice system might be by visiting an inmate in jail. This study measured the levels of visitors’ understanding and satisfaction with visitation policies at two county jails in a northeastern state. A total of 281 visitors from two county jails completed the surveys. Data from this study revealed that—to meet the needs of the visitors—attention should be given to methods of visiting, jail staff training, dissemination of visitation policies, and conditions of inmate incarceration. By addressing these issues, problems that visitors encounter while visiting inmates may be lessened, and their concerns about inmates may be decreased. These changes may lead to more amenable interactions between visitors and jail staff during visitation.
Comparative gene expression analysis of zebrafish and mammals identifies common regulators in hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Kobayashi Isao , Ono Hiromasa , Moritomo Tadaaki , Kano Koichiro , Nakanishi Teruyuki , Suda Toshio
Published: November 2009

Hematopoiesis in teleost fish is maintained in the kidney. We previously reported that Hoechst dye efflux activity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is highly conserved in vertebrates, and that Hoechst can be used to purify HSCs from teleost kidneys. Regulatory molecules that are strongly associated with HSC activity may also be conserved in vertebrates. In this study, we identified evolutionarily conserved molecular components in HSCs by comparing the gene expression profiles of zebrafish, murine, and human HSCs. Microarray data of zebrafish kidney side population cells (zSPs) showed that genes involved in cell junction and signal transduction tended to be up-regulated in zSPs, whereas genes involved in DNA replication tended to be down-regulated. These properties of zSPs were similar to those of mammalian HSCs. Overlapping gene expression analysis showed that 40 genes were commonly up-regulated in these 3 HSCs. Some of these genes, such as egr1, gata2, and id1, have been previously implicated in the regulation of HSCs. In situ hybridization in zebrafish kidney revealed that expression domains of egr1, gata2, and id1 overlapped with that of abcg2a, a marker for zSPs. These results suggest that the overlapping genes identified in this study are regulated in HSCs and play important roles in their functions.
Tenecteplase for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a patient treated with drotrecogin alfa (activated) for severe sepsis: a case report
Authors: Barra Lillian , Shum Jeffrey , Pickering J Geoffrey , Kao Raymond
Published: November 2009

Introduction

Drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DrotAA), an activated protein C, promotes fibrinolysis in patients with severe sepsis. There are no reported cases or studies that address the diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction in septic patients treated with DrotAA.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old Caucasian man with septic shock secondary to community-acquired pneumonia treated with DrotAA, subsequently developed an ST-elevation myocardial infarction 12 hours after starting DrotAA. DrotAA was stopped and the patient was given tenecteplase thrombolysis resulting in complete resolution of ST-elevation and no adverse bleeding events. DrotAA was restarted to complete the 96-hour course. The sepsis resolved and the patient was discharged from hospital.

Conclusion

In patients with severe sepsis or septic shock complicated by myocardial infarction, it is difficult to determine if the myocardial infarction is an isolated event or caused by the sepsis process. The efficacy and safety of tenecteplase thrombolysis in septic patients treated with DrotAA need further study.
Congenital leptin deficiency and thyroid function
Authors: Paz-Filho Gilberto , Delibasi Tuncay , Erol Halil K , Wong Ma-Li , Licinio Julio
Published: November 2009

Thyroid function is closely related to leptin's secretion by the adipose tissue. In states of leptin-deficiency, the circadian rhythm of TSH is altered, leading to central hypothyroidism in animal models. In humans, central hypothyroidism has also been described in rare cases of congenital leptin deficiency. However, the thyroid phenotype in these cases is heterogeneous, with the occurrence of central hypothyroidism in a minority of cases. Here we describe thyroid function in four leptin-deficient humans (2 males aged 5 and 27, and 2 females aged 35 and 40), before and during leptin replacement with recombinant human methionyl leptin (r-metHuLeptin). The child was evaluated for four years, and the adults, for eight years. In addition, the adults were submitted to a brief withdrawal of leptin during six weeks in the sixth year. Our results show that, regardless of leptin replacement, our leptin-deficient patients have normal thyroid function. In spite of having an important role in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroidal axis, leptin is not required for normal thyroid function.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT00659828 and NCT00657605
ICOS promotes IL-17 synthesis in colonic intraepithelial lymphocytes in IL-10−/− mice
Authors: Schaefer Jeremy S , Montufar-Solis Dina , Vigneswaran Nadarajah , Klein John R
Published: November 2009

IL-23 and IL-10 have opposing effects on IL-17 synthesis by mouse ICOS+ T cells in the colonic epithelium.

In the absence of IL-10, colonic inflammation ensues, which is characterized by high levels of IL-17. Here, we demonstrate a direct correlation between ICOS expression and IL-17 production in cIELs. IL-10−/− mice had increased numbers of cIELs and greater colon weight. Although the CD69 early activation antigen was expressed on cIELs from normal and IL-10−/− mice, ICOS was expressed only on cIELs from IL-10−/− mice. IL-17-producing cells in IL-10−/− mice consisted of CD4+ and CD8+ cIELs; however, CD4+ cells were the predominant IL-17-producing cell population. Culture of cIELs from IL-10−/− mice with IL-23 resulted in an increase in ICOS and IL-17 expression, whereas IL-10 suppressed expression of ICOS and IL-17. This occurred in primary cultures and recall stimulation experiments. The ICOS ligand B7RP-1 was up-regulated on colonic epithelial cells and on a population of large granular leukocytes during inflammation. Culture of cIELs with B7RP-1+ DCs enhanced IL-17A production from normal cIELs but failed to do so using cIELs from ICOS−/− mice. In vivo treatment of IL-10−/− mice with antibody to ICOS resulted in a significant reduction in colonic pathology. These findings implicate ICOS as an activational signal of Th17 cells during chronic intestinal inflammation, and they suggest that under some conditions, control of ICOS expression may help to suppress chronic intestinal inflammation.
Syk expression in peripheral blood leukocytes, CD34+ progenitors, and CD34-derived basophils
Authors: Ishmael Susan S , MacGlashan Donald W
Published: November 2009

