Frequency and characterization of the accessory heads of the biceps brachii: A multicentric cadaveric study.

PURPOSE: The biceps brachii muscle (BBM) is a large and thick muscle on the ventral portion of the upper arm. The scientific literature reports the existence of extra heads. OBJECTIVE: The present work investigated the frequency of occurrence of BBM accessory head(s) in four different Anatomy Laboratories at universities in Northeast Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Once the upper limbs with an anatomical variation of the BBM heads were identified, the accessory head was evaluated for morphometric characterization (the length, width, and thickness). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 249 upper limbs and the outcomes were 26 members with BBM accessory heads (10.44% of the total sample). Among the 26 members studied was found a single accessory head in 22 (84.62%), two accessory heads in 3 (11.54%), and three accessory heads in 1 (3.85%). BBMs with one, two, and three accessory heads were found, with different origins. The average length, width, and thickness of these accessory heads were 169.39mm, 10.25mm, and 3.39mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The frequency of BBM accessory heads in a population of northeastern Brazil in this cadaveric study was 10.44%.

Effect of dentofacial deformity on maximum isometric tongue strength.

The objective of this study was to determine whether dentofacial deformities (class II and class III) influence maximum isometric tongue strength compared with a group without deformities. A total of 126 adult patients participated in the study. Of these, 45 had a class II diagnosis (14 men and 31 women) and 81 a class III diagnosis (35 men and 46 women), all of them with indication of orthognathic surgery. Fifty adult volunteers (17 men and 33 women) with no changes in dental occlusion (class I) and with no clinical signs of dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint represented the control group. Tongue strength (in N) was measured with a dynamometer. The maximum strength of the anterior portion was determined with the instrument positioned on the retroincisor region and the maximum strength of the dorsum with the instrument positioned in the region of the hard palate. Data were analysed statistically by analysis of variance (anova) and by the Pearson correlation test. No significant difference (P > 0·05) in tongue strength in the anterior or dorsal region was observed between the groups with dentofacial deformities or between these groups and the control. The tongue strength of the anterior and dorsal regions was not influenced by the dentofacial deformity.

Magnetic studies of CoFe2O4/SiO2 aerogel and xerogel nanocomposites.

The evolution of the structural and magnetic properties of nanocomposites formed by cobalt ferrite particles dispersed in xerogel and aerogel silica matrices (CoFe2O4/SiO2) have been studied as a function of the temperature of preparation and the amount of ferrite dispersed in the matrix. Wet samples with different amounts of CoFe2O4 in SiO2 matrix were prepared by sol-gel process in monolithic form. Xerogel and aerogel samples were prepared by controlled and hypercritical drying, respectively, and heated at various temperatures between 300 and 1100 degrees C. Superparamagnetic behavior has been observed by magnetization studies at room temperature for xerogels prepared at low temperature. Aerogel samples showed significant superparamagnetic fractions for all thermal treatment temperatures as determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Magnetization of the nanocomposites at 10 KOe applied field varied from 1 to 19 emu/g and the coercivity from 90 to 2320 Oe, respectively, for the different morphologies and textures of the analyzed material. The results show that besides the magnetization and coercivity depend on crystallite size, parameters such as ferrite content, porosity and drying conditions greatly influence the nanocomposite magnetic behavior.

Resistance of mice to Leptospira infection and correlation with chemokine response.

Leptospirosis is globally widespread neglected disease, affecting most mammalian species. Clinical signs can be confused with other diseases which make the diagnosis and treatment difficult. Chemokines and cytokines are known for their role in the inflammatory and immune response to infections. The profile determination of chemokines' expressions in the course of infection may elucidate the defense mechanisms of the host and support the search for effective treatment strategies. We investigated the mechanisms of innate immunity through the comparison of chemokines induced during infection with L. interrogans in mice with different levels of susceptibility. We used lung and spleen tissues samples of mice from C3H/HeJ, C3H/HePas and Balb/c, respectively sensitive, intermediate susceptibility and resistant to the pathogen. The inoculation of L. interrogans in C3H/HeJ mice led a comparatively smaller change in chemokines expression in both spleen and lung tissues. In samples from spleens and lungs of C3H/HePas and Balb/c the higher increases occurred on CXCL9, CXCL16, CXCL5, CCL8 and CCL5 in Balb/c. Given the same genetic background, the differences in the responses of C3H/HePas compared to C3H/HeJ mice strongly suggest the role of chemokines for the survival of parental strain. Therefore, the greatest increase in CXC chemokines appears to be efficient to induce migration of cells to the secondary lymphoid organs and affected tissues, which is important to control infection. Overall, CXC chemokines are important for the activation and attraction of T cell and may influence the course and control of the infection in resistant Balb/c mice.

