Selection and characterization of human respiratory syncytial virus escape mutants resistant to a polyclonal antiserum raised against the F protein.

A human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) neutralization escape mutant was obtained after 56 serial passages in the presence of a polyclonal antiserum raised against the F protein. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this escape mutant virus revealed two amino acid substitutions: Asn268Ile and Val533Met. When this virus was allowed to grow in the absence of the anti-F polyclonal serum, only the mutation Asn268Ile was stably maintained. Both the double and single escape mutant viruses lost reactivity with mAbs belonging to antigenic site II of the fusion protein of RSV. Mutation Asn268Ile has already been reported in RS viruses that are resistant to mAbs 47F and 11 and palivizumab (PZ). We have thus identified a novel mutation (Val533Met) in the transmembrane domain of the F protein that was selected under immune pressure.

Quantitative analysis of the resorption and osteoconduction of a macroporous calcium phosphate bone cement for the repair of a critical size defect in the femoral condyle.

Clinical orthopaedic use of calcium phosphate cement has been limited due to its slow resorption rate, but a new macroporous alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) bone cement has been designed to accelerate resorption and to increase bone ingrowth. To assess its clinical potential, the in vivo behaviour of alpha-TCP was evaluated in a critical-size defect drilled in the femoral condyles of 36 adult female New Zealand rabbits. Macroporous or standard cement was injected immediately after preparation of the defect. The foaming agent was albumen, which gave up to 75% porosity. The rabbits were divided into three groups and the lesions examined histopathologically at 1, 4 and 12 weeks. No inflammatory reaction was detected at any time period following implantation with either macroporous or standard cement. At 12 weeks, the area of the implanted macroporous cement was approximately 35% of the initial lesion size. Bone growth and revascularisation was observed inside the central pores of the macroporous cement, not only at the margins, as was found with standard calcium phosphate cement. The results indicated that both cements were osteoconductive, biocompatible and biodegradable but their different physicochemical and biological properties had a marked influence on their post-implant behaviour.

[Mental health and anxiety in community health agents in Uberlândia (MG, Brazil)]. / Saúde mental e ansiedade em agentes comunitários que atuam em saúde da família em Uberlândia (MG, Brasil).

UNLABELLED: The scope of this research, carried out together with community-based health workers (ACS) was: (1) to evaluate the mental health of the ACS; (2) to describe the vital events in the last year of the ACS; (3) to inquire about the level of anxiety of the ACS; (4) to correlate mental health, vital events and anxiety of the ACS. PARTICIPANTS: 116 ACS. MEASUREMENTS: socio-demographic questionnaire, Goldberg General Health Questionnaire, The Life Events Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The majority of the ACS presented a moderate degree of anxiety and positive mental health; they reported having experienced few stressful events in the past year, even though the majority had experienced health problems. The fact that most of the ACS reported having experienced moderate anxiety levels suggests a probable interference of specific characteristics of the profession. However, the fact that the persons subjectively identified the presence of anxiety and classified it at a given level presupposes that they are using control strategies, which is a factor that assists in maintaining mental health.

In vivo behaviour of two different biphasic ceramic implanted in mandibular bone of dogs.

Alloplastic calcium phosphate bone substitutes such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) have been studied extensively due to their composition closely resembling the inorganic phase of bone tissue. On the same way, by manipulating the HA/TCP ratio it may be possible to change the substitution rate and the bioactivity of these materials, an advantage which has brought them to clinical use in oral and orthopaedic surgery. In this work, we evaluated the histological response in bone of two biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics by varying the proportion of their components. All premolars of 6 beagle dogs were removed from both sides of the mandible. Three months later, four cylinders composed of 85% HA and 15% beta-TCP (BCP 1) were implanted in the right side of mandible and other four cylinders composed of 15% HA and 85% beta-TCP (BCP 2) were implanted in the left side of mandible of dogs for 4, 12 ad 26 weeks, respectively. Two dogs were used in each time point. The histological study indicated that both biphasic ceramic were biocompatible. The earlier and more quantity of bone formed in BCP 2 than in BCP 1 suggested that the first one had a higher osteoinductive potential than the second one in mandibular bone. The resorption of the phosphate phase and the subsequent migration of bone into the resorbed portions were detected in both biphasic ceramics although two processes appeared faster in BCP 2 than in BCP 1. These dates conclude that varying the components of our biphasic ceramic we improve its osteoinductive potential.

Saúde mental e ansiedade em agentes comunitários que atuam em saúde da família em Uberlândia (MG, Brasil) / Mental health and anxiety in community health agents in Uberlândia (MG, Brazil)

Esta pesquisa, realizada com agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS), objetivou: (1) avaliar a saúde mental em ACS; (2) descrever os eventos vitais vivenciados no último ano por ACS; (3) averiguar o nível de ansiedade apresentado por ACS; (4) correlacionar saúde mental, ansiedade e eventos vitais em ACS. Participaram 116 ACS. Instrumentos: questionário sociodemográfico, Questionário de Saúde Geral de Goldberg, Escala de Eventos Vitais, Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado. A maioria dos ACS apresentou grau de ansiedade moderado e saúde mental positiva e relatou ter vivenciado poucos eventos estressantes no último ano, embora a maioria tenha tido problemas de saúde. O fato de estarem presentes níveis de ansiedade, mesmo moderados, sugere uma provável interferência de características específicas da profissão. Entretanto, o fato de a pessoa identificar subjetivamente a ansiedade e classificá-la em um determinado nível pressupõe que esteja usando estratégias de controle, fato esse que auxilia a manter a saúde mental.

The scope of this research, carried out together with community-based health workers (ACS) was: (1) to evaluate the mental health of the ACS; (2) to describe the vital events in the last year of the ACS; (3) to inquire about the level of anxiety of the ACS; (4) to correlate mental health, vital events and anxiety of the ACS. Participants: 116 ACS. Measurements: socio-demographic questionnaire, Goldberg General Health Questionnaire, The Life Events Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The majority of the ACS presented a moderate degree of anxiety and positive mental health; they reported having experienced few stressful events in the past year, even though the majority had experienced health problems. The fact that most of the ACS reported having experienced moderate anxiety levels suggests a probable interference of specific characteristics of the profession. However, the fact that the persons subjectively identified the presence of anxiety and classified it at a given level presupposes that they are using control strategies, which is a factor that assists in maintaining mental health.