The critical signaling kinase of IgE-mediated reactions, syk, can be down-regulated in maturing basophils by chronic ag-gregation without altering their expression of FcRI, granule staining, and histamine content.

In human basophils from different subjects, maximum IgE-mediated histamine release and the level of syk protein expression correlate well. It is not clear when in the basophil’s lifetime the set-point for syk expression is reached or how expression levels are determined for a given individual. An examination of syk expression in peripheral blood eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, B and T cells, DCs, and NK cells showed that with the exception of T cells, basophils were unique in expressing low levels of syk. No correlations were observed between syk expression in basophils and other types of leukocytes, suggesting a unique mechanism of regulation for basophils. The expression level of syk in CD34+ progenitors was ∼11-fold higher than in peripheral blood basophils, and it remained at this level during maturation of the cells in IL-3 to a cell with characteristics of peripheral blood basophils. Down-regulation of syk expression in the culture-derived basophils was induced by culturing under conditions of chronic aggregation of FcεRI. Syk was down-regulated to peripheral blood basophil levels in 50% of the cells. Despite the chronic aggregation of FcεRI, the cells retained the same expression of FcεRI, histamine content, and morphological staining of granules as cells not experiencing chronic aggregation. These results suggest that chronic stimulation through FcεRI during basophil maturation might be a mechanism for down-regulating syk expression, while retaining other characteristics associated with mature peripheral blood basophils.
Adenosine A2A receptor activation limits graft-versus-host disease after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Lappas Courtney M , Liu Po-Ching , Linden Joel , Kang Elizabeth M , Malech Harry L
Published: November 2009

The selective activation of the A2A has therapeutic potential in both the prevention and treatment of acute GVHD.

GVHD is a major barrier to broader use of allogenic HSCT for nonmalignancy clinical applications such as the treatment of primary immunodeficiencies and hemoglobinopathies. We show in a murine model of C57BL/6J (H2-kb) → B6D2F1/J (H2-kb/d) acute GVHD that when initiated 2 days before transplant, the activation of the adenosine A2AR with the selective agonist ATL146e inhibits the weight loss and mortality associated with disease progression. Furthermore, circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including IFN-γ, IL-6, CCL2, KC, and G-CSF, are reduced significantly by 14-day ATL146e treatment. The up-regulation of CD25, CD69, and CD40L expression by donor CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is inhibited by A2AR activation; fewer CD3+ T cells are found in the liver, skin, and colon of ATL146e-treated mice as compared with vehicle-treated controls; and associated tissue injury is lessened. The delayed administration of ATL146e, beginning 9 days after HSCT, reverses GVHD-associated body weight loss successfully, and improvement is sustained for the duration of treatment. We conclude that the selective activation of the A2AR has therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of acute GVHD.
Phagosomal retention of Francisella tularensis results in TIRAP/Mal-independent TLR2 signaling
Authors: Cole Leah E , Laird Michelle H W , Seekatz Anna , Santiago Araceli , Jiang Zhaozhao , Barry Eileen , Shirey Kari Ann , Fitzgerald Katherine A , Vogel Stefanie N
Published: November 2009

Enhanced or prolonged interaction between an agonist and TLR2 can overcome the need for TIRAP.

TLR2 plays a central role in the activation of innate immunity in response to Ft, the causative agent of tularemia. We reported previously that Ft LVS elicited strong, dose-dependent NF-κB reporter activity in TLR2-expressing human embryo kidney 293 T cells and that Ft LVS-induced murine macrophage proinflammatory cytokine gene and protein expression is TLR2-dependent. We demonstrated further that Ft can signal through TLR2 from within the phagosome and that phagosomal retention of Ft leads to greatly increased expression of a subset of proinflammatory genes. The two adaptor proteins associated with TLR2-mediated signaling are MyD88 and TIRAP. Although MyD88 is absolutely required for the Ft-induced macrophage cytokine response, the requirement for TIRAP can be overcome through retention of Ft within the phagosome. TIRAP-independent signaling was observed whether Ft was retained in the phagosome as a result of bacterial mutation (LVSΔiglC) or BFA-mediated inhibition of phagosome acidification. The requirement for TIRAP in TLR2 signaling could also be overcome by increasing the concentrations of synthetic bacterial TLR2 agonists. Taken together, these data suggest that prolonging or enhancing the interaction between TLR2 and its agonist overcomes the “bridging” function ascribed previously to TIRAP.
Criminally invalid: the treatment outcome profile form for substance misuse
Authors: Luty Jason , Varughese Sabu , Easow Joby
Published: November 2009

Aims and Method

To audit completion of the Treatment Outcome Profile (TOP) form in individuals attending substance misuse services in England. Forms are completed at the start of treatment and every 3 months thereafter. All forms at 3-drug treatment services were inspected over 6 months.

