Writing good English: is scientific English a Latin language in disguise? / Escrever ciência com qualidade: seria o inglês científico uma língua latina disfarçada?

BACKGROUND: English is the lingua franca of science; it is the language of the two last world superpowers and the language of four out of the world's ten greatest producers of science; it is a fairly simple language and the most hybridized language in history, with Latin and French contributing 60% of the entire English lexicon. The object of this study is to determine whether the frequency of use of imported words is a function of literary genre. METHOD: Texts were randomly selected from (a) medical scientific original articles, (b) newspaper financial reports, (c) sport reportages, (d) literary texts and (e) colloquial English; for comparison a collection of similarly distributed texts were selected from Portuguese; the frequency of occurrence of Latin or Neo-Latin words was determined in the English texts as well as the occurrence of non-Latin or non-Neo-Latin words in the Portuguese texts; a oneway analysis of variance was used to determine whether significant differences occurred between genres in the two languages. RESULTS: The frequency of occurrence of Latin/French words in English text was significantly dependent on the literary genre, being maximal in medical scientific texts and minimal in colloquial English; in contrast, the frequency of occurrence of non-Latin words in Portuguese was constant throughout the same literary genres. CONCLUSION: The use of Latin/French words in English is directly proportional to the complexity of the literary genre, a phenomenon not observed in Portuguese, a typical Neo-Latin language.

CONTEXTO: O inglês é a língua franca da ciência; é a língua das duas mais recentes superpotências mundiais e a língua de quatro dos dez maiores produtores de ciência do mundo; é uma língua bastante simples e o idioma mais hibridizado da história, com o latim e o francês contribuindo com aproximadamente 60% do léxico inglês. O objetivo deste estudo é determinar se a frequência de uso de palavras importadas é uma função do gênero literário. MÉTODO: os textos foram selecionados aleatoriamente de (a) artigos científicos médicos, (b) relatórios financeiros dos jornais, (c) reportagens desportivas, (d) textos literários, (e) inglês coloquial; Para comparação, uma coleção de textos distribuídos de forma semelhante foi selecionada a partir do português; a frequência de ocorrência de palavras latinas ou neolatinas foi determinada nos textos em inglês e na ocorrência de palavras não latinas ou não neolatinas nos textos portugueses; uma análise de variância unidirecional foi utilizada para determinar se diferenças significativas ocorreram entre gêneros nas duas línguas. RESULTADOS: A frequência de ocorrência de palavras latinas / francesas em textos ingleses foi significativamente dependente do gênero literário, sendo máxima em textos científicos médicos e mínima em inglês coloquial; em contraste, a frequência de ocorrência de palavras não latinas em português foi constante ao longo dos mesmos gêneros literários. CONCLUSÃO: O uso de palavras de origem latina ou francesa em inglês é diretamente proporcional à complexidade do gênero literário, fenômeno não observado em português, uma língua neolatina típica.

Cardiovascular Effects of Shock and Trauma in Experimental Models. A Review.

Experimental models of human pathology are useful guides to new approaches towards improving clinical and surgical treatments. A systematic search through PubMed using the syntax (shock) AND (trauma) AND (animal model) AND (cardiovascular) AND ("2010/01/01"[PDat]: "2015/12/31"[PDat]) found 88 articles, which were reduced by manual inspection to 43 entries. These were divided into themes and each theme is subsequently narrated and discussed conjointly. Taken together, these articles indicate that valuable information has been developed over the past 5 years concerning endothelial stability, mesenteric lymph, vascular reactivity, traumatic injuries, burn and sepsis. A surviving interest in hypertonic saline resuscitation still exists.

Cardiovascular Effects of Shock and Trauma in Experimental Models. A Review

Abstract Experimental models of human pathology are useful guides to new approaches towards improving clinical and surgical treatments. A systematic search through PubMed using the syntax (shock) AND (trauma) AND (animal model) AND (cardiovascular) AND ("2010/01/01"[PDat]: "2015/12/31"[PDat]) found 88 articles, which were reduced by manual inspection to 43 entries. These were divided into themes and each theme is subsequently narrated and discussed conjointly. Taken together, these articles indicate that valuable information has been developed over the past 5 years concerning endothelial stability, mesenteric lymph, vascular reactivity, traumatic injuries, burn and sepsis. A surviving interest in hypertonic saline resuscitation still exists.