Hylax bahiensis Bechyné (Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae): a New Potential Pest of Eucalyptus and Species Used for Atlantic Rainforest Restoration.

Hylax bahiensis Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a new pest of forest species, including eucalyptus (hybrid Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis), Joannesia princeps, Mimosa artemisiana, Croton urucurana, Croton floribundus, and Senna multijuga is recorded. The insect attack in clonal eucalyptus plantations and in forest restoration areas between 2010 and 2013 in the states of Espírito Santo, Bahia and Minas Gerais, Brasil, was observed for the first time. The outbreaks generally occurred from September to March. This new potential pest can affect the growth, productivity, and quality of the trees. We recommended monitoring this leaf-eating beetle especially during the critical period of its occurrence.

Mycoflora and occurrence of aflatoxin B(1) and fumonisin B(1) during storage of Brazilian sorghum.

The present study is a 1-year follow up of the mycoflora of 140 samples of Brazilian freshly harvested (10) and stored (130) sorghum, the levels of aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination detected in the grains, and the prevailing abiotic factors (grain moisture content, water activity, temperature, relative humidity, and mean rainfall) at the time of sampling. The results show a predominance of the genera Phoma (57.1%), Aspergillus (42.7%), Fusarium (25.0%), and Rhizopus (21.4%) and the presence of nine other filamentous fungi. Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium, the three most important genera in terms of toxicity, presented numbers of colony forming units per gram of sorghum (CFU/g) that varied from 1 x 10(3) to 36 x 10(3), from 1 x 10(3) to 295 x 10(3), and from 1 x 10(3) to 20 x 10(3) CFU/g, respectively. The species most frequently found were Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium moniliforme. Of the total samples analyzed, 12.8% were contaminated with aflatoxin B(1) (concentration mean = 7-33 microg/kg) and 74.2% with fumonisin B(1) (concentration mean = 0.11-0.15 microg/g). This paper is the first report of the natural occurrence of aflatoxins and fumonisins in sorghum grain from Brazil.

Determination of Mo and Bi in steels by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after complexation and sorption on activated carbon.

A simple method for the preconcentration of Mo and Bi in steels is proposed. The analytes are complexed with the ammonium salt of dithiophosphoric acid O,O-diethyl ester and sorbed onto activated carbon. After desorption into a small volume of nitric acid at low pH, Mo and Bi are determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Iron(III) is reduced to Fe(II), which is not complexed and not significantly retained on the carbon. Enrichment factor of 23 and 26 were obtained for Mo and Bi, respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of four certified reference steels, after acid dissolution in a microwave system and good agreement was obtained with the certified or recommended values.

Automated determination of tin and nickel in brass by on-line anodic electrodissolution and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

The application of an on-line metallic alloy dissolution system using anodic electrodissolution in a flow injection system for the determination of tin and nickel in copper alloys is described. After the electrolyzed material was collected in the autosampler cup, determination was carried out using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Using specific software developed in Turbo Pascal 7.0, it is possible to control electrolysis time, intensity of the applied current, and triggering of the three-way solenoid valves that push the fluids. Through manipulation of these variables, it is possible to adjust the analytical signal to within the working range of the spectrometer. Calibration of the spectrometer was accomplished by processing reference material. For tin, relative standard deviations for a series of measurements (n=5) performed on the same point and on different points of the sample was smaller than 2 and 4%, respectively; for nickel, 2 and 5%, respectively. The results for tin and nickel were in good agreement with those obtained through application of the classical methodology, as well as with data obtained by optical emission spectrometry. The detection limit for tin was 0.001% (w/w), whereas for nickel it was 0.003% (w/w). The analytical throughput is 30 samples h(-1).

Synthesis and analgesic profile of novel N-containing heterocycle derivatives: arylidene 3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-carbohydrazide.

This paper describes recent results of a research program aimed at the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new heterocyclic N-acylhydrazone (NAH) compounds, belonging to the arylidene (3-phenyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazolyl-5-carboxyhydrazide (8a-p) series. These compounds were structurally planned by applying the molecular hybridization strategy on previously described arylidene 1-phenylpyrazole-4-carbohydrazide (5) derivatives, considered as lead-compounds, which present potent analgesic properties. The analgesic profile of the title compounds 8a-p, evaluated in the model of abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid, showed that the 4-methoxybenzylidene derivatives 8c and 8k were the most active ones, exhibiting a relative analgesic activity comparable with that of dipyrone 1 used as standard.

[Clinico genetic discussion on Apert's syndrome. Apropos of a case]. / Discussäo genetico-clinica sobre a sindrome de Apert. A proposito de um caso

After a short introduction about the so-called Apert's syndrome. a clinical suggestive case is reported. Discussion shows how a clinic-genetical procedure may help the clinicians.