Results

Forms were inspected for 200 service users; 86% were fully completed. Two-thirds (67%) of service users had no declared funding for illicit drug use in the previous month (mean spending £988; s.e. = 149) despite denying any paid employment and criminal activity.

Clinical Implications

The section on crime in the TOP form is unreliable and completely invalid.
Associations between Common Genetic Polymorphisms in Angiopoietin-Like Proteins 3 and 4 and Lipid Metabolism and Adiposity in European Adolescents and Adults
Authors: Legry Vanessa , Bokor Szilvia , Cottel Dominique , Beghin Laurent , Catasta Giovina , Nagy Eniko , Gonzalez-Gross Marcela , Spinneker Andre , Stehle Peter , Molnár Dénes , Moreno Luis A. , Amouyel Philippe , Dallongeville Jean , Meirhaeghe Aline
Published: November 2009

Context: Plasma-borne angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTL) act as endocrine factors on their target tissues. Because ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 play important roles in lipid metabolism and the regulation of adiposity in mice, we hypothesized that genetic variability at the ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 genes loci might influence lipid metabolism and fat deposition in humans.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the association between ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 genetic polymorphisms and metabolic phenotypes in adolescent and adult samples.

Design and Participants: Two independent population-based studies, one composed of 1144 adolescents (mean age, 14.8 ± 1.4 yr) from nine European countries (the HELENA study) and the other composed of 1155 adults (age range, 35–65 yr) from Northern France (the MONICA Lille study), were genotyped for one ANGPTL3 polymorphism and four ANGPTL4 polymorphisms.

Results: The ANGPTL3 rs11207997 polymorphism (minor allele frequency, 0.32) was associated with lower plasma HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels in both adolescents (P = 0.0004, P = 0.00006, respectively) and adults (P = 0.03, P = 0.02, respectively). The ANGPTL4 rs4076317 polymorphism (minor allele frequency, 0.29) was associated with a higher percentage of body fat (P = 0.02) in adolescents and a higher waist-to-hip ratio (in interaction with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ Pro12Ala polymorphism) in adults (P = 0.0004).

Conclusion: The present study underlines the role of ANGPTL3 in HDL-cholesterol metabolism as early as in adolescence. Our data also suggest possible associations between ANGPTL4 polymorphisms and body fat, but these findings require replication.
Age- and gender-related differences in the geometric properties and biomechanical significance of intracortical porosity in the distal radius and tibia
Authors: Burghardt Andrew J , Kazakia Galateia J , Ramachandran Sweta , Link Thomas M , Majumdar Sharmila
Published: November 2009

Cortical bone contributes the majority of overall bone mass and bears the bulk of axial loads in the peripheral skeleton. Bone metabolic disorders often are manifested by cortical microstructural changes via osteonal remodeling and endocortical trabecularization. The goal of this study was to characterize intracortical porosity in a cross-sectional patient cohort using novel quantitative computational methods applied to high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) images of the distal radius and tibia. The distal radius and tibia of 151 subjects (57 male, 94 female; 47 ± 16 years of age, range 20 to 78 years) were imaged using HR-pQCT. Intracortical porosity (Ct.Po) was calculated as the pore volume normalized by the sum of the pore and cortical bone volume. Micro–finite element analysis (µFE) was used to simulate 1% uniaxial compression for two scenarios per data set: (1) the original structure and (2) the structure with intracortical porosity artificially occluded. Differential biomechanical indices for stiffness (ΔK), modulus (ΔE), failure load (ΔF), and cortical load fraction (ΔCt.LF) were calculated as the difference between original and occluded values. Regression analysis revealed that cortical porosity, as depicted by HR-pQCT, exhibited moderate but significant age-related dependence for both male and female cohorts (radius ρ = 0.7; tibia ρ = 0.5; p < .001). In contrast, standard cortical metrics (Ct.Th, Ct.Ar, and Ct.vBMD) were more weakly correlated or not significantly correlated with age in this population. Furthermore, differential µFE analysis revealed that the biomechanical deficit (ΔK) associated with cortical porosity was significantly higher for postmenopausal women than for premenopausal women (p < .001). Finally, porosity-related measures provided the only significant decade-wise discrimination in the radius for females in their fifties versus females in their sixties (p < .01). Several important conclusions can be drawn from these results. Age-related differences in cortical porosity, as detected by HR-pQCT, are more pronounced than differences in standard cortical metrics. The biomechanical significance of these structural differences increases with age for men and women and provides discriminatory information for menopause-related bone quality effects. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
The Effect of Air Cavity Convection on the Wetting and Drying Behavior of Wood-Frame Walls Using a Multi-Physics Approach
Authors: Karagiozis Achilles N. , Kuenzel Hartwig M.
Published: November 2009