Effects of ethyl pyruvate on leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the mesenteric microcirculation during early sepsis treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Experimental studies on sepsis have demonstrated that ethyl pyruvate is endowed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethyl pyruvate on leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the mesenteric microcirculation in a live Escherichia coli-induced sepsis model in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were administered an intravenous suspension of E. coli bacteria or were subjected to a sham procedure. Three hours after bacterial infusion, the rats were randomized into the following groups: a control group without treatment, a group treated with lactated Ringer's solution (4 mL/kg, i.v.), and a group treated with lactated Ringer's solution (4 mL/kg, i.v.) plus ethyl pyruvate (50 mg/kg). At 24 h after bacterial infusion, leukocyte-endothelial interactions were investigated using intravital microscopy, and the expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was evaluated via immunohistochemistry. White blood cell and platelet counts were also determined at baseline and 3 h and 24 h after E. coli inoculation. RESULTS: The non-treated and lactated Ringer's solution-treated groups exhibited increases in the numbers of rolling leukocytes (∼2.5-fold increase), adherent cells (∼3.0-fold), and migrated cells (∼3.5-fold) compared with the sham group. In contrast, treatment with Ringer's ethyl pyruvate solution reduced the numbers of rolling, adherent and migrated leukocytes to the levels observed in the sham group. Additionally, the expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was significantly increased on mesenteric microvessels in the non-treated group compared with the sham group (p<0.001). The expression of both adhesion molecules was reduced in the other groups, with ethyl pyruvate being more effective than lactated Ringer's solution. Infusion of bacteria caused significant leukopenia (3 h), followed by leukocytosis with granulocytosis (24 h). There was also an intense and progressive reduction in the number of platelets. However, no differences were observed after treatment with the different solutions. CONCLUSIONS: The presented data suggest that ethyl pyruvate efficiently reduces the inflammatory response in the mesenteric microcirculation in an experimental model of sepsis induced by live E. coli and is associated, at least in part, with down-regulation of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1.

Effects of ethyl pyruvate on leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the mesenteric microcirculation during early sepsis treatment

OBJECTIVES: Experimental studies on sepsis have demonstrated that ethyl pyruvate is endowed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethyl pyruvate on leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the mesenteric microcirculation in a live Escherichia coli-induced sepsis model in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were administered an intravenous suspension of E. coli bacteria or were subjected to a sham procedure. Three hours after bacterial infusion, the rats were randomized into the following groups: a control group without treatment, a group treated with lactated Ringer’s solution (4 mL/kg, i.v.), and a group treated with lactated Ringer’s solution (4 mL/kg, i.v.) plus ethyl pyruvate (50 mg/kg). At 24 h after bacterial infusion, leukocyte-endothelial interactions were investigated using intravital microscopy, and the expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was evaluated via immunohistochemistry. White blood cell and platelet counts were also determined at baseline and 3 h and 24 h after E. coli inoculation. RESULTS: The non-treated and lactated Ringer’s solution-treated groups exhibited increases in the numbers of rolling leukocytes (∼2.5-fold increase), adherent cells (∼3.0-fold), and migrated cells (∼3.5-fold) compared with the sham group. In contrast, treatment with Ringer’s ethyl pyruvate solution reduced the numbers of rolling, adherent and migrated leukocytes to the levels observed in the sham group. Additionally, the expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was significantly increased on mesenteric microvessels in the non-treated group compared with the sham group (p<0.001). The expression of both adhesion molecules was reduced in the other groups, with ethyl pyruvate being more effective than lactated Ringer’s solution. Infusion of bacteria caused significant leukopenia (3 h), followed ...

Pentoxifylline attenuates leukocyte-endothelial interactions in a two-hit model of shock and sepsis.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) combined with resuscitation fluids on microcirculatory dysfunctions in a two-hit model of shock and sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (250 g) were submitted to hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion followed by sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture. For the initial treatment of shock, rats were randomly divided into: sham, no injury, no treatment; hypertonic saline solution (HS) (7.5%, 4 mL/kg); lactated Ringer's solution (LR, 3 × shed blood volume); HS + PTX (4 mL/Kg + 25 mg/kg PTX); and LR + PTX (3 × shed blood volume + 25 mg/kg PTX). After 48 h of being exposed to the double injury, leukocyte-endothelial interactions were assessed by intravital microscopy of the mesentery. Endothelial expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, as well as lung neutrophil infiltration by histology. RESULTS: Lactated Ringer's solution induced marked increases (P < 0.001) in the number of rolling leukocytes per 10 min (two-fold), adherent leukocytes per 100 µm venule length (six-fold), migrated leukocytes per 5000 µm(2) (eight-fold), P-selectin and ICAM-1 expression (four-fold), and lung neutrophil infiltration (three-fold) compared with sham. In contrast, PTX attenuated leukocyte-endothelial interactions, P-selectin and ICAM-1 expression at the mesentery when associated with either LR (P < 0.001) or HS (P < 0.05). Neutrophil migration into the lungs was similarly reduced by PTX (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Data presented showed that pentoxifylline attenuates microcirculatory disturbances at the mesenteric bed with significant minimization of lung inflammation after a double-injury model of hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion followed by sepsis.