[The basilar impression and the Arnold-Chiari malformation. Techno-surgical considerations apropos of 13 cases]. / Impressão basilar e malformação de Arnold-Chiari. Considerações técnico-cirúrgicas a propósito de 13 casos.

The surgical technic for decompression of the posterior fossa in cases of basilar impression and malformation of Arnold-Chiari mainly based in (1) endotracheal intubation without any flexion of the head, (2) position of the head without anterior flexion during the surgery, (3) plastic of the posterior fossa with dura-mater of cadaver conserved in glicerina, was emploied in 13 patients. The plastic was made to create space at the craniocervical joint in order to avoid cerebrospinal fluid fistula and to restore the integrity of the dura. Infection was not observed.

[Total denervation of the wrist. Apropos of 50 cases]. / La dénervation totale du poignet. A propos de 50 cas.

Fifty patients who underwent a total denervation of the wrist were reviewed after an average of 5 years post-operatively. The main aetiology was diffuse osteo-arthritis secondary to scaphoid nonunion (44 per cent) and Kienbock's disease, stage IV (22 per cent). This resulted in pain and functional disability. Another surgical procedure was carried out in 40 per cent of patients. Post-operative complications included one painful neuroma and 3 patients complained of radial nerve paraesthesia. Pain was improved in 36 of the 50 patients with an average score of 72 over a scale of 100. There was no significant change in power or range of movement.

[Mental suffering of nurses who care for cancer patients]. / O sofrimento psíquico dos enfermeiros que lidam com pacientes oncológicos.

In this qualitative study, four nurses of a teaching hospital in the city of Campinas, São Paulo-Brazil, all of them working with oncological patients were interviewed in order to verify the situation that most caused mental suffering in the day by day with these patients. Data collection were performed as proposed by the ethnographic approach and the non-directive interview and the direct observation was employed. The contain analysis has been utilized to the data analysis. The results have shown that many situations of the relationship nurses-oncological patients cause mental suffering in that professional. Those situations are tied to the work of the nurses, to the kind of patient treated by those professionals and to the kind of sickness presented by the patient. That study has shown that, many times, the nurses utilize defense mechanisms against that mental suffering. This work aims to contribute to the knowledge of the subject and therefore be itself a base in which one could elaborate measures that can make these problems that occur with the nurses that work in the Oncology area lighter. With that study to contribute to the comprehension of the challenge that the cancer, sickness that make professional and population frightened, is.

Immunization of mice with Lactobacillus casei expressing a beta-intimin fragment reduces intestinal colonization by Citrobacter rodentium.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a common cause of diarrhea in children from developing countries. Intimate adhesion of the bacteria to intestinal cells occurs via binding of the adhesin intimin to the TIR receptor exposed on cell surfaces. Here, Lactobacillus casei expressing a fragment of ß-intimin (L. casei-Int(cv)) was tested as mucosal vaccines in mice against intestinal colonization with the murine pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. Oral or sublingual immunization of C57BL/6 mice with L. casei-Int(cv) induced anti-Int(cv) IgA in feces but no IgG in sera. Conversely, anti-Int(cv) IgG was induced in the sera of mice after sublingual immunization with purified Int(cv). All vaccines were able to decrease C. rodentium recovery from feces. However, this reduction was more evident and sustained over time in mice immunized with L. casei-Int(cv) by the sublingual route. These mice also displayed an increase in interleukin 6 (IL-6) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) secretion by spleen cells 10 days after infection. Additionally, oral or sublingual immunization of C3H/HePas mice, which are highly susceptible to C. rodentium infection, with L. casei-Int(cv) induced anti-Int(cv) antibodies and significantly increased survival after challenge. Immunohistological analysis of colon sections revealed that C. rodentium was located in deep fractions of the tissue from C3H/HePas mice immunized with L. casei whereas superficial staining was observed in colon sections from mice immunized with L. casei-Int(cv.) The results indicate that vaccines composed of L. casei expressing intimin may represent a promising approach and that the C3H/HePas infection model with C. rodentium can be used to evaluate potential vaccines against EPEC.

[Denervation of the wrist]. / La dénervation du poignet.

Fifty patients with wrist arthritis mainly secondary to a scaphoid pseudarthrosis (44%) or a Kienböck disease (22%) were operated on by one surgeon by "total" denervation. With a post-operative follow up of 5 years, pain, strength and range of movement were reviewed. Four complications are by means of stressed: one painful neuroma and three radial nerve paresthesiae. 72% of the patients had pain improvement with an average of 72 points on a scale of 100 points. Strength and range of movement were not significantly improved.