The moisture performance of building envelope systems are strongly dependent on the materials used, the workmanship, and the exposure loads from the interior and exterior environments. The authors have long recognized the need to include the effects of exterior cladding ventilation in the predictive capability of software tools used for hygrothermal analysis. Exterior cladding ventilation has been studied, but no conclusive recommendations have been generated until recently (Burnett, E., Straube, J., and Karagiozis, A., “Synthesis Report and Guidelines,” ASHRAE TRP-1091 Report No. 12, Nov. 2004). While the physics describing the thermal and moisture transport in the presence of air convection is understood, the pressure dynamics is still somewhat qualitatively known. With the addition of new literature data and available field generated monitored data, a simplified model for the wall air cavity ventilation was developed. The scientific approach followed initially included the benchmarking of multi-dimensional advanced hygrothermal model with laboratory and field data. The flow was understood for a wide range of exterior loadings, and once this was completed, an attempt to reduce the complex three-dimensional air flow characteristics into a simple one-dimensional analogue was made. The paper describes how this important feature was included into the WUFI-4.1 software. The paper also describes how users may employ this feature in hygrothermal designs to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of cavity ventilation. Results are also presented on the hygrothermal performance of two walls, one ventilated and the other is unvented. Results show that major differences were predicted and the wall with the ventilation cavity dried out nearly five times faster than the wall without the ventilation. Field monitored stucco wall systems with and without cavity ventilation are also included compared to the prediction provided by the hygrothermal model. Good agreement is shown between the field and WUFI 4.1 model.
Mechanism of pain sensation development
Authors: Gyulaházi Judit
Published: November 2009

Pain, as subjective content of consciousness, is an essential attention-calling sign that helps to survive. Pain relieve is obligatory for every physician, thus, its individual appearance can make the analgesia difficult to carry out. The improving neuroimaging techniques allow understanding the development of pain sensation. Through the 24 articles on the PubMed found with keywords ‘pain’ and ‘neuroimaging’, we review here the parts of the pain neuron matrix, their tasks and the assumed mechanism of the acute pain sensation. The mechanism of the individual pain sensation is illustrated by the view of the modular function of the medial part of the pain matrix. Experimental results of empathic pain suggest that pain sensation may occur without real damage of the tissues, as well. The pain network plays main role in chronic pain.
Cardiovascular care of high-risk subjects and cardiovascular patients in a general medical practice
Authors: Révész Zsuzsanna , Jánosi András
Published: November 2009

The aim of this investigation was to study, how high-risk subjects and cardiovascular (CV) patients are receiving care in a general medical (GP) practice. There are 1296 individuals belonging to this GP outpatient ward. Taking into consideration of available data, it was considered that because of high-risk level or some CV diseases, 883 subjects (68%) should have been taken care. The number of definitely cared subjects was 831 (94%), which means that just 6% of the whole group remained out of proper CV care activity. High risk subjects were as follows: 56.2% overweight, 26.0% obese, and 19.4% were active smokers. Every fourth of patients with angiological disease (24.2%) were actively smoking. The majority of high-risk subjects (83.5%) have had a physically inactive life. In the very high-risk group, just 31.5% of subjects, in the high-risk group 23.0% could reach the lipid target values, fixed by the III. Hungarian Consensus Conference. These target values were, however, achieved by 61.1% of patients treated because of arterial hypertension, and 64.6% of diabetics. According to these data, in this very GP practice two third of all individuals do need CV care. Majority of these subjects were properly drawn into this activity. At present, the possibilities of GP care are not enough for properly influencing lifestyle, shown by the high ratio of smokers, people with overweight and those who are living without regular physical exercise. In the same time, the ratio of optimal care of patients with diabetes and hypertension was significantly higher than those in the data published in the literature. The results of treating hyperlipidaemia were similar to other studies published in the medical literature.
Early molecular markers predictive of dengue hemorrhagic fever
Authors: Calzavara-Silva Carlos E. , Gomes Ana L.V. , Maia Rita C.C. , Acioli-Santos Bartolomeu , Gil Laura H.V.G. , Marques Jr. Ernesto T.A.
Published: November 2009

The management of acute dengue patients during outbreaks is a challenging problem. Most of the dengue fever cases are benign, but some cases develop into a severe and possibly lethal vasculopathy, known as dengue hemorrhagic fever. Early symptoms of dengue and hemorrhagic fever are very similar. An early differential diagnosis is needed to predict which of these two clinical presentations is crucial to proper patient care and public health management. This study evaluates the predictive potential of specific mRNA expression markers of dengue hemorrhagic fever using quantitative real-time PCR assays. Six candidate "dengue hemorrhagic fever specific signature genes" were evaluated and all showed good correlation among their transcription levels at early days of infection and the later development of severe vasculopathy. The markers selected were able to indicate, at early stages of infection, the evolution of a dengue-infected patient to the severe form of the illness. Despite the fact that these results grant further validation studies, the panel of candidate prognostic markers obtained demonstrated the potential to be useful for clinical use in the form of a fast assay based in blood samples.
Medicinal plants used by "Passo da Ilha" rural community in the city of Pato Branco, southern Brazil
Authors: Marchese José A. , Ming Lin C. , Franceschi Lucia de , Camochena Rubia C. , Gomes Greice D.R. , Paladini Marcos V. , Capelin Diogo , Marchese Cristine F.
Published: November 2009