Intraportal versus Systemic Pentoxifylline Infusion after Normothermic Liver Ischemia: Effects on Regional Blood Flow Redistribution and Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Pentoxifylline (PTX) has been shown to have beneficial effects on microcirculatory blood flow. In this study we evaluate the potential hemodynamic and metabolic benefits of PTX during hepatic ischemia. We also test the hypothesis that portal PTX infusion can minimize the I/R injury when compared to systemic infusion. Methods. Twenty-four dogs (18.1 ± 0.7 kg) were subjected to portal triad occlusion (PTO) for 45 min. The animals were assigned to 3 groups: CT (control, PTO, n = 8), PTX-syst (PTO + 25 mg/Kg of PTX IV, n = 8), and PTX-pv (PTO + 25 mg/Kg of PTX in the portal vein, n = 8). Animals were followed for 120 min. Systemic hemodynamics, gastrointestinal tract perfusion, oxygen-derived variables, and liver enzymes were evaluated throughout the experiment. Results. Animals treated with PTX presented significantly higher CO in the first hour after reperfusion, when compared to the CT (~3.7 vs. 2.1 L/min, P < 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was similar in the PTX groups two hours after reperfusion but significantly higher in the CT (227 vs. ~64 U/L, P < 0.05). Conclusion. PTX infusion was associated with hemodynamic benefits and was able to minimize liver injury during normothermic hepatic I/R. However, local PTX infusion was not associated with any significant advantage over systemic route.

Hypertonic saline solution reduces mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions and bacterial translocation in a rat model of strangulated small bowel obstruction.

We examined the effects of hypertonic saline (HS) on inflammatory, metabolic variables, and bacterial translocation (BT) in rats submitted to intestinal obstruction and ischemia (IO). Male Wistar rats were submitted to IO and treated, 2 h thereafter, with lactated Ringer's (LR) (4 mL/kg per 5 min, i.v.) or HS (7.5% NaCl, 4 mL/kg per 5 min, i.v.). Twenty-four hours after IO, rats were also submitted to enterectomy/enteroanastomosis to resection of necrotized small bowel. Leukocyte-endothelial interactions were investigated by intravital microscopy and the expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 by immunohistochemistry. Bacterial cultures of mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and blood were used to evaluate BT. Levels of chemokines (cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractants 1 and 2), insulin, and corticosterone were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intestinal histology, serum urea and creatinine levels, and hepatic enzymes activities were performed to evaluate local and remote damage. Relative to IO and LR-treated rats, which exhibited increases in the number of rolling (1.5-fold), adhered (3.5-fold) and migrated (9.0-fold) leukocytes, and increased expression of P-selectin (3-fold) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (3-fold) on mesenteric microcirculation, treatment with HS followed by enterectomy reduced leukocyte-endothelial interactions and expression of both adhesion molecules to values attained in sham rats. Serum chemokines were normalized after treatment with both solutions followed by enterectomy. Hypertonic saline-treated rats demonstrated a significant reduction in BT to 50% in liver and spleen samples and bacteremia (14%), compared with 82% of BT in liver and spleen samples of IO and LR-treated rats and bacteremia (57%). Local intestinal damage was attenuated, and renal and hepatic function preserved by treatment with HS followed by enterectomy. Survival rate increased to 86% up to 15 days. Data presented suggest that HS solution followed by enterectomy reduces mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions and BT, attenuating local and remote damage in a model of strangulated small bowel obstruction.

A review of recent pediatric research published in Brazilian indexed journals.

This review surveys articles appertaining to the general field of pediatrics that have been published in Brazilian scientific periodicals over recent years. its main purpose was to bring to the attention of the readership of the São Paulo Medical Journal original contributions from specialty and non-specialty journals. we hope that this can be seen as a general scientific update for the readers. We have covered articles appearing in Brazilian ISI-indexed journals, following a PubMed search.