Effects of drought on primary photosynthetic processes of cotton leaves.

The effects of drought on Photosystem II (PSII) fluorescence and photosynthetic electron transport activities were analyzed in cotton. Water stress did not modify the amplitude of leaf variable fluorescence at room temperature in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) nor at 77 K. It is therefore concluded that photon collection, their distribution between the two photosystems, and PSII photochemistry are unaffected by the stress. In droughted leaves at room temperature under low exciting light, the transitory maximum (F(p)) and steady state (F(t)) fluorescence levels are increased; under high exciting light, F(p) level and the rise time from the initial level (F(o)) to F(p) are unchanged, whereas F(p) to F(t) decay time is increased. These results infer that the drought slows the rate of plastoquinone reoxidation. This conclusion agrees with a larger proportion of reduced primary PSII electron acceptor Q(A) measured at the steady state under low light. In thylakoids isolated from droughted leaves, PSII mediated electron flow was the same as in thylakoids from control leaves, whereas PSI mediated electron transport was inhibited. It is shown that water stress does not induce sensitization to photoinhibition in cotton.

On-line preconcentration with different solid adsorbents for lead determination.

An on-line column preconcentration method based on the combined use of ammonium O,O-diethyldithiophosphate and activated carbon or polyurethane foam as adsorbents has been developed for the determination of Pb in water samples. The complexed Pb was eluted with ethanol and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum preconcentration conditions are given for each adsorbent. The enrichment factors were 63 and 294, and the detection limits (3sigma) 3 microg L(-1) and 0.8 microg L(-1), respectively, for the carbon and foam systems. When the optimized procedures were applied to the determination of Pb in water samples the recovery efficiency was > 96%.

Preconcentration of lead complexed with O,O-diethyl-dithiophosphate by column solid-phase extraction using different sorbents in a flow injection system coupled to a flame atomic absorption spectrometer.

A comparative study of C(18) immobilized on silica, activated carbon and a polyurethane foam, as sorbents for Pb complexed with O,O-diethyl-dithiophosphate in a flow injection preconcentration system is reported. The complex was formed in 1.0 M HCl medium and processed in a simple system using a peristaltic pump, a manual injector-commutator and a mini-column filled with the sorbent. Using ethanol as eluent, the richest 150-mul fraction was collected and measured (after discarding 150, 200 and 0 mul for the activated carbon, foam and C(18), respectively) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum concentration of the complexing agent was 0.05% m/v for C(18) and 0.2% m/v for the activated carbon and the polyurethane foam. The best sample loading flow rate was 4.0 ml min(-1) for the activated carbon and 2.0 ml min(-1) for C(18) and the polyurethane foam, while the best elution flow rate was 1.0 ml min(-1) (activated carbon) and 0.6 ml min(-1) (C(18) and foam). It was found that beyond a certain loading sample volume, for a constant analyte mass, the signal decreased. The maximum loading sample volume, for a constant analyte mass, before the signal started to decrease, was 50 ml for the activated carbon and 150 ml for the other materials. By processing 25 ml, the enrichment factors were 23, 55 and 166 for the activated carbon, foam and C(18), respectively. The best limit of detection (3sigma) was 0.3 mug l(-1) for the C(18) (1.2 mug l(-1) for the foam and 3 mug l(-1) for the activated carbon). As shown, the C(18) has a much superior retention performance in comparison to the other two materials.

Immune defense mechanisms of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) against Candida albicans infection.

Mosquitoes have an efficient defense system against infection. The cellular immune defense mechanism initiated by the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus infected with the fungus Candida albicans was investigated in this study. Differences in the hemocyte counts in hemolymph perfused from uninoculated, saline-inoculated, and C. albicans-infected mosquitoes were compared using a light microscope. Phagocytosis was also investigated using electron microscopy. Four types of hemocytes were identified in control mosquitoes: prohemocytes (9.8%), plasmatocytes (38.8%), granular cells (44.2%), and oenocytoids (7.3%). Between 3 and 18 h postinoculation the total hemocyte count was significantly higher in infected, compared to uninfected, mosquitoes. Differential hemocyte counts from infected mosquitoes at 3, 6, and 18 h after inoculation showed that the relative proportion of plasmatocytes (48.6, 50.7, 45%) was higher and, concomitantly, the proportion of granular cells was lower (38, 36.8, 35%, respectively). Yeast cells were phagocytosed and limited growth was observed within the plasmatocytes. Melanized nodules were found attached to different insect tissues at 24 to 72 h following infection. These results suggest that phagocytosis, followed by nodule formation, was capable of clearing the hemolymph of yeast cells.