The scope of this work was to rescue and document the traditional knowledge regarding the medicinal plants used by Passo da Ilha rural community, in Pato Branco, Paraná State, Southern Brazil (26° 11' S, 52°36' W and 760 m high). Structured interviews were made in field research with 16 informants who had the traditional knowledge about medicinal plants. The research was carried out from October to December 2000. The plants were collected in the field, identified and their vouchers were housed at the Herbarium "Irina Delanova De Gemtchjnicov" (BOTU) of São Paulo State University, in Botucatu. A total of 47 botanical families and 114 species of medicinal plants were identified. These plants ere suitable for ore than 30 different edicinal uses. The residents are mainly of European descent, which justify the presence of many exotic plants. The knowledge on how to use medicinal plants properly is held mainly by the females, and decreases in the newer generations, denoting "cultural erosion" in progress.
Simulated self-organization of death by inherited mutations
Authors: Martins Jorge S. Sá , Stauffer Dietrich , Oliveira Paulo M.C. de , Oliveira Suzana Moss de
Published: November 2009

An agent-based computer simulation of death by inheritable mutations in a changing environment shows a maximal population, or avoids extinction, at some intermediate mutation rate of the individuals. Our results indicate that death seems needed to allow for evolution of the fittest, as required by a changing environment.
Testing multivariate analysis in paleoenvironmental reconstructions using pollen records from Lagoa Salgada, NE Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil
Authors: Toledo Mauro B. de , Barth Ortrud M. , Silva Cleverson G. , Barros Marcia A.
Published: November 2009

Despite the indisputable significance of identification of modern analogs for Paleoecology research, relatively few studies attempted to integrate modern and fossil samples on paleoenvironmental reconstructions. In Palynology, this general pattern is not different from other fields of Paleoecology. This study demonstrates the practical application of modern pollen deposition data on paleoenvironmental reconstructions based on fossil pollen by using multivariate analysis. The main goal of this study was to use Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) to compare pollen samples from two sediment cores collected at Lagoa Salgada, a coastal lagoon located at northeastern Rio de Janeiro State. Furthermore, modern surface samples were also statistically compared with samples from both cores, providing new paleoecological insights. DCA demonstrated that samples from both cores are more similar than previously expected, and that a strong pattern, related to a paleoenvironmental event, is present within the fossil data, clearly identifying in the scatter plot samples that represent pre- and post-environmental change. Additionally, it became apparent that modern vegetation and environmental conditions were established in this region 2500 years before present (BP). Multivariate Analysis allowed a more reliable integration of modern and fossil pollen data, proving to be a powerful tool in Paleoecology studies that should be employed more often on paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
Diffraction and reflection of irregular waves in a harbor employing a spectral model
Authors: Violante-Carvalho Nelson , Paes-Leme Rafael B. , Accetta Domenico A. , Ostritz Frederico
Published: November 2009

The SWAN wave model is widely used in coastal waters and the main focus of this work is on its application in a harbor. Its last released version - SWAN 40.51 - includes an approximation to compute diffraction, however, so far there are few published works that discuss this matter. The performance of the model is therefore investigated in a harbor where reflection and diffraction play a relevant role. To assess its estimates, a phase-resolving Boussinesq wave model is employed as well, together with measurements carried out at a small-scale model of the area behind the breakwater. For irregular, short-crested waves with broad directional spreading, the importance of diffraction is relatively small. On the other hand, reflection of the incident waves is significant, increasing the energy inside the harbor. Nevertheless, the SWAN model does not achieve convergence when it is set to compute diffraction and reflection simultaneously. It is concluded that, for situations typically encountered in harbors, with irregular waves near reflective obstacles, the model should be set without the diffraction option.
Methodological development of a quality index for agricultural operations, for corn cultivation using multi-criterion analysis
Authors: Lamparelli Rubens A.C. , Dias Hugo S.
Published: November 2009

One of the major problems in the Brazilian agriculture is related to the production loss in the field, which, due to many factors, is not being considered. This article has the objective to develop a methodology to identify a quality index which integrates some crop quality variables which are able to indicate how the crop is developing in terms of loss in the field. The results have showed that the strategy of multi-criterion analysis and Fuzzy logic proved to be important tools for the assessment and preparation of a quality index for corn production. The index proposed performed well in representing the quality of agricultural operations when compared with reality.
Desenvolvimento de neoplasias/adenomas avançados colorretais no seguimento a longo prazo de pacientes submetidos a colonoscopia com polipectomia
Authors: Rostirolla Renata Andreoli , Pereira-Lima Júlio Carlos , Teixeira Cláudio Rolim , Schuch Aline Weyne , Perazzoli Camila , Saul Carlos
Published: November 2009

CONTEXTO: A colonoscopia e a polipectomia diminuem a incidência do câncer colorretal, assim como a mortalidade dele decorrente. O intervalo efetivo entre os exames de seguimento é determinado por características clínicas e achados endoscópicos considerados como preditivos para o desenvolvimento de lesões neoplásicas colônicas avançadas. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a taxa de surgimento de lesões neoplásicas avançadas em pacientes submetidos a colonoscopias de seguimento em serviço de referência. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 392 pacientes submetidos a dois ou mais exames colonoscópicos completos entre 1995 e 2005, constantes no banco de dados e que apresentavam, em pelo menos um dos exames, um adenoma colorretal. Foram analisados os dados da primeira e da última colonoscopias realizadas por cada paciente, ou daquela que mostrava lesão neoplásica avançada - considerado o desfecho principal do estudo. Os pacientes foram divididos de acordo com os achados endoscópicos do primeiro exame em grupos 1 ou de alto risco, 2 ou de baixo risco e 3 ou sem adenoma na colonoscopia inicial. Foram analisados e comparados entre os grupos o aparecimento de neoplasia colônica avançada e o tempo de seguimento até o desfecho. RESULTADOS: Do total de pacientes, 27% apresentavam à colonoscopia inicial, adenomas avançados, 58,4% lesões neoplásicas com displasia de baixo grau e 14,5% não apresentavam adenomas no exame inicial. A média etária foi de 59,54 ± 11,74 anos. Vinte e seis vírgula quatro por cento das pessoas do grupo 1 apresentaram lesão neoplásica avançada ao longo do seguimento, enquanto tal desfecho ocorreu em 10,9% e 5,3% dos pacientes nos grupos 2 e 3, respectivamente (P<0,05). O período médio de acompanhamento foi de 123,35 meses, sendo que o tempo médio entre o primeiro exame e aquele com o desfecho diferiu estatisticamente entre o grupo 1 e os demais, sendo de 104,02, 115,31 e 120,61 meses, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes com neoplasia avançada à colonoscopia índice apresentam maior chance de possuir tais lesões, em relação aos demais grupos, durante o seguimento, e o surgimento de neoplasia avançada ocorre mais precocemente neste grupo.
Study of efficacy and safety of a new local cream ("healer") in the treatment of chronic anal fissure: a prospective, randomized, single-blind, comparative study
Authors: Yakoot Mostafa , Salaam M. Abdel
Published: November 2009

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of "healer" cream as monotherapy in the treatment of acute and chronic anal fissure. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, single blinded, comparative trial. METHODS: Sixty patients suffering from anal fissure were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into three groups: group A: treated with "healer" local cream application 3 times daily; group B: treated with nitroglycerine 0.25% local cream 3 times daily; group C: treated with a lidocaine 2% cream applied locally 3 times daily. All the followings were followed up and compared between groups. (1) Visual pain analogue score after defecation; (2) severity of straining and discomfort during defecation; (3) frequency of ulcer healed at 30 days; (4) any side effects or complications. RESULTS: The pain scoring after defecation was significantly reduced in the three treatment groups. The group treated with "healer" isosorbide-di-nitrate showed the greatest reduction of the visual pain analogue score median from 9 before treatment to 3 & 1 after 10 and 20 days respectively, while the median visual pain analogue score in group B treated with nitroglycerine cream was 9 reduced to 4 & 2 after 10 and 20 days respectively, and the median visual pain analogue score in lidocaine group only dropped from 9 to 6 and 4, respectively. The reduction of both pain scoring and defecation scoring with "healer" was statistically significantly greater than the other two treatments by Kruskal-Wallis test, P<0.001. The number of patients experiencing complete relief and passing stools easily after 10 days was significantly higher in "healer" group, by Pearson Chi square = 22.94, P<0.001. After 30 days, the fissures were healed in 18 (90%) of 20 patients in the "healer" group and in 12 (60%) of 20 in the nitroglycerin group, while only 6 (30%) of patients treated with lidocaine cream had their fissures healed by the 30 days treatment. Chi square = 15 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: "Healer" is a promising effective and safe line of treatment in acute and chronic anal fissure. The characteristic pharmacokinetics of isosorbide-di-nitrate leads to a better effect than nitroglycerin in healing (more prolonged action). Also the less fast absorption than nitroglycerin leading to a smoother dose concentration curve, may be the cause that headache is less frequent and less severe in "healer" treatment versus nitroglycerin.
Não-adesão ao tratamento em pacientes com doença de Crohn: prevalência e fatores de risco
Authors: Cornélio Rita de Cássia Azevedo Couto , Pinto André Luis Tavares , Pace Fábio Heleno de Lima , Moraes Jussara Paixão , Chebli Júlio Maria Fonseca
Published: November 2009

CONTEXTO: A não-adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso, em algum grau, ocorre universalmente. É uma das principais causas de insucesso no tratamento das doenças crônicas, tal como a doença de Crohn. OBJETIVO: Em doentes com doença de Crohn, avaliar a prevalência e os fatores de risco associados à baixa adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso. MÉTODOS: No período entre julho de 2006 e julho de 2007 foram incluídos prospectivamente, para avaliação da não-adesão ao tratamento, 100 doentes com doença de Crohn em seguimento clínico no ambulatório de doenças inflamatórias intestinais. Os pacientes responderam ao Teste de Medida de Adesão a Tratamentos de Morisky e Green, modificado. De acordo com este teste, os pacientes foram classificados em dois grupos, conforme o grau de adesão: adesão e não-adesão. A não-adesão foi subdividida em intencional e não-intencional. Variáveis clínicas, psicológicas e farmacoterapêuticas foram pesquisadas na busca de possíveis fatores associados à não-adesão. RESULTADOS: Entre os pacientes avaliados, 64% apresentaram escore compatível com não-adesão. O perfil mais frequente de não-adesão foi o do tipo não-intencional, e os pacientes mostraram ter conhecimento e motivação para o tratamento. Na comparação entre os dois grupos observou-se somente uma tendência a não-adesão entre os pacientes mais jovens (P = 0,07) e de raça não-branca (P = 0,06). Não houve correlação significativa entre o grau de adesão e as variáveis psicológicas e farmacoterapêuticas. CONCLUSÕES: Em pacientes com doença de Crohn, a prevalência de não-adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso é elevada (64%). Indivíduos jovens e aqueles não-brancos parecem ser os mais predispostos à não-adesão. Portanto, é preciso estar alerta para sua ocorrência e, caso necessário, implementar medidas que busquem aumentar o grau de adesão destes pacientes.
Risk factors for indications of intraoperative blood transfusion among patients undergoing surgical treatment for colorectal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gonçalves Iara , Linhares Marcelo , Bordin Jose , Matos Delcio
Published: November 2009

CONTEXT: Identification of risk factors for requiring transfusions during surgery for colorectal cancer may lead to preventive actions or alternative measures, towards decreasing the use of blood components in these procedures, and also rationalization of resources use in hemotherapy services. This was a retrospective case-control study using data from 383 patients who were treated surgically for colorectal adenocarcinoma at "Fundação Pio XII", in Barretos-SP, Brazil, between 1999 and 2003. OBJECTIVE: To recognize significant risk factors for requiring intraoperative blood transfusion in colorectal cancer surgical procedures. METHODS: Univariate analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test or the chi-squared test for dichotomous variables and Student's t test for continuous variables, followed by multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: In the univariate analyses, height (P = 0.06), glycemia (P = 0.05), previous abdominal or pelvic surgery (P = 0.031), abdominoperineal surgery (P<0,001), extended surgery (P<0.001) and intervention with radical intent (P<0.001) were considered significant. In the multivariate analysis using logistic regression, intervention with radical intent (OR = 10.249, P<0.001, 95% CI = 3.071-34.212) and abdominoperineal amputation (OR = 3.096, P = 0.04, 95% CI = 1.445-6.623) were considered to be independently significant. CONCLUSION: This investigation allows the conclusion that radical intervention and the abdominoperineal procedure in the surgical treatment of colorectal adenocarcinoma are risk factors for requiring intraoperative blood transfusion.
Simultaneous quantitation of serum HBV DNA and HBeAg can distinguish between slow and fast viral responses to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Silva Luiz Caetano da , Nova Maria Luiza da , Ono-Nita Suzane Kioko , Pinho João Renato Rebello , Sitnik Roberta , Santos Vera Aparecida dos , Carrilho Flair José
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: The quantitation of serum HBeAg is not commonly used to monitor viral response to therapy in chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: In this study, 21 patients receiving varying therapies were followed and their viral response monitored by concomitant viral load and HBeAg quantitation in order to study the meaning and the kinetics of both parameters. RESULTS: It was possible to distinguish between three different patterns of viral response. The first was characterized by a simultaneous decrease in serum HBV DNA and HBeAg. The second pattern was characterized by a decrease in serum HBeAg but persistent detection of HBV DNA. The third pattern was characterized by undetectable HBV DNA with persistent HBeAg positivity, which points to a non-response (Pattern III-B) except when HBeAg levels showed a slow but steady drop, characterizing a "slow responder" patient (Pattern III-A). CONCLUSIONS: The first pattern is compatible with a viral response. A long-term HBeAg seropositivity with a slow and persistent decrease (Pattern III-A) is also compatible with a viral response and calls for a prolongation of anti-viral treatment.
Rapid HIV diagnostic test in undocumented pregnant women applied at an inner-city teaching hospital
Authors: Prestes-Carneiro Luiz Euribel , Miguel Nadia Araújo , Ascêncio Eloah Lopes , Amâncio Marisa , Alcântara Vera Lúcia Maria , Portelinha-Filho José Alexandre
Published: November 2009

A significant number of Brazilian gestational-age women are still not tested for HIV, representing a high risk of transmission to their newborns. The current study sought to identify the number of pregnant women with no previous testing or undocumented for HIV referred to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of a Regional Teaching Hospital and included diagnosis of HIV infection determined by a rapid test and perinatal transmission in pregnancy. Medical records of all pregnant women admitted to hospital from January 2001 to December 2005 were reviewed. Pregnant women without HIV results were submitted to a rapid HIV test. Those who tested positive were further tested by ELISA and confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIA) or Western blot (WB). The viral load from babies born to HIV-infected mothers was assessed by bDNA. Of the 16,424 pregnant women analyzed (6.6%), 1,089 were undocumented for HIV. Eleven women were positive in rapid testing and 10 were confirmed by ELISA, IIA or WB, with 0.9% seropositivity. Mother/infant pairs received zidovudine monotherapy prophylaxis and infant viral load was lower than 50 copies/mL. A higher number of pregnant women previously tested for HIV during antenatal care was verified, compared to that obtained nationwide.
American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Pontal of Paranapanema - SP, Brazil: ecological and entomological aspects
Authors: Alessi Claudia Álvares Calvo , Galati Eunice Aparecida Bianchi , Alves José Roberto , Corbett Carlos Eduardo Pereira
Published: November 2009

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) occurs in epidemic outbreaks and in sporadic cases with small annual variation in the Pontal of Paranapanema, SP. There is little research on the sandfly fauna of this region. The last outbreaks were related to the Movement of the Landless Workers (MST) and with the ecological tourism in preserved forest of the Parque Estadual do Morro do Diabo (PEMD). AIM: identification of the sandfly fauna within the PEMD, mainly anthropophilic species already incriminated as vectors of ACL, as well as their seasonality, hourly frequency and data of the behavior. M&M: The captures were undertaken with CDC light and Shannon traps from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, monthly from May 2000 to December 2001. The temperature and relative humidity data were registered at hourly intervals. RESULTS: The captured species were: Brumptomyia brumpti, Nyssomyia neivai, Nyssomyia whitmani, Pintomyia fischeri and Pintomyia pessoai. The P. pessoai predominated (34.39%) and N. neivai was less found (0.74%), only being captured in CDC traps. Shannon trap captured more sandflies (63.01%) than the CDC traps (36.99%). Despite the environmental degradation anthropophilic species, indicates favorable bioecological conditions for persistence of vectors and potential transmission of leishmaniasis.
Description of the larva of Orthemis schmidti (Odonata, Libellulidae)
Authors: Costa Janira M. , Santos Tatiana C.
Published: November 2009

The larva of Orthemis schmidti Buchholz, 1950 is described and illustrated for the first time based on one specimen from the northeastern region Brazil. Diagnostic characters which separate this larva from known larvae of other congeners are mentioned, and some notes on the habitat of the species are presented.
Espécies novas de Ischnoptera (Blattellidae, Blattellinae) do Estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil e considerações sobre I. similis
Authors: Lopes Sonia Maria
Published: November 2009

Três espécies novas de Ischnoptera Burmeister, 1838 do Estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil são descritas (I. miuda, I. irregulata, I. pantaneira). Ilustrações da genitália do macho e fêmea são apresentadas. Ischnoptera cristata nom. nov. para I. similis Rocha e Silva, 1984, non I. similis R. S.-Albuquerque & Lopes, 1977.
Ecology and natural history of Akodon lindberghi (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae) in southeastern Brazil
Authors: Queirolo Diego , Granzinolli Marco A. M.
Published: November 2009

We studied the ecology and natural history of the globally threatened and poorly known Akodon lindberghi Hershkovitz, 1990 in Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra (PNSC) and Juiz de Fora (JF), southeastern Brazil. From November 1998 to September 2001 a total of 131 individuals were captured in wire-cage live-traps and 52 by pitfalls traps. They were all marked and released at the site. The largest abundances were registered during the dry season, and most of the captures occurred in open habitats. The mean body mass of the two populations was significantly different (18.1 g at PNSC versus 13.1 g at JF; H = 46.2678, g.l.=2, p<0.001). In PNSC, individuals were reproductively active from August to February, and juveniles were present from May to August. The results suggest that the changes in vegetation structure caused by deforestation and intensive agricultural activities could increase the predation rate, affecting the mean body mass of the population.
Descrição de uma nova espécie de Chlorotabanus (Insecta, Diptera, Tabanidae) da Região Neotropical
Authors: Krolow Tiago K. , Henriques Augusto L.
Published: November 2009

É descrita uma nova espécie de Tabanidae (Diptera), Chlorotabanus flagellatus sp. nov. , distribuída na região amazônica, Estados do Amazonas e Pará. Diagnose, discussão e ilustrações dos caracteres externos e internos são fornecidas.
O grupo pullorum-gallinarum em provas bacteriologicas comparativas
Authors: Pacheco Genesio , Rodrigues Celso
Published: November 2009

Foram examinadas 38 amostras de germens do grupo pullorumgallinarum, de origem européa, americana ou isoladas no Brasil, acompanhadas bacteriologicamente durante 3 annos, na fixidez de suas propriedades ou na possibilidade de sua transformação dum typo em outro. a) Distinguiram-se no estudo das propriedades cinco typos de germens no grupo pullorumgallinarum - 1) pullorum gazogeno, 2) pullorum não gazogeno, 3) intermedius, 4) gallinarum ou intermedius? gazogeno, 5) gallinarum não gazogeno. Os 2 primeiros e o 5º já bem cinhecidos e acceitos; o 4º admittido por Beck & Eber, em 1929, o 3º evidenciado por nós em 1935. b) O typo gallinarum gazogeno deve ser mais propriamente talvez considerado como typo intermedius gazogeno a vista de sua acção sobre sorbita e a xylose e sobre o meio de Jordan. c) O quadro final resume as caracteristicas mais importantes destes cinco typos, baseando-se a differenciação principalmente na alteração do vermelho neutro, na produção de H²S, na fermentação de glycerina, rhamnose, xylose, dulcita, sorbita e maltose, na acção sobre o tartaro, na producção de gaz e no aspecto das colonias na superficie de certos meios de cultura. d) Outras propriedades biologicas examinadas - acção sobre o leite, sôro de leite, dextrina, etc, admitidos por varios pesquizadores na differenciação, parecem distituidas de valor. e) As amostras mantiveram fixas as suas propriedades durante todo o tempo em que foram acompanhadas. A hypothese de uma possivel transformação de um typo em outro não foi confirmada em nenhuma das amostras estudadas, justificando a entidade dos varios typos admittidos. f) Discrepancias observadas na fermentação da maltose, referidas por varios pesquizadores com germens desse grupo, não foram confirmadas no presente trabalho. g) Encontrou-se no sôro sanguineo um factor capaz de transformar a maltose em glycose, tornando aquelle assucar fermentescivel. Essa substancia é thermo-estavel e resiste á acção de substancias antidiastasicas. h) A analyse sôrologica das amostras estudadas não permittiu differenciar os typos entre si.